The fact that the Van Gundy  family are represented in the Mennonite Vital Records cards tells us the family could well have been Swiss Mennonite.  Some sources refer to them as Swiss Huegenots. Both religions were persecuted in Europe during the 1600s and 1700s.   There are indicators that the Van Gundy ancestor(s), like our Metz ancestor(s), spent time in France, Switzerland, and perhaps Germany. 

The Van Gundy’s are extremely well documented, although there are different branches of the family that could easily become confused. I am just beginning to read their history and look forward to adding more information over time. While I am searching genealogies, I am also finding many sources of history for Pennsylvania immigrants on the frontier. 

Because the Van Gundy family has so many commonalities with the Lodowick Metz family, including where they settled, we can learn much about their everyday lives on the Pennsylvania frontiers.

Sgt Christian Van Gundy served during the American Revolution. Here is one published vignette…

Christian Van Gundy (1742-1812) built a gristmill, operated a ferry, and kept a tavern, on the Susquehanna River at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania—later he moved to Ohio and built a gristmill in Ross County—as a sergeant of militia during the Revolutionary War, he tried to save an older couple with six men under his command, but were attacked by 15 to 30 Indians—after fighting them off for a time they tried to escape, but all were caught and killed except Christian, who, after being chased for several miles, managed to allude them—he later said, “I never expected to get out alive.” He was shot in the leg during the initial attack.

Christian’s father Peter is also represented in numerous records in Pennsylvania, and later in Ohio where the family had moved to.

Catherine Connor, sister of Isaac Conner, married Jacob Van Gundy. Isaac Conner, father of Daniel, was brother of Catherine. So sister and brother married brother and sister….

Godcharles, F. A. (n.d.). Daily Stories of Pennsylvania, by Frederic A Godcharles. Retrieved November 22, 2025, from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/69956/69956-h/69956-h.htm

Linn, J. B. (with University of California Libraries). (1877). Annals of Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania, 1755-1855. Harrisburg, Pa. : L.S. Hart, printer and binder. http://archive.org/details/annalsofbuffalov00linn

Martin, R. T. (n.d.). My Father’s House: An Abridgment. https://americanfamilyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/17e-MFH-Complete-Abridgment-May-11-2023-Internet-copy.pdf

Van Gundy, B. A. (1962). Genealogical listing of certain Van Gundy families. Hand Typed. http://www.familysearch.org

SGT Christian Van Gundy (1743-1813)—Find a Grave… (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2025, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28751381/christian-van_gundy

A longer version of the story is found in: 

Godcharles, F. A. (n.d.). Daily Stories of Pennsylvania, by Frederic A Godcharles. Retrieved November 22, 2025, from [ gutenberg.org/files/69956/69956-h/69956-h.htm]( https://www.gutenberg.org/files/69956/69956-h/69956-h.htm) p 468-469