Johann Eberhardt Weydemeyer (1710 - 1794)

Born 5 Jan 1710 in Leimen, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Husband of Anna Maria (Ruckeman) Ruckemann — married 30 Sep 1738 in Leimen, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

Husband of Catharina Unknown — married 1750 in Germany

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1794 at age 84 in Exeter Township, Berks, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Kevin McClain [send private message] and Jennifer Martin [send private message]

This profile is part of the Whitmire Name Study.

RESEARCH:

• Conrad Witmeyer possible son of first marriage?

Research

• Did Eberhardt have prior military experience? Was he perhaps a "retired" Hessian soldier? His daughter Catherine married Jacob Fleeger, son of Christian Fleeger, a Hessian soldier who also lived in Eastern PA and who joined the Americans in the revolution.

Biography

Johann Eberhard Weydemeyer. Given Name: Johann Eberhard. Surname: Weydemeyer. ^[1]

Sergeant Everhart Weydemeyer served with 6th Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Everhart Weydemeyer is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A133271.

Eberhardt Weydenmeyer was born in Germany. In America, his name is anglicized and spelled with great variety. Variations include: Weydemeyer, Weydemyer, Weidenmeier, Whitmoyer and Whitmer. He is eventually known as Everhart Whitmire.

The birth date of Eberhardt is in question. It was given as 1722 (October 29 has been offered as month and day) in his enlistment for the continental army, and yet is speculated that he fabricated the date so as to be eligible as his marriage records, number of children and immigration suggest an older, more established man. 1709 has been suggested as an alternate date.

Eberhardt immigrated to the colonies in 1764 aboard the ship Hero. He was accompanied by three sons who were over the age of 16 (Melchior, John George, & Urban) and presumably his second wife Catharina and young children. Their names are not recorded on the ship's logs, but the logs only had to contain names of male passengers over age of 16. The list only contains less than 200 names but the total passenger count was over 500. Upon arrival to Philadelphia, he and his sons immediate took the oath of allegiance. Within ten years Eberhardt and his sons are in Berks Co.

According to records of the Tohicken Union Church, Eberhardt was present at the Lord's Supper the Sunday before Easter, 1775. (Hinks, pg 314). About 60 names are listed , men and women. Spouse's are recorded. Eberhard is listed singularly.

Eberhardt Weydenmeyer enlisted in the Continental Army on 19 Feb 1777. His name is recorded as “Eberhard Witmyer” and the year of his birth is listed as 1722, making his age 55, the oldest age eligible to enlist. The average life expectancy in 1776 was 35. It has been suggested by one researcher that Eberhardt was actually older, and that the birthdate of 1722 was a fabrication by Eberhardt so that he would not be disqualified from service, since the upper limit was 55 years of age. What would be so motivating for the senior Eberhardt to join the Continental Army and fight? Was he motivated by revolutionary politics? It is not known. However, circumstances do prior to Eberhard's enlistment raise questions of whether he was motivated by a mixture of anger and grief over a son's death at the hand of British soldiers. Eberhardt's two sons Michael and George were captured by the British in the fall of 1776 and that George died in captivity. Michael was released in late December or early January and in the winter cold walked back in Berks county to report to his family the news. The senior Eberhardt, who was at least 55 years old, but more likely older, upon learning of his son's death, subsequently joined George Washington's Continental Army.

Eberhardt was a Sergeant in B Company of the 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, commanded by Captain Jacob Bower. Eberhardt in on the muster rolls at fort Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-8. Later he served in the 2nd Regiment. It is not known how Eberhardt gained the rank of Sergeant. Perhaps Eberhardt had prior military experience and this warranted his elevated position. Perhaps his age singled him out as a leader. Like the militia, a period of service was three years. He served until 1783. Therefore, he re-enlisted after his first period.

His son Francis, as part of the PA Militia, mustered out of Lancaster County, serving under Colonel Alexander Lowery. He was one of nine members of Lancaster 3rd Battalion, 7th Company, of Mount Joy Township and led by Captain Abraham Scott. The 3rd Battalion participated in the Jersey campaign (July 1776 - March 1777), as well as the battles of Brandywine Creek (September 11, 1777) and Germantown (October 4, 1777).

Eberhardt also participated in the Battle of Brandywine Creek. During the battle he was injured, and experienced a “rupture”. Today, this condition is known as hernia. Following the war Eberhardt applied to the Orphans Court of Berks County for a pension because his injury was preventing him from labor. He could do so because in 1785 the PA Assembly passed the Act for the Relief of Officers and Soldiers, an act which allowed veterans to apply for financial assistance. On 12 May 1786 he was granted an amount of 20 shillings a month.

Eberhardt was awarded, by lottery, 250 acres - Donation Land Lot 16 in the 1st District - as compensation for his military service. He is recorded in the books for having on 20 May 1787 and recorded survey in Book D, pg 43, #279. This lot is in what became known as Muddy Creek Township, Butler, PA.

