Person:John Levering (5)

JOHN WIGARD: born in 1648 or '49, in the town of Gemen, in Germany. In April, 1674, he married "the chaste virgin," Magdalena Bokers, of Essen. She was a native of Leyden, in Holland. They lived in Gemen until some time after the birth and decease of their first child, and then removed to Mulheim, where they remained until they emigrated to America, after the 20th of March, 1685, bringing their surviving four children. He settled first in Germantown, Philadelphia, and removed from there a short distance west, into Roxborough Township, in 1691, where he bought a tract of five hundred acres of land, lying between and bordering upon both the River Schuylkill and Wissahickon Creek. Upon this estate he lived his remaining years with his family, and died there.

His wife Magdalena died in the summer of 1717 at the age of about 67 years. He died February 2, 1745, at the probable age of 97 years, and was buried upon his farm in a spot overlooking the romantic Wissahickon, which has become a part of the famous Fairmount Park of Philadelphia. This spot subsequently became the churchyard and burial ground of the Baptist Church, organized in 1789, which was greatly enlarged, and is now known as Leverington Cemetery, under a special charter from the State of Pennsylvania. This ground doubtless contains the remains of Magdalena. A gravestone marking the interment, in June, 1744, of their grandchild, Clement Levering, still stands, and points the place where repose the old pioneers, though no sculptured tablet was ever erected there to their memory.

The earliest record of John Wigard Levering and his wife, Magdalena Boeckers, appears in the records of the Presbytery of the Evangelical Parish of Gemen, Munster Stadt, Westphalia, Germany. On March 22, 1674, the first wedding banns for "John Wigard Levering, Rosier's son, with the chaste virgin Magdalena Bokers, of Essen," were proclaimed.

William Penn acquired his estates in what eventually became Pennsylvania by patent in 1681. He began travelling throughout Holland and Germany, recruiting settlers. At the same time, he took partners, thereby acquiring the services of agents to bring in even more settlers. One of the earliest partnerships, organized about 1683, was the Frankfort Company; a partner in the Frankfort company was Jacob Van De Walle, the uncle of Wigard and Gerhard Levering.

The most active partner in the Frankfort Company was Francis Daniel Pastorius, a learned man who came from a family of some wealth and position in Germany. In August 1683, he arrived in Philadelphia aboard the America with thirteen families; thirty-three people in all, and founded Germantown.

Wigard and Gerhard Levering emigrated in 1685. Their agreement with the Frankfort Company is at the Pennsylvania Historical Society:

Wigard came to Philadelphia on the ship Penn's Woodland from Holland in 1685 having arrived before the month of August, 1685. The Frankfort Company was engaged in the transportation of persons desiring to remove to their colony. The written contract entered into by Wigard Levering with the local agents at Wesel, Dr. Thomas Van Wylick and Johannes Le Brun, for transportation of himself and family to Philadelphia, dated 20th of March, 1685

We, the subscribers, do acknowledge and confess by these Presents, that we have contracted and agreed together, that Doctor Thomas Van Wylick and Johannes Le Brun, in behalf of the Pennsylvania Company, in which they, and other friends of Frankfort and other parts, are engaged, to accept or receive me, Wigard Levering, old 36 or 37 years, and Magdalena Boeckers, old 36 years, and four children, Anna Catherine, William, Amelia, and Sibella, respectively 1/2, 2 1/2, 5 and 9 years, to and for the service of the aforementioned Company, to transport by shipping out of Holland or Ingland, to Pennsylvania, upon their cost. On Their arrival in Pennsylvania, they were to report themselves to Francis Daniel Pastorius, who was general agent for the company. Written upon the margin of the instrument an agreement to include "the Contractor's brother, Gerhard Levering."

