| Notes |
- Larry Cornwell
Subject: Samuel Witmer
Comments: Samuel Witmer may have been born in Zollingen, but wasbaptized on Apr 17, 1701 in the Reformed Church of Diedendorf,Herbitzheim, present-day Germany. He died before May, 1776 inPlainfield Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania about the age of75.
His wife was Barbara N--. She was born ca. 1707, and was buried Mar 7,1790 at the age of 83. (Kieffer, Henry Martyn, Some of the FirstSettlers of “The Forks of the Delaware” and Their Descendants Being aTranslation from the German of the Record Books of The First ReformedChurch of Easton, Penna. from 1760 to 1852, Easton: 1902, page 282)She died without a will.
Samuel immigrated on the bilander (a small, two-masted merchant ship)Vernon, commanded by Master Thomas Ricks, sailing from Rotterdam,Netherlands, then to Leith, Scotland, and arriving in the Philadelphiaharbor on Aug 1, 1747. Samuel was listed as passenger number 17 on alist of 52 “foreigners.” Family members were not listed. One of theother passengers (numbers 48 and 49, Joh. Christian Wampfler and Joh.Ludwig Wampfler), was likely the Johannes Wampfler, master weaver,present at the baptism of Samuel’s son Johann Peter. Other surnames onthe list included number 2 Bar and number 52 Wirtz, perhaps related toother baptism sponsors (Baur and Wurtz). Samuel’s family settled inLancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Samuel Witmer’s name appeared on the list of foreigners who took anoath to the government in August 1747. Present were the HonourableAnthony Palmer, Esqr, President and Thomas Hopkinson, Esquire.(Strassburger and Hinke, Pennsylvania German Pioneers, page 363, list112C)
Samuel Wittmar was listed as a burger, or citizen of Herbitzheim and amember of the Reformed Church in 1734 and 1738. Nine children andtheir dates of birth or baptism, and death, were listed, includingJohann Peter, 19.9.1736. (Die Wiederbevolkenung der Dorfer nach demdreibigjahrigen Drieg, Ormingen, Keskastel, Herbitzheim, page 239)
On Apr 9, 1766, Samuel wrote his will. It was executed on May 2, 1776,and the inventory was performed on Jun 18, 1776. He listed hischildren Peter, Elizabeth Ross, deceased, Barbara Drolinger, MargaretFritsch, and single daughter Catharina Whitmore. His wife was to bethe sole executor. He wrote the will “intending shortly on a journey.”(Northampton County No. 691) (Marx, Henry F., Abstracts of WillsNorthampton County 1752-1840, Vol XVI, Easton, Pennsylvania, 1935, p.257)
On Aug 24, 1811, Samuel was mentioned in a deed abstract: “WhereasSamuel Witmer of Plainfield Twp., yeoman died owning land andimprovements in Plainfield Township. . . By his last will. . . To hiswidow Barbara Whitmer and Power of Administration was granted toMichael Rape of Plainfield Twp. . .Yeoman, the husband of Catharine, adaughter of Samuel Witmer. . . The widow Barbara Whitmer has sincedied intestate. . .” (Northampton County Deed G3:293-4)
The following were the children of Samuel Witmer and his wife BarbaraN--:
1 Anna Barbara, b. Dec 13, 1728, d. Jul 4, 1730
2 Anna Barbara, b. Feb 24, 1731, m. Henry Jacob Trollinger/Drolinger
3 Johann George, b. Sep 23, 1733
4 Johann Peter, b. Sep 19, 1736, m. Sarah Maria SallomeSchuett/Schuttin on Oct 7, 1757, d. Jul 3, 1793
5 Daughter, b. Feb 5, 1739
6 Johann Michael, b. Nov 25, 1741, d. May 12, 1742
7 Christina Margaretha, b. Mar 12, 1743, m. John Fritz, d. Oct 29,1744
8 Maria Catharina, b. Sep 24, 1745, d. Aug 27, 1746
9 Anna Elisabetha, 1747, m. -- Ross, d. by 1766
10 Catharina, b. ca. 1750, single in 1766, m. Michael Rape, living in1809
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Abt 1710 - 1776 (~ 66 years)
