He was the son of John Conrad Weiser and his wife Anna Eva Feck.
He was baptized as an infant on 7 Sep 1722 at Schoharie, Schoharie Co., New York by Rev John Bernhard von Duehren, a Lutheran minister. Mr. and Mrs Philip Brown were his sponsors, but it's not known what relation they were, if any.
As a child he moved with his family in 1729 to the Tulpehocken settlement in what would become Berks Co., Pennsylvania. The family eventually acquired a great deal of land near the future town of Womelsdorf.
Philip's father, John Conrad Weiser, served the British and colonial governments as an Indian translator and is credited with delaying the onset of the French and Indian War until the American colonies were strong enough to win. Philip was a loyal and capable son who assisted his father in his adventures and endeavors. A good synopsis of his life is given by Rebecca Jenkins in her biography:
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/e/n/Rebecca-Jenkins-IA/PDFGENE5.pdf
"Philip's life was overshadowed to a great extent by his father's. We see him entering the cloister at Ephrata, as Brother Theobald, with his father; collecting his father's debts; accompanying him on journeys; defending the home from Indian threat. He farmed on his father's land, although he held title to a lot in Reading (which had been patented to him July 11, 1752, and which he sold to Nicholas Godshall, a locksmith, on January 29, 1759) and to a 139-acre tract on the Swatara, which he purchased from Sheriff Thomas Lincoln on August 9, 1759. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, probably Christ Church, where his sons' baptisms are recorded, although he contributed to a schoolhouse for the Heidelberg congregation (St. Daniel's), and was buried at Rieth's Church. He served in the French and Indian War, in the company his father gathered when the Indian threat become apparent."
Philip's parents were Lutherans while they lived in New York, but in their new community at Tulpehocken his father John Conrad became an elder in the Reformed German church. Then in 1735, John Conrad was rebaptized into Conrad Beissel's church at the Ephrata Cloister. He and Eve moved their family into the commune, although Eve didn't stay long and moved back to their farm with most of the children. Philip, along with his sister Madlina, remained with their father at Ephrata, Philip taking the name Brother Theobald.
But Philip's father left the community in 1741 when he was offered a Justiceship by Governor Thomas. Philip may have stayed as a celibate monk for awhile, but at the age of twenty-six, on 22 Nov 1748 at Rieth's [Reed's] church, he was married to Sophia Reim, daughter of Peter Reim. The newlyweds settled down to farm on his parents' old homestead. That Philip didn't completely sever his ties with the Ephrata community is seen by the fact that he named one of his sons after his mentor there, Prior Jabetz.
1752 - the first list of taxables in Berks county, PA included:
Heidelberg township
Philip Weiser
Conrad Weiser Esq.
By 1754, Indian attacks on the Pennsylvanian frontier settlements became frequent and deadly due to French encouragement. Philip, his father, and at least two of his brothers all served in the Pennsylvanian militia to protect their community and neighbors.
1754 - Provincial military officers of Berks county in 1754 were:
Lieutenant Colonel, Conrad Weiser;
Captains, Christian Busse (at Fort Henry), Frederick Smith, Jacob Orndt, and Jacob Morgan (at Fort Lebanon); Lieutenant, Philip Weiser;
Ensigns, Harry (at Fort Lebanon) and Edward Biddle; Sergeant, Peter Smith;
Corporal, Schaeffer.
1756 - Philip was promoted to "Captain-lieutenant."
A few mentions of him are made in Lieutenant Samuel Humphrey's reports from Fort Henry:
"Enclosed is the journal of last month of the ensign at Northkill (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 283.)
A Journal of Fort Northkill, 1757.
Jul 30th. A scout of Lieut. Philip Weiser, from Capt. Busse arrived. Having laid aside out several detachments to assist the farmers, I could send no scout today.
Jul 31. Lieut. Weiser returned from his scout. I called in the detachments this day, and sent out a scout which returned this evening.
Aug 25. Lieut. Philip Weiser came here from Fort Henry, with a scout."