Documentary evidence of the brothers is contained in a recorded deed, executed in August, 1685. "On the tenth of that month and year, Francis Daniel Pastorius, as the attorney of Jacob Van de Walle and others, forming the Frankford Company, conveyed to Wigard Levering a lot in Germantown containing fifty acres of land. The deed is in the German language, and closes as follows: `So done in Germantown, on the 10th day of the 6th month (August), in the year of Christ 1685, in the sixteenth year of the reign of King James the Second of England, and in the fifth year of the reign of William Penn.'"(*) Wigard and Gerhard Levering -they, with several others, had been naturalized "on the 7th of the 3d month, [May] 1691, by Thomas Lloyd, being Deputy Governor." The record shows: "They having solemnly promised faith and allegiance to William and Mary, and fidelity and lawful obedience to William Penn, as Proprietary, it is declared and granted to them to be henceforth, Freemen in Law," etc. Both Wigard Levering and Gerhard, were now entitled to be freeholders, as well as free men, and in this they exercised their rights, as Wigard acquired five hundred acres of land by purchase, and Gerhard bought one hundred acres, adjoining. These tracts reached from the Wissahickon Creek to the Schuylkill River, and embraced a considerable portion of Roxborough. The inventory of Wigard's estate, as made by Matthew Houlgate and Isaac Cook, on the 9th day of February, 1744-45, lists household effects sufficient for one room only--except "one bible valued o1.10 and one singing book--shows that he had retired from active life and was "only waiting till the shadows a little longer grew"; the while, clinging to His Word as the beacon which would guide him safely "over the river."

In August, 1685, the Frankfort Company conveyed 50 acres of land in Germantown to Wigard Levering. Levering removed to Roxborough in 1691 or 1692. Wigard Levering's Roxborough residence was on the southwestern side of Ridge Road, nearly opposite the Leverington Hotel.

At the time of his immigration, both Wigard and Gerhard Levering indentured themselves to the Frankfort Company. Apparently, Wigard tired of the debt early in his residence in the United States, and having gained an appreciation of the benefits of a large legal staff, Levering managed to outwit Herr Pastorius. The following document appears in the Pennsylvania records (the spelling is from the original):

To the Proprietary & Gov'r of Pensilvania & Territories thereof in Councell mett.

An humble Petition of Francis Daniel Pastorius in the behalf of the German Company, Sheweth,

That whereas the said Company above 14 years ago did transport Wigard Levering his wife, four children & brother into this Province & lent unto him at West 16L 4s to pay his debts there, & further disbursed on the Transportation of him and his family 57L 18s 11d expecting that all this sum should by little & little be deducted here, of the said Wigard & his brother's wages: He instead of deducting, sued the said Comp; as debtors to him & to deprive me, the now Agent of the said Company of all advice & assistance in Law, employed all the Attorneys in the Country, who pleading that he the said Wigard, his wife & 4 children are not to discount anything for their Transportation, obtained Judgment in the last County Court against the said Company, for 32L 16s 10d. Now supposing the said German Company had Intended to transport the said Wigard his wife & children gratis or free, as I have proofs to the contrary, Yet seeing his Brother's part of the 57L 18s 11d (which he besides the aforementioned 16L 4s lent unto him in Germany allows to be defalkable) comes to 12L 17s 6d, the said Comp; cannot owe him but 29L 16s 10d. For which the said Wigard's brother having worked 163 days less than he should have done & Wigard himself 500 days less, both together do greatly outbalance his, his wife's & children pretended free transportation.

Therefore your Petitioner in the behalf of the said German Comp. humbly entreats you to grant to have the cause tried again (a thing he thinks not so unheard of as that a Plaintiff should employ all the Lawyers to impede & hinder the Defendants to get any) And to the end that a Just Cause may not suffer by my unskillfullness in pleading & notorious want or defect to express myself sufficiently in the English tongue to the full understanding of a Jury; May it please the Govr & his Council to appoint a Person learned in the Law to patronize or manage the same. And as your Petitioner requests these things only for Justice & Truths sake, so (he hopes) it will tend to the preventing both of others, who being transported by the said Company's disbursement may probably follow the steps of Wigard; as also to the allaying of dissatisfaction of several honest hearted people in Germany and especially oblidge your Petitioner.

F.D. Pastorious

On the back of the petition is the following endorsement:

At a council held at Philadelphia, die Lunae 15th April, 1700. Present, William Penn, Pro'r & Gov'r.

Edward Shippen Thomas Bedwell

Griffith Owen John Hill

David Lloyd Saml. Preston

John Donaldson John ffenwick

Upon reading of the within Petition in respect the Petitioner was but Agent for the German Company, who are Strangers & absentees, It was the Opinion and Resolve of the Gov'r & Council that the Petitioner & the within Wigard Levering appear before the Gov'r & Council the 24th inst., with a friend with each of them, that understands the German & Dutch Languages & to bring with them all papers & accts relating to the said difference, when the cause shall be heard extrajudicially and if the Gov'r & Council shall see cause thereafter to hear & decide it Judicially they will do so. And that the Secretary acquaint the said Daniel Pastorius and he the said Wigard Levering herewith.

