York County Pennsylvania Obituaries and Death Notices
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John Adlum
Contributed by John and Gene Sharp
John writes " Attached is an obituary for the York County section of the Genealogy trails, Pennsylvania web page. This is from the Philadelphia Gazette, dated December 15, 1773. The obituary is for John Adlum senior (1699/1700-1773). John Adlum senior, was born in Ireland and immigrated to Pennsylvania circa 1732-33. He was a resident of York Town, Pennsylvania for much of his life. He served as the York County Sheriff and County Coroner at various times. He was an early supporter of the cause of independence and with his son, Joseph Adlum (1727-1817), and grandson, John Aldum (1759- 1836 Revolutionary War Soldier), he attended public meetings to celebrate the repeal of the Stamp Act.
Years later his more famous grandson, John Adlum, in his autobiographic Memoirs remembered his grandfather:
"My Grandfather was a poor Irish Gentleman of liberal education, and my father came to this Country with him at five years old in the year 1734 - He stopt some time in Chester County in Pennsa but soon removed to Lancaster County, but in the year 1736 he finally removed to York County my birth place - My Grandfather was the first Sheriff of the County and after he had served three years my father was elected by a vote of about two to one."
John Adlum (1759-1836) manuscript Memoirs of the Life of John Adlum Spent principally in Pennsylvania Maryland and the District of Columbia York Town Historcial Society pages 1-2 unpublished
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Philadelphia Gazette
December 15, 1773
York Town, December 6, 1773
On Monday last died in this Town, JOHN ADLUM , Esq. in the 74th Year of his Age. He was an affectionate Husband, a tender Parent, a kind Friend, a worthy Magistrate, and a good Christian.
For several years during the latter Part of his life, he was concerned as one of the Directors in the building of an Episcopal Church at that Town, in which business he exerted himself to the utmost, it was the Joy and Pleasure of his sinking Years - whilst engaged in that pious Employment, he was frequently heard to wish, that might live to see the Edifice completed - and that he could die in Peace. The Deity was propitious to his Prayer - His wish was granted; he survived the finishing of the Church some Weeks, and was present at the Dedication thereof.- He received Death, that King of terrors, as the Messenger of Comfort, by which his immortal Soul would be delivered from this early State, and his feeble Body, which had been moldered by Time, and shattered by Disease , would be relieved from Pain.
In his Death the Public have lost an excellent Magistrate, the Church a godly Member, the Poor a steady friend and Protector, the Virtuous a true Patron, and his family a most affection Relation.
His remains, attended by a great Number of Persons of several Denominations were, on Wednesday last, interred in the Lutheran Burial ground, at York. An elegant and pathetic Sermon, suitable to the Occasion, was then preached by the Rev. Mr. LANDROM, of that Place.
David Cassat
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 9 1824
Died at York, on Friday, the 28th May, David Cassat, Esq., aged about 56 years.
Mathias Eichholtz
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 21, 1824
Fatal Accident
Mathias Eichholtz, an old and respectable inhabitant of Conewago township, York county, was found dead on his threshing floor. It is supposed, he ascended aloft to make arrangements for the reception of the products of the harvest field, from whence he fell on the barn floor, which put a period to his earthly career. - York Gaz.
Bartram Galbraith
The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), February 25, 1807
Died on Monday, the 9th instant, after a few days illness, at the late dwelling of Bartram Galbraith, Esq., Mr. Thomas Bayly, in the 45th year of his age. His disconsolate widow, and surviving bothers and sisters, will long lament his loss. The mild manners, and the untarnished integrity of the deceased gained the esteem and confidence of all who knew him, and we believe he has not left an enemy in the world. - York Recorder.
Jacob Graybill
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 3, 1824
York, PA., Oct. 26
Fatal Accident.
On Wednesday last, Mr. Jacob Graybill was found drowned in Mr. Upp's spring. It is supposed, that attempting to drink out of the spring, he fell in it head foremost, and being a man in the 76th year was too much debilitated by age to recover himself from the fall. - Gazette.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 25, 1821
Died on Sunday the 15th instant, in the 78th year of his age, Mr. Casper Hoke, of York county.
Charles Jones
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, June 26 1811
York, June 22
Suicide
On Monday last, Charles Jones, a pauper in the poor house of this county, terminated his existence by cutting his throat. He was subject to fits, frequently succeeded by the highest degree of frenzy, in a paroxysm of which he committed the act.
James Kelley
The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
February 17, 1819
Died at York, PA., on Thursday the 4th inst., aged 54 years, James Kelley Esq. He had been 37 years an advocate, and was, at his death, the eldest practioner, at the bar of York county.
