Silvis Genealogy

Silvis Genealogy
Down Through Gene and Ruth Silvis's Children

First Generation

WILLIAM SILVIUS
Birth: ABT. 1725 in Probably Rhineland/Pfalz, Palatinate
Death: 26 DEC 1800 in Rockhill Twp, Bucks Co, PA

Father: Unkown Silvius
Marriage 1 Unknown
Children:

1. Henry Silvis b: ABT. 1748
2. John Silvis b: ABT. 1750
3. Joseph Silvis b: ABT. 1752
4. William Silvis b: 1 DEC 1762 in PA

Marriage 2 Catherine Heffelfinger b: ABT. 1725

Married: After 1763
Children:

Note:

Arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam with brothers on the Queen Elizabeth on September 9, 1738, but too young to be listed - under 16. They are thought to be from the Rhineland/Pfalz area of Germany.
The ship, Queen Elizabeth, operated by or for the major shipping firm of Hope, left Rotterdam, Holland, on June 22, 1738, and headed for the English port of Deal, England, for the customs clearance required by the Navigation Acts. The ship's captain was Alexander Hope. The ship apparently spent three to five weeks at sea due to a violent storm before reaching Deal, a trip that could take as little as eight days and in some cases two. From Deal, the trip to Philadelphia was generally about eight to twelve weeks.
In this year of 1738, it was said that of more than 15 ships to have arrived in Philadelphia, about 2,000 people died en route of illness.
William's land warrant issued 8 Aug 1749 - he would be 21 or probably older.
Tax list Northampton Co, Pa 1761 to 1781
Tax list "Heydelberg" Township, 1761
Will dated 26 Dec 1800 of Rockhill twp, Bucks Co, Pa proved 4 Jun 1802 - Res. Bucks Co
1790 & 1800 - widow Catharine - Land Warrant 8 Aug 1749 Bucks Co (became Northampton Co 1752).
WILL OF WILLIAM SILVIUS

In the name of God Amen: the twenty fifth day of December, in the Year of our Lord, One thousand Eight hundred, I William Silvius, of the Township of Rockhill, in the County of Bucks and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, being Advanced in Years and very Infirm in health, and knowing that it is Appointed for all persons once to die, and being willing and desirous to settle all my worldly Affairs in the best manner I am able, do make this my Last Testament in manner following, (?). I will that all my just debts and funeral Expences be fully paid and discharged, First, it is my Will and I do order that my beloved wife Catharine, shall have two Beds, two Chests, a Pipe-stove, the Kitchen-Dresser, a Copper Kettle, three Chairs, her wheel & Real (?) & all her Cloths & all Linens she shall want & as much Kitchen furniture as is Necessary for her use during the term of her Natural life, and Whereas I have sold my Plantation to my son Abraham, and reserved therein in a certain Agreement dated the sixth day of December Anno Domini, sufficient to the following, that my said wife Catharine, during her natural life shall dwell in the small stone Apartment adjoining Abraham's, and in said Term my son Abraham, to deliver her Yearly sixty three pounds of Pork & half quarter of Beef, Plenty of Bread, good Butter, Milk, and every Necessary thing she stands in need of, to Chop, haul the firewood to the house, Cut it small & make the fires if required, and when ailing to Nurse a and tend her and do every Necessary thing she stands in need of; All my moneys that is due or to become due after my Death, I give and Divide unto my Children (namely) the heirs of my son Henry, lately deceased, between them one Equal share with the rest of my Children, John, Joseph, William, (here it is cut off). And Lastly I do hereby Constitute and appoint my sons Abraham and Jacob, Executors of this my Last Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal, the day and Year first within written, Signed Sealed Published & Declared by the before named William Silvius, to be his Last Testament, in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator.
Sealed & Delivered
In the presence of us William Sivius
His mark (a scrawled X)

Second Generation

JOHN SILVIS
Birth: ABT. 1750
Note: Resident of Bucks County, 1790 census
Father: William Silvis b: ABT. 1725 in Probably Rhineland/Pfalz, Palatinate
Mother: Unknown
Marriage 1 Spouse Unknown
Children:
1. John Silvis b: 1772
2. William Silvis b: 1774 in PA
3. George Silvis b: ABT. 1775

Third Generation
WILLIAM SILVIS
Birth: 1774 in PA
Death: 30 NOV 1857 in Perhaps Franklin Twp, Westmoreland
Father: John Silvis b: ABT. 1750
Marriage 1 Sarah Neely\Nehlig b: 30 DEC 1786 in Northampton Co, PA
Children:

1. Abraham Silvis b: 10 JUL 1809 in Westmoreland Co, Pa

Fourth Generation
ABRAHAM SILVIS
Birth: 10 JUL 1809 in Westmoreland Co, Pa.
Death: 31 DEC 1882 in Armstrong Co
Burial: South Bend Cemetery
Note:
Baptized by Rev. Weber, 1809

