Gerhard Levering

GERHARD LEVERING.

I HAVE shown that Gerhard Levering was a younger brother of Wigard Levering. That he came to America in the year 1685, with Wigard and his family. That he purchased fifty acres of land in Germantown, in August of that year, and, subsequently, sold it. That he purchased one hundred acres of land in Roxborough, adjoining the five-hundred-acre tract owned by Wigard.

The court records of Germantown show: " 1693, the 28th day or November, the Court being duly opened. The said Francis Daniel Pastorius delivered, in behalf of the said Frankfort Company, unto Gerhard Levering, a deed of enfeoffment containing fifty acres of land in Germantown." This was lot numbered 12: one of the 55 allottments of like area laid out by the company. The long delayed conveyance by the company is hereinbefore explained.

Mr. Jones shows that on the first of October, 1692, Gerhard Levering acquired from John Jennett—one of the patentees of land in Roxborough—one hundred acres, in that township, which adjoined his brother Wigard's purchase, of February, 1691, on the southeast. Jennett, having owned two hundred acres, sold the remaining one hundred to Henry Frey, who married Wigard Levering's daughter, Anna Catharine, as will appear. It was, no doubt, at this time that Gerhard removed from Germantown to Roxborough.

An ancient manuscript, in German, translated by Abram H. Cassel, relates to these adjoining ownerships. It reads:

"I, George Jacobs, certify herewith, that I bought of Gerhard Levering and Henrich Frey, all the land that they have beyond the creek called Wessahika, (except 2 Rods in breadth along the creek, which Henrich Frey reserved of his before conditioned) for 24 [ symbol pounds] cur. on the terms that I pay the first half on the 16th of November next, and the other half on the i6th of May, the year following. And in case I should not pay within that time, then all said land with whatever I may have improved thereon, shall fall back again to the aforenamed Gerhard Levering and Henrich Frey, as its rightful Lords. And whilst the usual rent (of 1 shilling per 100.) has not yet been paid, I obligate myself to pay as much of said Rent to the Proprietor as becomes my part of it, when demanded. In testimony of which I have undersigned my hand and name. George Jacobs.

Actium, in Gerhard Levering's house 1700. c 30 April. Attest Johannes Kelpius \ Glaus Rittinghuis J

(Kelpius, will he recognized as the philosopher, and " Hermit of the Ridge." The manuscript is in his hand writing.)

We have no record evidence of Gerhard's marriage ; the person, or date, but we learn from a deed of conveyance, in which she joined, that his wife's christian name was Mary.

It is unfortunate that Gerhard did not purchase a family Bible, and inscribe therein a register of his marriage, and of his children, as Wigard did, which would have reduced our assumption as to his children, to certainty.

For nearly forty years Gerhard Levering resided in Roxborough, during which period his children were born and reared. As appears from the Records of Philadelphia County, he sold his tract of land in Roxborough, in the year 1730. He, and his wife, Mary, joined in a deed, on the 27th of April, of that year, conveying the 100 acres to J. Selzar. In the deed he describes himself as a "Joiner."

Referring to this alienation of his land, Mr. Jones stated : " From this time I have been unable to discover any trace of Garrett or his wife ; whether they lived and died in Roxborough, or removed to the upper part of Philadelphia County, or went to another Province, is unknown."

Earnest effort to discover them, especially in the forty years ago, would have revealed to him, that Gerhard and his family removed, - not out of the county, however,—but little more than a dozen miles away from their former home, they settled in the midst of that part of Philadelphia County, which became Montgomery County, in the year 1784.

The fact that " many of his posterity were residing there forty years after the sale of his farm," as related b^^ Mr. Jones, was a reasonable index to the place. With this supposition, I instituted investigation, and learned the actual spot upon which he located, as will appear.

In " Rupp's collection of 30,000 names," among " 465 names of inhabitants of Philadelphia County, who owned lands and paid Quitrents prior to 1734," I find Jacob Levering, 100 acres, and Henry Levering, 100 acres, as in Whitpaine Township. Daniel is not mentioned in this list. He must have been inadvertently omitted, as will appear further on.

Here is a corroboration of the statement made in 1855 by Mrs. Catharine Levering Heist (born 1789), a great granddaughter of Henry—as related by Mr. Jones, that she "remembered hearingher father say that Garrett (as Gerhard was often called) Levering had three sons, viz.: HENRY, Daniel, and JACOB, and one daughter, MagDALENA, That Garrett purchased 300 acres of land in Whitpaine Township, which he divided among his three sons, and gavemoney to his daughter, Magdalena."

