Died helping put a roof on a large building in Eyersgrove and fell off.
1910 PA Census Miracode index shows Guy Eyer, age 32, PA, birth place PA, County - Columbia, Berwick, Cora age 27, birthplace - PA, Anna age 3, birthplace-PA, and 2 non-relatives.
1920 Census, PA, Columbia Co., Berwick Borough, image 15 of 36 shows Guy E. Eyer, owned, age 41, born PA, clerk auditor, Steel Car Co., Cora A. age 36, born PA, Anna P. age 12, Lowell W. age 9, Roderick age 6, Cleo W. age 4 11 mos. Children all born PA. Shows they lived on East Tenth Street.
1880 Census, PA, Columbia Co., Greenwood twp, image 32 of 36 shows Bigler Eyer age 28, farm laborer, Anna age 22, keeping house, Guy E. age 2, at home.
1920 Census, PA, Columbia Co., Greenwood twp, ED #31, image 21 of 21 shows William B. Eyer, owned home, age 68, born PA, laborer for railroad, Anna M. age 61, born PA.
The Bloomsburg Daily
_____________________________________________________________________________
VOL. 1, NO. 3 BLOOMSBURG, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1892 25C. MONTHLY
Bigler Eyer, of Greenwood, went to Philadelphia on Wednesday to have a tumor removed. His many friends hope that the operation my be successful, and that he may return greatly improved in health.
William EYER. The EYERS are of German stock. The name of the father of our subject was Ludwig EYER, son of Martin EYER, born about the year 1746, place not known, and located first at Upper Mount Bethel where several of his family were born; he married Catharine, daughter of Joseph LONG. From Upper Mount Bethel he came to what is now Bloomsburg and laid out the town; he was a dyer by trade which business he followed here at Bloomsburg, and finally moved out on Black Run, in Madison Township, where he settled and built a saw-mill, farmed to some extent, and died here about the year 1816. He reared a family of ten children: Philip, Jacob, John, Adam, Sarah, Henry, Margaret, Anna, William and Mary. But two are now living, John and Margaret (now Mrs. Samuel JOHNSON). William EYER, the subject of this sketch, was born April 25, 1811, in Bloomsburg, and removed with his parents to this township[Greenwood] when a mere child; was reared to manhood in this locality. When in his teens he learned the shoemaker trade which he followed for fifteen years when he engaged in farming in Madison Township; finally he came to Greenwood and carried on his brother’s farm for several years, then located permanently in what is now Eyer’s Grove, laid out by and named for his brother, Jacob EYER. He was married October 4, 1832, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah (DeMOTT) MANNON. To them have been born eight children: Catharine (Mrs. John DOLLMAN), Mary (Mrs. Jacob HILEMAN), Margaret (Mrs. Robert BEAGLE), Minerva (Mrs. William HILEMAN), John Turner, William B. and Robert: Mr. EYER is Democratic in politics and cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson. (History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887, pg 470)
1850 PA, Columbia Co., Madison twp, image 4 of 18 shows Wm. Eyer age 39, shoemaker, Eliz. Eyer age 27, Cath age 18, Mary age 14, Marg age 7, Turner age 4, Minerva age 2.
1880, PA, Columbia Co., Greenwood twp, image 32 of 36 shows William Eyer age 68, farmer, Elizabeth age 67, keeping house, Robert age 25, farmer, Kate Solman age 46, keeping house, William age 19, farm labor, ???? son age 16, farm labor, Ida age 12, attend school. Note - Elizabeth father born NJ, all others born in PA.
Other records indicate last name could have been Mannon
He was 48 yrs old when he died.
Ludwig purchased land from his father-in-law Joseph Long to set up trade as a bluedier. According to records by the Eyer family Ludwig purchased land in Columbia County in 1796 from Henry Dildine and that in 1802 laid out plans and founded the town of Bloomsburg. John Adams Eyer named Ludwig his attorney to sale lots and collect debts for him in Bloomsburg. It is noted that Ludwig is given the credit for the establishment of Bloomsburg, formerly known as Eyersburg, Oyersburg, or Oyersschdeddel. It is also noted that Ludwig taught a German school at the northeast corners of Second and Markets Streets about the year 1802.
When the peace of 1783 finally relieved the valley of the "North Branch" of the harassing experiences of the five preceding years, immigration was again directed to this county, but the lower valley of Fishing creek did not immediately receive an increase of population. Thomas CLAYTON removed to Catawissa, and Evan OWEN to Berwick, of which he was the founder. This would seem to indicate that other localities were considered preferable. There were still occasional additions to the community, however. About 1783 Elisha BARTON became a neighbor of the McCLUREs and BOONEs. He was born in Virginia in 1742, from whence with his father he went to New Jersey. After his marriage, in 1766, he removed to Northampton county, and after a second marriage, he again changed his residence, emigrating this time to "Shamokin," by which name a large section of country including this county was popularly known. He built the "white" mill, owned a large farm west of Bloomsburg, became justice of the peace, and was one of the most substantial citizens of this locality. Joseph B. LONG, a Jersey emigrant, bought OWEN's land upon his departure, and in 1795 he was succeeded in its possession by Ludwig EYER, a native of Northampton county. In 1801 Joseph HENDERSHOTT and Andrew SCHOOLEY bought a tract of several hundred acres adjoining the river and east of the KINNEY farm. They settled here the previous year, having previously lived at Belvidere, N. J. Mr. SCHOOLEY disposed of his interest to Simon WIRTMAN, a native of Germany, a few years afterward. Jacob WANICH also of German descent but a native of North Carolina, settled west of HENDERSHOTT some time prior to 1809. And at this time the present limits of Bloomsburg had became quite as thickly settled as any other part of the surrounding region.
From "The History of Columbia and Mountour Counties" Battle, 1887 Chapter VI. (pages 151-184)
Apparently dissatisfied with the slow increased of population, and doubtless intending to give a new impetus to settlement and improvement, Ludwig EYER laid out the town of Bloomsburg in 1802, thus following the example of Evan OWEN at Berwick, William HUGHES at Catawissa, Christian KRENCHEL at Mifflinburg, and George ESPY at "Liberty." Bloomsburg, at the time, had no existence except in the mind of its projector, if two buildings--the Protestant Episcopal Church and John CHAMBERLAIN's hotel at the corner of Second street and MILLER's alley--may be excepted. There was also a deserted hovel with log chimney and clapboard roof on the south side of Second street below Market. Within few years after the town was laid out, George VANCE, a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian from New Jersey, built a cabin on the south side of Main street, the location of which was nearly identical with the terminus of East street at the place. Abram GROTZ removed from Easton in 1806, and built the house occupied by C. C. MARR, at the southeast corner of Second and Iron streets. Christopher KAHLER and John COLEMAN had formerly been neighbors of GROTZ in Easton, and no doubt followed him on the strength of his representations. The former arrived in 1807; Coleman lived for two years in the tumble-down log house previously mentioned, and then removed from this temporary habitation to a more pretentious residence on the corner of Center and Third streets.EYER & HEFLEY was the caption of a well known business house from 1835 to 1845
As this industrial development of the county seat progressed, the population increased, the building area was extended, and a different political organization followed in the wake of changed social conditions. The town plat laid off by Ludwig EYER extended from First street to Third, and from West to East (Iron) street, comprising thirty-two blocks of three lots each. Mr. EYER was not an exact geometer, but his good judgment is seen in the location of the town, the width and regularity of the streets, and their distance from each other. About the year 1815, the Reverend Caleb HOPKINS laid out a number of lots on East street below Third. Although this nominal addition comprised for years no other houses than the reverend gentleman's residence, it was known and recognized as Hopkinsville.* [Footnote: The origin of the name Bloomsburg cannot so easily be explained. It is said that the name was suggested by certain of the old settlers who had formerly lived at Bloomsburg, N. J. Bloom township was formed from the western part of Briarcreek in 1797 and so named in honor of Samuel BLOOM, one of the county commissioners for Northumberland county at that time.
George VANCE taught an English school in a log building on the site of the Protestant Episcopal church edifice in 1802, and about the same time, Ludwig EYER taught a German school in a building at the north-east corner of Second and Market streets
NOTE - Check info on Northhampton County.
