The Tale of Three Henry Petersons

 In researching my Fielding family (still working on outlining a blog post series on James Fielding), I stumbled upon a landmine of information where I once had a huge brick wall.  I am still processing the information, albeit slowly, because I am almost dazed by the sheer amount of information I have uncovered and don't have as much time as I used to to process the information.  This line has to do with my ancestress, Emeline Peterson, who married Henderson McDonald and was the grandmother to Nellie Fielding and my own great-grandmother.

Emeline Peterson, I have determined, was the daughter of Henry Peterson and Mary Ann Marson.  

But my trail didn't end there, nor did it start with her parents' names.  In fact, finding out Emeline's parents' names was one of the last things I discovered about her immediate family.

I should start at the beginning.  This is the tale of three Henry Petersons.  Keep in mind that I work backwards through history while reading this.

THE FIRST HENRY (1784-1841)

In trying to find out more about Emeline Peterson, I decided to research Sarah Peterson, the 35-year-old woman who was living with Emeline and her husband in the 1850 census (because I am a HUGE believer in the FAN club method of research when hitting brick walls).  I determined that Sarah was in fact Emeline's elder sister when I found Sarah's will from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1874, in which Sarah Ann Peterson mentions that because her sister Emeline McLaughlin was well provided for, she chose not to bequeath her anything.  This will also mentions her cousin Lewis Peterson jr. as well as her uncle Peter Peterson, sister Elizabeth M. Cary and brother Franklin.

**Note here: this will also helped me uncover where Emeline went after Henderson's death, so she is no longer an elusive family member, but that's a blog post for another day.**

Using that information, I searched for these family members.  Lewis Peterson jr. was the son of Lewis Peterson sr., of course.  Lewis sr. and his brother Peter were prominent members in early Pittsburgh society, having opened L & P Peterson & Company in 1820, which was a tin, copper, and ironware manufacturing company.  Researching further, I found that the two were beneficiaries in their father's will in 1838 in Allegheny County.  Their father was named Henry Peterson, and he left items to his widow Hannah and seven surviving children; Henry, Lewis, Peter, Derrick, Maria, Ann, and Lydia.

Because I knew already that Lewis and Peter were the uncles of Emeline and Sarah, I knew I could rule them out as my ancestor.  That left me with Derrick and Henry jr. as the two candidates for the father of Emeline.  I then stumbled upon a notice in the Pittsburgh Gazette that summed up an 1852 civil suit between Sylvanus Lathrop and Ann Peterson, aunt to my Emeline.  In that summation of events leading to the civil suit, it stated that while Henry had a family in 1837, Derrick did not.  

What cinched the claim to Henry was a book that was written in several volumes over several years called The Morris Family of Philadelphia: Descendants of Anthony Morris (which I call the Morris book in shorthand).  In volume 3, on page 636, my ancestress Emeline Peterson was listed as one of several children of Henry Peterson and Mary Ann Marson.  Of course, I didn't take the book as full truth on my ancestry but verified that info with other evidence.  And I am still working on that other evidence.

**note here:  Even though I also write have written one myself, I don't take any written genealogies at face value, as there are too many mistakes and liberties taken.  If they are sourced, I verify  the sources used.... if not, I try to do the legwork myself.  I still use them as sources though.**

I also starting working up the Peterson line.  Henry Peterson sr. and Henry Peterson jr. both ended up in Allegheny County in what is now Pittsburgh, but neither one of them started there.  They both lived in Philadelphia in the early part of the nineteenth century, but Henry jr. was actually born, it appears, in Delaware, in Duck Creek Cross Roads in Kent County.  His mother was Henry sr.'s first wife, Margaret Morris, whose line the Morris book actually focuses on (and whose line I haven't worked on yet because I am still working the Peterson research..... but I'll verify the book info soon I hope).  

The first of my three Henry Petersons is still a bit of a mystery, though he is the only one of the three for which I have a birth AND a death date.   I am still trying to narrow down when and where Henry and Mary Ann Marson married, but it appears that they had two sons, Benjamin Franklin and John M, as well as the three daughters already mentioned; Sarah, Elizabeth, and Emeline.  Henry was a copper and tinsmith and established himself first in Philadelphia before moving to Pittsburgh.  What is curious however is that he died in Philadelphia in December 1841 at the age of fifty-seven from a plural effusion.  It is not known why he was back in Philadelphia, but he may have been visiting for one reason or another.  I am waiting on his probate record from Allegheny County as I type this to see what, if anything, was left in his records.  I also need to verify Mary Ann's maiden surname, as the only document that mentions is thus far is her entry in the Morris book.

THE SECOND HENRY (before 1760-1838)

The second Henry Peterson, known thus far as Henry Peterson Sr. was actually also a junior.  I have no date of birth for him other than he was born before 1760, as his census records indicate.  He was the child of Henry Peterson and Hannah Rothwell, though his mother's surname has not been verified (as the Morris book is the only document thus far that gives her surname).  

While it appears he lived in Philadelphia most of his life per city directory entries, census records, and deed and probate documents for his siblings and father, he appears to have died in June 1838 in Pine Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania according to his own probate records.  He also lived in Loudon County, Virginia for about ten years, as deed records and an advertisement he placed in the Virginia Journal and Alexandria Advertiser in 1787 indicate. It is not clear why he moved there, but a few of his children were born there.  His first wife was Margaret Morris, who died in 1828 according to the book, and he appears to have remarried, as wife Hannah is listed in his will, though as of yet I have no information on Hannah at all.  Henry, according to his will, had the seven aforementioned children, but the Morris book lists a couple that died young as well.  Further research will need to be done to prove this, however.

THE THIRD HENRY (died circa 1794)

This brings me to my third Henry Peterson.  Like his namesake, this Henry (who is actually the first Henry Peterson in my line if one goes chronologically) has no date of birth as of yet, but I do know that he died sometime between 6 September 1791, when he wrote his will, and 3 September 1794, when his will was proved in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. A 1774 Philadelphia deed states he was a merchant, and his will lists four children named Lydia, Henry, Peter, and Derick, which means the second Henry named his children after his siblings. 

Derick Peterson, son to this Henry and brother to the second, was a pretty famous guy in early Philadelphia history.  He appears to have been a captain in the Philadelphia militia during the Revolution, he owned a vast estate in what was then Lower Dublin Township (now part of the Holmesburg neighborhood in Philadelphia), and he and his brother Henry had a very public falling out over debts owned to him that brought up the bequeathment that was left to the brothers by their father in his will.  I am currently awaiting his probate records from the Philadelphia Register of Wills because so many of the other Petersons (including the first Henry Peterson) are mentioned in the abstract of his probate and I want to know what legacy he left to each of them. 

Because both the second and the third Henry Petersons lived in Philadelphia for a time, sorting records for them feels almost impossible in some instances without further research.  I have numerous records saved in various places in the hopes of being able to sort them out to the correct ancestor.  Add to that the repeating names for their children and one has a recipe for frustration in research.  But I power on because I like to write the stories of who my kin were and how they lived within the scope of history.

This tale isn't finished, and I like to think it never will be as long as I can find information on any of the Peterson family.

Sources: 

*note - I have chosen not to post a complete list of all the sources I have on all of my Henry Petersons because the research is ongoing.  For further sources, contact me*

"1800 United States Federal Census," online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 April 2021), Entry for Henry Peterson, Year: 1800, Census Place: Lower Dublin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Series: M32, Roll: 42, Page: 153, Image: 223, and Family History Library Film: 363345; citing Second Census of the United States, 1800: Population Schedules, Washington County, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio; and Population Census, 1803: Washington County, Ohio. NARA microfilm publication M1804 (1 roll).

