New research paves a path from Germany to Washington County, with it all culminating with the first ever Founders Day in Hagerstown!

HAGERSTOWN- A new twist on a centuries-old story comes to Hagerstown this year, all courtesy of a trip to Germany and into the past.

Since the commemoration of Hager’s death during Jonathan Hager Week in November 2025, new information has been uncovered with the help of German researchers. Thanks to the resources of German Klaus Hein of Keedysville, Hager House staff became aware of two German sources, not readily available in the United States, to help answer the question of Hager’s origins. After extensive research and review, with the transcriptions and translations provided by Mr. Hein, Hager House staff are confident in publicizing these details.

Imgard Fuchs-Häger published her book titled Jonathan: Starting a New Life (Jonathan; Aufbruch in ein fremdes Leben) in 2009. During a visit to Hagerstown in 2002, she saw the Heinrich Wetter letter from Berleburg to Jonathan Hager dated May 16, 1773, at the Hager House Museum, which guided her search for records. In her genealogical research, Fuchs-Häger located primary sources to confirm Jonathan Hager’s lineage, place of origin, and birthdate.

According to a baptismal record in the Wittgenstein County register, Hager is listed as a second son named Johan Velten Jonatan, born May 3, 1714 in Schlechten Boden (present day Christianseck) in Wittgenstein, Germany. In German genealogy records, Hager is recorded as Valentin, named after his godfather, not Jonathan, which may have caused the difficulty in finding his records previously.

Also, perhaps the reason for the confusion of his birth date originated from his baptismal record dated 1719. The document also provided information on his parents, Anna Dorothea Bald and Peter Heger, and his siblings: Ludwig David Heger, Susanne Heger, Dorothea Heger, and Sophie Heger. Notice the last name spelling changed from Heger to the anglicized Hager, documented after the founder arrived at the port of Philadelphia in 1736.

Another source which helps answer the questions of the town founder’s origins is by Heinrich Imhof titled 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) published in 2018.

Imhof’s research focuses on the economic and social components that drove emigration to colonial America between 1712-1908. He found German archival records that document Hager’s arrest, imprisonment and interrogation with fellow gunsmiths in their attempt to flee Germany before their escape to Rotterdam in the Netherlands and boarding the ship Harle.

As a result of these sources and subsequent research, the Jonathan Hager House Museum was anxious to declare an official Founder’s Day to celebrate the newly discovered birthdate, May 3. Since its founding, Hagerstown has grown to become the county seat of Washington County, Maryland, and remains its most populous city and economic center.

This year 2026, the City of Hagerstown joins the nation in commemorating the Semi-quincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and Washington County, Maryland— both celebrating two and a half centuries of shared local and national history.

With the Mayor and Council’s blessing, Sunday May 3rd will be proclaimed Founder’s Day to be celebrated the first weekend of May. The Museum welcomes all to the Proclamation Ceremony and to join the first guided walking tour Founder’s Footsteps with Hager House staff at 2pm. Registration is available online at www.hagerhouse.org, $5/person.

The Jonathan Hager House Museum is open to the public for the season for tours Fridays & Saturdays from 10am – 4pm and Sundays from Noon – 4pm through October 4.  Tours begin on the hour, no appointment necessary with last tour at 3pm. Private tours are available upon request, with at least 48-hour notice.

The Jonathan Hager House Museum is located at 110 Key Street in Hagerstown City Park. Standard admission rates apply, see website for more information on upcoming events including Jonathan Hager, The Patriot tours and 1776: Hager’s Town at War Living History event.