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Seventh Generation

114. Johann Wilhelm SPERA was born in 1729 in Sponheim, Germany.^99,154 Ruby Mossel gives birth date as abt 1737 He died in 1789 in Mohler Cemetery, Ephrata Twp, PA.¹⁵⁴ from Wm. Murray Spera; Wilhelm & his brother John, aged 16 & 18 decided rather
than be subject to their own country, agreed to leave their native land. They
were born from humble parentage in Alsace, then in the hands of the French.
Wilhelm emigrated on the ship Edinburgh, qualified 14 Sept., 1753. He was a
tailor. They lived in Germantown, to Conshohocken, to Reading, to Cocalico
Twp., Lancaster Co, PA.
According to Martin Grove Brumbaugh on pages 189-190 of "A History of the German Baptist Brethren", 1899 William Spyra and his wife were among 57 persons then baptised and in the fellowship of the Germantown congregation.
According to Don Durnbaugh on page 175 of his "The Brethren in Colonial America", 1967 , William Spyra and wife are listed as one of the families living at Beggarstown, 8 miles NW of Germantown, with Alexander Mack, his wife, daughter, Christopher Sower, etc.
According to the source, "History of the Church of the Brethren of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania", Conrad Good, William Spira and Maria Spira were baptized on 2 October, 1767 possibly by Alexander Mack, Jr.

115. Anna Maria BOYER.Children were:

i.
Polly SPERA.
ii.
Sarah SPERA.
iii.
Elizabeth SPERA was born on 17 Dec 1757 in Pennsylvania.¹⁵⁵
iv.
George William SPERA^155,156 was born on 25 Feb 1760 in Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.^99,154 He died on 15 Jan 1838 in Elizabeth Twp Lancaster Co, PA.⁹⁹ Murray Killman has death date as 6 Jan 1838 at Elizabeth Twp., Lancaster Co., PA He was buried in Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata T. Wilhelm Spira's (William Spera) Revolutionary War Record

At age 16 in July of 1776, he volunteered for militia duty. He served under Capt. Jacob Shitz's Company of militia attached to Capt. Robert Bull's Regiment. General Robert Doe discharged him in September, 1776, and he returned home to his parents in Germantown. In December, 1776 he volunteered in Capt. Matthias Genral's (Gineal?, Geneol?) company of militia. Major James Hazlett took command of the company. In February, 1777 he was discharged by Hazlett and he returned to his parents home in Germantown.

In October, 1777 at age 17, he joined Capt. Jacob Holgate's company of militia which was attached to General Potter's Brigade. By December, 1777 he was discharged from General Potter's Brigade. Shortly thereafter, he moved with father and family from Germantown to Gushenhoppen, Montgomery Co., PA (then known as Berks County).

In the spring of 1778, he moved with father and family to Oley Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1779 the family moved to Reading, PA. After marrying on 23 June 1780, he was drafted on 23 July 1780 into the service of Capt. Charles Goben's company, which was attached to Col. Joseph Heister's Regiment. In September, 1780 he was discharged by Gen. Robert Doe, and returned to his wife and parents in Reading, Pennsylvania.

In the fall of 1780 he moved to Valentine Fisher's place in Douglas Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, and lived there nearly 20 years. In 1800 he moved to Isaac Davies place in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, living there about 14 years. In 1814, he moved to Michael Weber's place in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He lived there about one year. (Was this Michael Weber b. 21 Jan 1772, d. 15 Oct 1841, the son of Heine Weber and Eve Wenger? Jay Weaver thinks it was.)

In 1815 he moved to Henry Romig's place in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster Co., PA. He lived there 2 years. In 1817, he moved to son Henry Spera's home in Earl Township, Lancaster Co., PA. He lived there 3 years. In 1820, he moved to Weidmark's (Weidman's?) Schoolhouse, Elizabeth Township, Lancaster Co., PA, and lived there 8 years. In 1828, he moved to John Meekel's (Meckel?) home in Cocalico Township, Lancaster Co., PA. He lived there seven years, one month, and in 1835 he moved back to Henry Romig's home in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster Co., PA.

In 1837, he applied for his Revolutionary War Pension. Witness for application was his sister Susanna Rau, 74 years of age. She was living in Berks County.
All this information was obtained from his pension application. Some time spans (years lived in a specific place) were deduced from entries in the pension application.

Abstracted by Terry F. Johnson on December 1, 2003

In his elder years he moved in with his son Henry Spera and daughter-in-law Barbara (Garman/German) until they moved up to Upper Canada. George William was a teacher and his son Henry a clerk.

Sent to Jay D. Weaver from Murray Killian via e-mail.
v.
Hannah SPERA was born on 24 Nov 1761.⁹⁹ She died on 14 Aug 1854.⁹⁹ She was buried in Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata T.
vi.
Susanna SPERA was born in Apr 1762 in Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.¹⁵⁵ She died on 2 May 1763 in Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.¹⁵⁵
vii.
Susanna SPERA was born on 28 Feb 1764 in Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.¹⁵⁵ Ruby Mossel had birth date abt. 1764. It would seem that because the first Susanna died as a child, they decided to name the next child after her.
viii.
John SPERA was born on 9 Nov 1768.⁹⁹ Murray Killman has birth date as 13 Nov 1768 in PA. He died on 20 May 1830.⁹⁹ Murray Killman has death date as 3 Jun 1830 in Ephrata, PA. He was buried in Mohler Cemetery, Ephrata Twp, PA.
ix.
Margaretha SPERA was born on 9 Jun 1771.⁹⁹ She died on 4 Oct 1835.⁹⁹ She was buried in Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata T.
x.
Jacob SPERA was born on 24 Jul 1774.⁹⁹ He died on 24 Sep 1817.⁹⁹ He was buried in Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata T.
57
xi.
Catherine SPERA.
xii.
George SPERA was born on 12 May 1779.⁹⁹ He died on 12 Nov 1830.⁹⁹ He was buried in Springmills Cem, Berkeley Co., Va..