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This page has five parts:
Overview of the family history;
Ancestor Chart for John Grey and Mary Margaret Fenstemaker;
Family Lines providing an overview of each surname;
Biographies of John, Mary, their ancestors and their children; and
Descendant Chart for John Grey and Mary Margaret Fenstemaker.
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OVERVIEW
The ancestors of John Grey lived in or near the Isle of Anglesey on the northwest corner of Wales. While some of them may originally have come from England, most probably had deep roots in Welsh history - or had lived in Wales long enough to reasonably be considered Welsh. Most were tradesmen and many were carpenters or joiners (who "join" wood into mantles, staircases, doors, etc.). They tended to move about in a relatively small area as they followed the available work. They were probably comfortable walking 5-or-so miles to work each day, but would have moved if the morning and evening walks got much longer. From the earliest records (about 1710), they all seem to have been part of the Church of Wales. While they may not have gone to church every Sunday, they were faithful in having the church baptize, marry, and bury family members. Their most numerous records are found in the Bishops Transcripts, copies of the parish records provided to the Bishop each spring. John Grey broke with family tradition by getting formal schooling in carpentry and then migrating to America in 1870.
The ancestors of Mary Margaret Fenstemaker were almost all German ("Pennsylvania Dutch") who had migrated to America via Philadelphia and settled, initially, in Berks County in eastern PA. Many arrived in America in the early 1700s, others did not arrive until shortly after 1800. As Burks County "filled up," our ancestors headed northwest about 40 miles to the newly opened areas around Berwick. It was there that Mary Margaret was born - and met John Grey.
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ANCESTOR CHART
In the following chart, parents appear above and to the right of the child with F= showing the father, M= showing the mother, and "|" indicating a marriage link. Lines have the format: name: born(b.) year,place; marriage(m.) year,place; death(d.) year,place - - where GER=Germany, WLS=Wales, and US states are noted by standard 2-character state codes (e.g., PA=Pennsylvania).
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 ....F=Hugh Grey: b.c1680,WLS; d.?,WLS
...F=Richard Grey: b.c1713,WLS; d.1793,WLS
...M=Catherine Rowland: b.?,WLS; m.1733,WLS; d.1775,WLS
..F=Hugh Grey: b.c1745,WLS; d.1823,WLS
..M=Lowry Edwards: b.c1745,WLS; m.1767,WLS; d.1827,WLS
.F=Hugh Grey: b.c1787,WLS; d.bef.1851,WLS
.M=Catherine Jones: b.c1790,WLS; m.1811.WLS; d.c1853,WLS
F=Edward Grey: b.1817,WLS; d.1886,PA
.F=John Griffith: b.?; d.?; lived in WLS
M=Elizabeth Griffith: b.c1820,WLS; m.1841,WLS; d.1881,WLS
John Grey: b.1849,WLS; d.1901,PA
|.F=Phillip Fenstemaker: b.?,GER; d.?,PA
|.M=Catherine Walters: b.?; m.?; d.?
|F=John Fenstemaker (1826-1899) PA
||F=Peter Foulk: b.c1796,?; d.bef.1850,PA
|||....F=Jacob Sidler: b.aft.1563,?; d.aft.1624,?
|||....M=?
|||...F=Frederich Sidler: b.1624,?; d.aft.1651,?
|||...M=Elizabeth Hedrich: b.1629,?; d.1699,?
|||..F=Johannes Mathias Sidler: b.1651,GER; d.?
|||..M=?
|||..F=Baron Johannes Mathias Sidler: b.1674,GER; d.1745,GER
|||..M=?
|||.F=Dietrich Sidler: b.1716,GER; d.1788,PA
|||.M=Anna Maria Von Resler: b.1718,PA; m.1746,PA; d.1787,PA
|||F=Heinrich "Henry" Sitler: b.1748,PA; d.1818,PA
||||.F=Johannes Adam Kolb: b.?,GER?; d.?,GER?
