Family/Spouse: COLDREN, Sarah. Sarah was born on 6 May 1776 in Union Township, Snyder County, PA; died on 9 Jun 1848; was buried in Cemetery at Witmer's Church, Union Township, Snyder County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. WITMER, Peter was born on 11 Jun 1797; and died.
2. WITMER, John C was born on 20 May 1799; died on 19 Jun 1865; was buried in Witmer Cemetery, Union Township, Snyder County, PA.
3. WITMER, Solomon Elias was born about 1802; and died.
4. WITMER, Henry was born about 1804; and died.
5. WITMER, Jacob M was born on 25 Dec 1805 in Dundore, Snyder County, PA; died on 11 Aug 1874 in Wilton Junction, IA.
6. WITMER, Elizabeth was born about 1809; and died.
7. WITMER, Daniel was born on 10 Feb 1812 in PA; died on 14 Dec 1896.
8. WITMER, Isaac was born on 17 Jan 1817 in PA; died on 27 Aug 1896.
9. WITMER, David was born on 12 Oct 1821 in Snyder County, PA; died on 10 Dec 1904 in Snyder County, PA.

Notes:

He arrives with his parents, brothers and sister, when he was 10 years old. They came aboard the ship, Restauration; James Hall, Capt; from Rotterdam, last from Leith. His parents, born in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, had fled with other Swiss Mennonite families due to religious persecution.

He was a soldier in the Pennsylvania Continental Line during the Revolution. He was also a soldier in the Militia from Northumberland County, PA.

He was a private in a company of the militia active as Rangers against the Indians on the frontier. The Company was commanded by Capt. John Moll of Sunbury, PA.

Peter married SCHUETT, Sarah Maria Salome on 7 Oct 1757 in St Michael's and Zion Church, Philippines., Pa. Sarah (daughter of SCHUETT, Carl Valentine Michael) was born on 4 Oct 1740 in Upper Alsace, France; died in 1800 in Snyder County, PA; was buried in Row's (Salem) Cemetery, Penn Township, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the book, "The Witmer Family" compiled by Maxine Blankenhorn Bennett, pub. by Clifford H. Bennett, 1984

Peter Widmer was born abt. 1698 in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. He was listed in the congregation of Swiss Mennonite families who had fled because of religious persecution, to the more tolerant Upper Rhine Valley of Germany and were living there in 1731. Later he was in the congregation at Hasselbach, four miles from Bischofshelm to the South.
Peter and his wife Anna emigrated with their children on the English ship "Restauration", James Hall, Captain, from Rotterdam, last from Leith -- arrived in Philadelphia harbor 9 Oct 1747. They settled in Lancaster County, near friends and relatives who had also emigrated from the Palatinate or adjacent German Duchies. Peter and Anna were parents of several children, but only five are known.

Peter married BACHMAN, Anna Catharine between 1716 and 1752. Anna was born between 1695 and 1720; died between 1745 and 1808. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He belonged to the Swiss Mennonites that fled persecutions to Voverence near Vaufrey, Doubs, France. They were later found wandering in Germany and France and resided in Perry, a town in Germany near the French border. He wasl listed as an early Mennonite Minister in the congregation on the Ziehmerhof.

Johannes married GRABER, Katharina about 1680 in Switzerland. Katharina was born about 1660 in Huttwil, Switzerland; died between 1700 and 1755. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]