Francis Whitmire Sr. (bef. 1755 - bef. 1832)

Born before 1755 in Berks, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Catharine (Rust) Whitmire — married 1787 in Berks Co., PA

Descendants

Died before 26 Jun 1832 at about age 77 in Oakland Township, Butler Co., PA

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This profile is part of the Whitmire Name Study.

Biography

Francis Whitmire is considered one of the earliest settlers of Oakland Township, Butler, Co. PA ^[1]

According to the 1895 History of Butler County:

"FRANCIS WHITMIRE, SR., came from Berks county to Butler county in 1798, accompanied by his wife and family, and settled on a tract of land near the site of Boydstown, Oakland township, which he purchased of Stephen LOWREY. His wife's maiden name was Catherine RUST, and they were the parents of nine children, all of whom are dead. Among them were Daniel; John; Francis; Julia, and Catherine. ... Mr. and Mrs. WHITMIRE spent the remaining years of their lives upon the homestead, where he died in 1832." ^[2]

Francis Whitmire Sr was the a son of German immigrant and Revolutionary War Sergeant Eberhard Weydenmeyer AKA Whitmire of Berks County, PA.

It is believed he was born between 1749 and 1755, in Germany, and immigrated with his parents and siblings in 1764 (see profile of his father). These dates are based on his age in census and that fact that he was not listed on the ship's roster, which included all males over the age of 16.

Francis is considered a veteran of Revolutionary War, serving in the PA militia under Col. Alexander Lowery, out of Lancaster. He was one of nine members of Lancaster 3rd Battalion, 7th Company (Capt Abraham Scott) from Mount Joy Township.

• Daughters of American Revolution Ancestor #: A124978
• Sons of American Revolution Ancestor #: P-318957

The exact details of his participation in the war are not known. No known Pension request exists.

Francis married Catherine Rust prior to 1787, when their first child, Catherine Elizabeth is born. Their first daughter, and later their second daughter, born in 1789, are baptized at St. John's in Berks County, the church of his parents and brothers. Virtual nothing is known about the ancestry of Catherine Rust.

He is believed to be enumerated in the 1790 census in Mount Joy, Lancaster Co., PA (pg 23, line 19) as "France Witmer" and his household contains 3 free white males over the age of 16, and 3 white females, presumably Catharine, his spouse, and daughters Catherine Elizabeth and Julianna. The identity of the additional 2 males over the age of 16 in his home is not known. Interestingly, his captain during the war, Abraham Scott, is enumerated residing close by.

Francis and Catherine have several children before leaving Berks and moving to Butler Co. in 1798. Francis Whitmire is enumerated in the 1800 census in Middlesex Township.

His household contains:

• Free Male 0-10: 1, assumed to be son Daniel, b 1799
• Free Mail 45+: 1, assumed to be Francis Sr,
• Free Female 0-10: 3, assumed to Julianna, Elizabeth and Pollie
• Free Female: 10-20: 1, assumed to Catharine Elizabeth
• Free Female: 25-45: 1, assumed to be spouse, Catherine

Curiously, living two houses away is a Henry Rust, whose house contains 1 male and 1 female, each over the age of 45. Are these Catherine's relations, a brother perhaps?

Francis and Henry Rust are present in the Butler Co, 1803 Tax list. Each has 400 acres.

Francis has not been located in the 1810 census. It is theorized that at the time of census he was traveling back East.

12 June 1811, Francis buys 250 acres in Muddy Creek Twp from a Moses Sullivan. This 250 acres was the land his father was compensated with as part of his military service, and which was sold at a Treasurer's sale 15 Aug 1810.

In the 1820 Census (Centre Township, Butler Co., PA, pg 138a, household #21),

the household contains:

• Free Male 0-9: 1, assumed to be son Francis Jr b. 1809
• Fee Male 10-16: 1, assumed to be son John b. 1805
• Free Male 45+: 1, assumed to be head Francis Sr.
• Free Female 0-9, 1, assumed to be daughter Sarah
• Free Female 16-25: 1, assumed to be daughter Margaret AKA Peggy
• Free Female 45+: 1, assumed to be wife Catharine

In the 1830 Census (Centre Township, Butler Co., PA, pg 34, household #7), the household contains:

• Free Male 20-30: 1, assumed to be son Francis Jr
• Free Male 60-70: 1, assumed to be head Francis Sr.
• Free Female 20-30: 2, assumed to be daughters Margaret AKA Peggy and Sarah

Francis' will is dated 19 May 1832. It is filed with the court on 26 June 1832. In it he cites three sons, Daniel, John and Francis Jr. His sons John and Francis Jr. are executors. His will cites six daughters, two of which are unwed, Sarah and Peggy. The four married are Catharine, Elizabeth, Polly and 'ulia' (Julia), who is mentioned in the 1895 history.

