Jacob Setzer, immigrant

Family tradition says that Jacob Setzer arrived in Philadelphia, P.A. with his brother Michael on 26 Sep 1753. They sailed to the new world from Rotterdam, Holland, on the ship BROTHERS.

Supposedly Michael 'went west', and Jacob south.

Jacob was a physician. He settled on land belonging to Conrad Bovey (also spelled Bovy, Povey, Poovey, etc.) near the present day town of Newton and eventually married Conrad's daughter Mary Magdalene.

On 10 Dec 1766, Conrad deeded Jacob 196 1/2 acres of land.

Jacob and Mary had 3 boys and the family attended the old Saint Pauls Lutheran Church in the Clark's Creek area, which I believe was in between the present day towns of Newton and Maiden. There were many Pennsylvania Dutch in the area. The original building, a log structure, was known as 'The Dutch Meeting House'. It was struck by lightning and a new church was built in 1757. In 1822 this 'new' church was disassembled and a newer one constructed, using in part logs from the dismantled building.

The newest church had board siding and homemade nails. There were different sections for men, women, children and slaves to sit.

There are many Setzers and Pooveys buried in the cemetery.

I don't know when Jacob died. His widow married Conrad Mingus and had more children. Jacob and Mary Setzer's son Adam Setzer was in the army in 1781 (Revolutionary war), with his step-father Conrad Mingus, so Jacob must have died prior to 1781.

The history of this area of N.C. is a little hard to follow. To the best of my knowledge, it became part of Rowan County in 1753 (about the time Jacob arrived), then Burke County in 1777, Lincoln County in 1779, and Catawba County in 1842. So, without knowing for sure what year Jacob died, I can not say whether he died in Rowan, Burke, or Lincoln County. Some people will even say it was Catawba County, since it is presently in Catawba County.