"1830 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 April 2021), Entry for Henry Peterson, Year: 1830, Census Place: Pittsburgh West Ward Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Series: M19, Roll: 144, Page: 53, and Family History Library Film: 0020618; citing Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Abstracts of Wills Recorded in the Administration Books, Register's Office, Philadelphia", Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, volume V no 3 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, March 1914), 295; online images, Google Books (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Pennsylvania_Genealogical_Magazine/GMIxAQAAMAAJ : accessed 25 April 2021). Entry for Derick Peterson, administration Book N, page 242, 1829.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 27-2B: 60-62, Lewis and Maria Peterson to Henry Peterson, recorded 19 October 1819; FHL microfilm 1497872.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 27-2B: 104-106, Assignment of Lewis Peterson to Henry Peterson jr., recorded 13 Nov 1819; FHL microfilm 1497872

Clear, Helen, compiler, Deaths Gleaned from the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate 1834-1855 (New Brighton, Pennsylvania: Archives & History Ministry Team of the Western Pennsylvania Conference, United Methodist Church, 2000), 163; online file, Western PA Conference, The United Methodist Church (https://www.wpaumc.org/archives-sampler : accessed 18 April 2021).

Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: Including Its Early Settlement and Progress to the Present Time, a Description of Its Historic and Interesting Localities: Its Cities, Towns and Villages: Religious, Educational, Social and Military History: Mining, Manufacturing and Commercial Interests: Improvements, Resources, Statistics, Etc. : Also Portraits of Some of Its Prominent Men and Biographies of Many of Its Representative Citizens, volume 1 (Chicago: A Warner & Co, 1889), 147

"District Couty - Sylvanus Lothrop vs. Ann Peterson et. al.," legal notice, Pittsburgh Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 29 March 1852, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 April 2021).

Harris' general business directory of the cities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny: and also of the most flourishing and important towns and cities of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Western New York, Virginia, &c. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: A.A. Anderson, 1841), 46, "Peterson Henry copper and tin warehouse, Front n. Market d, h Springdale"; digital images, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 22 April 2021).

Haavik, Benjamin Knute. "Eden Hall: A Cultural Historic Landscape," (Master's Thesis University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1998), 17. 

Loudoun County, Virginia, Deed Book S: 143-145, William and Sarah Allen to Henry Peterson, recorded 13 Sept 1790; FHL microfilm 32305.

Loudoun County, Virginia, Deed Book X: 310-313, Henry and Margarett Peterson to Lee B. Gale, recorded 24 December 1796; FHL microfilm 32309.

Moon, Robert C. The Morris Family of Philadelphia: Descendants of Anthony Morris, volumes 1-5 (Philadelphia: Robert C. Moon, 1898–1909). (I used the copy currently on Ancestry.com, but various other copies are available on the internet)

"Pennsylvania Archives," database online with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com : accessed 25 April 2021), Entry for Derick Peterson, volume 1, page 144, Muster Rolls Relating to the Associators and Militia of the City of Philadelphia; extracted from Thomas Lynch Montgomery (editor), Pennsylvania Archives (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1906).

"Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," database online with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 10 April 2021), Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994 Allegheny Proceedings index 1788-1971 vol 33-34> volume 34, page 266, box 9; citing county courthouses in Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 April 2021), Entry for Henry Peterson, probate date 13 June 1838, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Will Books, Vol 4, pages 26-27; citing Pennsylvania County District and Probate Courts.

"Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993,"  (accessed 19 March 2021), Entry for Sarah A Peterson, probate date 28 Aug 1874, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Will Packets, Vol 17-19, 1874-1876, volume 17, page 584, number 307; citing Pennsylvania County District and Probate Courts.

"Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," (accessed 11 April 2021), Philadelphia > Wills, Vol W-X, 1790-1799> Vol X, page 106, Will of Henry Peterson (img 450 of 824); citing Pennsylvania County District and Probate Courts.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database online with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 18 April 2021), Entry for Henry Peterson, died 15 Dec 1841; FHL microfilm 1,905,884; citing Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book EF9: 643-648, Derick and Mary Peterson and Lydia McCalla to Henry Peterson, recorded 6 Dec 1802; FHL microfilm 21947.

"To the Printer of the Aurora," Aurora (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 19 April 1805, page 1; online images, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 10 April 2021).

"To the Public," Aurora (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 17 April 1805, page 1; online images, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 10 April 2021).

"Untitled," legal notice, The Pittsburgh Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 4 January 1840, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 April 2021).

Chasing the Elusive: Lewis Sheets

I am really working on another one of my illustrious ancestors, Jacob Sheets (which is taking awhile, hence lack of blog posts lately - I am also working on another project as well research wise, so my time is divided).  But in doing research on him, I have been thoroughly researching each of his children as best as I can, and came across a dead end in a few of his children, most noticeably Lewis F. Sheets.

Let's start at the beginning:

Lewis F. Sheets was born 9 Sept 1833 in Philadelphia, according to an affidavit his elder brother swore to.  He was the youngest child of Jacob Sheets (also Sheats), a Philadelphia boat builder, and his second wife Mary (likely with the surname Kelty).  Lewis was just fourteen years old when his father died in 1847, and his guardianship was awarded to one Samuel Kelty, who may have been a brother to Lewis' mother.

Note here: There are many variations in spellings for his names. Most notably on his first name it appeared throughout his life that he used Lewis and Louis interchangeably.  His last name was spelled a variety of phonetically correct ways.  Since spelling of names was not standardized in the time he lived, it can arguably be stated that any of the spellings is the correct one.

There is a great deal of family lore surround Lewis' father, which I will eventually get to when I finally write Jacob Sheat' blog post, but there is one major tale of lore that affects Lewis that I can share now.  it is said that Jacob Sheats was a gambling man and went so deep into debt that the youngest four children were farmed out to others for care since he could not afford to take care of them.  While I have not been able to find documents to support this family story entirely, I do know that one Catherine Field did raise Lewis' older sister Helen for a bit, which lends some credence to the story.

I have not been able to find him on the 1850 census.  His elder brothers (Joseph B. and Jacob S.) were enumerated in Upper Alloways Creek, Salem County, New Jersey and Northern Liberties, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania respectively.  His two surviving sisters (Deborah C. Sheets Whiteside and Helen M.D. Sheets) were both in Philadelphia County on the census, in Northern Liberties and Passyunk respectively.  It is not known who Lewis lived with though, and if he was enumerated with his own name or the name of the family he lived with.  It is something I keep searching for.

Around 1858, he married Evalene Hocker, who was born about 1837 to Charles and Mary Hocker.  The couple made their home in Philadelphia's 11th Ward near Pier 31, living at 155 Dana Street for much of

their married lives.  It was in this area that the couple had ten children; George, Mary H., Abraham Lincoln (who died young), a stillborn daughter, Charles Barnecoat, Edward M. (who also died young), Richard E., Jacob M., Francis and Emma H.

As a young man, Lewis worked briefly as a policeman, but spent more of his adult life as a stove moulder and then as an inspector at 20 South Seventh.  Newspaper articles form the time indicate the address was the Philadelphia City Gas Works,and an article regarding the company in April 1884 referred to one"Inspector Sheetz" giving a meter reading that was in excess.  The company for which he worked is still in existence today, and is still city run.

In 1886, he purchased a grave loot deed number 9160 at Odd Fellow Cemetery in Philadelphia.  His son Edward was removed to this plot, as he had died 21 October 1870.  Also noted as being removed to the plot were children Jacob and Lewis Miller, who were Lewis' young nephews via his sister Helen.

