Christian Balsley
Revolutionary Soldier of Virginia
Extracted from "Christian Balsley, Rev. War Soldier
and Founder of the Balsley Family of Virginia"
by Earl D. Balsley
Christian Balsley was born 1 May 1756 at Berks County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Peter and Elizabeth Gessler Baltzi, who lived in Brecknock Township, Berks County. Peter had come to America in 1752 aboard the ship "President," perhaps from Switzerland. Peter died in 1766, leaving a widow and six orphan children. Peter's will, written in German, is on file at the Reading Court House in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
The Widow Baltzli's children were bound to various community members until they came of age.
All four sons of Peter Baltzli were soldiers in the Revolutionary War and played a major roll in the development of the communities in which they settled after the conflict. Christian settled in Sherando, Virginia; Jacob in Fairmont (Palatine), West Virginia; and John in New Philadelphia, Ohio. One son, Peter Jr., did not survive the war, but died as a prisoner of the British following the Battle of Long Island in August 1776. Each of the three surviving sons used different variations of the name: Christian used "Balsley," Jacob took "Polsley," and John adopted "Baltzly."
Christian Balsley enlisted in the militia at Reading, Pennsylvania about 1 June 1776. He stated on his pension application that he was "in the company of Captain (Joseph) Hiester, and that LtCol. (Nicholas Lotz) Loots, and Col. (Henry) Haller, and Major Bott were other officers."
Under the command of Capt. Heister of the Berks County Militia, Christian went to New York to support General Washington's Continental Army. The company was ordered to Long Island 24 August 1776, where preparation for the Battle of Long Island was underway.
The day before the battle, Christian was called out on "picket guard" being replacements for Colonel Hand's command at a place called "Red Lion."
The Battle of Long Island may have actually begun in a small conflict which occurred while Christian's company was on picket guard in a watermelon patch. The opposing force included British controlled Hessians and German riflemen. The British force was successful in overcoming the Colonists in the battle.
Many of the soldiers fell back through a marsh while General Stirling caused a counter-attack as cover for the retreat.
The Berks County militia were placed under Colonel Hand's Pennsylvania Battalion of Regular Continentals while a reorganization was accomplished. They were then assigned to Col. Hand's Pennsylvania Battalion of Regulars.
From New York, Christian marched with the army to White Plains, where a battle ensued, but Christian was at the time on guard duty and did not participate. From White Plains, the unit retreated south, eventually arriving at Fort Lee on the North (now Hudson) River. The regiment was assigned to protect Fort Washington, on the opposite side of the river. The Fort fell to the British, and the unit continued a southerly retreat.
Christian was assigned the job of evacuating Fort Lee after the loss of Fort Washington. At this time, he extended his enlistment, answering a general call by General George Washington, and participated in the American victory at Trenton.
Christian returned to Pennsylvania over the Delaware River with Washington's army at the end of December, 1776.
During the years of 1777 and 1778, it is believed that Christian was attached to the cannon factory and ammunition plant at Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1778, Christian was "draughted" to meet the threat of British-employed Indians and was sent to the New York border on the Delaware River to guard the frontier.
It is known that Christian remained in the militia of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, for several years after he moved to Carlisle. He was assigned to the 1st Company of the 2nd Battalion of Cumbarland, and called to duty at least once during this period in 1780. After 1780, Christian's brother, John Baltsly, appears in the same militia company.
Following the war, Christian was established as a gunsmith in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, probably supplying arms to nearby Carlisle Barracks. This venture lasted a few years, whereupon he embarked on iron furnace operations.
In Cumberland County, Christian married Elizabeth Keinadt (Coiner), the daughter of Michael and Margaret (Diller) Keinadt (Coiner/Koiner).
The prospects of large iron deposits (later found to be unfounded) may have been the incentive that drew Christian and his family to the Augusta County, Virginia, area. His father-in-law had migrated to Virginia earlier. Christian and his wife settled just north or Waynesboro near New Hope, where his five oldest children were born: Catherina, George A., Jonathon, Christian, and Elizabeth.
The family was affiliated with Eggl's Church between 1802 and 1809. This church was the German Reform Church later called the Round Hill Meeting House. It was jointly owned by the Reformed and Lutheran with Johannes Braun, of Bridgewater, Virginia, as pastor.
Christian acquired 156 acres of land on Moffetts Creek, a branch of Middle River in July 1813. In an 1815 letter to his brother, Jacob, of Monongalia County, West Virginia, Christian locates his residence as four miles from Jennigs Gap and about 10 miles north of Stanton.
In July 1815, Christian acquired 930 acres on Back Creek and moved his family there. At this location, he and his family lived until his death 22 Jun 1837, and Elizabeth's death 10 November 1844. Both are buried at the "old" Methodist Episcopal Church on the east side of Back Creek about a mile south of Lyndhurst Station.
Information supplied by descendant, Zoe Elizabeth Piper.
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