Mary Umstate, Spinster

 

Mary Umstate, Spinster, died before 6 Jan 1815 when her will was probated. She may have been among the first of Henry and Gertrude’s children as she describes herself as “being far advanced in years” when she wrote the will in 1808. She is likely the “MU 1814" buried beside her brother Harman at Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.

The legatees in Mary's will connect her as Henry and Gertrude's daughter.

It is traditionally believed that Henry B? Umstad and Gertrude Custer married about 1739. If so, Mary would have been born some time after that, but the about 1739 marriage date is presumably based on the only known birth date among their children, that of son Harman (born 1745/46. Gertrude Custer was born in 1711, so she and Henry could have married a decade earlier than 1739.

Meanwhile, a Mary Umstadt is said to have been born about 1731 in Providence, Montgomery Co, PA. I have seen no documentation on her. If she was actually born later than 1731, she may be Henry and Gertrude's daughter. Or, as discussed above, they may have married much earlier than 1739. It is also said that Mary's brother John was born in Providence Twp, but with no documentation on that or on his date of birth.

Eleanor Mayfarth said:
Worcester Twp was settled before 1733 when it was formed. The UMs had land there. Providence Twp adjoined Worcester Twp, as did Skippack Perkiomen, which included Van Bibber's Twp. All of these were in the part of Philadelphia Co that became Montgomery Co in 1885.
Providence was originally the Edward Lane Tract settled at the same time as Van Bebbers Twp. The only UMs that ever lived in Providence (at some periods referred to as Lower Providence and Upper Providence) moved there after 1749. The 1769 Tax List of Providence Twp shows John (of NC), and John B. (Henry's son) living there. Herman of Berks (not Henry's son) owned land there briefly before moving to Berks Co.

COMMENT:

That notwithstanding, if a Mary Umstadt was in fact born in Providence in 1731, there had to be SOME UM there. The above is based on land records, which would not preclude an unrecorded deed or someone who may not have owned land. Henry and Grace, if they did marry in 1730 or so, may not have yet purchased their own land. We do know per census that Henry owned land in Philadelphia Co 1734, but not precisely where.

1788 - October14 Harman and Barbara Umstad, Skippack and Perkomien Township, sold 205 acres to Mary Umstad, spinster - same tract Henry their father granted to Harman the day before. Mortgage of 800 pounds - 8 equal annual payments - 1796 paid off. “Parcel of land lying partly in said twp. of Skippack and Perkiomen, and partly in said Worcester township...by land of Jacob Umstat ... corner of said Jacob Umstat, by land of John Clemmans (Sp.?) ... line of Providence Twp., along line and thence by land intended to be conveyed to Henry Umstat Jr, next back to Jacob UMs land ...” [Montgomery Co. Mortgage Book 1 p 248]
Since Mary, daughter of Herman and Barbara was only 2 years old at this time, it would make sense that this was Mary, daughter of Henry B.

 

Mary Umstate's Will

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Last updated 10 June 2017