This is an awful lot of typing for which no one in my family, understandably, wants to proofread. If you find any mistakes, please let me know. tirlight@hotmail.com

You can obtain this book the way I did - order it through your local public library. The particular copy I received had numerous handwritten notes throughout the book, however, most were not clear so I am not retyping them here.

As this volume is a Family History, designed chiefly for the descendants of two of the Pioneer settlers of Roxborough, no apology will be offered for its publication. It has its defects, and no doubt contains numerous errors, both as to dates and names, but when it is remembered, that much of the information has been gathered by correspondence with parties at a distance, some from researches among old wills, deeds and tombstones, and the rest from family traditions and recollection of aged people, the readers, I trust, will not be severe in their criticism. In Pennsylvania there is no law for the Registration of Marriages, Births and Deaths. One was passed a few years ago, but it was soon repealed; and it is only in a few of the Churches and Friend's Meetings, that any such records are preserved. Inaccuracies, therefore, in these particulars, especially among the early generations, must be expected.

My attention was directed to the importance of a Genealogy of the Family several years since, and the collection of facts was begun, to gratify my own taste, with no idea of printing; but the materials increased on my hands, and finally assumed such a shape, that some of the members of the Levering Family urged the importance of having them preserved in some permanent form.

The Book merely purports to be a Genealogy, and not a personal history of the parties named in it.

It is but proper to say, that the history of Gerhard or Garrett Levering's descendants, especially of his children, is very imperfect, and I feel almost sure that there is a link wanting; for in Wigard's Genealogy, I have traced ten generations. This publication, it is hoped, will lead other members of the family to renew and prosecute the researches here begun, and at some future day, the mystery which involves the history of Gerhard Levering may be solved.

I wish also thus publicly to express my acknowledgements to several kind friends, for the invaluable aid they have afforded me in the preparation of this work. Special thanks are due to the late venerable Thomas Levering, of Bennington, O.; Messrs. William, Nathan and Charles Levering, of Knox Co., O.; Mr. Charles Joseph Levering, of Hope, Ia.; Mr. Jacob B. Tshudy, of Litiz, Pa.; Hon. Abraham Levering, of Monroe Co., Pa.; Mr. Thomas E. Sater, of Hamilton Co., O.; Mr. John Levering, of Lower Merion, Pa.; Mr. Peter A. Keyser, of Philadelphia, and Mr. A. J. Levering, of Baltimore. To no one, however, am I under greater obligations, than to my kinsman of Baltimore, whose numerous letters always contained some valuable data or suggestions.

I would suggest to all who may read this book, to make corrections where needed in their copies, and to add blank leaves for the purpose of continuing the history of their own families. I shall also be obliged for any corrections that may be furnished to me.

Among the early settlers of Roxborough Township,* in the County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, now forming part of the Twenty-First Ward of the City of Philadelphia, were two brothers, named WIGARD LEVERING and GERHARD LEVERING. They were from Germany, and their father's name was ROSIER LEVERING.

Of the European history of this family nothing whatever is known, except what is contained in the Family Bible of Wigard Levering. Various traditions have prevailed among the different branches of the family, one of which states that Rosier Levering was a physician, and a very pious man; that he belonged to the Reformed Church in France, of which country he was a native, and that upon the Revocation of the Edict of Nantz, he fled with his family to Germany, where he afterwards lived and died.

Among the posterity of Gerhard Levering there is another tradition, which makes Wigard and Gerhard two out of twenty-one brothers - but this I have only heard from one source.

That Rosier Levering was a native of France is not at all improbable, as the name has a French sound, but more than this cannot be asserted, as there is no documentary evidence on the point. That he fled from France to avoid persecution, can also be readily believed, but his settlement in Germany must have been long anterior to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantz. The Edict was not revoked until October, 1695, and Wigard himself says he was born in Gamen, in Germany, and that, as I shall hereafter show, was about the year 1648. The probability therefore is, that Rosier Levering left France during some of the earlier religious wars and persecutions which visited the Waldenses and Huguenots. Be this as it may, he must have been quite young at the time of his flight, for we find that his

wife was a resident of Westphalia. She was born in the city of Wesel, and her name was Elizabeth Van de Walle. How many children they had, what was his occupation, and when he died, are questions about which I have no knowledge. I leave their elucidation to some future genealogist of the family, who perhaps may discover these facts by examining the proper offices in Germany. It is much to be regretted that Wigard did not, when dictating his own brief history, speak more at large of his remaining family.