Philip was wounded at some point in the continual skirmishes and never fully recovered his health. He wrote his will in March 1760:
Heidelberg in Berks Co. - The 25th March 1760
Whereas I Philip Weiser find myself, by God's will, visited with bodily sickness and cannot be certain when it may please God to call me out of this world, I have then thought proper, whilst I am yet of sound mind and memory to cause my last will to be written in the following manner.
First, I devise unto my first born son Conrad Weiser, an English Crown-Piece over and above what is hereinafter given unto him.
Secondly, I devise unto my faithful wife Sophia Weiser the third part of all my movables, now in possession as hereafter to be expected. The other two-thirds shall be divided in equal shares between my three sons, and any other child of mine which may hereafter come into the world. All the just debts having been first paid thereout.
Thirdly, respecting the land I am seized or possessed of in my own right, as also the land and land-rights coming to me in virtue of my father's testament, it may fall when and where it will in this or another country, sooner or later, I will that my three sons have equal right to the same, one as much as another, and shall not be sold to strangers before they have given unto each other the preference of purchasing.
Fourthly, it is my will that my beloved wife Sophia Weiser shall have her widow's abode upon the place where we live at present, here in Heidelberg. But if she think it fit to rent out her widow's residence and to remove elsewhere, she shall have full power and right so to do and to receive the rent to her own use and benefit, as long as she remains a widow.
Fifthly, I nominate and appoint my beloved wife Sophia Weiser and my Uncle Christopher Weiser to be the executors over all my estate, whether it be moveable or immoveable. I also hereby direct both my said executors that if Jacob Groninger desire the deed for a piece of land lying in Heidelberg Township in Lancaster County, they shall give him the deed without any denial, I having had full satisfaction of him.
In confirmation thereof I have sealed and signed this my testament in the presence of witnesses. [signed] Philip Weiser
[signed] Petter Werner
[signed] Peter Rem
His father died unexpectedly a few months later on his farm at Womelsdorf.
Philip himself died 27 Mar 1761. He was thirty-eight years old and he left his widow Sophie with four children to raise. His death was entered on the Ephrata records: "Brother Theobald or Philip Weiser, March 27, 1761."
His burial place is shown by his son Jabetz's later record:
"1761, March 27, my father Philiph Weiser died and was buried at the old Tulpehocken Church."
Again according to Rebecca Jenkins at
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/e/n/Rebecca-Jenkins-IA/PDFGENE5.pdf
"Sometime after his death a large tombstone was erected over his grave with a German inscription, still legible, on both sides:
"This is the resting place of the highly honored Philip Weiser. The same was born in the year 1722, the 17th September, and died Anno 1761, the 27th March, his age 38 years, 6 months, and 4 days, and lived in marriage twelve years and four months, and in such time he produced four children, three sons and one little daughter, of whom the little daughter since died, and three sons are still alive."
Children:
1. John Conrad Weiser, b. 30 Aug 1749, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; m. 25 Jul 1771, Reading Town, PA to Barbara Beyer; he d. 1 Feb 1803, Weiserburg [now Selinsgrove], Snyder Co., PA; buried Old Lutheran Cemetery. He served as a Captain during the Revolutionary War and had children.
2. Peter Weiser, b. 26 Apr 1751, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA;
d. 4 Sep 1779, PA; buried Reed's Church Cemetery, Berks County, PA. His brother Jabetz wrote about him: "He was wounded in the last American war, as the Reverlution arose, on the banks of the Brandywine on September 11, 1777, and died as a Lieutenant on September 4, 1779. He was the first who went out as this war began and risked his life for the so-called American freedom. He went at first to Boston as a sargeant." He never married.
3. Jabetz Weiser, b. 3 Jul 1753, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; m.c. 1775 to Mary Elizabeth Wenger [b. 18 Sep 1754, Berks Co., PA; d. 17 Sep 1835, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA, daughter of Lazarus & Anna Catharina (Lauck) Wenger]; he d. 16 May 1829, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; buried in Zion Cemetery, near Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA.
4. Hannah Philippina Weiser, b. 14 Dec 1761, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA. She was a posthumous child who died young.
