The family of Felix Weiss (died 1779)

 I like to start my posts with a bit of certainty-so and so was born (date) in (wherever) to (names of parents).  Unfortunately, this post starts with Felix Weiss/Wyss/Wise is said to have been born between 1720 and 1725, in either Germany or Switzerland, possibly the son of Felix and Anna Huber Weiss.  I have not found any documentation for dates, or for location, or for parents.  The first documentation I've found for Felix is his 1747 arrival in Philadelphia.  This may or may not have been his first arrival in America.  There were several Huber men on the same ship, the Bilander Vernon, and all took the oath of allegiance together.  That ship had sailed from Rotterdam so either Germany or Switzerland would work as a point of origin.  This particular record did not record women or children so that tells us little.

But at least it's something.  It is likely that Felix was married when he arrived in 1747, to Anna Maria whose maiden name I have not found.  She is frequently seen as van Buskirk, but that is because she married George van Buskirk the year after Felix died.  Felix died in 1779 in Hamilton Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.  Felix and Anna Maria had at least six children together, although some are not documented to my satisfaction, and I am reasonably sure that this list of children and grandchildren is incomplete.  Here is what I've been able to find.

Henry is fairly well documented.  He was born in 1750 and died in 1827.  He was a Revolutionary War soldier, and married Margaret (Margaretha) Borger, the daughter of Johan Nicholas and Ottillia Schaffer Borger.  Their known children are Jacob, Ann, Elizabeth, Margaretha, Catharine, Henry, Susanna, Anna, Sara, George, Magdalena, and Maria.  Interestingly, his property border on that of William Serfass.  who may be part of the Serfass family that married into the Wise family four generations later.   

Anna was probably the next born, as her birth is estimated as before 1755 and the next child was born in 1754.  She married Johan George Hood or Huth, and died in 1842.  Their children are Anna, Margaret, and Magdalena, and possibly more.  

Margaret was born in 1754, and married Henry Brinker, the son of Jacob and Susannah Hinkle Brinker.  She died in 1845.  I've found three children for them-George, Henry, and Margaret.  There may be more.  

We have a break of 10 years before another child is mentioned.  I don't know what happened.  Were there unsuccessful pregnancies, or children who were born and died young?  Either is possible but neither is proven.

The next child is Felix, born in 1764 and died in 1854.  He married Eva Catherine Bossard, the daughter of Johannes Melchior and Margaretha Catherina Keller (may be Heller). Their children are Margaretha, Susanna, Felix, Daniel, and George.

Johan Jacob was born in 1767 and died in 1829 in Shelby County, Ohio.  He married Charlotte Raub, the daughter of Andreas and Maria Charlotta Weber Raub.  They had three or possibly four children, all known by the Wise spelling-Peter, Andrew, Jacob, and possibly Samuel.  I will write more of this family in my next blog post.

Daniel is believed to be the last child, born in 1762 and died in 1812.  He married Elizabeth, whose identity is still unknown to me.  There was probably more than one child, but the only one I know of is Felix.  The 1800 census shows two males under the age of 10.  

I would love to hear from Weiss/Wise family researchers, who may have names and dates of these children and grandchildren.  I'd especially love to know of the maiden names of Anna Maria, and of Elizabeth, who at this point are not identified.  Please contact me if you have any information, or thoughts!