Elrod Family History

In the book “The Headpots of Northeast Arkansas and Southern Pemiscot County, Missouri By James F. Cherry”, it mentions the the local digger Hobson Elrod (1900-1964), his brothers Elvin and Walter and his father Robert Lee Elrod as finding several of the vessels shown in the book. Click on the link to see parts of the book on Google Books along with images of the Indian pots they found. I remember by Uncle on the Austin side of the family going out looking for the Indian pots when I was a boy. He took me along on one his probing trips. He use to find arrowheads and pots and had several on display in his china cabinet.

Shown here is an image made from an original engraving created by the sculptor Johann Sebastian Leitner. Leitner created the medal with the image of Philipp Andreas Graf v. Ellrodt.

Did you know? On the current crest of the city of Neudrossenfeld, Germany is elements of the lord Ellrodt’s crest. The Golden Lion on a blue background represents the time that Count Philipp Andreas von Ellrodt ruled the Neudrossenfeld Manor in the 1700’s.

Here is the link to the website of the restaurant located in Neudrossenfeld, Germany in the castle once owned by the Imperial Count Philipp Andreas Graf von Ellrodt. Click on the link and look at the beautiful interior as it looks today. http://schloss-neudrossenfeld.de/

Does pleasant and Elrod go together? I think so! This is from The Morning Herald (Hagerstown, Maryland 16 Apr 1961)

This article is from the Cumberland Evening Times (Cumberland, Maryland) on 10 March 1942. This was 28 days after the Navy listed them as presumed prisoners of war.

This clip is from “The Capital” newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland on 19 Feb 1942. It was not know at the time that the inhabitants of the tiny Wake Island fought for their lives and died trying. Henry Talmage “Hammerin’ Hank” Elrod died almost two months prior defending the island ultimately earning him the Medal of Honor.

Henry Talmage “Hammerin’ Hank” Elrod

(September 27, 1905–December 23, 1941) was a Marine Corps aviator. He was the first aviator to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II, for his heroism in the defense of Wake Island. On December 4, 1941, Captain Elrod flew to Wake Island with twelve aircraft, twelve pilots, and the ground crew of Major Paul Putnam’s fighter squadron,VMF-211. Hostilities in the air over Wake Island commenced on December 8, 1941. On December 12, he single-handedly attacked a flight of 22 enemy planes and shot down two. He executed several low-altitude bombing and strafing runs on enemy ships; during one of these attacks, he became the first man to sink a warship, the Japanese destroyer Kisaragi, with small caliber bombs delivered from a fighter aircraft.

When all the U.S. aircraft had been destroyed by hostile fire, he organized remaining troops into a beach defense unit which repulsed repeated Japanese attacks. On December 23, 1941, Captain Elrod was mortally wounded while protecting his men who were carrying ammunition to a gun emplacement. Courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_T._Elrod

Did someone lose a horse? The article was published on 25 Nov 1786 in the Pittsburgh, PA Gazette by Teter Elrod (John Teter Elrod who was the son of Johan Elrod, first Elrod in America). The article is describing a mare who wondered onto his land and asking for someone to claim it. He lived in Rostraver Township, PA at the time.

Christopher Elrod

Born: 29 Jan 1721 Conewago Creek, Landcaster, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: 29 Jan 1785 Hope, Forsyth, North Carolina, United States

Burial: 31 Jan 1785 MORAVIAN Cemetery, Hope near Clemmons, Forsythe County, North Carolina, United States — in Clemmons, NC.

Aaltje Elrod (Soelle)

Born: 20 Oct 1724 Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: 17 Sep 1804 Hope, Forsyth, North Carolina, United States

Burial: MORAVIAN Cemetery, Hope near Clemmons, Forsythe County, North Carolina, United States — in Clemmons, NC.

MORAVIAN Cemetery, Hope near Clemmons, Forsythe County, North Carolina, United States — in Clemmons, NC. — in Clemmons, NC.