He was baptized as an infant on 7 Sep 1722 at Schoharie, Schoharie Co., New York by Rev John Bernhard von Duehren, a Lutheran minister. Mr. and Mrs Philip Brown were his sponsors, but it's not known what relation they were, if any.
As a child he moved with his family in 1729 to the Tulpehocken settlement in what would become Berks Co., Pennsylvania. The family eventually acquired a great deal of land near the future town of Womelsdorf.
Philip's father, John Conrad Weiser, served the British and colonial governments as an Indian translator and is credited with delaying the onset of the French and Indian War until the American colonies were strong enough to win. Philip was a loyal and capable son who assisted his father in his adventures and endeavors. A good synopsis of his life is given by Rebecca Jenkins in her biography:
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/e/n/Rebecca-Jenkins-IA/PDFGENE5.pdf
"Philip's life was overshadowed to a great extent by his father's. We see him entering the cloister at Ephrata, as Brother Theobald, with his father; collecting his father's debts; accompanying him on journeys; defending the home from Indian threat. He farmed on his father's land, although he held title to a lot in Reading (which had been patented to him July 11, 1752, and which he sold to Nicholas Godshall, a locksmith, on January 29, 1759) and to a 139-acre tract on the Swatara, which he purchased from Sheriff Thomas Lincoln on August 9, 1759. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, probably Christ Church, where his sons' baptisms are recorded, although he contributed to a schoolhouse for the Heidelberg congregation (St. Daniel's), and was buried at Rieth's Church. He served in the French and Indian War, in the company his father gathered when the Indian threat become apparent."
Philip's parents were Lutherans while they lived in New York, but in their new community at Tulpehocken his father John Conrad became an elder in the Reformed German church. Then in 1735, John Conrad was rebaptized into Conrad Beissel's church at the Ephrata Cloister. He and Eve moved their family into the commune, although Eve didn't stay long and moved back to their farm with most of the children. Philip, along with his sister Madlina, remained with their father at Ephrata, Philip taking the name Brother Theobald.
But Philip's father left the community in 1741 when he was offered a Justiceship by Governor Thomas. Philip may have stayed as a celibate monk for awhile, but at the age of twenty-six, on 22 Nov 1748 at Rieth's [Reed's] church, he was married to Sophia Reim, daughter of Peter Reim. The newlyweds settled down to farm on his parents' old homestead. That Philip didn't completely sever his ties with the Ephrata community is seen by the fact that he named one of his sons after his mentor there, Prior Jabetz.
1752 - the first list of taxables in Berks county, PA included:
Heidelberg township
Philip Weiser
Conrad Weiser Esq.
By 1754, Indian attacks on the Pennsylvanian frontier settlements became frequent and deadly due to French encouragement. Philip, his father, and at least two of his brothers all served in the Pennsylvanian militia to protect their community and neighbors.
1754 - Provincial military officers of Berks county in 1754 were:
Lieutenant Colonel, Conrad Weiser;
Captains, Christian Busse (at Fort Henry), Frederick Smith, Jacob Orndt, and Jacob Morgan (at Fort Lebanon); Lieutenant, Philip Weiser;
Ensigns, Harry (at Fort Lebanon) and Edward Biddle; Sergeant, Peter Smith;
Corporal, Schaeffer.
1756 - Philip was promoted to "Captain-lieutenant."
A few mentions of him are made in Lieutenant Samuel Humphrey's reports from Fort Henry:
"Enclosed is the journal of last month of the ensign at Northkill (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 283.)
A Journal of Fort Northkill, 1757.
Jul 30th. A scout of Lieut. Philip Weiser, from Capt. Busse arrived. Having laid aside out several detachments to assist the farmers, I could send no scout today.
Jul 31. Lieut. Weiser returned from his scout. I called in the detachments this day, and sent out a scout which returned this evening.
Aug 25. Lieut. Philip Weiser came here from Fort Henry, with a scout."
