THE WEIR FAMILY of Pigeon Creek. In July, 1770, there arrived in Philadelphia, Penn., a company of emigrants from County Antrim, Ireland, among whom were Robert Robinson (born 1739, died June 23, 1836, aged ninety-seven years), his wife, Rachel Weir (born 1738, died October 21, 1823, aged eighty-five years) and Samuel Weir (brother of Rachel) and his wife, Lavina Robinson, sister of Robert Robinson. These families remained near each other, tarrying in Lancaster and Dauphin counties, finally proceeding to Big Sewickley, Westmoreland county, where they separated about the year 1777, Robert Robinson settling four miles north of Saltsburgh, Indiana county, and Samuel Weir coming to the vicinity of Zollarsville, Washington county. Here he tarried for a while, but finally settled on Pigeon creek near the present town of Vanceville, where he died in 1821. His wife, Lavina (Robinson), died about 1816. They are buried in Pigeon Creek churchyard. Their children were (I) Thomas, (II) Jane, (III) James, (IV) William, (V) Elizabeth, (VI) Adam, (VII) Lavina and (VIII) Samuel. (I). Thomas Weir married Nancy Whitehill, and died in December, 1848, in his eighty-third year; Nancy, his wife, died August 31, 1822, aged fifty-four. Their children were Samuel, died August 1, 1855, aged fifty-seven; Margaret, died August 28, 1853, aged forty-nine; Lavina, died April 20, 1860, aged fifty-five; Jane and Eleanor (twins), the former of whom died February 23, 1884, aged seventy-eight, the latter dying March 16, 1885, aged seventy-nine; Nancy, died June 12, 1887, aged seventy-three; Robert, born May 7, 1808, married Sarah L. Donley, who was born December 25, 1808 and died without issue March 4, 1878, Robert dying April 19, 1886; Eleanor married her cousin, Col. Samuel Weir, son of (III) James; Nancy married Robert Erwin, who was born October 4, 1814, and died May 14, 1874, leaving issue—James , who died September 22, 1883; Thomas; Margaret; Lavina; Nancy; Susan and William. Of these, Margaret married Joseph Smith, and had children as follows: Iva Sella, Lola Siretta, Robert Erwin, Margaret Cook, Lavina Elizabeth and Edna Myrtle. Lavina married Robert Morrow (now deceased), and had issue— Nannie Ellnora and Thomas Weir; Nancy married William Cook, and have issue— Margaret Reed and Nannie Maude; William married Bell McIlvaine, and had a son James (William died May 10, 1886).
(II). Jane Weir married James Robinson, and had issue— John, who died August 28, 1864; Elizabeth W., who died in November, 1868; Samuel W. and Margaret. Their father died July 13, 1856, their mother November 3, 1856. This family lived near Donegal, Westmoreland Co., Penn.
(III). James Weir first married Mary Lawrence, who died September 2, 1808, aged fifty six, leaving issue— Col. (1) Samuel and (2) Joseph; the second marriage of James was to Sarah Jenkins, daughter of Eliezer Jenkins, Esq., she died March 15, 1829, aged fifty-five, and their issue— (3) Thomas, (4) Mary, (5) Rebecca, (6) Lavina. Their father died December 5, 1827; aged fifty-seven years. Col. (1) Samuel, born April 3, 1800, died June 5, 1892; married his cousin, Eleanor Weir, daughter of (1) Thomas, and had issue— (1) James, (2) Nancy (died September 6, 1863, aged thirty-three), (3) Mary, (4) Thomas, (5) Sarah, (6) Eleanor, (7) Joseph, (8) Samuel, (9) Susan M. (Died January 6, 1870, aged twenty-two), (10) Martha and (11) Robert. (4) Thomas, born January 19, 1838, was married on January 1, 1860, to Lavina Hasting, who was born January 16, 1833, and died June 28, 1886, leaving issue— (1) William E., born May 29, 1862, and (2) S. W. Grant, born March 13, 1865. Of these, (l) William E. married on November 16, 1882, Emma F. Jennings, born October 6, 1861 (they have issue— Nora M., born March 3, 1885; Mary, born July 11, 1887; John Blaine, born November 3, 1889; Minnie, born October 27, 1891). (2) S. W. Grant married January 6, 1887, Margaret McCallister (issue one daughter, Maude (living), and a son Frank (deceased). (8) Samuel, born May 27, 1842, married, September 27, 1866, Lottie Evans, born September 1, 1843 (they have issue— Emma E., born September 24, 1868); Joseph M., born September 28, 1872; Emma E., married John H. Huffman, September 24, 1890 (issue— Homer Russell, born December 28, 1891). (11) Robert married Miss Kale (issue-Ellsworth and Pearl).