This explains why Mr. Jones could not find, that subsequently to the sale of his land in Roxborough, Gerhard was ever " possessed of any landed estate."

Calculation shows that if he was ten years younger than his brother Wigard, he had (in 1731, as I will show,) already outlived the biblical span of life allotted to man, hence his act was an equal distribution of his estate, and so each son received an area equal to his farm in Roxborough, the sale of that appears to have been made in contemplation of the settlement of his sons.

I mentioned my investigations as to Gerhard's domicile in his last years. Realizing that no one was better informed than the widely known and aged antiquarian, Abraham H. Cassel, who resides not very remote from Whitpain, and who aided Mr. Jones very jreatly in his compilation of 1858, 1 addressed him at length, asking questions and suggesting possible sources of information, and notwithstanding his apologetic explanation of delay, saying: " Perhaps you don't know that my sight is failing—can only write a few minutes at a time without resting my eye—the other is blind. I can not see the lines. I don't pretend to read any more," etc., the grand old man was stirred into effort, when some lost genealogical links were searched for, as is a superannuated hound at the sound of a fox-horn, and he must have devoted all day to my quest, judging by his voluminous reply.

To my request for names of persons who were best informed of Whitpain, he wrote : "A few years earlier I might have given you the names of several old settlers who took interest in matters of this kind, and who could have aided you in your researches, but they are all gone now, to their long homes. The only persons now, who are likely to know anything about it, are the Hon. Jones Detwiler, a resident of Whitpain, and the author of a history of the township, and Henry S. Dotterer, who compiled a history of the old Boehm Church, where most likely some Leverings are buried."

I availed of these pointers, promptly and earnestly, addressing both. Mr, Detwiler responded soon after, furnishing much interest ing information, including some family data from old church records. He wrote further : " There is an old Reformed church in Whitpain Township known as Boehms, named after its founder, A. D. 1740. There is no doubt that the most of the Leverings, as you will notice herein, were members of this church. The Leverings, Boehm (the minister) and De Havens, all owned land adjoining each other, and very near to the center of these tracts, the church now stands. Their settlement here gave rise to the founding of this church. Some years ago the earliest records of this church, as kept by Rev. Boehm, prior to the year 1764, were destroyed by fire in a dwelling house."

This I regard as a calamity. Doubtless the date of the death of Gerhard and his age were stated, which would have furnished the date of his birth, or an approximation to it; also the dates of decease of his sons, probably their marriages and other data, i regret that Mr. Jones did not pursue such inquiry forty years ago.

Mr. Detwiler continued: "I am inclined to think, from my researches, that the old Gerhard Levering first located upon what is now (1892) the celebrated Holstein stock farm owned by William M. Singerly, of the Philadelphia Record. This property is located at the intersection of the State and Morris roads. Here, an old stone house, fronting south, one story high, with a large chimney-stack in the center, built after the old Dutch style, stood until the property was purchased by Mr, Singerly. The lands of the sons adjoined each other."

In a subsequent letter Mr. Detwiler wrote: "There are none of the Whitpain family of Leverings left in this locality. Dr. D. L. Heist, deceased, grandson of the Daniel Levering who died in 1817, was the last.

The discussion excited in the neighborhood by my inquiries, and the kindly researches by Mr. Detwiler, in my behalf, caused the compilation and publication of an extended article in a local newspaper, entitled, "THE SlNGERLY PROPERTY AT FRANKLINVILLE — The Levering Family—The Old Tavern." From this I learn, in addition to the above, that Colonel Singerly acquired the lands in 1883, paying $13,000 for certain 82 acres of it. That "it has been in the famous great barn, stables, hot-house and other buildings, that the wealth and taste of the present owner has chiefly altered the appearance of the old Levering homestead." That when, in course of time, the premises of Henry descended to Catharine Levering Heist, before named, her husband, John Heist, built a large public house, at the main road crossing, which place has grown into Franklinville

That Mr. Singerly has remodeled this "Old Tavern" for a summer residence, and that here, "on one summer Sunday of 1888," he entertained President Cleveland. It was during his first term of office.

As the evidence of Gerhard Levering's location, with his sons, had thus far been traditional, 1 sought to reduce it to certainty by corresponding with Colonel Singerly. My statement and inquiry addressed to him August 5, 1892, were promptly referred to his attorney, with his "instructions to furnish all the information possible, which can be obtained from the title papers." The attorney wrote me : " After a thorough examination of all the briefs and perusal of the many recitals in the different deeds, I am enabled to furnish only a slight link in the family chain which you are endeavoring to form." But this " slight link " was the one I was searching for : Vide et crede.