Philip was wounded at some point in the continual skirmishes and never fully recovered his health. He wrote his will in March 1760:
Heidelberg in Berks Co. - The 25th March 1760
Whereas I Philip Weiser find myself, by God's will, visited with bodily sickness and cannot be certain when it may please God to call me out of this world, I have then thought proper, whilst I am yet of sound mind and memory to cause my last will to be written in the following manner.
First, I devise unto my first born son Conrad Weiser, an English Crown-Piece over and above what is hereinafter given unto him.
Secondly, I devise unto my faithful wife Sophia Weiser the third part of all my movables, now in possession as hereafter to be expected. The other two-thirds shall be divided in equal shares between my three sons, and any other child of mine which may hereafter come into the world. All the just debts having been first paid thereout.
Thirdly, respecting the land I am seized or possessed of in my own right, as also the land and land-rights coming to me in virtue of my father's testament, it may fall when and where it will in this or another country, sooner or later, I will that my three sons have equal right to the same, one as much as another, and shall not be sold to strangers before they have given unto each other the preference of purchasing.
Fourthly, it is my will that my beloved wife Sophia Weiser shall have her widow's abode upon the place where we live at present, here in Heidelberg. But if she think it fit to rent out her widow's residence and to remove elsewhere, she shall have full power and right so to do and to receive the rent to her own use and benefit, as long as she remains a widow.
Fifthly, I nominate and appoint my beloved wife Sophia Weiser and my Uncle Christopher Weiser to be the executors over all my estate, whether it be moveable or immoveable. I also hereby direct both my said executors that if Jacob Groninger desire the deed for a piece of land lying in Heidelberg Township in Lancaster County, they shall give him the deed without any denial, I having had full satisfaction of him.
In confirmation thereof I have sealed and signed this my testament in the presence of witnesses. [signed] Philip Weiser
[signed] Petter Werner
[signed] Peter Rem
His father died unexpectedly a few months later on his farm at Womelsdorf.
Philip himself died 27 Mar 1761. He was thirty-eight years old and he left his widow Sophie with four children to raise. His death was entered on the Ephrata records: "Brother Theobald or Philip Weiser, March 27, 1761."
His burial place is shown by his son Jabetz's later record:
"1761, March 27, my father Philiph Weiser died and was buried at the old Tulpehocken Church."
Again according to Rebecca Jenkins at
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/e/n/Rebecca-Jenkins-IA/PDFGENE5.pdf
"Sometime after his death a large tombstone was erected over his grave with a German inscription, still legible, on both sides:
"This is the resting place of the highly honored Philip Weiser. The same was born in the year 1722, the 17th September, and died Anno 1761, the 27th March, his age 38 years, 6 months, and 4 days, and lived in marriage twelve years and four months, and in such time he produced four children, three sons and one little daughter, of whom the little daughter since died, and three sons are still alive."
Children:
1. John Conrad Weiser, b. 30 Aug 1749, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; m. 25 Jul 1771, Reading Town, PA to Barbara Beyer; he d. 1 Feb 1803, Weiserburg [now Selinsgrove], Snyder Co., PA; buried Old Lutheran Cemetery. He served as a Captain during the Revolutionary War and had children.
2. Peter Weiser, b. 26 Apr 1751, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA;
d. 4 Sep 1779, PA; buried Reed's Church Cemetery, Berks County, PA. His brother Jabetz wrote about him: "He was wounded in the last American war, as the Reverlution arose, on the banks of the Brandywine on September 11, 1777, and died as a Lieutenant on September 4, 1779. He was the first who went out as this war began and risked his life for the so-called American freedom. He went at first to Boston as a sargeant." He never married.
3. Jabetz Weiser, b. 3 Jul 1753, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; m.c. 1775 to Mary Elizabeth Wenger [b. 18 Sep 1754, Berks Co., PA; d. 17 Sep 1835, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA, daughter of Lazarus & Anna Catharina (Lauck) Wenger]; he d. 16 May 1829, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; buried in Zion Cemetery, near Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA.
4. Hannah Philippina Weiser, b. 14 Dec 1761, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA. She was a posthumous child who died young.
