THOMAS WEAVER, a native of Washington county, and early settler of Cecil township, is the eldest son of John, and grandson of Thomas Dill Weaver. The Weaver family are of Welsh descent, and trace their settlement in Pennsylvania to the time of William Penn. Thomas Dill Weaver was born in Chester county, Penn., and there married to Jane Hinston, who came with her parents from Ireland to Chester county, Penn., at the age of seven years. After the birth of their third child the young couple came with pack-horses to Washington county, Penn., locating at Canonsburg, where both died many years ago. John Weaver, a son of this pioneer couple, was born in Chester county, Penn., having come with his parents to Chartiers township, this county, when but seven years of age. He grew to manhood in this county, and learned the trade of a stone mason. When a young man he selected a life companion in the person of Mary McMillan, a native of North Strabane township, daughter of Dr. John and Catherine (Brown) McMillan. The parents were born in Chester county, Penn., coming to this county in an early day, and locating in North Strabane township. The father was pastor of the Chartiers Presbyterian Church for fifty years, also the founder of Jefferson College. He died in 1828, having been preceded by the mother in 1818.
John and Mary (McMillan) Weaver made a permanent home near Canonsburg, Penn., and were members of the Chartiers Presbyterian Church. The children born to this union were as follows: Thomas (whose name opens this sketch), Catherine (Mrs. Patterson White, of Paxton, Ill.) and Jane (a twin, wife of John Jeffrey, of Jefferson county, Ohio), Sarah (deceased at the age of seventeen years), Mary (deceased iu 1887, wife of Wilson Lesnett, Allegheny county, Penn.), John (died in Canonsburg), Margaret (Mrs. John Perry, of Missouri), Nancy (married to William McNutt, of Canonsburg) and Samuel (deceased in Canonsburg). Thomas Weaver was born April 16, 1811, in Chartiers township, this county, being educated in the subscription schools of the home district. On March 17, 1835, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick and Isabella (Wilson) Lesnett, early pioneers of Allegheny county, Penn., where their lives were passed. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Weaver resided in Chartiers township until 1848; then bought a partially improved farm of 106 acres in Cecil township, of which he yet retains eighty-six acres, well improved and cultivated. He votes with the Democratic party, and in religion both are members of the Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg, of which he has for many years been a ruling elder. They are the parents of the following named children: (1) John, born December 25, 1835 (a physician and surgeon of Canonsburg, was united in marriage with Belle A. Boyce, December 10, 1863, and died March 18, 1872. The children of this union are Lizzie B., Thomas McKeag (died in childhood), Mary J., Thomas C. and John B., twins, the latter of whom died January 16, 1892); (2) Frederick, born January 14, 1838 (farmer and dairyman, living in Cecil township, was united in marriage with Sarah A. Henry, February 17, 1881. They are the parents of the following named children: Martha M., Ida E., Thomas V. and William McC.); (3) Mary, born February 9, 1840 (wife of James M. White, of Cecil township, married March 16, 1866); (4) Thomas, born November 5, 1841 (preferred to follow the profession of a teacher, but entered the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment P. V. I. and died as a prisoner of war at Louisiana Hospital, Va., November 27, 1863); (5) Isaac, (6) Isabella, and (7) Calvin (all died in childhood); (8) Isaac Calvin, born June 29, 1849 (farmer and mechanic, living in Cecil township, was united in marriage with Mary J. McLaughlin, October 19, 1876, and died December 25, 1890. The children of this union are Mary E., Fred R., Annie B., Alice L., Thomas D., Olive M. and Francis J.); (9) Samuel W.; born January 9, 1853 (a physician and surgeon of Oregon, was united in marriage with Alice Grim, November 1, 1888. The children of this union are Francis and Grey Grim); (10) Frank Ritchie, born August 17, 1855 (farmer, living in Cecil township, was united in marriage with Sarah J. McNary, August 9, 1892).
Text taken from page 1191 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]