George Platz (1763 - 1843)

Born 27 Apr 1763 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Husband of Maria Catherine (Knupp) Platz — married about 1813 in Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 15 May 1843 at age 80 in Millersburg, Hardy Township, Holmes, Ohio, United States

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Biography

George Platz was born in 1763, probably in Philadelpha. Some internet trees say he was born in Somerset County Pennsylvania (did that exist in 1763). One many internet trees, it is said that his middle name is "Washington", but in 1763, the future president was not yet famous enough to be a namesake. Since George joined the military already in 1774 as a drummer boy, Washington was likely a nickname bestowed upon him. George was a son of Adam Nicolaus Platz (1740-1801) and Barbara Lonit (1740-1766).

Military: George joined the American forces in the Revolutionary War in 1774, at age 11. He was too young to fight, and was made a "drummer boy."^[1] He later served under Captain Patton in ColonelButler's Regiment

3 Aug 1807: he was commissioned as a Captain of the 7th division of the State Militia by Governor Thomas McKean

1824: George applied for and was awarded a military pension^[2]

He lived on property near the "Glades Mills"

1820 US census shows George Platz as head of household of 7 people located in Somerset Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. On the same census roll is a David Platz (household of 3 people), probably a relative.^[3]

• 3 males under 10
• 1 male 11-16
• 1 male over 45
• 1 female under 10
• 1 female 26-45

6 Aug 1820: birth of daughter Delila Platz recorded at Trinity Lutheran Church, Somerset, Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States. Her mother was Catharina.^[4]

4 Mar 1831: George Platte appears on a Revolutionary War pension payment ledger for Pennsylvania. He had served as a drummer^[5]

1838: George Platz, aged 75 years, appears on a list of Revolutionary War pensioners in the 6th census (year?) of Allegheny Township, Somerset County^[6]

1 Jun 1840: George Platz appears on a Census of Pensioners of Revolutionary War soldiers in Allegheny Township, Somerset County Pennsylvania.^[7]

George Platz died in Ohio, no doubt he moved there near the end of his life with some of his children.

Buried: presumably in Holmes County, Ohio, where some of his children are buried, but the FindAGrave memorial is virtual^[8]

Will: ^[9]Dated 14 Nov 1842. The will names his wife Rachel (still living) and his children: Daniel, Elizabeth, David, Polly, Henry Nancy, Lidia, Pete, George, Jacob, John, Joseph, Delilah, and William.

Marriage & Family

About 1790, George Platz married Unknown. They had the following children:

1. Daniel (1790- )
2. Elizabeth (1793- )
3. David (1795- )
4. Mary "Polly" (1798- )
5. Anna (1800- )
6. Lidia (1803- )
7. Peter (1805- )
8. George (1807- )
9. Jacob (1810- )

About 1811, George second married Catherine Knupp. Catherine is named on the 1820 birth record of daughter Delilah, so she was still married to George at that time. They had the following children:

1. John (1814-1892)
2. Joseph (1816-1893)
3. Delilah (1819-1896--or 1880?)
4. William (1823-1908)
5. Sally (~1825- ); died in infancy

Following the death of Catherine (when?), George remarried to Maria Kathryn Allrised. The two youngest children may be hers.

Following the death of Catherine (when?), George remarried to Rachel, who was still alive in 1843, when she is named in George's will.

Sources

1. ↑ History of Bedford and Somerset Counties" by W.H. Welfrey, page 245, Vol. II.
2. ↑ certificate #11004 of the Pennsylvania Agency
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY5-8R8?cc=1803955&wc=3L7F-7Q3%3A1586985402%2C1586986019%2C1586986123 : 16 July 2015), Pennsylvania > Somerset > Somerset > image 12 of 19; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2N3-TCS : 27 January 2020), George Platz in entry for Delila Platz, 1820.
5. ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WB-9G5F?cc=2069831&wc=MXMQ-56D%3A355664601 : 22 September 2016), 7-vol G Revolutionary War pensioners > image 266 of 466; citing NARA microfilm publication T718 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1962).
6. ↑ History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton counties, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men. Chicago : Waterman, Watkins, (1884), p. 97
7. ↑ "United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893F-B9S9-5?cc=2546162&wc=WD6Q-R34%3A1597372337 : 29 August 2019), Pennsylvania, Census of pensioners, 1840 > image 7 of 23; citing various published state rosters, United States.
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #22881581
9. ↑ "Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MY-KD81?cc=1992421&wc=S2CQ-829%3A266274201%2C267183401 : 1 July 2014), Holmes > Wills 1825-1877 no 1A-341A, no 1-469 > image 481 of 3242; county courthouses, Ohio.

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