Eberhardt dies 1794 intestate, suggesting his death was somewhat sudden. In 1798 his son Francis arrives in Westmoreland County, in what by 1800 is called Middlesex, Butler County, and settles 400 acres. Some time between 1810 and 1830, Francis acquires/purchases the 250 acre lot awarded his father.

Eberhardt Whitmire's status as a Revolutionary War veteran is also recognized by the Daughters of American Revolution Ancestor. His ancestral number is #: A133271

Will

Will: Witmeyer, Eberhard - LOA

Date: 19 Jun 1794

Place: Berks Co, Pennsylvania, USA

Note

Note:

Weydemeyer, *Eberhard (b. ABT. 1720, d. 13 APR 1794)

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~witmeyer/n_21.html

Source: (Name field)

Title: Leimen Reformed Church Records, Leimen, Germany

Author: searched by Alvin Schrey, 2027 Shelfield Drive, Carmichael, CA 95608 - schrey@@@@lanset.com

Media: Church Record

Source: (Birth field)

Title: Schwartzwald Reformed Ch. Records, Berks Co.

Source: (Birth field)

Title: Alvin Schrey

Immigration: Date: 22 OCT 1764

Place: Port of Philadelphia on ship "Hero"

Note: Alvin Schrey, Carmichael, CA, in correspondence, states that "After a number of years of frustrating research I read "Kurpfalzische Auswander Vom Unteren Neckar" by the German genealogist Werner Hacker. His research reveals that Eberhard, Melchior, Johann Georg, and Urban departed Leiman (located between Heidelberg and Zweibrucken) in the Palatine on March 20, 1764.

Utilizing the church records of Leimen I have constructed the relationship of the Weidenmeyers in Leimen and those who settled in Pennsylvania before the Revolutionary War. "

Eberhard Weydenmeyer arrived in America at the Port of Philadelphia on 22 Oct 1764 on the ship "Hero" captained by Ralph Forster, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes. He was accompanied by his wife, his three sons from his first wife (Melchior, Johann Georg and Urban, who were men over the age of 16) and four or five children from his second wife , Catharine (Georg, Michael, Philip, Peter and David). They later had four additional children.

On 19 Feb 1777, Eberhard Witmyer enlisted in the Continental Army commanded by George Washington. He was a Sergeant in B Company, 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Line. His Company Commander was Capt. Jacob Bower. Later he was in the 2nd Reg. He served until 1783. He was in the Battle of Brandywine in Sept. 1777 where he was wounded (rupture, now called hernia). He was at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-8 and fought during the later battles in the north.

He applied for and was granted a pension for his injuries on 12 May 1786 in the amount of 20 shillings a month.

TRANSCRIPTION OF OATHS AND PETITIONS IN SUPPORT OF EVERHART WITMEYER'S REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION

To the honorable the Justices of the Orphans Court of the County of Berks

The humble Petition of Everhart Whitmeyer of Reading in the said County aged sixty four years

Sheweth?

That your petiioner in the year 1777 enlisted in the Sixth Pennsylvania Regiment in the service of the United States and served as Sergeant during the whole of the War being for the most part in the said Regiment and for the remainder in the Second Battalion commanded by Col. Humpton that during said service he suffered greatly in his health and at the battle of Brandywine by violent exertion in performing his duty got a rupture in his belly: that although he was so far affected as to be able to continue in the service and to perform his duty yet the said Complaint became worse and more trouble an he is now and for a long time past has been thereby rendered wholly unable to get a livelihood by labor.

Your petitioner therefore humbly prays your honors to admit him to a Pension as Disabled in the Service according to the Act of the Assembly in such case ____provided.

And_____Duty bound he will pray

(signed)

Everhart Windmyer

(Original in Berks Co. PA Court Records - the originals were hand written and very difficult to read)

At an Orphans Court held at Reading May 12th 1786 before Henry Christ John Ludwick and John Otto Esq. Given to ? the Justices of the Peace for the County of Berks.

The Petition of Everhard Whitmyer of Reading in the said County aged sixty four years late a Sergeant in Captain Jacob Bowers Company in the Battalion of Col. Henry Becker of the Pennsylvania Line was here? praying a Relief under the Act of the Assembly of Pennsylvania dated _____22nd 1785 in letter an Act for the Relief of Officers and Soldiers and _____who in the Course of the late War have been wounded or otherwise disabled in the service of this State or of the United States and ____and Everhard Witmyer has ____furnished the Court with full proof of ____to the directions of the same Acts that he is sixty four years of age was a Sergeant in Captain Bowers Company in the said Regiment that to? the Battle of Brandywine in the service of the United States got a rupture in his belly one of his testicles and since that time has been disabled from procuring a Livelyhood by Labor that he continued a Sergeant to the end of the War. The Court is ____and judge the said Everhart Witmyer is to receive the sum of Twenty Shillings monthly from the time of his discharge.

