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Peter was our immigrant ancestor and one story relates that he wasborn Peter Van Gunten, a Swiss Hugenot. "He was able, wealthy anddistinguished in the history of his country and aspired to thegovernment of Berne. Being compelled to flee for his life, he soughtasylum in France. He and his family immigrated to America and settledin Penn's colony in Bethel Twp, PA." The family was probably Mennonite, having at least one Mennonitepreacher in the family. "It is to the Swiss Mennonites, followers ofMenno Simon from the cantons of Berne and Zurick, to whom is given thecredit for making the first permanent white settlement in what is nowLancaster County. Several families of these hardy pioneers took up atract of 10,000 acres north of Pequea creek in what is now WestLampeter Township, on a warrant dated October 10, 1710." Some descendants say the family left Switzerland at the time of theCatholic persecution, leaving a fortune over there. However, a"Report of Investigation in the Matter of an Estate Supposed to HaveBeen Left by Peter Von Gunten in Berne, 1700-1800," dated Feb 8, 1904and including findings of the Chancellor of the Canton Berne, civilofficers of Sigriswil, the Justice of the Canton Berne, and theBernese Archives of State, states "Gunten was a village on the borderof the Lake of Thun. It is in the District of Sigriswil. Accordingto the Chancler of the Canton of Berne, the name 'Von Gunten' does notdenote nobility; it is merely 'from Gunten.'.....the search of theabove named officers has been without result and nothing is known bythe competent authorities concerning an estate left by Peter vonGunten." This report does provide some insight into history through interestingtidbits, such as the following from the Register of emigrant citizens,State Arch. 1694-1754: "Christian von Gunten of Sigriswil, was forcedto lose his citizenship May 9, 1736. The Canton Berne and itsgovernment has always been Protestant, and it is impossible that aBernese was persecuted and emigrated on account of his Protestantbelief. No reason is given why Christian von Gunten lost hiscitizenship. He may have broken the laws, married a Catholic, orexcited the displeasure of the Government in some other manner.....therecords of 'Estates of Emigrants' are literally Records of thewithdrawal of means and were made when an estate was converted intomoney or valuables and turned over to the citizen desiring toemigrate." Signed Edward Higgins, Consul, Berne, Switzerland. Pat DeWitz of Bedford, OH, wrote in 1976 the she had her husbandvisited Berne, Switzerland in September 1974 but found little usefulinformation there. They read the census by occupation from 1700 -1750 and found that every von Gunten (from the village of Gunten) wasa school teacher, both male and female, and they all taught in thevillages around the Lake of Thun which included Spies, Interlaken, andGruten. She states further that Gundy is the German form of the name,"von" was used for those who went through Germany, while "van" wasused for who went by way of Holland. Another story states that "the only person found that could have beenour ancester was John Peter Gunder, who arrived at the port ofPhiladelphia 9/12/1752 on the ship, 'Priscilla' from Rotterdam, butlast from Cowes (Eng)." A chart of his branch by Ross G Van Gundy of Los Angeles states "PeterVanGundy, a Hollander, and two nephews" were founders of the family inAmerica. Harvey Van Gundy of Tahlequah, OK, wrote that his "fatherand twin brother were brought over from Holland by an old lady andsettled in Ohio." And so it goes. Who is to say what is the truth? An autobiography ofthe grandson of Anna Maria Davis, wife of John Van Gundy, simplystates "they emigrated from Switzerland before the Revolutionary Warand settled in Pennsylvania, Reading County, not far from a town ofthe same name." An organization was formed in 1961 called the "Van Gundy Association"with Mr. Bliss Van Gundy of Osborne, KA, President (now deceased);Mrs. C.C. Meyer, Pasadena, MD, Director of Research; and Mrs. AlfredE. DeWitz of Bedford, OH, Asst Researcher. Mrs. Meyer is also anauthor and editor of genealogical publications. Relatives havetraveled to Switzerland and, hopefully, in the near future, thesefolks will have all the facts sorted out. Most of the early American