This is one name I have something on... with a motive... but more on that shortly! -VINCE Descendants of Rosier Levering Generation No. 1 1. ROSIER1 LEVERING was born Abt. 1600 in France. He married ELIZABETH VAN DE WALLE. Notes for ROSIER LEVERING: This information, and information for John Weigard is from the book: The LEVERING FAMILY; or, A GENEALOGICAL ACCOUNT of Wigard Levering and Gerhard Levering, Two of the Pioneer Settlers of ROXBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, Philadelphia County, (PENNSYLVANIA,) AND THEIR DESCENDANTS; AND AN APPENDIX, containing brief sketches of Roxborough and Manayunk... By Horatio Gates Jones, published 1858. Apparently, fled early religious persecutions, by going to either Holland or Germany. He there married, in Wesel, Westphalia. ---------- Mulheim is about 20 miles or so east of Krefeld. It was home to the Dehavens [came to America abt 1698] for some period of time and also the Leverings [came to America abt 1684/5]. Quoted message: Some of you might be interested in obtaining a little book titled "Die Auswanderung der Mulheimer nach Pennsylvanien" (The Emigration of the Mulheimers to Pennsylvania) by Karl Broermann , zietschrift of the Historical Society of Mulheim on the Ruhr, December, 1938. The book contains the original German text, plus the English translation by Rosalie N. Castleberry (1991). At least until recently, the book could be purchased from Rosalie N. Castleberry, 12404 Summerport Lane, Windermere, Florida 34786. If you get the book, note that Peter's [Dehaven's] name was omitted in the English translation, and Leisbeit was not listed in either language. Mrs. Castleberry is aware of the omission. The book is hard bound and only 50 pages, but contains some very interesting information. ---------- Levering Family History and Genealogy Author: John Levering Call Number: CS71.L661 This book contains the history and genealogy of the Levering family of Philadelphia. Bibliographic Information: Levering, John. Levering Family History and Genealogy. Levering Historical Association. Indianapolis. 1897. LEVERING FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY. BY COL. JOHN LEVERING, OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, Associate of the Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society of Great Britain; Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States; Author of Personal Recollections of the War of the Rebellion, etc.; Member of the Indiana Historical Society; Member of the Indiana Academy of Science. "Like leaves on trees the race of man is found, Now green in youth, now withering on the ground; Another race the following Spring supplies; They fall succeffive, and succeffive rise." --Pope. PUBLISHED BY THE LEVERING HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. INDIANAPOLIS: WM. B. BURFORD, PRINTER. 1897. Footnote of a later page... (*)The Keyser connection is second to the most numerous branch of the Levering family, and reciprocally, I may add, that the Leverings are a collateral branch of the Keyser family. A bicentennial anniversary of the arrival of Dirck Keyser in Germantown on October 10, 1688, was held on the same date in 1888, in the old Mennonite Church, which was built in 1770. On that occasion a history of the family in Holland and America was read by its author. Hon. Charles S. Keyser, of Philad. Hon. H. G. Jones was present and explained the relation of the Keyser and Levering families, followed by Dr. Saml. W. Pennypacker, LL. D., who related his family association with the Keyser name. - ----------------------------- The Price Family Mr. Price received his early education in the local schools, the Pottstown Academy and the academy of Joshua Hoopes in West Chester. Upon leaving school he obtained a situation as bookkeeper in Philadelphia, and when the bank was organized in Pottstown, Sept. 14, 1857, he was elected Teller. Henry Potts (*) Susanna Keyser Backius was a daughter of Rev. Peter and Catharine (Clemens) Keyser; granddaughter of Peter and Hannah (Levering) Keyser; great-granddaughter of William and Hannah(Clements) Levering; great-great-granddaughter of William and Catharine Levering; great-great-great-granddaughter of Wigard and Magdalena (Bker) Levering and great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Rosier and Elizabeth (Van de Wall e) Levering. 