Johan Frederik Weigley

Johan Frederick Weigley was best known as Fred Weigley or Johan Fridrich Wegerlein. He was born on May 22, 1773, in Brothersvalley, Somerset, Pennsylvania and he died in 1836 also in Brothers Valley, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, when he was around 63 years old.

fred weigley

Fred’s parents were Philip Wagerline and Anna Dorothea Krafft, aka Fronica. His mother was born in Germany and first came to America in 1744.

We know that his parents were Philip Wegerlein and Fronica based on the “Source Citation for Maryland, Births and Christenings Index, 1662-1911 – FHL Film Number 14145“. This tells us not only when he was born, but also when he was Christened (October 20, 1773). Oh, by the way, he was christened at the Reformed Congregation, in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Fred was baptized on October 20, 1773 at the Reformed Congregation, Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland. We know this from the “,Maryland, Births and Christenings Index, 1662-1911″.

He appeared in the United States census in 1800, 1820 and 1830. He also appeared in the Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863.

Johan Frederik was named after his grandfather on his mother’s side – whose name was Johann Frederick Krafft.

He married a lady by the name of Catharine but we aren’t sure when the marriage took place. All we can say for sure was that it was some time before 1801, which was when their first child was born.

  • Anna Marie (1801)
  • Joseph William (1802)
  • Henrietta (1804)
  • Lydia (1807)
  • Theresa (1809)

 

Philip Weigley

Philip Weigley (aka Philip Wagerline aka Philip Wegerline aka Philipp Waegerlein) is my 5th great grandfather.

He is not to be confused with Georg Philipp Waegerlein from Germany who is married to Anna Katharina who had a daughter named Anna Katharine Waegerlein – Hoeppel (born in 1818).  Georg Philipp Waegerlein is a different person.

What makes tracing the material family tree so complicated is the very fact that the Wegley name has so many variations. It also doesn’t help that when you go so far back in time, you don’t have as many records. But what complicates matters, even more, are when two people who have similar names happen to live in the same area.

Most sources list his birthday as September 15, 1731, and his death on September 15, 1831. That would mean that he died on his 100th birthday. The problem with that is that other documents don’t support this data.

What we can say for sure about Philip Weigley is that his gravestone which is in the Berlin Reformed cemetery aka the Weigley cemetery says he died on September 18, 1831, in the 92 years of his life. It also says “In memory of Philip Weigley, who departed this life. ”

Other records of the time state he was the “First permanent settler in Berlin Region and was formerly spelled Wegerline.”

So now we can say for sure one fact about Philip, we died on September 18, 1831, and he was 92 when he died. That means that he was probably born in 1739 and not as other records show, September 15, 1731.  

Philip Wagerline -Weigley

Next we have an interesting document from the website pa-roots.com.  It tells us that he was one of the earliest settlers in the Brothersvalley area of Pennsylvania. The story goes on to say that he had a small farm which he grew Rye on.

Brothersvalley Settled 1769 (30 at this time)
brothersvalley Incorporated 1771

On October 5, 1784 he was issued a land grand in Bedford, Pennsylvania. There are at least two different government documents that back this up. This would have made him about 45 at the time. Google maps shows us that Bedford and Brothersvalley Township are about 40 miles apart.

1831 – wrote will

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pasomers/hbs/chapter5.htm

Old Mr. Philip Weigley must have been among the earliest settlers, perhaps the next after Rhoads. He came to Brothersvalley, built a house, cleared five or six acres of land and sowed it in Rye. The next winter the snow was five to seven feet deep and lay without a thaw for nearly four months. Without a thaw for nearly four months be intolerable and that he would take for his land what he could get, so that he might get off as soon as possible in the spring. He had paid $50.00 for it, and he thought if he could get that much he would be a fortunate man. Soon after spring opened, three persons came along exploring the country for a place to locate themselves, and seeing his field of rye, which was a remarkable promising crop, they asked him what he would take for his place. He was afraid to put his price of $50.00 upon it lest it might frighten them, and he therefore told them to make him an offer. They offered him $150.00 and it astonished him so much that he broke the negotiation short off and told them he would not sell.

Now it is true, he could have moved from Bedford to Brothersvalley, since it’s not really that far away. But we know for a fact he lived in Bedford until 1790, which we can verify through the 1790 US Federal Census. His first listing in Brothersvalley was in 1800, which means he would have been almost 70 years old at that time.
He went his entire life until he was 70 years old using the name Philip Wagerline. Why would he suddenly change it to Philip Weigley? That part I don’t understand. And another thing …. why did he move when he was 70 years old to start up a new farm?
However to note, Brothersvalley is in Bedford county. So is it possible he didn’t in fact live in Bedford the town in the 1790 census but instead Bedford county in the yet to be named area that one would day be Brothersvalley?

 

WILLS: Philip WAGERLINE, 1830, Brothersvalley Twp., Somerset County, PA
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Margiee Wegley margiee@jwwa.com April 13, 2007, 11:02 pmCopyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________
Philip FrederickJohn son in law Peter Glessneralso paying unto my daughter Susana Markly two hundred dollars four years aftermy son-in- law Joseph Markly,Source: Transcribed From Sampubco Copy By Margiee Wegley, Somerset County, PaWritten: October 23, 1830
Recorded: October 1, 1831Transcribed from SAMPUBCO copy by Margiee Wegley, Somerset County, PA
Brothers Valley, Will Book Vol. 3-1  Surnames: Wagerline, Moyer, Glessner, Hay,
Markley, Davidson, Good, MusserWill of Philip Wagerline, DeceasedIn the name of God Amen.  I Philip Wagerline the Eldest of Brothers Valley Township, in the County of Somerset, and State of Pennsylvania Yeoman being in health of body and of sound disposing mind memory and understanding blessed be God for the same.  Do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manor and form following to wit:First it is my Will and I do order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease.  Items I give and devise unto my son Philip Wagerline his heirs and assigns forever.  All that certain plantation and tract of land whereon he now lives according to the boundaries as laid off by actual surve y including the piece of meadow originally laid off to my son Frederick Wagerline as the same is fenced off for which said piece of meadow the said Philip Wagerline is to lay off to the tract of land sold by the said Frederick Wagerline unto my son John Wagerline the same quantity of land at the upper end of the place next to the town of Berlin so as to be of the least injury to the said Philip Wagerline’s plantation the said tract containing about two hundred and twenty acres be the same more or less situate in Brothers Valley Township aforesaid and bounded by lands of Michael Moyer, John Wagerline and others together with the appurtenances.  He or the paying there out unto my son John Wagerline and heirs or representatives six hundred dollars thirty days after my decease: and also paying to my son in law Peter Glessner or his heirs seven hundred dollars, three hundred dollars one year after my decease and two hundred dollars per annum until the said seven hundred dollars are paid.  And also paying unto my daughter Susana Markly two hundred dollars four years after my decease.Items I give and devise unto my son John Wagerline all that certain plantation and tract of land whereon he now lives as laid off containing about one hundred and sixteen acres together with the appurtenances adjoining lands of Michael Moyer, Peter Hay, Philip Wagerline and others to have and to hold the same to him his heirs and assigns forever and also my eight day clock.  Items I give and devise unto my son Frederick Wagerline and to his heirs and assigns the proceeds in full which arose from the sale of a tract of land that he sold unto my aforesaid son John Wagerline and which proceeds he hath heretofore received.  Items I give unto the heirs of my son-in-law Joseph Markly, deceased, the proceeds in full which arose from the sale of a tract of land warranted in the name of Samuel Davidson containing four hundred and eighty nine acres and which proceeds the said deceased hath heretofore received.  And Item it is my will and I do order and direct that my son John Wagerline shall within thirty days after my decease deliver up to my Executor hereinafter named all my personal estate that may be within his possession or knowledge of nature or kind so ever it may be or that I am in anywise entitled to and it is my will that the said herein after named Executor make sale as soon as convenient  of such property as may be delivered unto him by my said son John Wagerline and that the proceeds thereof be divided equally between my son-in-law Peter Glessner and my daughter Susan Markly and lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my trusty friend Jacob Good of Brothers Valley Township Executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other wills, legacies and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament.  In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty. 1830.Philip (his mark) Wagerline {seal}Signed sealed and delivered published pronounced and declaring by the Testator to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have hereunto subscribed our manes as witnesses.Tobias Musser
Peter MusserRegistered 1st October 1831, C. Forward, Register

