I sought information on Susannah Hackman and found her grave in the cemetery where many of our Lines kin were buried (River Corners. Lancaster County, PA) , but it only listed her birth and death dates. I also found, from Mennonite records, her parents and grandparents but no indication of a marriage to Abraham Lines or indeed, any one.
I did not know how she could be the grandmother , though she states Abram Lines is the children's father, because Abrams wife was Mary Hebel. Unless, I thought, Mary Hebel's mother remarried. Or Abram’s mother remarried. Such a puzzle.
And wonder of wonders, she contacted me with some incredible information. She said she was researching Susan and Henry Hackman, who, from Lancaster Mennonite records, I knew were the parents of Susannah Hackman. She wrote that her father had just passed and she was the caretaker of her mother who had Alzheimers and she was not at home but this is what she remembered;
Anna Hackman McMillan, Jacob Hackman (married a Sarah), Christianna Hackman Hess, Susanna
Hackman (unmarried), Henry Hackman (married Ohmet/Aument), Melchor/Melchior Hackman
(unmarried), Christian Hackman (unmarried), and Mary Hackman (unmarried).
In their wills, Mary leaves everything to Melchior, Christian and Susan. Melchior leaves everything
to Mary, Christian, and Susanna. Christian leaves everything to Susan. And Susan leaves everything
to who you have already mentioned. Melchior, Christian, and Susan lived together.
Here is the part I don't remember well and can't find immediately. I swear I saw a young child with
Susanna, Melchior and Christian at one point. Or something like that. The problem is I can't
remember where I saw it or what the details were. I had wondered if Susanna had perhaps had an
illegitimate child, but knew I had more research to do on this family so I would get back to it
at some time. I just haven't gotten back to it yet and since I'm not currently at home, I've not been
researching as much as I usually do."
illegitimate children. One was a female child born 18 Apr 1821. Susanna states the father was
Jacob Heabel. So I believe Mary Heabel, who you have as born on 18 Apr 1821, was actually the
daughter of Susanna Hackman and Jacob Heabel. ( The second child was born earlier ~1817, and
the father was presumably Christian Stoner.)"
“I typed the copies into Word last night. If you want them, I'd be happy to share them. I guess
I would need your email. I'm sure you would find them interesting, but they won't make
you especially happy with Susanna Hackman. At least they didn't for me. Since there were
two men it makes me questions her...behavior?"
And then she sent me word documents of the xeroxed copies.
Susanna Hackman -- Recognizances Apr 1817
(outer fold)
Recognizances of Susana Hackman
April Sess 1817
Comth
Vs
Christian Stoner
Fornications & Bastardy
(letter)
Susana Hackman of Canostogo Township single woman bound $90
William McMillen of the same township bound in $90
Upon condition that if the said Susana Hackman shall personally appear at the next court of quarter sessions of the peace to be held at Lancaster, in and for the county of Lancaster, then and there to testify on behalf of the Commonwealth against a certain Christian Stoner (for begetting a bastard child on the body of the said Susana Hackman) and not depart the court without licence, then the above recognizance to be void otherwise the said sums of money to be levied of there goods and chattels lands and tenements to the use of the Commonwealth
Taken an Acknowledged the 6 day of March AD 1817
Before me
Henry Rush
Susanna Hackman 1821 Commonwealth vs. Jacob Heabel
(outer fold)
The Commonwealth vs Jacob Heabel for Bastardy an affirmative ? of Susanna Hackman
(letter)
Lancaster County, ss
the commonwealth pennsylvania to any constable of the city or county of Lancaster greeting---
{seal} Whereas Susanna Hackman of Canostaga township in said county, single woman, hath this day made affirmation before William McMillan one of the justices of the peace in & for said county, who saith that on the 18th day of April, last past, at the township aforesaid she the said Susanna Hackman was delivered of a female bastard child & that a certain Jacob Heabel of the same place is the father of