He was the son of John Conrad Weiser and his wife Anna Eva Feck.
He was baptized as an infant on 7 Sep 1722 at Schoharie, Schoharie Co., New York by Rev John Bernhard von Duehren, a Lutheran minister. Mr. and Mrs Philip Brown were his sponsors, but it's not known what relation they were, if any.
As a child he moved with his family in 1729 to the Tulpehocken settlement in what would become Berks Co., Pennsylvania. The family eventually acquired a great deal of land near the future town of Womelsdorf.
Philip's father, John Conrad Weiser, served the British and colonial governments as an Indian translator and is credited with delaying the onset of the French and Indian War until the American colonies were strong enough to win. Philip was a loyal and capable son who assisted his father in his adventures and endeavors. A good synopsis of his life is given by Rebecca Jenkins in her biography:
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/e/n/Rebecca-Jenkins-IA/PDFGENE5.pdf
"Philip's life was overshadowed to a great extent by his father's. We see him entering the cloister at Ephrata, as Brother Theobald, with his father; collecting his father's debts; accompanying him on journeys; defending the home from Indian threat. He farmed on his father's land, although he held title to a lot in Reading (which had been patented to him July 11, 1752, and which he sold to Nicholas Godshall, a locksmith, on January 29, 1759) and to a 139-acre tract on the Swatara, which he purchased from Sheriff Thomas Lincoln on August 9, 1759. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, probably Christ Church, where his sons' baptisms are recorded, although he contributed to a schoolhouse for the Heidelberg congregation (St. Daniel's), and was buried at Rieth's Church. He served in the French and Indian War, in the company his father gathered when the Indian threat become apparent."
Philip's parents were Lutherans while they lived in New York, but in their new community at Tulpehocken his father John Conrad became an elder in the Reformed German church. Then in 1735, John Conrad was rebaptized into Conrad Beissel's church at the Ephrata Cloister. He and Eve moved their family into the commune, although Eve didn't stay long and moved back to their farm with most of the children. Philip, along with his sister Madlina, remained with their father at Ephrata, Philip taking the name Brother Theobald.
But Philip's father left the community in 1741 when he was offered a Justiceship by Governor Thomas. Philip may have stayed as a celibate monk for awhile, but at the age of twenty-six, on 22 Nov 1748 at Rieth's [Reed's] church, he was married to Sophia Reim, daughter of Peter Reim. The newlyweds settled down to farm on his parents' old homestead. That Philip didn't completely sever his ties with the Ephrata community is seen by the fact that he named one of his sons after his mentor there, Prior Jabetz.
1752 - the first list of taxables in Berks county, PA included:
Heidelberg township
Philip Weiser
Conrad Weiser Esq.
By 1754, Indian attacks on the Pennsylvanian frontier settlements became frequent and deadly due to French encouragement. Philip, his father, and at least two of his brothers all served in the Pennsylvanian militia to protect their community and neighbors.
1754 - Provincial military officers of Berks county in 1754 were:
Lieutenant Colonel, Conrad Weiser;
Captains, Christian Busse (at Fort Henry), Frederick Smith, Jacob Orndt, and Jacob Morgan (at Fort Lebanon); Lieutenant, Philip Weiser;
Ensigns, Harry (at Fort Lebanon) and Edward Biddle; Sergeant, Peter Smith;
Corporal, Schaeffer.
1756 - Philip was promoted to "Captain-lieutenant."
A few mentions of him are made in Lieutenant Samuel Humphrey's reports from Fort Henry:
"Enclosed is the journal of last month of the ensign at Northkill (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 283.)
A Journal of Fort Northkill, 1757.
Jul 30th. A scout of Lieut. Philip Weiser, from Capt. Busse arrived. Having laid aside out several detachments to assist the farmers, I could send no scout today.
Jul 31. Lieut. Weiser returned from his scout. I called in the detachments this day, and sent out a scout which returned this evening.
Aug 25. Lieut. Philip Weiser came here from Fort Henry, with a scout."