89 ---------------- The following is what I gleaned from, "Levering Family History and Genealogy" by Col. John Levering, of LaFayette, Indiana. Origin of Levering Family is believed to come from the town of Leverington, Isle of Ely. John de Leveryng first appears in Leverington Parish Church in nearby Wisbech Barton Manor in 1316. In 1593 Puritanians were driven across the sea to Holland and eventually settled in Leyden (or Leiden). Horatio Jones' The Levering Family, states he belonged to the Reformed Church in France and fled on the Revocation of the Edict of Nantz but debates that idea. He does settle on the idea that he came from France but at a different time. I haven't follow the Levering research and was wondering if new evidence resolved this issue? Regards, Gene Smith in Pasadena, Calif.- GSmithsan@aol.com ----------------- Based on information in "Levering Family, History and Genealogy" by the Levering HX Association in 1847, Rosier's parents were natives of England and of Normal ancestry. They removed from England with the Puritans because of religious persecution. Family tradition of the remnants of the family at Gemen is that Rosier and Elizabeth Van de Walle occupied the old Levering homestead at Gemen and died there. Rosier's mother was from Wesel, near Holland. Further, the source indicates that Rosier's son Wigard entered into a contract with an agent of the Frankfort Company, dated 20 March 1685, to transport himself and his family to America. In that document, Wigard states his own age as "36 or 37", Magdalena "36", Anna "9", William "4", Amilia "2 1/2" and Sibella "1/2". The family register in the Bible was written in German after all the children were born. The volume was printed in Germany, in 1693, eight years after Wigard's family came to America. Wigard could not write, and the register was all written in one hand at the same time. So it must have been by a friend, which might account for discrepancies. The source goes on to say that Wigard and his family settled in Germantown, Pa in 1685 and removed a short distance west in 1691, into Roxborough Township. He bought five hundred acres of land, lying between and bordering the River Schuykill and Wissahickon Creek. Wigard was buried on his farm (Leverington Cemetary) in a spot overlooking the Wissahickon. Dave Leebrick -dleebr01@harris.com Children of ROSIER LEVERING and ELIZABETH VAN DE WALLE are: 2. i. JOHN WIGARD2 LEVERING, b. Abt. 1648, Gamen in Westphalia, Germany; d. February 02, 1744/45. 3. ii. GERHARD (GARRET) LEVERING, b. Abt. 1660, Gamen in Westphalia, Germany; d. Aft. 1731, Whitpain Township, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania. Generation No. 2 2. JOHN WIGARD2 LEVERING (ROSIER1) was born Abt. 1648 in Gamen in Westphalia, Germany, and died February 02, 1744/45. He married MAGDALENA BOEKERS April 1674, daughter of WILLIAM BOKERS and SIDONE BRAVIERS. She was born Abt. 1649 in Leyden, So., Holland, Netherlands, and died November 01, 1717 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Notes for JOHN WIGARD LEVERING: Leverington Cemetery, Inc. Ridge Ave, Roxborough, PA c/o John Laberteaux, Treasurer 3470 Dartmouth Drive Bethlehem, PA 18020-2073 Tele: 610-867-8168 The above may be John Wigard Levering (and other Levering's) place of rest. See note below. Of Roxborough. Emigrated to America sometime between the 20th of March and the 10th of August, 1685. Buried on his farm in a spot overlooking the Wissahickon, which has become a part of the famous Fairmont Park of Phila. This spot subsequently became the churchyard and burial ground of the Baptist Church, organized in 1789, which was greatly enlarged, and is now known as Leverington Cemetery, under a special charter from the State of Pennsylvania. The ground doubtless contains the remains of Magdalena. - Dorothy Holgate, probably referring to the book, The Levering Family, by Gates Levering. This is a copy of the Will of Wigard Levering as published in the Levering Family, pgs 94-95. I, Wichert Levering, of the Township of Roxborrow, in the County of Phila, in the Province of Pennsylvania, Joyner, being in good health of body and of a sound and perfect mind and Memory, and calling to mind the frailty of this transitory life and that it's appointed for all flesh once to dye, Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, revoking, Disannulling, and making uttely void and of none effect all other and former Wills by me at any time heretofore made. Imps. I will that all my just Debts and funeral expenses be paid and discharge by my Executor hereinafter named with all convenient speed after my Decease. Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Amelia the sum of tenn ponds lawful money afd to be paid to her by my said Executor hereinafter named within twelve months after my Decease. Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Sebilla the sum of tenn pounds lawful money afd to be paid to her by my sd Executor within three years after my Decease. Item. I give and Bequeath unto my son in law Peter Indehaven ye sum of tenn pounds lawful money afd to be paid to him by my sd Executor within ffour years after my Decease. Item. I give and Bequeath unto my son in law William Tunes ye sum of tenn pounds lawful money afd to be paid to him by my sd Executor within ffive years after my Decease. Lastly. I give and Bequeath unto my son William Levering whim I hereby constitute; ordain and appoint sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament all other my Estate and Effects of what kind soever. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this twenty third Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fforty two. his WICHERT W LEVERING Mark Signed, sealed, published pronounced and declared by the said Wichert Levering as his last Will & Testament in ye presence of us. Witnesses William Levering Hannah Levering Thomas Yorke This will was probated after the death of the testator: on the 7th day of Febaruary, 1745, in Court at Philadelphia. A former will executed by Wigard on May 10, 1736, and which was revoked by the above instrument, contained the names of all his children, and of the husbands of his daughters. Its preservation as a relic, saved also, valuable history. Two sons; William, born at Mulheim, in Germany, and Jacob, born in Roxborough, survived the old pioneer. Jacob, on his marriage in 1717, was made the owner of eighty-five acres, bordering on the river Schuylkill, of the home farm, by deed from his parents, dated February 20 of that year. The signature of his mother, Magdalena, to this deed is the last record evidence we have of her. This deed provided an easement for "free egress and regress to or from the hereby bargained tract through the said Wechart and William's other land as far as the Plymouth Road (now Ridge Avenue), nevertheless it shall be lawful for the sd Jacob, afore written, to ffence in all the said tract leaving a gate of Barrs or Shut rails." This right of way became what is known as the steep hill street between Manayunk and Roxborough, called Green Lane. It is now bordered by business houses and dwellings, many of them are fine residences. On November 1, 1717, Wigard conveyed all the residue of his five hundred acres to his older son William, estimating the area at 155 acres. In this deed no wife joins, which suggests the death of Magdalena prior to the date noted. The inventory of Wigard's estate, as made by Matthew Houlgate and Isaac Cook, on the 9th day of February, 1744-45, lists household effects sufficient for one room only--except "one bible valued 1.10 and one singing book--shows that he had retired from active life and was "only waiting till the shadows a little longer grew"; the while, clinging to His Word as the beacon which would guide him safely "over the river." (*) The spelling of the Christian name by his attorney, suggests the pronunciation of W-i-g-a-r-d by the yet Teutonic neighbors. "His mark" to this instrument, and to all other documents signed by him, was composed of large Roman letters W L, of peculiar form, with a distinctive mark upon the W. In his day "his mark" meant a scrawl which each man adopted as his signature, and the use of it by another was regarded a forgery. Bibliographic Information: Levering, John. Levering Family History and Genealogy. Levering Historical Association. Indianapolis. 