Map to the MORAVIAN Cemetery, Hope near Clemmons, Forsythe County, North Carolina, United States — in Clemmons, NC. — in Clemmons, NC.

MORAVIAN Cemetery, Hope near Clemmons, Forsythe County, North Carolina, United States — in Clemmons, NC. — in Clemmons, NC.

Christopher Elrod of Maryland was among those who moved to the Muddy Creek basin around 1750.

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CHRISTOPHER ELROD SR.

Memoirs (husband of Aaltje Soelle Elrod)

The following account of Christopher Elrod, Sr. is copied from the entry in the First Congregation Church Book, the entry having been made at the time of his death which occurred January 29, 1785:

Christopher Elrod was born January the 29th, 1721, in Pennsylvania and was brought up a Lutheran. In the year 1743, 26th of May, he married Aaltje Soell, the present widow, which marriage was blest by God with 12 children, to whom 10 are yet alive, belonging all to our congregation and society. From Pennsylvania he moved to Manakasy in Maryland, and from thence to North Carolina in 1751, settling himself on the Yadkin. Hitherto as he often mentioned, he was an industrious and hard working man who feared God and was true, as he thought, to the principles of his religion; but he lived in proud conceit, and knew nothing of heart sorrow. The first time, as he remembered, that his heart was truly touched by our Savior was in a sermon delivered by the Rev. Bishop Spangenberg to the people that were fled for fear of the Indians to the Bethara Mill Fort, in the year 1759. From this he grew uneasy and became concerned for his soul’s salvation and sought acquaintance with the Brethren. The Brethren Soelle and Utley, who went about in the country to preach the gospel, visited him frequently and stayed at his house, so as all those who went about in quest of souls for our Saviour were always kindly received by him, and could refresh themselves after their toil and trouble, with his family. On the 4th of April, 1773, he was received into the congregation at Friedburg, and January 22, 1774, he partook for the first time of the Holy Sacrament with the congregation there. In the process of time he promoted the building of an English school and meeting house here in Hope with all his might, and rejoiced greatly when in the year 1780 an English Brethren’s congregation was established here. From that time he was a member thereof. He served this little congregation with the gifts which the Saviour bestowed on him; was an active member of our committee these four years, and his desire was that young and old might prosper for our Saviour. He had a hot and fiery temper, and could often fall hard to others, by his positiveness and absoluteness, yet he was conscious thereof and soon made up again because he loved to live in peace with all men. He was strong and healthy in constitution, complaining seldom of any ailment, yet of late he had an intimation as it were of his approaching departure. About seven weeks ago he began to complain about pains in his breast, which increased so that he was obliged to take to his bed, and because he grew worse from day to day soon believed that our Saviour would call him home by reason of this sickness. On the 21st he called his children; gave them his farewell blessing, exhorting them to be faithful to our Saviour, and recommended to them their dear mother. On the 29th of January in the morning at 7 o’clock, being his birthday our Saviour took this faithful Brother home to himself, exactly 64 years old. Beside the surviving widow and 10 children, he also leaves 31 grandchildren and one great grandchild. (Copied from Family Records, Book B, Pages 35a-25b)

Transcribed by Charlotte Curlee Ramsey from documents submitted by Jack and Doris Brown Rose.

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Will of Christopher Elrod, Sr (1721 – 1785)

Christopher and Aaltje moved to Monocacy, then down to NC about 1744or so. It was there, according to Aaltje’s autobiography, they became Moravians and helped found the English speaking Hope (N.C.) Congregation.