Somerset County SS:

This first day of October 1831 before me Chauncey Forward, Register for the probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration in and for said County personally came Tobias Musser and Peter Musser the subscribers witnesses to the foregoing will and being affirmed according to law did depose and say that they were present and saw and heard Philip Wagerline the Testator sign seal publish pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for his testament and last will and that at the time  of so doing he was of perfect and sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge observation and belief.

Affirmed and subscribed before
me           }                                          Tobias Musser
Sam Glessner for C. Forward,
Register      }                                          Peter Musser

Letters Testamentary Estate of Philip Wagerline

Somerset County, ss:

By the tenor of these presents, I Chauncey Forward, Register for the probate of wills and granting letters of administration in and for the County of Somerset in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do make known unto all men, that on the day of the date thereof at Somerset before me, was proved, approved and insinuated the last will and testament of Philip Wagerline late of said County deceased: (a true copy whereof is to these presents annexed) having whilst he lived and at the time of his death, divers goods, chattels, rights and credits within the said Commonwealth.  By reason whereof the approbation and insinuation of the said Last Will and Testament, and the committing the Administration of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said deceased, and also the auditing the accounts, calculations and reckonings of the said Administration and a final dismission from the same, to me are manifestly known to belong; and that the Administration of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of said the deceased any way concerning his last will and Testament was Committed to Jacob Good, Executor in the said last will and testament named Jacob Good having been first affirmed according to law well and truly to Administer the goods and chattels of the said deceased; and make a true and perfect inventory thereof and exhibit the same into the Registers Office at Somerset, on or before the 1st day of November next, and to render a just and true account, calculation and reckoning of the said Administration on or before the first day of October next ensuing.  In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said County of Somerset, this first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one.

C. Forward, Register

Registered 1st day of October 1831

 

PHILIP WAGERLINE — 155 ½ acres called “Pyramid” located on Buffelow (Buffalo) Lick Creek in Brothers’ Valley Twp., Bedford County, adjoining lands of Philip WAGERLINE, Jr., Tilman SHITZ, Peter GRAFF, Jacob FISHER, Francis HAY, and William MILLER. Surveyed 04 Dec 1784, pursuant to a warrant dated 05 Oct 1784, for 147 acres.

(Source: Land Warrants of Somerset County, Survey Book I, Somerset Co., Pa. [being part of Bedford County until 1795], page 163.)

 

Philip married Anna Dorothea Fronica Krafft (1746-1792) on April 20, 1767. Together they had at least six children.

        • Susanna Eva (1769-1841) Died when she was 72
        • Frederick (1773-1836) Died when he was 63
        • Catharine (1774-1834) Died when she was 60
        • Philip (1775-October 26, 1836) Died when he was 61
        • Joseph (1779- 1836) Died when he was 56
        • John (1781-March 11, 1836) Died when he was 54

1836 was a rough year for the Wegley family, notice that Philip lost 4 of his 6 children that year. Of course he died 5 years prior to that so he wouldn’t have actually known his children died, but that’s not really the point. 😛

What I wonder is, how did they all die that year? What possibly could have been going on at that time in history to have caused so many deaths? The only war I could find was the Second Seminole War but that took place in Florida.

His parents were most likely Paul Wegerline and Ottilia. In all he had six siblings (not 100% verified – but current research shows these might be accurate).

Katharine Wegerlin (1727-1800)

Ottilia Wegerline (1729-?)

Anna Clara Wegerline (1731-1784)

Johan Jacob Wegerlin (1731-?)

Johan Simon Wegerle (1736-?)

Adam Weigley (1744-1798)

      • I should note that it was this generation that still sometimes used the last name Wageli (or Wägeli), specifically Johan Simon.

Thomas Richardson

What I love most about genealogy is that it’s like a mystery and you have to dig and figure out how to solve this puzzle – these puzzle pieces just so happen to be parts of my very existence.

Today we delve into the mystery that is Thomas Richardson. Now there are a lot of Thomas Richardson’s out there today and there were a lot of them back in the 1800’s as well.

This makes it quite complicated when you are trying to find the exact Thomas Richardson that belongs in your family tree.

The Thomas Richardson we are looking for today is the father of John Durk Richardson.

Thomas Richardson was born on January 12, 1826, in Moore, North Carolina. He is my 4th great grandfather. He died on May 18, 1898, in McAlester, Oklahoma.

What we don’t have though is a death certificate to prove it.

Oklahoma became a state in November 1907. The state began accepting birth and death records for filing in October of 1908. The filing of these records became mandatory in 1917, however, the practice of filing birth and death records with the state did not become routine until the 1940’s when they began to be used for identification purposes.

Going this far back in history it isn’t always so easy to find answers with proof. I’ve been trying to piece together his life but it hasn’t always been easy.

We know that Thomas Richardson is the father of John Durk Richardson. But even that simple fact gets muddled and confused when digging that far back in history.

We know that Thomas Richardson was born in North Carolina based not only on several US census records which each time state place of birth being North Carolina. His place of birth is also listed on his son William’s death certificate.

William Bruford Richardson Death Certificate

This document should serve as a reminder that if you can’t find information on your own direct relative start doing some research into their brothers and sisters.

Let’s take a look at the 1850 US census. This document tells us that in 1850 he was 24, which puts his birth year about 1826. This matches perfectly with other data we have found.

It tells us that he was born in North Carolina and that at the time he was living in Moore, North Carolina. So far it all checks out.

Listed on the US Census were

Name Age
Thomas Richardson 24
Nancy Richardson 24
Lydia M Richardson 5
John D Richardson 3
Isham T Richardson 1
    This document tells us that in 1850 John Durk Richardson (or John D) was 3 years old. That matches perfectly with our known date of birth for John Durk. That means we have the right guy. This guy is in fact the father of John Durk Richardson.
    That means we now can confirm that John’s mother was Nancy and Thomas Richardsons’s wife was Nancy. Nancy who though?
    During the course of their marriage Thomas and Nancy Richardson had at least four children.
  • Lydia Martha Richardson (1845-1931)
  • John Durk Richardson (1847-1926)
  • Isham Thomas Richardson (1849-1923)
  • William Bruford Richardson (1854-1924)

We learned from the US Census records that John Durk’s parents were Thomas and Nancy Richardson. In 1850 Thomas and Nancy Richardson were both 24 years old. During that time, three of their 4 children were alive. Lydia was John was 3 and Isham was 1.

This means that our Nancy (whoever she may be was in fact alive in 1850. She however died sometime before 1860.

In 1860 the census records show us that Thomas is married to someone named Margaret. Everything else matches up including Lydia, John, Isham – they are all now 10 years older than the previous one. The newest addition is WM Richardson – which with other documents we would find is William Bruford. All we know about his new wife is that she is 20 years old in 1860 and she was born in North Carolina.

But let’s go back to Nancy. For awhile I thought that the Nancy in question was Nancy Keller (several other family trees said that), whose father in Solomon Keller. But I eventually found an old clipping from a North Carolina archive about her father. In that story it says that Nancy Keller married James Jackson. So that means that John Durk’s mother Nancy isn’t Nancy Keller.

nancy-keller-is-not-nancy-richardson

There is however a Nancy Kelley that could be our mystery Nancy. The William Richardson death certificate doesn’t list the maiden name of his mother. It states he doesn’t know her maiden name or even where she was born at.

There is no known death certificate for John Durk so I began looking for them for Lydia Martha and Isham Thomas, Nancy’s other children. Lydia Martha died in Oklahoma in 1931. I couldn’t however find a copy of her death certificate.

Last but not least I went to Isham Thomas Richardson. I was hoping with such an unusual name it would be easier to find official documents on him. His find a grave listing had a photograph of his headstone which confirms his date of birth and date (April 2, 1849-February 23, 1923).  Sadly I couldn’t find a copy of his death certificate or any other official document stating Nancy’s maiden name. It could be Nancy Kelley, but then again it may not be. Until we have some sort of actual document verifying it, we can’t say for sure. All we can say for sure is that it’s not Keller nor is it Jackson. I just to note that there was in fact a Nancy Kelly who lived in Moore, NC of all places that appears in the 1860 US census. This person is not our Nancy. That Nancy Kelly is married to Salley Kelly, obviously not making that our girl.

Moving forward with Thomas Richardson, we next have a North Carolina, Marriage Records document that show Thomas married his next wife, Margaret McCaskell on May 8, 1860 in Moore, North Carolina.

This means that his wife Nancy seems to have died sometime between the birth of William in 1854 and the 1860 census.

In 1880, the US census tells us that he was 54 years old and was living in Parker, Texas at the time. His birthplace was North Carolina (which we already knew) and that both his mother and father were born in North Carolina as well. He was a farmer and his wife (2nd wife) was 41 in 1881.

At this time they had only two children living with them, King (15) and Julie (11). The King listed is Rufus King and the Julie listed is their youngest daughter Julia Frances. They also have a 11 year old child living with them named Thomas Rogers who is listed as their white, 11 year old adopted son. It says his real father was born in Tennessee and his mother was born in Texas.

What this document tells us is that both Thomas’s parents are from North Carolina. That’s one more clue in the mystery of who his parents were.

There is a John David Richardson who was born in Moore county of North Carolina in 1795 who had a son named Thomas. Is that our Thomas, father of John Durk? I just don’t know. Not yet. 🙂

We know that our Thomas had a son named Isham Thomas Richardson in 1849.

 

 

John Durk Richardson

John Durk Richardson was born on April 22, 1847, in Moore County, North Carolina. He died on January 17, 1926, in Balsora, Texas when he was 78 years old.

In the 1880 United States census (he was 33) we know that he moved his family to Parker County, Texas which Google Maps tells us is just west of the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Prior to that, he lived in North Carolina working on his father’s farm. While in Parker County, Texas the census shows us that he was still a farmer and Mary was a housewife.

  • Born: April 22, 1847
  • Died: January 17, 1926
  • Father: Thomas Richardson
  • Mother: Nancy (maiden name unknown)

In 1865 when he was 18 years old, he served in the American Civil War in the Tennessee Calvary Company E, United 9. The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865 so that means when he turned 18 he immediately joined the war which was just as it was ending. Being from Tennessee, that means he fought on the side of the Union during the war. He may have entered the war as early as 1863 which would have made him 16 at the time.

This information is somewhat confusing and I’ve been unable to verify the actual date he entered the war, only the date he got out. One document shows Enlisted: Sept. 28 and Mustered: Oct. 13 but it does not indicate which year. So he either served a few months in 1865 or from 1863 to 1865.

Here is what I can say for sure – he served in the 9th regiment of the Tennessee cavalry, company E. The 9th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry Regiment served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a private when he both entered and left service.

At 19 (September 1866) he married Mary Elizabeth Mckensie and together they had at least six children.

At 72, (in 1919) he and his wife were living in Balsora, Texas and that is when she died. He went on to live another 7 years. He died on January 19, 1926.

John Durk Richardson and Mary had 6 children.

  • Sarah Caroline Richardson (1867-1953)
  • Kendrick Thomas Richardson (1869-1951)
  • Margaret Jane Richardson (1871-1945)
  • William Alexander Richardson (1874-1971)
  • John Henry Richardson (1878-1924)
  • Julie Richardson (1879-1894)

He died in a county (Wise, Texas) that has a lot of their records available to the public online, but I’ve been unable to get my hands on his actual death certificate. I have placed an order with the state of Texas but I didn’t have any luck.

We know exactly where he is buried and his date of death and birth is on his headstone, but sadly the state of Texas for some reason has no record of his death.

John Durk Richardson - Death Certificate

John Durk Richardson is buried in Balsora, Texas next to his beloved wife Mary (view entry here).

John Durk Richardson had a brother, Isham Thomas (two years younger than John Durk) who followed his brother to Wise County Texas, in the Wilson Prairie area, prior to moving to Oklahoma. His brother Isham Thomas is buried in the area of Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Here is a photo of the two brothers. The photo was provided by Anne Richardson, who got it form her father’s first cousin, Karen Richardson.

She says that the one on the far left is John Durk Richardson (1891-1947), We are guessing that the young man second from the left could be his brother James Richardson. Next, we have no idea who the little girl could be. Lastly, we are also assuming that the older woman and man are Elizabeth J and Isham T Richardson since it really looks like a family picture and John was his son.

john durk richardson - with his brother

I don’t know that she is correct in naming who is who in this photo simply because John Durk is two years older than Isham. The man on the far left is clearly way younger than the man on the far right. But if you look at the picture of John Durk with his wife, taken years later, you’ll see the man on the far right looks very much like John Durk, making the woman at his side his wife.

John Durk Richardson

 

John Durk Richardson is my 3rd Great Grandfather

In 1850 John Durk was 3 years old. He was living in Moore, North Carolina with his father Thomas and his mother Nancy as well as his sister Lydia who at the time was 5 and his little brother Isham who was 1.

