Elizabeth Bigler

Elizabeth was born January 10, 1795 in Montgomery County, Maryland, to Basil Harvey and Polly Hall Harvey. She married Jacob Bigler, Jr., on May 24, 1814 and to them were born five children: Henry William, Polly, Hannah, Emeline, and Bathsheba. Little Bathsheba died when she was but 14 months old and was probably buried in the apple orchard where her mother was soon to be buried.

Jacob and Elizabeth were poor, humble, hard-working, honest and religious. They arose by candlelight and worked until late at night. They loomed the flax of their fields, made their own clothing, including shoes. The simple log home was furnished with plain furniture, fashioned by Jacob. Education was important to these parents, for the children went to school and were tutored by David Masters, a Methodist minister. The curriculum consisted of the usual three "R's" with a spelling bee "thrown in for fun." Whenever the weather would permit, it was barefoot time. On Sundays the girls would carry their hose and homemade shoes until they almost reached the little church. Jacob was a farmer, not a shoemaker.

The beautiful State of Virginia (the area is now West Virginia) was rich in resources. Game was plentiful. The family lived on fat venison, wild turkey, honey, acorns, nuts, and pigs, which ran wild in the forest to be fattened. One of the highlights of the year was "sugaring." Families for miles around would gather and make camp. Large buckets were attached to the trees, the oozing sap collected and poured into huge kettles, to be boiled and processed into the delicious sugar. The children loved to sample the tempting sweet and happily licked their sticky fingers.

In 1826 Elizabeth contracted consumption. She realized that she would soon have to leave her five little children; therefore, she made Jacob promise that he would soon remarry so her beloved children would have a mother to love and care for them. This brave and thoughtful little mother even picked her successor – Sally Cunningham, who was but 17. Elizabeth died on 13 Nov 1827 and was buried in the apple orchard of her father-in-law's farm. (Info from history of daughter Emeline Bigler Hess)

Parents:

 Basil Harvey (1763 - 1838)

Spouse:

 Jacob Bigler (1793 - 1859)

Children:

 Mary Bigler (1818 - 1838)*

 Hannah Bigler Miller (1820 - 1905)*

 Emeline Bigler Hess (1823 - 1862)*

 Bathsheba Bigler (1826 - 1827)*

Burial: Jacob Bigler Farm (Apple Orchard) Harrison County West Virginia, USA

Created by: Donnie Record added: Apr 17, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 88668656