Philip was wounded at some point in the continual skirmishes and never fully recovered his health. He wrote his will in March 1760:
Heidelberg in Berks Co. - The 25th March 1760
Whereas I Philip Weiser find myself, by God's will, visited with bodily sickness and cannot be certain when it may please God to call me out of this world, I have then thought proper, whilst I am yet of sound mind and memory to cause my last will to be written in the following manner.
First, I devise unto my first born son Conrad Weiser, an English Crown-Piece over and above what is hereinafter given unto him.
Secondly, I devise unto my faithful wife Sophia Weiser the third part of all my movables, now in possession as hereafter to be expected. The other two-thirds shall be divided in equal shares between my three sons, and any other child of mine which may hereafter come into the world. All the just debts having been first paid thereout.
Thirdly, respecting the land I am seized or possessed of in my own right, as also the land and land-rights coming to me in virtue of my father's testament, it may fall when and where it will in this or another country, sooner or later, I will that my three sons have equal right to the same, one as much as another, and shall not be sold to strangers before they have given unto each other the preference of purchasing.
Fourthly, it is my will that my beloved wife Sophia Weiser shall have her widow's abode upon the place where we live at present, here in Heidelberg. But if she think it fit to rent out her widow's residence and to remove elsewhere, she shall have full power and right so to do and to receive the rent to her own use and benefit, as long as she remains a widow.
Fifthly, I nominate and appoint my beloved wife Sophia Weiser and my Uncle Christopher Weiser to be the executors over all my estate, whether it be moveable or immoveable. I also hereby direct both my said executors that if Jacob Groninger desire the deed for a piece of land lying in Heidelberg Township in Lancaster County, they shall give him the deed without any denial, I having had full satisfaction of him.
In confirmation thereof I have sealed and signed this my testament in the presence of witnesses. [signed] Philip Weiser
[signed] Petter Werner
[signed] Peter Rem
His father died unexpectedly a few months later on his farm at Womelsdorf.
Philip himself died 27 Mar 1761. He was thirty-eight years old and he left his widow Sophie with four children to raise. His death was entered on the Ephrata records: "Brother Theobald or Philip Weiser, March 27, 1761."
His burial place is shown by his son Jabetz's later record:
"1761, March 27, my father Philiph Weiser died and was buried at the old Tulpehocken Church."
Again according to Rebecca Jenkins at
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/e/n/Rebecca-Jenkins-IA/PDFGENE5.pdf
"Sometime after his death a large tombstone was erected over his grave with a German inscription, still legible, on both sides:
"This is the resting place of the highly honored Philip Weiser. The same was born in the year 1722, the 17th September, and died Anno 1761, the 27th March, his age 38 years, 6 months, and 4 days, and lived in marriage twelve years and four months, and in such time he produced four children, three sons and one little daughter, of whom the little daughter since died, and three sons are still alive."
Children:
1. John Conrad Weiser, b. 30 Aug 1749, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; m. 25 Jul 1771, Reading Town, PA to Barbara Beyer; he d. 1 Feb 1803, Weiserburg [now Selinsgrove], Snyder Co., PA; buried Old Lutheran Cemetery. He served as a Captain during the Revolutionary War and had children.
2. Peter Weiser, b. 26 Apr 1751, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA;
d. 4 Sep 1779, PA; buried Reed's Church Cemetery, Berks County, PA. His brother Jabetz wrote about him: "He was wounded in the last American war, as the Reverlution arose, on the banks of the Brandywine on September 11, 1777, and died as a Lieutenant on September 4, 1779. He was the first who went out as this war began and risked his life for the so-called American freedom. He went at first to Boston as a sargeant." He never married.
3. Jabetz Weiser, b. 3 Jul 1753, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; m.c. 1775 to Mary Elizabeth Wenger [b. 18 Sep 1754, Berks Co., PA; d. 17 Sep 1835, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA, daughter of Lazarus & Anna Catharina (Lauck) Wenger]; he d. 16 May 1829, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; buried in Zion Cemetery, near Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA.
4. Hannah Philippina Weiser, b. 14 Dec 1761, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA. She was a posthumous child who died young.
