Unknown Son Savage

Johannes Sauvage made his will on 16 Feb 1761 in Berks Co., PA, which was proven on 11 May 1761.  Soash_291   The will stated that "my Son Heinrich Sowas shall be the only Heir to all of my Wealth and whole Estate", making him seem to be the only son.  However, on 12 May 1761, his wife Susanna renounced becoming administrator of the estate in favor of "Henrich Sowas, the eldest son of the said deceased."   Soash_1936

The naming of Henrich as the "eldest son" clearly indicates that there was at least one other son.  In a 1909 history of Berks County, it mentions Johannes Sauvage's grandsons Johannes (1797-18??) and Joseph (1794-1873) Savage. Soash_681 These are most likely great grandsons of Johannes.  All of this line used the surname Savage and many of the early generations remained in Berks County, PA rather than moving west.

The father of above named Johannes and Joseph Savage Jr was Joseph Savage Sr (1765-1846) who could not have been the son of Johannes Sauvage as Johannes died in 1761.

This means that there is an unidentified son of Johannes who was a brother to Heinrich but was not named in Johannes' will.  There are several families with the spelling Sawatsch in early Berks County who seem to belong to the early family, but have yet to be connected to existing lines.

Unknown Son Savage was probably born between 1735 and 1745.  Wife unknown. 

The oldest known descendant of this line is Joseph Savage, Sr, who was probably the son of the Unknown Son  He was born 10 May 1765 in Berks County, PA.

"Joseph Sawitsch" married Margaretha Jaiser on 4 Oct 1785 by Reverend William Boos, the minister of Spies Reformed Church and Schwartzwald German Reformed Church in Exeter Township, Berks County, PA. 

A Joseph Savage was listed in the 1778, 1779 (with a sawmill) and 1780 Windsor Township, Berks County tax lists.

There were two different Joseph Savage entries in the 1790 Berks County, PA census, both close to Rockland Township where Johannes Sauvage settled.  See Berks County township map.

    Albany Township - 2 m under 16 (born after 1774), 1 m over 16 (before 1774).

    Greenwich Township - 2 m under 16 (born after 1774), 1 m over 16 (born before 1774), 2 f

Joseph has not been found in the 1800 Berks County census.

A Joseph Savage served in the Connecticut Militia in the War of 1812 from 18 Aug 1814 to 24 Oct 1814.  Not proven to be this Joseph.

There is a Joseph Savage in the 1820 Upper Bern Township, Berks County, PA census with 3 m under 10 (born after 1810), 1 m 26-45 (born 1775-1794), 2 f 16-26 (born 1794-1804).  This does not match up well with Joseph, Sr's known family.

There is a Joseph Savage in the 1830 Windsor Township, Berks County, PA census with 1 m 5-9, 1 m 60-69 (Joseph Sr), 1 f under 5, 2 f 10-14, 1 f 15-19, 1 f 40-49 (perhaps Margaret, Joseph's wife). 

There is a Joseph Savage in the 1840 Upper Bern Township, Berks County, PA census with 1 m 70-79 (Joseph Sr), 2 m 10-14, 1 f 40-49 (probably not Joseph's wife since this female is the same age as the 1830 census).

Joseph died 6 December, 1846 in Berks County.  He was buried in Saint Michaels Cemetery in Berks County.  There is no gravestone for his wife in the cemetery, but it is a very old cemetery so the gravestone may be missing.  There are many descendants of Joseph Sr buried in the cemetery.

Saint Michaels Lutheran & Evangelical Reformed Church was organized in 1766 as a German congregation in Berks County, PA. The second church was built in 1812. The present church was built 1874-75.  There are many descendants of Joseph Sr listed in the church records.

Four known children (since Joseph and Margaret married in 1785, it seems likely there were other children born before 1792 and others after 1797 for whom no baptismal records have been found):

1) Elizabeth Savage was born 6 Oct 1792 in Berks County.  She was baptized at Allemangel or Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Sponsors were Henry & Eva Catherine Gluck.  She married Jacob Schlonecker on 12 Jun 1814.  She died 14 Aug 1847 and was buried in New Bethel Zion Church Cemetery in Grimville, PA.

2) Joseph Savage Jr was born 13 May 1794 in Upper Bern Township, Berks County.   He was baptized 7 Sep 1794 at New Bethel Zion Church in Albany Township. Philip Bausher & Catherine Schmidt were sponsors.

On 21 Sep 1815, he married Maria Magdalena Stahl (born 16 Jan 1796).  The family appeared in the 1850 Upper Bern Township census.

Maria died 1 Feb 1855.  She was buried in Saint Michaels Cemetery.  Joseph Jr made his will on 11 Apr 1871 and died 26 Mar 1873 in Upper Bern Township.  He was buried in Saint Michaels Cemetery.

Joseph and Maria had 8 known children.  Many of the Savage families in Berks County today are descendants of this family.

3) William Savage was born 5 Apr 1796 in Berks County.  He was baptized 22 May 1796 at New Bethel Zion Church in Albany Township.  Valentine & Elizabeth Probst were sponsors.  A William Savage appeared in the 1830 Reading, PA census with 2 m 5-10, 1 m 10-15, 1 m 30-40, 1 f under 5, 1 f 5-10, 2 f 30-40.  No other information on this line.  A William Savage (age 54) appeared in the 1850 Reading, PA census with wife Nancy (age 48), daughter Eliza Ann Savage (age 20) and Charles Turner (age 9).  No other information on this line.

4) John Savage was  born 5 Dec 1797 in Berks County.  He was baptized 7 Feb 1798 at New Bethel Zion Church in Albany Township.  Conrad & Catherine Braucher were sponsors.  No other information on this line.

3/23/2017