“There are many who believe he was not the John Jacob who came over on the Halifax (Sept. 22, 1752), but rather that he was already here and descends from Hans Hess. Cousins, Helen & Margaret, remember their grandfather, John S. Hess (Michael's son and brother to Catharine) telling them when they were little about the Hess families being in Lancaster County, PA. In their research to Lancaster Co., Helen, Margaret and Joann found newpaper articles in the Intelligencer Journal about the Hans Hess cemetery and Hans Hess Associates. A Clarke Hess and Jim Hess head it. They (Clarke & Jim) have the Hess line back to 1500 and Hans is the first recorded Hess to come to America. Han's gravestone is the oldest marked gravestone in Lancaster Co. It is located at a little farm cemetary in Baumgardner, Pequea Twp. Hans Hess is Swiss-born, emigrated to this country in 1717 and died in 1737. His wife, Magdalena, resting beside him died 1767 Lancaster Co., PA. One of the articles stated the Hess lineage can claim royal blood. There is a Hess coat of arms.
As for John Jacob who came over on the ship Halifax, there is some suggestion he was an inhabitant of Durlack from Groetzingen, but it was not known for sure if it was the one on the Hallifax because there were 2 Johns that emigrated.”
He purports to be from Franklin Co, PA.
He signed a will 28 Jun 1801 in Westmoreland Co, PA (documented Will BK #1 pg 164 Extract 1793-1811). Will mentions heirs, Henry, David, William, Jacob and Mary Stover - widow of Jacob, and a granddaughter Catharine (daughter of Mary Hess Stover) who had two sisters.