Every family history begins with a tradition. Nor is this one lacking in this case. For it is related of Simon Litzenberg Sr. that, having been employed, somewhere in Germany, in a vineyard, he fell out with his employer, gave him a sound thrashing, and then fled the country.

Of the relatives of Simon Litzenberg, Sr., we know nothing. Although there is the usual well worn legend that three brothers came to this country, one being Simon himself, a second being Nicolas, of Lehigh County, PA while a third located (we believe) somewhere in NY. [See entry on Nicolas for more info]¹

Of one thing, there is no doubt; the family name, in this case of both Simon and Nicholas, was Litzenberger. The former signed his name in German script "Simon Litzenberger", which is proof enough of the original spelling, but seemingly all branches of the family have dropped the final syllable by common consent. Evidently, much the same thing happened in the family of Nicholas, which has given the name Litzenberg to the Post Office in Lehigh County.

The earliest record of the presence in PA of Simon and his wife is that of the baptism of their daughter. His place of residence at that time is not known , and no tax-lists are available to indicate it. St. Micheal's ministered to a large body of German families on both sides of the Schuylkill and was the "mother church" of St. Paul's in Lower Merion township, Montgomery County, of which Simon Litzenberg himself was a founder, in 1765. Until that date, however, most of his children were baptized at St. Micheal's (see record of baptism below). And in 1760 he himself was one of the subscribers to the fund for building a stone wall around the upper burying-ground in Germantown.

In 1765 Simon Litzenberger was naturalized as one of a group of Quaker and other Protestants who scruple to take an oath. His residence at this time was given as Haverford Township, Chester County.14 This naturalization was under the Act of Parliament of 1740 which required that all foreign Protestants who had resided in the province for seven years or more should be naturalized.¹⁵

On the erection of Delaware County in 1789, Haverford Township fell into that county.

No record has been found of the purchase, by Simon Litzenberg Sr. of his farm in Haverford. Possibly the deeds were never recorded. The exact position and extent of his farm will be shown more in detail on the draft accompanying this sketch. It is possible that he held it first as a renter, and afterwards purchased it in installments, as he was able.

The name Simon Litzenberg first appears on the tax-list of Haverford Township in 1762. In 1765 he is rated as the owner of two horses and two cows, and the holder of a house and 80 acres of land. In 1774 he owns four horses, two cows, six sheep and 1 Negro servant, by 1780 his farm broadened to 100 acres. In 1768 he is called "Cooper". In only one assesment-list, that of 1781, is his name spelled with the final "er"¹⁶

On October 29, 1765, John Hughes and wife Sarah, granted to 6 men, in trust for the Lutheran congregation of Lower Merion Township, a tract of 66 3/4 acres there. One of these trustees was Simon Litzenbourier, of Haverford - presumably Simon Litzenberg, the peculiar spelling being perhaps due to his way of pronouncing his name (in the PA German dialect of today, berger is pronounced "barry-er". The congregation being able to hold this large tract, the trustees conveyed it, in 1769 to one of their number, Stephan Goodman, who reconveyed a small portion of it to three trustees, of whom said Simon was one. The deed recites that the land so conveyed is "to be and remain for the sue and benefit of the said religious society called Lutherans belonging to Merion aforesaid and the adjacent Townships for them to build, erect and maintain one or more churches...and also...a place for burying or interring all such persons as the members of the said religious society may allow." This was the beginning of the congregation now known as St. Paul's at Ardmore, PA¹⁷

Besides being a farmer, Simon Litzenberg was a cooper, and each of his seven sons, in turn, learned the trade. Such a forge of skilled workman meant a thriving industry, which in turn suggested a name for the straggling village growing up along the Goshen Road - and so the place became "Coopertown" and the road "Coopertown Road" at one time, there were also nearby a "Coopertown Road Station" and "Coopertown _____" but the name has served its purpose and is now probably extinct.

In 1775 Simon Litzenberg of Haverford, cooper, bought of a neighbor, William Lewis, three acres of land lying on Bow Creek and on a road extending to Tinicum Road, in what was then called Kingessing Township, Philadelphia County (it is now a part of the city of Philadelphia)18 This property was sold by his heirs in 1814 (see abstract below)

No record has been found indicating that Simon Litzenberg served in the Revolutionary War. As he was born in1718, he must have been near the age limit at the outbreak of the war. However, the interesting story is told of his wife Susannah that "she fed a British soldier, and he told her to take all the children to the cellar as she heard the first shot fired, which she did and nobody got hurt" (family communication). Unfortunately for the accuracy of this tale, the scene is supposed to be laid in Germantown, presumably during the battle, while by that date the family had along been settled in Haverford! However the incident might have happened elsewhere.