What’s interesting is that just 10 years later, during the 1860 census, he was still living with his siblings but not either of his parents. During the 1860 census, they were living with their grandparents Thomas and Nancy.

We catch up with him against in the 1880 census where John Durk is now 34 years old and is married to Mary Elizabeth. He’s a farmer living in Parker, Texas and is working as a farmer.

During the 1880 census, he listed children are Sarah Caroline, Kendrick Thomas, Margaret Jane, and John Henry.

What about William Alexander and Julie? Julie was born in 1879 so it’s possible she wasn’t born during the time of this census but what about William Alexander? Where was he in 1880?

S.C. Richardson – Sarah Caroline
K.T. Richardson – Kendrick Thomas
M.J. Richardson – Margaret Jane
A.R. Richardson ??? William Alexander?
J.H. Richardson – John Henry

We know that John Durk is the father of William Alexander because we have William’s death certificate. It tells us that his father was John Durk Richardson and his mother was Mary McKinsey (aka Mary Elizabeth Mckensie).

It is possible the AR Richardson is William Alexander. I’m not sure what the initials AR would stand for though. During the course of his life, William Alexander did go by “Alex” so it’s possible A.R. stands for Alex Richardson.

 

 

Mary Trueblood

Mary Trueblood was born in 1684 in Albemarle County, Pasquotank, North Carolina. This is where she lived her entire life, got married, had children and eventually died.

No this isn’t the same Mary Trueblood from the James Bond movie or any other made up Hollywood show. This Mary Trueblood was a real-life person who just so happened to be my 8th great-grandmother.

Mary Trueblood was a quaker. We know this because on March 21, 1770, she attended the Symons Creek Quaker Monthly Meeting and there is a record of that. This took place in Pasquotank, North Carolina.  The physical location of this meeting was ….

Elizabeth City 27909, Nixonton, Symonds Creek Rd

What’s nice about finding this record is that it pinpoints not only an exact date in history but also a place and a religious affiliation. So now we can later go back and use that information to do further research. It’s my understanding that the Quaker’s in that area kept records from 1677 (their first meeting) to June 17, 1854 (date of their last meeting).

Mary’s father was John Trueblood who was born in Shoreditch (London), England. Her mother was Agnus Fisher who was born in Ulverstone, Lancashire (Cumberland), England. Mary was their eldest child and was named after her grandmother Mary Baker (Agnus Fisher’s mother). The Trueblood’s were Quakers.

Mary’s father died when he was 37 in July of 1692 and her mother died just a few months later in September of 1692 when she was 36.

On August 19, 1699 (or thereabouts) Mary Trueblood married Stephen Richardson.

Please note there is another Mary Trueblood out there, but she was married in 1770. So that is not the same as our Mary Trueblood.

We see by both her mother and father’s will, Mary is one of 4 children – Mary, Elizabeth, John, and Amos. Their parents were John Trueblood and Agnes Fisher.

__________________

Will of Agnes Trueblood –  Will dated 15 September 1692.

Know all men by these presents that I Agnes Trublood of Pasquotank River and of the County aforesaid widdow; through the  naturall affections that I bare unto my dear Children &  for other good reasons and  ___ ___ ____: doe To my voluntary good will and naturall respects to my fore children that is to say Mary Trublood Elizibeth Trublood John Trublood & Amos Trubloo.

I doo freely give unto my fore Children the one halfe of all the negro Children that shall be begotten or born of the body of my negro woman called Diana;

And if it should happen that she should have but one that then the young negro to be valued and my Children to have their choyce either the young negro or of halfe worth of ____negro & if the negro woman should have two Children that they shall have theire first choyce; And I doo freely give unto my Children aforesaid the mantainance of those young negros untill my Children comes to age to receive them;

That is my daughter Mary to have the first negro child if it Lives my daughter Elizibeth the next as they fall in ___ as above mentioned _____ To my Children partcularly as they come to age likewise I do give unto my four Children above said theire mantained untill they come To Lawful Age for the use of theire Estate; and to pay them theire portions as they come to Age according to the Appraisment of their fathers Estate as wittness my hand this fifteenth day of September/ 1692

__________________

Will of John Trueblood

John Trueblood Will

In the name of God Amen I John Trublood being sick & weak do make this my Last will & testament as follow with Firstly I give unto my Loving wife Agnes Trueblood the _______ or one half part of my moveable goods & estate and one halfe my Land during her natural life and after her death to be Equally divided between my two sons, John Trublood and Amos Trublood to them and their heirs forever. Secondly I give and bequeath the other _______ or half part of my moveable goods to be Equally divided between my four children that is to say Mary Trublood Elizibeth Trublood John Trublood and Amos Trublood Thirdly I ordain and appoint my Loving wife Agnes Trublood to be my true & Lawfull Executrix of this last will and testament and to bring up my children according to her discretion, and to pay them their portions as they come to Lawfull age.

Fourthly And lastly I do ordain and Appoint in case that my wife should dye without making of any will, that then my Love- ing friends Thomas Symons & Jeremiah Symons shall take my Estate into theire possesion and care for the good of my children, and to bring them up according to their discreation; as wittnes my hand & seal, this seventh day of May 1692 Signed Sealed & delivered in the presence of us John (his mark) Trublood Joseph Sparnon Proven in Court this 4th day of July 1692 Griffin (his mark) Gray by the oath of Joseph Sparnon Alice Sparnon Alice (her mark) Sparnon Griffin: Gray as attist Paul Lathum C per C


Here is the marriage agreement between her parents John Trueblood and Agnes Fisher. Look how they describe her — a Spinster! LOL

Anno 1679 John Trublood of Shoreditch in ye County of Middlesex, Laborer, and Agnes Fisher of Shoreditch aforesaid Spinster, appeared in a Solemne and Publike assembly of ye people of God called Quakers in their meeting place at Devonshire house London, the 31th day of ye 5th Month 1679 where ye said John Trublood taking Agnes Fisher by ye hand did openly declare as followeth viz: Friends in ye feare of ye Lord and in the presence of you his people I John Trublood doe take Agnes Fisher to be my wife and doe promise to be unto her a lovinge and faithfull husband till Death Shall us Separate.  And ye said Agnes Fisher did declare as followeth viz: I Friends in ye feare of ye Lord and in the presence of you his people I Agnes Fisher doe take John Trueblood to be my husband and Doe promise to be unto him a loveing and faithfull wife till death separate us and as a further confirmation they sette their hands to a certificate in Ye presence of Thomas Kitchen, Lawrence Fuller, Sarah Hikier(?), James Parke, John Lonte, Anne Trueblood …”

 

Stephen Richardson

Stephen Richardson is the son of Stephen Richardson and Bridget. He was born on June 12, 1696, in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. He died on July 16, 1723 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

In 1713 Stephen was granted 381 acres by Lords proprietors in Pasquotank, Co, North Carolina on the Southwest side of the Pasquotank River. Stephen Richardson was a farmer. He called his plantation Poplers Haven. This area seems to be around present-day Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Some people use this land grant information to say he didn’t come to Pasquotank until that time. However if you refer back to his wife, you’ll note that she was born and died in Pasquotank. She also married her husband there (most likely) in 1699. So logic dictates that for her to have met and married Stephen Richardson, he would have had to have been in Pasquotank prior to being granted land there, or at least somewhere close.