Signed by order

Pat. Robinson, Secr'y

The book ?SHIP PASSENGER LISTS Pennsylvania and Delaware (1641-18250" edited and indexed by Carl Boyer, 3rd published by Carol Boyer, 3rd Newhall California, 1980

Page 7

?Einwanderer in Pennsylvania vor 1700,? Jahrbuch Fur Auslanddeutsche Sippenkunde, 4 (1936), 53-54[Lancour No. 116]

Bleickers, Johannes, von Krefeld,1683

Frey, Heinrich, aus Althenim in Elsass, 1685

Levering, Gerhart und Wigart, von Muhlheim 1685

Page 14

?Naturalizations, Germantown, PA., 3/7/1691/92; Copia Naturalizations of Frances Daniel Pastorius and of 61 persons. More of German Town from William Penn, Esq., ? National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 28(1940), 7-8[Lancour no 129]

?William Penn, Propretary of the Province of Pennsilvania etc. By the King and Queen?s authority, to all to whom these Presents shall come. Sends Greetings, etc. Whereas : Wiggert Levering; Heinrich Frey and Gerhard Levering.

??..land-owners, Citizens?.1683, 1692 1698?. And Owners of land in German-town and in the County of Philadelphia, being foreigners, and so not freemen, according to the acception of the Law of England. Have requested to be made freeman of the said Province, pursuant to the Powers granted by King?s Letters patent, and Act of Union and Naturlization, etc. made in this Government. Now Know ye, that for the further incouragement of the Industry and Sobriety of the said Inhabitants, And for the better and further Security of their Estates reall and personal, top them and their heirs, They the said Inhabitants having Solemnly promised (upon record in the County Court of Philadelphia aforesaid) faith and Allegiance to William and Mary, King and Queen England, etc . and fidelity and lawful Obedience to me, according to the King?s letters, patents aforesaid, I doe declare and by this Presents Confirm them the said Inhabitants before named to be Freeman of this Government, And that they shall be accordingly held and reputed in as full and ample manner as any person or persons residing therein, And that they the said Freemen have liberty and freedom hereby to trade and traffick in this Colony or in any of the King?s Dominions and Plantations, as other good Subjects do without any manner of Lett, Henderance or Molestation whatsoever.

Witness Thomas Lloyd, Deputy Govenr of Province of Pennsilvania, etc, Given at Philadelphia aforesaid, with the assent of the Provinvial Council, the Seventh day of the Third month Anno Domi 1691, and in the third year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary over England, etc?.

I found this on Ancestry.com

The Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s

Name: Wigard Levering Year: 1658-1685 Place: Germantown, Pennsylvania

Family Members: With 3 children; Brother Levering, Gerhard; Son William 8; Wife Levering, Magdaline Boker

Source Publication Code: 7204.40

Primary Immigrant: Levering, Wigard

Annotation: Date and port of arrival, or date and place of settlement or mention in the New World. Occupation, place of residence and information on at least one generation in America may also be provided.

Source Bibliography: REAMY, MARTHA, AND BILL REAMY Immigrant Ancestors of Marylanders, As Found in Local Histories. Westminister, MD: Willow Bend Books, 2000. 358p. Page: 141

Name: Wigard Levering Year: 1683-1710 Place: Germantown, Pennsylvania

Source Publication Code: 7820

Primary Immigrant: Levering, Wigard

Annotation: An index by Marvin V. Koger, Index to the Names of 30,000 Immigrants...Supplementing the Rupp, Ship Load Volume, 1935, 232p. is inferior to Wecken's index in the third edition (above). Page 449 contains "Names of the First Palatines in North Carolina, as Early as 1709 and 1710"; and pages 449-451 contain "Names of Males, Salzburgers, Settled in Georgia, 1734-1741." Contrary to some opinions, this work by Rupp does not duplicate nos. 9041-9042 by Strassburger, although there are thousands of names which are duplicates. Strassburger's work, however, is more accurate and more reliable than Rupp's. See also no. 9330, Urlsperger. The Salzburgers mentioned above were immigrants from Salzburg, Austria.