||||.M=Anna Margaretha Hunder: b.?,GER?; d.?,GER?
||||.F=Johann Conrad Kolb: b.1697,GER; d.1781,PA
||||.M=Anna Elizabeth Gerichts: b.c1700,GER; m.c1722,GER; d.1732,at sea
||||F=Johann Conrad Kolb Jr.: b.1723,GER; d.bef.1778,PA)
||||M=Catharine Reubsamin: b.?; m.?; d.c1803,PA
|||M=Eva Elizabeth Kolb: b.c1761,PA; m.1778,PA; d.?>
||M=Maria Magdalena Sitler: b.1799,PA; m.c1819,PA; d.?,PA
|M=Sallie Ann Foulk: b.1832,PA; m.1849,PA; d.1912;PA
Mary Margaret Fenstemaker: b.1852,PA; m.1871,PA; d.1928,PA
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FAMILY LINES
 EDWARDS: While this line may be Welsh in origin, it might also represent an English family living on Anglesey.
FENSTEMAKER: According to family legend, Phillip was born in Germany, and moved into the Berwick area from eastern PA. His son, John, was born in Mifflinville, across the river from Berwick. The search for earlier family members is complicated by the presence of another Phillip Fenstemaker living across the river from Berwick in Nescopeck - that also moved into the area from eastern PA. Fenstemaker is a popular variation of the German name Fenstermacher and means window ("fenster") maker ("macher").
FOULK: (see also: Folk)
GERICHTS:
GREY: Our Grey family first appears about 1710 with a Latin church record of a Hugh Grey baptizing his children. Hugh lived near the modern town of Menai Bridge on the east coast of Anglesey Island at the northwest corner of Wales. Many of his male descendants (including the next five generations in our line) were joiners or skilled carpenters. Over 150+ years, they moved about in a very small area of northwest Wales apparently following available work. They were members of the Church of Wales (i.e., the Church of England in Wales) and most of their records appear in the Bishops Transcripts. John Grey (1849-1901) broke the pattern by emigrating to Berwick PA in 1870 where he met and married Mary Fenstemaker.
The name Grey, however, is not Welsh and it is assumed the family orginally came from England. Having lived in Wales for over 150 years and married into many (apparently) Welsh lines during that time, it certainly seems appropriate to think of them as Welsh. They may have been descendants of the Grey family that entered Wales as early as 1282 when the Earl de Gruy was assigned by King Edward I of England to manage his castle at Ruthin in north Wales. This early Grey family, however, had been driven out of power in the late 1300s, was probably very unpopular, and most probably returned to England. While our Greys certainly spoke Welsh while out in the community (Welsh was THE business language on Anglesey), there is no evidence of later generations having a Welsh accent or using Welsh in their written communications. It is quite possible (even probably) they spoke English at home. (As an exception, church records were kept either in Latin or English.) One indication of their being considered different is that they are recorded as having two names (given and surname) during periods when most Welsh had only one name.
It is important to note that "Grey" and "Gray" were used on records without distinction - especially during that period when many people could not write their own name. The spelling usually depended on the preference of the official writing the record, and the same person was often referred to as both Grey and Gray on different records. Only after family members learned to write did they settle on their preferred spelling. Some suggest the Grays came from Scotland and the Greys came from England.
GRIFFITH: This is a very popular Welsh name and it is reasonable to assume this line of our ancestry had been in north Wales since the dawn of time. Our earliest Griffith records are those of John, father of Elizabeth, who lived and worked in the area about Llangefni and Pentraeth on the Isle of Anglesey.
HEDRICH:
HUNDER:
JONES: This is also a very popular Welsh name and, again, it is reasonable to assume this line had been in north Wales for a very long time.
KOLB:
REUBSAMIN:
ROWLAND: Rowland is an old Welsh name.