From the website - http://www.colcohist-gensoc.org/Essays/JohnEyer.htm
The Proprietor of Bloomsburg: John Adam Eyer
by W. M. Baillie
Who founded Bloomsburg? Like most early towns in central Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg did not grow up haphazardly but was laid out in lots by a developer as a moneymaking venture. Traditionally, Bloomsburg’s founding in 1802 has been ascribed to settler Ludwig Eyer on the strength of the inscription on his tombstone in the old Lutheran-Reformed cemetery in Bloomsburg (later moved to Rosemont Cemetery):
IN Memory of LUDWIG EYER Born Jany. 8. 1767. Died Sept. 20. 1814. In the 48, Year of his Age. He left a Widow, 6 Sons, & 4 daughters, to deplore his loss. He was proprietor of Bloomsburg, laid out in 1802, and presented this square [= 3 lots] to the Lutheran and Presbn Congregations, for a Church & burying ground, in 1807.
In fact, however, the man who owned the property and sold the town’s first lots, and hence was legally the "Proprietor" of the venture, was Ludwig’s older brother, John Adam Eyer, a schoolteacher in far-off Northampton County. Ludwig’s widow, in a sworn court petition in 1814, stated plainly that in 1802 John Adam Eyer bought the land in question from his brother Ludwig and "laid out part into Town lots"--and the recorded deeds support her statement. The conflicting sources may both be correct, in a way: the two Eyer brothers evidently acted jointly in an informal partnership to establish the village, John Adam as the financier and absentee landlord and Ludwig, who lived locally in Bloom Township, as the onsite agent (and after 1807, legal agent of his brother). Technically, however, John Adam was the town’s original proprietor.THE GRAVE OF LUDWIG EYER, FOUNDER OF BLOOMSBURG, ROSEMONT CEMETERY, BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. THE EPITAPH READS: 'IN MEMORY OF LUDWIG EYER, BORN JAN 8, 1767, DIED SEP 20, 1814. IN THE 48 YEAR OF HIS AGE. HE LEFT A WIDOW, 6 SONS & 4 DAUGHTERS TO DEPLORE HIS LOSS. HE WAS PROPRIETOR OF BLOOMSBURG, LAID OUT IN 1802, AND PRESENTED THIS SQUARE, TO THE LUTHERAN & PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATIONS, FOR A CHURCN & BURYING GROUND, IN 1807. COME PILGRIMS VIEW THIS SILENT TOMB, PAUSE AS YOU PASS IT BY, REFLECT UPON YOUR CERTAIN DOOM, LIKE ME YOU ALL MUST DIE! YOUR DAYS ON EARTH THEY ARE BUT FEW. GIVE NOT YOUR SOULS FOR DRESS, BUT THINK ON HIM, WHO BLED FOR YOU, AND DIED UPON THE CROSS; AS I DEAR FRIENDS, HAVE SPED MY WAY, GOD'S WARD IS THUS TO YOU, PREPARE YOUR SOULS, WHILE YET YOU MAY TO PASS THE GRAND REVIEW." (Source: page 32 of the book is "Letters to the Editor" (Two hundred years in the life of an American town) Edited by Gerard Stropnicky, Tom Byrn, James Goode, and Jerry Matheny. A Touchstone Book Published by Simon & Schuster. c/o 1998. A book about Bloomsburg, PA.
She was 74 yrs old when she died
Photo of tombstone can be viewed at: http://columbiacoholding04.homestead.com/OldRosemontHerbines.html
Jacob was the founder of Eyer's Grove. He never married and died at the age of 74 yrs. Eyer's grove is named for this Jacob Eyer...... Jacob, donated the land for the Lutheran Church on Market Street.
Another record shows b-date as Sept 25, 1794
Died at age 44 DAYS.
Immigration - Sept 28, 1749. Came to America on the ship named "Ann".
Johann was 75 yrs old when he died.Note: See if Kutzen....is in France or Germany
Anna was 89 yrs old when she died.