Source Bibliography: RUPP, ISRAEL DANIEL. A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776, with a Statement of the Names of Ships, Whence They Sailed, and the Date of Their Arrival at Philadelphia, Chronologically Arranged, Together with the Necessary Historical and Other Notes, also, an Appendix Containing Lists of More Than One Thousand German and French Names in New York prior to 1712. Leipzig [Germany]: Degener & Co., 1931. 478, 89p. Reprint of the 2nd revised and enlarged ed., 1876, with index from 3rd ed. by Ernst Wecken, 1931, and added index of ships. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1985. 583p. Page: 430

Name: Wigard Levering Year: 1684 Place: Germantown, Pennsylvania

Source Publication Code: 2467.7

Primary Immigrant: Levering, Wigard

Annotation: Date and place of settlement. Extracted from 250th Anniversary of the Settlement of Germantown (Germantown [PA] Historical Society, 1933) and The River's Source was a Small Stream Named Germantown (David J. Smucker and Robert F. Ulle).

Source Bibliography: "THE GERMAN SETTLERS WHO ARRIVED IN 1684." In Krefeld Immigrants and Their Descendants (Links Genealogy Publications, Sacramento, CA), vol. 1:1 (1984), p. 5. Page: 5

During the last twenty-eight years of his life, Wigard Levering lived with his son, William, in Germantown. For eleven years, things apparently went well, but by 1728, conflict had arisen between the father and son. In response to William's complaints, Jacob Cadwalader wrote the following letter:

Philada,, the 3d of 6m, 1728.

Frd. William Levering:

Thy father who is very old & cannot live long according to the Course of nature, seems to Complain very much of thy hard dealing, & would not be satisfied without carrying it further, but I thought it the best way to prevent it if possible, for any difference between father & son cannot be of much credit to Either, and when a father hath been kind to a Son and given him all or most of what he had, there is a dutiful gratitude owing to a parent from a Child, and he ought if possible to make his parents life Easie and Comfortable without oppression or giving any Just occasion of uneasiness and Complaint. And as our parents have dealt very tenderly with us in our Infancy & youth & born with all our infirmities with abundance of patience, it is our duty to Cherish them in their old age, and as far as in us Lies to give them no Just occasion of grief or uneasiness. And our duty to our parents will undoubtedly Entail a blessing on us & our posterity and we ought to bear with the peevishness of age, without taking any notice of it. Therefore pray let me Entreat & prevail with thee for the Credit and reputation of the family, to prevent all grounds & occasions of offence and let what is past be buried in oblivion & forgott & as the Laws of God & men direct & oblige as Let us pay all dutiful regards to parents and study peace with all mankind, which is the Cordial Advice of

thy sincere Frd.

Jno Cadwalader Pray make all things Easy to thy father & do not keep anything from him that can be thought reasonable.

He reckons part of the produce of the whole plantation (Except the 100 acres he gave thee) is his due & ought not to be detained from him, neither fruit, winter or summer grain.

"ABSTARCTS FROM BEN FRANKLIN'S PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, 1728-1748" by Kenneth Scott

Levering, Wichart-died last week not far from Phila., aged 109 (12 Feb)Year 1745

Most of what is known about Wigard's life in Germany comes from his family Bible, which is still in the possession of his descendants. In the Bible in written the following, in German The family Bible was in the possession of Mrs. Sarah Kirk, of Germantown, a great-great-great-grand daughter of the old pioneer, until her death in 1863, when it passed to her granddaughter, Mrs. Linton, who also died. Her husband probably has the relic. So said my Col. John Levering.

FAMILY REGISTER OF WIGARD LEVERING

I, Wigard Levering, was born in Germany, in the Principality of Westphalia, in the District of Munster, and town of Gemen. My father's name was Rosier Levering, and my mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Van de Walle, who was born in Wesel. In the twenty-third year of my age, I, Wigard Levering, was married to my beloved wife, Magdalena Boker. Her father's name was William Boker, and her mother's name was Sidonia Williams Braviers, of the city of Leyden, in Holland. The above said Magdalena, my wife, was also born in Leyden, and God hath blessed us with the following children, to wit:

The first born, Joanna Sophia, born in Gemen, in the year of our Lord 1672, in March, and died in the third week.