When WIGARD was twenty-three years of age, about the year 1671-2, he married Magdalena Boker. He says, "Her father's name was William Boker, and her mother's maiden name was Sidonia Williams Braviers, of the city of Leyden, in Holland. The aforesaid Magdalena, my wife, was also born in Leyden." Such is the brief statement which he gives in his own Family Bible, concerning his wife's family. His movements after his marriage may also be gathered from this same Bible. His first child was born in Gamen, and the next five were born at Mulheim, on the river Rhur - so that it is probable he left Gamen the latter part of 1672, and went to Mulheim to reside, as his second child, Anna Catharina, was born there in March, 1673. The sixth child, Anna Sibella, was born in Sept. 1684. It was at this time that he probably heard of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania founded by the illustrious quaker, William Penn. "The Frankford Company" had become the purchasers of a large tract of about 25,000 acres of land in Pennsylvania, part of which was already located by Jacob Vandewall, and most likely had their agents scattered through Germany to induce young and active men to emigrate thither with their families. On Holmes' Map may be seen the following inscription: "Germantown - Jacob Vandewall and Company." It does not appear who this Jacob Vandewall was, but as the mother of Wigard Levering was named Elizabeth Vandewall, it was perhaps some relative who had become interested in this great land speculation.

Besides, the name of William Penn was not unknown in Germany and Holland. In 1677 he made quite an extended tour through those countries. He had visited "Krisheim in the 6th month 1677,"* and he says "3d of 8th mo. 1677 we came to Wesel" - and from thence he went to Cleves and Mulheim - at which latter place Wigard Levering was residing at the time of Penn's visit. When therefore it became known that William Penn had founded a colony in America and offered great inducements to settlers, so strong was the faith of the people in his principles and character, that immense numbers at once flocked to his standard. Among this number were the brothers Wigard and Gerhard Levering. The agents of the Frankford Com-

pany at Wesel were Doctor Thomas Van Wylich* and Johannes LeBrun - and on the 20th of March, 1685 - an agreement was concluded between Wigard Levering and these agents - by the terms of which, they were to transport Wigard and his family to Pennsylvania, and he engaged to repay the Company either in labor or otherwise, as soon as he could. The beginning of the agreement is as follows:

"We the subscribers do acknowledge and confess by these Presents that we have cantracted and agreed together that Doctor Thomas Van Wylich and Johannes Le Brun in behalf of the Pennsylvania Company in which they and other ffrinds, of Frankford and other parts are engaged, to except or receive me Wighard Levering old 36 or 37 years and Magdalena Boeckers old 36 years and four children, Anna Catharina, William, Amelia, and Sibella, respectively 1/2, 2-1/2, 5 and 9 years, to and for the service of the aforementioned Company, to transport by shipping out of Holland or Ingland to Pennsylvania upon their cost."

On their arrival in Pennsylvania, they were to report themselves to Francis Daniel Pastorius who was the general agent of the Company.

At the foot of the contract there is an addition to it relative to "the contractor's brother, Gerhard Levering," setting forth his intention to emigrate, and the terms of his transportation.

The precise date of their arrival in Pennsylvania is unknown, but it was no doubt, before the month of August 1685 - as on the tenth of that month and year, Francis Daniel Pastorius as the Attorney of Jacqbus Vandewall and others, forming The Frankford Company, conveyed to Wigart Levering a lot in Germantown containing 50 acres of land. The deed for this land is in the German language. The deed closes as follows: "So done in Germantown on the 10th day of the 6th month (Augustus) in the year of Christ 1685, in the 16th year of the reign of King James the Second of England, and in the 5th year of the reign of William Penn."

"The records of the courts of Record held in the Corporation of Germantown," a MS. volume in the Recorder's Office at Philadelphia, contain the following statements:

"1693 the 8th day of the 6th month, Francis Daniel Pastorius as Attorney of the Frankford Company delivered unto Wigart Levering a deed of Enfeoffment containing 50 acres in Germantown.

"Wigard Levering delivered unto James de la Plaine a Deed of sale containing the now mentioned 50 acres of land in Germantown."

On an early Plan of Germantown in the possession of Benjamin

*Van Wylich was, no doubt, a friend of William Penn. In his Travels in Holland and Germany, p. 139, after stating his arrival at Mulheim, he adds, "After dinner we visited Copeus and Rosendale, and at Copeus' we had a blessed broken meeting, he and his wife, Rosendale and his wife, with another woman, wife to one Dr. Willick's brother, being present."

*This agreement is in the possession of Mr. George Shields, of Manayunk, Pa. He has an English and a German copy. His copies are signed only by Van Wylich and Le Brun. (...it is not indicated on the page to which sentence this note belongs)

Lehman of that place, the lot of Wigard Levering is marked down as being at the west end of Market Square, and no doubt is the same as that on which the mansion of the late Charles Stokes stands.