SIDLER / SITLER:
VON RESLER:
WALTERS:
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BIOGRAPHIES
EDWARDS, Lowry (c1745-?): (bio under construction)
FENSTEMAKER, John (1826-1899): (bio under construction)
FENSTEMAKER, Mary Margaret (1852-1928): (bio under construction)
FENSTEMAKER, Phillip (?-?): (bio under construction)
FOULK, Peter (c1796-bef 1850): (bio under construction)
FOULK, Sally Ann (1832-1912): (bio under construction)
GERICHTS, Anna Elisabeth ( - ): (bio under construction)
GREY, Edward (1817-1886: Edward was living in Llandysilio parish when he married Elizabeth Griffith of Llangefni in Llangefni in 1841. The couple soon (if not immediately) set up house in or near Menai Bridge where Edward worked as a carpenter. The Britannia Bridge just south of the older Menai Bridge had recently been built over Menai Straight and there would have been a lot of work available in the town of Menai Bridge during that period. In 1849, their son, John, was born - the third of seven children. In the mid 1850s, the family moved to the new resort city of Llandudno north of Menai Bridge. The city had been started from scratch a few years earlier and, again, there would have been quite a bit of carpentry work available at that time. For many years, Edward and Elizabeth lived on the side of the Great Orme (a large rock outcrop) in half of a duplex called Crosonen Cottage that overlooked the seaside resort of Llandudno. Elizabeth died in 1881, and Edward emigrated via Liverpool to Berwick PA shortly afterward to be with his son John. Edward died in 1886 and is buried in Berwick.
GREY, Hugh #1 (c1680-?): Our Grey family first appears in the early 1700s when a Hugh Grey baptizes his children in the parish of Llandysilio on the east coast of Anglesey Island in northwest Wales (in or near the modern town of Menai Bridge). Those records do not show his wife's name or his profession (although a later record suggests he might have been a butcher). In 1713, Hugh baptized his son, Richard.
GREY, Hugh #2 (c1745-1823): Hugh married Lowry Edward(s) of Penmynydd (a few miles east of Cerrigceinwen) in 1767, then worked as a joiner in Penmynydd for several years. With several children in tow, they moved a few miles north to the small village of Pentraeth in the mid 1770s where Hugh worked for Paul Panton, one of the wealthiest men on Anglesey. Early on, they rented their residence from Mr. Panton, spending some time living in an apartment in the back of Panton Arms, a local pub and restaurant. One of their last children, Hugh, was baptized in Pentraeth in 1787. Hugh and Lowry are buried at Pentraeth.
GREY, Hugh #3 (c1787-?): Hugh married Catherine Jones of Caernarvonshire in 1811 and worked as a joiner - for Paul Panton during his younger years and perhaps from Paul's heirs after Paul died. Their fourth child, Edward, was born in 1817 in Pentraeth and worked as a joiner. Hugh attended Edward's wedding in 1841 in Llangefni, and Catherine was living with Edward and his wife in 1851. There is no known record of Hugh's death, but Catherine is believed to be buried in Pentraeth.
Grey, John (1849-1901): John studied carpentry in Wales and England, then emigrated to Berwick PA in 1870. He worked in Berwick as a pattern maker for a nearby ironworks and also plied his skills as a master carpenter. He carved the doors, mantles, and staircase for the Jackson mansion that now serves as City Hall. He married Mary Margaret Fenstemaker of Berwick in 1871, and the couple resided on Third Street for many years. In 1886, John purchased a house at 328 E 10th Street for $550. That house remained as the Grey family homestead until it had to be sold in the early 1930s. John and Mary are buried in Berwick.
GREY, Richard (c1713-?): Richard married Catherine Rowland in Llandysilio in 1733. They next show up about 10 miles west of there in Cerrigceinwen where Richard was a joiner and was very active in the local parish church. It is assumed they moved west looking for work, and may have spent some time during the mid-to-late 1730s in one or more other villages before moving to Cerrigceinwen. They had a number of children including one son named Rowland. Then, in 1745, they baptized their son, Hugh. Richard and Catherine are buried at Cerrigceinwen.
