George Singley (1755 - 1846)

Born 1755 in Northampton, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Barbara (Leibenguth) Liebenguth — married 24 Oct 1783 in Egypt church, Northampton, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 1846 at about age 91 in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

George Singley, son of Martin and Cornelia Elizabeth (Kern) Singley, was born in 1755, presumably in Lehigh Twp., Northampton Co., Pennsylvania.

“In 1776 George was 21 and in July of that year he was drafted out of the Northampton County Militia to serve in the Revolutionary War. He served a total of 15 months, spread over a two and a half year period, both as a private and a sergeant. Some of his tours of duty included:

(a) Guarding boats from seizure by the enemy at Coryell’s Ferry on the Delaware River – Oct. 1776;

(b) Assisted in the defense of the City of Philadelphia – winter 1776-77;

(c) Served one month at Bristol on the Delaware River as a reinforcement for General Washington’s Army – May 1777;

(d) Participated in the Battle of Brandywine on Sept. 11, 1777, and later in the Battle of Germantown;

(e) Was encamped at General Washington’s Camp at Valley Forge in May of 1778 and later marched with the main army in pursuit of the enemy across New Jersey to Monmouth.

“After his final discharge in December of 1778, George served five years with the Rangers on the Frontier, which group served to secure the frontier against the Indians.”^[1]

After returning from his frontier duty, George Singley married Barbara Leibenguth on 24 Oct. 1783. The marriage was recorded by the Rev. Abraham Blumer, who served four different congregations in the area of Whitehall Twp.^[2] Barbara was the daughter of George Leibenguth of Lehigh Township, son of Philip Leibenguth of Whitehall Township. (See below.)

George Single appears in the 1790 census in Towamensink Twp., Northampton Co., PA as follows: 1 male over 16; 2 males under 16; 3 females.^[3]

The 1800 baptism record of George and Barbara’s daughter Catharina shows that the baby’s mother’s name was Barbara. The sponsors at the baptism were Henrich and Catharina Leibenguth. Henrich was Barbara’s brother, who also moved from Northampton County to Westmoreland County. Henry’s brother Jacob Leibengood served with George Singley during the Revolution, also settled in Westmoreland County, and later testified to the veracity of George Singley’s pension application.

“A legal document was found in Northampton County, Pa. in regard to Barbara Singley’s share in the estate of George Leibenguth…”^[4] This appears to be a reference to the following:

“Mary wife of George Singli” is listed as one of the heirs of George Leibengood in a petition filed by Philip Leibengood.^[5]

There’s a bit of a problem here, because (1) there is no daughter Barbara listed among the heirs of George Leibengood; and (2) George Liebenguth's daughter Mary didn’t marry George Singley. It appears that two daughters (Mary and Barbara) were combined into one reference, omitting Barbara’s name and omitting the name of Mary’s husband:

Mary Leibenguth married John Sineberg of Dutchess County, New York; and after her death Mary’s daughter sued uncle Peter Leibenguth, administrator of George Leibenguth’s estate, for $185 that was owed to her mother.^[6]

“Sometime between 1790 and 1800 the family moved west across the state of Pennsylvania to a location about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. Considering that Northampton County is on the eastern border about 50 miles north of Philadelphia, a trip of that many miles across the state in those early days would not have been easy. There may have been friends and maybe relatives who made the trip at the same time, and they may have traveled in Conestoga wagons, which were made in Pennsylvania and were widely used at that time.

“We have to remember that life in those early days was very different from that of today. There were no trains or automobiles or airplanes; there were no telephones, electricity, radios or television; there were not even matches until well into the 1800's. Farming was very primitive, actually the plough in those days was little superior to that used in Egypt 2,000 years before. Grain was sown by hand, cut with a sickle, and beaten out with a flail. The men had to spin the wool or flax, knit the yarn into stockings or weave it into cloth, and make the clothes for the family. They made tallow candles, milked the cows and made the butter, were responsible for the garden, and usually preserved the meat supply. Cook stoves were unknown and kitchen utensils were few and rude. Water had to be carried in, either from a spring or shallow well. A large family was an asset in those days, and as soon as they were big enough, the children had tasks assigned to them. These were some of the conditions that existed as George moved his family west.”^[7]

George appears in the 1800 census in Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA as follows: 3 males under 10 (Peter, Jacob and William); 2 males 10-16 (George and Nicholas); 1 male 26-45 (George, Sr.); 2 females under 10; 2 females 10-16; 1 female 26-45.

George Singley, Sr. appears in the 1810 census in Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA as follows: 1 male under 10; 1 male over 45; 1 female under 10; 1 female 26-45. George’s sons George, Jr. and Nicholas are also listed in Derry Twp. in 1820.

