Anna Barbara (Murr) Weaver (1727 - 1804)

Born 29 Nov 1727 in Hagfeld, Karlsruhe, Germany

Ancestors

Wife of Michael (Weber) Weaver — married 28 May 1748 in Hagsfeld, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Descendants

Died 1804 at about age 76 in Aaronsburg, Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Landy Gobes [send private message]

• Note that there were 2 Michael Webers who immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - one in 1741 and one in 1751. Early biographers guessed the wrong date and concluded that Michael Weber married in America. Not true. Later research has confirmed that Michael Weber married Anna Barbara Murr in Hagfeld, Germany.

Biography

She was born on 29 Nov 1727 in Hagfeld, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Anna Barbara Murr married in Hagfeld, Karlsruhe, Germany to Michael Weber ^[1] (1722-1801).

The couple, along with her brother, Andrew Murr=Morr, emigrated from Germany on the ship "Brothers" and landed on 16 Sep 1751 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their son Johannes was soon born there on 21 Sep 1751 and baptized the following day on 22 Sep 1751 at St.Michael's and Zion Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The group then traveled to Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania where they lived for the next 18 years.

About 1770 both families pioneered in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The Weavers lived near Freeburg, Pennsylvania (now Snyder County).

Her husband Michael Weber or Weaver was a Captain, Rangers on the Frontier, in the 2nd Company, 3rd Battalion of the Northumberland County Militia where he served under Col. Peter Hosterman. Two of thier sons, John and David, also served in the American Revolutionary War. ^[2]

About 1797 they moved on to Aaronsburg, Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA, where several of their sons had already settled.

Her husband died in 1801 and she followed in 1804 and was buried at Stover (Wolf) Cemetery in Aaronsburg, Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA. ^{[3] [4]}

Children

1. Johannes "John" Weaver, b: 21 Sep 1751; d: 02 Feb 1823; m: 25 Mar 1779 (Eva) Margaretha Braun (1759-1804)
2. Barbara Weaver (1752-1783)
3. Catherine Weber Weaver (1752-1815)
4. (Mary) Margaret Weaver, b: 10 Aug 1755; d: 1820; m. George Rowe, Jr. (1751-1818)
5. Barbara Catherine Weaver, b: 19 Mar 1757; d: 22 Apr 1834; m: Thomas Bickel=Bickle (1752-1818)
6. David Weaver, b: c25 Sep 1758; d: 18 Jun 1813; m: Eva Wolf (1762-1837)
7. Christina Weaver, b: c1859; m: John Brown
8. Michael Weaver, Jr., b: c1760; d: 04 Feb 1833; m: Catherine Elizabeth Morr=Mohr (1768-1849)
9. Elizabeth Weaver, b: 25 Dec 1762; d: 1801; m: John Wolf
10. Andrew Weaver, b: 24 Dec 1766; d: 1850
11. Juliana Barbara Weaver, b: 21 Feb 1772; d: 28 Aug 1849; m: 1793 Adam Stover (1773-1847)
12. Anne Magdalena Weaver, b: 20 Nov 1773; d: 20 Sep 1843.

Sources

1. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records 1560-1900 by Yates Publishing on ancestry.com
2. ↑ Patriot Index, Daughters of the American Revolution
3. ↑ "Cemeteries of Haines Township, Centre Co, Pennsylvania"
4. ↑ Pennsylvania, Find A Grave Index 1682-2012 on ancestry.com

• Centre County Estate file#5037; Will dated: 11 May 1801; Administration account of estate: 17 Jan 1804.

• "Hagsfelder Familienbuch" by Wolfgang Erb (transcription in German of the Hagsfeld Lutheran Church Book) (copies at Salt Lake City, Harvard, and the Library of Congress) baptism of Johannes Weber from the Archives of the Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania; baptism of Weaver children from the records of St.Luke Lutheran Church, Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania; and Salem (Row) Church in Snyder County

• Pennsylvania Archives, series#5 v8 p654 & series#3 v23 p341

• History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania by John Blair Linn in 1883 pages 31, 33, 37, 41.

