Harris Ferry Chapter SAR had an incredibly successful grave marking ceremony for Patriot Johannes Bock (also known as John Buck).  Buck Cemetery, located on property once owned by Patriot Bock and now owned by the Harrisburg Hunters’ and Anglers’ Association, has been maintained respectfully by the club since being rediscovered in 1963.  At that time, club President Frank Hoffer contacted Harris Ferry to dedicate the cemetery, to which HFSAR President Robert Savage, descendant Luther Buck, the DAR, and several others came out to place a wreath and hold a ceremony.

In 2025, President Lemon, 1st Vice President Lute, 2nd Vice President John Boyarski, Secretary Coburn, and compatriot Milliron met with HHAA President Jerry Dougherty, a large number of club members, and about two dozen descendants of Patriot Buck to place an SAR Patriot Grave Marker as well as a Revolutionary War marker.  The ceremony went exceptionally well, with the Buck Family having expressed much satisfaction and joy in knowing their ancestor was honored in such a patriotic and respectful manner.  The HHAA was presented with two awards:  a Certificate of Appreciation for being a large donor to HFSAR’s 2024 Wreaths Across America Campaign and an SAR 250 plaque for the preservation of Buck Cemetery.  Eagle Scout Jaden Morgans was presented with the SAR Bronze Eagle Scout Award for constructing the new white vinyl fence that now surrounds and protects the cemetery.

A short biography on Patriot John Buck can be found on the attached program or on the HHAA’s website.

A special thank you the Harrisburg Hunters’ and Anglers’ Association, Eagle Scout Jaden Morgans, and Pennsylvania Skill for a grant that helped fund the SAR marker.  At a later date (and a future update), a roadside marker was by the Pomeroy Foundation in honor of Patriot Buck and installed June 26, 2025.

This event was marked as 250th Anniversary Event.

President Lemon served as the Master of Ceremonies (and filled in for Chaplain Coleman), and if interested this was the dictation.  A presentation was also visible during the indoor portion of the ceremony.

Patriot Biography for Johannes Bock

Johannes Bock, also known as John Buck, was born on 2 January 1753 in Germany and settled in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, with his father.

He married Gertrude Balsbach (also from Germany) in about 1779 and had the following known children:

• John Jr. was born on 13 August 1780 and married Eva Plank.
• George was born on 14 May 1798 and married Christina [surname unknown].
• David was born about 1789
• Catharine was born about 1784 and is thought to have married John Kisner.
• Elizabeth was born on 6 April 1786 and married John Zarger.
• Christian was born on 3 April 1788 and married Margaret Rebecca Zarger.
• Christiana married Michael Bessore or Bashore.
• Maria “Mary” was married on 3 March 1792 and married Daniel Smith.

John purchased land around the year 1777 (currently owned by the Harrisburg Hunters’ and Anglers’ Association)¹

He enlisted under Captain Samuel Watson on 7 February 1776 in the Continental Army, 2nd Pennsylvania Battalion. The unit was ordered to march through New York to assault Quebec against General Burgoyne by Congress on 18 February 1776. Captain Watson was killed and replaced by Captain Thomas L. Moore. It is recorded that this unit was in Ticonderoga on 19 October 1776.²

In 1778, it is reported that John contributed grain and forage to the army. Two separate reports note that John was in the 3rd Company, 4th Battalion, Lancaster County Militia under Captain John Rutherford on 26 December 1778 and 28 October 1779. Note: Lancaster County at this time is considered present-day Dauphin County, and Rutherford’s eventual 10th Battalion was comprised 100% of men from Paxton and Upper Paxtang Townships.³ In 1779, Buck appears in 3rd Battalion Lancaster County Militia under Captain Abraham Scott, who was under Captain David McQueen, all of whom were under the command of Colonel Alexander Lowrey (notable advocate of independence, delegate at Carpenter’s Hall, and veteran of several battles in Pennsylvania and New Jersey). On 1 January 1780, Buck appears on the 6th Company, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania pay rolls. On 10 May 1782, Buck appears in the 4th Company, 10th Battalion Lancaster County Militia under Captain Hugh Robinson.⁴

The Patriot was recorded as a resident of Lower Paxton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, from 1770 until his death on 7 August 1822. He is buried in Buck Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.^5,10

Sources:

1. Stouffer, Mary Zarger and Christian S. Stouffer, Zarger-Zarker Genealogy: Some Descendants of Ulrich Zerger, Pennsylvania. Pottstown: self-published, 1974, page 4
2. Montgomery, Thomas Lynch, Pennsylvania Archives Fifth Series, Volume II, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1906, page 112
3. Montgomery, Thomas Lynch, Pennsylvania Archives Fifth Series, Volume VII, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1906, pages 375, 380, 401
4. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. Micropublication M804. Washington: National Archives
5. Tax Exoneration List, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1786
6. U.S. Septennial Census, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1786
7. U.S. Federal Census, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1790
8. U.S. Federal Census, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1800
9. U.S. Federal Census, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1810
10. U.S. Federal Census, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1820