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.
Back to Children of Henry UM and Grace Custer
Last updated 10 June 2017