George Moyer
George Moyer was the “father” of many of the Moyer families of Fairfield, Perry, Shelby, Allen, and Van Wert Counties, Ohio. George’s roots in Pennsylvania are a source of considerable speculation by a number of genealogists. While it seems that he certainly had roots or lived for a time as a boy or young man in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, this is speculative.[1]

He may have been the George Moyer listed in the 1800 Census of Somerset Co, PA[2] This is a household of four, with a male and a female 26-44, 1 female under 10, and 1 male under 10. If this were indeed our family, then the number of females under 10 should have been 3 (Eve, Catharine, Elizabeth). This George Moyer is listed immediately adjacent to a George Moyer, Sr. This George died in 1821 in Wharton Twp, Fayette Co, PA.[3] His heirs included daughter Eve Fike, daughter-in-law Barbara Fiske, daughter Barbara Mast, sons George, Jacob, Isaac, and Samuel, and daughter Elizabeth. While the naming patterns of this family certainly represent those of George and Catharine Moyer’s family in Ohio, it is unclear if this is indeed the right family. It is important to note that John Fry, husband of Catharine Fry Moyer, was also resident in Wharton Twp, Fayette Co, PA in 1810 (listed on following page from George Myers and a George Myers, Jr.).[4]

Abt. 1767 – George Moyer is born in Pennsylvania.[5]

Abt. 1792 – George marries Catharine Fry, probably in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Although there is no date, the marriage is attested by later deeds in Ohio (see 1828, May – below).

“after 1804” – George Moyer is among a group of settlers listed as settling in Bowling Green Township, Licking County, Ohio after 1804.[6]

Abt 1807-1809 – death of Catharine (Fry) Moyer, based on birth of her last child, Mary (Moyer) Beery in 1807 and the birth of George’s first son by his second wife, David Moyer, about 1810.

1809 – a George Moyer is listed as resident in Bowling Green Township, Licking County, Ohio.[7] This township is located along the southern edge of Licking County, along the Perry County line, just north of Thornville and Somerset, Ohio and a bit NE of Fairfield County.

Abt 1809-1810 – George Moyer marries his second wife, Jane, based on 1810 birth date of their eldest son, David. No record of this marriage seems to exist in Licking, Fairfield, or Perry Counties, Ohio.

1810 – a George Moyer is listed as resident in Bowling Green Township, Licking County, Ohio.[8]

NB – a problem emerges in these records. While it seems that the family of George Moyer, Sr. in Fayette Co, PA is an excellent match for our George in Ohio, two things work against this. First, the numbers of children in both 1800 and 1810 do not fully match George Moyer of Ohio’s family. Second, George Moyer (son of George, d. 1821) is apparently still living in Wharton Township, Fayette County, Ohio in 1810, whereas a George Moyer has already appeared in Bowling Green Township, Licking County, Ohio. Since the Fry family was in both places, it’s not clear where the solution might lie. Two other issues: it has always been assumed that Samuel Moyer, son of George, was born in Ohio.[9]

1817, 6 May – George deeds land to son John Moyer.[10]

1820 – George is resident in Bowling Green Twp, Licking Co, OH as follows: [11] John Moyer, John Fry, and other members of the Fry family were resident nearby.

Free White Males - Under 10: 3
Free White Males - 10 thru 15:2
Free White Males - 45 and over:1
Free White Females - Under 10:1
Free White Females - 10 thru 15:1
Free White Females - 26 thru 44:1
Free White Females - 45 and over:1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture:1
Free White Persons - Under 16:7
Free White Persons - Over 25:3
Total Free White Persons:10

1828, May – the heirs of Catharine Fry Moyer sell their share of their grandfather’s estate to their uncle, Henry Fry. "We, John Meyer, Samuel Meyer, Polly Meyer(Moyer?), Jacob King and Catherine his wife, George King, Jacob Mather and Elizabeth his wife, Christian Steamer and Maggy his wife; children of Catherine Meyer late Catherine Fry, one of the children of John Fry of Licking County, State of Ohio, deceased, for and in consideration of $70.00 to us in hand, paid by Henry Fry of Fairfield County, Ohio, quit claim to Henry Fry. Land in north-west quarter of section 29, township 15, range 20 in Fairfield County and being the same tract of land heretofore contracted to be sold by the said John Fry, deceased to the said Henry Fry. May 28, 1828. State of Ohio, Perry County. Land purchased by John Fry in 1813."[12]