In September 1896, son Charles was involved in a fight just outside the Eleventh Ward Republican Club which resulted in a man's death.  He, along with two others, were charged with the death of Francis X. "Frank" Hollweck, but at the Court of Oyer and Terminer on 19 January 1897 the three men were found not guilty.

1901 was the last city directory in which Lewis Sheets was listed in Philadelphia, still living at 155 Dana (which was 155 Nectarine at this point, having had a street name change around 1897/1898), but working as a "collector."  The neighborhood in which the Sheets lived in was left to the wreckers sometime before 1923, and is now part of Interstate 95.

It appears that sometime after this point, Lewis and Evalene made the move to Cape May County, New Jersey, where they lived with daughter Mary and her husband Francis Hoffman.  On 8 August 1904, Evalene died in Rio Grande, a census designated area in Cape May County.  Her body was brought back to Philadelphia, where it was interred in the family plot at Odd Fellow Cemetery after a funeral at son Jacob's home at 143 Nectarine. (Daughter Emma was buried in the same plot just three years prior, having died from pyaemia following mastitis at the age of 20).

Lewis continued to live with his daughter and son-in-law after Evalene's death, having been enumerated with them in both the 1905 New Jersey State Census and the 1910 Federal Census.  

Here is where he gets elusive.......  He completely disappears off the radar after the 1910 Federal Census.  Mary and Francis Hoffman are enumerated without any mention of him in the 1915 New Jersey State Census, and since death record indices for New Jersey from that time period have been "lost", finding any record of his death remains elusive.  He was NOT buried in the Odd Fellow Cemetery plot with his wife per the cemetery records available, nor have searches of available online newspapers at my disposal (on Newspapers.com or Genealogy Bank) revealed a death notice.

So the search continues, and until then, he will remain an "elusive" to chase.....

Sources Used

"1870 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2020), Entry for Louis Sheetz and family, Year: 1870, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 10 District 32 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: M593_1395, Page: 563B, and Family History Library Film: 552894; citing 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

"1900 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2020), Entry for Louis Sheet and household, Year: 1900, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 11 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Page: 2, Enumeration District: 0196, and FHL microfilm: 1241456; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

"1910 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2020), Entry for Francis Hoffman and family, Year: 1910, Census Place: Middle Cape May, New Jersey, Roll: T624_870, Page: 2A, Enumeration District: 0092, and FHL microfilm: 1374883; citing Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Affidavit of Joseph B. Sheets regarding descendants of Jacob Sheets, sworn 6 Feb 1852 in front of Robert Guestner, Justice of the Peace for Salem County, New Jersey, in Bounty Land Warrant Application number 91618-40-50, Service of Jacob Sheats (Capt. Henry Freas' Co., NJ Militia, War of 1812); Photocopy of affidavit provided by Robert Young in 2004 to Kelley Wood-Davis; citing War of 1812 Pension and Bounty land Warrant Applications, Record Group 15, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.

Affidavit of Samuel Kelty, guardian for Lewis F. Sheets (minor) affirmed 6 Feb 1852 in front of Robert Guestner, Justice of the Peace for Salem County, New Jersey, in Bounty Land Warrant Application number 91618-40-50, Service of Jacob Sheats (Capt. Henry Freas' Co., NJ Militia, War of 1812); Photocopy of affidavit provided by Robert Young in 2004 to Kelley Wood-Davis.

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2020), Entry for Lewis Scheetz and family, Year: 1880, Census Place: Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1172, Page: 453B, and Enumeration District: 190; citing Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C

"City Directories for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania," online database with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com : accessed 18 May 2020), various years and entries recorded; contact blogger for more details.

"Death Follows a Blow," The Times (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 25 September 1896, page 1; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 September 2020).

"Died," death notice, The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 4 April 1901, page 14; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 20 May 2020). entry for Emma Sheets Brady.

"Died," death notice, The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 10 August 1904, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 18 May 2020). entry for Evalene Sheets.

"Died," death notice, The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 8 February 1907, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 18 May 2020). Entry for Jacob M. Sheets.

"Gas Trust Committees," The Times (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 24 April 1884, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 June 2020).

"Held for Trial," The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 27 September 1896, page 17; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 June 2020).

"New Jersey State Census, 1905," database online with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 May 2020), Entry for Louis F Sheets in household of Frances Hoffman, , Cape May, New Jersey, United States; p. 14, line 17; FHL microfilm 1,688,593; citing Department of State, Trenton.

"Notes of the Court," The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 20 January 1897, page 12; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 June 2020).

"Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-1999," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 May 2020), PA-Philadelphia> Philadelphia> Not Stated> Odd Fellows Cemetery, 22nd and Diamond Streets > Image 1100 of 1345, entry for Lewis Sheets, deed 9160, dated 1 June 1886; citing Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Births, 1860-1906," online database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 18 May 2020), Entry for Abrm. Lincoln Scheets, 18 July 1862; bk 4 p 144; FHL microfilm number 1289307; citing Board of Health. Department of Records.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Births, 1860-1906," online database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 18 May 2020), Entry for Chas. Barnecoat Sheets, 16 Oct 1865; bk 1865 p 275; FHL microfilm number 1289310.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Births, 1860-1906," online database, FamilySearch, Entry for Edward Sheitz, 12 Nov 1868; bk 1868 p 303; FHL microfilm number 1289312.

"Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950," database online, FamilySearch, Entry for Francis Sheets, born 19 Jan 1877; FHL microfilm number 2195605.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Births, 1860-1906," online database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 18 May 2020), Entry for Richard E. Sheetz, 21 Mar 1871;bk 1871 p 41; FHL microfilm number 1289313.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 18 February 2020), Entry for Edward M. Sheets, 19 Feb 1870; FHL microfilm 1,994,724; citing Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 18 February 2020), Entry for Jacob M. Sheets, 06 Feb 1907, FHL microfilm 1,319,490.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch, Entry for Sheets, 01 Mar 1864; FHL microfilm 1,986,424.

Petition to the Honorable L. Piraldo, Commissioner of the Pension Office for issue of bounty warrant to guardian of Lewis F.Sheets by W. L, Allans, dated 27 August 1853, in Bounty Land Warrant Application number 91618-40-50, Service of Jacob Sheats (Capt. Henry Freas'Co., NJ Militia, War of 1812); Photocopy of affidavit provided by Robert Young in 2004 to Kelley Wood-Davis.

Petition to the Pension Office regarding eligibility of claim of Helen F. Sheets as a minor child of Jacob Sheets, deceased filed by W. L. Weaver, esq. of Salem, New Jersey 5 June 1852, in Bounty Land Warrant Application number 91618-40-50, Service of Jacob Sheats (Capt. Henry Freas'Co., NJ Militia, War of 1812); Photocopy of affidavit provided by Robert Young in 2004 to Kelley Wood-Davis.

Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network Interactive Maps Viewer (http://www.philageohistory.org/tiles/viewer/ : accessed 5 June 2020), viewed the area around 155 Dana on several maps, including present time map.

Taylor, Frank H. "In Nectarine Street," digital image, Library Company of Philadelphia (https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/digitool%3A67899: accessed 22 May 2020), Information on Dana Street, where Lewis Sheets lived; citing Frank H. Taylor Collection.

Notable Women: Elizabeth Sunliter Young

From time to time, I write about the more notable women in my family tree, and recently I stumbled (quite literally) upon Elizabeth Sunliter.  She is one of my earliest known American ancestress, and she lived a neat life.  So I wanted to tell her story.