(Original in Berks Co. PA Court Records. A microfilm copy is in the PA State Archives Library, Harrisburg, PA - Rev. War Pension File Rg. 4, roll 5)

TRANSCRIPTION OF JACOB BOWER'S OATH IN SUPPORT OF EBERHARD WITMEYERS PENSION APPLICATION

I Jacob Bower late a Captain in the Pennsylvania Line do Certify whom it may Concern that Everhart Witmyer enlisted with me into the said service on the 19th day of Febrary 1777 and served me as Sergeant for that time during the War. That during the said service his health was greatly impaired by the Hardships and Fatigues of his duty and he became ruptured in the Belly which has rendered him incapable of getting a livelihood by Labor.

Given under my Hand in the Borough of Reading this 19th day of April 1786.

(signed)

J Bower

(Original in Berks Co. PA Court Records)

He died about 11 Apr 1794 and is probably buried at Schwarzwald Reformed Church in Reading, Berks Co., PA

He died intestate. Probate of intestate found in Administrative Docket IV, p. 217 & 383 , Berks Co. Courthouse.

He paid taxes in 1762-64,65,67,70-74 and 1785.

References to Military Service and Pension:

The Pennsylvania Line, JBB Trussel, Jr. (1977) p. 90

NGSQ Vol XII March 1923 p. 3 (Published as a supplement to Vol XX, March 1932)

Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Vol XI, p. 760

PA - 2, XV, p. 464

PA - 5, II, p. 893

PA - 5, III, p. 134,155,186

PA - 5, IV, p. 155, 507

(Researched by Lois Whitmeyer Cody, boblocody@@@@worldnet.att.net

January 16, 2000 -

Letter from Al Schrey to Jeanne DeLong -

As for the source of Eberhards birthdate (info obtained from the records at the Reading Schwarzwald Reformed Church, b. 1722) --I also have that info, but I do not use it as a source because it is not an "independent source". If a non-independent source is believable I will use it. However, in this case I have reservations:

1) Eberhard married the first time Sept.30,1738 (If he was born in 1722 this

would make him 16 yrs. old.)

2) His first child was born Aug.1739--thus no shot-gun marriage.

3) The years between his next oldest sibling,Susanna, (1722-1714) is eight

yrs. Possible, but suspicious.

4) The minister wrote on the marriage sheet that the bride had been married

before--It's difficult to reason that a previously married women would marry

a 16 yr. old boy.

5) Since my Dad was born in Germany I have gone through hundreds of German

church records--I have not found a boy 16 yrs. being married by the

minister.

The question is why would he not use his correct age?

His son, George, died while held captive by the British in late Dec. 1776 or

Jan. 1777. Another son, Michael, who served with George was released in Jan.

1777. By the time he walked home in cold winter to inform his father,

Eberhard, the circumstances of the death it was probably Feb.1777. Eberhard

signed-up for the "Continental Army", not the militia, on Feb.19,1777. This

was probably the only time he was required to give a stipulated birth date.

My theory is he could have given a date of March 1722 because that meant he

was not yet 55yrs. old. Being 55 yrs. old was probably too old to join the

marching army.

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S32 Certainty: 0

• Source: S134 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Repository: #R3 Paranthetical: Y Ancestry Family Tree Certainty: 0 http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=63073855&pid=938
• Repository: R3 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com
• Source: S32 Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Repository: #R3 Paranthetical: Y
• Hinke, William John. A History of the Tohickon Union Church, Bedminster Township, Bucks County, PA. Pennsylvania German Society. Meadville, PA 1925.

• "Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-28790-25123-89?cc=1999196&wc=9PMV-3TG:268499201,274376801 : accessed 27 Jul 2014), Berks > Estates 1752-1799 Wert, Christina-Zwerentz, Ludwig > image 195 of 1812.

• Frei, Kurt. Familien in Leimen, 1677-1900. Leimen, Baden, Germany: Stadt Leimen, 1996.

• "Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-28696-17472-93?cc=1999196&wc=9PMZ-FM7:268499201,284737001 : accessed 29 May 2015), Berks > Letters of administration 1752-1793 vol 1-4 > image 728 of 746; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.

• Linn, John Blair (1880) Pennsylvania in the war of the revolution, battalions and line. 1775-1783. L.S. Hart, Harrisburg.

• PA RG-17 Records of the Land Office DONATION LAND REGISTER: NUMERIC TRACT LISTING, [ca.1794]. {series #17.174} http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17DonationLandSeries/r17-174DonationLandRegister/r17-174DonationLands%2014.pdf

• PA RG-17 Records of the Land Office DONATION LAND REGISTER, [ca.1794]. {series #17.174} Images of Surveys Bood D Page 43: Front:

http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Books%20D1-D90/Book%20D43/Book%20D-43%20pg%20557.pdf and Back: http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Books%20D1-D90/Book%20D43/Book%20D-43%20pg%20558.pdf

• REGISTER OF DONATION LAND CLAIMANTS REPORTED PER JOHN NICHOLSON, 1781-1795 (1 volume). {series #17.531} pg 93

http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17DonationLandSeries/r17-531NicholsonClaimants/r17-531NicholsonClaimants%2045.pdf