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 4 1822 Page 2
York, Nov. 26
On Saturday last, Henry Klinefelter, descended into the well of Peter Smyser, in Shrewsbury township, in this county, and was suffocated. All the means applied to restore animation were unavailing. -- Gazette
September 27, 1809
York, September Murder and Suicide
Wolkersdorff, 8th July
On Friday the 25th of Aug., the wife of Leonard Knab, of Manchester township, in this county, took her infant of 9 weeks old, and hung it with a hank of yarn in her room. She afterwards put a period to the existence by hanging herself in the garret. The other children she had sent away from the house, and her husband was in town, where he received the dreadful information. We have no evidence to lead us to the motives for the unnatural deed. She was a woman of good character and fair reputation.
Conrad Laub
The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), February 25, 1807
Died on Saturday morning last, in the borough of York, Conrad Laub, esq.,
Eli Lewis
The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), February 25, 1807
Died on Monday the 2d instant at Lewsburg, York county, Major Eli Lewis.
William McPherson
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, June 13, 1810
Departed this life, in the borough of York, on Friday last, of a consumption, in the 23d year of his age, Mr. William McPherson, partner in the late firm of Longwell and McPherson, of this place. The deceased labored under a consumptive complaint for a considerable time, but was closely confined but a short period before his death. As a citizen he was honest and punctual, as a companion cheerful and complaisant, as a friend sincere and frank.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
October 10, 1821
Died on Sunday the 30th ult., in the 59th year of his age, Rev. Constantine Miller, Pastor of the Moravian church in York, Pa.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 21 1824
From the York Gazette
Died on the 5th inst., at Carlisle, Gen. Henry Miller, for many years a distinguished and highly respectable inhabitant of this borough. By the death of Gen. Miller, another patriot and revolutionary worthy has passed into that invisible state beyond the grave, where soon all the heroes of the revolution will be gathered. They soon will exist only in the remembrance of a grateful county.
Gen. Miller was a native of Lancaster county, but when very young removed to York. In the year 1775, he marched from this place as a Lieutenant in Capt. Doudle's Company to Boston, where he soon was promoted to a captaincy on the resignation of his captain. He held the commissions of Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel, in the war of the Revolution. Gen. Wilkinson, in his memoirs, states that Maj. Miller's regiment was ordered by General Washington, to check the rapid movements of the enemy in pursuit of the American Army, whilst retreating across the state of N. Jersey; and the order was so successfully executed, and the advance of a powerful enemy impeded and embarrassed, that the author of the memoirs attributes the preservation of the American troops, which afterwards gained the independence of the Country, to the good conduct of Maj. Miller, which was admirably seconded by the late Gen. Hand.
Gen. Wilkinson, in a note to his valuable work, says "Gen. Henry Miller, of the City of Baltimore, was distinguished for his cool and deliberate bravery, and certainly possessed the entire confidence of Gen. Washington." This shows the high estimation in which the father of his county held him. He was along side of General Craig (then Colonel) at the battle of Monmouth, and had two horses killed under him.
On the western expedition he was appointed Quartermaster General; these arduous and responsible duties he performed to the entire satisfaction of the public. Gen. Miller's last services were performed at Baltimore, in 1813, when that city was menaced with imminent danger, by a large army and fleet in the Chesapeake Bay. He was appointed a Brigadier General by the later Governor, Levin Winder, and had the command of the troops stationed for its defence. His spirited and manly reply to a threatening letter of Admiral Warren, will never be forgotten.
Gen Miller was in many of the most important battles of the revolutionary war, and endured a large share of the trials and sufferings incident to that eventful period. He was also an excellent civil officer. He filled for many years the Prothonotary's and Sheriff's Offices of York county. He was the supervisor of th revenue for the district of Pennsylvania during the administration of President Adams and after this office was abolished he removed to Baltimore, where he resided for some years as a respectable and honest merchant. From that city he retired to a farm near the forks of the
Juniata and Susquehanna rivers, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was then appointed by Gov. Hiester to the office of Prothonotary of Perry county. He was also a member of the Legislature of this state, and of the convention that framed the state constitution. He was the candidate in opposition to Mr. Gallatin for the U. State's Senate. Mr. Gallatin being declared ineligible, and Gen. Miller declining to be a candidate again, Mr. Ross of Pittsburgh, was elected to that situation.
No man had more self possession and more fortitude to support himself against the darkening storms of adversity than the subject of these remarks. He was kind, liberal and sincere and with a mind characterized with peculiar strength and quickness of perception, he was prompt and firm in his decisions. He was decidedly at one time amongst the most popular men in the state, and so in part he remained during the many vicissitudes of party collisons. He now abides in that mansion where the wicked cease troubling and the weary are at rest, until the trumpet of the mighty angel shall awaken to a general resurrection those who have been sleepers for thousands of years.
Gen. Miller deceased at the age of 74 years, and at the time when the munificence of the Legislature had just made compensation for the important revolutionary services he rendered his native county - he did not live long enough to receive this righteous retribution. - G.
George Myer
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, February 21, 1810
The York Expositor of February 15, says - "A Mr. George Myer, shoemaker, of Newberry township, was, some time in the last week, frozen to death in a sleigh. It is said he was intoxicated. It is remarkable, though there were two persons in the sleigh besides himself, his situation was not notices until they arrived at home!"
