Weller Family History
Family History

Family history was compiled from family entries recorded on various genealogy web sites and then refined and expanded using immigrant ship passenger lists, census information and other public records. Books and articles discussing places where family members lived or events that they participated in were also referenced to fill in details. Additionally, a significant amount of information was obtained from letters and other documents contained in the collection. In all, we were able to learn quite a lot about the background of this fascinating family.

Weller Family Ancestry

European Ancestors

The Weller family traces its ancestry back to late 16 th century Germany . At that time, Germany was partitioned into many territories or counties. Although Germany had an Emperor, there was little centralized control. The society was still under a feudal structure, with local noblemen exercising significant authority over the population in their counties. .

The Weller family patriarch, Hans Weller (1585 - 1638), lived in the small farming village of Diedenshausen, located in one of the Wittgenstein counties (now part of the North Rhine-Westphalia region). The original county had been split in two to allocate it between two branches of the Wittgenstein Counts, who maintained tight sovereign control over their domains. They exacted taxes from the population and required them to contribute a tenth portion of their crops and cattle each year. Residents were also required to allocate some of their time to tending the Counts' fields and obtaining wood or other supplies for his household. Additionally, each young person had to contribute three years of free labor in serving his or her Count. Despite these economic constraints, the population managed to eke out a living and a few farmers even prospered. This all changed with the Thirty Years War.

The Thirty Years War (1618 - 1648) had a terrible impact on the Wittgenstein counties. Although no battles were fought there, many armies traveled through the area, living off the land and looting valuables from the helpless residents. The soldiers also brought diseases with them, particularly the plague. By the end of this war most of the counties' wealth was gone and diseases had reduced the population to one third of its pre-war level. To make matters worse, the Counts expected to continue to receive the same income and service levels that they had enjoyed before the war. This could only be achieved by increasing the tax burden and placing greater demands for service on the reduced population. Under these conditions, three succeeding generations of David F. C. Weller's ancestors remained in the county, living in Diedenshausen and Girkhausen. This included the families of Hans George Weller (1620 - 1699); Johann Jakob Weller (1654 - 1690), and Johannes Daniel Weller (1677 - 1761).

The 18 th century brought hope for a better life. America was slowly being colonized and talk of inexpensive land, low taxes, and personal freedoms, prompted a significant number of Germans to immigrate to "The New World". This sizable German exodus is often called the "Palatinate Migration", named after the region of Germany from which many of the immigrants originated. But residents from other parts of Germany , including the Wittgenstein counties, joined in. Philadelphia , Pennsylvania was a frequent destination of these immigrants and a sizable German community was established there. David F.C. Weller's great, great grandfather, Johannes (John) Weller (1716-1792), decided to make the trip. He sailed from Rotterdam , on the ship " Lydia ", arriving in Philadelphia on September 9, 1743.

Maryland Ancestors

Many German immigrants, who initially settled in Pennsylvania , were later attracted by the promise of inexpensive fertile lands in the yet unsettled areas. Western Maryland , which was still largely uninhabited, offered this opportunity. Although, The " Monacacy Road " or " Great Wagon Road ", used by many pioneers, ran through the region, early settlers had moved past the area. They were fearful of becoming embroiled in an ongoing boundary dispute between Maryland and Pennsylvania that could result in their having to pay taxes to both colonies. By the mid-1740s the dispute had died down somewhat and concern was lessened. A land speculator started actively marketing properties in the Monocacy Valley . He was particularly interested in attracting members of Philadelphia 's German population because of their reputation as industrious farmers and offered them land at bargain prices.

There is conflicting information regarding the date that John Weller settled in the Monocacy Valley . Census records indicate that he still lived in Philadelphia in 1750. However, other information suggests that he might have been in the Owens Creek area of the Valley as early as 1744. He may have gone there to join Jacob Weller (possibly a cousin), who emigrated from Diedenshausen , Germany in 1737 and was already settled in the area. In any case, by 1751 John Weller purchased a 50-acre tract of land called "Beauty", located near the future site of Thurmont, in Frederick County, Maryland.

John Weller married Catherine Salome Ambrose (1724/25-1804). Catherine's family was from Lorraine , Germany . Her father was Mathies Ambrose, a miller, and her mother was Elizabeth Wilhide. The family had undertaken the voyage to America when she was still a child. They sailed from Rotterdam on the ship "Pleasant ", arriving in Philadelphia on October 11, 1732. The Ambrose family also eventually settled in the Monocacy Valley .

Genealogical records show that John and Catherine had a total of twelve children: Maria Catherine (b: 1747), John R. (1749-1819), Maria Magdalena (b: 1750), Jacob (1752-1831), Phillip (1754-1830), Henrich (1756-1783), Anna Barbara (b: 1758), Susana Margaretha (b: 1760), Frederik (1761-1829), Daniel P. (1762-1807), Mathias (1764-1852), and George (1770-1788). Their tenth child, Daniel P. was David F.C. Weller's great-grandfather.

Life was generally successful for the Monocacy Valley settlers until about 1755, when the French and Indian War brought turmoil to the area. Before the War, there were few Indians in Western Maryland and there was little trouble. However, the French encouraged their Indian allies to attack settlers in the British controlled areas. Being on the extreme western frontier, families in the Monocacy Valley were frequent targets of these attacks. Local area histories also recount stories of frequent kidnappings, in which women and children were held as hostages. Many fearful settlers left their homes and fled to the relative safety of Fredericktown, which became an armed camp. The War finally ended in 1763 and hostilities with the Indians ceased the following year.

Fortunately, the Weller Family survived the hardships of the French and Indian War and continued to prosper. The area had rich wheat fields and John Weller, who was a miller by trade, built and operated a successful flour mill. He also purchased additional property to increase his land holdings.

When the American Revolution began, the Wellers, along with their German neighbors, were strong supporters of the cause for independence. Having left Germany to escape oppressive conditions, they viewed British efforts to tighten imperial control with alarm. In 1776, When German Regiments were formed to participate in the Continental Army, two of the older Weller sons, John R. and Philip enlisted. Soldiers in these German regiments were viewed as among the best. Farmers and millers in the region also made valuable contributions to the war effort. With it's bountiful wheat crops and little fighting in the area, the Monocacy Valley became a vital source for supplying hungry troops.

The Wellers, along with their fellow German settlers, had formed a tight knit community. German cultural heritage was maintained and most of the families continued to use "German" as their primary language. Not surprisingly, these German families frequently intermarried. In 1784, Daniel P. Weller (David F.C. Weller's great-grandfather) married Anna Margaret Firor (1766-1844).

Like the Wellers, Anna Margaret Firor's parents were early settlers in the Monocacy Valley . Her grandfather, Lenhart Firor (1707-1738), had emigrated from Germany in 1731. Soon after his arrival in Philadelphia , he married Barbara Wilheit (or Wilhide, born about 1710). They initially remained in Pennsylvania , where their son, John Henry (1735-1796), Anna Margaret's father, was born. Sometime after John Henry's birth, the family relocated to the Monocacy Valley and joined other early settlers in the area. These early settlers included the family of Johann Jacob Matthis and his wife Anna Margaretha Jung. About 1764, their daughter, Magdalena Matthis (1765-1764), married John Henry Firor. Three of John Henry and Magdalena's children married into the Weller family (In addition to the marriage of Daniel P. Weller and Anna Margaret Firor, nuptials were celebrated for Phillip Weller and Mary Magdalene Firor and for Maria Magdalena Weller and Henry Firor).

Genealogical records show that Daniel P. and Anna Margaret had nine children: Anna Margaret (1785-1865), Samuel (1787-1854), Anna Maria (b: 1789), David (1792-1847), George S. (1795-1862), Phillip H. (1796-1852), William (b: 1798), Charles (b: 1800), and Sarah (1805-1854). Their fourth child, David, was David F.C. Weller's grandfather.

Kentucky Ancestors

In the late 1790's Daniel P. and four of his brothers (John R., Phillip, Fredrick, and Mathias) decided to move their families to Kentucky . Their mother, Catherine, who had been widowed in 1792, accompanied them. Like their father had so many years before, the Weller brothers saw great promise in becoming pioneers. At that time, Kentucky was still a largely unsettled frontier that offered inexpensive land and good business opportunities. The Weller brothers settled their families in Nelson County .

Other German descendants were also living in the area. Among these was the family of George Matthis (b. 1768). His father, Barbary Matthis, had emigrated from Germany and settled his family in West Morland County Virginia . After reaching adulthood, George, like the Weller brothers, decided to seek his fortune in Kentucky . He went to Bardstown, in Nelson County , where he met and married a Miss Prottsman, (originally from Indiana or Illinois ). They had five children: Samuel, George (b: 1795), Mary (b: August 19, 1798), John (b: 1800), and Kitty. After his first wife died, George Matthis married Mary Hay and they had four additional children: David (b: 1819), Frederick, Ambrose, and Valentine. The eldest daughter, Mary, became David F.C. Weller's grandmother.

David Weller and Mary Matthis married on November 1, 1815. After their marriage, the couple lived in Bardstown. They had eight children: Daniel Matthis (Aug. 8, 1817-1848), George Whitfield (b: 1825), David R. (1827-1848), Fanny M. (1830-1850), Eliza Ann (1831-1832), Elizabeth M. (1835-1874), Emily A. (b: 1836), and Cyrus W. (b: 1839). Their eldest son, Daniel Matthis Weller, was David F.C. Weller's father.

Sometime between 1830 and 1840 the David and Mary Weller relocated their family to Elizabethtown . There, their son Daniel met Susan Ellis (1819-1848), David F.C. Weller's future mother.

Genealogical information and cemetery records state that Susan Ellis was born in Elizabethtown . Correspondence in the Weller collection also indicates that she had a brother named James Ellis (Lt. Jim Ellis, Co. B. 19 th Ky) and possibly a brother or cousin named Benjamin Ellis. Beyond that, little information could be determined about the Ellis family.

Daniel and Susan Weller were married on April 27, 1842. The couple remained in Elizabethtown , where their son, David Fenimore Cooper (F.C.) Weller was born on March 11, 1843.

David F.C. Weller's grandfather died on August 21, 1847. The following year, Daniel and Susan Weller also died. The cause of these deaths is unknown. However, it is possible that these individuals succumbed to the Cholera or Influenza epidemics that occurred during that period.

David's grandmother, Mary Weller, stayed in Elizabethtown after her husband's death and took in her young grandson (David F.C. Weller) when he was orphaned. The 1850's census shows Mary Weller, living in Elizabethtown with her grandson, David, her youngest daughter, Emily, and two of her adult children, Elizabeth M. (Lizzy) and George W. Sometime before 1860, Mary moved to Canton , Missouri . The 1860 Census shows her residing with her daughter, Elizabeth, who had since married John Leeper, a Missouri resident. Mary remained in Canton , Missouri until her death on December 31, 1877.

Fowler Family

Molly Fowler was born in Kentucky in March of 1847. Her father, Edward S. Fowler (about 1817 - 1866/67), a shoemaker by trade, was originally from Massachusetts . He had relocated to Kentucky sometime between 1836 and 1843 and established a residence in Louisville by 1850. The 1850 Jefferson County , KY census lists the Edward S. Fowler household as including: Mary Ann Fowler (age 27, born in Ireland ), Edward M. Fowler (age 14, born in Massachusetts ), Caroline A. Fowler (age 7, born in Kentucky ), Frederick A. Fowler (age 5, born in Kentucky ), and Mary Emma Fowler (age 3, born in Kentucky ). Mary Ann Fowler was probably Molly's mother (information provided by Molly for the 1910 census states that her mother was from Ireland ). Correspondence in the collection indicates that Caroline and Frederick were probably Molly's siblings. Edward may have been an older brother, but there is no mention of him in any of the correspondence.

The 1860 census shows Molly, Caroline and Frederick living in the household of Edward M. Fowler, along with his wife and children and two boarders. There is no mention of Edward S. or Mary Ann Fowler. Correspondence in the collection indicates that Molly's father died sometime in late 1866 or early 1867, so he was still alive at the time. Letters from Caroline to Molly also mention activities involving "Ma". It is possible that the couple relocated and left their teenaged children in the care of Edward M. The 1859 Louisville Directory shows Edward M. Fowler's household residing on Grayson St. , between 6 th and 7 th . Letters addressed to Molly indicate that she remained at this address until her marriage to David Weller. A letter in the collection also indicates that Molly attended Louisville Female High School .

David F.C. Weller's Children

David F.C. Weller and his wife Molly (Mary Emma Fowler) raised six children:

•  Carrie N. Weller was born in 1870. She married George Washington Wiseman (1861-1927). Carrie and George had nine children: Ella (1890-1973, m: Marion Adkins), Jennie Blann (1892-1990, m: Carrol Hollis Weaver), Harvey (b: 1894), Franklin (b: 1896), Infant Girl (b: 1898), Charles (1900-1959), Myrtle Gracie (B: 1902), Louanna (b: 1903, m1: Marion Brown, m2: Paul Brown, m3: David Phillips), and Ernest (1907-1988, m: Gloria Hatton). Carrie died in Bell County , Kentucky on January 6, 1958.

•  Fannie H. Weller was born in November 1871. She never married. The 1920 census indicates that she was employed as a stenographer and was still living in her mother's household. Fannie died in Jefferson County , Kentucky on June 20, 1951.

•  Mary Alice Weller was born in November of 1878. She also remained single. The 1920 census also indicates that she too worked as a stenographer and was living in her mother's household. Mary Alice died in Jefferson County , Kentucky on April 19, 1953.

•  David Ellis Weller was born on January 28, 1884. He married Vanita Adell Head (1892-1990). The couple resided in Louisville and had a son, David Francis (b: 1914, m: Gertrude Louise Hendershot). Draft card information indicates that David Ellis Weller may have served in the military during World War I. The 1920 census lists his occupation as Secretary, Floral Company. David Ellis Weller died in Jefferson County , Kentucky on August 12, 1945.

•  Hazel Lee Weller was born in November of 1885. Hazel never married. She was employed as a nurse and lived with her mother until she joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in 1918. For the remainder of World War I, she served with the American Expeditionary Forces in England . She was stationed at Base Hospital 40, caring for seriously wounded soldiers who had been evacuated from field hospitals in the battle zone. While waiting to return home at the war's end, Hazel contracted influenza. She died on July 23, 1919.

•  Margaret White Weller was born in October of 1888. In 1912, she married Joseph LeCoste Brown. Margaret and Joseph had 2 children: Margaret (b: about 1914) and Virginia H. Margaret White Brown died in Jefferson County , Kentucky on August 25, 1975.

References:

"Causes for Emigration From the German counties of Wittgenstein", Karl-Ernest Riedesel. http://www.riedesel.org

"Catoctin Mountin Park Historic Resource Study". http://www.nps.gov/cato/hrs/hrs1.htm

"Anne Cissel's Thurmont Scrapbook". http://www.emmitsburg.net

"Olive Tree Geneology - Ships Passenger Lists". http://olivetreegenealogy.com

"German Pioneers to Pennsylvania - St. Andrew Gally". http://www.ristenbatt.com/genealogy

"KY Historical Society- Featured Acquisions" - Confederate Belt Buckle worn by David Fenimore Cooper Weller. http://history.ky.gov

Orphan Brigade Equipment - Belonging to Pvt. David Fenimore Cooper Weller. Burial Site Information http://rootsweb.com

Information regarding Private David Fenimore Cooper Weller. http://company.military-historians.org

" Louisville 1859 City Directory". http://www.kentuckycitydirectory.com/Louisville/1859