On the 19th of June, 1692, "Wigart Levering, an inhabitant of Germantown, weaver," conveyed the said 50 acres to Jacobus De la Plaine, who was at one time Bailiff of Germantown. This Deed is in the Dutch language. At this early-period, Roxborough - though it had "a local habitation" - had "no name," and lands situated there, are described as being in "the Germantownship," perhaps from their proximity to the lands of the Frankford Company; - and Germantown having a Court of Record, and possessing full corporate powers as a Borough.

How long Wigard Levering remained in Germantown, cannot now be ascertained with certainty, but it is probable that he removed to Roxborough in 1691 or 1692, as, on the 29th of February, 1691, he bought from Thomas Hill of the City of Philadelphia, Merchant, and Rachel his wife, for the sum of sixty-eight pounds, a tract of two hundred acres of land situated in Roxborough. In this deed he is designated as "Weekhart Liber'ng of Germantown." The land is described as follows:

"All that tract of land situate, lying and being upon Schoolkill, beginning att a Corner marked Hickory tree, thence by the lands of John Jennet five hundred and thirty perches east North East to a post for a Corner standing on the East side of Wischikon Creek, Thence by the Lands of Germantowne township North west and by North seaventy perches by a post standing by a large Wite Oak markt for another Corner; thence by the land of Mary Fincher West South West five hundred and fifteen perches to a White Oak standing by the Schoolkill; thence by the Schoolkill the several Courses thereof to the first mentioned marked Hickory tree, Containing by estimation two hundred acres (little more or less). Together with a Mansion House, and all other buildings, Orchards, Gardens, Apple Trees &c &c,"

It is highly probable that this was the period of his settlement in Roxborough, as his name does not appear among the records of Germantown after this date.

Prior to purchasing this property Wigard Levering, his brother Gerhard, and a number of others, being Germans,* became naturalized "for the better securing of their Estates, real and personal."

*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.

Mr. Watson, the Annalist, says that "on the 7th of the 3rd month, 1691, Thomas Lloyd being Deputy Governor, 64 persons, among whom were Wiggert and Gerhard Levering, William and Cloes Rittinghuysen were duly naturalized" - or as the Records state, they having solemnly promised faith and allegiance to William and Mary, and fidelity and lawful obedience to William Penn as Proprietary, it is declared and granted to them to be henceforth Freemen in Law, &c."

Well satisfied with his new position as a landed proprietor, and doubtless having an eye to the future, we find that on the 5th of July, 1697, our pioneer made another purchase of three hundred acres adjoining his former tract.

This tract was conveyed for the sum of sixty pounds current money, by "Christopher Sibthorp, of Philadelphia, Brasier, and Mary his wife, late widow of Francis Fincher," to "Wickert Levering, of the county of Philadelphia, yeoman," and is described as follows:

"All that tract of land situate on the east side of Schoolkill, in the county aforesaid, beginning att a White Oake on the River Schoolkill, thence by the land now in the tenure of the said Wickert, east north-east, five hundred and thiry perches to a post standing in the line of Germantown land; thence North-west and by north by the said Germantown land; ninety-one perches to another corner post; thence West south-west by the land late of james Claypoole, five hundred and fifteen perches to the said Schoolkill and then down the several courses thereof to the place of beginning, Containing three hundred acres of land."

By this latter purchase Wigard Levering became the owner of 500 acres of land in one entire body. This had originally been patented by William Penn to Francis Fincher by a warrant dated April 25th, 1684 and confirmed to fincher by a Deed from Penn's Commissioners dated November 4, 1691.

The Emigrant has now become a Yeoman and to his various occupations of "Weaver" and "Joiner," he added that of farming, which in those days was no uncommon thing and he was esteemed the most thrifty man, who could bear the appellation of "Jack of all trades," - a name by no means desirable at the present day. The residence of the Pioneer settler has by common consent, been fixed in the valley north-west of the Roxborough Baptist Church, on the northerly side of the Ridge Road and nearly opposite Green Lane. The original house which stood there has long since disappeared and nother remains of it, except the lower part of the main stack of stone chimnies. Mrs. Clement, of Ohio, who has treasured up numerous traditions concerning her family, writes as follows: "I heard my uncle Nathan Levering say that the old stone house on the Tan Yard Lot was where his family first settled. It had a large fire-place in the basement, with seats in the corner; they had some antiquated chairs - willow net back with arms, and a curious Cabinet with many