By deed, dated June 16, 173 1, Reese Thomas, Anthony Morris and wife and Ann Whitpaine conveyed to Jacob Levering, in fee, a certain tract of land: "Beginning at a post in the line of Daniel Levering's land. At a corner of Samuel Linderman's land ; thence by said Linderman's land N. W. 185 perches to a post in Reese Harry's land ; thence N. E. 86 1/4 perches ; thence by the land of the North Wales Company S. E. 185 perches to a post; thence by said Daniel Levering's land S. W. 86 1/4 perches to the beginning, containing one hundred acres."

By will, dated January 28, 1793, Jacob Levering devises this tract to "My cousin (?) Daniel Levering, grandson of my brother Henry Levering, being my plantation, or tract of land containing one hundred acres.'!

These items are sufficient to confirm the statement made, and my convictions as to the home of Gerhard, in his latter days. The date of the deed recited, shows that he purchased these lands in the year (1731) following his Sale in Roxboro, and the survey description shows that Mr. Rupp omitted Daniel, as a land owner, as hereinbefore suggested.

It may be of interest to know that the De Haven mentioned as one of those who were instrumental in establishing the Reformed Church before named, was Peter Indehaven (then so called), whose wife was SiDONIA, the ninth child of Wigard Levering. He appears to have joined in the land purchases, as Mr. Rupp shows that Peter Indehaven owned 100 acres in the same locality

He was a son of Exerts In Den Hoff (anglicized De Haven), who settled in Whitpaine Township in 1706, when he " located " 200 acres of land. Mr. Detwiler wrote of it: "A lineal descendant of Expert's, yet (1892) owns a portion of it."

The sons of Gerhard Levering lived to considerable age and held their lands. Mr. Detwiler wrote: "In the list of taxables of Whitpain Township for the \-ear 1760-61 (an original copy in my possession) the following is found : Jacob Levering, farmer ; no children ; 100 acres ; 50 cleared ; 6 acres sowed to grain ; 3 horses ; 60 sheep ; 3 cattle. Daniel Levering, 4 children ; 100 acres ; 60 cleared ; 5 acres sowed ; 2 horses ; 6 sheep ; 5 cows. Henry Levering, no children ; 100 acres ; 60 cleared ; 8 acres sowed."

The notings as to children manifestly shows the number at home. Mr. D. adds : " Jacob Levering was the last of that name that held land in Whitpain." The sons, as will be shown, removed to the State of New Jersey, and from thence to Ohio.

There is a tradition in the neighborhood, which is perpetuated in a history of Whitpain Township, published some years ago, to the effect that Daniel, who was a smith as well as a farmer, during the "times that tried men's souls," and their patriotism, inspired by the rumors of war which excited the people prior to the Declaration of independence, and animated with a desire to aid the infant colonies in providing the munitions of war, manufactured a cannon in his shop, and in "providing" the home-made artillery lost his coat-tails and the fullness of his trousers by the first shot, much to his surprise and discomfiture. How the bobtailment occurred is not explained, but I imagine that he attempted to restrain the ordnance, under trying circumstances a la equestrian, and that his garments interfered with the business end of the thing.

By the evidence of their last wills, Daniel lived to June, 1776, and Henry to 1777, in which years the instruments were probated in Philadelphia. Jacob lived to 1793. His will, dated the 28th of January of that year, asserts that he was then "far advanced in age." It was proved August 1, 1793, in court at Norristown,—Montgomery County, having been organized nine years before. No transcript of deeds, wills, etc., were ever taken from Philadelphia to Norristown for recording there.

There has been a measure of uncertainty as to the children of Gerhard Levering and the order of their births.

Catharine Levering Heist, great-great-granddaughter of Gerhard, who resided in Whitpain all her lifetime, and died there in the year 1872, aged 86 years, stated to Mr. Jones that "Gerhard Levering had three sons, Henry, Daniel and Jacob, and one daughter, Magdalena." We have found record evidence of these three sons, but have no other evidence of a daughter. The extinguished records of Boehm's Church, doubtless, contained her name.

Mr. Jones's inquiries for descendants of the pioneers disclosed the Leverings residing at Bethlehem, Pa. In answer to questions as to their ancestors, Mrs. Greider (born 1799) of that city—a granddaughter of John Levering—stated in a letter of March 30, 1856: " My great-grandfather, to my knowledge, was Abraham Levering.

He was a son of Wigard, who died, as much as I remember my father say, near Philadelphia. My father and mother went to his funeral. They then resided here at Bethlehem. He lived to be 109 years old."

