About 1735 a group of 200 settlers headed by John Tobler came from Switzerland with the promise of land grants along the Savannah River. They settled in a place known as New Windsor Township on Beech Island (Edgefield County). In his group were the families of Jacob Sturzenneger, David Zubly, Jasper Nail and Leonard and Ulrich Meyer. John Tobler was the Governor-General in Appenzell district, Switzerland until politics caused him to want to leave the country. Tobler was born 1695 Johan Tobler in Switzerland and died 1789 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He was the son of John Tobler and Anna Zellweger Tobler of Switzerland. John was well known in New Windsor as the writer of an almanac, astronomer, musician, and owned a store on the bluff overlooking the Savannah River near the present-day site of the Sand Bar Ferry Bridge. Tobler's wife, Anna, died in New Windsor on March 23, 1768 but at least 8 of his children remained in the area. Issue:
John Joachim Tobler, born New Windsor, South Carolina, died 1810. His LWT dated 7/14/1810, probate 2/22/1811, Edgefield Co. Wife: Ann. Daughter: Ann.
Elizabeth Tobler, died after 1779 in New Windsor.
Christian Tobler died 16 Nov 1793 in New Windsor.
Ann Tobler arried John Clarke of New Windsor, South Carolina.
Ulric tobler died Jan 1820 in Chatham county, georgia. his lwt dated 6/20/1815, probate 1/22/1820. ulric resided in Savannah. he named his sisters, May ann gray and ann clark (deceased) and his brother-in-law, the late james gray of burke county, georgia.
frederic tobler died before 1806 in New windsor.
William tobler died 14 Jul 1806 in New windsor. His LWT dated 2/6/1806: probated 8/6/1806 in Beech island, south carolina. Mentioned his only surviving brother: John joachim tobler and his wife, helen.
