Hagerstown Marks New Founder’s Day Following Discovery of Jonathan Hager’s German Origins

The City of Hagerstown, Maryland, is set to celebrate its newly established Founder’s Day on May 3rd, an occasion prompted by recent research that has shed new light on the origins of the city’s namesake, Jonathan Hager. Information uncovered with the assistance of German researchers has provided definitive details regarding his birthdate, lineage, and place of origin in Germany.

The breakthrough in understanding Jonathan Hager’s background emerged after commemorative events for his death in November 2025. Two German sources, not widely accessible in the United States, were brought to the attention of Hager House staff through Klaus Hein, a resident of Keedysville, Maryland. Following extensive review and translation of these documents, staff at the Hager House Museum have expressed confidence in the newly revealed details.

Key to these revelations is the 2009 publication by Imgard Fuchs-Häger, “Jonathan: Starting a New Life” (Jonathan; Aufbruch in ein fremdes Leben). Fuchs-Häger’s genealogical research, reportedly spurred by a visit to Hager House in 2002 and a review of an 1773 letter from Berleburg to Jonathan Hager, led her to primary sources that confirmed Hager’s lineage, birthplace, and birthdate. According to a baptismal record found in the Wittgenstein County register, a child named Johan Velten Jonatan was born on May 3, 1714, in Schlechten Boden, which is now known as Christianseck, Germany. This record indicates that Hager was the second son and was named Valentin, after his godfather, rather than Jonathan, which may have contributed to previous difficulties in locating his records. The birth name, Valentin, and the spelling of the family surname as “Heger” were noted in the German genealogical records. A baptismal record dated 1719 may have contributed to confusion regarding his birth date. The records also identified his parents as Anna Dorothea Bald and Peter Heger, and listed his siblings as Ludwig David Heger, Susanne Heger, Dorothea Heger, and Sophie Heger. The surname spelling is documented to have shifted to the anglicized “Hager” after the founder arrived in Philadelphia in 1736.

Further corroboration for these findings comes from Heinrich Imhof’s 2018 book, “Hoping for a Better Life: Emigration from Wittgenstein to America in the 18th and 19th Centuries” (Hoffnung auf ein besseres Leben; Die Auswanderung aus Wittgenstein nach Amerika im 18. Und 19. Jahrhundert). Imhof’s research explores the economic and social factors driving emigration from Wittgenstein to colonial America between 1712 and 1908. His work includes German archival records detailing Hager’s arrest, imprisonment, and interrogation alongside fellow gunsmiths as they attempted to flee Germany before reaching Rotterdam, Netherlands, and boarding the ship Harle.

In light of this new information, the Jonathan Hager House Museum has established an official Founder’s Day to commemorate the newly discovered birthdate of May 3rd. Hagerstown, which has grown to become the county seat of Washington County, Maryland, and its most populous city, is also concurrently celebrating the Semi-quincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and Washington County. In recognition of these milestones, the City of Hagerstown Mayor and Council have endorsed the proclamation of Sundays in May as Founder’s Day, with celebrations beginning the first weekend of May. The museum will host a Proclamation Ceremony and introduce the “Founder’s Footsteps” guided walking tour, led by Hager House staff, at 2 p.m. on May 3rd. Registration for the tour is available online at http://www.hagerhouse.org, with a fee of $5 per person.

The Jonathan Hager House Museum has opened for its seasonal tours, operating Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. through October 4th. Tours commence on the hour, with the last tour beginning at 3 p.m., and appointments are not required for general admission. The museum also offers private tours with at least 48 hours’ advance notice. Located at 110 Key Street in Hagerstown City Park, the museum adheres to standard admission rates. Additional upcoming events, including “Jonathan Hager, The Patriot” tours and the “1776: Hager’s Town at War” Living History event, are detailed on the museum’s website. Visitors are advised that the Visitor Center is currently undergoing renovations. For further information, inquiries can be directed to City of Hagerstown Parks & Recreation at 301-739-8577, extension 170, or via email to parksandrec@hagerstownmd.org.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the City of Hagerstown, Maryland

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