drawers. I had a piece of lead, for a long time, that came out of a window in my great grand-father's house in Roxborough. The panes of glass were set in lead; there were two sashes, and they slid in a frame aside the walls." It is now owned and occupied by William Levering, (355) a great, great, great grandson of Wigard. More recently however it has been suggested that Wigard's residence was in a field on the south-western side of the Ridge Road, nearly opposite the Leverington Hotel. Within the memory of the writer there was a very old stone house in that field, (the site now occupied by the dwelling of Jacob Shinkle) and it fell to decay some twenty years since. It was here that Wigard's son William (7) lived and died. A lease dated February 7, 1745-6, is still in existence by which William (7) leased to his son Benjamin (20) his Plantation of about one hundred and fifty acres, reserving the Dwelling House, cellar, &c., for the use of the said William during his natural life. William (3) died in September, 1746, and after devising to his son William (16) certain lands described by metes and bounds, gave all the residue of his estate to his son Benjamin and charged the same with the support of his aged Father Wigard, and also of his own wife Catharine. It is well known that Benjamin (20) inherited this land on the south-westerly side of the Ridge Road down as far as the River Schuylkill, and hence it is probable that the aged settler died at this house. The two statements may be reconciled, by supposing that Wigard as he advanced in years removed from his first residence to the place where he subsequently died. Either spot was at that time a desirable abode and thus surrounded by the primeval forests and rich lands, the cultivation of which yielded him all the neccessaries of life, he could be well termed a Patriarch; for, as far as the ey could reach, were the houses and lands of his children and grandchildren.

But he was not destined to remain in the enjoyment of quiet for a very long time. When he made the contract with Dr. Van Wylich and John Le Brun, to come to Pennsylvania, he had obligated himself, both on his own account and that of his brother, to labor for the term of four years under the direction of Pastorius, so as to repay to the Frankford company the advances made to him and his brother.

How long they remained in the employ of the Company does not appear, but Wigard was soon engaged in business on his own account, and evidently regarded himself as free from any liability to the Company. Doubtless he was frequently dunned by Pastorius until at last to rid himself of so troublesome a neighbor he resorted to the law, and although unacquainted with our language he succeeded, according to Pastorius' account, in getting the better of that celebrated man and the entire Frankford Company.

The whole transaction is best explained in the following curious Document which I fortunately discovered in September, 1856, and which now appears in print for the first time.

"To the Proprietary & Gov'r of Pensilvania & Territories thereof in Councell mett.

An humble Petition of Francis Daniel Pastorius* in the behalf of the German Company, Sheweth,

That whereas the said Company above 14 years ago did transport Wigard Levering his wife, four children & brother into this Provice & lent unto him at Wesel 16(pound sign) 4s to pay his debts there, & further disbursed on the Transportation of him and his family 57(pound sign) 18s 11d expecting that all this sum should by little & little be deducted here, of the said Wigard & his brother's wages: He instead of deducting, sued the said Comp; as debtors to him & to deprive me, the now Agen of the sd Company of all advice & assistance in Law, employed all the Attorneys in the Country, who pleading that he the sd Wigard, his wife & 4 children are not to disaccount anything for their Transportation, obtained Judgmt in the last County Court against the said Compy, for 32(pound sign) 16s 10d. Now supposing the said German company had Intended to transport the sd Wigard his wife & children gratis or free, as I have proofs to the contrary, Yet seeing his Brother's part of the 57(pound sign) 18s 11d (wch he besides the aforementioned 16(pound sign) 4i lent unto him in Germany allows to be defalkable) comes to 12(pound sign) 17s 6d, the sid comp; cannot owe him but 29(pound sign) 16s 10d. For wch the said Wigard's brother having workt 163 days less than he should have done & Wigard himself 500 days less, both together do greatly outbalance his, his wife's & children pretended free transportation.

Therefore your Petitioner in the behalf of the sd German Comp. humbly entrreats you to grant to have the cause tried again (a thing he thinks not so unheard of as that a Plaintiff should employ all the Lawyers to impede & hinder the Defenders to get any) And to the end that a Just Cause may not suffer by my unskillfullness in pleading & notorious want or defect to express myself sufficiently in the English tongue to the full understanding of a Jury; May it please the Govr & his Councill to appoint a Person learned in the law to patronize or manage the same. And as your Petitioner requests these things only for Justice & Truths sake, so, (he hopes) It will tend to the preventing both of others, who being transported by the said Company's disbursmt may probably follow the steps of Wigard; as also to the allaying of dissatisfaction of several honest hearted people in Germany and especially oblidge your Petioner.

*Francis Daniel Pastorius was a German, and a very fine scholar. He was born at Limpurg, Oct. 4, 1651, and emigrated to America in 1683. He resided at Chestnut Hill, where he owned a large tract of land. He died about 1720. His descendants still reside at Germantown.