Wigard (Wechard) Levering ¹

  General Notes:

LEVERING FAMILY
HISTORY AND GENEALOGY.
BY COL. JOHN LEVERING, OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA,

WIGARD4, or WECHARD4: b. in 1719 at Roxb. He was
m. twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Sturges, who
died. His second, Elizabeth (???). She also died, in
Oct., 1813, aged 81 years, and is buried in Lev. Cem.
She left a will, dated August 13, 1812, which was proved
at Norristown, Oct. 12, 1813.

Mr. Jones states: "He owned several tracts of land in Roxborough. One contained 88 acres, which he bought in 1753, and which he sold in parcels to various persons. Several of the deeds for this land, signed by Wechard and his wife, I have seen. To recover this land one of his grandsons brought an action of ejectment in the year 1854 and another in 1857. He also owned a farm on the northerly side of the Ridge Road, at the corner of Hermit's Lane, and on it erected a large stone house similar to that of his brother Abraham. The date stone marked WL., 1742, is now in possession of Enoch6 Levering, who uses it as a back to his fireplace in order to keep it safe. Having sold all his lands in Roxborough. Wechard removed to Plymouth Township (then in Philad., now in) Montgomery Co., where he bought a large tract of land," etc.
The farm at the "corner of Hermit's Lane" Wechard sold and transferred to his nephew, John5 Levering, who lived in the house described, and died there July 28, 1832. His son Enoch6 succeeded to the ownership, and lived in the premises nntil he died, in June, 1775, aged 79 1/2 years. All the children of John5, from the year 1778 to 1795, including Enoch6, were born in this house. It is now numbered 3905 Ridge Avenue, Philad., being north of 3900th Street, formerly Hermit Street. It is still (1894) occupied by Sophia, widow of Enoch, and their uamarried daughter Sarah7 S., who will succeed to the title, by provision of the will of her father, on the death of her mother, who is now 86 years old.
During February, 1884, I again visited the old homestead, and slept in the room where "all the children"--including my father Abraham6--were born. Since the death of Enoch the house has been enlarged and much improved. The old "date stone," referred to by Mr. Jones, is still preserved in an upper room (not "fireplace"). It is of hard soapstone, measures 16 by 24 inches, and is 4 inches thick. It is carved distinctly with sunken letters and ornamental scroll work. The inscription is W L, 1843 (not 2, as Mr. Jones notes).
Wechard died July 6, 1782, and was buried in Lev. Cem. His will, on record in Philadelphia, is dated May 24, 1782, and was proved July 22, 1782. His signature to this will is written WECHARD Levering, a corruption of Wigard, and spelled as his pronunciation sounded.

Decedent Wigard Levering Plymouth, Philadelphia Co. Yeoman S:147 24 5 1782 22 7 1782 Remarks: Levering, Wigard. Plymouth, Co. of Phila. Yeoman. May 24, 1782. July 22, 1782. S.147. Wife: Elizabeth. Children: William, Joseph, Benjamin, Wigard, Margaret, Ailse, Magdalen, Elizabeth, Peter. Grandchildren: Abel and Elizabeth Levering, Children of son Jacob, decd. Exec: Elizabeth and Brother Anthony Levering.

Wigard married Elizabeth Sturges.

Wigard next married Elizabeth.