The name Simon Litzenberg is found among many others in the accounts of Thomas Tucker and Samuel Cunningham, collectors of excise in Chester County from 8/18/1776 to 11/7/1783.¹⁹

The Will of Simon Litzenberger (so it is signed); dated 8/13/1794 (according to figures but following this date "1793" is written in words) contains a puzzling reference to the testator's wife Dorothy. Nowhere else has any mention been found of such a person; Susannah was certainly the mother of all his children, as evidenced by church register and family bible; Susannah was the widow who survived him by many years; Susannah is buried beside him. No explanation offers, beyond the possibility that Dorothy was a pet name. The will provides that no partition of the testator's real estate should be made until his youngest child living arrived at full age, or until intermarriage of his widow, whichever last should happen. The youngest child, Elizabeth, burn in 1780, presumably came of age shortly after her father's death. But the longevity of the testator's widow postponed the partition of the real estate until 1822 when division was made, in accordance with the provisions of the will, by a board of five neighboring land owners selected by the heirs. The draft accompanying the report of these partitioners shows that the farm was divided into fifteen irregular portions, to accommodate all of which a road was laid out through the entire length of the tract.²¹

Deed. 19 March 18143. Susannah Litzenberg, of the township of Haverford, Delaware County, widow; George Litzenberg, Cumberland Township, Green County and wife Grace, by their attorney in-fact Andrew Lindsay, of said Haverford Township; Adam Litzenberg, of said Haverford Township, and wife Hannah; Jacob Litzenberg, Lower Merion Township, County Montgomery, and wife Margaret; Joshua Vaughan, Upper Merion Township, County Montgomery; Philip Litzenberg, Haverford Township, and wife Jane; Samuel White, City of Philadelphia, and wife Margaret; and Thomas Vaughan, Upper Merion Township; to John Ball and Joseph Ball, both of Upper Darby Township, Delaware County.

Whereas, Simon Litzenberg, late of Haverford Township, by deed from William Lewis and wife Ruth, dated 27 July 1775 , became seized of a marsh lot in Kingessing Township, Philadelphia County, containing 3 acres; etc. (see Deed Book F 13, p. 481), and died, leaving above named Susannah Litzenberg, a widow, and issue six children, to wit, above-named George Litzenberg, Adam Litzenberg, Jacob Litzenberg, Simon Litzenberg, Philip Litzenberg, and Elizabeth, the wife of above named Samuel Wright; and two grandchildren, to wit, Margaret, wife of above named Josuha Lainhoff, and daughter of his son John Litzenberg, deceased,; and above named Thomas Vaughan, son of Susanna Vaughan, deceased who was intermarried with above named Josuha Vaughan; to whom said premises descended, etc.

Said grantors convey said premises for $400, to said grantees, together with the use of the road extending to Tinicum Road. Wits.: Jos. Dilworth, Danl. J. Rhoads, George Hughes, Joseph Campbell, George C. Lintner.³¹

Among his descendants who have achieved prominence may be mentioned William A. Garrett, formerly President of the Pennsylvania Seabord Air Line Railroad; George A. Roberts, formerly president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; William Davis, of bloomington, IL, editor, whose daughter Helen married L.G. Stevenson, son of Adlai E. Stevenson, formerly Vice-President of the United States, and Senator Algernon B. Roberts.

Immigrated to Donegal Township in present Lancaster County, PA in 1726., possibly with Moses and Mary Campbell White, but appear to have moved to NC by 1730, then to Staunton, VA.⁴⁵

This card is⁶³. Mark Whitehead had record of this Thomas Pettus, son of Capt. Thomas Pettus. Dillard Jacobs⁵², however, did NOT! Dillard's notes did indicate some sort of confusion at around this time with Col. Thomas & Capt. Thomas' wives, so I'm assuming that Mark's is right - not only due to this but also due to the fact that ages for parents and children aren't falling in logically - there does seem to be a missing generation in Dillard's summaries. So I've added this Thomas into my records. Dillard's original records hold that this Thomas' wife is Capt. Thomas' second wife! -CR

He emigrated from Illan, or Eglwysillan, Glamorganshire, Wales and was accompanied by his wife Ann, four sons and a daughter. They arrived in Philadelphia 5/11/1686

He settled in Haverford Township, Chester (now Deleware County), PA. - A short distance south of Bryn Mawr.