Elizabeth Sunliter was born 12 September 1782 to Peter Sunliter and his wife Elizabeth (also spelled Elisabeth).  She most likely was born in Passyunk, but could have also been born in Northern Liberties.  What is certain is she was born in Philadelphia County, and was the second born daughter of the couple.  Their first was also named Elisabeth, and while a death or burial record has not yet been located, it is very likely the first daughter named Elizabeth died in the year preceding this second one's birth.  Elizabeth was one of only two of the five children of Peter and Elizabeth Sunliter to survive childhood.  Her younger brother, Peter, also lived, but besides the first Elisabeth, son Georg and daughter Catharina also passed away in their youth.

I should note that the name Sunliter is spelled a number of different ways, all phonetically correct.  I have seen Sunlider, Sonliter, Sonleider, Sunlighter, Sohnleiter and any other combination..... All of which would be "correct" as there seems to be no standardized version of this name.

On 2 October 1804, Elizabeth married Johann "John" Young junior at St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, one of the oldest German Lutheran Churches in the area (it is still in existence!).  He was born about 1784 and the two met because it appears they were neighbors.

In twenty years, the couple had eleven children; Eliza, Mary, Philip, Sarah, John S., Peter Sunliter, Ann, Margaret, Catherine, Adam S. and Henry S. All eleven were likely born in East Southwark or Passyunk, as those were the areas John Young was enumerated on the 1810 and 1820 , and were all definitely born in Philadelphia County.  While it appears that the couple spoke German natively, as they were part of the huge German population in Philadelphia in the early part of the 19th century, they also spoke English.  They seemed to be founding members of the new English-Speaking Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran Church (their second daughter was one of the first to be baptized there) that was founded by some members of St. Michael and Zion churches and built on Race Street in Philadelphia.  It was here at St. John's that most of their children were baptized (and also where daughter Sarah later married Peter Vautier.... they were the parents of William John Vautier).

Like the Vautiers, the Youngs were truck farmers that operated a farm on the Neck, and their last name is mentioned in the same The Times article from 1891 in Philadelphia as the Vautiers that labels them "the Neck Barons."  John took over ownership of land Elizabeth's father left her when he died intestate in 1806.  The property was a parcel of land that was split with Elizabeth's brother Peter that had been bought by their father from Christian and Rachel Young (who may be related to John,  but I don't know for sure).  Deed records from Philadelphia are being attempted to be located to see if there was any other property.

John was a supporter of politics, and in particular was a member of the Democratic Republican Party, but he also appeared to have a drinking problem.  On 27 March 1828, he died at the age of forty four from "mania a potu", what would today be considered heavy habitual alcohol use.  He was buried at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery the day after he died, next to son Philip, who had died from bilious fever in 1823.

Elizabeth was named administratrix of the estate, and took over her husband's properties and her own, while raising her family in antebellum Philadelphia.  After all, her youngest children were only four and six when their father died.  She never remarried, but amassed a small fortune in the decades after her husband died.  She sold off some property as well per newspaper advertisements, though it is not known if it was property she acquired after John's death or not.

Some of the pitfalls into finding information on Elizabeth (especially now during the COVID-19 shutdown) is that while the Philadelphia Deed indices are online for the time period, not all of the deeds themselves were microfilmed and then digitally uploaded, so some of the deeds for an Elizabeth Young cannot be ascertained to be hers without examination.  There is also the fact that Passyunk, where the Youngs lived, did not become a part of the City of Philadelphia until 1854, so many of them were simply not listed in the Philadelphia area directories available online because they were not residing in the city (though for some years some of Passyunk was listed... just not everyone...)

Elizabeth Young died from a disease of the lungs on 24 April 1846 at the age of 63 on Girard's farm in Passyunk, Philadelphia.  She had outlived her husband by nearly twenty years.  She was buried two days later at Philanthropic Cemetery (another now defunct cemetery).

In her will, she left farm implements and the crop that had been planted to son John, instructed her executors to purchase furniture for not-yet-married Catherine, and then split the remainder of her estate between her ten children, with the caveat that those  heirs who owed her money would have it taken from their share of the inheritance.

Sources Used:
"140th Regiment Militia: Philadelphia County - Moyamensing Township," Aurora General Advertiser (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 2 June 1807, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 14 April 2020).

"1790 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 April 2020), Entry for Peter Sunlighter, Year: 1790, Census Place: Mojamensing and Passyunk Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Series: M637, Roll: 9, Page: 255, Image: 547, and Family History Library Film: 0568149; citing First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1810 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 February 2019), Entry for Jno Young, Year: 1810, Census Place: East Southwark Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: 56, Page: 135, Image: 00194, and Family History Library Film: 0193682; citing Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1820 United States Federal Census," online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 April 2020), Entry for John Young and household, 1820 U S Census, Census Place: Passyunk Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Page: 142, NARA Roll: M33_110, and Image: 407; citing Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1830 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 April 2020), Entry for Elizabeth Young and faily, 1830, Census Place: Passyunk Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Series: M19, Roll: 157, Page: 314, and Family History Library Film: 0020631; citing Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1840 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 April 2020), Entry for Elizabeth Young and family, Year: 1840, Census Place: Passyunk Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: 491, Page: 179, and Family History Library Film: 0020556; citing Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"At Private Sale," advertisement, Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 22 July 1841, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 20 April 2020).

"Democratic Republican Meeting," legislative acts or legal proceedings, Franklin Gazette (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 19 September 1820, page 2; online images, Genealogy Bank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 20 February 2020).

"Died," death notice, Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 25 April 1846, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 12 April 2020).

Ellet Jr., Charles. A Map of the County of Philadelphia from Actual Survey (Philadelphia: Charles Ellet, 1843); digital image, Greater Philadelphia Digital History Network (https://www.philageohistory.org/tiles/viewer/ : accessed 20 April 2020), viewed Passyunk township.

"Historical Society Of Pennsylvania, Births & Baptisms," database online with images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 17 April 2020), Entry for Elisab Sohnleitner, baptized 26 Sep 1782 at St. Michael and Zion Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, Baptisms 1771-1784, page 182, line 122; citing Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

"Historical Society Of Pennsylvania, Births & Baptisms," database online with images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 12 February 2019), Entry for Ann Young, baptized 21 Jan 1816 at St. John's Lutheran Church 5th & Race Streets.

Ibid.  Entry for Margaret Young, baptized 27 Sept 1818 at St. John's Lutheran Church 5th & Race Streets.

Ibid.  Entry for Mary Young, baptized 10 May 1807 at St. John's Lutheran Church 5th & Race Streets

Ibid.  Entry for Peter Young, baptized 31 Jan 1813 at St. John's Lutheran Church 5th & Race Streets.

Ibid. Entry for Philip Young, baptized 17 June 1808 at St. John's Lutheran Church 5th & Race Streets.

Ibid. Entry for Sarah Young, baptized 11 Feb 1810 at St. John's Lutheran Church 5th & Race Streets.

"Historical Society Of Pennsylvania, Marriages," database online with images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 12 February 2019), Entry for Johann Jung or Young and Elisabeth Sonleiter, married 02 Oct 1804, St. Micheal's & Zion Lutheran Church; citing Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

"The Neck Barons," The Times (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 25 April 1891, page 8; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 23 January 2019).

"Notice," legal notice, Sun (Philadelphia, Pennsyvania), 1 May 1846, page 2; online images, Genealogy Bank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 20 April 2020).

Osborn, Matthew Warner. "A Detestable Shrine: Alcohol Abuse in Antebellum Philadelphia," Journal of the Early Republic, Volume 29, no. 1 (Spring 2009), online archive, JSTOR (https://www.jstor.org/stable/40208240 : accessed 20 April 2020), pages 101-132.

"Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-1999," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 February 2019), Entry for the marriage of Johann Jung and Elisabeth Sonleiter (indexed as Sanleitam), 2 Oct 1804 at Saint Michael’s and Zion Church; citing Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-1999," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 February 2019), Entry for John Young Jr. burial date 28 March 1828, referencing St John's Church Evangelical Lutheran (Philadlephia) burial records for 1828.

"Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-1999," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 February 2019), Entry for John Young Jr. burial date 28 March 1828, referencing St John's Church Evangelical Lutheran burial record, Removals to Laurel Hill (son Philip too).

"Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-1999," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 February 2019), Entry for Philip Young. burial date 26 Sep 1823, referencing St John's Church Evangelical Lutheran burial records for 1823.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 13 April 2020), digital folder number 004009791 >image number 454 of 582 > Entry for John Young; referencing Registration of deaths, 1803-1903; arranged by year and cemetery, year 1828: Mar-July, July-Sept, Sept-Oct, Oct-Dec, page 70, entry for Evangelical Lutheran Burial Ground of St. John's Church burials 22-29 March 1828; citing Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 12 April 2020), Entry for Elizabeth Young, died 24 Apr 1846; referencing Philantrophic Burial Ground records 1846:11 April-27 June; FHL microfilm 1,906,484.

"Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 April 2020), Entry for Elizabeth Young, probate date 23 April 1846, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; will number 82, 1846; citing Pennsylvania County District and Probate Courts.

"Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 February 2019), Entry for John Young, probate date 1828, Pennsylvania, City of Philadelphia, administration files; Author: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Administration Files, No 21-86, 1828; Book N, Page 188, number 4.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Deed Book TH 40: 371-373, John and Elizabeth Young to Peter Sunliter, recorded 9 March 1813; FHL microfilm 21971.

The Story of William John Vautier

My maternal grandfather's maternal grandfather was a wonderful character, and one of my few great-great-grandparents of whom I have several photographs, thanks to different cousins. He also has one of the most detailed reports of anyone in my family, due in part to persistence and multiple sources (like Philadelphia city directories and a very complete Civil War Pension file!)  This is his story.

The story of William John Vautier starts in Passyunk Township, where his father, Peter Vautier of the truck farming Vautiers had a farm.  Passyunk Township became a part of Philadelphia in 1854, but William's story begins before that.  Though documents claiming his birth took place in Philadelphia aren't entirely inaccurate (given the consolidation of 1854), he wasn't actually born in the city.

William was born 28 March 1840, as the fourth of Peter Vautier and Sarah Young's six children, on the farm the family had in Passyunk Township. He spent his childhood attending the local school and also the Baptist church, for though his parents had married in an Evangelical Lutheran church in Philadelphia (and had baptized his two elder siblings there), there were none in the area they settled.

On 28 November 1860, William's father passed away and the family had to support themselves without him.  Sarah became a huskster, a traveling saleswoman of groceries to support her family (and appeared to do very well indeed), and William was a gardener, most likely on one of his uncles' farms.  However, this was also the time of the growing hostilities between the Northern and Southern states, and as a young man, William felt the call to enlist in the Civil War.

On 20 August 1862, William enlisted in the Union Army, and was sworn into Company E of the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers by Lt. Setford.  His older brother, Charles, also enlisted three days after him and was put into the same company. The captain of their company was Captain Syke Buemont.  (Younger brother John D. Vautier also enlisted at the age of 17 and wrote a few works about his time in the Civil War.)

William J. Vautier in his Civil War uniform.  Photo in the personal collection of the blogger

Though it cannot be proven with documents yet, William likely saw some sort of action in the battles of Chancellorsburg, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Ringgold, Lookout Mountain, and was probably part of the siege in Atlanta, and was likely held in provost for Antietam.  He was with the regiment when they were granted a furlough in late December 1863 until early February 1864 and did come home to Philadelphia for that furlough.  This furlough was granted after three-fourths of the regiment reenlisted (including William) on 10 December 1863.

On 8 December 1864, he was on detached duty as a drug clerk at Hospital 16 in Nashville, Tennessee.  While William was watching a procession of colored soldiers walking down the street who were shooting wild salutes, a pistol was fired from an unknown person in the procession and the bullet lodged in William's left arm.   The ball was never removed and as a result of the injury, William was unable to fully open or close his middle, ring and pinky finger on his left hand.  He was honorably discharged from duty as a soldier in the Union Army on 11 May 1865 in Nashville, Tennessee and came back to his life in Philadelphia.

On 30 December 1868, he was a witness in the trial of George S. Twitchell Jr., who was charged with murdering his mother-in-law, Mrs. M. E. Hill.  William had been asked to help search the property after the fact and testified to his negative search of the privy of Hill house. At the time, he was employed by George Shisler, the son-in-law of his maternal uncle John Young.  William was still living with them in 1870 when the family was enumerated on Rope Ferry Road in the 26th ward of Philadelphia, though he was erroneously listed as being 35 years of age, when in reality he was only 30. The family lived on what was known as the Girard homestead.

William J. Vautier as a middle-aged man, date of photo unknown.  Photo in personal collection of the blogger.

On 7 September 1871, William married Catherine Elizabeth Miller at Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Trinity.  The church is still located on the corner of Wolf and Eighteenth Streets in Philadelphia, and was just up the street from the Girard Homestead.  The couple was joined in marriage by Rev. S.A.K. Francis.

Catherine, or Kate as she was known, was the eldest child of Jacob Miller and Helen DeForest Maurice Sheets.  She was born 7 September 1851  in Philadelphia.  Kate's father was also a prominent farmer, but it is not known how the couple met.

The couple spent the first few years of their marriage living in the southern end of Philadelphia, as their first few children were all born in what is now the South Philadelphia neighborhood of Philly.  William worked a series of jobs while living here. He worked as a chandelier maker for a year, went back to work as a gardener, was a general laborer and a teamster at times and then was employed as a grocer.

The couple's eldest daughter, Helen Mary, was born on 19 July 1872 at 1111 Mifflin Street and was baptized at the same church her parents were married at nearly six months later.  Daughter Sarah Miller was born June 1874.  Her place of birth was listed as the Women's Hospital, but that hospital did do births as outpatients as well, so it is not certain if she was born at home or the hospital.  Son Jacob Miller was born 15 October 1875 at 1810 South Twelfth Street.  (Sarah and Jacob were also baptized at Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Trinity.) Son William John was born 3 October 1877 on League Island (he died a little over a year later at 1119 Moore Street).  It is not known where in the city daughter Miriam Crosby was born on 1 December 1878 because she mysteriously is the only one of the eleven children whose birth registration cannot be found.  Son Ellerslie Wallace was the last child to be born in south Philadelphia, as he was born 4 January 1881 at 1728 Passyunk Road. 

The family moved to the Harrowgate neighborhood shortly after Ellerlie's birth.  The family moved to a home on Harrowgate Lane near Emerald Street.  It was here that daughter Julia Ann was born 10 October 1884, son Ellerslie died on 31 August 1883 and son Daniel Miller was born 14 December 1884.  During this time, William was listed in the city directories as a butcher and dealer, liking dealing in groceries and the wares left over from the butchering process.

The house they lived in became officially 3546 Emerald Street, and this residence was listed as the place of birth for the final three children born to William and Catherine.  Ann Grubb was born here 17 September 1877, Laura Elizabeth was born 13 September 1890 and James Wilson, the youngest child, was born here 18 February 1893.  The family lived here for thirteen years.  However, for about a year (1888-1889), William's address on certain documents from his pension file was listed as 526 Stephen Street in Camden, New Jersey.   Evidence suggests that William lived in Camden while the family continued to reside in the Harrowgate neighborhood at the Emerald Street address.  Perhaps he moved to Camden to get a better doctor to examine him for a pension increase.

