LauckPeter

Peter Lauck was born in Pennsylvania December 31,

1753. He married Amelia Heiskell of Winchester

on October 27, 1779.

Peter and Amelia were the parents of the following children: Ann Maria, born November 9, 1780;

Jacob, born February 22, 1783;

John Heiskell, born August 15, 1785;

Rebecca, born April 20, 1787;

a son, born August 22, 1789;

Samuel Heiskell, born December10, 1790;

Isaac Streit, born August 6, 1793;

Morgan Adolphus, born July 7, 1796;

Joseph Manley, born March 8, 1799;

Amelia Susan, born March 30, 1802;

William Cunningham, born March 24, 1805.

Peter Lauck served during Dunmore's War in 1774

and enlisted for service in the Revolutionary War under

Daniel Morgan of Winchester. Morgan's company of

riflemen, the famous "Morgan's Raiders," marched from

Winchester July 14, 1775, and arrived in Cambridge,

Massachusetts, August 7th. They performed the famous

"bee-line" march in answer to Washington's call for relief

in Boston. The company fought in the Battle of Quebec in

January of 1776, Lauck was captured and held prisoner

for nearly a year. Injuries from a cannon discharge

during this battle left him deaf for the remainder of his

life.

Peter Lauck (1753-1839)

Watercolor on ivory 3 x 2'/z inches oval

Signed l.r.:

J. Fry mire

12th Octb 1 1801

This is the only known miniature signed by Frymire. The skill of execution indicates the artist had received some training in the technique. Family tradition maintains that this miniature was painted for the subject's daughter, Rebecca, on the occasion of her wedding to John Cunningham.

Peter Lauck Family

Peter, the eldest of the three brothers that are Simon and believe as youngest brother, Abraham. Peter was born in Pennsylvania in 1753 and was resident of Winchester when he enlisted in Col. Stephen's Company in Dunmore's War in 1774.

We later find Simon and Peter leaving Winchester July 14, 1775 with Daniel Morgan's Company on their famous march to Cambridge, Mass. to join General Washington's forces. They called themselves "The Dutch Mess", though not all 96 were of Dutch (German) parentage. From Boston they made the ill-fated march to Quebec. When Peter returned, he celebrated this event of January 1, 1776, every year at his Red Lion Tavern in Winchester.

Peter Lauck was married to Amelia Heiskell 27 Oct1779.

They had eleven Children.

Following his release" Lauck returned to Winchester,

where in 1783 he built the Red Lion Inn. When the inn first

opened, he lived in an adjoining frame house but about

1800 he built " Edgehill," a large brick residence on a hill

overlooking the town. The Red Lion was leased to a suc-

cession of proprietors. In 1831, eight years before his

death,he sold the tavern to his son Isaac Streit Lauck but

bought it back after three years.

His activities were varied: he was a Mason, serving as

Master of Hiram Lodge #21 in 1807, was sworn as County

Constable in 1781, issued bonds as a commissioner for the

Farmers Bank of Virginia in 1812, and was charter mem-

ber of Winchester's Friendship Fire Company. In-

numerable church records attest to his active interest in

and personal service to the Lutheran Church in Win-

chester. He died on October 2, 1839, and was buried in

Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester.

Source: Regina Lauck Shaffer Crawford, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Amelia Heiskell [Mrs. Peter] Lauck (1760 -1842)

Oil on canvas 28 x 22 '/4 inches

Signed on reverse:

Painted by J. Frymire

December 1, 1801

Amelia Heiskell Lauck was one of the six children of Christopher and Eve Heiskell of Winchester, Virginia. Her father owned a considerable amount of property in Winchester and was a founder of the "Old Stone" Lutheran Church there. At age nineteen, she married Peter Lauck and was to bear him eleven children.41 They lived first at the Red Lion Inn, later moving to "Edgehill," which Peter built around 1800.42 In 1835, he sold

"Edgehill" and bought back the Red Lion, which had been sold to their son Isaac in 1831. At the time of her husband's death, Amelia and he were living again at the Red Lion.

Her strength of character, perceived and captured with such intensity by the artist, places this painting among Frymire's most important works.

Mrs. Hannah Reynolds, Houston, Texas.

COMMENTS ABOUT PETER LAUCK AND HIS LIFE

Some researchers think Peter Lauck was born in Mannheim, Germany, others say Peter was a native of Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia. But most common is that he was born in Pennsylvania.

"Peter Lauck came into Pennsylvania with Germans and many marrying German wives, as did Peter who married Amelia (Emily) Heiskell, daughter of Christopher Heiskell of Winchester, (this latter one is of the founders of the first dissenting church in the valley -- The Lutheran Church in Winchester.) He served in the Revolutionary War under Captain Daniel Morgan. Capt. Daniel Morgan formed his company of Virginia Riflemen and was first to answer the call of General Washington. He left Winchester with his men on July 14, 1775, reaching Cambridge, Mass. on Aug. 7th. History says he introduced them to General Washington as "gentlemen from South of the Potomac." It is said General Washington went down the line shaking hands with all for he knew them, or their parents, when he lived in Winchester. These men were sent on the luckless Quebec Campaign, and awful record of suffering, but history says little of the battle lost. Capt. Morgan made a great name for himself there, but as Arnold was severely wounded and Montgomery shot dead at the walls, and Morgan alone got in and won his section, it was impossible to hold it and he and his men were taken prisoner.

