(Back to where it all began in and around Franconia Township)

It was a monsoon, there was no other way to describe it as we arrived in Franconia Township, Montgomery County.  We pulled into the parking lot of the Indian Creek Reformed Church at the intersection of Cowpath and Church Road.  There, I met Tiffany Dubas, her husband, their young son and new born baby.  I thought to myself as I was walking up and down the rows of tombstones and before she had arrived, that given the driving rain, there was no way Tiffany would come out in this mess, especially with a new born baby, on a nice sunny day perhaps, but not today.  Well she is a real trooper and her husband a saint.  I was pretty much soaked through, in spite of the rain gear, by the time they arrived as I had gone through the entire old section of what I thought was "THE" church where Johan and his son John George Adam were married and their children baptized, but I found nary a mention of a Bilger anywhere although a number of the stones were crumbling badly and virtually unreadable.  Tiffany then set me straight telling me of "THE" church down the road a short distance.  We went inside anyway and in talking with the church secretary discovered that there were but two Bilger's buried in the cemetery of this church at Indian "Creek".  So no sooner were we back on Cowpath then we turned left onto Indian Creek Road where we arrived at "THE" Little Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church at Indian Field.  We managed to catch the Pastor, a nice lady who's name unfortunately has escaped me, who put us in contact with a trustee in charge of the church property including the cemetery's of which there are four distinct locations near and immediately around the church proper.  He, again his name eludes me, went through his record book and located several burial sites right behind the church.  Now please understand, that the church that stands there today is the third church (see photo top right) located on the site having replaced the second church in 1882.  This church in turn was added to in 1923 and looks like the church in the photo's (see photo's at left). This church replaced an earlier and smaller wood frame church and congregation then known as the Lutheran Church at Indian Field from 1792 to 1881(see middle photo).  I believe that this church burned down as did the church that preceded it which existed from 1730 to 1792.  This was the log church (see bottom right photo) in which Johan Ludwig and John George Adam were married and were members of the Indian Field Lutheran Church congregation.  Many of the early colonial records were unfortunately lost in one or the other of these two fires, however, enough records were saved to provide us with the knowledge that Reverend Conrad Roeller, who served the church from 1772 to 1795, would have officiated at these weddings as well as the many baptisms of both Johan's children and grandchildren.  The latest church has a new hall built onto the front of the existing church and in the stain glass windows, we are able to get a glimpse as to what each of these churches looked like and the names of the congregation at various times.  Straight ahead is the entrance to the fellowship hall, but to your right are the double doors and main entrance to the old church.  In a smaller atrium after you enter the double doors and directly above you is the plaque shown to your right (see photo) where it lists Rev. Roeller as the third pastor to serve the congregation.  In fact the dear departed Reverend Conrad Roeller has made sure his presence is still being felt today as he is buried under the church and directly beneath what had been the position of the altar at the time of the log church (see photo's at left).  At that time the log church had faced the road in a more northerly direction and its altar was on the south most wall.  You can still see this today if you go to about the middle of the left most section of pews.  There you will find in the linoleum floor a small, brown inlaid coffin which marks the exact spot where he is buried and at the end of the pew, on the wall is a small plaque dedicated to his memory.  The old colonial cemetery's where I thought I might find Johan Ludwig or one of his sons is located behind the church.  The oldest section of this two part cemetery is separated by a small run which floods about any time it rains and therefore no one was ever buried anywhere near that area, so the oldest set of tombstones are located at the far end of this lawn, while relatively newer burials occurred closer to the church in a corner created by the old church and new fellowship hall.  There were a number of Bilger's located here, but as we found out later, the Bilger's (and Billger's) buried here were of Tiffany's line, descendents of George Ludwig Bilger, including Abraham Bilger, his wife Maria and two sons, George M. Billger as well as Abraham Billger.  There appears to be several young children also buried here but only their initials were given.  

At that point, several hours had gone by, and we had to leave Tiffany and her family as they needed to get the children home and yet we still had yet to see the 115 acre site of Johan's Ludwig's 1776 land indenture (see photo at left) We drove back down Indian Creek road until we again came to the intersection at Cowpath Road and turned left to continue onto the intersection at Green Hill Road.  Just before you arrive at the intersection to your left is the small, newly created Chestnut park on what would have been some of his former property.  Just ahead of you then is the intersection where their farm would have once been. "The farm (Johan's) was located on the East Branch of the Perkiomen Creek in Franconia Township following the Green Hill Road which leads off the Cow Path Road at the top of the Hill about 100 yards from the old bridge which crosses the Perkiomen and divides Upper Salford (sic) from Franconia."  Below is the actual text of indenture for the 115 acres.  Green Hill Road runs along a ridge that skirts along the Perkiomen Creek while Cowpath Road then drops off in elevation fairly quickly as it drops down to a plain through which Perkiomen Creek runs before making a fairly sharp left as it approaches the bridge. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~Indenture of Johan Ludwig Pilger ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Died
Peter Glick to Ludwig Pilger
 
