William George

An 1846 Lancaster County Order Book entry stated that Michael and Jesse George were the sons of William George, a Revolutionary War veteran who died about 1800. These two sons were born to William and Sarah Wilder just before 1800. William and Sarah were married November 24th, 1796 in Lancaster County by Rev. Daniel McNorton. Their bond had been issued on November 9th, with Gilbert Currell providing security. On this bond William was listed as a widower. At this time it is not known who William's previous wife was, or if they had children (though later evidence shows he may have had at least two other sons). Since he was old enough to have fought in the Revolution it means there were as many as 20 years during which William could have had a family before his family with Sarah Wilder. Earlier marriage bonds for men named William George in Lancaster County included 1782 to Molly Miner, 1785 to Elizabeth Linton Arms and 1794 to Barbara Dobyns.

Around the year 1800 there were as many as six different William Georges in Lancaster County. Before that year they were rarely differentiated in the records but eventually were noted by their father's name and William's name was followed by "son of Martin" or sometimes "S.M." The first year William was clearly identified in the Lancaster County personal property taxes was 1800, he was listed as owning one slave over 16 and two horses - he paid taxes of 68 cents. In 1801 he was listed with two white males over 16 living in the home (a possible indication of older children from his earlier marriage), one slave over 16, three horses and taxes due in the amount of 80 cents. In 1802 two white males were again listed, along with one slave over 16 and two horses with the taxed amount of 68 cents. 1803 was the last year the William George S.M. was listed in the personal property tax record. He was recorded with three white males over the age of 16, one slave over 16 and two horses - taxes due were again 68 cents.

On February 20th, 1804 Sally (Sarah) George appeared in Lancaster County Court and applied for letters of administration for the estate of "William George son of Martin, deceased." At the same time it was ordered that an appraisal of William's personal estate be made and returned to the court. It does not appear that the appraisal was ever recorded and that William's name did not appear again in the county records until Michael and Jesse were trying to obtain Revolutionary War pension benefits.

An 1834 deposition about the service of a William George in the war was made by Luke Ashburn who testified that William enlisted under Capt. Saunders on the deck of the schooner Lewis Sally for two years and served in the company under Capt. Benjamin. An 1845 deposition by Thomas Currell stated that a William George was in a company under Captain J. Benjamin serving five years. The name William George is included on the Lancaster County Revolutionary War Honor Roll.