Peter Lauck was taken prisoner at the Battle of Quebec, Dec 31, 1775, his twenty-first birthday, and was in the fortress one year. He was severely wounded in battle by the premature discharge of a cannon which burst his ear drums and resulted in his being deaf all of his remaining years. He was a member of the "Dutch Mess", though not Dutch, but of Huguenot origin. His wife was a German however.

There were six members of the Dutch Mess: Peter Lauck, Simon Lauck (his brother, although young and did march off with the group as shown on the record in the citadel, but does not show on the list of prisoners), Jacob Sperry (brother-in-law to the Lauck's), Frederick Kurtz, Charles Grim, and John Shultz. On the first night's march out of Winchester, Morgan's men camped in Morgan's Grove near Shepherdstown, W. VA. There they formed their "mess" and covenanted to celebrate this night always. [In my opinion, Simon did march with his brother since he shows up no where in the records in Winchester, that he was living there during the short 6 months of time. He probably was helping the wounded to return that were hurt in accidents on the march to Quebec. Adding Simon's name to the DAR monument should mean he at least participated somehow in the march.]

Fifty years later only two were left -- Peter Lauck and John Shultz, who had been so frail in Canada that Peter Lauck carried him on his back through the snows. "They messed together during the entire war, and, singularly enough, not one of them met with any disaster during all their severe campaigns. They gained special distinction by their bravery and their attachment to Morgan. They followed him in all his adventurous expeditions against the Indians, in the disastrous campaign of General Braddock, in Arnold's invasion of Canada and to the end of the War of Independence. The six members of the "mess" acted as Morgan's aides-de-camp, but never received or accepted officers' commissions. After the war was over they received valuable tracts of land near Winchester, as rewards of their service, and upon these lands their descendants live to-day."

Source: Byrd Lauck unpublished manuscript 1938.

"Peter Lauck did much to keep patriotism alive and each year on his birthday he celebrated the Siege of Quebec at the Red Lion Inn which he built about 1783 in Winchester. The following inscription appears on a tablet on the Red Lion Tavern at Winchester, VA: "Red Lion Tavern was built about 1783 as a tavern by Peter Lauck, member of the "Dutch Mess" who marched from Winchester to Boston as Morgan's Riflemen." From Byrd Lauck papers.

Nancy Lauck MacDonald {descendant of Simon Lauck} says Peter Lauck was particular in designating this as the "Red Lion Inn" instead of the "Red Lion Tavern", but the tablet designates it as the "Red Lion Tavern". This has been quite upsetting to many in the family of Peter Lauck, if not all the descendents of the Lauck immigrants. There were many records showing and if not indicating the "Inn" was just that. It served many purposes of the day and had lodging, meals and comfort for the traveler as will as for the local citizens of the town.

The original grant of land on which the Red Lion Inn is situated, is written on parchment and bearing the signature of Lord Fairfax. In September 1928, this document was in the possession of Miss Haines, a descendant of the Lauck and Fagan families of Winchester, who was at that time the owner of the Inn, which she used as a dwelling. His home in Winchester was called "Edgehill" and in 1929 Nancy Lauck MacDonald said this was still beautifully preserved. Peter Lauck was active and prominent in church and business in Winchester. Nancy's father was a lad at school when his grandfather, Peter Lauck, died in 1839, and well remembered the visits to beautiful "Edgehill".

There are two histories of Winchester, which are valuable and interesting -- one

"The Story of Winchester, Va.",

by Frederic Morton,

And the second by:

Mrs. Katherine Glass Greene of Winchester. (Title could not be obtained.)

There is no doubt in my mind they are connection with the Laux - Lauck's of Berks County and York County, Pennsylvania, but official records are missing.

Copied from an old German book of family records belonging to Peter Lauck, born Dec 31, 1754.

"This book is owned, (in 1929) by Judge John Heiskell Booton, of Luray, VA.

John H. Booton's mother was Emily Lauck, daughter to Rev. William Cunningham Lauck (a minister of the Baptist Church), the son of Peter Lauck and his wife, Amelia (Emily) Heiskell Lauck, of Winchester, VA."

Children of Peter Lauck and Amelia Heiskell Lauck, were all born in Winchester, VA. Only 6 lived to adulthood:

Rebecca, Samuel, Isaac, Morgan, Joseph, William."

"In 1840, when Peter's estate was appraised, it valued about $12,000.00. Which was quite a tidy sum for an Inn Keeper and an immigrant."

Source: VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE, Vol. 10, pg. 48; & Vol. 29, pg 87.

