fl. 1767 – ?
Christopher’s 6th great-grandmother · ancestor no. 433 · generation 9
Evidence: identity family compilation
Family
- Spouse: John Melchior Plank (m. 1767)
- Family notes: John Melchior Plank + Margaret Plank (m. 1767)
- Children in this vault: Jacob Plank (1768–1851)
Life and evidence
(1900 reunion paper)
Born in Switzerland (per the paper); emigrated with Melchior, indentured to pay their passage, lived in Lancaster and later Mifflin Co., Pa.; died “several years” after him (he d. about 1817). Her maiden name is still unknown.
Wife of John Melchior Plank; surname unknown (‘Margaret ?’).
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
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
- Research: 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: archive.org full text ‘Melchior Plank’ Margaret: only the Plank reunion story and family-history websites; maiden name not found
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.