The Three Brothers Story, Retold: Johan Martin MOSER
The “Three Brothers Story” is so prevalent in Family History Circles that it is often recounted smugly by experienced genealogists as a sign of family mythology. Some of you know my contrarian nature causes me to poke holes in establishment edicts. Nowhere is that more fun than with my own “Three Brothers Story.” More on that shortly.
In the Beginning
Johan Martin MOSER (1693-c1643) is my immigrant ancestor from Germany or was it France? I first learned about him in the 1970’s with the help of Charles Recker’s newsletter about MOSIER- MOSER families called “The People of the Marsh.” From there I got in touch with Lee MOSIER, who at the time of our first correspondence lived in Las Vegas but later returned to his home town of Carmen, Oklahoma. At the time of this correspondence there were dozens of MOSERs who believed their MOSER ancestors were related but the family legends lacked proof. Below is an excerpt from an article in “People of the Marsh” that suggests that there were 5 MOSER brothers that immigrated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina.
As it turns out these were not all brothers but rather brothers and cousins. But this was back in 1974 and over the course of many decades, with the help of many descendants more and more pieces of the puzzle were collected and organized.
Thirty Years Later
I continued to follow research into the origins of MOSERs in Germany. In my family it was alleged that John Martin MOSER came from Alsace Lorraine, but there was no proof. In 2006 Gary MOSIER published a study “Moser of Middle Franken and Pennsylvannia, 1653-1732” based on paid German research by professional genealogists there. Some of the information in his original study was superseded by newer information. This is where the nut finally began to crack. I contacted Gary MOSIER and he wrote in answer to my question in 2006:
“There is no proof for the parentage of Johan Martin and Johan Adam [MOSER], only guesses. The ties of these guys to the ‘Adventure’ [Ship] is all circumstantial.”
Gary MOSIER 2006
Johan Martin and Johan Adam MOSER traveled to America on the ship ‘James Goodwill’ and landed at Philadelphia the 15th of June 1728. We did not know there relationship at the time of their arrival. Then on the 23rd of September 1732 several more MOSERs arrived on the ship ‘The Adventure’. It was suspected that they were all related, but how? Interestingly, Gary’s ancestor was a Johan Leonard [Leonhardt] MOSER and he was suspected to be a son of one of the brothers– but he could find no proof. Over the course of the next ten years the puzzle began to resolve and the “Three Brothers Story” exploded.
Forty Years Later: The Explosion
Gary’s persistent research eventual answers not only his question of who Johan Leonard MOSER’s parents were but also all the other MOSER’s that arrived on the ‘John Goodwill’ and the ‘Adventure’. Some of this fell into place via research by German genealogists but the key to his question he found himself when he located the baptism of Johann Leonhard MOSER 12 January 1710 in Wörnitz, Bavaria, Germany which had been overlooked by the researchers. This is also where we find the baptism of my Johan Martin MOSER 10 Jan 1693, my 6th great-grandfather. The father of Johan Martin MOSER and Johann Leonhard MOSER is Adam MOSER born 14 September 1653 in Hetzweiler and baptised at St. Wenzeslaus, Weissenkirchberg, Bavaria Germany. However they had different mothers. In fact the reason that things got so convoluted is Adam MOSER was married 3 times and sired 16 children over a period of 45 years!
