fl. 1767 – ?
Christopher’s 6th great-grandfather · ancestor no. 432 · generation 9
Evidence: identity family compilation
Family
- Spouse: Margaret Plank (m. 1767)
- Family notes: John Melchior Plank + Margaret Plank (m. 1767)
- Children in this vault: Jacob Plank (1768–1851)
Life and evidence
The 1900 reunion paper ( Life and Progress of the Plank Pioneers)
“Melchoir Plank and wife were born in Switzerland in the early 1700’s — emigrated to America about the year 1745. Were kidnaped and brought to N.Y., sold to a man near N.Y. to pay their passenger charges; afterwards taken to Lancaster Co., Pa., where they paid the balance of their fare charges at hard labor.” Children, all born in Lancaster Co.: John, Jacob, Peter, Christian, Barbara and Margaret. About 1800 they moved to Mifflin Co., Pa.; Melchior died about 1817, his wife several years later.
A second note (Solomon K. Plank, b. 1837): Melchior was “a native of Rotterdam, Holland”; “he & his wife stowed away on a ship to America”, were “sold to a Mrs. Morgan, Berks Co., Pa., to pay passage”.
Three versions of one story: kidnapped, stowed away, or carried off after staying aboard overnight (1986 history). All agree they arrived penniless and were indentured to pay their fare. The dates conflict: emigrated “about 1745” (1900) vs. married at Rotterdam in 1767 (1986); son Jacob was born about 1767.
‘Our maternal great-great-great-great-grandparents were John Melchior Plank and Margaret ?. They were married in 1767 at Rotterdam’ (1986 history pp. 47–48).
Family legend: the accidental voyage
While saying goodbye to friends leaving for America, they were invited aboard for the night — and the ship sailed with them still on it. Arriving with no money, they were indentured in Pennsylvania until their passage was paid. They settled in Berks County.
Where they lived
- 1767 — Rotterdam
- 1768 — Northkill (Berks County)
In their lifetime
- 1776 — 1776 Census of Mennonites in West Prussia
- 1789 — 1789 First Prussian Mennonites settle in Russia
- 1798 — 1798 Old Bern falls; religious freedom
- 1833 — 1833 First Swiss Mennonite settler in Putnam County, Ohio
- 1835 — 1835 The Ramseyers sail on the Richmond
Sources
Lancaster tax lists — added 2026-10-31 by Claude
A “John Plank” (with ”& Son” in 1772) was taxed in Salisbury Township 1771–1782 and a “Planck” in Rapho in 1779. Either could be Melchior or Hans Blank (arr. 1751) (“doctor” in 1782). See Lancaster sources scanned for family surnames.
Narratives and research
- History: 1776 Census of Mennonites in West Prussia, 1789 First Prussian Mennonites settle in Russia, 1798 Old Bern falls; religious freedom, 1833 First Swiss Mennonite settler in Putnam County, Ohio, 1835 The Ramseyers sail on the Richmond, Lancaster’s Swiss Mennonites, 1710s - backdrop and inroads
- Research: Lancaster sources scanned for family surnames, Ships and journeys of the immigrant ancestors
- Sources: Life and Progress of the Plank Pioneers (1900, copied 1962), The Schrock Ramseyer Story (1986)
Research log
- 2026-10-31 (from Lancaster sources scanned for family surnames): John Melchior Plank (m. 1767) (children ‘all born in Lancaster Co.’) | The same Salisbury ‘John Plank & Son’ (1772) could instead be him; ‘Planck’ in Rapho 1779 | Fits the family’s Lancaster residence before the move to Mifflin Co
Record compiled 31 October 2026.
About this research
Supporting documentation is linked throughout. This project is an exercise in AI-assisted research and development, and I haven’t manually verified every link or conclusion. All transcriptions and translations of Swiss parish records were made with AI, and their accuracy should be treated accordingly.