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, March 13, 1811
Died at Winchester, V., on the 28th ult., Mr. Solomon Myer, formerly Printer and Brigade Inspector of York County.
William Rieder
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 2 1824
Hanover, May 25
Fatal Accident
On Saturday afternoon last, Mr. William Rieder, a citizen of this borough, whilst assisting at raising a barn for Mr. George Winebreaner near this place, stepped on a thin and unsound board of the scaffolding, which had been placed there without the knowledge of the proprietor - the board broke and Mr. Rieder was precipitated nearly 30 feet; he lingered in a speechless and apparently painful condition until evening, when his spirit soared to the unknown regions of eternity; he was aged 29 years, 7 months and 14 days. On last Sabbath afternoon his mortal remains were interred, with military honors and in the presence of an almost unexampled concourse of people, on the German reformed cemetery on this place, on which occasion the Rev. J. H. Wiestling delivered a discourse calculated for the solemn feeling of all present.
All who are acquainted with this melancholy accident, and the solemn rites performed at his burial, will heave a sigh and pray: "God rest his soul." - Guardian.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 30 1823 Page 4
On Friday last John Sheffer, of Springgarden township, while in a state of intoxication, attempted to cross Codorus creek, below Samuel Meyer's mill, and was drowned. - Gaz.
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 26 1822
York Pa., June 18
Fatal Accident
On Tuesday last, Mr. Daniel Shelly, of Newbury township, was killed by the falling of a tree. He, and two other persons, were at work, felling timber, on Mr. D. Laughman's land. Having cut a large tree nearly through, they desisted, for a time, and imprudently proceeded to clear from brush and underwood, the spot, upon which it was expected to fall. The tree which they had left, was nearer cut through than they had imagined, and , unhappily, fell upon them, while they were so employed. Mr. Shelly was crushed to the earth, by a main branch of the tree, and killed on the spot. The others, of whom Mr. Laughman himself was one, were so lucky as to escape the peril of their situation, without any serious injury. - Recorder
The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
December 8, 1819
On Wednesday evening the 24th ult., Jacob Shenberger, of Windsor township, York county, he having no family and living quite isolated by himself, as he was sitting by his fireside, was shot by some person unknown through the window of his house. He was found on Sunday last, lying on the hearth, with his lower extremities burnt. A coroner's inquest was held, whose report we hear, is that he came to his death by being shot by some unknown person. We did not hear of suspicion resting on any person, but be the person who he may, who has thus loaded the vessel of his peace with the blood of a fellow creature, he will most assuredly experience what he did not perhaps anticipate. - York Gazette
The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
July 21, 1819
Dr. Patrick Smith of Hanover, York county, was killed on Wednesday last, on the commons of York, by his horse falling on him when riding a race.
Daniel W. Smyser
Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon Pa., Monday Evening, November 2, 1931, Page 6
York - While addressing a Sunday school convention of the Salem Union church, Daniel W. Smyser, 76, Wellsville, was fatally stricken by a heart attack. Smyser, an ardent county church worker had often expressed a wish he die while engaged in some kind of church work.
Michael Smyser
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, August 1 1810
York, Pa., July 14
As the rapid course of time bears onward to eternity its daily tribute, it is becoming in us to notice, in a particular manner, the departure of worth and excellence. A virtuous example is a proper object to record and the memory of the good, it delights to honor.
In the death of Colonel Michael Smyser, of this county, who died on the 7th inst., we have lost one of our best citizens. Patriotism has lost a votary - society an excellent member and religion an active supporter. He was one of the few survivors of that virtuous band, who in the gloomy period of 1776, when superior worth alone gave claim to distinction, were appointed to command. At the unfortunate capture of Fort Washington, he was taken prisoner; during the distressing captivity which succeeded that event, the zeal and animation with which he advocated his country's cause, inspired his desponding fellow prisoners with the cheering hope, that their labors were not in vain; while making use of the privileges attached to his rank as a captain, his unremitting exertions to alleviate their sufferings reflected honorably on his goodness and humanity.
In the time of the revolution, as well as since, Col. Smyser, was repeatedly elected a member of the legislature of this state, where, his intelligence and warm attachment of our political institutions enabled him to act with honor to himself and his constituents. The great and good Washington was the constant object of his admiration, and the precepts of the FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY, he regarded as the surest guides to national happiness and prosperity. Possessing an enlightened, honest and independent mind, he was liberal in his views, manly in his conduct and superior to selfish considerations.
In social commerce, Col. Smyser was the man of honor and integrity; the scenes of domestic life, under his influence were peaceful and happy, and in the relative duties of friendship and society, he was warm, disinterested and benevolent.
Formed by habits of temperance and moderation, the weight of almost 70 years had but partially affected his robust constitution. He lived to exult in the 34th anniversary of his country's independence, and died deservedly lamented by a long train of relatives, friends and fellow citizens.
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