Hi, I am looking for anyone who is aquainted with my Whitaker family which lived in Berks Co. PA in the late 1700s - early to mid 1800s. Joseph Whitaker s/o James Whitaker b. August 25, 1755 in Leeds England ( joined the Dragoons and came over around 1776 to fight in the Revolutionary War) Deserted the British army in 1777 and after living in Philadelphia and Chester Co. PA married Sarah Updegrove b. 1759 d. September 15, 1823. She was the descendent of Abraham Op Den Graeff who was one of the original 13 families who settled Germantown in Philadephia. They then settled in Berks Co. on the Berks/Chester Co. line one mile south of Hopewell Furnace where Joseph was a woodchopper and weaver. He and Sara had 14 children: Francis Asbury Whitaker George Price Whitaker Grace Whitaker Hannah Whitaker Jeremiah Whitaker John Whitaker Sarah Whitaker Ann Whitaker James Whitaker Jane Whitaker Mary Whitaker Richard Whitaker b. abt 1787 Joseph Whitaker b. abt 1789 **Isaac Whitaker b. Oct. 1, 1801 d. Oct. 28, 1850 m. Mary Boice d/o Abram & Hannah Boice ( my ggg grandparents) At least 2 of the children (Joseph & George Price Whitaker went on to make their fortunes in the Iron Industry learning the trade at Hopewell and surrounding furnaces. Samuel Whitaker Penneypacker, Historian and Govenor of Pennsylvania was a g grandson of Joseph & Sarah Whitaker. Would love to exchange information on this family Joanne [email protected]