Father: William Silvis b: 1774 in PA
Mother: Sarah Neely\Nehlig b: 30 DEC 1786 in Northampton Co, PA
Marriage 1 Anna Elizabeth Remaley b: 14 DEC 1811 in Westmoreland Co, Pa.
Married: 15 SEP 1831 in Franklin Twp, Westmoreland
Children:
1. Sarah Silvis b: 23 OCT 1832
2. Jacob Silvis b: 14 APR 1834 in Near Murrysville, Franklin Twp, Westmoreland Co
3. Margaret Silvis b: ABT. 1836
4. Elizabeth Silvis b: 2 JUN 1837
5. William John Silvis b: 9 MAY 1840
6. Mary A. Silvis b: ABT. 1842
7. Caroline Silvis b: 14 JUN 1843
8. Levi Silvis b: 29 SEP 1846
9. Michael K. Silvis b: 5 DEC 1846 in Armstrong Twp, Westmoreland Co.
10. Cathryn Ann Silvis b: ABT. 1848
11. James Oliver Silvis b: ABT. 1852
12. Barbara Jane Silvis b: ABT. 1853

Fifth Generation
JACOB SILVIS
Birth: 14 APR 1834 in Near Murrysville, Franklin Twp, Westmoreland Co
Death: 28 AUG 1919 in South Bend
Burial: South Bend Cemetery
Note: Civil War Veteran Mother: Anna Elizabeth Remaley b: 14 DEC 1811 in Westmoreland Co, Pa.
Marriage 1 Maria Heffelfinger b: 3 APR 1839
Married: 5 JAN 1860
Children
1. Reuben Alvin Silvis b: APR 1867
Father: Jacob Silvis b: 14 APR 1834 in Near Murrysville, Franklin Twp, Westmoreland Co
Mother: Maria Heffelfinger b: 3 APR 1839

Sixth Generation
REUBIN ALVIN SILVIS
Birth: APR 1867
Death: 1944
Father: Jacob Silvis b: 14 APR 1834 in Near Murrysville, Franklin Twp, Westmoreland Co
Mother: Maria Heffelfinger b: 3 APR 1839
Married Harriet J. "Hallie" Rupert b: 1867
Children:

Seventh Generation
1. Retta Mae Silvis (1890 - 1917)
Buried in South Bend Cemetery. Rita Mae married a Mr. King.
2. Elizabeth Silvis (1892 - 1956)
Elizabeth is buried in the South Bend Cemetery. She married A. Ralph Ramer born in 1893, and died in 1949.
3. Clara W. Silvis (1894` - unknown)
Clara was living with her parents at her grandpa Rupert's home in South Bend Twp. during the 1900 census.
4. Alfred C. Silvis (1896 - 1971)
Alfred was born in South Bend and died in West Lebanon. Buried in the South Bend Cemetery. He married Vernie Elizabeth Jamison, daughter of John and Josephine (Thompson) Jamison, born 18 Dec. 1905 and died in Shelocta, PA in 1976. Alfred "Bill" Silvis lived in the West Lebanon area for the last 40 years of his life. He and Vernie had three children: Clark , Thelma, and Mildred Silvis. Vernie was a member of the Mt. union Lutheran Church, Plumcreek Twp.
5. Olive Silvis (1899 - unknown)
Olive was living with her parents at her grandpa Rupert's place in South Bend during the 1900 census.
6. Frank Silvis b: (1900 - 1972)
Frank was born in South Bend and died in Armstrong County Health Center. He was buried in the South Bend Cemetery. Frank was a member of St. Jacob's United Church of Christ in South Bend. He made his home with his sister-in=law and his late brother Eugene.
7. Melvin Roy Silvis (1902 - 1972)
Melvin was born in South Bend and died in the DuBois Hospital. He was buried in Salem Cemetery, Salem, Clearfield Co. On 7 June 1947, he married Lauretta Reasinger. He was a resident of the DuBois area for nine years prior to his death, and prior to that had lived in Shelocta. He had been employed by the S.W. Jack Drilling Co., and had retired in 1966. He and Lauretta had three children: Raymond L., Joan, and Jane Silvis.
8. Eugene Silvis (1907 - 1985)
Gene died in the Armstron County Memorial Hospital and was buried in the South Bend Cemetery. On June 20, 1928, He married Ruth I. Bowser. Ruth was born on March 21, 1906. Eugene retired from the Blair Drilling Co. and was a member of St.Jacob's UCC church in South Bend. He and Ruth had eleven children.
Ruth, pictured right in 1980, is also buried in "Old Section" of South Bend Cemetery.
1. Ronald Wayne Silvis
2. Robert E. Silvis
3. Lee Silvis
4. Frank E. Silvis
5. Arthur J. Silvis
6. Margaret L. Silvis
7. Martha Ann Silvis
8. Lucille Silvis
9. Beverly Silvis
10. Sandra Silvis
11. Carol Silvis
Hattie was living with her parents in South Bend Township during the 1870 and 1880 censuses. In 1900, she and her husband along with their five children were all living with her parents, still in South Bend Twp. During the 1920 census they were in South Bend Township in a home they owned. Hallie is shown as the head of household.
During the census of 1900, Hallie's husband, Reuben was working as a day laborer. He was farming and living in Indiana Co. when he and Harriet were married. During the 1920 census he and his wife owned their own home in South Bend Twp., and he worked as a laborer on a steam railroad. Possibly his wife inherited their home as she is shown on the census records as the head of household.