GRIFFITH, Elizabeth (c1820-1881): (bio under construction)
GRIFFITH, John (?-?): (bio under construction)
HEDRICH, Elizabeth ( - ): (bio under construction)
HUNDER, Anna Margaretha ( - ): (bio under construction)
JONES, Catherine (c1790-aft 1851): (bio under construction)
KOLB, Eva Elizabeth (c1761-?): (bio under construction)
KOLB, Johann Conrad ( - ): (bio under construction)
KOLB, Johann Conrad Jr. (1723-bef 1778): (bio under construction)
KOLB, Johannes Adam ( - ): (bio under construction)
REUBSAMIN, Catharina (?-c1803): (bio under construction)
ROWLAND, Catherine (?-?): (bio under construction)
SIDLER, Baron Johannes Mathias ( - ): (bio under construction)
SIDLER, Dietrich (1716-1788): (bio under construction)
SIDLER, Frederich ( - ): (bio under construction)
SIDLER, Jacob ( - ): (bio under construction)
SIDLER, Johannes Mathias ( - ): (bio under construction)
SITLER, Heinrich "Henry" (1748-1818): (bio under construction)
SITLER, Maria Magdalena (1799-?): (bio under construction)
VON RESLER, Anna Marie (): (bio under construction)
WALTERS, Catherine (): (bio under construction)
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DESCENDANT CHART
The following chart includes the descendants of John Grey and Mary Margaret Fenstemaker through their great-grandchildren. Called names, where known, are underlined. While the children of John and Mary are included in the Biography section above, no further information about subsequent generations is included on this page.
1-John Grey ( 1849-1901) m. Mary Margaret Fenstemaker (1852-1928) in 1871
2-Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Grey (1871-1936) m. William Arthur Wright ( - )
.3-Mabel Wright (1901-1901)
.3-Dorothy Wright (?-?)
.3-George Douglas Wright (1902-1938) m. Velma Hess ( - )
..4-Robert Hess Wright (1927- ) m. Christine Marie Campbell ( - )
.3-Robert John Wright (1904-1958) m. Gertrude Robinholt ( - )
..4-Reginald Arthur Wright (1941- )
2-John Edward Grey (1873-1956) m1. Sue Earle (1874-1918)
.3-Ruth Ellen Grey (1897-1897)
.3-Bessie Lenore Grey (1898-1899)
.3-Anny Mary Grey (?-1966) m. Joseph H. "Joe" Lawson ( -1976)
..4-Laura Betty Lawson (1921- ) m. Charles M. Goad ( - )
.3-Gladys Elizabeth Grey (1903-1907)
.3-Emily Beatrice Grey (1908-1918)
.3-Fred Barton Grey (1909-2001) m. Louella R. Tucker ( - )
..4-Judith Ann "Judy"Grey (1942- ) m. Kermit K. Frye (1940- )
..4-John Edward Grey (1944- ) m. Doris Jean Crammer (1948- )
..4-Jill Rebecca Grey (1947- ) m. Denton S. See (1947- )
m2. Lilly Kingsbury (1871-1948)
2-Harriet Ellen "Nell" Grey (1875-1946) never married
2-George Richard Grey (1877-1947) m. Lena Allison Gensel (1880-1953)
.3-Bertelle Maxine Grey (1902-1942) never married
.3-Jean Lucille Grey (1907- ) m. Joseph Donovan "Joe" Marshall (1903- )
..4-JoAnne Donovan Marshall (1934- ) m. Eual Dean Jesson (1933- )
..4-Lystra Maxine Marshall (1938- ) m. George Henry Carson ( - )
