The Antes Family: a few historical highlights:

I can trace my ancestry back to the 'von Blume' family of the German Rhineland. Due to religious persecution they changed their last name to the Latinized version of the Greek word 'anthos' which means flower. ('Blume' is the German word for 'flower') This name has come down through history in a variety of spellings: Anttos, Antos, Antis. The most common variant is Antes.

Happy 300th Birthday, Johann Heinrich Antes!

The Antes family and its descendants have been very active in faith and in government. I highlight just a few below.

Articles from 'Now and Then', April 1965 issue, a publication of the Muncy [PA] Historical Society (Lycoming County, PA)
(These articles were transcribed and edited by myself into .RTF document formats.)

The Antes Genealogy [p. 337])

The Life and Times of Henry Antes by Helen Russell [p. 325]

The Will of Henry Antes (Johann Heinrich Antes) [p. 335]

The Will of Frederick Antes (Philp Frederic Antos) [p. 336]

The Will of Henry Antes (John Henry Antes [III]) [p. 333]

 

Information submitted to me by visitors to this site.

Re: Antes-Canfield-Youngman Line, submitted by Judith Kushner Wood of Canaan, NH. The document contains additions and corrections to the information as presented by the April 1965 issue of 'Now and Then'

 

From the published papers of George Washington (Revolutionary War Series, Volume 14), a portion of a letter from John Lacey to George Washington referring to Philip Frederick Antes, additional information submitted by Martha (Marmie) Loudenback of Coeur d'Alene, ID

 

From the published papers of George Washington (Revolutionary War Series, Volume 11), a note referring to the repayment of expenses to William Antes for his hosting of George Washington at the Antes homestead, additional information submitted by Martha (Marmie) Loudenback of Coeur d'Alene, ID

 

From the 1924 edition of Daily Stories of Pennsylvania by Frederick A. Godcharles (pp. 31-32), notes on the life of 'Pious Henry Antes', submitted by Dr. Kathryn English, Maître de Conférences, Université de Paris II (Panthéon-Assas), France.

 

'Pious' Johann Heinrich Antes, 1701-1755

my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather

biography from the Dictionary of American Biography

baptized in Freinsheim-am-Rhein, emigrated to Pennsylvania prior to 1722

purchased 500 acre tract in 1741 on behalf of the Moravians (currently: 'center city' Bethlehem, PA)

purchased 100,000 acre tract on behalf of the Moravians in North Carolina for their colony of Wachovia (1752-52)

grandfather of Benjamin Henry Latrobe, designer of the central part of the U.S. Capitol building. (The Latrobe article was submitted by Robert A. Bardo of Colleyville, TX)

master builder

The Antes Homestead (1734) in Upper Frederick Township, Montgomery County, PA.

 

Baumeister ("Construction Manager") beginning 1745 for early Moravian buildings in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

 

Lt. Col. John Henry Antes, Jr., 1736-1820

my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather

colonial American pioneer

builder of 'refuge stockade' (Fort Antes) on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River (PA)

The fort was abandoned when officials at Fort Augusta (present Sunbury, PA) refused to support resistance against the Indians in the midst of the struggle with the British. No portion of the fort is presently extant. Family graves are near the established site. A report of excavations done around April 1965 spoke of discoveries of the spring (water) used by the fort, square nails, packed stone, and an Indian anvil.

Friend of Conrad Weiser

The Lt. Col. also served in various county (then Northumberland, now Lycoming) posts after the war:

Colonel, Northumberland County Militia, 1777

County Commissioner, Nothumberland County, 1781

Presiding Judge, Northumberland County, 1782

Justice of the Peace, Northumberland County

Sheriff, Northumberland County, 1783, 1784

Site of Fort Antes

Fort Antes, Pennsylvania Historical Marker in Jersey Shore, PA

Fort Antes, Stone Historical Marker near site of fort

Text of Stone:
About one half mile southwest of this spot on the bluff above the river stood the stockade known as Antes Fort. Erected by Leut. Col. John Henry Antes in the summer of 1777, this fort was an important rallying point for the settlers in this region. It was destroyed by the Indians and Tories in July 1778 at the time of the Big Runaway when the entire valley was abandoned by the white settlers.
In memory of the following who lost their lives during the Indian raids in this region

At Fort Antes, July 1777	At Fort Horn, July 177 8
Zephaniah Miller	Robert Fleming
Abel Gady	Robin Donaldson
James Armstrong	James McMichael
Isaac Bouser

Erected by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and the Fort Antes chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1917.

Tiadaughton Elm, Pennsylvania Historical Marker near Jersey Shore, PA

 

John Antes, 1740-1810

my great-great-great-great-great-great-uncle

younger brother to Lt. Col. John Henry Antes, Jr.

for a more complete biography of "Uncle John", etc., see John Antes

ordained Moravian pastor

missionary to Egypt (1769-1781), where he was severely tortured

settled in England where he died and is buried

 

composer of hymns and anthems

Christ the Lord, the Lord Most Glorious (The MIDI arrangement © 1998 by Richard W. Bardo) The music is often used as the setting for a text written by Johann Mueller, a German Moravian pastor serving in England. The music is copyrighted 1957 by Boosey and Hawkes, Inc. Available in SATB (#5201), Moramus Edition of the Moravian Music Foundation

 

his anthem Loveliest Immanuel is featured on a Telarc audio CD (80462) Lost Music of Early America, Music of the Moravians

 

three of his liturgical chorales (O Lord in Me Fulfill, O Deepest Grief, and What Splendid Rays) are featured on an audio CD produced by Crystal Records (CD 220) Music for All Seasons: Moravian Trombones

made what was probably the first violin made in America (1759)

There is an excellent, detailed biography of John Antes available from the Moravian Church in America. It was written by C. Daniel Crews and published in booklet form by The Moravian Music Foundation [©1997]. Mr. Crews is/was an Archivist of the Moravian Church in America, Southern Province.

 

Phillip Frederick Antes, 1730-1801

my great-great-great-great-great-great-uncle

older brother to Lt. Col. John Henry Antes, Jr.

Justice of Peace, Philadelphia County

British laid a price on his head for his ardent patriotism

cast first cannon (18 pounder) at Warwick Furnace

member, Pennsylvania Provincial Council

Judge of Election, Philadelphia County, 8. Jul 1776

member, Pennsylvania State Convention, 15. Jul 1776

member, Pennsylvania General Assembly

Colonel, Philadelphia County Militia

one of those named to sign issue of $200,000 paper money issued 10 Apr 1777

move to Northumberland County, 1779, (impoverished by war)

As did his brother, Phillip Frederick served in various county (then Northumberland, now Lycoming) posts after the war:

Justice of the Peace

County Commissioner

Judge of the court of Common Pleas

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