(2) Joseph Weir, son of (III) James married Mary Smith, who died August 31, 1886, aged eighty-seven; issue— George, died April 1, 1830, aged sixteen months; Mary, Margaret, and James. Margaret married, and lives in Muskingum county, Ohio, and James was Presiding Elder in the Methodist ministry in the London (Ohio) Circuit in 1891. (2) Joseph, Sr., emigrated from Washington county, Penn., to Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1837, and now lives in Perryton, Licking Co., same State.
(3) Thomas, son of (III) James, was born March 21, 1811, married February 2, 1832, Mary Denniston, born August 6, 1808; Thomas emigrated to Carroll county, Ohio, in 1834, where he died March 1, 1863; Mary (Denniston) died October 28, 1889. They are buried at Mechanicstown, Carroll county, where he was a member of Session in the Presbyterian Church of Corinth. He was prominent in the civil affairs of that county in his day. He had children as follows: (1) James R., born February 15, 1833; (2) Andrew D., born January 21, 1835; (3) Sarah Ann, born November 30, 1836; (4) Elizabeth, born March 8, 1839; (5) Nancy Jane, born September 12, 1841, died January 6, 1843; (6) Samuel, born October 13, 1843; (7) Rebecca Jane, born March 31, 1846; (8) William Thomas, born July 1, 1848; (9) Robert Brough, born August 19, 1851. Of these, (1) James R. married Rebecca Cameron (now dead), and had issue— Addison, Durell and Charles. Of these, Addison married Catharine Wilcoxon; they have issue— Rebecca Jane; Durell, married to Mary S. Stevens (they have a daughter, Grace); Charles, married to Jennie Moore (they have issue— Ellis McCoy and Lila Belle); (1) James R. Weir's second wife was Mrs. E. L. Huston. (2) Andrew D., son of Thomas and Mary (Denniston) Weir, married Emily Figley; they have issue— Thomas Corwin, William Figley and Mary Luella of whom, Thomas Corwin married Frances E. Robinson, May 10, 1883; they have issue— William Clyde, born March 6, 1885; William Figley, married Mattie J. Barr, October 29, 1889 (they have issue— John S. Barr); William Figley is a Presbyterian minister in Toronto, Ohio; Mary Luella married James Smith (they have issue— Chalmer, Roy, Edna, Corwin), (3) Sarah Ann, daughter of Thomas and Mary Weir, married Samuel Stenger (they have issue— William Thomas, Robert Grant, Eddie Elmer, George Weir, Charles Otis, Mary Venetta, Maggie Maud); of these, Robert Grant married Ida Johnston (they have issue— Alta Bell); Mary Venetta married Grant Allison (they have issue— Leila Maud, Lowell Mont. and Mary). (4) Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Mary Weir, married ——— Croxon, and lives in Nebraska. (6) Samuel, son of Thomas and Mary Weir, married Mary Jane De Ford (Issue— Oliver C., Edwin V., John B. and Thomas D.). (7) Rebecca Jane, daughter of Thomas and Mary Weir, married Alex Boyd, and died July 30, 1874 (Issue— Mary A.). (8) William Thomas, son of Thomas and Mary Weir, married, February 2, 1871, Sarah E. Marshall, born October 24, 1848 (Issue— Calvin R., born March 8, 1874; Albert M., born April 9, 1876; Willard Orvin, born December 27, 1879; Elsie M., born April 9, 1882). (9) Robert Brough, son of Thomas and Mary Weir, married Eljaretta Frances McLain, April 11, 1878.