Stephen Richardson was very sick and son on February 7, 1722 he wrote out his will, during which he named off all of his living children. He died about a year later. We know this because His will went into probate on July 16, 1723.

Together Stephen and Mary had at least 7 children.

  • Stephen Richardson 1708 – 1762
  • Richard Richardson 1712 – 1780
  • Labboos (Lebbeus?) Richardson (1714)
  • Benjamin Richardson (1720)
  • John David Richardson (1720)
  • Elizabeth Richardson (1722)
  • Joseph Richardson (1723)

Stephen Richardson is my 8th great grandfather

 

Land Transaction Witness

Witness to Patrick Henley’s Will in Albemerle County, Pasquotank Precinct 24 Jul 1697;

// Stephen Richardson of Pasquotank & province of NC planter … whereas the true and absolute Lds proprietors of Carolina did by their Deed or Patent bearing date ye 14th day of Jany. 1713/14 give and grant unto Stephen Richardson a Tract of Land ct. 381 Acres lying on ye So. west side of the Pasquotank River … for a valuable Consideration to me in had paid by Jerr. Everton of the same place … sold … (for 8 pounds) … 40 acres of the Afsd tract of land … 1717. Stephen Richardson, Mary M. Richardson (her mark) Ack 15th 8ber 1717 Regt 17 8ber 1717;

// 615 pg 214 Stephen Richardson 14 January 1713/14 395 acres on ye fork of Pasquotank River, joining ye Creek of ye sd. fork, William RELFE sd, /rucgardsibm te /swano if te /ruverm abd te /ruver /s/ T. Pollock, T. Boyd, N. Chevin, C. Gale, T. Knight.

18 July 1704 – Edward Jones proved three rights and assigned them to Stephen Richardson – Himself, Eleanor-his wife, and Thomas Steward. – These land rights would indicate that Stephen Richardson came to NC (along with Thomas Steward and Eleanor, and settled in NC in 1704.

 

A rough translation of the Last Will and Testament of Stephen Richardson

In the name of God, Amen – The Seven Day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty two

-I Stephen Richardson of the County of Albemarle in the provence of North Carolina in the precinct of Pasqutank ___ being very Sick and weak in body but of perfict Sense and memory thanks be to God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and know in that it is appointed for all men once to die

– now make and ordains this my last will and testament that is to say ___ first of all I Grant and Recommend my Soul to __ to the hands of God that Gave it and my Body I Recommend to the earth to be buried in decent and Cristen manner at the discretion of my Executrix not doubin but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the all mighty power of God and as ___ sutch worldly estate whereas with it hath pleased God to bless me for this Life I Grant and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and format

– Imprimis: I Give and bequeath unto my son John Richardson my now ___ plantation whereon I live called the Poplers Havin __ the benefit of the said

– Plantation and orchard During the days of hir natural life the wife of Stephen Richarson Mary Richardson and after the Desese of my wife Mary Richardson then to possess the same for ever

– Item: I Grant and Bequeath unto my son Stephen Richardson a Neck of land called White Oaks Neck and ___ if my Lawful wife Mary Richardson be not with Child then the same neck of Land shall be evenly divided between my son John Richardson and my son Stephen Richardson with my now ___ plantation to be equally divided between them both but if my Lawful wife Mary Richardson now be with Child then the said neck of Land called White Oaks Neck to be equally divided between my son Stephen Richardson and the child which we suppose whe may fo with but if my wife be not with child then my ___ in plantation and the said Neck of Land called white Oaks Nect to be equally divided between my son John Richardson and my son Stephen Richardson. Item: I Grant and Bequeath unto my son Richard Richardson my Lower Neck of Land Joynon one Jerimiah Everton Line called Blewbootens Neck and the said Richard Richardson not to ___ of

– Of the said Neck of Land Thomas Bettys and his wife ___ the natural days of theyre life and this provision that the said Thomas Bettyes shall proform the promises made that is to build a framed house twenty five foot long and fiftene foot wid one good __ and to plant ought a orchard of a hundred apells trees thirtey foot Destent for the Great Stones Sort and Twenty five foot aney other Sort and to keep it under close form from the distruction of ___ but if the said Thomas Bettys shall not ___ the said Richard Richardson when he shall come of age so live upon part of the said Neck of Land called Blewbootens and to have leave to ___ hogs or cattle or any other __ with the benefit of the orchard for ___.

Item: I Grant and Bequeath unto my son Labboos Richardson and Joseph Richardson and Benjamin Richardson and Elizabeth Richardson one tract of land formerly called (Anavenolls?) containing three hundred nintey five akors and to be equally divided my three sons a hundred dkors for each of them and nintey five akers for my Daughter Now as consernin these tracts of land which I do leave to my ___ if any of them shall die before they com of age then there part to be equally divided amongst the rest of my leggatees or theyre part to be __ appraised and the vallue share of equally divided among my issue and he that buys the said part of land to pay so the rest theyr equal share of eatch tract. Item: I give and bequeth the stock of cattle __ to me befor I was maried to my Lawful wife Mary Richardson __ to be equally divided among all my Children. Item: I Grant and Bequeath to my lovin and lawful wife Mary Richardson all the rest of my personable estate leaving hir my whole and sole Executrix of this my Last will and Testament and I leave my true and trusted friend John Trueblood and James Trueblood as trustees to be a guide to theyre sister in __ as may be required to act and do for the good of hir and hir children to the best of youre power. Wined Seled published and Delivered in presents of us the subscibers: Stephen Richardson

— James Greves, Katherine Greves (her mark), Hannah Everton (her mark)

— Pasquotank Court the 16th day of July 1723 Synopsis: Sons: John (“plantation whereon I live called the Poplars Havin”), Steven (land called the White Oak Neck), Richard (land called Blewbootens Neck, the said Richard to allow Thomas Bettys to live on said land if he, the said Berrys shall build a house “twenty five foot long and fifteen foot wide and plant ought a orchard of apells trees thirtey foot Destent for the Great Stones Sort and Twenty five foot aney other Sort &c.”), Lebbeos and Joseph. Daughter: Elizabeth. Wife and Executrix: Mary. Trustees: John and James Trewblood. Witnesses: James Greves, Katherine Greves and Hannah Everton. Clerk of the Court: W. Norris

 

Valentin Weigel

The name Weigel has a long and complicated history. According to some sources it dates back to medieval times and belong to a prominent family that played a large part in shaping European history.

First let’s start with what we know. We know, thanks to our research into Zacharias there are several ways to spell the Weigel family name, which would in time many many years later become the Wegley family in America. Here are just some of the ways people have spelled the Wegley name over the years.

  • Wegley (1900s)
  • Weighley (1800s)
  • Weigley (1700s)
  • Wageli (1600s)
  • Weigel (1600s)
  • Weichel (1500s)
  • Weigle
  • Van Veigle
  • Weagley
  • Wegerlin
  • Wagerline
  • Wegerle
  • Weygell
  • Weigele
  • Wegerle
  • Weckerly
  • Freigley (obvious typo)

Silesia is located in the historical region that is now in southwestern Poland. This is where we are told is the first recorded use of the Weigel name. You can view the map here.