WILL OF CHRISTOPHER ELROD SR. – ROWAN CO, NCIn the Name of God, Amen. I, Christopher Elrod Sr in the state of North Carolina, being in perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God forit, and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it isappointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this my last will andtestament, and as touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased Godto help me with, I give, divise, and dispose of it in manner and formas follows:Item: I will and bequeath unto my beloved son, Adam, five shillings to be paid to him from out of my estate.Item: I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter, Sarah the sum of five shillings to be paid by my executors out of my estate.Item: I will and bequeath unto my daughter, Catherine, the sum of five shillings to be paid as aforesaid.Item: I will and bequeath to my beloved daughter, Margaret, one creature to be valued at five pounds in gold or silver money.Item: I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter, Mary, one horse creature to be valued at five pounds in gold or silver and also two cows and one feather bed and bedding to it which she has in her custody, and then also one ewe and one grown sow with pigs, the above willed articles and money to each above person to be paid their legacies within twelve months of my demise.Item: I will and bequeath unto my beloved son, Christopher, 50 acres of land as it is measured off to him in the upper end of my tract which is to be in his possession at my demise.Item: I will and bequeath unto my beloved sons, Robert and John Elrod,the whole of what is left of my tract of land whereon I now live, with all its improvements and buildings to their possession after my decease and my wife’s.Item: I will and bequeath unto my beloved daughters Aaltje and Lydia two cows to each of them and one ewe and one sow with pigs to each and also five pounds in gold or silver, or the value thereof in other money that shall be lawful at the time of the payment and each of them one good feather bed and furniture which is to be paid to them by my executors out of my estate if there is as much left at that time and if not to be paid out of the land willed to my three youngest sons.Item: I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Aaltje, one-third part of my land during her life time and also all my stock and all sorts and all my household goods and plantation tools and money during her lifetime and at my demise to be at her own disposal except the land which is to be as before mentioned.I institute and appoint my beloved wife and my son Adam whole and sole executers and executrix of this my last will and testament and I do hereby disavow and make void all other wills and bequeaths made ordone by me heretofore.

In witness where of I have set my hand and seal this 17 day of March,1799.Signed, sealed. published and pronounced in the presence of Witnesses:

Adam Spone, Fred Fudler, Even EllisSigned: Christopher Elrod

Adam Spone proved the will 3 May 1785, as Christopher had died 29 Jan 1785

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Interned in the original Hope Moravian Church, Clemmons, Forsyth County, North Carolina, USA graveyard which is no longer in use. The current Hope Moravian Graveyard is adjacent to the church at 2759 Hope Church Rd.

Hope Moravian Cemetery, the old cemetery, is located in a different place than the current Hope Moravian Church and cemetery which is located on Hope Church Road. NOTE: There are no new burials there. This is the site of the earliest Hope Moravian Church, which no longer exists. The cemetery has wooden fence posts around it, and there used to be a stapled picture of the old church on a tree, but it might be gone by now. The graves are Moravian, so they’re all the same, simple stones. This makes the cemetery hard to find as it’s hard to see from the road. It’s located 500 feet north of the end of Copeland Road, just north of the intersection with US 158.

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Diaries of the Brethren tell that the Douthit and Elrod families sought protection in the fort at Bethabara during the Indian Wars. Evidently the Johnson fort was not yet in existence, because it would have been closer. (1756)

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AALTJE SOELLE ELROD

Memoirs (wife of Christopher Elrod Sr.)