While Mrs. G. is correct in the main, I observe that the traditions are confused in her mind. Her father—who was also named Abraham, but of the fifth generation—could not have attended the funeral of the pioneer 'Wigard, who died at the reputed age of 109 years, as his funeral occurred a dozen years before her father was born. Her parents may have attended the funeral of another Wigard, a grandson of the pioneer, who died in 1782, as suggested by Mr. Jones.

Judge Abraham Levering, of Monroe County, Pa., who was a brother of Mrs. Greider, concurred in her statements as to their ancestors residing at Philadelphia, and of attending funerals of relations there.

Mr. Jones wrote : " Abraham •' is presumed to have been a son of Gerhard." He might have stated, and correctly, too, that Abraham was a son of Gerhard.

There were no other pioneer Leverings than Wigard and Gerhard. The former in his family register listed "the perfect number of twelve" children; naming them all, distinctly. He had no son named Abraham. A grandson bearing the name (son of Jacob) was not born until 1717. More than forty years after his last child was born, Wigard named his children in a will, with the names of the husbands of his daughters. This will, though preserved, was revoked by a testament subsequently executed, and which was probated after his decease. In this he names his children again, but no Abraham appears in either instrument.

The attention of Mr. Jones himself was called to the discoveries made (nearly thirty years after "The Levering Family" was published) in the records of old Christ's Church, at Philadelphia, which convinced of the once existence of this Abraham, to whom Mrs. Greider refers.

The extracts made from these records are as follows John, son of Abraham and Ann Levering, born 29th September, 1720, and baptized 9th October, 1720." John, son of Abraham and Ann Levering, buried 20th July 1721." Randle John, son of Abraham and Ann Levering, born 19th Oct and christened, 1722." Burial, 1723 Nov. 26. Abraham Levering's child." Burial, 1730 July 29th, Abraham, son of Abraham Levering."

The name Randle, is an anomalous appellation in the Levering family. To my mind, it suggests the maiden name of the mother, Ann, doubtless of the old family, Randall. If named for John Randall,—perhaps the grandfather,—the church clerk has transposed the names, after the manner of an alphabetical index.

My readers will observe that, Gerhard Levering came to Philadelphia in 1685, unmarried. That in the thirty-five years succeeding, he had married Mary . That they had a son Abraham, who grew to manhood and married Ann , and a grandson John, was born to them. The measure of time sustains the relation. And this Abraham was destined to become "a father of many nations."

In recording the children of Gerhard Levering, in " The Levering Family," Mr. Jones placed Daniel first, as born 2 Dec. 1704. (the only birth date noted in the family list.) He admits Abraham second, as a "presumed" son, upon the statement of Mrs, Greider. it will be noticed that Daniel, born in December, 1704, was less than sixteen years old when his brother Abraham, brought a child to baptism, hence the latter was the older, and, probably, was born before the end of the seventeenth century.

This Abraham was unfortunate in the loss of his children ; both, John, and Randle John, having died in infancy, as appears by the record extracts copied, but he was destined to become the progenitor of numerous posterity through still another son, whom he also named hhn, born at Philadelphia, December 11 (O. S.), 1723, and whom Mr. Jones distinguishes in " The Levering Family" as the Rev. John Levering, ancestor of what he designated the " Nazareth Branch

The Right Rev. Joseph Mortimer Levering, of Bethlehem, Pa., Bishop of the Moravian Church,—who is a great, great grandson of " Reverend " John,—furnished in April, 1888, the result of two years of search and investigation into the history of this old " soldier of the Cross." I extract : " His parents died when he was yet very young, and in consequence of this early bereavement, he experienced many hardships in his childhood. After the death of his parents he was taken in charge by a relative living near to Fredericktown (Whitpain), and was by him apprenticed to a tailor. After learning his trade he traveled with his master from house to house, in the neighborhood, making clothes for the farmers, as was the practice in those days. On one of these tours he came to the house of Henry Antes, of Fredericktown, where he heard the gospel preached by the Moravian Brethren, and was spiritually awakened. Soon after, i. e., in 1743, he visited Bethlehem, and applied for admission to the newly founded Moravian settlement," &c.

I introduce this just here for the purpose of identification ; the history of his subsequent, useful life is given further on, I might be asked, as Gerhard, in June, 1731, purchased land for each of his sons, Henry, Daniel and Jacob, why not for his oldest son, Abraham.? This question precipitates a crisis in my story. He was dead!

I read the last extract given from Christ's Church records, viz. : "Burial; 1730, July 29, Abraham, son of GERHARD Levering." The first child, John, died in less than a year. The second, Randle John, followed. There tcvis no child Abraham born, to follow so soon after, so it was the father. This, when the third child, John, born in December, 1723, was six and a half years old.

