Data researcher is Douglas Mumma, Doug@mumma.org
The following Information is from a variety of sources.
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Adams County Historical Society Cemetery records
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Henry Mummau, died 16 Dec 1877 72 years
Annie M. died 18 Aug 1899 78yr, 6yr, 18days <====ERROR 1894
Buried Marsh Creek Brethren Cemetery, Highland Twp, Adams Co., PA
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Cemetery also know as the Pfoutz Meeting House Cemetery, Highland Twp, Adams Co., PA
While in the Adams County area in the Spring of 2004, I visited the Marsh Creek Brethren Cemetery and photographed her tombstone. The dates of burial and age matched that listed above on Adams County Historical Society Cemetery cemetery records.
Strange that her death was recorded in the Adams County Independent, Littlestown, PA, January 19, 1895 as Oct. 10, 189(4)?, in her 79th year. Amazing that they could predict a death 5 years in advance! :)
Her birth year determined from the census records is as follows:
1850 age 35 = 1815
1860 age 42 = 1818
1870 age 54 = 1816
1880 age 65 = 1815
From the 1895 newspaper obit, her birth year would be about 1815, consistent with the census data. Also, most newspapers don't print your death 4 years before it happens! :)
Another inconsistent item with a tombstone calculated birth year (1899 - 78 years = 1821) is her marriage record. Henry and Anna of Franklin Tep. were married on 16th October, 1834. The spelling of his surname was listed as "Mummah" of Franklin. Maiden name and marriage listed in the 20 Oct 1834 issue of the Adams Co., Centinel. Also listed in the 28th Oct 1834 issue of the Compiler
If she was born in 1821 as her tombstone suggests, then she would have been 13 years old at marriage which is unlikely. If she was born in 1815, she would have been 19 years old which was typical.
So, it appears there is an incorrect date carved into the tombstone. The stone is a 4 sided stone with Henry Mummah (d. 1877) and Anna (on 2 sides) and their daughter, Amanda (d. 1903) and her husband George Kesseling (d. 1890) on the other 2 sides. Obviously this stone was placed there at a later date than Anna's death. Surrounding this large stone are 4 smaller stones of different sizes which were unreadable and were probably the original stones. I guess the person who ordered the new monument simply did not know all of the correct dates.
All of this supports a conclusion that the tombstone death date is in error. It is likely that her death year should be 1894 instead of 1899. I can't explain the death month and day difference. Also, the surname of MUMMAH is carved on the stone instead of MUMMA which was recorded in the census, and death notices in the newspaper. Only on the marriage entry was the surname Mummah recorded. A stone full of errors!
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OBIT: Annie M. MUMMA, 1895, Adams County, PA
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman
Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/adams/
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MUMMA.- Oct. 10, 189(4)?, Annie M. Mumma, in her 79th year. Her remains were interred in Pfoutz's burying ground.
Adams County Independent, Littlestown, PA, January 19, 1895