When researching your family history use multiple sources to confirm information discovered to meet “The Genealogical Proof Standard”.
My paternal German surname was Moelich, and was anglicized in America to Melick, Mellick and Malick.
Researching my family history I referenced a book by Andrew Mellick, “The Story Of An Old Farm” (SOF) that includes Moelich genealogies. Per this book my 4th great grandfather (ggf) was John Melick who married Mary Todd in 1781 in New Jersey, administrator for the estate of Matthias Appleman, and siblings who settled in Virginia; 5th ggf Philip Melick who settled in Virginia; and 6th ggf Johannes Moelich born 1702 who immigrated to America 1735 from Germany and settled in Bedminster, Somerset, New Jersey.
Using tax and census records I determined 4th ggf John Melick and his wife resided in Pennsylvania 1783-1810. By 1814 John Melick resided in Ohio and died 1834 Perry County, Ohio.
His signed Revolutionary War pension application 1832 while residing in Ohio states he was born December 7, 1753 New Germantown (Oldwick, Hunterdon), New Jersey.
The conclusion of his migration pattern is Hunterdon Co., New Jersey to Pennsylvania to Ohio.
The Will of my 5th ggf Philip Melick, lists a son John Malick and six children residing in Virginia. A Virginia farmer’s map from the early 1800s confirms this Malick family.
John Malick’s signed Revolutionary War pension application of 1833 while residing in Virginia states he was born in 1762 in Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, and resided in Somerset County, New Jersey when he was called into service. His proof of birth and marriage to Mary Todd was the confirmed family bible belonging to his father Philip Melick, and grandfather Johannes Moelich.
Further John Malick research determined he was born in New Jersey, left New Jersey for Berkeley County, Virginia in 1787, and moved to Hampshire County, Virginia in 1798. His father Philip Melick died 1797 Berkeley County, Virginia. His siblings married in Virginia.
The hypothesis requiring further research, John Melick and John Malick were two different individuals and some of their information mistakenly was combined in SOF.
Matthias Appleman’s estate papers signed by administrator John Melick were compared to signatures from the Revolutionary War pension applications signed by John Melick and John Malick. John Malick’s signature matched the estate papers and was signed “John Malick”.
Further Y-DNA testing and research determined the DNA from a living descendant of John Malick and Mary Todd matched the DNA from this Virginia Malick family.
This comparison of SOF’s John Malick (of New Jersey and Virginia) and my 4th ggf John Melick (of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio) concludes SOF Philip Melick and Johannes Moelich are not my paternal 5th and 6th ggf.
John Malick (SOF)
Gf Johannes Moelich res Somerset Co NJ
b. 1762 Bridgewater Somerset, NJ
Rev War resided Somerset Co., NJ
1781 m. Mary Todd NJ
1787 left NJ for Berkeley Co., VA
1797 father Philip Melick d. Berkeley Co., VA
1798 relocated Hampshire Co., VA
1833 resided VA
5 siblings reside VA
John Malick & wife Mary Todd buried VA
Estate paper signature matches Rev War
pension application
Living descendant DNA matches Malick
VA family
4th ggf John Melick
b. 1753 New Germantown (Oldwick, Hunterdon) NJ
1783-1810 resided PA
1814 resided OH
1832 resided OH
d. 1834 Perry Co., OH
John Melick & wife Eleanor buried OH