1897. Another post revealed (from the PA Genealogical Magazine in an article called "The Back Part of Germantown"): Pgs 82-82: The land between the Mueller tract and Cresheim Creek west of the Plymouth Road belonged to John Roop, who had purchased it from John Am Wegg in 1720. The tract had formerly belonged partly to Wigard Levering, and partly to Samauel Savage, a stonecutter who had married Thomas Rutter's daughter Ann. Levering had sold his tract to Am Wegg in 1706 and Savage had folalowed suit in 1708. East of the road, Savage had sold 56 acres in 1714 to the silversmith Jan Neuss or Nice. Since Nice's death in 1719 the tract was held by his widown Elizabeth and their children Mathias, Cornelius who had married Hannah Muntoff in 1721, Wynard, William who had married Mary Stump in 1725, Gertrude whose husband was Peter Johnson of Skippack and Alice, wife of Derrick Keyser, the cordwainer. It has generally been the opinion that Wigard Levering spoke the German language, and this belief was based upon the following facts: 1. He was born in Gamen. 2. His family Bible is German. 3. The Family Register is in that language. On the other hand, his wife was a Hollander, and the deed which he executed to De la Plaine was in the Dutch language. Besides, in his lawsuit with Pastorius (post,pp,7,8,) the Governor and Council, directed that both Pastorius and Levering should bring with them "a friend that understands the German and Dutch languages." It is well known that Pastorius was a native born German, and the inference is that Levering must have been a Hollander. -Footnote from Horatio Gates Jones "The Levering Family." Notes for MAGDALENA BOEKERS: >From the book "The Levering Family, p. 93: In April, 1674, he (John Wigard) married "the chaste virgin," Magdalena Bokers, of Essen. She was a native of Leyden in Holland...-Dorothy Holgate. Children of JOHN LEVERING and MAGDALENA BOEKERS are: i. ?3 LEVERING. 4. ii. SIDONIA LEVERING, b. April 23, 1691; d. Bef. 1736. iii. JOANNA SOPHIA LEVERING, b. April 1675. Notes for JOANNA SOPHIA LEVERING: Died aged 3 weeks. iv. ANNA CATHARINA LEVERING, b. March 1672/73, Mulheim in the Rhur; m. HEINRICH FREY, April 26, 1692, Germantown, PA; b. June 17, 1663; d. October 12, 1732. Notes for ANNA CATHARINA LEVERING: The LEVERING Family, History and Genealogy, pg 97: Children of Wigard and Magdalena (BOKERS) LEVERING II. Catharine, b March 1676, in Mulheim, in the Rhur. She was brought to America in 1685 by her parents when aged "9 years," as stated in the contract of transportation. She married Henry FREY at Germantown, April 26, 1692 (OS) of whom Cassel states "Heinrich FREY and Joseph BLANTENBACH were the first two German emigrants who came to PA. They emigrated in 1680 and settled in Philadelphia".......more that I will send if anyone is still interested. v. MARIA ELIZABETH LEVERING, b. January 07, 1688/89, Mulheim; d. September 1703. 5. vi. WILLIAM LEVERING, b. May 04, 1677, Mulheim on the River Ruhr, Germany; d. August 1746, Roxborough Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. vii. AMELIA ANNA SOPHIA LEVERING, b. July 1682, Mulheim; d. February 05, 1771; m. BENJAMIN MORGAN. viii. ANNA SIBELLA LEVERING, b. September 1684, Mulheim; d. August 17, 1764; m. GEORGE MILLER. ix. HERMAN LEVERING, b. November 18, 1686, Germantown, PA; d. Bet. 1691 - 1708. Notes for HERMAN LEVERING: First one born here (at Germantown).- Dorothy Holgate. 6. x. JACOB LEVERING, b. January 21, 1692/93, Roxborough, PA; d. October 1736, Roxborough, PA. xi. MAGDALENA LEVERING, b. January 13, 1694/95, Roxborough; d. February 1694/95. Notes for MAGDALENA LEVERING: Lived 3 weeks. 7. xii. MAGDALENA LEVERING, b. June 04, 1696, Roxborough, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; d. May 10, 1736. 3. GERHARD (GARRET)2 LEVERING (ROSIER1) was born Abt. 1660 in Gamen in Westphalia, Germany, and died Aft. 1731 in Whitpain Township, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania. He married MARY. Notes for GERHARD (GARRET) LEVERING: Emigrated with his brother, Wigard, to America in 1685. Children of GERHARD LEVERING and MARY are: 8. i. DANIEL3 LEVERING, b. December 02, 1704; d. June 12, 1776, Whitpain Township, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania. ii. ABRAHAM LEVERING. iii. HENRY LEVERING. iv. MAGDALENA LEVERING. v. JACOB LEVERING.