The Weigel family was very well established in this area. Then at some point at history they migrated to other places, perhaps due to the political unrest going on in the Silesia area.

At one time they Weigel’s were one family so we can assume it was during this time in Silesia, but that again is not confirmed data so take it for what you will.

Eventually the family separated and branches settled in different places. We know of three main branches of the family. There are the Bavarian Weigls, Saxon Weigels, and further north, along the Baltic Sea, the name appeared as Weigele.

The Bavarian and Saxon Weigels preoccupied themselves mostly with matters of religion and in printing and publishing books. The Bavarian Weigls remained Catholics, but some of the Saxon Weigels became followers of the Lutheran religion.

Valentin Weigel was born on August 07, 1533 in Hayn and died on June 10, 1588 in Zschopau.

He was a German theologian, philosopher and mystical writer, and an important precursor of later theosophy. In English he is often called Valentine Weigel. Valentin Weigel, who was of the Saxon branch of the family, is also been referred to as “Der Grosse (Great) Herder”.

He was born at Hayn, near Dresden, into a Catholic family. Now I should point out that there are other sources which say he was born in Naundorf near Grossenhain – this I tend to believe more because it is in Saxony and well Valentin was of the Saxon branch of the Weigel family, so wouldn’t it make sense that he was born in Saxony, instead of in Hayn, some 118 miles away?

That issue aside, what we do know that in 1533 the Weigel family of the Saxon branch were still Catholic. However that obviously changed because in 1567 he became a Lutheran pastor at Zschopau, near Chemnitz. So now we know that sometime between 1533 and 1567 the Saxon branch of the family went from Catholics to Lutherans. We don’t know why, or the exact dates.

We also know that he studied at Meissen, Leipzig, and Wittenberg. And after becoming a Lutheran pastor in Zschopau at the age of 34, he lived out a quiet life, engaged in his writings. He would spend the rest of his life in Zschopau and would eventually die there in 1588 at the age of 55. I wondered how old the average person lived to be in the 1500s and found out that the peasantry could expect to live to be about 40-45 years while nobility would average 50 years and anything beyond that was considered fairly ancient. So in terms of the sixteen century, Valentin Weigel lived to be an old man.

Valentin Weigel was best known for his belief that the Virgin Mary was herself the product of a virgin birth. He based his belief on the idea of the immaculate conception, which required that Mary must also be sinless in order to bear God in the flesh. He kept his ideas secret, entrusting them only to personal friends. He carried out his parishioner duties in the Lutheran church and kept a low profile.

But all the while he had very profound beliefs that he documented extensively. When he died he left around 6000 pages in printed or manuscript works.

His ideas on human nature were only gradually and posthumously published. Johann Arndt, Gottfried Arnold, and Gottfried Leibniz helped to spread Weigel’s ideas. His mysticism was marked by that of Johannes Tauler and by doctrines of Paracelsus; he was also a follower of Sebastian Franck and Caspar Schwenckfeldt. Like these two latter, he emphasized the inner life. He advocated a “spiritual church” in which one could know Christ without books or scripture. When he died, his followers spread his word and those followers were called the “Weigelaner.”

Valentin Weigel emphasized the necessity of internal unction (an anointing of Spirit; see 1 John 2:20) and illumination. He taught … that knowledge does not come from without, but from the Spirit operating upon our spirit within. In cosmology, Valentin Weigel stands near Paracelsus … (After his death), his writings were published in various places, and Weigelanism became widely spread. His opponents represented him (falsely) as a dangerous revolutionary who aimed at the overthrow of all political and social order.”

Valentin Weigel’s father was Michael Weigel. At least one sort lists Michael’s wife as Anna Katrina Van Veigle, but the English translation of Katrina is Catherine. Also, in German, a “v” is prounounced as a “w”, so that would account for the spelling of her last name. However this information may not be accurate. There is also – Michael Johannes HABLUZEL and Anna Katherina Van Veigle (1750 – 1820) so if this is the person they speak of then Anna Katherina couldn’t be his mother because she was born way after his death. It is worth mentioning however due to the unique spelling of the name.

More About Johannes Michael Hablutzel:
Census: 1764, Colonial America 1607-1789 Pennsylvania Census Index.
Estate Inventory: May 03, 1796, Woodford County Will Book B 1796-1807.
Immigration: 1764, Sailed from Rotterdam on the Ship Chance.

Marriage: Catherine Weigle 1770, Pennslyvania. / Johannes married 1, 3, 6 Anna Katrina Van Veigle (Weigle) “Caty” in 1780 in , Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Anna Katrina Van Viegle
Catherine Weigle
Anna Katherina Van Veigle
Anna K. Van Veigle (Weigel)
Anna Catherine Weigel
Anna Catherina Weigle
Anna Katrina “Caty” Van Veigle (Weigle)

Johann Paul Wegerlin

The first Wegley to come to the US, at least in my line is Johann Paul Wegerlin.  He is my 6th great grandfather and was born on May 10, 1699, in Lampertheim, Bergstrasse, Hessen, Germany.

When I first started this website, I was sure I knew everything I could about him. but in time I learned that just because someone else says something is true, doesn’t make it so.

Is Johann Hana Paul Michael Wägeli the same as Johann Paul Wegerlin or Paulus?

That’s really what I needed to try and figure out. Only it’s not exactly that easy. The Germany birth, death and marriage records are hosted by Family Search and not a single image is available. The translated data is, but as we all know, that is very possibly wrong. My question is simple … what is our real family name … not our anglicized name, but our original name? Simple enough question, right? Well not so easy to answer.

In the same batch of Germany records, here are the 15 common variations of our family name.

  • Wegerlin
  • Wegelin
  • Wägerlin
  • Wegerlein
  • Wägele
  • Wägeli
  • Waegerlen
  • Waegerlin
  • Weckherlin
  • Weekerlin
  • Wegerle
  • Weikhelin
  • Wiegerlin
  • Wigerli
  • Wigerlin
  • Waeckherlin
  • Wuekherlin

I actually went as far as to hire someone from Germany who does translations to ask him who you even pronounce the name Wägeli. Was it why-gull or wu-ghel-ly or something different altogether?

He ended up telling me that the “ä” has a sound that is unique, there is no way to write it correctly for an English speaker but if you had to sound it out like why-gull, he said the closest would be the one that you said “wu-ghe-ly” but it’s only close and not the right way.

Here is a recording of his saying it so you can hear it said in his nature German tongue. 🙂

What I can say for sure is that Johann Paul came to America, specifically the Port of Philadelphia when he was 33 years of age, on September 18, 1732. Once in America, he would become known as Paul Wegerline. This “Americanization” of names wasn’t uncommon. More specifically he  arrived in the Port of Philadelphia on board of the Johnson Galley of London. We have the passenger list that tells us on that day he had with him his wife, Ottilia and four of their children … three girls, one boy.

And we aren’t even sure if her name was Ottilia or Obtilia or Otella or Otelia. I will say this though, Lancaster County, PA records her death in the year 1763. They have a copy of her will on file in book J, volume 1, page 344, again listing the spelling of her name as Wegerlin, Obtilia.