ANY AND ALL CORRECTS OR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME. Beth [email protected]

DAR MONUMENT

Major-General Daniel Morgan Revolutionary War Soldiers

"Dutch Mess"

SIMON LAUCK,

Second from bottom, left side:

PETER LAUCK,

Third from bottom, right side:

Headstone of Peter Lauck

1753 - 1839

Children of Peter and Amelia (Heiskell) Lauck:

Joseph Manley Lauck (1799 - dead by 1829)

Oil on canvas 21 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches

Signed on reverse:

Painted By J. Frymier

January 25th 1805

Inscription is over an unfinished portrait of a man.This portrait of Joseph Manley Lauck, son of Peter and Amelia Lauck of Winchester, was painted when he was six years old. On December 7, 1825, he married Mary M. Blackford, daughter of Benjamin M. Blackford of Shenandoah County, Virginia. With his brother, Morgan Adolphus, he ran two stores, one in Luray and the other in Mundlesville, as well as a tanyard, all in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Morgan Adolphus died July 1, 1826. The stores and the tanyard were assessed and the estate divided between Joseph and the widow.

Joseph then took his younger brother, William Cunningham Lauck, into the store at Mundlesville as a partner, but lived only a few years more and was dead by April of 1829. His estate settlement was not completed until 1839. The final portion his heirs received from the store was $3,728.37 Vi. The inventory of his household effects gave the impression of a successful businessman and a well-furnished house.

Joseph Manley's portrait is the only work known by Frymire showing the full figure. Frymire had difficulty with the boy's anatomy: the stunted legs are poorly jointed to the trunk and the arms are abnormally short. The setting may have been inspired by the landscape of the Shenandoah Valley, where large outcroppings of rock are common in the fields.

This painting is of further interest for its reverse side, on which appears both the signature and a second, unfinished portrait. The subject there is a man with a tan column behind him to his right. The upper corners of the canvas have been painted in as spandrels to create a feigned oval.

Life estate to Mrs. Frances Getty Smith for the Virginia

Museum, Richmond, Virginia.

Commissioned by Peter Lauck (Copy)

by Charles Peale Polk

Young son, Morgan Adolphus, while Polk that year painted the present portrait of the innkeeper. In 1801, the year Lauck's daughter, Rebecca, married John

Cunningham Frymire painted the bridegroom while Polk painted the bride in that pair of portraits. In that same year, 1801, Frymire painted his remarkable portrait of Lauck's wife, Amelia to complement the present, earlier portrait of Lauck by Polk.

And, again in 1801, Frymire painted the signed miniature of Peter Lauck, the competence of which indicates some training in that technique. Polk is

known to have painted miniatures, also, and his uncle, James Peale (1749 - 1831), was indeed widely known as a miniaturist. Aspects of Frymire's miniature technique are similar to those of James Peak's.

By coincidence, both Polk and Frymire died in 1822. At the time of his death, Frymire still owed Peter Lauck a small sum of money, indicating that their contacts had continued over the years.

Location of original unknown (copy owned by Mr. and

Mrs. Gerald Lauck, Princeton, New Jersey).

Artist: CHARLES PEALE POLK (1767 -1822)

Rebecca Lauck [Mrs. John] Cunningham (1787- )

Oil canvas 1801 (?) 36 x 27 1/2 inches

Family tradition identifies the subject of this portrait as Rebecca Lauck, daughter of Peter and Amelia Lauck, painted at age 13 or 14 years, Rebecca is said to have been. the Laucks' favorite child, their only daughter to live to adulthood. Her portrait, tradition states, was painted at the time of her marriage to John Cunningham. The miniature of Peter Lauck by Frymire is also said to have been painted for Rebecca's wedding. As further evidence of the affection her parents bore her, descendants have cherished a quilt made by Amelia Lauck inscribed, "A present from Amelia Lauck to her daughter Rebecca Cunningham executed in the sixty-fifth year other age [that is, in 1825]."

The children of Rebecca and John Cunningham were William Streit, Charles Lauck, Hannah, and Susan. Hannah, who married Andrew Dyer, was the great-grandmother of the present owner.

Faith ShafferTeal. Arcadia, Indiana.

I personally have done very little research on Peter Lauck but as brother to Simon Lauck, Peter is well known in history, I have collected some data on him. The paintings of Peter Lauck's family is from the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. David Raese was very generous in sharing them with me.

RED LION TAVERN (Admission- by arrangement), South East corner Cork and Loudoun Streets, is a pleasantly proportioned two-story house built of limestone. Now a residence, it was a thriving tavern about the time of the Revolution. George Washington stopped here several times. Peter Lauck of Daniel Morgan's 'Dutch Mess' was proprietor in 1783.

www.winchesterva.gov

Amelia Heiskell Lauck

This appliqued and pieced quilt has now faded from its once vibrant reds and deep greens to a soft pink. The quilting and stuffing were expertly rendered--clearly the work of a highly skilled needlewoman. An embroidered inscription reads, "Made by Amelia Lauck in the 62nd year of her age, April 15, 1823." Mrs. Lauck lived in Windchester, VA where she and her husband Peter, a Revolutionary War veteran, owned the Red Lion Inn. It is widely believed that Mrs. Lauck created this quilt for her daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and John Cunningham. Their initials are embroidered on the wings of an eagle stitched beneath the quilt's central wreath.

Daughters of the American Revolution pg 36.