(4) Mary Weir, daughter of (III) James, married Lewis Roberts, who removed to Carrolton, Ohio, where he died (Issue— Susan, Rebecca, William, who died in the army, and Thomas W.); of whom, Susan married John G. Wetzall (has issue— Lula May, Louis Ira and Lorenzo Thomas); Rebecca married David Schultz (Issue— Charles and George).
(5) Rebecca, daughter of (III) James, was born April 27, 1813, married April 11, 1833, James W. Robinson, of Saltsburgh, Penn., a grandson of Robert Robinson, Sr.; James W. died February 4, 1865. Issue— (1) Sarah Maria, born October 30, 1834, died September 17, 1851. (2) Rebecca Jane, born September 25, 1836, married September 21, 1871, Rev. W. W. Woodend (a Presbyterian minister), born June 25, 1816; issue— J. W. Robert, born June 5, 1872; Thomas Edwin, born August 10, 1876; Ella Maud, born February 16, 1883. (3) Martha Eliza, born June 20, 1839, married January 1, 1861, Rev. Solomon Jesse Berlin (a Lutheran minister), born May 29, 1831, died January 21, 1870; Martha E. died January 21, 1870, having had issue— Ella Lula, born December 16, 1861; Eliza Rebecca, born March 10, 1863; Elsie Mary, born November 24, 1864. (4) William Thomas, born April 27, 1841, died January 14, 1865. (5) Ella Mary, born September 13, 1849, died October 29, 1871. (6) Adam James Weir, born August 14, 1856, married February 16, 1882, Eva Lizzie Guthrie, born January 14, 1859 (they have a daughter, Ella Maud, who was born February 16,1883).
(6) Lavina, daughter of (III) James, in 1835 married Levi Marshall, of Carroll county, Ohio, where she died April 10, 1873, aged fifty-seven. Issue— (1) Thomas Weir, (2) Mary, (3) Horace, (4) James Robinson, (5) Samuel Weir, (6) Josiah and (7) Jason. Of these, (2) Mary married Benjamin Hole, and had issue— Rosella (married Mr. Cunningham), Lavina, Linnæus (married Miss Roach) and Lemuel Garfield. (7) Jason, married to Maggie Dillon (they have a son, Edwin).
(IV). William Weir, son of Samuel, Sr., married Jane Lawrence; William died July 19, 1840, aged sixty-nine; Jane died February 11, 1847, aged seventy. Issue— Samuel L.., born September 10, 1809, and Sarah M., born January 22, 1813, who died October 31, 1867, aged fifty-four. Samuel L., was married June 13, 1839, to Jane McCorkle, who was born December 22, 1811, who died January 24, 1849, aged thirty-eight; Samuel L. died February 26, 1875, leaving issue— (1) Mary Jane, (2) William, (3) Elizabeth E.; of these, (1) Mary Jane, born May 2, 1840, married John M. Berry, December 22, 1870 (they have living issue— Minnie Jane, born June 13, 1875; John Lawrence Weir, born April 7, 1878; William Eagleton, born August 15, 1881).
Samuel L., only son of William, was born, lived, and died on the homestead of his father on Chartiers creek, in Somerset township. His mother, for many years a helpless invalid, was a sister of Joseph Lawrence, of honored memory in this county. He (S. L.), intellectually strong, took an active interest in every object that would elevate and promote the welfare of the community in which he lived; especially so was he in everything that would tend to promote the glory of God, and the welfare of the Church of which he was for many years an active member of Session, the U. P. Congregation of Pigeon Creek; in his liberality, spending of time and labor unrequited. He was an efficient leader in the erection of the elegant church building in which that congregation now worships. Dying before he had attained his three score years, his mantle has fallen on his only son William, who is worthily following his father's footsteps.
(2) William Weir, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Somerset township, of which he is a native, was born December 12, 1842. He received a liberal education at the district schools of the neighborhood of the place of his birth, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. On December 21, 1870, he married Lizzie M. Reynolds, a native of North Strabane township, this county, born December 12, 1842, by which union there are three children, viz. : Samuel R., born October 5, 1871; Sarah Lizzie Huston, born July 4, 1873, and J. Howard, born August 27, 1880. (3) Elizabeth, born August 27, 1849, married Seth H. Reynolds, June 5, 1879. (They have issue— Mary Jeanette, who was born September 9, 1882).