  • Katharine Wegerlin became Catherine Wegerline

    1727 – 1800
  • Ottilia Wegerline
    1729 –
    Anna Clara Wegerline
    1731 – 1784
  • Jacob Wegerline
    Born sometime between 1716 and 1732

When they came to America the original oath translations listed them as

Paul Wegerllue, (husband)
Jacob Wegerline, (son)
Otella Wegerline, (wife)
Oteliea Wegerline.. (daughter)
Katharine Wegerline. (daughter)
Anna Clara Wegerline. (daughter)

See how easy it is to lose track of someone when names are often times so misspelled? Also, I should note there is a separate entry for a Paulus Wegerlin.

We have a birth record for Anna Clara and on that record, it tells us that her mother’s name is Ottilia and her father’s name is Johann Paul Wegerlin. This record tell us that Anna Clara was baptized on April 16, 1731, in the city of Darmstadt in Germany, which is just south of Frankfurt.

The exact record reads “Evangelisch,Lampertheim,Starkenburg,Hesse-Darmstadt” but this is a translation mistake. “Evangelisch” tells us that she was baptized in the Evangelical Church in Germany. The identifying location is “Lampertheim, Starkenburg, Hesse-Darmstadt” which is actually the city of Darmstadt, in the province of  Starkenburg in the German state of Hesse. I asked a few different people from Germany and got varied results. While most agree it was in the city of Darmstadt a few said it meant she was baptized in the town of Lampertheim, a small town near Darmstadt in Germany.” Google maps tells us that Lampertheim is about 25 miles south of Darmstadt.

So now we’ve matched the mother, father and at least one child in two different records – the immigration passenger list and the child’s baptismal records. So this tells us that his full name is “Johann Paul Wegerlin” and when he came to America it became Paul Wegerline.

Next, we have the baptismal records of their daughter Ottilia. She has her mother as Ottilia but the father is Johann Paul Wegerle. This is a perfect example of why I wished we could see the actual records because obviously, the person who transcribed the data made a mistake. We know from other sources though that Wegerle is a common misspelling of Wegerlin / Wegerline.

So moving forward we now have three records that group this family together. It may not seem like a lot but keep in mind these are records from hundreds of years ago and there were a lot of people with similar names.

There was a Johann Nicklaus Wegerlin or married a Clara and had a daughter named Ottila who also happened to be baptized in the exact same place as our own Ottila Wegerlin. Of course, we know this wasn’t our Ottila because this one was was baptized in January of 1735 and by then our Ottila was already in America. There was also a Paulus Wegerlein who married an Ottila Beyer and came to America but they are not the same as our Paul and Ottila.

I AM STILL WORKING ON VERIFYING SOME OF THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE DO NOT CONSIDER IT 100% ACCURATE AT THIS TIME.

It is possible his full name is Johann Hana Paul Michael Wägeli or Johann Hana Paulus Michael Wägeli or Johann Hanß Paul Michael Wägeli.

It is possible that his father is Zacharias Wägeli and his grandfather is possibly Hanß Wegerlin …. although at this time I can not say for sure. It could be that Zacharias is his grandfather making his father possibly Han Philipp Wegerle, which to me seems far more likely if you do the math.

So is Johan Michel Weigel the same as Paulus Wegerline?

I’m sorry to say but Johan Paul and Johan Michel Weigel are not the same person. And I can prove it with old obscure German birth records.

Johan Michel Weigel was married to Anna Elisabetha and yes they had a child named Anna Catharina but it’s not the same.

Johan Michel Weigel

Paul or Paulus Wegerlin was married to Otillia. We know this because they came to America together and we have a zillion records to prove that they came over together with two of their daughters that we also have old German birth records for.

Johann Paul Wegerlin

Another bit of proof is that during the 1736 PA Early Census Index, Johan Michael Weygell lived in Philadelphia County, and we already knew Paulus was leaving in nearby Lancaster County during that time period.

 

 

 

Zacharias Wegerle

Life as we know it, for my family at least all leads back to a man by the name of Zacharias Wegerle aka Zacharia Weigel or Zacharias Wegerlin.  He is my 8th great grandfather and he was born in or around 1638 in Lampertheim, Bergstrasse, Hessen, Germany which turns out means he was born in the town of Lampertheim within Bergstraße district.  Lampertheim is a town in the Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany. You can click here to view the map of the town as it exists today.

What makes doing research on the Wegley family line so complicated is that there are so many spellings and misspellings of the last name.  Here are just some of the ways people have spelled the Wegley name over the years.

  • Wegley (1900s)
  • Weighley (1800s)
  • Weigley (1700s)
  • Wageli (1600s)
  • Weigel (1600s)
  • Weichel (1500s)
  • Weigle
  • Weigel
  • Weagley
  • Wegerlin
  • Wagerline
  • Wegerle
  • Weygell
  • Weigele
  • Wegerle
  • Weckerly
  • Freigley (obvious typo)

I haven’t proven who his father is yet but it looks like it may be a man by the name of Hanß or Hanss, Han or Hana.  Hanß could have been known by the last name of Wegerlin or Wageli.  To avoid confusion for now we are going to call him Han Wageli as this is what most of the other researchers are calling him.  The only thing I can really do now is get all the records from the 1600s for the town of Lampertheim within Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany.

So what do we know about Zacharias?

We know that he died and was buried in Germany (1638-1695)
(FIND A GRAVE LINK)

Zacharias Wegerlin

BIRTH

Lampertheim, Kreis Bergstraße, Hessen, Germany
DEATH 1695 (aged 56–57)

Lampertheim, Kreis Bergstraße, Hessen, Germany
BURIAL
Lampertheim (Friedhof Huettenfeld)

Kreis BergstraßeHessenGermany

Zacharias Wägeli was born in 1638 in Lampertheim, Germany and died in 1695, in Lampertheim, Germany. He appears to have married a woman by the name of Anna Elisabeth Treiber (1636-1720) on May 8, 1660 when he was 20 years old. 

They possibly had 14 children.

  • Han Philipp Wegerle (1664 – 1747)
  • Anna Catharina Wegerlin (1665 –)
  • Han Georg Wegerlin (1667 – 1668)
  • Nicolaus Wegerle (1675 – 1731)
  • Johann Heinrich Wageli (1678 – 1678)
  • Johann Peter Wegerle (1678 – 1678)
  • Johann Martin Wageli (1679 –)
  • Paulus Wegerle (1684 – 1684)
  • Euphrosina Wegerle (1686 – 1686)

Zacharias Wegerlin was born in 1638 in Lampertheim, Starkenburg, Hesse-Darmstadt the only known child of Hana Wegerlin and his wife (UNKOWN NAME??). He married Anna Elisabeth Treiber on May 8, 1660 in Lampertheim, Starkenburg, Hesse-Darmstadt in the Lutheran Church. They had four children in 14 years. He died in 1695 in Lampertheim, at the age of 57.

 

 

Rubin Nemon Richardson

Rubin Nemon Richardson was my great-grandfather.  I was never lucky enough to meet him, but I have enjoyed trying to piece together his life.