Frome the website - http://www.colcohist-gensoc.org/Essays/JohnEyer.htm - the man who owned the property and sold the town’s first lots, and hence was legally the "Proprietor" of the venture, was Ludwig’s older brother, John Adam Eyer, a schoolteacher in far-off Northampton County. Ludwig’s widow, in a sworn court petition in 1814, stated plainly that in 1802 John Adam Eyer bought the land in question from his brother Ludwig and "laid out part into Town lots"--and the recorded deeds support her statement. The conflicting sources may both be correct, in a way: the two Eyer brothers evidently acted jointly in an informal partnership to establish the village, John Adam as the financier and absentee landlord and Ludwig, who lived locally in Bloom Township, as the onsite agent (and after 1807, legal agent of his brother). Technically, however, John Adam was the town’s original proprietor. John Adam Eyer was born July 27, 1755 in Bucks County, eldest son of Martin Eyer and Dorothea Beischer. The father was a German Lutheran immigrant from Alsace (now in France) who arrived in America on the ship Ann at Philadelphia, September 28, 1749 and settled in Northampton County. When just thirteen years of age, his son John Adam served as a baptismal sponsor for his infant cousin Johan Adam Beischer, and the young man showed precocious abilities in learning languages, art, penmanship and music. In 1779 he began his career as "Shulediener" or schoolmaster in German-speaking Lutheran and Mennonite one-room schools in southeastern Pennsylvania, a career which continued successfully for over fifty years. The last thirty years of his teaching were at the earliest school in Hamilton Township in (modern) Monroe County, about seven miles from Stroudsburg. In the log school there, next to the Lutheran/Reformed Union Church, he had as many as sixty students enrolled. The schoolmaster was later remembered in an 1886 Monroe County History as "very popular with both parents and children, not less for his tact and discipline than for his genial and kindly nature." But J. A. Eyer also had other talents in addition to teaching: he was a successful financier and is now famous for his art. The schoolmaster was a shrewd businessman, trusted by his family, neighbors and church with numerous financial dealings on their behalf. At the Hamilton Lutheran church, where he served as organist, he was the secretary of the church council and, when the original log building no longer was adequate, he was named the collector of funds for the building of a new church, a handsome stone structure completed in 1829 and still today in regular use. In the cornerstone of that building was placed the "Articles" or constitution of the church drawn up and beautifully inscribed by Adam Eyer. Never married, John Adam also was trusted as the head of his extended family. The family farm west of the church in Hamilton Township was deeded in his name, though his parents’ funds had purchased the land and they lived there along with John Adam and his brother Henry’s growing family. The schoolmaster bought and sold various lots and lands in the area, usually making a tidy profit. The inventory of his estate indicates also that at the time of his death in 1837 he held outstanding loans of up to $200 to some forty family members and neighbors--he was evidently serving as the local banker, and becoming a wealthy man in the process. It was in this connection that John Adam Eyer became in 1802 the original Proprietor of the town laid out along Fishing Creek, some seventy miles from his home, first called "Eyer Staeddel" (Eyer’s Village) and later Bloomsburg. His brother Ludwig, a fuller and dyer by trade, had settled along the creek and in 1798 bought 92+ acres of farmland nearby from his father-in-law Joseph Long. The surviving records aren’t specific, but it appears that Ludwig and John Adam worked together to lay out the northern part of this acreage in lots and streets to form a town (now, First to Third Streets, Center to West Streets). As the learned brother, John Adam probably drew up the plat and surveyed the land. On June 5, 1802 John Adam bought the land from his brother (who may have been in financial difficulties), and just two days later on June 7 he sold the first of the original lots. For a few years, John Adam periodically made the long trek from Hamilton Township to sign deeds and complete sales, but in 1807 he entrusted Ludwig, who lived on the scene, with formal power of attorney to manage sales for him. John Adam, meanwhile, evidently was active back at home in recruiting prospective lot-buyers, for more than half of the early purchasers of lots in the new village were from the area of (then-) Northampton County or the adjacent counties in New Jersey. Within a dozen years, John Adam had disposed of more than three-fourths of the original ninety-six lots, along with several parcels of "out-lots" nearby. The "unimproved" lots sold for about $20 at first, rising to $45-$56 ten