Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Name5G GF Leonard Boyer 
2861
2861Birth1 May 1737, Montgomery Co, PA2862
Memo(American Boyers)
Memo(Barbara Boyer testimony, Union County estate file)
Father6G GF Andreas Bayer (1708-1778)
Mother6G GM Susanna Catharina Berkheimer (~1714-1744)
Spouses
Deathabout 1815
Memo(Barbara Boyer testimony)
Father6G GF Jan Jensen (~1698-1777)
Mother6G GM Elizabeth Papen (~1700-<1728)
Marriageafter 1758
Parent-Proof notes for 5G GF Leonard Boyer
The records of Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran note the birth of Leonard, son of Andreas and Susanna, 1 May 1737 and he was confirmed there in 1753.
Relocated notes for 5G GF Leonard Boyer
I am always suspicious, after my experience researching my ancestor Philip Mertz, who had been confused with a different John Philip Mertz, that it may be erroneous to simply conclude that the Leonard Boyer who died in Center Township in 1825 or so was in fact the same Leonhard Bayer who was named in the church records in Montgomery County -- but I think in this case, that is a safe conclusion.
Leonard was last named in Montgomery County records in the 1790 Census, was taxed in Frederick Township through 1793 and not thereafter, was not named on a 1793 assessment list there and was first named as a taxpayer in (now) Snyder County in 1796. There was evidently a migration of many different people from the Perkiomen region of Montgomery County to Penns Township in that period. Indeed, by 1802, the Hilbish family, who were in fact associated with the Bayer family in Montgomery County, also came to Penns Township. And the Haas family, closely associated with the Boyers of Montgomery County, came too in the same time frame. The Bickharts followed.
Leonard was last named in Montgomery County records in the 1790 Census, was taxed in Frederick Township through 1793 and not thereafter, was not named on a 1793 assessment list there and was first named as a taxpayer in (now) Snyder County in 1796. There was evidently a migration of many different people from the Perkiomen region of Montgomery County to Penns Township in that period. Indeed, by 1802, the Hilbish family, who were in fact associated with the Bayer family in Montgomery County, also came to Penns Township. And the Haas family, closely associated with the Boyers of Montgomery County, came too in the same time frame. The Bickharts followed.
Census History notes for 5G GF Leonard Boyer
1790. Leonard Boyer was listed in Montgomery County with himself, 5 young males and 2 total females.
1800. I cannot find him, he should be present in Penns Township.
1810. Three different men named Leonard Boyer and are farmers in Penns Township. Two of the listings have the same headcount of people by age bracket and list a Leonard age 45+ -- I think both may be our Leonard. The other listing would then be his son, age 26-45. Our Leonard also lives with a son 16-26 and his wife age 45+.
1820. I cannot find him in 1820 either.
1800. I cannot find him, he should be present in Penns Township.
1810. Three different men named Leonard Boyer and are farmers in Penns Township. Two of the listings have the same headcount of people by age bracket and list a Leonard age 45+ -- I think both may be our Leonard. The other listing would then be his son, age 26-45. Our Leonard also lives with a son 16-26 and his wife age 45+.
1820. I cannot find him in 1820 either.
Research notes for 5G GF Leonard Boyer
He was a sponsor at a baptism in 1758, said to be single. His co-sponsor was his step-sister, Maria Barbara Pickhart.
My Comments notes for 5G GF Leonard Boyer
Leonard’s will was written 8 April 1812 and proved 10 Feb 1826. Normally, a person’s will is proved soon after their death, so my guess would be he died either very late in 1825 or early 1826. But the various sources that cover Leonard place a broader range on his possible date of death. The problems are: there is no record of his burial (no surviving tombstone), he was not present in the 1820 Census (though he was probably living with one of his children) and there was apparently no direct documented evidence of him later than 1812.
From the testimony of Barbara Boyer discussed elsewhere, we might conclude he died about 1823. However, in his estate file, in the list of notes owed him by his children, there was one dated 1 Apr 1825 -- doesn’t that mean Leonard was still alive then? I have gone with 1825 as his year of death.
From the testimony of Barbara Boyer discussed elsewhere, we might conclude he died about 1823. However, in his estate file, in the list of notes owed him by his children, there was one dated 1 Apr 1825 -- doesn’t that mean Leonard was still alive then? I have gone with 1825 as his year of death.
Children Names notes for 5G GF Leonard Boyer
His will named his children. He also mentioned wife Margaret and left her the interest on a sum of money for her use and to support his son Henry who was a “lunatic”. He mentioned deceased son George and George’s children: Jacob, John, George, Mary (our Polly) and Elizabeth. He mentioned sons William, John, Jacob, Samuel and Leonard. And he mentioned daughters: Christina wife of John Tillman, Catherine wife of Isaac Kreider and Elizabeth wife of William Haas.
All of these children except George, Henry and Christina were baptized at Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church between the years of 1763 and 1783. In fact, the carry-through of his children’s names is part of the proof that Leonard Boyer had moved from Montgomery County to Penns Township.
All of these children except George, Henry and Christina were baptized at Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church between the years of 1763 and 1783. In fact, the carry-through of his children’s names is part of the proof that Leonard Boyer had moved from Montgomery County to Penns Township.
Parent-Proof notes for Margaret (Spouse 1)
The will of Jan Jensen makes clear his youngest daughter Margaret was the wife of Leonard Boyer. The real question though is who was Margaret’s mother?
“American Boyers” says that Leonard’s wife was Margaret Johnson daughter of John and Elizabeth (Papen) Johnson. The AWT of Michael K Miller cites “Jansen/Johnson Family of Chester County” by Athena Johnson Bogart -- and says Margaret was the daughter of Jan Jensen and Elizabeth Rittenhouse Papen. But the Jansen book also says that Jan Jensen married second Anna Maria Rittenhouse and that the last known mention of wife Elizabeth was 1730. (That is wrong, it was 1728.)
The important question is how it is known which wife of Jan Jensen was the mother of which children and, for us the question is: Who was the mother of Margaret?
Leonard Boyer’s birth date is known, it was 1737. If Margaret was born about then too, Elizabeth Papen is ruled out as her mother. In that case her mother was Anna Maria and the question then becomes was she Mary Rittenhouse? But there are instances where men married women quite a bit older -- not many but they can be found.
My current working theory, though, is that Margaret was the daughter of Elizabeth Papen, named after her mother’s sister. She must have been a special woman because she married a man ten years her senior.
“American Boyers” says that Leonard’s wife was Margaret Johnson daughter of John and Elizabeth (Papen) Johnson. The AWT of Michael K Miller cites “Jansen/Johnson Family of Chester County” by Athena Johnson Bogart -- and says Margaret was the daughter of Jan Jensen and Elizabeth Rittenhouse Papen. But the Jansen book also says that Jan Jensen married second Anna Maria Rittenhouse and that the last known mention of wife Elizabeth was 1730. (That is wrong, it was 1728.)
The important question is how it is known which wife of Jan Jensen was the mother of which children and, for us the question is: Who was the mother of Margaret?
Leonard Boyer’s birth date is known, it was 1737. If Margaret was born about then too, Elizabeth Papen is ruled out as her mother. In that case her mother was Anna Maria and the question then becomes was she Mary Rittenhouse? But there are instances where men married women quite a bit older -- not many but they can be found.
My current working theory, though, is that Margaret was the daughter of Elizabeth Papen, named after her mother’s sister. She must have been a special woman because she married a man ten years her senior.