Name uncertain--usually just Peter. Probably the Peter Eisenmann, Sr., who was born in Germany and came to America on the ship "Phoenix" in 1749 along with Gaspar Iseman, aged 53 years, and a Peter Eisenmann, Jr.99 One source gives his name as Hans Peter Eisenmann. This source also has him on the Phoenix in 1749 from Rotterdan to Philadelphia "with his father and brother Hans Nicklas."95,103
Peter Eisaman, the first known of the name in this country, was of German parentage, either born in this country or coming to it at a very early age with his parents. He was probably born about 1725, and was a resident at one time of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Some time between 1768 and 1778 he removed to Westmoreland county, as the records show the purchase of four hundred acres of land about five miles from Greensburg, March 7, 1778. This land was originally taken for improvement by George Michenderfer, in 1773, who transferred his interest in 1774 to Joseph, Jacob and Samuel Eisenhart, who in turn assigned the tract to Peter Eisaman on the above date. He later obtained a patent for the same. This tract, divided into three farms, is still in the Eisaman name. To Peter Eisaman and his wife, Maria Catherine, were born the following: John George, June 28, 1751; John Jacob, December 13, 1752; John Peter, January 21, 1754; Catherine, June 25, 1755; John Michael, February 15, 1758; Anna Elizabeth, October 1, 1759; Christian, May 24, 1761; John Nicholas, February 20, 1764; Henry, September 13, 1765; Andrew, April 16, 1768.
It appears that Peter, Henry, Nicholas, Michael, Christian and Andrew came to Westmoreland county with their parents. Peter located just below Adamsburg; Henry located near what is known as Possum Hollow; Nicholas settled on the Allegheny river, near what is now New Kensington; and the other there sons--Michael, Christian and Andrew--inherited the three farms constituting the original holding of four hundred acres. The spelling of the name varies considerably in different families. The usual spelling is Eisaman, or Eiseman, or Eisman. The original German, however, is doubtless Eisenmann, meaning literally "iron man," or man of iron, although it may have reference to the profession of the bearer, as a worker or artificer in iron and other metals. Peter Eisaman, father, died somewhere about 1802, and the vendue and appraisement lists are still extant and the sale of his effects took place June 12, 1802.16 |