Simon Wehr ^185,186,187

  General Notes:

Arrived in Philadelphia Pennsylvania on Nov 24, 1740, as indicated on list #78 Foreigners aboard Ship Loyal Judith (with 95 passengers. This ship left Rotterdam with a stop at Deal England. Simon Wehr took the oaths of the Government in the presence of George Thomas, Govenor of Penna and Samuel Hassel, Philadelphia's Mayor.

Received land warrants #20 on Oct 3 1753 for 161 acres
#196 Apr 6, 1787 for 60 acres
# 2783 Aug 15, 1767 for 25 acres

His will dated 1787 probated at Easton Apr 10, 1799 leaving 8 children.

Sponsor with Wife Catherina for Johann Simon Schneider son of Valentin and Catherina Schneider May 30, 1747

Per Keith Butler
There were 3 more daughters
Maria Margaretha
Maria Magdalena
Maria Christina


SIMON WEHR arrived in Philadelphia, Pa. on November 25, 1740, as indicated on List #78, Foreigners aboard Ship Loyal Judith, with 95 passengers. This ship left from Rotterdam with a stop at Deal, England where these German passengers apparently boarded. Simon Wehr took and Subscribed to the Oaths of the Government in the presence of George Thomas, Governor of Penna. and Samuel Hassel, Philadelphia Mayor.
During the years 1727 and 1775 records indicate that approximately 39,000 passengers arrived in Philadelphia, all of German descent. Listed below are names of Wehr and their arrival date in addition to Simon Wehr.
1. Hans Jorg Wehr, Ship 176 Duth of Wirtenberg from Rotterdam and Cowes, England, arrival Oct. 16, 1751.
2. Johan T.(Theis) Wehr, Ship Two Brothers, Sept. 18,1752, Rotterdam and Cowes.
3. Michael Wer, Ship Neptune, Oct. 7, 1775,Rotterdam and Portsmouth
4. Andreas Wehr, Ship Anderson, Sept. 27, 1752, Rotterdam and Gosport.
5. Christjan Wehr, Ship Betsy, Oct. 3, 1765, Rotterdam and Cowes.
6. John. Hen. Philip Wehr, Ship Sally, Aug. 23, 1773, Rotterdam and Portsmouth.
7. Christian Wehr, age 54 yrs. with wife and a daughter, aged 22 yrs.
Many of the German settlers that came to Pennsylvania left their homes in Southern Germany, commonly referred to as Palatinate, because of religious problems with the Catholic Church. During the Reformation period, thousands of people abandoned the formalities and ceremonies of the prevailing Church and formed new denominations such as the Lutheran , the Reformed Church, etc. They were people in the minority and thus were persecuted and oppressed, and their lives were made burdensome and disagreeable. Fortunately for them it so happened that William Penn was making it known in England that he had land in America where people would be welcome to come to settle down and enjoy freedom form religious persecution, own land, and raise their families in their own manner. Consequently these German People worked their way westward towards Rotterdam, one of the sailing centers of that day; they also arrived in Cowes and Deal and other English cities where the ships from Holland could load up these passengers. A list of these sailing?s was published in books by Mr. Strassburger entitled Penna. German Pioneers. Simon Wehr apparently 20 years of age after arrival in Philadelphia with or without a wife as none was listed although that cannot be confirmed since wives names were generally not listed by name. There is record of he and his wife Catharina having appeared in 1749 at the Trappe Lutheran church located presently in Montgomery county, to sponsor a baptism for a child of Johan Simon Schneider. This is the only time his name appears in Trappe. Simon Wehr is known as being a member of the Reformed Church in his native Heidelberg Township in Penna, but unfortunately the Reformed Church in Trappe has long ago passed out of existence.The Heidelberg Church was a jointure between the Reformed and Lutheran Church and Simon Wehr and his family were active members of the Reformed Church, but frequently since 1764 participated in the Lutheran Church at baptisms. The first church at Heidelberg burned and the second Church was erected in 1756 and Simon, Nicholas, Lorenz and Philip assisted in its erection. At the same time they also built a school House. Simon Wehr and Michael Ohl were a committee of two from the Reformed Church with two men from the Lutheran Church were delegated to go to Philadelphia to obtain the requisite papers and fee-simple deed and lawful possession of this school and church land, which they accomplished. Simon Wehr received Land Warrants #20 on Oct. 3, 1753 for 161 acres; #196 April 6 1787 for 60 acres and #2783 Aug. 15, 1767 for 25 acres. His will was dated 1787 and probated at Easton April 10, 1799, the apparent year of his death, leaving 8 children."

  Noted events in his life were:

• Born Alternate, 1720, Heidelberg, Germany. ¹⁸¹

• Naturalization, Oct 6, 1765, Heidelberg Twp. Pennsylvania. ⁹⁰

Simon married Catherina Unknown. (Catherina Unknown was born between 1720 and 1740 and died before 1820.)