This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Fisher, Fischer, Lawyer, Lauer Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/YaW.2ACIB/1085 Message Board Post: Earlier this year, I began trying to prove or disprove that my ancestor, Philip Lauer (who left a will dated 3 Feb 1810 in York Co, PA) was married to Anna Maria Fisher, daughter of George and Anna Maria Fisher of Baltimore and Carroll Counties, MD. Their marriage was cited on pp. 41, 63-64 of The Fisher-Stombaugh Families by Florence Hepp Petersen, published in 1950. During my research, I met fellow genealogist Vanessa Stern. Vanessa has proved her descendancy from brothers Casper Lawyer, who was married to George’s daughter Clara, and Philip Lawyer, who was married to George’s daughter Anna Maria. The more we talked, and compared notes, two distinct Philips began to emerge. To make our long research story short, we determined that Philip Lauer of York Co, PA was not the husband of Anna Maria Fisher. The husband of Anna Maria Fisher was Philip Lawyer of Frederick Co, MD. The following information supports our conclusion: • The Philip Lauer family is listed in the 1800 census of Dover Township, York Co, PA (as Philip Lour Jr.). Philip Lauer of York Co, PA died in 1810 as proved by his will (York Co, PA Will Book M: 193). Anna, wife of Philip Lauer, died in 1825 in York Co, PA as proved by her Administration Bond dated 1 Aug 1825 (Book 2H: 512-512). Her son Abraham served as the Administrator of her estate. • The Philip Lawyer family is listed in the 1800 census for Westminster Township, Frederick Co, MD. Philip Lawyer of Frederick Co, MD died abt. 1803 as proved by the Administration Account for his estate filed by his wife Anna in 1819 (Frederick Co, MD, Liber H.S. No. 3, 1817-19, pp. 424-428). The Administration Account makes mentions of other Fisher family members; i.e., Leonard Fisher and Catherine Fisher. Anna Maria, wife of Philip Lawyer, died 30 Apr 1848 as proved by her tombstone entry in the Jerusalem Lutheran Church Cemetery in Carroll Co, MD (rather than the Salem Church Cemetery in York Co, PA as cited on p. 63 of Fisher-Stombaugh Families). • The known children of Philip and Anna Lauer of York Co were Anna Mary, Nancy, John, Catharina “Caty”, Elizabeth, Magdalena “Molly”, Abraham, Susanna, and Philip. All of these children are identified in the will of Philip Lauer. Six of these nine children are listed (incorrectly) in Fisher-Stombaugh Families. • The known children of Philip and Anna Maria Lawyer of Frederick Co, MD are John George, John, Jacob, Susanna, Catharine, Rachel, and Ann. These children are identified by baptism records (St. David’s Union Church, Manheim, York Co, PA) and a deed between Casper Lawyer and the heirs of Philip Lawyer (Frederick Co, MD Deed, Liber JS-19, Folio 500). During our research, we also discovered another, and possibly more important, discrepancy in Fisher-Stombaugh Families. Based primarily on transcribed church records, we believe that some of the children attributed to George and Anna Maria Fisher do not belong to the couple. Evidence suggests there was an older son, named George Jr., who is not listed. George Jr. and his wife are the likely parents of the younger children currently listed as the children of George and Anna Maria Fisher (see children 2-13 through 2-16). This also provides an explanation as to why these children were not listed in the will of George Fisher Sr. The following evidence supports this conclusion: • George Fisher Sr. was widowed between Jul 1783 and Aug 1784 as proved by the Communicant Lists dated 6 Jul 1783 and 8 Aug 1784 of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Manchester, Baltimore Co, MD. His wife, therefore, was definitely not the mother of George (2-15) and Joseph (2-16). • George Fischer (presumably George Jr.) and his wife, An. Margaretha, appear on the Jul 1783 Communicant List. They are listed separate and distinct from George Fischer and his wife, An. Maria. • There is a distinct possibility that the children of George Fisher are listed in his will in birth order. That places George Jr. between David (2-1) and Elizabeth (2-2). It also places a Mary between Leonard (2-5) and Anna Maria (2-7). Mary is possibly the same person as the Anna Maria (2-6) that is shown as dying in infancy. (Evidence of Mary will be presented below.) • George Jr. may be the George Fisher who died 20 Feb 1818 at age 66 (birth calculates as abt. 1752) and was buried in the Shue Family Cemetery in Carroll Co, MD. (Carroll County Cemeteries, Vol. Four: Northeast). • George Fisher Jr. is listed as taking an Oath of Fidelity in Baltimore Co in Mar 1778, along with John Fisher, George Fisher, Michael Fisher and David Fisher. There is no other George Fisher in the book that would have been ‘of age’ to take the oath at this time. Sons John, George Jr. and Michael would have been 21 by 1778. It is also possible, maybe even probable, that George Jr. was the person who served in the Revolutionary War (rather than George Sr.). • Fisher-Stombaugh Families (pp. 49-51) refers to a petition of Baltimore Co citizens dated between 1782 and 1785. It contains the signatures of George Sr., his brother Michael, and three of his sons: Leonard, John and George Jr. The only sons named George, according to the book, were born in 1776 and 1784. This supports the conclusion that there was an older George Jr. As mentioned above, there is also evidence of an older Mary Fisher. She may be the Anna Maria (2-6) who was documented as having died in infancy. There are two distinct Fisher daughters listed in the Communicant Lists from 1783 to 1785. The 1783 list has them as An. Fischerin and An. Mar Fisherin. The 1784 list has them as An. Marg. Fisherin and An. Mar. Fisherin. The 1785 list has them as An. Mar. Fisherin and Anna Fisherin. It is possible that this Mary is the wife of Adam Steever (since the will of Michael Fisher refers to his brother’s daughter Anna Mary Steever). These are the only areas we reviewed. Many historical records have been located and documented since Fisher-Stombaugh Families was published in 1950. Based on our experience, we recommend that anyone claiming descent from George Fisher, and using Fisher-Stombaugh Families as their primarily source of information, verify their facts with additional sources. Pam Pearson & Vanessa Stern