I Francis Whitmire of the Township of Centre and Cou

nty of Butler for once do make and publish this my last will

and testament hereby Revoking and making void all for

mer wills by me at any time hertofore made. And first

I direct that my body be decently Intoned in the burying ground

and that my funeral be conducted in a manner corre-

sponding with my Estate and station in Life: And

as to such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to entrust

me with I dispose of the same as follows First I direct

that all my Debts and funeral Expenses be paid - and

I do bequeth unto my son John one hundred and fifty

acres of the tract of land I now live on to be taken out of the

East Corners of said tract adjoining Lands of Michel

Thomson the East and the Heirs of John Thompson

dec’d on the north and the remaining part of said

tract on the south and west. and to my son Francis

I do bequeth the remaining two Hundred and fifty acres

of Land that I now reside upon with all the apertain

ences[?], thereunto belonging. and I do direct and it is

my will that my son John do pay in trade fifty

dollars to my son Daniel and Twenty five dollars

to my daughter Peggy within four years after my

decease. And it my will that my son Francis do

pay to my Daughters Sarah and Peggy Fifty dollars to

Sara and Twenty five dollars to Peggy in trade to be

paid in four years after my decease. And I do further

bequeth unto my Daughters Catherine now Entermarried wi

th Jacob Fleger and ulia now Entermarried with Daniel

Sherit, and Elizabeth now Entermarried with Fredrick

Sarens and Polly now Entermarried with Andrew Ma

ise two Hundred and fifty acres of Land lying and

situate in Muddy Creek Township Butler County in

the first Donation District to be Divided Equaly

amongst the last four named of these my daughters

And I do bequeth unto my son Francis five head

of Horses and one Cow, and four head of Sheep and

sixteen head of Hogs or Swine and one wind mill and

Plow and harrow and horse gear[?] and one mare sa-

dle. And I do further bequeth unto my daughter Peggy

two beds and beding and all my kitchen furniture

and one spinning wheel and one cow and calf and four

head of sheep, and I do bequeth unto my niece

Goredy Premire two beds and Beding and one spin-

ing wheel and one cow and calf and four head

of sheep, and I do further direct and it is my will

that all Bonds and Notes due to me shall remai

in the hand of my son Francis until the are collect

and after my Debts and funeral expenses is Discharg

ed all that remains of said Money I allow to be

applyed to the pattenting of the Land now in

the occupancy of my self and John Whitmire

In witness whereof I Francis Whitmire the Testator

have to this my will written on one half sheet of paper

set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of May in

the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred

and thirty two 1832

his

Francis X Whitmire {x}

Mark

Signed sealed and Delivered

in presence of us who have

Inscribed in the presence of Each other

Witness present

Andrew Christy

Irving Bainmores

THEORY: Niece "Goredy Premire" some relation to Valentine Preamer/Primer of 1800 and 1810 census? Perhaps husband of Francis' sister Antilla?

Buried in Whitmire Cemetery, his tombstone is flagged as Revolutionary War veteran^[3]

His daughters sell the 250 acres in Muddy Creek to William Forester on 5 March 1834. He sells it to Peter Klinger 22 Nov 1844. Klinger dies interstate.

Francis Whitmire. ^[4][5][6]

Sources

1. ↑ History of Butler County Pennsylvania - 1883, Waterman, Watkins, & Co., Chicago.
2. ↑ History of Butler County Pennsylvania - 1895
3. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 115227674 [1]
4. ↑ Source: #S-474131241
5. ↑ Source: #S753349909 Probate Files, 1803-1918; Author: Butler County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Butler, Pennsylvania
6. ↑ Source: #S753348122 Year: 1800; Census Place: Middlesex, Butler, Pennsylvania; Series: M32; Roll: 36; Page: 323; Image: 150; Family History Library Film: 363339

See also:

• "United States Census, 1790," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHKV-4VT : accessed 04 Sep 2014), France Witmer, Mountjoy, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; citing "1790 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 223, line 42905, NARA microfilm publication M637, roll 8, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 00917.

• "United States Census, 1800," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHR4-M1L : accessed 04 Sep 2014), Francis Whitmire, Middlesex, Butler, Pennsylvania; citing "1800 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com; p. 323, NARA microfilm publication M32, roll 36, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 363339. Also available via https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18000036unit#page/n147/mode/2up

• "United States Census, 1820," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHL4-X2G : accessed 04 Sep 2014), Francis Whitmire, Center, Butler, Pennsylvania; citing "1820 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 138, NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 98, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0181404.

• History of Butler County Pennsylvania - 1883, Waterman, Watkins, & Co., Chicago.
• History of Butler County Pennsylvania - 1895
• Find A Grave Memorial# 115227674
• "Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-28950-31187-42?cc=1999196&wc=MDS2-S29:268497001,280024201 : accessed 07 Jun 2014), Butler > Probate files 1853-1916 no V45-V71 and W01-W74
• Source: S-474131241 Repository: #R-997363582 U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Repository: R-997363582 Ancestry.com
• Source: S-474388847 Repository: #R-997363582 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=70573645&pid=474
• Source: S753348122 Repository: #R-997363582 1800 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S753349909 Repository: #R-997363582 Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.