| Children of Adam MOSER (1653-1720) | |||
| Mother | Date and Place of birth & baptism | Name | Notes |
| 1st Maria STROBEL m. 26 Jan 1675 | 13 Dec 1675 Hetzweiler, bpt Weissenkirchberg | 1. Hans Adam | Died 29 Oct 1693 buried Wörnitz |
| 20 Apr 1678 Altengrueth; bpt Weissenkirchberg | 2. Anna Maria | m Michel Friedrich 6 Oct 1705 Wörnitz | |
| 20 Oct 1680 Altengrueth; bpt Wörnitz | 3. Eva | m Lorenz Zwirner; Immigrated in 1732 ‘Adventure’ | |
| 24 Apr 1683 Altengrueth, bpt Weissenkirchberg | 4. Johan Georg Phillip | Immigrated in 1732 ‘Adventure’ | |
| 25 Oct 1686 Altengrueth, bpt Weissenkirchberg | 5. Maria Barbara | Died 21 Dec 1694 Wörnitz | |
| 4 Mar 1689 Altengrueth, bpt Weissenkirchberg | 6. Johan Michael | Immigrated in 1732 ‘Adventure’ | |
| Maria STROBEL. She dies 15 Jan 1695 | 10 Jan 1693 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 7. Johan Martin | Immigrated on ‘James Goodwill’ 1728 |
| 2nd Elisabetha WOLLINGER m. 2 May 1695 | 23 Sep 1696 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 8. Magdalena | |
| 29 Sep 1698 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 9. Tobias | Immigrated in 1832 ‘Adventure’ | |
| 21 Aug 1800 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 10. Johan Adam | Immigrated on ‘James Goodwill’ 1728 | |
| 28 Apr 1704 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 11. Johan Jacob | Died 24 Jul 1704 buried Wörnitz | |
| 2 Jan 1707 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 12. Christina | ||
| Elisabeth WOLLINGER died 28 Jan 1714 | 12 Jan 1710 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 13. Johan Leonard | Immigrated in 1832 ‘Adventure’ |
| 3rd Apollonia GELLINGER m. 6 Nov 1714 | 22 Dec 1715 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 14. Johannes | Died 4 Jan 1716 |
| 3 Mar 1717 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 15. Anna Margaretha | ||
| 28 Dec 1719 Grossulrichausen; bpt Wörnitz | 16. Maria Barbara | Died 11 Jan 1720 | |
Of Adam MOSER’s 16 children, 5 died young or before marrying. Of the eleven remaining 6 sons and at least 1 daughter immigrated to America. Thus the “Three Brothers Story” is actually 2 brothers immigrating on the ‘James Goodwill’ in 1728 and 4 brothers and a sister immigrating on the ‘Adventure’ in 1832. So not 3 Brothers but actually SIX BROTHERS AND A SISTER! So, yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus!
As is the case in many stories, there are parts that are true and parts that aren’t. DNA has helped to confirm that all these MOSERS are indeed related and the male MOSERs share the same YDNA line. I hope to give more thorough treatment of the Bavarian MOSERS in future posts. Although both Lee and Gary MOSIER and Charles RECKER have all died I am grateful to them for their friendship and help. Never forget that Genealogy is a group endeavor without their help the thousands of MOSER descendants in America would know very little. Genealogy and Family history is a communal effort.
Note: The information on the internet connecting this MOSER family to a line going much further back in Switzerland is incorrect. It is a case of wishful thinking. Be forewarned.
Kelly Wheaton ©2024 – All Rights Reserved
Wheaton Wood 
It’s cool that our modern DNA tests pinpoint Bavaria (at least mine does).
Love reading all those German names – I could so identify as my Schneckenburgers had so many similar names plus a Gottlieb and a Phillip thrown in here and there! And omg the multiple wives and families.
Pingback: German Migration to America: Johan Martin MOSER 1693-c.1743 Part Three | Wheaton Wood
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I enjoyed reading this information! Very helpful. I descend from Johan Adam Moser. I noticed that you have the James Goodwill landing in Philly on September 15. This date fits a particular bit of information that I’m trying to prove out much better than the Sept 11 date that I seem to find everywhere else. Can I ask where you found the Sept 15 date? Also, I would love to read Gary’s study, Moser of Middle Franken and Pennsylvannia. Would you happen to know where I could source or read a copy? I tried contacting Gary a couple of years ago but received an email last Fall advising of his passing.
Brad Moser
Brad, I do not have Gary’s study. Its a long story but he had originally put it on line and then it was copied although published under copyright. He also did not want it distributed because some early information was erroneous. As to the ship issue. I will have to get back to you. There is the date of arrival and then their is the date of debarkation. Use this link to read all of the other bog posts about the MOSERs. https://wheatonwood.com/2024/01/05/the-three-brothers-story-retold-johan-martin-moser/
🙂 after leaving the comment above, I began reading your German Migration to America series. In part 3, I see that you came to the same conclusion I did about the diary being from the James Goodwill voyage! I have suspected this for some time and that is what I’ve been trying to prove out! Thank you for your research!
Brad Moser
There were only 3 ships that year if a remember correctly and this is the only one that makes sense. We can never prove it most likely but I think it does make sense.