Adam Michael Teeter was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1754. Throughout most of the records he is known as Michael Teeter (in the records the last name is also Teeder, Teator, Teter and occasionally Tuttor), and that is how I will refer to him from here on out.
Michael Teeter was a private and fought as a ranger with Capt. Hawkins Boone in Daniel Morgan's Rifle Corp (Pennsylvania, 5th Regiment) in the War of Independence from July 1777 to May of 1778. Boone's Military Action List likely contains the battle(s) that Michael participated in (probably Freeman's Farm, Saratoga). He made $6 2/3 a month. He was discharged at West Point, September 15, 1779 and was given a pension in 1786.
Side note: I have seen many references that pointed to Michael fighting in the war. After not finding any official records through my usual channels, I finally decided to sign up for Fold3, a website with historical military records. These records provided many of the specifics mentioned above as well as many of the locations he traveled to and camped at during his service. All of the references I had seen previously matched up with the copies of the records but there were two pieces of information that really stood out. 1) Michael was at the Valley Forge encampment in the late winter and early spring of 1778. We know that he joined the army in July of 1777 so it was likely he was encamped there for the entire winter, but there are few records stating his whereabouts in 1777. 2) Due to exposure (winter of 78/79) he lost both of his feet. From the records, it is clear that he was "Sick (at) Lancaster" for nearly the entire year of 1779.
1778 Company Muster Rolls
Feb / Mar - Valley Forge "On Command"
July / Aug / Sept - Camp Whight Plains "On Command"
Oct / Nov - Camp Fredericksburg
1779
Feb / Mar / Apr - Camp Middle Brook "Sick at Lancaster"
June - Camp Smiths Clove "Sick at Lancaster"
(There is a good deal of information about his brother, Henry Teeter, who also fought as a ranger in the war. After it ended, he moved to Tompkins County, New York. Many descendants still live in and around Ithaca, NY. There's even a Teeter Road.)
Michael married Maria Catherine (Couck/Congle) Keefer, the widow of George Keefer, a British soldier. Michael and Maria Catherine had eight children between 1781 and 1793 born in Sussex County, New Jersey.
In 1790, George and Jacob Keefer (sons of Maria Catherine and George Keefer), walked to Canada to establish their right to land in Canada due to their father’s service in the British Army. These boys 15 and 17 years of age encountered many difficulties on their journey of over 400 miles through the wilds. To avoid pursuit, they nailed the heels of their boots to the toes to make their footprints appear to be going in the opposite direction. Each of the Keefer children was granted 200 acres of land by the Canadian Government. Later in life, George Keefer played an important part in the building of the Welland Canal.
In 1794, Michael Teeter and his family moved to Canada, settling south of Bearnsville, Ontario. The twins, about four years old, rode in pack baskets on either side of the horse, which the mother rode carrying the baby in her arms. (It was likely because of the connection - and land - available through Maria's eldest sons that the family decided to move to Canada, leaving the rest of the family in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states.)
One of Michael’s brothers walked from New Jersey to Canada to visit. He carried a piece of side meat for emergency rations and had a small piece left when he got there. He was described as a short thick set man of great strength. This tale is told by the family, Michael had a saw mill and in the yard was a log so heavy that none of the men could lift one end. The visiting brother lifted one end and held it while four men danced on it.
Land was cheap in Canada at this time. One of Michael’s sons was offered 100 acres of land in exchange for his log cabin. He refused the offer. Another son was given 100 acres for helping to survey a township (I am pretty confident that this was my 6x great grandfather, Moses Spafford Teeter). Michael Teeter was such a good joker that the forth generation of his descendants repeat his jokes. His great grandson recalls this one told by Michael on himself. “I am an American Soldier in the Revolutionary War and four of my sons, born American citizens, were British Soldiers in the War of 1812.” He joked about this probably to cover the hurt. Two of these sons were killed in the war (Abraham and Michael).
Much of the above is from, I believe, The Teeter Family History by Grace Stubbs Rice.
Moses Spafford Teeter Sr. was born 5/1/1781 in Sussex County, New Jersey. From what I can surmise, he was around 13 years old when his family moved to Canada. In 1803, he married Eleanor Conover (Van Kouwenhoven / Covenhoven) and had around 9 children. in 1806, Moses was given, or purchased some of the first land available in Toronto Township, in what was to become the village of Dixie, now part of Mississauga, ON.
Moses served in the 2nd Regiment of York Militia during the War of 1812 and 5 of his brothers fought in the the 4thRegiment of Lincoln Militia.
Dixie Union Chapel Plaque The tiny group of settlers along the Dundas Road in the early 1800s could expect a visit from a missionary or circuit rider once every other year. This dearth of religious education prompted the settlers of Dixie and Cooksville to meet at Phillip Cody’s ( Buffalo Bill Cody's great grandfather) tavern in 1808 and plan to build a chapel. Cody donated land across the road from the tavern for a cemetery and Moses Teeter gave part of his property for the Church. The first attempt at construction was thwarted when a falling beam crushed Absalom Wilcox’s leg. The accident placed a pall over the settlers and work did not begin again until 1812. The American siege of Fort York later that year saw many men enlist to fight and the log chapel was not completed until 1816. During the final building process, arguments erupted over who would use the Church until finally it was agreed that the three Protestant faiths would use the chapel at different times.
Aaron Teeter (1782-1866)In 1805 he married Katy/Waity Chevalier in Clinton Twp., Lincoln Co. He served Apr. 24 to May 18, 1813 (4L3). He served Apr. 29 to May 24, 1813 (4LWN1304). He served July 20 to 24, 1813 (D401). On July 15, 1814 , family history had Aaron injured while marching to confront the Americans. After the war he received a veteran’s land grant. He died in Erin Twp., Wellington Co.Abraham Teeter (1790-1814) Unknown regiment & rankHis twin brother was Isaac. On July 15, 1814 , family history has him killed near Lundy’s Lane.Isaac Teeter (1790-1881)Isaac was born twin to Abraham in New Jersey to Adam Michael Teeter and Mary Couck/Congle. He served July 25 to Aug. 16, 1812 (4LJM1207). In 1837 he married Cornelia Delamatter.Michael Teeter (1793-1814)He married Maria Catherine. He served June 27 to July 10 and Aug. 1 to 24, 1812 (4LJM1207). He served Apr. 24 to May 18, 1813 (4L3). On July 15, 1814 , Michael died near Lundy’s Lane.Solomon Teeter/Teder/Tider (1788-1847Solomon was probably the son of Adam Michael Teeter and Mary Couck/Congle who was born in New Jersey . In 1807 he married Charity Book. He served Apr. 24 to May 18, 1813 (4L3). He served Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, 1814 (4LRN1410a). He died in Smithville , Ontario.
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