“George owned a farm in Westmoreland County along the Conemaugh River which forms the boundary between Westmoreland and Indiana Counties. At various times George’s older sons (and perhaps George himself) lived on both sides of the river in both counties.”^[8]

George Singley’s daughter Catherine married Henry Bower on 6 Mar. 1817 at Wayne County, Ohio.^[9]

George Singley appears in the 1820 census in Hardy Twp., Coshocton Co., OH as follows: 1 male 16-26; 1 male over 45; 1 female 16-26; 1 female over 45. George’s son Nicholas, with family, is also listed in Hardy Twp. in 1820.

“By 1830 Nicholas had moved to Portage County some 75 miles northeast, and from census records it seems likely that his parents were living with him.”[13]^[10] Nicholas Singley appears in the 1830 census in Portage Twp., Portage Co., OH as follows: 2 males 5-10; 1 male 10-15; 1 male 30-40 (Nicholas); 1 male 70-80 (probably George); 1 female 10-15; 1 female 30-40; 1 female 70-80 (probably George’s wife).

Nicholas Singley and his wife joined the Mormon church around 1830, and eventually moved west to Missouri and beyond. (See below.) We have no way of knowing how far George went with Nicholas, but George was still in Ohio in 1835:

“No census record has been found for either George or Nicholas for 1840 so it is not known where they were at that time. However, George had returned to Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania by 1843 and in November of that year made application for a Revolutionary War pension. He was 88 years old at the time. In his application he stated that he had previously applied in Ohio about 1835 but it had not been properly submitted so he was trying again. This time the pension was granted and he received $5.55 per month, plus $899.91 in arrears. Jacob Libengood signed a statement verifying the accuracy of George’s application. Jacob grew up in Lehigh Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and also served in the Revolutionary War, much of the time in the same units with George. He was living in Westmoreland County in 1843 when he signed the statement, so he may have moved west at the same time with George and his family.

“George died in 1846 at the age of 91 at the home of his son Peter in Ligonier township in Westmoreland County. It is thought that George’s wife probably died while they lived in Ohio. George may have been buried in the Ligonier Cemetery but to date no one has been able to find his grave. On January 29, 1847 three administrators were appointed for his estate: George’s son Peter, Peter’s son George W., and Robert Jellison who may have been George W.’s father-in-law. To date no record has been found of the disposition of the estate.”^[11]

Children^[12]:

1. George (c. 1784-1881). “George, Jr. was a farmer, a saddler and a gunsmith. Through the years he lived a number of different places including Westmoreland, Indiana and Cambria counties in Pennsylvania. He moved to Portsmouth, Ohio about 1843, and at a later date to Moulton, Iowa… He was married twice and both wives were named Elizabeth.”^[13] Elizabeth Singley, wife of George of Derry Twp., died 1 June 1828.^[14] George Singley and Elizabeth Hosack, both of Derry Twp., were married 2 Jan. 1830 by the Rev. Thos. Davis.^[15]

2. Nicholas, married Margaret Leasure. The will of John Leasure of Unity Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (written 19 Feb. 1844, probated 21 Jan. 1845), mentions his daughter Margaret Singley.^[16]

"Nicholas and Margaret Singley became involved in the LDS church in 1830 while they lived in Akron, Ohio, actually near Kent State. There is a Singley Street there. She was baptized around 1833 and indeed gave money to Don Carlos Smith and there is a reference to her in his letter to Joseph Smith. They were involved in a business related to fabrics and clothes while there but also several properties. Nicholas was in several lawsuits while living and leaving there for Missouri.

"The LDS were ostracized from Missouri and so the Singleys moved to what is present day Argyle, Iowa....From there they moved to Salt Lake City or Bountiful, Utah, which is the east part of present day Salt Lake City. They were there in 1847-48....[21]^[17]

3. Peter, born 1792; married (1) Catharine ----; married (2) Mrs. Matilda Loar; died 1853 in Westmoreland County.

4. Jacob. Perhaps he was the Jacob Single who married Matilda Wilkes on 6 Nov. 1822 at Lauderdale County, Alabama.^[18] Jacob Singley, born Pennsylvania, appears in the 1850 census in Lauderdale County as follows: Jacob Singley, 50, farmer, b. PA; Matilda, 46, b. Georgia; Amos, 24, b. Alabama; Jesse, 19; Mary, 16.

