WEISEL

1^st generation

The Immigrant Ancestor

Michael Weisel

1690-bef. 1770

Michael Weisel was born about 1690 in Palatine, Germany. He married Susanna (last name unknown) in Germany. They were the pioneer ancestors of the Pennsylvania Weisel family. Michael emigrated with his wife and family from the Palatinate area of Germany on the ship John and William which arrived from Rotterdam to Philadelphia Oct. 17, 1732.

Their children were as follows:

i. Frederick Weisel b. bef. 1716 in Palatine, Germany

ii. Appolonia Weisel b. in Germany

iii. Michael Weisel b. about 1720 in Palatine, Germany

iv. Jacob Weisel b. about 1725

v. George Weisel m. Anna Maria Cressman

vi. Barbara Weisel

vii. Christina Weisel

Michael and Susanna lived in Bucks County, PA, where they owned land.

Michael Weisel’s will, proved in 1770, is in the Register of Wills in Philadelphia County, PA. In it he mentioned his wife Susanna and the above named children.

2^nd generation

George Weisel

(d. 1802)

Anna Maria Cressman

(d. before 1789)

George Weisel was the son of Michael Weisel and his wife Susanna who emigrated from Germany in 1732. George may have been born in Germany. He married in Pennsylvania Anna Maria Cressman, the daughter of Johannes Cressman who was born 10 Sept 1707 in Pfungstadt, Hessse-Darmstadt, Germany.

They had the following children:

i. Jacob Weisel b. 20 Feb 1754 Bucks Co., PA

ii. Elizabeth b. abt 1756

iii. John Weisel b. 5 Apr 1758 Bucks Co., PA

iv. Catherine Weisel b. 5 Sep 1760 Bucks Co., PA

v. Peter Weisel b. 10 Aug 1766 in Bucks Co., PA

vi. John Weisel b. 9 Sep 1768 Bucks Co., PA m. Margaret

Schneider

vii. Mary Weisel b. 1771

viii. Sarah Weisel

ix. Joseph Weisel b. 29 Oct 1775 Richland Township, Bucks Co., PA

Note that there are two Johns among the children. One brother may have been called “John George” or “George,” but in the census and death notices of Bedford County, they are both referred to as John.

It is believed Anna Maria died before 1789 as George Weisel’s will written in 1789 does not mention a wife.

George Weisel died in 1801 in Bucks County, PA.

3^rd generation

John Weisel

1768-1864

Margaret Schneider

1777-1844

Photo thanks to J. Tinney!

John Weisel

John Weisel was born 9 September 1768 in Bucks County, PA, the son of George Weisel and Anna Maria Cressman. Margaret Schneider was born 7 January 1777 in Bucks County, PA, the daughter of Andress Schneider and Margaret Jacobi. They were married 29 September 1796 in Bucks County, PA. (see SCHNEIDER)

John and Margaret had the following children:

i. Jacob Weisel b. 20 Dec 1798 Bucks Co., PA

ii. Daniel b. 1800

iii. John Weisel b. abt 1804 PA

iv. Susan Weisel

v. Sally Weisel

vi. Rebecca Weisel 1812-1897 m. John Fickes

vii. Rachel Weisel b. 1820 m. Jacob J. Walter

viii. Betty Weisel

ix. Josiah Weisel 1817-1893

There were two John Weisels living in Bedford County and they were brothers. One was born in 1758 and one in 1768. It is possible one brother was also called John George or George, but in the census and death notices, both are referred to as John.

The family appeared in the 1840 Bedford County, PA census under the name of John Wisel. The entry was as follows: 1 male 15-20 [Josiah?] 1 male 30-40 (?) 1 male 60-70 [John’s brother Peter?] 1 male 70-80 [John] 1 female 15-20 [Rachel 16], 1 female 20-30, 1 female 50-60 [Margaret].

Margaret died December 31, 1844 at the age of 67.

In the 1850 Bedford County census was this entry:

John Wisel 83, Josiah 25, Peter 85, Peggy Smally 15 [Peter is John's brother, Josiah is John's youngest son]

John’s brother Peter died 6 November 1851, age 85 years.

Finally, in the 1860 census of Bedford County, John is living with his son-in-law Jacob Walter, his daughter Rachel, and their children:

John Wisel, 91 (head), Jacob Walter 37, Rachel Walter 41, Sarah Jane Walter 12, Deracy A. Walter 9, John Walter 6, Samuel Walter 4, Daniel W. Walter 3 mos.

John Weisel died December 25, 1864, at the age of 96 years, 3 months and 16 days. Both he and Margaret are buried in the Old Union cemetery in Bedford County.

One very faded photograph of John Weisel exists, remarkable in that he died in 1864, and photography was very new at that time. It was in his grandson Daniel Walter’s collection and on the back was written “Grandpa Wisel, maternal grandfather of Daniel Walter.”

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