Biographical Sketch (1995):736, v. 2, p. 56-57. "Esther Oberholtzer (1728-1812) daughter of Jacob and Barbara Oberholtzer of Deep Run, Bucks County Pennsylvania."

1752 Formation of Northampton County:15, p. 634. Northampton County formed from Bucks County.

1778 Petition:681, p. 441-442. As his authority, MacMaster cites the Records of the Supreme Executive Council, Clemency File, P.H.M.C.,749 Petition of Eve Yoder and Esther Bachman. "To the Honorable Representatives of the Freeman of the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania in the General Assembly met.

The Petition of Eve Joder, Wife of Jacob Joder of Upper Saucon Township in the County of Northampton in this State, Yeoman, and Esther Bachman, Wife of George Bachman of Upper Saucon Township aforesaid, Yeoman, As well as on Behalf of themselves and their said Husbands as also on Behalf of John Keisinger, Abraham Keisinger, Henry Sell, Jasper Joder, Abraham Joder, Jacob Joder, Henry Keisinger, Christian Young, John Newcomer, and George Bachman, all of them Freeholders and Men of Reputation of the said County, who have always behaved peaceably & quietly and never intermeddled in state affairs but paid their taxes & fines, furnished houses and teams for the continental service when ever demanded, and some of them have gone with their teams as drivers to carry provisions to the Army of the United States for which services they have hitherto received no pay;

That the said Freeholders were summoned to appear at the Court of Quarter Sessions held at Easton in June last past, where they appeared accordingly and the Test being tendered to them, by the said Court, which said Test they conscientiously scrupled to take (being of the Religious Society called Mennonists) Whereupon the said Court sentenced them to be banished out of this State within thirty days after the said Court and that all their personal Estate be confiscated to the State;

That afterwards all their said personal Estate even their Beds, Beddings Linen, Bibles & Books were taken from them and sold by the Sheriff to the amount of about forty thousand Pounds;

That from some of them all their Provisions were taken and even not a Morsel of Bread left them for their Children;

That all their Iron Stoves were taken from them out of their Houses, tho' fastened to the Freehold, they are deprived of every Means of Keeping their Children warm in the approaching Winter especially at Nights being obliged to lye on the Floor without any Beds;

That some of the said Men's Wives are pregnant and near their Time of Deliverance which makes their Case more distressing and;

That by Reason of the said Proceedings ten of the most respectful and considerable Families in the said County of Northampton are become destitute and very much reduced;

May it therefore please this Honorable House to take the Premises into Consideration and to mitigate the Severity of the Sentence of the said Court, and that some Regard be had to the Command of God laid down in the Scriptures of Truth, to wit: 'What God hath joyned together let not Men put asunder' and that our Husbands may be permitted to continue to dwell with us, and that our Children may not be taken from us.

And your petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray, September the 9th 1778. Eve E. Joder (her mark) Esther E. Bachman (her mark)."