years later; by 1814 the recorded sales total some $2850, a handsome return on John Adam’s original investment of about $1200. In 1811 he gave 13 lots to his brother Ludwig, apparently to compensate Ludwig for his pains in making sales and recording deeds at the county seat in Sunbury; Ludwig, however, died soon after, leaving ten children in impecunious circumstances. While the name of John Adam Eyer is largely unrecognized in the town he founded, the name is now famous among collectors of American folk art. In common with many Pennsylvania Dutch schoolmasters, John Adam practiced the art of fraktur, adorning text pages with calligraphy and colorful drawings. His work was distinctive, often innovative, and so widely imitated that today’s art historians speak routinely of the "Adam Eyer style" in manuscript folk art. The standard guide to frakturs lists about a hundred of his surviving works, and many others probably remain unrecognized, since he signed very few of his pieces. Long "forgotten" as an artist, John Adam Eyer since 1980 has had a remarkable rediscovery among collectors; in a 1999 Sotheby’s sale, two of his works sold for over $20,000 apiece. The term fraktur refers to a specific calligraphic style of German Gothic lettering, but has come to be used for a whole class of fancy illustrated texts, hand-written or printed, widely current in Pennsylvania Dutch culture especially from 1770 to 1840. Schoolmaster J. A. Eyer’s decorated hand-written texts were of several types. Most common were Vorschriften, exemplars of penmanship executed for his pupils, sometimes as an award for superior learning; these typically included inspiring religious or moral verses--some of which he composed himself--decorated with colorful artwork. Adam’s most important innovation was in music-books providing the melody-line of hymns and secular songs (German-culture hymnals at the time printed only the words of hymns, without tunes); this useful production was widely imitated, and Adam’s brother and nephew later printed various music books which probably included original music by Adam. Another type of fraktur was the marriage greeting--a page celebrating a wedding and encouraging the couple’s pious married life, and still another type was gift-texts, such as a circular spiral-written religious text presented to a student, and bookmarks. Curiously, Adam prepared few of the most common type of fraktur art, the baptismal certificate. All these varieties of hand-lettered text pages were illuminated with his characteristic designs of twining ivy, tulips, hearts, facing pairs of birds or Sophia angels, and/or occasionally cartoon-like human figures, all usually boldly colored in cheerful reds, blues and greens. In sum then, the 2002 Bloomsburg Bicentennial is a fitting time to "rediscover" the original Proprietor who, though at a distance, was the force behind the auspicious beginning of the only Town in Pennsylvania. As beloved schoolmaster, honored businessman, and talented artist, the figure of John Adam Eyer is an appropriate emblem of the town’s continued fostering of education, commerce and the arts. SOURCES The fullest introduction to John Adam Eyer is Frederick S. Weiser, "IAE SD" in Something for Everyone — Something for You, Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society, vol. 14 (Breinigsville: PA German Society, 1980), pp. 437-506; see also Earl F. Robacker, "Johann Adam Eyer: ‘Lost’ Fraktur Writer of Hamilton Square," Pennsylvania Folklife (Spring, 1985), 98-113; works attributed to Eyer are listed in Russell D. and Corinne P. Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners, vol. 1, 2nd edn. (East Berlin, PA: Earnest Associates, 1997), 256-60. The deeds for early land sales in Bloomsburg are in the Register and Recorder offices in Northumberland County (up to 1813) and Columbia County.
225 Market Street, P.O. Box 360, Bloomsburg, PA 17815-0360 (570)784-1600
Hours: Tuesday and Friday, 9:00-3:00; Thursday 9:00-7:30; Saturday, 9:00 to 12:30
Copyright © 2000, 2001 Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society, All rights reserved.The initials, I A E S D, mean Johan Adam Eyer, Schul Diener. According to his roll book, he taught at two schools in Hilltown Township and a third named Deep Run. "These schools appear to have been the 'parochial' school of the Birckenseh Mennonite Meeting House, now the Blooming Glen congregation in Hilltown Township ...; the 'parochial' school of the Deep Run meeting in Bedminster Township; and an unknown school in the southern end of Hilltown, perhaps in the neighborhood of Saint Peter's Lutheran Church of Hilltown..."-- p. 439. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IN: Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society, v. 14, p. [435]-506 Records of Union Church, Hamilton Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 1800-1830 Johann Adam Eyer is mentioned many times, when he was baptized, when he took communion (Good Friday)...when he sponsored.