As a result of the wound he received during his stint in the Civil War, William was put on a disability pension for the rest of his life, since even though he could hold down a job, he wasn't able to work the more manual jobs for too long due to his injured hand and arm.  His original pension was $4 per month, which he started receiving in April of 1873.  However, in 1879 he was awarded an arrears of pension in the amount of $381.87 from 1865 until 1873.  Over the course of the rest of his lifetime, he made several requests for an increase in pension.  He applied for increase in 1885 and was denied.  He again applied in 1888 and was approved for a increase to $6 per month commencing 24 July 1889 (this coincided with his move to Camden, which suggests he may have made the move because the doctors on the examining board in Camden may have been more favorable to increasing his pension than the doctors in Philadelphia). In May of 1891 he applied for another increase to his pension and was approved for an increase to $8 per month commencing 9 March 1891.  In 1907, he applied for another increase in pension, and was granted $12 per month 25 March 1907.  He again applied in 1910 for an increase and on 31 March 1910 his rate was raised to $15 per month.  It was ultimately raised to $24 per month starting 22 May 1912 and ending upon his death.  After his death, his wife applied for a widow's pension and received it.

Also because of his service in the Civil War, he joined the Grand Army of the Republic and was a member of Post 71, General John F. Reynolds in Philadelphia. 

Anyway, back to Philadelphia in 1894.... this was the year that William and family made the move from Harrowgate to a rented home at 3169 Belgrade Street in the Port Richmond neighborhood.  This neighborhood was the final move for William J. Vautier, though he lived in two different houses on this street. For four years they lived at 3169 Belgrade before moving down the street to 3183 Belgrade Street.  The lot the home was on was owned for at least part of the time by one William Allen, and the family rented the home.  It was a row house, as were many houses in the neighborhood (and still are, though the current homes on the street were built in 1920).

Two photographs of the William J. and Catherine E. Vautier family, both taken in the yard of the Belgrade addresses.  Photos in the personal collection of the blogger (I can identify most everyone in both photos if you would like me  to... drop me a line)

The family lived in the same block as did the Elizabeth Hans Waldspurger family at this time, and it is assumed that this was how William's daughter Julia met Elizabeth's son Edward, or how the Waldspurger family came to live on the same block (as son Edward may have let his mother know a home was for rent or purchase on the street after having met the Vautiers).  In any case, the two families joined as one in my genealogy in the marriage of Julia Ann Vautier to Edward Charles Waldspurger in 1901.

William worked as a janitor while living in the Port Richmond neighborhood, and according to family stories, at least part of that time was spent as a janitor at the local school. 

William J. Vautier, circa 1910, in the backyard of his Belgrade home in Philadelphia.  Photo in the personal collection of the blogger.

On 18 February 1913, William John Vautier died at the rented home on 3183 Belgrade Street.  The cause of death on his certificate was listed as apoplexy.  Apoplexy was the term used at that time for a stroke, which is what William very likely died from.  The physician attending to his death was W.R. Knight.  He was buried two days later at North Cedar Hill Cemetery after a funeral at home.  He was buried in section W-6.  His grave was unmarked until 1938, when his daughter in law, Flora Bardsley Vautier, applied for a headstone from the Veteran's Administration. 

William J. Vautier's headstone.  Photo taken August 2017 at North Cedar Hill Cemetery by the blogger.

In October of 1913, the lot upon which the family lived was sold to Theresa Crosson for $1400, and Catherine moved out.  It is not known where she moved to, but it is likely her sons helped to support her and their sisters, as social convention dictated.  The family moved to various addresses on Almond Street in the Port Richmond neighborhood, if following Daniel and James Wilson in the city directories, and by 1919, Catherine was living at 3192 Almond Street. 

Belgrade Street as it looked in August 2017.  While the houses were built in 1920, they are of similar style to the ones that were there.  I took a walk in the neighborhood in 2017 to see where my family lived, and shot this photo among others.

It was here at 3192 Almond Street that Catherine passed away 4 February 1919 from sarcoma of the stomach.  The cancer that took Catherine's life was detected first on 1 July 1918, and from 5 July 1918 until her death, she was attended to by Doctor Rolla L. Smith of 2987 Richmond Street in Philadelphia. Her daughter Ann was her primary caretaker and nurse.  Her youngest child, James Wilson Vautier, was overseas fighting in World War One when his mother passed, and the rest of his siblings chose to not tell him she had died until he returned home two months later.

After a funeral at her home, Catherine was buried next to her husband in North Cedar Hill Cemetery, although to this day, no headstone marks her final resting place.

Son Daniel died in 1937 as a civilian worker aboard the U.S.S. Cassin when a steam explosion caused him and several others to be boiled alive.

Sources Used:
 "1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for Peter Voutier and family, Year: 1850, Census Place: Passyunk Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_820, Page: 63A, and Image: 134; citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1860 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for Peter Vautier and family, Year: 1860, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 1 Division 1 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: M653_1151, Page: 52, Image: 56, and Family History Library Film: 805151; citing 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

"1870 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2019), Entry for John L. Young and household, Year: 1870, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 26 District 88 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: M593_1414, Page: 595B, and Family History Library Film: 552913; citing 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

"1890 Veterans Schedules," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 October 2016), Entry for William Vautier, Year: 1890, Census Place: Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: 80, Pages: 1-2, and Enumeration District: 569; citing Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M123, 118 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1900 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for William Gauitier and family (as indexed in database), Year: 1900, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 25 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1467, Page: 8B, Enumeration District: 0587, and FHL microfilm: 1241467; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

"1910 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for William J Vautier and family, Year: 1910, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 25 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: T624_1398, Page: 15A, Enumeration District: 0539, and FHL microfilm: 1375411; citing  Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for Wm. J. Vautier and family, Year: 1880, Census Place: Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1185, Family History Film: 1255185, Page: 430A, Enumeration District: 545, and Image: 0129; citing Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Anna C. Wueteun entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, "Births Registered during 1887 Jan-Dec." reel 41: page 108, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865: prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, 5 Volumes (Harrisburg: B. Singerly, State Printer, 1869), Volume One; Page 520; "Vautier, Wm. J., Private, Mustered in Aug. 20, '62, 3 years, discharged by General Order, May 23, 1865".

"City Directories for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania," online database with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com : accessed 30 September 2016).  Various years and entries for William J. Vautier and family  (for complete listing of entries, contact the blogger)

Daniel Vautier entry, Return of Births in the City of Philadelphia 1860-1903, fn 6432: Month of December, 1884 returns for J. Howard Evans, M.D., Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"Died," death notices, The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 19 February 1913, page 7, entry for William J. Vautier; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 October 2016).

"Died," death notice, The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 6 February 1919, page 18, entry for Catherine M. Vautier; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 13 October 2016).

E. Wallace Vautine entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1877, reel 35: page 54, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Hellen Vautier entry, Return of Births in the City of Philadelphia 1860-1903, Doctors' Returns: Birth Returns for 1 June 1872 to 1 July 1872 for Wm Patterson M.D., Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Historical Data Systems, comp., "U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865," database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 October 2016), Entry for William J Vautier; Enlisted 20 Aug 1862 as a Private in Company E, Pennsylvania 29th Infantry Regiment on 20 Aug 1862; Mustered out on 03 Jun 1865; citing data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA; Source: History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865.

Jacob Votere entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1875: page 16, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jas W. Vautier entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1893: page 76, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Julia A. Vautier entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1882-1883: page 216, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Julia Ann Waldspurger wife of Edward Charles Waldspurger SSN 715-14-8640 application of wife for spouse's annuity, 1952; Railroad Retirement Board Inactive Claim Folders, RG 184; National Archives and Records Administration - Atlanta, Morrow, GA.  Father's full name William John Vautier.