He was born on  June 10, 1898, in Texas. We know when he was born thanks to his draft registration card which he filled out when he was 20 years old.

Rubin Nemon Richardson

This document also revealed that he had blue eyes, brown hair and his closing living relative was Vivian Richardson – his wife (Mary Vivian Phillips), who he had recently married.

Rubin Nemon Richardson should not be confused with R A “rube” Richardson (aka R A “rube” Richardson) who was born on April 11, 1903 on Montague County, Texas. They are not the same. Rube died on December 19, 1966 in Texas. Rubin Nemon died 6 years prior on May 6, 1960 in Colville, Washington.

At the age of 18 (maybe 19?), Rubin Nemon Richardson married his beloved Mary Vivian Phillips. The marriage took place on July 10, 1917, in Decatur which is in  Wise County, Texas.

Within a year (August 31, 1918) they had their first child. She was born in Paradise, which is in Wise County, Texas. Paradise, Texas is located about 1 hour and 15 minutes, NW of Dallas.

By 1930 he moved from Paradise to what is today Waurika, Oklahoma (according to the 1930 census).

Here is a copy of the 1930 US Census where he was living with his wife, 7 of his children, his brother George and his sister in law Admy. It would be easy to assume this is George’s wife but if that was the case the “Admy” has to be her nickname. George’s wife was Francis Mozelle or possibly Mozelle Francis.

1930-census_RICHARDSON-RN

At the age of 41, Rubin Nemon Richardson was married and living in Hood, Texas which is just southwest of Fort Worth – less than a 1-hour drive.

The 1940 US Census tells us that in 1934 he lived in a rural area on a farm, where he rented his home for the insane amount of $2 a month.

At that time he was employed as a salesman. He completed one year of college. Now the odd thing about that was that the previous line said he did not attend school or college. Considering the low amount of money he made per year, I would say he probably did not actually attend college.

In the 1930 census, he said he could read and write but that he had no attended school.

At the time of the 1940 census, he was working 60 hours a week and earned $600, which he used to support his nine children, one of which was my grandfather, RN Richardson.

I did some research into this, and it said that the average male in 1940 earned $956 a year, which meant that RN earned well below average. But he also paid significantly less for rent than the average family did back then.

In 1940 the average monthly rent in a rural area was $18, and Rubin reported only paying $2 a month. That gives him an extra $192 a year, but that still puts him well below others in terms of earnings, especially if you consider the fact that he worked all year long (52 weeks) and put in an average of 60 hours a week. Now throw in the fact that he supported 12 kids and a wife on this income. How crazy is that?

Prior to getting a job as a salesman, he was employed as a Tennant farmer. Farming is something he had done his whole life. Heck, he was even working the fields as farm labor even when he was just 12 years old.

The hard part about researching Rubin is that his name is spelled in so many ways. Here are just some of the variations I have found …

  • Rubin Nemon Richardson
  • Rubin Neamon Richardson
  • Reuben Namon Richardson
  • Rubin Richardson
  • Namon Richardson
  • Nemon Richardson
  • RN Richardson
  • R.N. Richardson
  • Reuben Neiman
  • Rubin
  • Ruby Richardson

It’s oftentimes hard to find proof of people’s birth and who is related to who when you start going back further in time, but as luck would have it, Neamon was living with his mother, father, grandmother, and grandfather during the 12th census of the United States of America in 1900.

1900-census_RICHARDSON

If you click the image to expand it, you can see that at the time he was listed simply as Namon and he was 1.

His father and grandfather both listed their employment as farmers.  If you look closely at the entries relating to Mary (his grandmother) and Ada (his mother) it says that Mary is the mother of 6 children, 6 of which are living at this time while Ada is the mother of 3 children, only 2 of which are living at this time.

They had Namon in 1899, and we know he was living, and we know their other son at that time was Roy Lee (Namon’s brother) who was born in 1900, and he didn’t die until 1977.  So that means they had a child prior to Namon, sometime between their marriage in 1897 and Namon in 1889, who died.

John Richardson 53
Mary Richardson 59
Alexander Richardson 26
Ada Richardson 20
Neamon Richardson 1
  • Rubin Nemon Richardson was born in 1898 in Texas
  • Death 6 May 1960 in Colville, Stevens, Washington, United States of America
  • Father – William Alexander Richardson (1874 – 1971)
  • Mother – Ada Mae Sheppard Richardson (1879 – 1965)

Married: Mary Vivian Phillips

  • Date of Marriage:  July 10, 1917 (in Decatur, Texas).
  • Mary Vivian died at the age of 92 on October 6, 1991.
  • This marriage produced at least 14 children.

Neamon with his daughters Betty Jean and Bobbye Sue

 

  1. Ruby Lucille Richardson (1918 – 2001)
  2. Birdie Lorene Richardson (1919 – 1975)
  3. Dorthy Louise Richardson (1921-1928)
  4. Kitty Levita Richardson (1923 – 2016)
  5. Joy Charlene Richardson (1925  – 2005)
  6. Dollie Inez Richardson (1926 – 2004)
  7. Billie Jo Richardson (1928 – 1995)
  8. Reuben Namon Richardson (1929 – 2002)
  9. Margie Nell Richardson (1932 – 1934)
  10. Bobbye Sue Richardson (December 15, 1934 – February 01, 2008)
  11. Alex Jessy “Jake” Richardson (July 05, 1935 – November 07, 2007)
  12. Betty Jean Richardson (1936 – )
  13. Pasty Ann Richardson (1939 – 2014)
  14. Hazel Irene Richardson (1941 – 1943)

Please note that Joy Charlene Richardson was born Leota Joy Richardson, at least according to the Texas Birth Index and her actual birth certificate which was filed with the state of Texas, shortly after her birth (11/3/1925).

So I’m not sure why her name was changed, but somehow between the time of her birth in 1925 and then the 1930 US census she became Joy Charlene instead of Leota Joy, and I have yet to find out why. But don’t worry, I’m working on it!

Variations in how to spell a name aren’t restricted to just males. Here is the legal death certificate of Rubin’s daughter Birdie Lorene who died in 1975. You’ll notice they spell her name “Berdie Lorene”. In the 1920 census, she was listed as “Lorene Richardson” and in the 1930 census she was “Lorine” and on the Texas county marriage records she was listed as “Bertie Lorene”.

Rubin Nemon Richardson is my great grandfather

I always wondered why Rubin was in Washington of all places when he died. Recently, however, I found that his daughter Bobbye Sue (aka Bobbie Heberling aka Bobbye Sue Heberling) was living there. Maybe he was there visiting her.

Bobbye Sue married a man named Lawrence J. Heberling Jr. who was born (and lived his whole life) in Colville, Washington. That was the very place that Rubin Nemon died.

He was buried at the Highland Cemetery in Colville, Washington (find a grave). Why not in Oklahoma or Texas where he apparently lived almost all of his life?  This I don’t know.

Rubin Nemon Richardson

His beloved wife would go on to live until October 6, 1991. She would be buried in Parker County, Texas (find a grave). This means she was alive when Rubin Nemon died in 1960. That’s always the part that confused me. There is no record of a divorce. So if his wife was alive and living in Texas when he died, why was he not buried where she was living?