The family name has several variants, Wisler/Whisler/Wissler/Whistler,and even within the same immediate family, brothers have chose to bedifferent from brothers. However, nearly all are related regardlessof the spelling. Do you suppose there is a "Whisler'sMother"somewhere in the family?
Residences & events:
9/29/1710 Upper Hospital, Berne, Switzerland. He made the move dueto religious persection.
"Heinrich got passage on the ship "St. Andrew" Galley, John Steadman ,master from Rotterdam, Holland. There were a total of 450 passengerson this ship which sailed September 26, 1737, Heinrich was listed as aPalatine. Palatines were from the Palatinate area of Germany. Theearly martyrs of the Anabaptist Movement often fled to Palatine, asthey allowed the free practise of Swiss Brethren religion. Currentlocations of the Palatinate provinces are the areas of Munich,Augsberg and Berchesgarten. Heinrich arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where he farmed. Heobtained warrants for land in 1738, 1742, 1745, and 1748. Heinrichdied 1755, leaving a widow Anna and five children.
Some details regarding Heinrich from the personal papers of ObyBonawit in the possession of my Aunt Juanita Whisler. Also credits toFrancis Robinson for research of this early history"
And later:
"Some details regarding Heinrich from the personal papers of ObyBonawit that were in the possession of my Aunt Juanita Whisler, due toher communications with him. She has since passed away, and thosepapers are now in my possesion. Also credits to Francis Robinson forresearch of this early history."
From the History of Manor Twp, Lancaster Co, PA:
First German Mennonite Settlers in Conestoga Manor -
"During the early years of the eighteenth century many German andSwiss emigrants accepted William Penn's offer, and took up lands inthe rich limestone valleys of the Pequea and Conestoga regions, whichwere a part of Chester County until 1729, when Lancaster County wasorganized. These emigrants were Mennonites, as the followers of MennoSimon, a worthy contemporary of Luther, were called. The Mennonites ofthe Palatinate and Switzerland led simple and religious lives aspeasants. Their peculiar manners, simplicity of dress and manners,aversion to the use of law and to military services having subjectedthem to rigorous persecution in their native homes on the banks of theRhine and among the Alps, they came to seek a refuge from persecutionin the English Quaker province of Pennsylvania.
Many of them settled in Conestoga Manor and took up lands therein,after Hill, Norris and Logan had issued a warrant directed to JacobTaylor, surveyor-general, to survey Conestoga Manor, in 1718. Amongthe early German Mennonite families who settled in Conestoga Manorwere the Herrs, the Baughmans, the Mayers, the Shanks, the Killhavers,the Funks, the Kauffmans, the Hostetters, the Oberholtzers, theZieglers, the Witmers, the Kendigs, the Lintners, the Wisslers, theMillers, the Newcomers, the Corrells, or Charleses, and others. TheseGerman families gradually settled in Manor during the half centurybefore the Revolution."
And again: "The toil and industry of the Swiss and German settlers inManor soon made that township the most highly productive agriculturaldistrict in the county. A Mennonite meeting-house was early erected inthe centre of the township, on the land now owned by C. B. Herr."
9/26/1736 (actually 1737). His name was among the "Palatines" broughtto American aboard the ship St Andrew Galley, John Stedman, Master,from Rotterdam, last from Cowes.
And again: "Palatines imported in the Ship St. Andrew Galley, JohnStedman, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, (England) as byclearance thence. Qualified the 26th day of September 1737" (aftertaking the oath of allegiance to England). Heinrich was the onlyWissler aboard. Perhaps he had been back home for a visit.
1750 Donegal Twp, Lancaster Co, PA. He was listed on tax records forhis property there, his name was Whisler on the same list in 1751.
5/7/1754 He signed his name as "Heinrich Wister" in German on acontract for deed between Christian Graff and Henrich Miller, hisinvolvement not noted.
He died intestate and his name was Henry in the Will & Intestate Book.