The careless entry by the Church Clerk, who was unacquainted with the family names, or the delay of some hours, or of a day, in making the entry, had left a confused memory in his mind. The very abbreviated condition of the record indicates carelessness. There appears nothing to distinguish infant from adult, it was doubtless their way of entering "The short and simple annals of the poor."

The relation and history may be clearly inferred. Gerhard sold his 100 acres in Roxborough in April, 1730. His son Abraham died three months later. By June, 173 1, the surviving family had removed to Whitpain Township, taking Abraham's only child, John, along.

The system of apprenticeship by legal indentures, which was practiced in all mechanical trades in Pennsylvania at that period, and during my youthful days, as I well remember, suggested to my mind that the record of John's indentured relation to the tailoring trade might be found, and therein the name of his father would appear. Hon. Abraham H. Cassel, whom I addressed upon the subject, answered this part of my inquiry, viz. : "Yes, Montgomery County has had such a record of apprenticeships, where it was or in whose custody it formerly was I know not, but when 1 saw it, it was in possession of the old antiquarian and historian, M. M. Auge, the author of 'Eminent Men of Montgomery County.' He picked it up somewhere, among old rubbish ; it was in a very dilapidated condition, but he prized it very highly, and had numerous extracts from it published in the county newspapers. He was nearly all his life a resident in and about Norristown, but died in Philadelphia within the last year. 1 called a few days ago, while in the city, hoping to find Mr. Auge's family, and to see the old Apprentice Manuscript, but learned that they broke up housekeeping directly after his funeral, so 1 have no clew to their whereabouts, and am extremely doubtful as to that old mutilated manuscript being preserved." In correspondence further with Mr. Henry S. Dotterer, an old resident of Whitpain, 1 failed to find evidence or record of John Levering's apprenticeship.

It appears that the lapse of a few years has deprived me of the sources of valuable record information, as to Gerhard Levering's personal and early family history, by the unfortunate destruction of the first records of Boehm's Church, and the loss of apprenticeship dockets has cost us corroboration of " Reverend" John's initial of a busy and useful life. They were within easy reach of Mr. Jones. I regret that his researches were not more extended. pg 81-90 - LEVERING FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY. BY COL. JOHN LEVERIN, 1897, Indianapolis

7. VI. Gerhard : bom about 1660 in Gemen. He emigrated to America with his brother Wigard in 1685. He married Mary , after his arrival at Philadelphia. He died in Whitpain Township, Philad. County, Pa., after the year 1731. See his history in these pages. pg. 94 - LEVERING FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY. BY COL. JOHN LEVERIN, 1897, Indianapolis

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(VI)Gerhard (Garret) LEVERING born about 1660 in Gemen. He immigrated to America with his brother Wigard in 1685. He married Mary (???), after his arrival at Philadelphia. He died in Whitpain Township, Philad. County, Pa., after the year 1731. He married a Mary

Janet Ariciu family Bush

Their children were:
1. Abraham Levering b: Aborn Abt 1695 in Roxborough Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died 29 Jul 1730 in , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Ann.

2. .Henry b Abt 1699 in Roxborough Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / 1702 d died Jan 1778 in Whitpain Twp., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Catharine.

3.Jacob b 1706 / Abt 1701 in Roxborough Philadelphia, Pennsylvania d aft 1793 "Jacob Levering, farmer; no children; 100 acres; 50 cleared; 6 acres sowed to grain; 3 horses; 60 sheep; 3 cattle. His will, dated the 28th of January of that year, asserts that he was then "far advanced in age." It was proved August 1, 1793, in court at Norristown, -Montgomery County, having been organized nine years before. No transcript of deeds, wills, etc., were ever taken from Philadelphia to Norristown for recording there.; He married Sinah Davis.

4. Daniel Levering b: 2 Dec 1704 in Roxborough Philadelphia, Pennsylvania d 12 Jun 1776, Whitpain Twp. Montgomery co. Pa. Occ: Smith, Farmer. 12 May 1735, Christ Church Philadelphia Pa. m'd Margaret BEAN {BEANE] b 23 May 1713 d 9 Jan 1778, Whitpain Twp. Montgomery co. Pa. Children: James (1735-1745), Henry (1738-1810), Mary (1739-), Rebecca (1741-), Jonathan (1742-1776), Jerusha (1744-1745), Seriah (1746-1836), Margaret (1754-1817),Daniel (1755-1817);

5. Magdalena Levering b: 1708

Sources: Levering family : history and genealogy (1897)