September 16, 1688 he bought 490 acres of John Bristow, and sold the same November 10, 1689 to Thomas Worrilow⁵¹

December 19, 1692, He bought 120 acres adjoining the property of his brother, Ralph, directly south of ?ynnewood Station, P.R.R.

December 10, 1698, he purchased 300 acres in Newton Square, Chester County, PA. where he resided until his death.

Glenn, in his "Welsh Founders of Pennsylvania" states that William Lewis was descended in the direct main line from Einion Sias of Llywell, County, Brecon and on the maternal side from the Collena Family, descendedants of Henry Somerset, Second Earl of Worchester, and Henry Plantagenet Beaufort, Great-Grandson of Edward III of England.

"The Seal he used, attached to a deed relative to his Pennsylvania land shows arms: Argent three cocks,gules, which were the arms of Einion." (The writer [E.C.?] has not seen the deed)

The will of William Lewis of Newton, Chester Co. PA. dated 1/16/1707-8 pr. 3/12/1707-8 mentions wife Ann, children Willam, David, Lewis and Evan and grandchildren (not named). Executors wife Ann and son William.

His wife died before the probate of the will.⁶

The following letter writtetn by William Lewis to his brother Ralph has been preserved and published by Frank William Leech in the North American.

' Ilan'7/19/1684 Dear Brother Ralph Lewis,

My love unto thee and all thy family, hoping thou art in good health as I am at this present writing. Thy brothers and thy sisters and all their families are in very good health and do remember their loves to thee and thy wife. I have recieved thy letter and we are all very glad to hear of thy welfare and prosperity. I am of the intention as I was before, but yt ye same hinderance is still as thou dost know as before. I desire to hear from thee as soon as thou has opportunity. How dost thy affairs thrive? I pray write to me what is wanting to thee what commodities are most useful for thee. I did expect to hear from thee concerning ye lands whether thou hast it or not, how thou camst into possession of it and concerning yet money whether thou hast them or not.

I have recieved a letter from Henry Lewis yt did mention thou wast not willing to content him for the pains he tooke in my business and yt was a great vaxation of spirit. I do entreat thee to doe him the satisfaction and send me notice now. I so doing thou wilt unlade me great trouble soeno mroe at present but that thou remember me to all my friends in thy part and I shall rejoice greatly in yet Lord to heare of thy welfare and prosperity.

I send this ye nineteenth day of July 1684. Thy brother david doth remember himself to thee under ye token yt thou didst promise him a couple of skins if thou wast come to them and thy loving friends Howell Thomas, Edward Howell, William Thomas and all the rest of thy friends.

William Lewis

Lived at Harby (England) in the county of Leichester until 1684 when he came at Darby PA

He was the first Pettus born in America and lived at Littletown, VA in 1661, 2 miles from Williamsburg. He was a vestryman of Bruton Parish Church, is buried there, and his pew is still marked.⁴⁰

The father of the three Pioneers, he is not known to have emigrated²

From this family descend many families of distinction, including Oliver Cromwell, alias Williams, the protector; Richard Vaughan, Earl of Carbury, Larud Vaughan, and Baron of Emylyn, living in 1661; and Lewis of the Van, Glamorganshire. Morgan William, Esq. father of was a gentleman of Galamorgansire and was possessed of an estate worth £200 or £300 per Annum, which estate had long been enjoyed by the family of Lewis of the Van, and before them by the Vaughans, and now lets for about £900 per Annum. He also owned land in Lelan Hewidel Parish, near Carmarthen. This was communicated by Mr. Bevan by Rev. Dr. Gates. and by him to Rev. R. Davies, by whom it was given to Rev. Mark Noble.³⁵

He was sent by the Virginia Company to the colony circa 1638 to organize protection for the colonists and stayed in the Americas. As Colonel, he was member of the Virginia Council from 1641 to 1660. The Pettus surname became extinct in England in 1772

Organized defence against indians in Williamsburg, VA, 1638⁴⁹