#366 John Peter "Peter" Seyler◊ ( Joseph Seyler◊ )
Peter was born 17 May 1776 in Heidelberg Twp., Berks Co., Pennsylvania. He died 8 May 1855 in Porter Twp., Clinton Co., Pennsylvania from dropsy of the chest (hydrothorax). He was buried in Mount Bethel United Church of Christ Cemetery, Lamar, Clinton Co., Pennsylvania.
There are some questions about his vital dates. His death registration gives birth as 17 May 1778 and death as 7 May 1855. His grave marker shows his death date as 8 May 1855 and gives an age at death of 78 years 11 months 21 days. This would put his birth at 17 May 1776, two years earlier than the death registration.
He was a blacksmith according to his death registration. His name is spelled Seiler in some sources.
Prior to the 1820 Census we have a couple of candidates as there are several individuals of similar name scattered about Pennsylvania. There are a couple of individuals listed in Berks Co. but one is too old at 44+ and one too young at under 25. We'd expect Peter to be around 32-34 years old. The latter person was particularly interesting as he lived in Heidelberg, Peter's birth place. There's an individual in Northampton Co. whose family age profile matches that of Peter's, as well as some in Montgomery and York Cos.
In [Linn] we find the following about Porter in Centre Co.: "From the year 1800 to 1820 the following-named persons came to this township:...Peter Seyler (who had a large family of boys and girls),..."
On the 1820 Federal Census he appears in Lamar Twp., Centre Co., Pennsylvania. Anna would be around 38 years old but there is no woman listed in that age bracket. This is puzzling since their marriage predates this census. In addition to Peter, the census lists two women 16-25, two young women 10-15, one girl under 10, two young men 10-15, and three boys under 10.
On the 1830 Federal Census he is still in Lamar Twp. In addition to Peter and Anna, there are two young women (ages 10-14 and 20-29) and four young men (two under 5, one each 10-14, 15-19, 20-29).
On the 1840 Federal Census he appears in Lamar Twp., now part of Clinton Co. He seems slightly younger, being in the 50-60 age bracket instead of about 62-64. However, Anna appears as we expect. There is a young man of 20-30 and a young woman of 15-20 in the household.
He appears on the 1850 Federal Census of Porter Twp., Clinton Co., Pennsylvania as a farmer with real estate worth $6000. Living with them is their grandson, Joseph Seyler, and a 15 year old girl, Eliza Yeager. There's no indication if she was another grandchild or a servant.
∞ Peter married #1902 Anna Catherine Brosius◊. She is the daughter of John Nicholas & Anna Catherine (Mayer) Brosius.
Anna was born 5 Mar 1782 in Berks Co., Pennsylvania. She died 1857.
Children of this relationship:
| #1891 | F | i | Elizabeth Seyler | |
| #367 | F | ii | Anna Catherine Seyler◊ | (25 Jul 1805–1878) |
| #1892 | F | iii | Lydia Seyler | |
| #1893 | M | iv | Frederich Seyler | |
| #20454 | M | v | John Seyler | (1 Aug 1808–) |
| #1894 | F | vi | Mary Seyler | |
| #1895 | M | vii | Peter Seyler | |
| #1896 | M | viii | George Seyler | |
| #1897 | M | ix | Joseph Seyler | (Abt 1817–) |
| #1898 | F | x | Sophia Seyler | |
| #1899 | M | xi | Nicholas Seyler | |
| #1900 | F | xii | Margaret Seyler |
1810 U.S. Census, Upper Mildford, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Roll: 51; Page: 38; Image: 00142; Family History Library Film: 0193677
1820 U.S. Census, Lamar, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Page: 222; NARA Roll: M33_98; Image: 237
1830 U.S. Census, Lamar, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Series: M19; Roll: 165; Page: 391; Family History Library Film: 0020639
1840 U.S. Census, Lamar Twp., Clinton Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.. Roll: 450; Page: 351; Image: 713; Family History Library Film: 0020540
1850 U.S. Census, Porter Twp., Clinton Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.. Roll: M432_768; Page: 34A; Image: 378
Anna Catharine Seiler birth and baptism certificate, Illustrated.
Barbara Seyler, Family History of George & Anna Catherine (Seyler) Allison, unpublished genealogical notes. In 2006, copy in possession of Tad Deffler
Birth Records, Stone Valley Lutheran Church. p. 34
John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania, (Philadelphia: Lewis H. Everts, 1883). Ref. as [Linn] p. 662
Peter Seyler death registration, taken 18 May 1855 by Samuel Kryder and D. Allison at Peter's home, Porter Twp., Clinton Co., Pennsylvania, registered and filed 23 May 1855. In 2006, copy in possession of Tad Deffler
Line Generation: 2
Relationship: Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather