Adam Lauffer

  General Notes:

From Tohickon Reformed Church records, the sponsors to Adam's baptism were Adam Driesbach and wife.
Residence was Allegheny Co., PA. The only reference to Adam in "The Lauffer History" is a land transfer: "Christian Laffer from Adam Laffer. Vol. 8, p. 526: 20 Feb., 1798."

What we know about Adam Laffer, son of Christian Lauffer the Pioneer.

Johan Adam Laffer was born February 10, 1759, baptized March 29, 1759 in Tohickon Union Church, near Keelersville in the extreme western corner of Bedminster Township, Bucks County, PA on the Old Bethlehem Road, half a mile from its intersection with the Ridge Road. It is 3/10 of a mile south of Weisel Post Office and 4/10 of a mile south of the point where the Old Bethlehem road crosses the Tohickon creek.

The next event we have is Adam enlisting August 6, 1776, in 1^st Battalion Associators, County of North Hampton, Flying Camp under the command of Col. Hart. The Company Commander was Capt. Nicholas Kern, 1^st Battalion, Flying Camp (North). His duty assignment was at Amboy. This information for the Pennsylvania State Archives. Adam apparently participated in the Battle of Long Island.

The Proceedings of the Second Continental Congress on June 3, 1776

Resolved that a flying camp be immediately established in the middle colonies; and that it consist of 10,000 men; to complete which number,

Resolved, That the colony of Pennsylvania be requested to furnish of their militia the number of 6,000.

Resolved, That the militia be engaged to the first day of December next, unless sooner discharged by Congress.

That the pay of the militias commence from the day of their marching from home, and that they be allowed one penny a mile, lawful money, in lieu of rations, for trafelling [sic] expences [sic], and one day's pay for every twenty miles, between home and the general rendezvous, going and returning.

The Battle of Long Island took place on August 27, 1776 in southwestern Long Island, on ground now lying in the Prospect Park section of Brooklyn, a borough in New York City. When the British Commander Sir William Howe evacuated Boston early in 1776, General George Washington correctly anticipated that attempts would be made to capture New York City and proceed to fortify the city and its environs. The British army encamped on Staten Island, and Howe decided to attack the isolated American forces on Brooklyn Heights, (now a residential area in the borough of Brooklyn). Accordingly about 10,000 British troops landed on August 22 at Gravesend Bay in Brooklyn. Washington placed General Israel Putnam in command of the American troops in Brooklyn. The action began before dawn on August 27 and by noon the inexperienced and outnumbered American troops had been defeated and forced to retreat. Howe did not press the attack, and in the evening Washington crossed the East River from Manhattan and took command. By the night of August 29 it appeared likely that the British fleet would move up the river and completely cut off the American forces in Brooklyn from the main body of the army in Manhattan. Taking advantage of a fog on the night of August 29-30, however, Washington evacuated his force to Manhattan. About 1000 Americans were taken prisoner, including two generals; the British had about 400 casualties.

No one knows the exact number of American soldiers who fought in the Battle of Long Island but estimates are that there were at least 10,000, mostly New York militia. Perhaps 1,407 Americans were wounded, captured or missing, and 312 were killed. A British report claimed the capture of 89 American officers and 1,097 others. (Article from MSN Encarta.)

There are those who think Adam Laffer was killed at the Battle of Long Island, but it is clear that he did not die at Long Island and did come to Westmoreland County and subsequently bought property as evidenced by the following:

Referring to a deed: Adam, of Allegheny Co., Christian, of Franklin Tp, Westmoreland County, situated on the south side of Crooked Creek, for 135 pounds. (This Adam is the a son of Christian, the Pioneer). The land in question - 389-1/2 acres in Armstrong Tp., was purchased for 190 pounds of Matthew McDonnel, of Derry Tp., Westmoreland County, at the time Adam resided in Greensburg, 22 Dec, 1796: Deed Book Volume 8, page 525. This property was subsequently sold by Adam Laffer of Allegheny County to Christian Lauffer, the son of Christian Lauffer the Pioneer in 1798. This second deed was signed by Adam Laffer in the presence of Bartol Laffer and Henry Laffer.

This being determined, there should be no question that Adam survived the Revolutionary War and joined his family in Western Pennsylvania. There is no evidence that he married or had children. There is no documentation of when he died or where he is buried. The last known transaction made by him is the property transfer in 1798 selling his property in Armstrong Township, Westmoreland County. Perhaps he is buried somewhere in Armstrong Township, Westmoreland County or perhaps he moved with some of his family to Armstrong County.