• Snyder County Pioneers by Dr. Charles Fisher p96 Centre County Heritage. Centre County Historical Society v1 (1956) to v11 (1975) p83

• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=65838841&pid=952 Ancestry Family Tree submitted by ancestry.com member

Excerpts

A Gift from the Past

History became palpable for one Centre County native, Carl Weaver, as he presented a colonial pewter communion service to St.Luke Lutheran Church, just as his ancestor did in 1764. On the occasion of their 275th year as a congregation, St.Luke Lutheran Church in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania took their historic pewter set out of a vault where it had been stored for nearly 30 years. The communion service was donated by Michael Weber and his wife Anna Barbara Moyer in 1764. Carl Weaver is an eighth generation descendant of Michael Weber; whose family name was Anglicized from Weber to Weaver sometime in the late 18th century.

A search of family history led Carl Weaver's daughter, Debbie Nydegger, on a trail back through time from State College, to Aaronsburg, to Freeburg, Snyder County, and finally to Schaefferstown, Lebanon County where Michael Weber settled in the mid-1700s.

About five years ago she first visited the church after finding that the Webers were members, and had donated a pewter communion set to the congregation in 1764. At that time no one she spoke to in the church knew where the pewter was located. Another relative, John Weaver, of Interlachen, FL independently, and unknown to Nydegger, attempted to view the set several times without success. As the occasion of the church's 275th anniversary approached, the congregation was determined to feature the historic artifacts in their celebration. Finally two members were able to locate and access the valuable relics.

Carl Weaver and his family were invited to join in the anniversary celebration because of the important role their ancestors played in the church's history. Sunday, October 30, 2005 was the anniversary celebration finale, and befitting the occasion, it was a perfect autumn morning. Just as in 1770, FAC Muhlenberg, the pastor at the time, arrived on horseback in colonial garb. During that period most churches did not have their own pastor, but shared a circuit minister who visited several area churches. Someone shouted, "Muhlenberg is here!" The church bells pealed, and the congregation entered the church.

Still in his role as Pastor Muhlenberg, historian Dr. Frank Bergman strode to the lectern and spoke about the news of the 1700s as if it were contemporary. This was one history lecture that really came to life, and the congregation was transfixed as Muhlenberg relayed the dramatic scene from 1776 of his brother, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, who tore off his parson's robes before his congregation to reveal the blue uniform of a revolutionary soldier. In his farewell sermon he said, "There is a time to pray and a time to fight". He exited the church, asked a soldier to beat his drum, and invited all able men to join the army. It was a tumultuous period in history, and to admit allegiance to the colonial cause was a treasonous offence. After all, every citizen who arrived had to swear an oath of allegiance to King George III.

Michael Weber, too, joined the Revolutionary cause and became a Captain in the 2nd Company, 3rd Battalion of the Northumberland County Militia where he served under Col. Peter Hosterman. Two of Michael's sons, John and David, also served in the Revolutionary War. St.Luke Lutheran Church in Schaefferstown became a hospital, and was heavily damaged during that time. Always protective of its treasure, the church kept the communion set safe. Many colonial communion services were melted to make bullets, and are buried in the bodies of those who fell.

Historian Dr. Bergman ended his mesmerizing tale of 18th century history, and brought the congregation to the present. Dr. Howard McCarney, former Bishop of the Central Pennsylvania Synod, gave an inspiring sermon, "We Respond to God" and the service proceeded to communion. It was then that the past and the present seemed to mingle as Carl Weaver and his daughter walked up the aisle bearing the historic communion set so imbued with meaning. It was a gift from their ancestors that still seemed to bind people together - the congregation, family members, and even relatives gathered for the occasion who met for the first time. Charles Weaver of Kylertown, Pennsylvania introduced himself to his new-found cousins at the end of the service. Michael Weber continued to serve his country as a Captain in the Rangers on the Frontier. He and his sons settled for awhile in Freeburg (now Snyder County, Pennsylvania, USA) and finally arrived in Aaronsburg. Michael Weber ended his days near his children and grandchildren, and died in May 1801 in Haines Township, Centre County. His will is on file at the Centre County Historical Society.

==

St.Luke Lutheran Church Pewter Communion Set

After the 275th anniversary celebration, the family had a chance to examine, admire, and photograph the historic communion service. The set is comprised of four pieces including two large flagons, a chalice, and a tankard. An early church history also shows two patens which have been lost. Each flagon is engraved with an inscription in German ...