.3-George Richard Grey Jr. (1912-1999) m. Sarah Leona George ( - )
..4-Patricia Mae Grey (1936- ) m. Hugh Malone ( - )
..4-Richard Edward Grey (1938- ) m. Barbara Girton ( - )
..4-Carleton Garth Grey (1939- ) m. Jane Tingley ( - )
.3-Robert Carleton Grey (1921- ) m. Gene Maxwell Weiss (1919- )
..4-Robert Carleton "Bobby" Grey (1921- ) m. Gene Maxwell Weiss (1919- )
2-Margaret Alice Grey (1879-1879) died in infancy
2-Adella Catherine Grey (1880-1968 ) m. Jackson LeRoy Ammerman (1878-1978 )
.3-Mabel Ammerman (1904- ) m. Ira Davenport Morris ( - )
..4-Robert Davenport "Bob" Morris (1928- ) m. Irma Mack ( - )
..4-Jackson LeRoy Morris (1930- ) m. Constance "Connie" Wallace ( - )
.3-Dorothy Ellen Ammerman (1906-1906)
.3-Elizabeth Irwin "Bette" Ammerman (1915- ) m. Oscar Allen Davis ( -1985)
..4-James Allen "Jimmie" Davis (1943- ) m. Sandra Kucera ( - )
..4-Judith Ellen Judy Davis (1947- ) m. Robert Cobb ( - )
2-William Franklin Grey (1883-1883) died in infancy
2-Jennie Amelia Grey (1884-1975) m. John Balser Sachs Jr. (1889-1917) in 1913
.3-Mary Catharine Sachs (1914-2001) m. Allen Hower (?-?); divorced
.3-Margaret Ellen "Peg" Sachs (1916- ) m. David Russell Howell (1910-1975) in 1935
..4-Jon Russell Howell (1939- ) m. Barbara Anne Craig (1938- ) in 1961
..4-Phillip Lewis Howell (1942- ) m. Adelaide Chenault Shelor (1945- ) in 1967
2-Lillian Mary "Lillie" Grey (1887-1983) m. Sterling Adrian Warntz (1886-1968)
.3-Miriam Eleanor Warntz (1907-1997) never married
.3-Maxine Eleanor Warntz (1909- ) m. John Milton Smeltzer (c1914-1981)
..4-Maxine Grey Smeltzer (1942- ) m. Larry Phillips ( - )
.3-Richard Sterling "Dick" Warntz (1913- ) m. Marie Steinmeyer ( - )
..4-Betty Ann Warntz (1942- )
..4-Susan Marie Warntz (1945- )
..4-Richard John Warntz (1954- )
.3-William Shirley "Bill"Warntz (1922-1988) m. Annie Minerva Mosdell ( - )
..4-Christopher William Warntz (1948-1989) m. Elizabeth C. Flemming ( - )
..4-Pamela Elizabeth Warntz (1952- )
2-Dora Beatrice Grey (1890-1956) m. Gedna Lee "Bittie" Bittenbender (1889-?)
.3-Dorothy Bittenbender ( - )
.3-John Milton Bittenbender (1911-1988) m. Dorothy "Dot" Shannon ( - )
.3-David H. "Dave" Bittenbender (1913-1986) m. Isabelle Rough ( - )
..4-David Lee Bittenbender ( - )
..4-Mary Anne Bittenbender ( - ) m1. David Minnier ( - )
.. m2. Arthur Naugle ( - )
.3-Ruth Bittenbender (1922-2001) m1 Jerry Warg ( - )
..4-David Warg ( - ) m1. Cathy ? ( - )
.. m2. Jasmin ? ( - )
..4-Sharon Warg ( - ) m. ?
. m2. William McMakin ( - )
..4-Bill McMakin ( - ) m. Lyn ? ( - )
..4-Ann McMakin ( - ) m. Tom ? ( - )
. m3. Russell Chase ( - )
.3-Edwin Bittenbender (1925- ) m. Mona Monson ( - )
..4-Amy Bittenbender ( - ) m1. ?
.. m2. Henry Shofner ( - )
..4-Peter Bittenbender ( - ) m. Karen ? ( - )
..4-Philip Bittenbender ( - ) m. Lipika ? ( - )
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