1830 – George Mawyer living in Bowling Green Township, Licking County, Ohio.[13] John Mawyer is nearby.
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:1
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9:1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:2
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19:1
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69:1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14:1
Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59:1
Free White Persons - Under 20:7
Total Free White Persons:9

1832 – George Moyer of Licking County, Ohio purchases land from Henry and Catharine (Rinehart) Struble of Shelby County for $170, located in Range 13, Township 2, Section 29, and described as West ½ of NE ¼ (description may not be full).[14]

1833 – a George Moyer appears on the tax list of Perry Township, Shelby County, Ohio, alongside son Samuel (who appears from 1831) and members of Rinehart and Bailor families.[15] A George Moyer appears in Cynthian Township of Shelby County as early as 1827, but this is a different family.

1834 – George Moyer is listed as a landowner in Perry Township (Range 13, Township 2, Section 29, NW ¼ of E ½. Valued at $80. He was also taxed for 3 horses and 1 cow.[16] He appears with similar holding annually through 1838.

1840 – George Moyer is living in Perry Township, Shelby County, Ohio. Members of his family as well as the Rinehart family are living nearby.[17]
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19:1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:1
Free White Persons - Males - 70 thru 79:1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19:1
Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69:1
Total - All Persons (Free White, Free Colored, Slaves):6
Persons Employed in Agriculture:3
Free White Persons - Under 20:3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:1
Total Free White Persons:6

1849, 13 August – George Moyer writes his will.

1850, 15 August - George Moyer listed in 1850 Census of Perry Twp, Shelby Co, OH, with wife Jane and several members of his family.[18]

1850, September or October – George Moyer dies in Shelby County, Ohio, based on will.

1850, October – will probated in Shelby County, Ohio.[19]

1860, 12 July – Jane is living with her son, Ambrose, and daughter, Diana, in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio. She is listed as aged 83, born in New York.[20]

1864, 30 March – Jane sells property to William Dunlap in Shelby County, Ohio, consisting of 86 acres fitting same general description as that taxed to George Moyer in the 1830s.[21]

Children:
The children of George Moyer by his first wife, Catharine Fry, are established by the 1828 quit claim deed regarding their inheritance from their grandfather, John Fry.

This clearly lists the following children:

John Moyer

Catharine Moyer, who married Jacob King

Elizabeth Moyer, who married Jacob Mosier

Margaret Moyer, who married Christian Stemen

Samuel Moyer

Mary Moyer

In addition, this also lists a George King as an heir. Since Eve Moyer married George King on 18 April 1816 in Fairfield County, Ohio,[22] it is assumed that she was the oldest daughter of the family. George was a brother of Jacob King, who married Catharine Moyer. This is further confirmed by a Shelby County, Ohio deed in which Catharine King, Peter King, and John King sell their share of George Moyer’s estate to William Dunlap in 1864.[23] This is likely Catharine King, second wife of George King, and his sons by Eve Moyer King, Peter and John.
Therefore, George’s children by his first marriage were:

1. John Moyer , who probably married Diana Kistler and settled in Licking, Shelby, and finally Logan County, Ohio, where he died in 1849.[24]
2. Eve Moyer, who married George King and died around 1819 in Perry County, Ohio.
3. Catharine Moyer, who married Jacob King and died in Seneca County, Ohio in 1881.
4. Elizabeth Moyer, who married Jacob Mosier and died at Elida, Allen County, Ohio in 1852.
5. Margaret Moyer, who married Christian Stemen and died near Elida, Allen County, Ohio in 1864.
6. Samuel Moyer, who married Mary Elizabeth Rinehart, settled near Delphos in Allen County, Ohio, and died near Convoy, Van Wert County, Ohio in 1898.
7. Mary Moyer, who married Samuel Beery and lived in Perry County, Ohio, where she died in 1898.

