George Gearhart was born on 19. Feb. 1792 at Lebanon Twp., Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He was the son of
Mathias Gearhart and
Margaretha Hummer. George Gearhart married
Rebecca McPherson, daughter of
Reuben McPherson and
(Unknown) Trout, on 6. Jun. 1813 at Nazareth, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. George Gearhart began military service on 17. Sep. 1814; served as a Pvt. in Captain Fisher's Co. 71 Pennsylvania Militia. He ended military service on 20. Dec. 1814 at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. In the census on 24. Dec. 1850 George Gearhart was named George Geerhart. George Gearhart was shown in the census on 24. Dec. 1850 as a farmer.
George Gearhart and
Rebecca McPherson appeared on the census of 24. Dec. 1850 at Fairmont Twp., Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; real estate value 800.00. George Gearhart was shown in the census on 24. Jun. 1860 as a farmer.
George Gearhart appeared on the census of 24. Jun. 1860 at Fairmont Twp., Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; real estate value 2,000.00. George Gearhart was shown in the census on 19. Aug. 1870 as a retired farmer.
George Gearhart appeared on the census of 19. Aug. 1870 at Fairmont Twp., Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; George is listed as the head of household
The family of Edmond and Cassandra Tubs are listed with him. He left a will on 8. Jun. 1876 at Fairmont Twp., Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
I, George Gearhart of Fairmount Township in the County of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania being of sound mind, memory and understanding do make this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made. As to such estate as it hath pleased God to entrust me with, I do dispose of same as follows. Viz.
I will and bequeath to my Granddaughter Fanny Roselia Dodson the sum of fifty dollars at her marriage. In case she should marry before my death and if the said fifty dollars is paid by me before my death it shall be in full of said bequeath. In case I do not pay the said fifty dollars to my Granddaughter before my death I direct the said fifty dollars be put out at interest from the date of my death and the interest hereof paid t0 her yearly or until her marriage and in case she should remain unmarried and in case she arrives at the age of twenty one years then the said bequeath be paid to her mother Sabra Shultz.
I will and bequeath to my daughters Mary A. Tubbs, Nancy Ann Harrison, Elizabeth Seward, and Lydia Hartman, Martha Thomas, Elvira Tubbs and Sabra Shultz each three hundred for which I have already paid them and have receipts for the same which shall be their respective shares in full.
To my daughter Margaret Porter now deceased the sum of two hundred dollars which I have already paid her and have receipts for the same shall be her and her heirs share in full.
I will and bequeath to John H. Porter a promissory note I hold against him dated March 15, 1872 for five dollars and interest. All the rest of my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever of what nature kind and quality so ever the same may be and not here before given and disposed of after paying my debts, funeral expenses and the proving of this will.
I give and bequeath to my four sons Mathias, Reuben, George and Jackson share and share alike. I do hereby constitute and appoint Mathias Gearhart and J. K. Krickbaum my sole executors of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I George Gearhart saw the testator of this my will written on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal this Eighth day of June, one thousand eight hundred & seventy six.
Witness present
Charles A. Kase George Gearhart (seal)
Alfred I. Kitchen.
George Gearhart appeared on the census of 12. Jun. 1880 at with his daughter Elvira, Fairmont Twp., Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He died on 5. Jul. 1885 at Cambra, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, at age 93. He was buried at Potter-Emory Cemetery, Cambra, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
This day before me, Samuel N Boyd esq. Register of Wills in and a fore said county came Charles A. Case and Alfred Kitchen, the subscribed witness to the last will and testament of George Gearhart, Fairmount Township, Luzerne County and the State of Pennsylvania, deceased who being duly sworn according to law do say that they were present and saw and heard George Gearhart the testator sign seal publish pronounce and declare the forgoing instrument of writing is and for his last will and testament and
that at the time of so doing he was of sound mind and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief and that they did sign their names as subscribing witnesses in the presence of each other and in the presence of the testator
Sworn and Subscribed before me
Charles A Kase
The day and year above written
Alfred Kitchen
Samuel W Boyd register
and now to wit 13" day of July 1885
Having considered the testimony offered in this case and filed the same of record, I do adjudge the foregoing writing to be duly proved as the last will and testament of the said George Gearhart now deceased and as such I do under the same record according to law.