(V). Elizabeth Weir, daughter of Samuel, Sr., married Matthew Morrow, of Canton township; Matthew died September 28, 1842; Elizabeth died September 9, 1842. Issue— (1) Mary, born October 31, 1786; (2) Samuel, born March 4, 1788; (3) Thomas, born March 3, 1790, (4) Lavina, born January 10, 1792; (5) Catharine, born November 16, 1793; (6) John, born March 4, 1796, died October 4, 1842; (7) James, born February 7, 1799, died September 16, 1818; (8) Jane, born March 5, 1801, died August 24, 1853; (9) Anna, born December 25, 1802, died December 1, 1832; (10) Elizabeth, born May 12, 1805, died September 2, 1808; (11) William, born May 23, 1807, died August 10, 1892; (12) David, born March 31, 1809, died in 1891; (13) Adam, born May 7, 1811, married June 1, 1843, Jane Clark, and died November 2, 1861. Of these, (1) Mary married William Kyle; (4) Lavina married Robert Taggart; (5) Catharine married Samuel Taggart; (8) Jane married Robert Gailey; (9) Anna died unmarried; (11) William married Miss McClay; (12) David first married Miss Johnston, and his second wife was Miss Bell Work. The parents and Mary, Samuel, Thomas, Lavina, John, William, David and Adam are buried at Upper Buffalo, this county; Catharine, at Piney Fork, Harrison Co., Ohio; James and Anna at Dalton, and Elizabeth, at Orville, Wayne Co., Ohio; Jane, at Mingo, this county.
(VI) Adam Weir, son of Samuel, Sr., was born in Lancaster county, Penn., and married Mary Hall (daughter of Thomas Hall, Sr., who died in 1814) who died March 22, 1813, aged thirty-two; Adam died February 27, 1847, aged seventy-three. Issue— (1) Thomas, (2) Lavina and (3) Samuel; of these, (1) Thomas, born September 2, 1802, married, March 1, 1832, Margaret M. Scott, who was born February 9, 1807; Thomas died April 26, 1847, in his forty-fifth year (was of an active temperament, which called him into trusted service, in the Old Seceder (now U. P.) congregation of Pigeon Creek, of which he was a member. He also did much service with fidelity in the civil trusts of guardian, executor and administrator. Was ever an active friend of the common-school system, created in 1834, serving frequently as a director in the township of Somerset, in which he lived. He mingled in military life too, was admitted to be, in his day, the best commander in the battalion which usually met for drill in Bentleyville. He was an ardent Whig, but never in political office. He died lamented by the community in which he lived). Margaret M., died March 10, 1887. Issue— (1) Adam, (2) Josiah Scott, (3) Samuel Baird, (4) Hugh, (5) Mary Jane, and (6) Margaret Lavina; of these,
(1) Adam Weir was born in Somerset township, Washington Co., Penn., January 13, 1833, and is a farmer, both intelligent and progressive. He is an elder in the U. P. Church of Pigeon Creek, besides which he has acceptably filled several civil positions of trust and honor. His relations embrace a wide range of upright and leading citizens. On May 14, 1856, he was married to Miss Catharine Wilson, who was born December 26, 1831, a daughter of James Wilson, and died February 26, 1889. This marriage union was crowned with love and felicity, that ever mark the true and desirable home. (2) Josiah Scott, born April 10, 1836, married November 29, 1859, Sarah Ann Hicks, who was born in Clark county, Ky., November 30, 1839 (live in Stanford, McLean Co., Ill.).
(3) Samuel Baird, born January 9, 1838, in Somerset township, where he now lives; married on December 2, 1863, Margery Winnett (daughter of Jonathan Winnett), who was born June 4, 1843, and died June 12, 1875, leaving issue— Hugh Finley, born October 24, 1864, married February 8, 1893, to Miss Carrie Myers; Mary Lizzie, bone July 20, 1866; Ada Margaret, born January 13, 1873, and Winnett Wallace, born February 3, 1875, all at home except Hugh who is traveling (S. Baird is a Republican, and has served as road commissioner; is a member of the U. P. Church of Pigeon Creek, of which he was a trustee when a young man, before he was a member). (4) Hugh, born June 3, 1840, enlisted at the close of junior year at Jefferson College, in the One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I. , was wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and died in a rebel hospital, July 5, the same year. (5) Mary Jane, born June 14, 1842. (6) Margaret Lavina, born April 20, 1847, married October 9, 1878, Samuel P. Fergus, who was born August 17, 1843. Issue— Thomas Harold Weir, born August 11, 1879; Hugh Earnest, born January 16, 1881; John Addison, born July 3, 1883, died May 14, 1885, and Margaret Josephine, born June 20, 1887.