He was baptized as an infant on 7 Sep 1722 at Schoharie, Schoharie Co., New York by Rev John Bernhard von Duehren, a Lutheran minister. Mr. and Mrs Philip Brown were his sponsors, but it's not known what relation they were, if any.
As a child he moved with his family in 1729 to the Tulpehocken settlement in what would become Berks Co., Pennsylvania. The family eventually acquired a great deal of land near the future town of Womelsdorf.
Philip's father, John Conrad Weiser, served the British and colonial governments as an Indian translator and is credited with delaying the onset of the French and Indian War until the American colonies were strong enough to win. Philip was a loyal and capable son who assisted his father in his adventures and endeavors. A good synopsis of his life is given by Rebecca Jenkins in her biography:
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/e/n/Rebecca-Jenkins-IA/PDFGENE5.pdf
"Philip's life was overshadowed to a great extent by his father's. We see him entering the cloister at Ephrata, as Brother Theobald, with his father; collecting his father's debts; accompanying him on journeys; defending the home from Indian threat. He farmed on his father's land, although he held title to a lot in Reading (which had been patented to him July 11, 1752, and which he sold to Nicholas Godshall, a locksmith, on January 29, 1759) and to a 139-acre tract on the Swatara, which he purchased from Sheriff Thomas Lincoln on August 9, 1759. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, probably Christ Church, where his sons' baptisms are recorded, although he contributed to a schoolhouse for the Heidelberg congregation (St. Daniel's), and was buried at Rieth's Church. He served in the French and Indian War, in the company his father gathered when the Indian threat become apparent."
Philip's parents were Lutherans while they lived in New York, but in their new community at Tulpehocken his father John Conrad became an elder in the Reformed German church. Then in 1735, John Conrad was rebaptized into Conrad Beissel's church at the Ephrata Cloister. He and Eve moved their family into the commune, although Eve didn't stay long and moved back to their farm with most of the children. Philip, along with his sister Madlina, remained with their father at Ephrata, Philip taking the name Brother Theobald.
But Philip's father left the community in 1741 when he was offered a Justiceship by Governor Thomas. Philip may have stayed as a celibate monk for awhile, but at the age of twenty-six, on 22 Nov 1748 at Rieth's [Reed's] church, he was married to Sophia Reim, daughter of Peter Reim. The newlyweds settled down to farm on his parents' old homestead. That Philip didn't completely sever his ties with the Ephrata community is seen by the fact that he named one of his sons after his mentor there, Prior Jabetz.
1752 - the first list of taxables in Berks county, PA included:
Heidelberg township
Philip Weiser
Conrad Weiser Esq.
By 1754, Indian attacks on the Pennsylvanian frontier settlements became frequent and deadly due to French encouragement. Philip, his father, and at least two of his brothers all served in the Pennsylvanian militia to protect their community and neighbors.
1754 - Provincial military officers of Berks county in 1754 were:
Lieutenant Colonel, Conrad Weiser;
Captains, Christian Busse (at Fort Henry), Frederick Smith, Jacob Orndt, and Jacob Morgan (at Fort Lebanon); Lieutenant, Philip Weiser;
Ensigns, Harry (at Fort Lebanon) and Edward Biddle; Sergeant, Peter Smith;
Corporal, Schaeffer.
1756 - Philip was promoted to "Captain-lieutenant."
A few mentions of him are made in Lieutenant Samuel Humphrey's reports from Fort Henry:
"Enclosed is the journal of last month of the ensign at Northkill (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 283.)
A Journal of Fort Northkill, 1757.
Jul 30th. A scout of Lieut. Philip Weiser, from Capt. Busse arrived. Having laid aside out several detachments to assist the farmers, I could send no scout today.
Jul 31. Lieut. Weiser returned from his scout. I called in the detachments this day, and sent out a scout which returned this evening.
Aug 25. Lieut. Philip Weiser came here from Fort Henry, with a scout."