The late widowed Sister Aaltje Elrod (Soelle) who died on September 17, 1804, at Hope had the following taken down about her life: “I was born October 20, 1724, in Germantown in Pennsylvania and since my parents belonged to the Mennonites, I was not baptized as a child. My father moved later to the Canawaga where I faithfully attended the meetings. After I was grown I was baptized by the Lutheran pastor by the name of Can- zler and this made a deep impression on me. Soon after this my father moved to Maryland to the region of Manaskosy where I married my late husband Christopher Elrod on March 26, 1743. In 1751 we moved to North Carolina and settled on the Yadkin River. Some years later some of the Brethern came into the region and some of them visited in the country and preached in the houses and thus we soon had the opportunity of hearing them preach. The first in whose preaching I was awakened was the late Bro. Post. From this time on I sought to obtain my salvation and found much comfort in the preaching of the Brethren Soelle, Ettwein and Utley. “In the dangerous time of the Indian War we fled to Bethabara where we to our blessing had occasion to become better acquainted with the Brethren. When it again became safer in the country we moved back to our plantation but continued to attend the Sunday meetings in Bethabara until a little congregat- ion was organized on the Southfork in Friedberg, when we then attended the meetings of the brethren there, which were very greatly blessed to my heart, although they were held in the German language which I did not know very well. I will, however, never forget how I was encouraged and revived anew when from time to time the late Sister Marschall visited in Friedberg and I could talk with her in the English language very open-heartedly about the state of my heart and her conversation and advice was true balm for my poor heart. “On April 4, 1773, in Friedberg, I had the grace of being received in the congregation and on January 22, 1774, I became a communicant in the body and blood of the Lord in the service of the Holy Communion. Some of our children were also baptized and when the congregation was organized in the year 1780, we had the joy of being among the first members of this little congregation.” So far it was in her own information.

From this time she found her greatest comfort and encouragement in the close association with the Saviour and in the observance of his suffering and death. In the olden times when the brethren frequently visited in the country and preached, they were always welcome in her house and could be refreshed there from their heavy labors. The death of her dear husband in January, 1784 grieved her very much, and it was hard for her to adjust to her new condition, and only the hope of follow- ing him soon into eternity often supported her for she had an unusual longing to depart and be with Christ, her Redeemer, and finally became very impatient that she had to wait so much longer than she had expected. When one spoke to her she usually expressed emphatically this longing to be with Christ and if she was recommended to have patience, she said, “I belong to the Savior”. He knows his time best and when it pleases him I will go to him, but soon, soon.!” Manifestly she put her hope in God in her almost twenty years of Widow- hood and this hope was not destroyed when she lived by turns with her four sons who all belonged to the congregation and who cared for and tended her with the love of a child. Her quiet way of life, withdrawn from this world and her attachment to and persistent association with the Saviour which shone forth from all her activities, made her generally beloved. Since for several years, because of her age and weakness, she was unable to come to the meetings of the congregation, so much the more she was comforted and refreshed by the association with the Saviour at home and when her children sometimes brought her to communion or otherwise at times to church festivals, it was for her always a day of blessing. God had blessed her marriage with 12 children, of whom 9 are still living. From these she had 63 grandchildren and 73 great-grandchildren of whom 57 grandchildren and 68 great-grandchildren are still living. Two weeks ago, in the house of her son, John Elrod, where she is now living, she became sick with the prevailing fever and it was appointed for her to go home to her Saviour as she had so many years longed to do. While conscious and even in delirium she called on the Saviour often and prayed English and German verses. When her children asked her whether she was now ready to go to the Saviour she gave witness of that with joy that she was really separated from the world and had a complete desire to be at home with her Saviour and this was evident in a lovely manner in her last illness. On Sunday, the 16th of this month, in the presence of several of her children and children’s children and blessing of the Lord and the congregation was administered to her for her homegoing and she departed in the afternoon of September 17, 1804. Her age was 79 years, one month, and 3 days.

From Document found in Moravian Archives, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

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Interned in the original Hope Moravian Church, Clemmons, Forsyth County, North Carolina, USA graveyard which is no longer in use. The current Hope Moravian Graveyard is adjacent to the church at 2759 Hope Church Rd.

Hope Moravian Cemetery, the old cemetery, is located in a different place than the current Hope Moravian Church and cemetery which is located on Hope Church Road. NOTE: There are no new burials there. This is the site of the earliest Hope Moravian Church, which no longer exists. The cemetery has wooden fence posts around it, and there used to be a stapled picture of the old church on a tree, but it might be gone by now. The graves are Moravian, so they’re all the same, simple stones. This makes the cemetery hard to find as it’s hard to see from the road. It’s located 500 feet north of the end of Copeland Road, just north of the intersection with US 158.