said child you are therefore hereby commanded to take the said Jacob Heabel & bring him before the said William McMillan forthwith to answer the said charge. & further to be delt with according to law Witnesse the said William McMillan at the village of Safeharbor the 30th day of July AD 1821
Wm McMillan
to Mech__ B_____ constable
And this:
Susanna Hackman -- Examinations and payment 30 Jul 1821 and 26 Sep 1821
(outer fold)
Examination & Recognizance
the commonwealth vs Jacob Heabel for
Bastardy on affirmation of Susanna Hackman
1821
(letter 1)
Lancaster County ss
The Examination of Susanna Hackman of Canostoga township in the county of Lancaster. Single woman taken upon her solemn affirmation before William McMillan one of the Justices of the peace in & for said county the 30th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. Who saith that on the eighteenth day of April last past at the township afore said, she the said Susanna Hackman, was delivered of a female bastard child, & that the said bastard child is likely to become chargeable to the said county of lancaster, and that a certain Jacob Heabel of the township of Canostoga aforesaid, is the father of the said child and further saith not
taken and signed
before me Susanna Hackman X (her mark)
Wm McMillan
(letter 2 on same page)____
Commonwealth \
vs > Bastardy an affirmation of Susanna Hackman
Jacob Heabel ______/
Jacob Heabel of Canostoga township & Peter Heabel of Martick township bound in five hundred dollars. Each to be levied of their goods chattles lands & tenaments conditional that the said Jacob Heabel personally appear at the next court of quarter sessions of the peace for the county of Lancaster on the 3d monday in november next to answer said charge & ---
Susanna Hackman & Henry Hackman both of Canastaga township bound in fifty dollar. Each conditional that said Susanna Hackman appear at the next court of quarter sessions of the peace for the county of lancaster on the 3d monday in november next to prosecute and testify & ---
taken & acknowledged September 26th AD 1821
before me
Wm McMillan
(note on separate page)
(Jacob Haebel ) pay Susannah Hackman 12 __ ___ in expences, and 62 1/2 /100 a week from the 18th of April 1821 - until the child shall arrive at the age of 5 years - __ __
=========================================================
I did find an 1850 census with Jacob Hable, still living in Conestoga Township. He was the right age, born 1793. And I found Peter Habel of Martick township, who might possibly have been Jacob’s father.
As an aside, William McMillan noted in the email from Lynn as the husband of Susannah’s sister Anna, was probably the judge noted in the legal papers above.
I would surmise Susanna was involved in her grandchildren's lives. Her daughter Mary died at a very young age, in 1856 at the age of 34, so I would think she stepped in a bit to help Abraham Lines , Mary's husband. Also, Susannah lived with Christian and his wife Leah, in 1870. And Susan Lines' Urban's family listed Susanna Hackman as their mother's mother, perhaps because Susan's mother, Mary Hebel Lines, died so young, the name heard in the Urban household most often might have been Susanna Hackman as opposed to Mary Hebel, and perhaps Susan Lines was even named after her Grandmother Susanna Hackman.
Given the paucity of knowledge about Susanna, Abraham, Mary or anyone else, including Elmer, everything is surmise. Elmer died in 1936 so Barbara was around him for four years, but how much can you actually remember about someone when you are four. Sadly I never really asked Mama about her family very often. So anything I might write, beyond the dates of birth, death, census information or court records, is all supposition. So we can put any interpretation on the events that we read about, including the court records of Susannah Hackman, and decide for ourselves whether or not Susannah was involved in her grandchildren's lives, or just wanted to be involved. Given the fact that she left her worldly goods to them when she departed this life, and lived with Christian and Leah after they were married, I choose to believe she was a part of their lives.
Another aside: you will note I have used Susannah, Susan and Susanna at various places in this narrative. It is purposeful, as her name was spelled differently in various records and sometimes differently in the same document. I like all of the spellings and each spelling conjures up a different aspect of this grandmother to me. I like her.