Notes:
Data source is the Robert A Moomaw "Moomaw, Mumma, Mumaw, Mumaugh" book 1990 and the "Moomaw Newsletters" published by Margaret Dieringer between 1983 & 1989 and other miscellaneous documents.
Additional research by Douglas Mumma, 2123 Farmington Place, Livermore, CA 94550
Jacob arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam on September 10, 1731 aboard the ship, "Pennsylvania Merchant" which was under the command of John Stedman. On September 11, 1731 he went to the court house in Philadelphia and signed two oaths of allegiance to the King of England and to the colonial government. These signatures clearly show that he spelled his name as MUMMA and that he was literate. He has been assigned the Henry Reference number of "1" and all of the Henry Reference numbers of his descendants begin with a 1 plus their generational numbers.
We have no evidence that Jacob arrived with a wife and we presume that she either died prior to the journey to America or during the journey at sea. Likewise, it is possible additional children may have perished during the trip. There is no evidence that Jacob ever remarried. The ships lists show that Jacob arrived with three children under the age of 14, namely Jacob, Margaret, and Frederick.
He apparently settled in Lebanon Township of Lancaster County and was granted a warrant for 100 acres of land in 1746. No grave has been found for Jacob. The children of his oldest son, Jacob migrated to Dauphin County. Jacob, the immigrant, died intestate in Lancaster County in 1748.
In Volume 1, Number 2 of the 1983 Moomaw Newsletter, Margaret Dieringer the publisher stated the following.
'I have copies of two handwritten sheets from the files of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society, Lancaster PA. It is not clear who wrote them or when. It says in part:
"Copied Aug 1856 from a small book Uncle John Mumma has -
Family records of grandfather and his offsprings to the present time. Frederick Mumma was born in Germany, came to America young, died February 8, 1814 and was 84 years of age. His wife, Fronica, her maiden name was Nolt, died in 1807. They had nine children - John, Elizabeth, Jacob, Aney (Amy), Christian, Barbara, Jonas, David, and Mary. These came to maturity."
The descendants of Frederick's children are well documented. There is a problem, however. This Frederick shown in the database is not the same Frederick Mumma that Samuel Hertzler Mumma identified in his book. In Robert Moomaw's book and this database, Frederick Mumma born about 1730 has been attached to Jacob Mumma, the immigrant, as his son. The Frederick Mumma identified in Samuel Hertzler Mumma's book has been assigned the "Unidentified Tree" number of U30. It is most likely that this Frederick is the other Frederick's son. We would appreciate any ones assistance on sorting out these early "Fredericks".
On May 2nd 1748, letters of administration were issued to Jacob Mummer, Peter Witmer and Michael Kingary with regards to Jacob Mumma who died intestate. His death would have happened a few days prior to the issuance of the administration.