Samuel W. Boyd Register
In conformity with the above will and probate thereof Letters Testamentary therein were this 13" day of July granted unto M. Gearhart & K Krickbaum they having first been duly sworn to will and duly administer the goods and chattel rights and credits which were of George Gearhart, now deceased, according to law.
Date of death Sunday, the 5th day of July at 3 o'clock AM.
Given by my hand this 13" day of July AD 1885
Samuel W. Boyd Register on 13. Jul. 1885.
George relocated after 1814 to Mauch Chunk Township, Carbon Co., Pennsylvania. In 1822 George left Nazareth. Rented a home to live in owned by Mr. Joseph Eck near Evansville, Briar Creek Twp., Columbia Co., PA. Lived there 7 years. Joseph Eck gave George a lot of employment on his farm near Evansville. Mr. Eck owned 300 acres and wanted a man to come and clear up the land for the first 3 years crops. George accepted this offer and moved in 1829 to Mr. Ecks' tract, small log house. Once a year the shoemaker would come to George's house to make their shoes out of Cattle hide. George was a weaver by trade. Had two looms making homespun. He made rope out of flax. Between 1850-1871 George lived in Cambra, Luzerne Co., PA. George cared for his Mother-in-law at his home in her old age. His mother-in-law remembered seeing General George Washington at the Battle of Trenton when she was a girl of ten years old. Sister Nancy wrote to George. In those days letters were carried by companies at .25 cents per letter. The receiver paid the postage, but George couldn't get the letter because he couldn't pay for it. George's brother Isaac lived in Ohio, Sister Nancy Russel lived in Northampton Co., PA, Jacob "Judge" Gearhart lived near Danville, PA.
Per History of Gearhart Family by William W. Gearhart written January 08, 1931, (See below) he states that his Grandfather George walked to Philadelphia to visit his Father Mathias to borrow money for a farm. He found his Father Mathias and his Step-Mother living in grand style in Philadelphia. Mathias said no. He never saw his Father again.
HISTORY OF THE GEARHART FAMILY
BY WILLIAM W. GEARHART JAN. 8th, 1931
Grandfather George Gearhart footed to Philadelphia to pay his father, Matthias Gearhart a visit and ask for help to buy a farm then in the woods at 50 cents an acre. But Grandfather George Gearhart could get no help from his father, Matt. Gearhart.
George Gearhart's Mother's maiden name was Hummer. Her given name I can't tell you. Great Grandfather Matthias's father's name was Godfrey Gearhart. [wrong, should be George "Jury"] I can't tell Great Great Grandfather George Gearhart's wife's given name. Grandfather George Gearhart's wife's name was Rebecca McPherson. I can't tell you Great Grandfather McPherson's name, nor Great Grandmother's. Great Grandmother McPherson' maiden name was Trout (Irish). Grandfather Geo. Gearhart's mother died, then later his father, Matthias married a young lady eighteen years old. I did not learn her given and maiden name. When Grandfather Geo. Gearhart visited his father, Matthias Gearhart and stepmother at Philadelphia, he found them living in grand style. Grandfather Geo. Gearhart made his visit, then bade his father and stepmother good bye, and never saw or heard from them again. (Note-- Maybe buried in Mt. Moriah cemetery W. Philadelphia.) My Great Aunt, Nancy Russell (nee Gearhart) lived in Northampton County, Pa., and she wrote and sent a letter to her brother, Grandfather Geo. Gearhart at Cambra, Luzerne County, Pa. In those days letters were carried by companies, at twenty-five cents a parcel. The receiver paid the postage, so my people said when the letter came Grandfather could not have it, for he had not the money to pay the carrier.