5. William (1801-1876). “William was not yet twenty when his parents and his brother Nicholas moved to Coshocton County, Ohio. It isn’t known just what year they moved there but they were listed in the Census of 1820 and George Singley had a son under 20 who was probably Wiliam….Somewhere in Ohio William met and married Catharine Hilt who was the daughter of Henry and Susanna Hilt who had come from Virginia….Family records show that the Henry Hilt family and the William Singley family lived in the Dayton, Ohio area during the 1820s until about 1843….William was a cooper (maker of barrels), but he probably also farmed. Most of his children were born in Ohio, then in 1843 he disposed of his business and moved to Lafayette, Indiana….Catharine Singley died January 20, 1866 and was buried in Isley Cemetery north of Lafayette….[William married four more times in the next seven years.] William died March 31, 1876 and was buried beside his first wife Catarine in the Isley Cemetery. His surviving wife, Mary (Boyer) was the administrator of the estate. He had already given land to his children, and what money there was went to his wife Mary.”^[19]

6. Barbara, m. John Miller.

7. Elizabeth, m. Samuel McQuiston.

8. Catharine, b. 8 May 1798; m. Henry Bower 6 Mar. 1817 at Wayne County, Ohio.^[20] She had children Katharine (b. 1830), Henry (b. 1832), William (b. 1834), Nicholas (b. 1836), Wesley (b. 1838), and Isabella (b. 1841). Henry Bower died 11 May 1867 at Wayne County, Ohio, and Catharine died 27 Apr. 1885 at Ashland County, Ohio.

9. Margaret, m. Thomas Polston.

Footnotes

1. ↑ A History of the Singley Family (1974 edition), by Lorene Singley Heydecker, p. 5, referring to Pension Record #S-6099.
2. ↑ ] Pastoral acts by Reverend Abraham Blumer, Egypt Church, starting in 1773; marriages and burials arranged alphabetically, compiled by Warren J. Ziegler. “Abraham Blumer served Zion Reformed at Allentown, Jordan Reformed in South Whitehall Township near Guthsville, Egypt Reformed in Whitehall Township near Whitehall, Schlosser's Reformed in North Whitehall Township near Neffs,” per FamilySearch Historical Records collection.
3. ↑ Heydecker (1974), p. 3.
4. ↑ A History of the Singley Family (1979 edition), by Lorene Singley Heydecker (PDF file), p. 11.
5. ↑ Richard Leibenguth’s website cites Northampton County, Pa. Orphan Court records, Book #9, p. 91; but he doesn’t give a date for the petition.
6. ↑ Richard Leibenguth’s website , citing Northampton County, Pa., Letters of Attorney, Book 2, p.409; but not giving a date.
7. ↑ Heydecker, quoted in Wilbur J. Singley, Jr., The Story of One Family in America: Descendants of Martin Singley, revision 2 (2005, PDF file), p. 187.
8. ↑ Heydecker (1974), p. 6.
9. ↑ Wayne County Marriages 1813-1818, spelling the husband’s name “Bowen.”
10. ↑ Heydecker (1974), p. 6.
11. ↑ Heydecker (1979), p. 11. Heydecker mentions an 1846 Westmoreland County estate settlement for a “Nicholas” Singley, without any further details. This doesn’t seem right, as there was no Nicholas Singley there in the year that George died, which leads to the speculation that George’s estate settlement was mistakenly indexed under the name Nicholas.
12. ↑ “The nine names were furnished by Dr. Albert Singley; they are not in proper order and some of them may be incorrect.” Quoted from Heydecker (1979), p. 11. The names of his children are listed in George Singley’s pension application, given in Wilbur J. Singley, Jr., The Story of One Family in America: Descendants of Martin Singley, revision 2 (2005, PDF file), p. 11: “He left no widow, but the following children were mentioned: George, Peter C., Nicholas, Jacob, William, Barbara intermarried with John Miller, Elizabeth intermarried with Samuel McQuiston, Catherine intermarried with Henry Bowers, Margaret intermarried with Thomas Polston (Polstow?).”
13. ↑ Heydecker (1974), p. 8.
14. ↑ Newspaper Accounts of Births, Marriages & Deaths 1808-1929 (not all inclusive), Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, by Mary Jane Mains (1994, Westmoreland County Historical Society), p. 232.
15. ↑ Marriage and Death Notices from Newspapers 1801-1921 (not all inclusive), by Agnes Tomichek (1998, Westmoreland County Historical Society), p. 71.
16. ↑ LeSeur – Leasure – Leisure and Allied Familes of America, by Thelma Leasure Marshall (Great Falls, Montana: Licinis Printers, 1991), p. 47. This document states (p. 103 and p. 40) that Margaret Leaure was born 22 Dec. 1791 and that she was the daughter of John Leasure and Sarah Crow.
17. ↑ e-mail from Ray Singley to Nikki Elko, 11 Oct. 2012.
18. ↑ Alabama Marriages to 1825, online at ancestry.com
19. ↑ Heydecker (1979), pp. 12-13.
20. ↑ http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OH-FOOTSTEPS/1999-07/0931500034 Wayne County Marriages 1813-1818], spelling her husband’s name “Bowen.”

Acknowledgments

Thank you to John Schmeeckle for creating WikiTree profile Singley-54 through the import of Stickler ged.ged on Dec 8, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by John and others.