Philip was wounded at some point in the continual skirmishes and never fully recovered his health. He wrote his will in March 1760:
Heidelberg in Berks Co. - The 25th March 1760
Whereas I Philip Weiser find myself, by God's will, visited with bodily sickness and cannot be certain when it may please God to call me out of this world, I have then thought proper, whilst I am yet of sound mind and memory to cause my last will to be written in the following manner.
First, I devise unto my first born son Conrad Weiser, an English Crown-Piece over and above what is hereinafter given unto him.
Secondly, I devise unto my faithful wife Sophia Weiser the third part of all my movables, now in possession as hereafter to be expected. The other two-thirds shall be divided in equal shares between my three sons, and any other child of mine which may hereafter come into the world. All the just debts having been first paid thereout.
Thirdly, respecting the land I am seized or possessed of in my own right, as also the land and land-rights coming to me in virtue of my father's testament, it may fall when and where it will in this or another country, sooner or later, I will that my three sons have equal right to the same, one as much as another, and shall not be sold to strangers before they have given unto each other the preference of purchasing.
Fourthly, it is my will that my beloved wife Sophia Weiser shall have her widow's abode upon the place where we live at present, here in Heidelberg. But if she think it fit to rent out her widow's residence and to remove elsewhere, she shall have full power and right so to do and to receive the rent to her own use and benefit, as long as she remains a widow.
Fifthly, I nominate and appoint my beloved wife Sophia Weiser and my Uncle Christopher Weiser to be the executors over all my estate, whether it be moveable or immoveable. I also hereby direct both my said executors that if Jacob Groninger desire the deed for a piece of land lying in Heidelberg Township in Lancaster County, they shall give him the deed without any denial, I having had full satisfaction of him.
In confirmation thereof I have sealed and signed this my testament in the presence of witnesses. [signed] Philip Weiser
[signed] Petter Werner
[signed] Peter Rem
His father died unexpectedly a few months later on his farm at Womelsdorf.
Philip himself died 27 Mar 1761. He was thirty-eight years old and he left his widow Sophie with four children to raise. His death was entered on the Ephrata records: "Brother Theobald or Philip Weiser, March 27, 1761."
His burial place is shown by his son Jabetz's later record:
"1761, March 27, my father Philiph Weiser died and was buried at the old Tulpehocken Church."
Again according to Rebecca Jenkins at
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/e/n/Rebecca-Jenkins-IA/PDFGENE5.pdf
"Sometime after his death a large tombstone was erected over his grave with a German inscription, still legible, on both sides:
"This is the resting place of the highly honored Philip Weiser. The same was born in the year 1722, the 17th September, and died Anno 1761, the 27th March, his age 38 years, 6 months, and 4 days, and lived in marriage twelve years and four months, and in such time he produced four children, three sons and one little daughter, of whom the little daughter since died, and three sons are still alive."
Children:
1. John Conrad Weiser, b. 30 Aug 1749, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; m. 25 Jul 1771, Reading Town, PA to Barbara Beyer; he d. 1 Feb 1803, Weiserburg [now Selinsgrove], Snyder Co., PA; buried Old Lutheran Cemetery. He served as a Captain during the Revolutionary War and had children.
2. Peter Weiser, b. 26 Apr 1751, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA;
d. 4 Sep 1779, PA; buried Reed's Church Cemetery, Berks County, PA. His brother Jabetz wrote about him: "He was wounded in the last American war, as the Reverlution arose, on the banks of the Brandywine on September 11, 1777, and died as a Lieutenant on September 4, 1779. He was the first who went out as this war began and risked his life for the so-called American freedom. He went at first to Boston as a sargeant." He never married.
3. Jabetz Weiser, b. 3 Jul 1753, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; m.c. 1775 to Mary Elizabeth Wenger [b. 18 Sep 1754, Berks Co., PA; d. 17 Sep 1835, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA, daughter of Lazarus & Anna Catharina (Lauck) Wenger]; he d. 16 May 1829, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA; buried in Zion Cemetery, near Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA.
4. Hannah Philippina Weiser, b. 14 Dec 1761, Womelsdorf, Berks Co., PA. She was a posthumous child who died young.
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