"Michael Weber und seine Ehefrau Anna Barbara, haben die Communion Kanten in Evangelisch Lutherische Kirche in Heidelberg, Linkester, Amt, gestiftet, 1764"

Loosely translated this means that Michael and his wife presented the communion set to the Lutheran Church in Heidelberg Township, Lancaster County (now Lebanon County) in 1764. Inside each lid is an angel in profile, surrounded by the pewter maker's name, which has now been identified as Daniel Heldenreich of Durbach, Germany. The tankard bears the maker's mark of John Townsend, a British pewtersmith of the early 1700s who produced pewter in London, England. Only one piece, the chalice, is American, and has been identified as the work of Johann Christoph Heyne of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The chalice has the greatest monetary value, though it has not yet been appraised. The world record for pewter fell on 16 June 1998 at Sotheby's in New York City, according to a Maine Antique Digest article. A Johann Christoph Heyne flagon sold for 5,500 (including buyer's premium). The chalice is a much smaller piece which would be reflected in its appraisal. Pewter expert, Wayne Hilt, said it was not unusual for a set to be compiled over time in a church's history, or replaced with newer pieces. The flagons were probably brought with the family from Germany, and engraved for the occasion of Weber's gift. The chalice and missing patens may have been produced by the same maker, Christoph Heyne. Townsend's tankard could have been acquired earlier in the church's history during the time when the colonies imported such goods from England. The provenance of the set makes it an irreplaceable part of history. Many colonial communion services were lost during the Revolutionary War when they were melted to make ammunition. Others have been stolen, sold, or otherwise lost through time. The true value is in the history associated with a colonial communion set, and that is priceless.

==

Descendants of Weber's Patriot son David, include Carl Weaver's siblings ...

1. Randolph Weaver of Baltimore, Maryland;
2. Clarence Eugene Weaver of Warrior's Mark, Pennsylvania;
3. Florence Ishler of Milton, Pennsylvania.

Known descendants of Weber's son John, also a Patriot, include Charles Weaver of Kylertown, Pennsylvania and John Weaver of Interlachen, Florida. Each of those eighth generation descendants has children, and some have grandchildren. Certainly there are other Weber=Weaver relatives throughout the country who have yet to meet. Another journey into the past may bring them together today.

==

Anna Barbara WEAVER (presented by Landy Gobes at the re-dedication of Michael Weaver's tombstone on 29 May 2007)

Thank you, Debbie, for asking me to say a few words about Anna Barbara, the wife of Michael Weaver. I definitely want to honor this pioneer grandmother of all of us. I know very little about her early life or her parents. If any of you have that information, please let me know.

Anna Barbara and Michael were married in approximately 1749 when Michael was 27 and Anna Barbara was 22. They lived in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania near the town square for twenty years. They were early members of what is now St.Luke Lutheran Church. Eight of their nine children were born there in Schaefferstown. Their children were John in 1751, Margaret in 1753, Catharine Barbara in 1756, Christina in 1758, David in 1760, Elizabeth in 1762, Andrew in 1766, Michael Weaver, Jr. in 1768, and Juliana in 1772. There were 4 boys and 5 girls, 9 children born in 21 years.

In 1770 Anna Barbara and Michael Weaver left Schaefferstown and settled along what is now highway#522, near Freeberg, Pennsylvania. They were members of the Evangelical Church (Row's Church) in Salem, and their youngest child, Juliana, was born there in their new community.

In 1797 the Weavers moved here to Aaronsburg where several of their sons had already settled. Michael and Anna Barbara celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary here with their family in 1799. Michael died in 1801 at age 79. Anna Barbara died in 1804 at age 77.

Anna Barbara Weaver had a baby approximately every two years from age 23 to age 45. In addition to that almost continuous pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing, she (with help from her daughters) would have been doing gardening, cooking, baking, and preserving food for the winter. She cleaned the house, washed clothes, and ironed for her family of 11. She would have kept the cooking and heating fires going, would have made most of her family's clothes, and she probably tended to the chickens. And when her husband was fighting in the Frontier Brigades or the Revolutionary War, she would have done all her work and all of his as well. Along with all the other women all over the world, she did all this with no electric appliances and no indoor plumbing.

I know that you will all agree with me that as we honor Michael Weaver today, we must surely remember and honor Anna Barbara Weaver as well.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profiles Moyer-665 & Moyer-666 were created on 09 Jan 2013 by Don Layman through the import of LaymanGED.ged

• WikiTree profile Moyer-1123 was created on 11 Jun 2014 by Hannah Rush through the import of Rush Family Tree (1).ged

• WikiTree profile Morr-96 was created on 07 Oct 2015 by Landy Gobes through the import of R. Della Morr_2015-10-07.ged