  This Indenture made the 5th day of April in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six.  Between Peter Glick of Franconia Township in the County of Phila., in the Province of Penna.  Yeoman, of the one part, and Ludwick Pilger of the same place yeoman, and Maria Magdalena his wife of the other part.  Withnesseth that the said Peter Glick for and in consideration of the sum of 5 Hundred pounds lawful money of Penna., unto him in hand well and truly paid by the siad Ludwick Pilger and Maria Magdalena his wife at and before the Sealing and delivery hereof the receipt whereof the said Peter Glick doth hereby acknowledge and thereof doth acquit and forever discharge the said Ludwick Pilger and Maria Magdalena his wife, their Heirs and Assigns by these presence hath granted bargained sold released and confirmed.  And by these presence doth grant bargain sell release and confirm unto the said Ludwick Pilger and Maria Magdalena his wife their Heirs and Assigns.  All that Message or Tenement Plantation and Tract of Land Situate in Franconia Township aforesaid.  Beginning take standing in the Last branch Perkiomy Creek, thence by George Moyers land South East 7 Perches to a stone South West 66 Perches to a post and South East 62 Perches to a post a corner of Land belonging to the Heirs of Christian -aunders thence by the same south West 88 Perches to a Post in the line of Land of Peter Gerharts Heirs thence by the same North West 184 Perches to a Post thence by Land late Vacant North East 88 Perches to a Hickory on the east branch aforesaid, thence up the same on the several courses there of 142 perches to the place of beginning.  Containing 115 acres and the usual allowance for roads (Beginning part of 140 acres of Land which John Cressman of Rock Hill Township in the County of Bucks in the said Provence.)  Blacksmith and Sophia his wife by indenture bearing date the 27 day of April 1750 for the consideration therein mentioned did grant and convey unto Hants Bernhardt Kunsert in fee who died intestate thereof leaving issue Vizt 3 sons named Balentine and Andrew and 5 daughters Vizt the said Madalena wife of the said Ludwig Pilger parties hereto, Catherine, the Wife of Henry Keiser, Elizabeth the Wife of Albrecht Glick, Barbara the Wife of Daniel Darr, and Margaret the Wife of Conrad Heffentrager.  And upon the petition of Barbara Glick who is since the widow of the said Hants Bernhardt Kunsert deceased and wife of the said Peter Blick on order of the Orphans Court of Phila. was isssued to the Sheriff of the County aforesaid who in pursuance thereof held an Inquistion to make partion of the Premises and on review there of returned to the said orphans Court that the said Premises could not be well divided without spoiling the whole.  And that they the said Inquisition had valued the same at a certain Price a Sum in their return thereof mentioned.  
  And the said Peter Glick having Purchased the shares of 6 of the said Children of the said Intestate praying the said Court to adjudge the Premises to him which was done accordingly on his paying or securing to be paid to the other 2 children of the said intestate there several shares therein which was done accordingly so that the said Peter Glick became lawfully vested and Seized of an in the whole of the said 115 acres of Land and Premises as an estate of inheritance in fee simple  Together also with all and singular other, the building improvements, ways, woods, waters, water courses, rights, liberties, privileges, advantages, heriditaments and appurtances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining and the reversions and remainders rents issues and profits thereof.  And also all the state Right, Title, Interest, use, Possession, Property claim and demand whatsoever of him, the said Peter Glick in Law or Equity or otherwise howsoever, of into and out of all and Singular the hereby granted or mentioned to be granted Premises.  To have and to hold the said message or tenement and described Tract of Land containing One Hundred and Fifteen Acres and allowance hereditaments and Premises hereby granted or mentioned to be granted with the Appurtenances unto the said Ludwig Pilger and Maria Magdalena- - his heirs and assigns and to the Heirs and Assigns of the Survivor of them forever.  Under proportionable part of the yearly quit rent hereafter accruing for the hereby granted premises to the Chief Lord or Lords of the fee thereof.  And the said Peter Glick for himself he Heirs, Executors and Administrators doth dovenant, promise and grant to and with the said Ludwig Pilger and the said Peter Glick and his Heirs the said Ressuage or Tenement and described Tract of Land Hereditaments and Premises hereby granted or mentioned to be granted with the Appurtenances unto the said Ludwig Pilger and Maria Magdalena his wife their Heirs and Assigns and to the Heir and Assigns of the survivor of them against the Peter Glick and his Heirs and against all and every other person or persons whatsoever lawfully claiming and to claim by from or under him them or any of them shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presence.
  In witness whereof the said Parties of these presence have interchangably set their hands and seals here unto.  Dated the day and year first above written Peter Glick (seal) Sealed and delivered in the presence of us R. Strettell Jones, Abraham Shoemaker. Rec. the day of the date of the within written indenture of the within named Ludwig Pilger and Maria Magdalena his wife the sume of Five Hundred Pounds lawful money of Penna.  It being the full consideration money within mentioned, I say received by me, Peter Glick.  Witness present at signing R. Strettel Jones
                                                                             Abraham Shoemaker
  The ninth day of April A.D. 1776.  Before me, Peter Miller Esq. (one of the justices and Peter Glick and acknowledged the above written indenture to be his act and deed and desired that the same maybe recorded as such.  Witness my hand and seal the day and year above said.   Signed Peter Miller - Recorded 27, May 1776

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