THIRD GENERATION

11. Susanna ELLER . There is some debate over the husband of Susanna Eller. It is clear he is a John Eller, and almost as clear that it is a John Eller who is the son of Jacob Eller. However, Jacob Eller had two or three sons named John: John Jacob, John Melker, and perhaps, John (with no known middle name). Ms. Peggy Troutman (8180 Bringle Ferry Rd., Salsbury, NC) has little doubt Susanna's husband is John Melker. Others list the John with no known middle name.

She was married to John Melcher (Melchoir) ELLER (son of Jacob ELLER , Sr. and Maria Elizabeth "Eva" GETCHEY) on 9 Oct 1782 in Rowan County, NC. John Melcher (Melchoir) ELLER was born. ⁽¹⁸⁾ There is a lot of confusion about John Melchoir (Melker, Melkor, Michael) Eller. This one made "his mark" like the letter "M" on its right side, looking a lot like a "3." According to Mrs. Peggy A. Troutman (8180 Bringle Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC 28146), this John Melchoir is the son of Jacob Eller, Sr. Mrs. Troutman says she is certain and she cites the unpublished notes of J.W. Hook (in the NC state archives). Mrs. Ruth Earnhardt Goodman (112 N. Brookwood Ave., Rockingham, NC 28379) also shows John Melchoir as a son of Jacob Sr. But she says several of the Eller families changed Melchoir to Michael, and she shows him as John Michael Eller. Gerald Eller (EFA, Vol.V, #4, p.251) shows both a son of Jacob Sr. named John Eller (Ms. Troutman says this is the John Melcher Eller she shows as the son) and a seperate John Melker. Whatever the case, we do know that Christian's daughter Susanna married a John Eller, and it could be either John Eller or John Melker (who we believe is the same person). Ms. Troutman says it is clear Susannah married John Melker Eller. The marriage record shows the marriage took place in "The Pine Church" which was the earliest Union Church built in the German District of Rowan County. Both Lutheran and Reformed worshipped in this building. Its construction -- of pine boughs -- gave it its name. There is also evidence that John Melker fought in the American Revolution. Ms. Troutman says "April 1833 signs, 04 Mar 1831 Age 78 years, pension." Gerald Eller says he was a Revolutionary War soldier enlisting under General Lincoln in 1780 (EFC, Vol.V, #4, p.251). This John Melker Eller is shown in the Federal Census of Rowan County, NC in 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820 & 1830. It is impossible to read that part of the 1840 census. Susanna ELLER and John Melcher (Melchoir) ELLER had the following children:

+42 i. John Melcher ELLER ,II.
43 ii. Jacob ELLER.
44 iii. David ELLER.
+45 iv. Christena ELLER.