(6) Lavina Weir, daughter of (VI) Adam, born December 14, 1805, married on May 16, 1827, to David McDonough, who was born November 14, 1799; David died February 20, 1859; Lavina died March 2, 1876. Issue— (1) Joseph, (2) Thomas, (3) Adam and (4) Henry H.; of these, (1) Joseph, born July 4, 1828, married Elizabeth Pangburn, March 27, 1851, who died December 26, 1874, having had issue Lavina, born February 17, 1853, married Sample Closser; Mary Jane, born October 11, 1856, died January 12, 1866; John D., born October 26, 1860; Samuel E., born April 15, 1864; Sue Envena, born January 28, 1870. (Joseph's second marriage was to Mrs. Martha Pangburn December 19, 1878). (2) Thomas, born October 27, 1830, first married December 31, 1857, Jane McGregor, who was born March 23, 1830, who died December 30, 1872 (Issue: Willie H., who died February 3, 1862, aged three years, an infant, died April 4, 1867); his second marriage was August 25, 1874, to Miss Cassandria Burgan, of Terre Haute, Ind.; they have a daughter, Gertrude, born January 16, 1879. (3) Adam, born October 6, 1833, died September 25, 1841; (4) Dr. Henry H., born October 30, 1836, first married, October 22, 1861, Elizabeth Winnett, who died March 6, 1879 (on October 24, 1882, Dr. H. H. married Margaret L. Lindley; issue— Anna Estella, born August 31, 1883, and Charles Lawrence, born May 23, 1885).
(3) Samuel Weir, son of (VI) Adam, was born September 30, 1810. Samuel lived unmarried on the homestead of his father in West Bethlehem township, where he died April 6, 1890, in his eightieth year. This farm, at his death, had been in the Weir family name for nearly 100 years. Of a quiet, steady, even temperament, it was remarked of him that he was rarely if ever seen angry. By constant industry, frugal economy, and good management, he was possessed of a large personal property and valuable real estate at his decease. Like his brother, Thomas, he was ever reliable and trustworthy. For the last fifty years or more of his life he was never free from civic trusts of some kind or other, in Church or State. In many such trusts, large, financially, he was seemingly weighed in the balance, but never found wanting. Born a Whig, he consistently voted with that party until, with the change of name in 1860, he was with the Republicans, but he was never a political aspirant of office. He united as a member, in his mature years, with the U. P. Congregation of Pigeon Creek, where from a child he had been a regular and constant attendant upon Divine worship, and a liberal supporter thereof.
(VII) Lavina, daughter of Samuel, Sr., married James Erwin, who was born January 6, 1785, died May 13, 1851, aged sixty-six years; Lavina, died September 24, 1854, aged sixty-eight, without issue.
(VIII) Samuel Weir, son of Samuel, Sr., died unmarried February 28, 1845, aged sixty-nine years; lived and died on his father's farm, the original Weir homestead, in West Bethlehem township, now owned by Robert Henley.
The original parents— Samuel and his wife— and their children— Thomas and wife, James and wives, Adam and wife, William and wife, are buried in the old churchyard of Pigeon Creek Presbyterian, while Lavina Erwin and husband and her brother, Samuel, lie in Pigeon Creek U. P. Churchyard. Elizabeth Morrow and husband lie in Upper Buffalo cemetery. Jane Robinson and husband lie in or near Donegal, Westmoreland Co., Penn.— Themselves all and their descendants with very few exceptions, being members and adherents to the Presbyterian Church, in some one of its numerous branches. [March 1, 1893.
Text taken from page 537 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1998 by Cherie Clark of Kirkwood, MO as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]