Kropp, Sonny. A White Star On My Cap by William J. Vautier (N.p.: Sonny Kropp, 1983).

Laura Elizabeth (Vautier) entry, Return of Births in the City of Philadelphia 1860-1903, Doctor's Returns: Return of Births September 1890 for Mary Leichsenring, midwife, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"Local Intelligence: The Hill Murder," The Evening Telegraph (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 30 December 1868, page 1. "William J. Vautier sworn - I am employed by Mr. Shissler; the privy at Mrs. Hill's house was searched by me, and nothing was found."; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 11 June 2017).

"Mother, Awaiting Son, Dies: Young Philadelphia, Anticipating Reunion, Not Told of Death," Eveninig Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 8 April 1919, page 6; online images, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 13 October 2016), Historic American Newspapers.

National Archives and Records Administration, "U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 October 2016), Entry for William Vautier and widow Catherine Vautier; Roll number T288_488; Invalid application number 183354, certificate number 124364; Widow's application number 1006154, certificate number 761815; filed in Pennsylvania; citing "General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934". Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls.

"Obituary notes," obituary, Harrisburg Daily Independent (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), 19 February 1913, page 10; online archives, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 October 2016).

"Oral interviews with various Waldspurger family members," 1999-2020 by Patricia Waldspurger Mahoney, information and notes collected by Patricia Waldspurger Mahoney and passed along to Kelley Wood-Davis; owned by Patricia Waldspurger Mahoney, Lansdale, Pennsylvania; no notes taken; oral information on family history.

"Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 October 2016), Entry for William J. Vautier; Enlistment date 20 Aug 1862; Private Co. E, 29th Pennsylvania; citing Pennsylvania (State). Civil War Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1861–1866. Records of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, Record Group 19, Series 19.11 (153 cartons). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 October 2016), Entry for Catherine Voutier, died 4 Feb 1919, cn 16521; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 October 2016), Entry for William J Vautier; date of death 18 Feb 1913; certificate number 22400; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 8 October 2016), William Vautier, 25 Mar 1879; FHL microfilm 2,031,099; (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDVB-KYP); citing Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

"Pension Certificates Issued," The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 6 March 1892, page 8; "Washington, March 4. - Pension certificates have been issued as follows: Issue of February 19, 1892.....Pennsylvania - Originial...... William Vautier"; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 October 2016).

Pension File Claim for William Vautier Private Co E 29 Pa. Vols, pension number 183354; Photocopies provided by NARA in the pension file for William Vautier; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C., Filed with the Adjunant General's Offie 9 August 1865. (For complete listing of documents, contact the blogger)

Sarah Vautier entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1874, reel 30: page 71, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Schanes, Nancy. Family Group Sheet of Peter Vautier and Sarah Young, Vautier Collection; supplied by Schanes, [address for private use], Wilmington, Delaware, September 1988; Information obtained via Civil War Pension Records, Pennsylvania Census Records (1850 and 1880), the diary of John Vautier, Notes from Jill Vautier Miller, and records from St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Photocopy sent by Schanes to Kelley Wood-Davis in 2002.

"U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963," online database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 October 2016), Entry for William Vautier, died 18 Feb 1913; citing Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941. Microfilm publication M1916, 134 rolls. ARC ID: 596118. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Record Group 92. National Archives at Washington, D.C; Applications for Headstones, compiled 01/01/1925 - 06/30/1970, documenting the period ca. 1776 - 1970, ARC: 596118. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Vautier, John D. The Personal Diary of John D. Vautier, transcribed copy (n.p., n.d.), ; online transcription, Robert Weaver and Phyllis Weaver Bickley, WikiTree (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Vautier-28 : accessed 12 February 2019.

Widow Pension for Catherine M Vautier, widow of William Vautier, private, Co. E, 29th Pennsylvania Inf. Certificate number 761815, approved 21 June 1913; Photocopies provided by NARA in the pension file for William Vautier; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C. (for complete listing of documents, contact the blogger)

William Vautier entry, Return of Births in the City of Philadelphia 1860-1903, Doctors' Returns: Birth Returns for November 1877 for W.J. Patterson, M.D., Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Stocking Making: A Family Industry

The tricoteur, bonnetier, Strumpfmacher, Strumpfweber, knitter, stocking maker, hosiery mill laborer... all of these titles were listed as occupations done by various family members in my Waldspurger family tree.  Because at least five generations of Waldspurger family members have been occupied in this industry, I thought I better take a look at what it entailed.

History of Stocking-Making
Stocking making before the invention of the knitting machine was done by hand, obviously.  Most stockings in this time were actually worn by men, and made popular by them.  Knitted stockings were often expensive, given that they took more time to make than stockings made of woven material and sewn.  However, because knitted stockings had more elasticity, they were better constructed and fit better than ones made from woven material, even if they didn't last long due to the way they were washed.  So they were in higher demand.

While men wore stockings and flaunted them, women's stockings were often plain and functional, meant only to keep legs warm, since women wore dresses or skirts that went down to the floor, hence not needing to flaunt any decorations.  It was considered risque for a woman to show even her ankles.  One of the first famous women to wear stockings and make it known was Queen Elizabeth I of England.  She apparently wore some elaborately made stockings too.

William Lee, a curate from Calverton, in England, created the first mechanical stocking knitter by 1589.  While Queen Elizabeth I rejected the machine (citing that she wanted to keep her hand knitters employed), King Henry IV of France loved the idea (since he loved wearing stockings as well) and helped Lee establish the machines in France.  However, when Henry was assassinated in 1610, Lee's life in France fell to pieces and after he died, his brother moved the machines back to England and improved upon them.  They eventually became so successful that spies from around Europe were sent to steal the blueprints and establish the machines in their countries.  By the nineteenth century, the industry was widely established and were one of the first industries to trigger the Industrial Revolution.

Hosiery was often made of silk, though linen, wool and cotton hose were also knitted.  The Industrial Revolution helped to bring these stockings to the masses. In the late 19th century, rayon was invented as the first man-made material and was introduced into hosiery, though silk stocking were still the most preferred of hose.

By the 1920s, hosiery had made a shift from being predominately worn by men to being worn by females, and as skirts got shorter in the flapper era, stockings became more elaborately designed and colored hose became the rage.  Eventually, around the middle of the 20th century, nylon and later spandex were invented by Du Pont, and made waves as they were introduced into the industry.

First Generation
The first documented Waldspurger ancestor to be a stocking maker was François Waldspurger, father to Florian Waldspurger.  François lived in Bas-Rhin, Alsace his entire life.  He was born in Ebersheim, moved to Diebolsheim, where he married Sophie Egermann and had three children, and eventually moved his family to the larger city of Erstein. On all of his children's birth records (of which there were nine) and also on three different French census records, he is listed as a bonnetier (hosier), faiseur de bas (stockings maker) or tricoteur (knitter).  By the time of his death on 6 June 1875, however, Alsace was part of the German Empire, so Franz Waldspurger, as he was known on his German death certificate, was also occupied as the German counterpart to one of his French occupations.

Loom likely used by François Waldspurger.  Found in The illustrated exhibitor: a tribute to the world's industrial jubilee (London: John Cassel,1851) page 431.  Source: Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg, Heidelberger Historische Bestände digital via Wikipedia Commons

Second Generation
Florian Waldspurger, who was husband to Elizabeth Marie Hans, was the sixth child born to François Waldspurger and Sophie Egermann.  Since Alsace was in German occupation when he came of age, he had occupations that were listed obviously in German.  Florian was employed as a Strumpfweber (stocking weaver) and Strumpfmacher (stocking maker), as listed on both his marriage license and also on the birth certificates of his two eldest children. When the family moved to Philadelphia in 1880, Florian quickly found work in the textile industry of the area (which was brought to the area by immigrants such as Florian). His occupation varied from document to document, as he was listed as a weaver, a knitter, a tailor, and an ironer (the changing occupations isn't a surprise in an area where small scale industries were forever changing to suit Philadelphia's current needs).