George’s children by his second wife can be inferred from census records and are further confirmed by George’s will and estate, as well as deeds relating to his property after his death.[25] The following children are known:

1. George Moyer, Jr., who married Ann Consolver and later Johanna Fish and likely died in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
2. David Moyer, who married Ruth Veneman and later Amanda Armstrong and Susannah Stephens, settling first in Elkhart County, Indiana and later Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, where he died in 1877.
3. Solomon Moyer, who married Nancy Dillsaver and later Mary Guyselman and lived in Lima, Allen County, Ohio, where he died in 1904.
4. Diana or Anna Moyer, who married George Franks and lived in Shelby County and later Lima, Allen County, Ohio, where she died between 1900 and 1908.
5. Ambrose Moyer, who married Rachel Croft, and lived for a time in Indiana before settling in Lima, Allen County, Ohio where he died in 1882.
   In addition, there may have been a brother James Moyer.

What remains to be done:
While the story of George’s life has come together considerably through the work of many, many questions remain. Among these are:

• George’s relationship, if any, to the George Moyer family of Wharton Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
• George’s relationship, if any, to the other Moyer families of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio.
• George’s relationship, if any, to the Moyer family of Cynthian Township, Shelby County, Ohio.
• Further study is needed of the various quit claim deeds involving George’s heirs in Shelby County in 1864, especially those involving George & Eva (Moyer) King and family. The linkage between George, Eva, George’s second wife Catharine (Moyer) King, and his sons Peter and John needs to be researched further.

Sources
[1] This assumption is based primarily on the Fry family’s presence in Northumberland Co, PA (see John Fry, Sr. on 1800 Census of Penns Twp, Northumberland Co, PA, p. 734) and the presence of a large Moyer family there in the late 18th century, including a George Moyer in 1790 (see George Mayer on 1790 Census of Northumberland Co, PA, p. 82).
[2] 1800 Census of Elk Lick, Somerset Co, PA, pp. 552-553.
[3] Will of George Moyer, Fayette Co, PA, Will Book 1, p. 720, 29 Oct 1821.
[4] 1810 Census of Wharton Twp, Fayette Co, PA, Roll 54.
[5] 1850 Census of Perry Twp, Shelby Co, OH, p. 201A. 15 Aug 1850.
[6] Hill, N.N. History of Licking County, Ohio, its Past and Present. Newark, OH: A.A. Graham, p. 304.
[7] Bowling Green Twp, Licking Co, OH Tax List. http://www.ancestry.com/.
[8] Bowling Green Twp, Licking Co, OH Tax List. http://www.ancestry.com/
[9] For example, see 1850 Census of Marion Twp, Allen Co, OH, p. 328A.
[10] Unsubstantiated at moment, but multiple references to original Licking Co, OH deed online.
[11] 1820 Census of Bowling Green Twp, Licking Co, OH, p. 29.
[12] Fairfield Co, OH Deeds, Vol. Q, p. 39.
[13] 1830 Census of Bowling Green Twp, Licking Co, OH, p. 356.
[14] Henry Struble & Catherine, his wife, to George Moyer. 8 May 1832. Shelby Co, OH Recorders’ Office, R-394.
[15] Tax Records of Shelby County, Ohio. Unpublished. Available at Amos Memorial Public Library, Sidney, Ohio.
[16] Ibid.
[17] 1840 Census of Perry Twp, Shelby Co, OH, p. 426.
[18] 1850 Census of Perry Twp, Shelby Co, OH, p. 201A.
[19] Will of George Moyer, Shelby Co, OH, Case A-582.
[20] 1860 Census of Dinsmore Twp, Shelby Co, OH, p. 324.
[21] Jane Moyer to William Dunlap, 30 March 1864. Shelby County Recorders’ Office, Book 29-291.
[22] Fairfield Co, OH marriage records. Via http://www.labs.familysearch.com/. Original record needs to be verified.
[23] Catharine, Peter, and John King to William Dunlap. 30 March 1864. Shelby County Recorders’ Office, Book 29, p. 293.
[24] Research ongoing to prove this connection.
[25] A host of deeds in 1864 show heirs selling their shares of the estate, mainly to William Dunlap. See Book 29, pp. 289-295.