I said I could not give you Great Grandfather McPherson's given name. On thinking about it, it comes to me that my father told me it was Ruben McPherson. Great Grandmother McPherson Grandfather, Geo. Gearhart Sr. took to his home and cared for her in old age. She remembered seeing Gen. Washington at the Battle of Trenton. She was then a girl ten years old This incident Aunt Alvira Tubbs gave me as her Grandmother McPherson related it to her. This Great Grandmother McPherson died at her son-in-law's home, where Cousin Bernard Gearhart now lives and owns on Tubbs hill about two miles north of Cambra. (cousin Bernard has since moved to Fairmount Springs, Pa.) She is buried in the plot by the side of her daughter, Rebecca McPherson Gearhart in the Emory Cemetery located about a mile east of Cambra, Pa.
Grandfather Geo. Gearhart was a soldier during the War of 1812. He told me he was not in any action, nor never was on picket. I asked him why not on picket. His answer was he kept his gun shining bright all the time, so that when the sun would be shining, the glitter of their guns would make the regiment more commanding to the enemy. He also said the part of the army that at he belonged to lay below Philadelphia in training and expecting to be ordered to Lake Erie at and time. Perry's victory stayed the call. The Government paid him a pension of $96.00 a year. I have understood Grandfather Geo. Gearhart was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
Right here I must tell you a little story they told me. Grandmother Rebecca McPherson Gearhart was a bound girl. Grandfather was a hired man at the same place. One day Grandmother went to get a pail of water at a deep spring or shallow well which was large around. She fell in. Grand-father saw her in the water, got to the spring just as she was going down the third time, caught her by the hair, and saved her. In time after, they were married. When Grandfather was married, they moved to Nazareth, Northampton County, Pa. There my father (Ruben) was born February 8, 1821. Aunt Mary Gearhart was older. She remembered going to school at Nazareth she said to me.
The year of 1822 Grandfather left Nazareth, came by a little clearing, one or two dwellings. The men wanted Grandfather to buy land there and make a home for him and family. He said the land was covered with brush, and how could he earn a living there for his wife and children. The day came when Grandfather regretted that he did not listen and try to buy the land having only brush, years after coal, and the little clearing the beginning of Mauch Chunk. I can take you to the very spot we were when he told me the story of his regrets.
Well, he came on and rented a home to live in owned by a Mr. Jos. Eck, near Evansville, Briar Creek Twp., Col. Co. Pa. There they lived seven years. Grandfather made the living for the family by the day's work. Mr. Eck gave a lot of employment to Grandfather on his farm near Evansville. Mr. Eck also owned 300 acres and wanted a man to come and clear up the land for the first three year crops. Grandfather accepted the offer and in the spring of 1829 moved to Mr. Eck's tract, having a small clearing on it, a log house, and a log barn.
Andrew Belles was the next owner of the Eck place. Then Daniel Ash. Afterwards Grace Ash Hazlett east of the Berwick and Tioga turnpike and Andrew Ash west side and now Levi Sutliff's, where Andrew Ash owned. The log house Grandfather lived in stood near the wagon shed that is now standing.
My father, Ruben Gearhart, was eight years old when Grandfather came to clear the land of the Eck's. Father told me it was then woods from Cambra to the Eck place, from the Eck place woods to Fairmount Springs, and from Fairmount Springs solid woods to the mountain and beyond. He was so homesick1 he declared, when he became a man he would go back to Briar Creek to live, But when he arrived to a man's estate, he changed his mind and never went back to stay. When he was nearly eighty years of age, he asked me to take him to his home of early days. The well and hills were the only objects that were natural. He found some of the Joseph Eck descendants living on the Eck farms. He visited the stone church and school house where he went to church and school, and the cemetery. the grave markers bearing the names he read--of some he knew. He was satisfied. He said he did not wish to go back again to the land of his childhood days.
(This church erected in 1808 the home of Methodism in this area.)
Grandfather Geo. Gearhart was a weaver by trade. He had two looms making homespun. One of his daughters kept going and one He operated at night after his days work in the fields. He also made rope out of flax, to be used around the house. Once a year the shoemaker would come to Grandfather's house to make their shoes out of cattle hide.