The second, Anna Catherine, born in Mulheim on the Rhur, in March, 1673.

The third, Maria Elizabeth, born in July, 1676, and died in the eighteenth week of her age.

The fourth, William Levering, was born the 4th day of May, 1677.

The fifth, Amelia Anna Sophia, was born in the middle of July, 1682.

The sixth, Anna Sibella, was born in the middle of September, 1684.

The above named children were all born in Mulheim on the Rhur, in Germany, and the following six children were born in North America, in the province of Pennsylvania:

The seventh, Herman, was born the 18th of November,1686 and died in the fourth year of his age, in May.

The eighth, Elizabeth, born the 7th day of January,1689 and died in the fourteenth year of her age, in September.

The ninth, Sidonia, born the 23d of April 1691.

The tenth, Jacob Levering, born the 21st of January,1693.

The eleventh, Magdalena, born the 13th of January,1695 and died in the third week of her age.

The twelfth, Magdalena, born the 4th of June, 1696.

The last, after the perfect number of twelve, was an untimely birth.

God, who is the father of all that are called children, in heaven and on earth, have mercy on my children who are still in the land of the living, that they, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, may be born again, and registered with their children in heaven; that they, after they are taken from this vain world, the parents with the children, and the children with the parents, may rejoice before God in a happy and blessed eternity. Amen.

The will of Wigard Levering:

I Wichert Levering of the Township of Roxborrow in the County of Philada in the Province of Pennsylvania, Joyner, being in good health of Body and of a sound and perfect mind and Memory and calling to mind the frailty of this transitory Life and that its appointed for all flesh once to dye, Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, revoking, Disannulling and making utterly void and of none effect all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made.

Imps. I will that all my Just Debts and funeral expenses be paid and Discharged by my Executor hereinafter named with all convenient speed after my Decease.

Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Katherine ye sum of ten pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to be paid her by my Executor hereafter named within twelve months after my Decease.

Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Amelia the sum of ten pounds lawful money afd to be paid her by my said Executor hereafter mentioned, within two years after my Decease.

Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Sebilla the sum of tenn pounds lawful money afd to be paid her by my sd Executor within three years after my Decease.

Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Son in law Peter Indehaven ye sum of tenn pounds lawful money afd to be paid him by my sd Executor within four years after my Decease.

Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Son in law William Tunes ye sum of tenn pounds lawful money afd to be paid him by sd Executor within five years after my Decease.

Lastly. I give and Bequeath unto my Son William Levering whom I hereby constitute ordain and appoint sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament all other my Estate and Effects of what kind soever. In Witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seal this twenty third Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Seaven hundred and forty two.

Wichert Levering (his mark) in handwritten?WL? Signed, Sealed, published pronounced and declared by the said Wichert Levering as his last Will & Testament in ye presence of us.

Witnesses.

William Levering Smith,

Hannah Levering

Thos. Yorke

Handwritten notation in the book: No 134, 1744/5, G 162

The inventory of the estate: To one bead and Beading. . . . . . . . . . . . .L 3.00.0

To 2 bed steds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.10.0

To one Cobert and one Chest. . . . . . . . . . . 1.10.0

To waring apparrel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.15.0

To Sate of Curtings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00.0

To one bible. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.10.0

To one song book. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01.6

To 2 Spice Boxes and a bible frame. . . . . . . . 0.04.0

To one Table and 5 Chears. . . . . . . . . . . . 1.03.6

To 2 benshes and one Tobaco Knife. . . . . . . . 0.02.0

To 3 Iron Potts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.16.0

To pare Tongs and Shifell and pare hand Irons. . 0.14.0

To 2 puter Dishes and 4 plats. . . . . . . . . . 0.14.0

To one Stone Gudg and puter mog. . . . . . . . . 0.03.6

To one morter and Iron box and a Gudg. . . . . . 0.03.0

To one Chamber Pott and Porenger. . . . . . . . . 0.01.0

L 13.7.6

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. One World Tree (sm). (Name: Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., n.d.;).

   Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc.

2. ↑ Sondra Lomax.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. One World Tree (sm). (Name: Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., n.d.;).

   Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc.

4. ↑ Ancestry.com. One World Tree (sm). (Name: Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., n.d.;).

   Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc.