Genealogy Data Page 3 (Notes Pages)

For privacy reasons, Date of Birth and Date of Marriage for persons believed to still be living are not shown.

Kurns, Mary (b. 1804, d. 1868)

Death: 1868 Unknown

Reference: 41

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Note: ***The following bit of history was written by - Samantha Elizabeth French Shattuck daughter of Vinnie Elizabeth Scott French in "Record Book of the History, Statistics, Genealogy [sic] of James Arthur French and Vinnie Elizabeth Scott"; 1968 from "The Pershing Family in America --- 1749 - 1924"***

Christian Pershing (Senior) eldest son and first child of Frederick Pershing and Maria Elizabeth Weygundt was born in York County, Pennsylvania.

Nothing is known of his childhood.

He had no educational advantages beyond those available to the children of the frontier. But despite this handicap he became a responsible and outstanding citizen of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania by the time he approached middle life.

He was a man of great physical strength and took a prominent part in the "log rolling" raising" "flax scutchings" and "wood chopping" and other frontier festivities.

He served with several companies of Rangers when Indian raids spread alarm in the community.

In 1777 when about 26 years of age he married Anna Maria Barbara Brewer.

For several years after his marriage he resided on the "Nine Mile Run River" this location later grew into the village of Youngstown, Pennsylvania.

It was customary for a pioneer employer to serve liquors to his harvesters or at work parties organized to help one another. But Christian Pershing (Senior) was a total abstainer and refused to do so.

Soon after the Revolution, 1785, he purchased a tract of land at Greensburg, Pennsylvania and built one of the first houses erected there.

His house was remolded about 1870 but the oak logs of the pioneer days still sustained the structure.

Beside it was a shop for his loom, he, like his father Frederick Pershing, was a weaver by trade. He was a weaver at Greensburg, Pennsylvania for several years.

Then he erected and ran a powder mill and saltpeter factory.

In 1810 he re-engaged in weaving and continued until his death in 1825.

Both he and his wife were members of the Old Zion Church (Lutheran faith).

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MILITARY RECORD of CHRISTIAN PERSHING (Senior)

Christian Pershing (Senior) veteran of the Border Wars, Westmoreland County Rangers 1770 - 1790, assisted with the building of Lockry's Blockhouse, Fort Shippen (Proctor's Blockhouse), and other frontier defences in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania 1772 - 1783.

Death: 1825 Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Reference: 42

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Brewer, Anna Maria Barbara (b. 1751, d. 1826)

Death: 1826 Unknown

Reference: 43

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Pfoersching, Fredrick (b. 1724, d. 1794)

Note: ***The following bit of history was written by - Samantha Elizabeth French Shattuck daughter of Vinnie Elizabeth Scott French in "Record Book of the History, Statistics, Genealogy [sic] of James Arthur French and Vinnie Elizabeth Scott"; 1968***

PERSHING FAMILY --- FAMILY HISTORY

Picked out and copied from 254 pages of history in the book "The Pershing Family in America --- 1749 - 1924".

The history is divided into four parts namely:

"THE FAMILY OF FREDERICK" (Frederick Pershing - Immigrant 1749)
"THE FAMILY OF PHILLIP" (Phillip Pershing - Immigrant 1847)
"THE FAMILY OF GEORGE" (George Pershing - Immigrant 1854)
"THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL" (Michael Pershing - Immigrant 1870)

Two others John Pershing, a brother of Frederick Pershing, immigrated some what later then Frederick, year unknown, he lived with Frederick.

Jacob Pershing immigrated with Phillip Pershing in 1847.

All together there were six immigrants, Frederick, John, Phillip, Jacob, George and Michael. But only five left descendants - John Pershing left no descendants.

Our part of the history comes under the heading of :

"THE FAMILY OF FREDERICK" - so the following bit of history comes form that part of the book. "The Pershing Family in America --- 1749 - 1924".

All the immigrants came to America from Alsace, France or The Rhine River Valley as included in the Palatine.

It is believed that the Pershing family as Protestants were forced to enter France during the Reformation in 1701.

From records and investigations, the descendants are justified in accepting France as the land of the Pershing family in ancient times, and the Palatine as the place of the origin of our "American Pershing Family".

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ALSACE, FRANCE (a brief summary of the country)

A former government of eastern France. It formed after the Revolution of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin.

It's soils are fertile, and it has important iron and coal mines and manufactories.

It was part of the Frankish Kingdom and was conquered by France in 1648.

It was ceded to Germany in 1871 as a result of the Franco-German War.

It is now a part of the German Empire. The Rhine River and Valley is the border on the east.

The part from which the Pershing family immigrated in 1749 belonged to France, so they can well claim that they are of French decent.

The people spoke both, and still speak both, French and German.

--- (history continued)

The first record of the family was made by Isaac Pershing - a grand son of Frederick Pershing (not our line) - for the Greensburg, Pennsylvania "Tribune" 1870. Unfortunately many facts detailed to him were lost in the fire of the "Tribune" 1890.

Most of the facts of history now on record was repeated from memory by Rev. Justus H. Pershing D.D. the son of Isaac Pershing as told him by his father.

The name was spelled "Pfersching" (Ed. WFT gave me the spelling Pfoersching which I've retained as probably more accurate). It is believed the name was carried to France and the Palatine during the Reformation 1701.

Frederick Pershing - then spelled Friederick Pfersching [Ed. again WFT spells it Fredrick Pfoersching which I've retained until I find another source on way or the other] - was the first of the Pershing family to come to America from Alsace, France of the Rhine Valley.

His younger brother, John Pershing, followed some what later and lived with Frederick Pershing in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

Frederick Pershing spoke both French and German.

He left the tradition that his ancestors were "French Huguenots" (investigation into many family traditions support this fact).

It is believed the Pershing family settled in the Province of Baden in Palatine where the Huguenots settled.

In the "Memorials of the Huguenots in America" by Rev. A. Stapleton, published in Carlisle, Pennsylvania 1901 is found the following" "In 1749 arrived Frederick Pershing of Alsace, France and located in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

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THE TRIP TO AMERICA

The immigrants assembled at Frankfort, Germany and traveled together to Rotterdam, Holland by "Rhine Boat" then they probably went on foot the 76 miles from Rotterdam, Holland to Amsterdam, Holland.

(Ships sailed from England to America in three months).

From the time the immigrants left their home in Alsace, Franc and made their trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was five months.

According to tradition, Frederick Pershing, left his home in Alsace, France in the spring of 1749 and traveled down the Rhine river to Amsterdam, Holland on his way to America.

It is known from the record of his Oath of Allegiance, taken at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on his arrival there as an immigrant. That he sailed to America on the ship "Jacob" under Captain Adolph De Grove, in the year 1749. The ship touched at Shields, England and arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Oct. 2, 1749.

Frederick Pershing settled in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania among the people commonly known as the Pennsylvania Dutch.

the change of the name from "Pfersching" to "Pershing" was common among the people speaking the dialect commonly called Pennsylvania Dutch and Friederick Pfershing dropped the "i" from Federick and the "f" and "c" from Pershing, making it "Frederick Pershing" as spoken and spelled by the Pennsylvania Dutch among whom he settled.

By 1835 several descendants accepted the form of "Pershing".

---(history continued)

The book "The Pershing Family in America --- 1749 - 1924" covers nine generations of the Pershing descendants, the history takes 254 pages and the genealogy [sic] takes 161 pages, and contains 4,730 names of the descendants from the five immigrants - plus spouses and dates.

Of these 4,730 descendants:

4,640 are under the heading of "THE FAMILY OF FREDERICK"
41 are under the heading of "THE FAMILY OF PHILLIP"
41 are under the heading of "THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL"
6 are under the heading of "THE FAMILY OF GEORGE"

Jacob Pershing, that immigrated with, Phillip Pershing, had one son that went to California and nothing has been heard of him or his descendants. John Pershing, the younger brother of, Frederick Pershing, left no descendants.

There is no other record like it of the descendants of the Pershing family after the printing in 1924.

Ather record of the family of Emma Sarah Pershing Scott, mother of Vinnie Elizabeth Scott French is on page 291 and lists her three children and her six grand children through that of, Nolo Alice French, Emma May French (Mae) grand daughter of Emma Sarah Pershing Scott was born May 23, 1925, the following year after the book was printed in 1924.

There were ten more grand children born to, Emma Sarah Pershing Scott, after that: two children to her son George Pershing Scott and eight children to her son Kenneth Dwight Scott.

--- (some of this section is a repeat of above information)

Frederick Pershing was the first of the immigrants of the Pershing family to come to America from Alsace, Franc or the Rhine River Valley as included in the Palatine.

Frederick Pershing arrived at the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a passenger on the ship "Jacob" Oct. 2, 1749.

His descendants constitutes our family in America today.

His grand son, Isaac, Pershing, stated that his grand father, Frederick Pershing, was born in Alsace, France and that his ancestors are French.

No other information of his birth or origin are available.

Frederick Pershing spoke both French and German.

He was a Protestant of the Lutheran faith.

Tradition has it that his ancestors were "French Huguenots" investigation supports this fact.

According to tradition, Frederick Pershing, left his home in Alsace, France in the spring of 1749 and traveled down the Rhine River to Amsterdam, Holland on his way to America.

It is known from the record of his Oath of Allegiance, taken at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on his arrival there as an immigrant, that he sailed from Amsterdam, Holland on the ship "Jacob" under Captain Adolph De Grove in the year 1749 and arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Oct. 2, 1749.

Frederick Pershing's naturalization papers were certified Nov. 10, 1766 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

About eight months after his arrival in America, Frederick Pershing married Maria Elizabeth Weygandt, April 29, 1750 and to them was born nine children.

Frederick Pershing was a weaver by trade, but also worked as a wheelwright and carpenter.

After the death of Frederick Pershing in 1794 his son, Daniel Pershing took Maria Elizabeth Weygandt Pershing to live in his home until her death in 1824.

Little is known about her except she was a member of Zion Church (Lutheran faith) and her children were baptized at Zion Church.

Her great grand daughter described her as a devoted religious woman, of fixed views and firm opinions.

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MILITARY RECORD OF FREDERICK PERSHING

Frederick Pershing, veteran, York County Rangers 1755 - 1768, assisted in building Lockry's Blockhouse and Fort Shippen (Proctor's Blockhouse), and other frontier defences in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania between 1772 - 1783. He attended Hannastown convention 1775.

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PERSHING PARK built in memory of Frederick Pershing

Several years ago, Rev. Thompson F. Pershing, called to attention the fact that the grave of Frederick Pershing in Smith's Graveyard was unmarked and suggested that the family should erect some fitting memorial as an appreciation of the birthright of American Citizenship which came to us from him and his pioneer contemporaries.

It was thought that Doc. Pershing's suggestion contained much of value, but with the discovery that the graveyard had been entirely obliterated we were obliged to consider another location for the proposed memorial.

In Sept. 1923 a reunion of the family was arranged and was held at Idlewild Park, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

It was attended by hundreds of the descendants of our immigrant ancestors, they came from almost every state in the Union and it is believed the occasion was one of the largest family reunions ever held in this country.

A granite and bronze memorial to Frederick Pershing was secured and erected (temporarily) at Idlewild Park for the purpose of dedication as an incident of the reunion.

After an address by General John J. Pershing the audience sang "America" while 12 girls, descendants of Frederick Pershing, marched around the monument as they unwound the ribbon which held the vail.

When the march was concluded General John J. Pershing dedicated the Memorial.

The text of the memorial is as follows:

In Memory of Frederick Pershing 1749 - 1794
Huguenot --- Emigrant
American --- Colonist
Westmoreland County Pioneer
Veteran of the Border Wars

Landed at Philadelphia October 2, 1749
Settled A Tomahawk Possession called
"Conentry" on Nine Mile Run near the site
of this memorial in 1769/ Here he built
his log cabin and one of the first Grist
Mills west of the Allegheny Mountains.
His descendants being grateful to God
for the Blessings of American citizenship
desire to perpetuate the Memory of their
Ancestor because he with his contemporaries
set up a new civilization in the wilderness and
Secured those Blessings to Posterity.

Dedicated by General John J. Pershing
A. D. 1923

After the reunion the permanent location of the memorial was fixed by the purchase of about 8 acres of land located a mile west of Youngstown, Pennsylvania on the Lincoln Highway.

The location is part of the tract of land on which Lockry's Blockhouse once stood and it is particularly fitting that it should now be reserved for Historical purposes.

The Pershing Memorial was permanently erected there in the fall of 1923.

The Park has been beautified with the planting of trees and shrubbery, roadways, walks and an old-fashioned well are in the park.

Every member of the Pershing family should be proud in the establishment of Pershing Park.

It is a Patriotic Memorial of our Colonial Ancestors to perpetuate the history of their day and the establishment by them of our America.

It was to be dedicated (probably in 1926) and thrown open to visitors, and was to be used as a place for Patriotic Meetings and Community Celebrations.

(Ed. misspellings in original were corrected)

Source: (Birth Field)
Br�derbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4156, Date of Import: Feb 28, 1997

Death: 1794 Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Reference: 44

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Weygandt, Maria Elizabeth (b. 1729, d. 1824)

Note: Most of the children of Frederick Pershing and Maria Elizabeth Weygandt were born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and all of them were baptized at Old Zion Church (Lutheran faith).

Daniel Pershing, their son, was a preacher in the Lutheran faith.

Source: (Birth Field)
Br�derbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4156, Date of Import: Feb 28, 1997

Death: 1824 Unknown

Reference: 45

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French, Orlando (b. 7 FEB 1852, d. 21 MAY 1922)

Note: Densmore Cemetery
Norton County, West Union Township
1 1/2 acres , NW corner Sec 6 Township 5 South, Range 21 West

Driving directions: 1/2 mile north of Densmore on paved road

French Lois J. 02 Jun 1891 wife of Orlando French; 33y 11m 13d
French Orlando 1852 1922

French Orlando E. 28 Aug 1901 Aged 9 days; son of B & H B French
French William H. 1849 1904