Below was copied from Handley library, METZLER Dec. 3 1907, Boston,Mas s:
" ...My ancestry settled in Penna. among the conestoga Indians in1715; came here from Switzerland under Hans Herr."
From Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of Prominent andRepresentative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers:
Abraham Metzler & Family
". . .Valentine Metzler, the great-grandfather of Abraham, and thefounder of the family in Lancaster county, was born in Switzerland,Feb. 14 , 1726, and came to this country in his early manhood. InLancaster county, where he made his home, he was married Nov. 19,1749, to Anna Wissler, who was born in the county Dec. 9, 1727, anddied March 29, 1793, surviving her husband, who died July 24, 1783.The home was on a farm several miles north of the city of Lancaster,and there they reared the following children: Abraham, Jacob, John,Anna, Henry, Christian, Martin and Elizabeth.. . ."
From the will of WITMER, ABRAHAM Lampeter Twp.
September 29, 1781 March 25, 1783
Bros.: John and Benjamin Witmer.
Sisters: Barbara wife of --- Barr, Ann wife of --- Herr and MagdalenaWitmer.
Bros.-in-law: Valentine Metzler, Henry Nessly, Martin Nessly,
Jacob Brubacher and Jacob Nessly.
Ex.: John Witmer and Valentine Metzler.
But his info has been mixed with a parallel Valentine Metzler withwife Anna Nissley at FindaGrave:
"Bishop Valentine Metzler was the son of Jost Metzler (abt 1693-1743)and Anna Maria Schollenberger (Jan 1700-abt 1742/43). He immigrated toPhiladelphia aboard the ship Glasgow on September 9 1738 at 12 yearsof age along with his father, Jost Metzler. 'Joob Mittsler', aged 45,is listed on the passenger arrivals in Philadelphia. Jost Metzler, asthe name later appears, is believed to be the father of 'Valti'Metzler, who also came to America in 1738, although his name doesn'tappear on any list (as it was not customary to include women andchildren).
Little is known of Jost Metzler, except that he apparently died in1743. His wife Anna Maria, born in Switzerland, also died six monthsbefore him in Lancaster. This left Valentine orphaned at 18 years old.
Valentine was married to Anna Nissley. She was the youngest daughterof Jacob Nissley and Mary Funk. Bishop Metzler and Anna took over mostof her father's farm on the Conestoga River in Lancaster. Valentinewas a weaver, farmer, and in the 1760’s he was ordained a minister inthe Mennonite Church.
Some of this information on Bishop Valentine Metzler and his family istaken from the Mennonite Research Journal, Vol. IX, No. 1, (January1968). Accordingly, the original source for genealogical informationwas this reference written by Peter Metzler of Columbiana, Ohio, agreat-grandson of Bishop Valentine, in his copy of Martyrs Mirror~
"Grandfather Valentine Metzler was a bishop in the Mennonite Church.He was born in Europe, February 14, 1726, came to America in 1738, andmarried Anna Nisli December 19, 1749; died July 24, 1783; aged 57years, 5 months, 10 days. Anna Nisli was born December 9, 1727. AnnaNisli Metzler died March 29, 1793; aged 65 years, 4 months, 26 days.My father, Abraham Metzler, was born February 24, 1753 and marriedChristiana Groff, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania." Signed DavidMetzler, Age 77
Further information about Valentine Metzler's descendants came fromhis bible, described as follows~
"This Bible was printed in Zurich, Switzerland in 1571, a large heavybound volume with brass hinges, clasps and mountings. Among otherinscriptions on the front blank page is written in German, “This Biblebelongs to me, Valti Metzler. I bought it for 40 shillings, 27 April1767”.
The Metzler Family Website relates the story of how after the death ofBishop Metzler, the Bible was lost for about 50 years. One day a'tramp' named Philip Le Millar came to the house of Christian Herseynear Manheim carrying something heavy in a bag. Mr. Hershey said, “Washast du?” (What do you have?) The tramp replied, “Die Heilige Schrift”(The Holy Writ). Mr. Hershey asked to see it, and on opening it, hesaid in German, “This is old Bishop Metzler’s Bible,” and bought itfrom La Millar for $5.00.
[Further information is available athttps://themetzlerfamily.wordpress.com/17-2/}
Bishop Valentine Metzler, his wife Anna, and his father-in-law JacobNissley were buried in this Nissley Family Burial Ground, according toresearch cited by investigative reporter Jack Brubaker. The Nissleyland was patented in 1747, and a section was partitioned for use as afamily burial ground. This area should be situated in downtownLancaster (see cemetery description). Several generations of Nissleys,possibly Metzlers, and others were buried here until about the 1830's.Only three members of the Nissley-Metzler family have been determinedto be interred here so far."