Peter was about 73 yrs when he died.
Anna was about 78 when she died.
1870 Census shows Joshua age 83 farmer, Margaret age 84 keeping house, Sherman age 20 farm hand - Real Estate value was 4,800 and personal value was $3,120.
Will Book IV, P. 446, Number 2731, Greene Cunty Courthouse, Waynesburg, PA contains the will of Joshua Thomas dated November 7, 1872. In it he names..."daughter Elender (Eleanor) who married Rememberance Neel."
Note: Conflicting burials...One source says Oak Park outside of Waynesburg, another says he is buried in the Thomas Cemetery.
tk-another record states burial is at Thomas Cemetery, Greene Co., PAGreene County Court House - (Teresa Kisko has copy) - Will Book 4, Pg 446, 447, 448.
No. 2731
In the name of God, Amen: I, Joshua Thomas, Sr., of Franklin Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, being old and feble, but of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of live, and wishing to dispose of my worldly affairs while I have strength and capasity so to do, do make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking and void all former wills by heretofore made, and as for such worldy goods at has pleased God to intrust me with, I dispose off in the following manner:FIRST: I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon as money comes into the hands of my executors hereafter named. I next will to my beloved wife, Margaret Thomas, the use of my home farm and all my house hold and kitchen furniture, bed and beding and all the stock and grain on the farm to have the use of it during her natural life, and at her death to be disposed of as herafter named. I als will to my said wife, all the personal property she brought with her when I married her, or what remains of the same. I also wish that my grand-son, Fordyce, that is now living with me remain with my said wife, if the can agree and manage and manage the farm for her and assist in taking care of the stock and attend to things generall about the Farm. I next will and devise to my grand-son, Fordyce, my home farm containing about one hundred and forty acres, more or less to have possession of the same after my death and the death of my wife, Margaret, in fee simple with the express understanding that he is not to dispose of it or offer it for sale during his life, and if he offers to sell or dispose of it that my executors is to take charge of the same and sell it at public sale and divid the proceeds between my daughters and my said grand-son, Fordyce, equally share and share alike, I next will to my daughter, Anna intermarried with William McFaun, Two hundred dollars to be paid to her by my executors after the death of myself and my wife, Margaret. I have paid to my daughter, Cassa intermarried with James Dye, the sum of five hundred dollars, and taking her receipt for the same which is in full of her share what I intend for her to have. I next will to my daughter Harriet Pratt, intermarried with William Pratt, the sum of Six hundred dollars, to be paid to her by my executors after my death and the death of my wife, Margaret. I next will to my daughter, Mariah Lucy, intermarried with Alief Neel, the sum of Five hundred and eighty dollars which is in full of her share to be paid to her after my death and the death of my wife, Margaret, by my executors hereafter named. I next will to my daughter, Susana, intermarried with Abraham Ismininger, the sum of Six hundred dollars, to be paid to her by my executors after my death, and the death of my wife, Margaret. I next will to my daughter, Inda, intermarried with Isaac Ismininger, the sum of one hundred and seventy dollars, that in connection with the fourhundred and thirty dollars I have already paid her is in full of her share to be paid to her by my executors after the death of myself and wife, Margaret. I next will to my three grand-daughters, children of my daughter, Elender, which was married to Remembrance Neel, two hundred dollars a piece to be paid to them by my executors after my death, and the death of my wife, Margaret. I next will and devise to my son, Rece Thomas, the fifty acres of land he now lives on, in fee simple. I next will and bequeath to my daughter-in-law, July Ann Thomas, the tract of land she lives on containing about fifty acres more or less situate in Centre Township, during her natural live, and at her death to be equally divided between all her children, share and share alike. I next will that after the death of myself and wife, Margaret, that my son, Rees, and grand-son, Fordyce is to have two hundred dollars worth of my personal property, such as suits, then at a fare valuation. I next will that after alll the legecees are paid should there be anything lefe it is to be equally divided between all my daughters, share and share alike.