generations were millers and coopers and assuch the only coat of arms found by the Van Gundy Associationattributed to a family whose name was similar to ours, "Gunten", wasassociated with Hans von Gunten, an old citizen of Gunten, alive in1497 but childless. He was a member of an old knightly (3rd class)family originating in Stuhmschen in old Prussia, who were under thevassalage of the Pomeranian diocese as early as the 14th century. Thefamily, for the most part, stayed connected and faithful to the "Ordenin Bundeskriege", a high society of the middle ages. This coat of arms consists of a gold shield on which are two humanarms are palms up, in a vertical position, encased in a blue sleeve.The crest shows the arms and hands as on the shield. However, according to a Coat of Arms Research Report with Registry ofBurke's Gundi Gondy 1279, which says they believe the Van Gundy nameis locational in origin and is associated with the Belgians and Dutch,our coat would be black with a gold Belgian lion and a yellow upperthird bearing a red tulip, symbolic of Holland, between two redpoppies, symbolic of Belgium. So take your choice! In American, coats of arms mean nothing anyway,so whichever you wish to claim will be perfectly alright. There is a strong possibility that our Peter came to American with theWisler family, being from neighboring towns in the same canton ofSwitzerland, both appearing in America about the same time in the sameplace and having children who would marry later. Although it is notknown exactly when he came to America, there are some facts whichplace him here early: 1743 Lancaster Co, PA. His second child was born there this year andpossibly the first was also in 1740. 1749 Earl Twp, Lancaster Co, PA, where he purchased 200 acres ofland. 1750 Cocalico Twp, Lancaster Co, PA. He was included on the list oftaxpayers who had property there. There is a note his name has alsobeen spelled "Dundy" and "Gunty." A comment "Singlemen forthemselves" was not explained. 1751 and again 1756-8 Earl Twp, Lancaster Co, PA. He was listed onthe property tax rolls here as well. 12/13/1755 Earl Twp. Peter and wife, Fronich, sold 200 acres to aJoseph Fox of Philadelphia for 100 pounds. He signed his name inGerman while Fronica signed with an X. 1756 His name appeared on the tax list for 60 acres. Also on thelist was Rudy Zuck, John Wenger, Henry Sydenbender, and several fromthe Davis family, all names of in-law families. Peter's family spoke Dutch and the children signed their names inDutch on various records, such as deed transfers and court papers. |
| Peter's exact birth date is not known although a birth certificate wassaid to be in the possession of a JN Wilkey of Covington, IN at onetime. |
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Some family listings have his death date as 1758 but the date postedis from a letter written
by great, great granddaughter, Clara VanGundy. The will book lists his name as Peter "Gunty" and he died intestate. Circumstances and place of Peter's death depend on the story beingread. One version says he died in Bethel Twp, now Lebanan Co, PA,another that he was killed by Indians in Earl Twp, Lancaster Co, Pa.Since all records place him in Lancaster Co, I choose to believe hedied there, whether by Indians, is unknown. According to estate records, his heirs included his wife, Ann, and 7children. However, Ann must have died shortly after Peter, leaving orphanchildren. Sons, John and Christian were then over 21, and John, alongwith his wife, Ann, petitioned the court for permission to sell theirmother's land but the petition was denied. Instead, guardians were appointed for the minor children on 3/25/1763.Peter and Magdalene, being over 14, chose their own guardian.Guardians appointed for the 3 younger children were: Jacob Kurtz ofManaheim Twp in Lancaster Co, and Jacob Erb of Warwick Twp, also fromLancaster Co. Later, while Peter, Jr, was still a minor, John asked the court toallow him to buy the farm or divide it among the children but thispetition was also denied. On 5-8-1772 the guardians exhibited their account in court. By thenJoseph was over 21 and David and Benjamin, being over 14, chose theirbrother, John, as their guardian. Finally on 5-12-1772, John, the oldest son, was allowed to sell theland for 1200 pounds sterling and divide the money among the children. |