|
History of Sebastian Klein/Cline
Tradition has it that the Kleins were French Huguenots who had fled
to Germany during the early 17th Century to
escape religious persecution, and then left Germany in the early 1700's to come to America for the same reason.
According to Pennsylvania records, there were as many as 50 men 16 or older, with the Klein name who had migrated
to America before 1750.
Sebastian Cline was born between 1710 - 1715 presumably in Alsace-Lorraine.* As a young man he married Susan
Christina Elizabeth Beaver/Berber. They came to America aboard the ship, Robert & Alice, landing at Philadelphia on
September 3, 1739, and settled in Lancaster County for a time, giving birth to several children. Sebastian first bought
land in Rowan County (present-day Mt. Pleasant, Cabarrus County, NC) in 1755, but later moved to Lincoln (now
Catawba County) when, in 1762, he and his father-in-law bought a large tract of land (1300 acres) on Clark's Creek
(northwest of Newton, NC). After splitting the land with his wife's father, he and his sons built a community house for
joint use. Later, when Indian trouble became a major problem, he moved his family back to the Cabarrus County farm
and lived on his land there. After the Indians settled down, he moved back to Newton. His son Daniel, stayed at the
Cabarrus County farm.
Sebastian and Elizabeth had at least eleven children. There is no positive proof of the names of his children or even that
of his wife, Elizabeth. Most of this information was obtained from oral tradition or from names and dates written in
family Bibles.
Sebastian, Jr.**
� Daniel, born about 1738 (or 1746?) possibly in Germany
Christopher, born about 1741 in Pennsylvania; married Margaret Ramseur
� Christina, born about 1743; married 1763, Conrad Yoder
� Mary, born about 1744; may have married William Bost
Elizabeth, born about 1748; married Henry Propst
John, born about 1750, married Barbara Traffelstaadt
Utility/Otellia, born about 1753, married George Heffner
Michael, born about November, 1761 (or 62); married 1785, Fannie Killian
Jacob, born about 1765; married Elizabeth Wilfong (1786) and Barbara Hallman (1841)
� Catherine, born about 1768, married Christopher Sigmon
|
KLEIN
A photo of a
coat of arms
was here.
Dexter half
was gold &
sinister half
was silver,
with German
Eagle on it.
|
|
Most of Sebastian's children married and had large families (8-13). John Cline may have become the most prosperous
of the children, owning much land during his life. His oldest son, also named John, married and lived in a little log hut
which later became the famous Hickory Tavern. This same son later moved to Caldwell County. His life ended when he
was murdered and found with his head severed from his body and a mattress placed on top of him. The house was set on
fire to cover the crime.
A photo of
tombstone:
Sebastian
(Bostian)
Klein/Cline
1712-1792
|
Sebastian died in 1792 and is buried in the cemetery at Old St. Paul's
Lutheran Church, at Newton, NC. During this year�s reunion we will
dedicate the new tombstone at his grave. This was made possible
through the generous donations from previous Cline reunions.
| |
|