I next nominate, constitiute and appoint my son-in-law, William Pratt and Isaac Thomas, son of Eli Thom executors to this my last will and testament.
IN TESTAMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of November, A. D. , 1872
Joshua Thomas. (seal)
SIGNED, sealed, published by the testator, Joshua Thomas, to be his last will and testament, in presence of us and in presence of each other, who at his request signed the same at his request as witness.
J. L. McConnell
James ThomasGREENE COUNTY ) SS:
Before me, T. J. Hoskinson, Register for the probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for said County, came J. L. McConnell and James Thomas, the two subscribing witnesses to the within will, who being sworn according to law say they were present and saw and heard Joshua Thomas, testator, sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the within instrument of writing as, and for his last will and testament, and that at the time of so doing he was of sound mind and disposing memory to the best of their knowledge adn belief and that they signed the same as witnesses in his presence and in the presence of each other.J. L. McConnell
James ThomasSWORN & Subscribed Oct., 14th, 1873
T. J. Hoskinson, RegisterRegistered October, 14th 1873. Same day Letters Testamentary issued to William Pratt and Isaac Thomas, the Executor names in the will.
Will Filed. Inventory filed Nov 1st., 1873
Sale list filed Febry. 7th, 1874Joshua Thomas family lived in Center Twp, Greene Co in 1820. Later moved to farm in Franklin Twp. Lived there till Joshua died 1873.
1830 Census, Center twp, Greene Co., Joshua Thomas 1 male 5-10, 2 males 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 40-50, females - 1 age 5 and under, 2 age 5-10, 2 age 15-20, 1 age 40-50.
1850, Pa, Greene Co, Franklin Twp, Census shows Joshua Thomas age 63, farmer, estate value of 2500, Maria L, age 19, Susan age 18, and India age 15. Notes - house numbers were 70, 71. Nieghbors above were William and Abigail Scoot. Below were Reese and Pricilla Thomas.
1860 Pa, Greene Co., Franklin twp Census shows Post Office - Waynesburg, image 177, shows Joshua Thomas age 73, farmer, estate value 1600, personal estate value 400, born PA, Margaret age 74, housekeeper, Catharine Neel age 14, Ellenor Neel age 7. Note - shows that Joshua lived next to Reece Thomas. Joshua numbers are 1283, 1316 - Reece are 1284, 1317. Neighbor above was Reason Stosmider?
1860 Census shows Margaret as a housekeeper.
Info found on website: http://www.geocities.com/hsdurbin/greene/thomas.html. - Info furnished by the late Florin Thomas of Smith Creek, and family traditions of his family, it seems, certainthat this was the John thomas that on Dec 10, 1811, received a warrent for "Aberdeen," a tract of 264 acres of land near White's Church. His wife as Cassandra.
Greene Co. Courthouse Willbook 1 pg 355, No 625 - Estate of John Thomas of Franklin Township deceased Citation (issued 31st March 1829) to Cassandra Thomas, the widow and heir of the Intestate, to be and appear at the Registers office in Waynesburg on the tenth day of April next, in order to Administer on the said Estate, or otherwise to notify her refusal to do the same - Citation returned and the party not appearing, nor signifying her in-tention to administer or not, therefore, Letters of Administration granted to George Thomas the 11th day of April 1829. Bond with Thomas Hoskinson and James Knight as securities taken same day.
April 18th 1829 Inventory filedtk- file sent to me shows John Thomas as being born 1760 in Frederick, VA and died 1829 in Greene , PA
1800 Census, Franklin twp, Greene Co. image 7 shows a John Thomas with 1 free white male 26-44 and 1 free white female 26-44. Notes - This is the earllies census I have found for John, John would be 40 yrs old for this census. It also shows George Thomas as the next name with males - 2 under 10, 2 ages 10-15, 1 45 and over, females - 1 under 10, 1 age 10-15, 1 age 16-25, 1 age 45 and over. according to this census, George would be older than John. Could be this John's son George Thomas with son as John Thomas
another record from ancestry shows born in 1862.
another record shows death Jan 12, 1839, Wayne Twp., Greene Co., PA
tk-another record shows born 1762 in PA and died 1829 in Greene, PA
