BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
History of Berks County, Pennsylvania
 in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783,
by Morton L. Montgomery,
Vols. I & II,
publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets,
1894

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BENJAMIN WEISER, the youngest son of Conrad Weiser, was born in Heidelberg township, Berks County, on Aug. 12, 1744.  Upon arriving of age, he conducted a general store in that township, and he carried on this business until 1776, when he was selected as a Captain, by the Executive Council for the German Regiment in the Continental Line.  His company was organized out of men from the townships of Heidelberg and Tulpehocken in the western section of the county.  It is not known how long they were in service.  They participated in the battles of Trenton and Princeton.      During the latter part of 1777, his family, it is believed, removed to Penn township, then in Northumberland County, (now Snyder,) locating in the vicinity of Selinsgrove.  On Jan. 21, 1778, he was commissioned as a justice of the peace for the township named, by which it would appear that he had changed his residence.      Among the Representatives from Berks County in the General Assembly for the year 1782, there was one named Benjamin Weiser.  This was doubtless another man, for, on the records in the Recorder's Office, one by this name, described as a tinsmith by occupation, lived at Womelsdorf after 1800, and it is probable that he served this position.  Notwithstanding this evidence, however, it is possible that Captain Weiser might have returned to this county and been elected.  I could not obtain any facts about him after 1778. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page  281

CHRISTOPHER WITMAN was a cordwainer (shoemaker)  at Reading in 1756, and continued in this employment until after 1762.  In 1774, he was an innkeeper, his public house having been situated on the southwest corner of Penn Square and Fourth street.      In Dec., 1774, he was selected as one of the committee on Observation, and he officiated as the county treasurer for 1775 to 1778.  He died while holding this position in May, 1778, and left six sons:  John William, George, Abraham, Jacob, Daniel; and a daughter, Catharine. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page  282