Florian, whose name was also butchered severely in the same documents, likely worked in a number of different factories in the Northern Liberties neighborhood in which he lived, as the textile industry was one of many that dominated the heavily industrialized neighborhood and the surrounding areas. At one point, he owned his own knit good business, which was not hard to achieve, because in Philadelphia, most textile industries were owned by first generation immigrants. However, his health began to decline as a result of the heavily industrialized air that he breathed in on a daily basis, and he removed to the country and took up a farmer's lifestyle to help improve his health. He was on his way to collect the money owed him for selling his business (among other things) on that fateful day of 2 September 1900 when the Hatfield Train Wreck took place.

Third Generation
Because Elizabeth Hans Waldspurger could not fully support the needs of her family herself, and since it was a socially appropriate thing to do, her children went to work after they finished their primary schooling at eighth grade. The youngest two children, Elizabeth and Clara, both went to work for the textile industry in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia. Both girls were listed as winders of cloth in the 1910 census enumerations. Clara was also listed as a winder at the stockingmills in Lansdale, per her marriage application.

Fourth Generation
Hosiery mills were a prevalent industry in the southeastern portion of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, especially in Montgomery County, where the Waldspurgers moved in the latter part of the 1910s. Many of the grandchildren of Florian and Elizabeth Marie Hans Waldspurger worked in the industry at one of the many hosiery mills in the area, especially in Lansdale and North Wales.

All of the nine sons of Edward Waldspurger (Florian's son and Francois' grandson) worked in one of the hosiery or textile mills at one point or another, including my own grandfather, who worked at Elm Hosiery Mill in North Wales.

My pop, Ernest Waldspurger, at work at the hosiery mill circa 1940.  It is presumed this mill was Elm Hosiery in North Wales.  Personal Collection of the blogger

Some of the other grandchildren in the extended Waldspurger family also worked the hosiery mills at one point or another, as it was an easy job to start at in the twentieth century. Because of the increasing mechanization of the mills, the job was much less skilled in the 1900s than it was in the time of François just three generations prior.

Ernest Waldspurger looking over a hosiery loom with his boss, circa 1940, probably at Elm Hosiery, North Wales.  Personal collection of the blogger.

It is possible that some of the descendants of François Waldspurger even participated in the Dexdale Hosiery Strike of 1933 that took place in Cheltenham. Florian Waldspurger, son of Edward and great-grandson of François, did work at Dexdale for a bit, though it is not known exactly when. (He later became a watch and jewelry repair man).

Fifth Generation
Since Hosiery mills were so prominent in the southeastern Pennsylvania area, some of the  great-great-grandchildren of François Waldspurger also were engaged in hosiery making as their first places of employment in the area.  However, since a number of this generation is still alive, I have chosen not to go into depth about their employment.

Sources Used
"1910 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 September 2016), Family of Elizabeth Waldspurger, Year: 1910, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 25 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: T624_1398, Page: 12A, Enumeration District: 0539, and FHL microfilm: 1375411; citing Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1930 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 September 2016), Entry for Edward C Waldspurger and family, Year: 1930, Census Place: Lansdale Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Roll: 2082, Page: 14B, Enumeration District: 0053, Image: 55.0, and FHL microfilm: 2341816; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

"1940 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 April 2019), Entry for Edward Waldspurger and family, Year: 1940, Census Place: Lansdale Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Roll: m-t0627-03579, Page: 9B, and Enumeration District: 46-68; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.

"1940 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 September 2016), Entry for Edward C. Waldburger and family, Year: 1940, Census Place: Lansdale Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Roll: T627_3579, Page: 7B, and Enumeration District: 46-70.

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Cornelius D Waldspurger and Elizabeth May Grace, (10 October 1936), Application for Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage: no. 59873; Montgomery County Archival Records Department, Norristown, Pennsylvania.

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Departemental Bas Rhin, "Registres paroissiaux et documents d' etat civil," online images, Archives Departementales Du Bas Rhin (http://archives.bas-rhin.fr/rechercher/documents-numerises/: accessed 30 August 2016), no. 4, Catherine Waltspurger; 20 Feb 1835; citing Actes de Naissance de la commune d' Dibolsheim, arrondissement Selestat, department du Bas Rhin, 1835; listed as father.

Departemental Bas Rhin, "Registres paroissiaux et documents d' etat civil," online images, Archives Departementales Du Bas Rhin (http://archives.bas-rhin.fr/rechercher/documents-numerises/: accessed 5 September 2016), no. 12, Florian Waldspurger and Maria Elizabeth Hans, 1877; citing citing Actes de Mariage de la Commune Erstein, Arrondissment de Selestat, Department du Bas Rhin, 1877, [annexion allemande].

Departemental Bas Rhin, "Registres paroissiaux et documents d' etat civil," online images, Archives Departementales Du Bas Rhin (http://archives.bas-rhin.fr/rechercher/documents-numerises/: accessed 30 August 2016), Number 43, Aloise Waldspurger, 1853; citing Registre de Naissances 1853, Arrondissment de Selestat, Commune d' Erstein; listed as father.

Departemental Bas Rhin, "Registres paroissiaux et documents d' etat civil," online images, Archives Departementales Du Bas Rhin (http://archives.bas-rhin.fr/rechercher/documents-numerises/: accessed 30 August 2016), Number 54, Marianne Waldsburger, 1840; citing Actes de Naissance pour 1840, Arrondissement de Schelestadt, Commune de Erstein.

Departemental Bas Rhin, "Registres paroissiaux et documents d' etat civil," online images, Archives Departementales Du Bas Rhin (http://archives.bas-rhin.fr/rechercher/documents-numerises/: accessed 5 September 2016), no. 76, Eduard Waldspurger, 1877; citing Actes de Naissances de la Commune Erstein, Arrondissment de Selestat, Department du Bas Rhin, 1877, [annexion allemande].

Departemental Bas Rhin, "Registres paroissiaux et documents d' etat civil," online images, Archives Departementales Du Bas Rhin (http://archives.bas-rhin.fr/rechercher/documents-numerises/: accessed 30 August 2016), Number 102, Martin Waldspurger, 1849; citing Actes de Naissance pour 1849, Arrondissement de Schelestadt, Commune de Erstein; listed as father.

Departemental Bas Rhin, "Registres paroissiaux et documents d' etat civil," online images, Archives Departementales Du Bas Rhin (http://archives.bas-rhin.fr/rechercher/documents-numerises/: accessed 5 September 2016), no. 127, Eugene Waldspurger, 1878; citing Actes de Naissances de la Commune Erstein, Arrondissment de Selestat, Department du Bas Rhin, 1878, [annexion allemande].

Elizabeth Waldspurger entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, "Births Registered during 1889 Nov - 1890 Oct", reel 44: page 155, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Father listed as F. Waldspurger, weaver.

Ernest Walspurger entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, "Births Registered during 1887 Jan-Dec." reel 41: page 38, line 5, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Father listed as F Walspurger, weaver

Felkin, William.  A History of the Machine-wrought Hosiery and Lace Manufactures (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1867), 542-550; online images, Google Books(https://books.google.com/books?id=PPK1FYmWYo8C&dq=hosiery+making+in+france+history&source=gbs_navlinks_s : accessed 7 February 2020; history of French hosiery making on machines.

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