Johannes (John) Hahn. Born in Frechenfeld, Pfalz, Germany
on 12 Jun 1712, to Maria Otillia Eichenlaub and Johan Jacob Hahn. Around 1737,
he married Elizabeth Margaretha Forster, daughter of Jonas Forrester, in
Freckenfeld, Pfalz, Germany. They had seven children in Germany before emigrating
from Germany to Philadelphia, arriving 7 Oct 1751, on the ship Janet and taking the Oath of Allegiance.
John Hahn had to work for at time in Philadelphia to finish paying his passage.
After his debt was paid, he worked as a laborer until he had enough money for a
small farm.
According to Hahn historian, Linda Setzer, “Johannes Hahn
and his family lived in Philadelphia for 14 years [until about 1765], before
coming to North Carolina's Rowan County, which today is Catawba County. By then
his first wife had died, and he had married Agnes, whose last name has been alternately
shown as Langle, Legnin and Langnin and perhaps some others. It is uncertain which
is correct. By the time his family was complete, he had fathered more than 20
children, some of whom had left North Carolina for parts West. In some cases,
their children did so. Along the way Johannes's last name changed from Hahn to
Hawn or Honn or Haun or even Hohne or Hahne. There may be other spellings of
which I am unaware. One record says Johannes had changed his name to honor King
George but I have been unable to find proof.”Agnes Langlin married John Hahn on 26 Jul 1757 at Canadochly Union Church, in York, PA. Five children were born before they came to NC. The story is told that their sixth child was born in a wagon on the night they first arrived on what was later to become their home. They crossed the Catawba River at Sherrill’s Ford and moved to the southwestern side of the county, near the Wideners (Whiteners) who were friends. Historian Walter Hahn says, "Johannes Hahn took up camp at that location for four weeks and within this period of time, in company with his sons, set about to locate their home in the south. After a few days prospecting, he located and selected a homesite on both sides of Henry's River, now Burke and Catawba County line. After a house, the next building erected was a building to shelter the stock, and a loom house, for his loom, since he was a weaver by trade. The location of the above homesite of Pioneer Hahn is five miles east or southeast of the present city of Hickory, N.C.” (Source: Linda Setzer, Johannes Hahn Family History).
This is the time when Johannes began to use the name John. Though
they attended Old St. Paul’s Lutheran in Newton, NC, for a while, they built a
church, Zion Lutheran, nearer to their home, which still stands and where Johannes
Hahn and Agnes Langlin are buried. Zion Lutheran Church is just off Highway 321
S in the Mountain View community on Zion Church Road. The inscription on the tombstone is in German, and translated reads, "The one on the cross is my love, My love is Jesus Christ, Johannes Han, born June 12, 1712." John Hahn died 12 Apr 1793; Agnes died 13 Apr 1814. Descendants have erected a stone at the gravesite with the original German and a translation.
One other story that helps give personality to the family is
told by Catawba County historian George Yoder: “After the Revolutionary war there
was a gang of bandits, who was headed by one Joe Brown, roving over the country
plundering and robbing the people. So it happened while this old pioneer, John Hahn,
was in his loom house weaving, he spied this gang of plunderers come to his
house. It is said that he threw his money purse under the floor. They came to
his loom house and demanded his money. They told him if he did not tell where
it was they would hang him. This had no bearing and he still refused to tell
where it was hidden. So, according to their threatnings [sic], they gathered a
rope that was found in the loom house and fastened it around his neck. They
again demanded he tell them where his money was but, true to his word, would
not tell them. So they drew him up until he got, as it was said, blue. Then at
last they let him down and told him that if he would not tell them where his
money was they would take his fine steed, and two of his daughters heard their
remark. And it is said that they ran to the wood pile and gathered the axes and
ran to the stable and took their stand at the door; and, when they came to the
stable and demanded the door to be opened, they stood there with drawn axes and
said that the first one who attempted to open the door they intended to make sausage
of him. They were stout and robust young women and possessed the courage of
lions. They scared the bandits so bad that they left in a big hurry and never
got the fine steed.”
