A Comparison of Hazelbaker Family History Source Records
	Biographical Sketch of Peter Hazelbaker L.B. Kinne (1896)	History of Washington County, Pennsylvania Boyd Crumine (1882)	The Old and New Monongahela John S. Van Voorhis (1893)	Beer's Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (1893)	History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Franklin Ellis (1882)	Newspaper Article about Ella Hazelbaker The Charleroi Mail, Washington County, PA 1957	Notes
Revolutionary War Background	During the Revolutionary War, about the year 1779, while the officers of the Duke of Brunswick, the Landgrave of Hesse Cassal, the hereditary Prince of Cassal and Count of Hannan, were drafting a regiment of grenadiers for the King of England, George III...						Peter served with the Ansbach-Bayreuth regiments and was apparently a citizen of that principality. Per Edward Lowell in "The Hessians" (1884) Ansbach - Bayreuth sent over troops in 1777, 1779, 1780, 1781 and 1782 so the 1779 date is possible as the year that Peter was recruited and came to America.
County of Origin / How Peter came to America	...Peter Hazelbaker was standing in the crowd of spectators, when he was called across the street and commanded to "Step under the standard." He measured six feet one and three fourths inches in height, black eyes and hair, and dark complected. He was a little too tall, but the officer said he "would do," He was 18 or 19 years old, and said to be the only son of his mother, a widow. This happened at Ansbach, province of Bavaria, Germany ...	Peter Hazelbaker came to the United States from Anspach, Germany, as an English soldier during the Revolution;	Peter Hazelbaker immigrated to this country from Anspach, in Germany, as an English soldier during the revolution.				We know from Jochen Seidel's website about the Ansbach-Bayreuth troops that Peter was from the village of Münchsteinach rather than Ansbach. From church records in Münchsteinach we know that Peter was born 22 March 1759. If he was 18 or 19 as in this account the year would have been either 1777 or 1778 rather than 1779. We also know from records in Germany that he was not the only son of his mother. This was apparently included as part of the fiction that there was an inheritance in Germany waiting to be claimed by his heirs.
More Revolutionary War Background	...England paid for each soldier a subsidy of seven pounds, four shillings four pence, and twice that for all who were killed.						Edward Lowell in "The Hessians" (1884) confirms the amount paid for each soldier. However, each German state that provided troops signed a separate treaty with England, and per Lowell, the treaty that Ansbach-Bayreuth signed didn't provide a payment for soldiers who were killed in the line of duty.
Capture / Marriage to Elizabeth Shively	Coming to America, Peter was taken prisoner at Yorktown, when Lord Cornwallis surrendered. When the exchange of prisoners took place, Peter was hidden in the barn of one Daniel Shively, of Berkley county, Virginia, now West Virginia, and was never exchanged. Peter married Elizabeth, daughter of the above named Shively, and settled nearby	(He) was taken prisoner by the American forces; was never exchanged, and never returned to his native land.  Peter shortly after the war married Miss Elizabeth Shively, daughter of Daniel Shively, of Berkeley County, VA	He was taken prisoner by the American forces, was never exchanged, and at the close of the war he settled in the United States. Shortly after the war Peter married Elizabeth Shively, daughter of Daniel Shively, of Berkeley county, Va., now West Virginia.			Her great-grandfather was Peter Hazelbaker, the Hessian soldier who was a member of Lord Cornwallis' Force that surrendered to the Colonial army and decided that America's vast land beyond the mountains had much to offer him.	The Ansbach-Bayreuth regiments were at Yorktown and surrendered to American forces there. They were then marched to Winchester Virginia in November 1781 and remained there until January 1782 when they were moved to Frederick, Maryland. Land records show that the Shively family owned land around Winchester around that time. Berkeley county was only a short distance away. If John Hazelbaker's birth date is correct, Peter married Elizabeth in late 1781 or early 1782. Although a formal treaty was not signed until September of 1783, the British Parliament decided in April 1783 that it would cease hostilities. The German prisoners were released in that month and began marching towards New York. It was not until they boarded their ships in June 1783 that Peter was officially listed as missing.
Children	Here were born to him six sons, John, Peter, Daniel, Abraham, George, and Jacob.	Peter had six sons.  Their names were Peter, Daniel, John, Jacob, Abraham, and George.	Peter had six sons, Peter, Daniel, John, Jacob, Abraham and George.	Mrs. Smith (Elizabeth Shively Hazelbaker) was also the mother of four children by her first marriage, namely: Daniel, Abraham, Jacob and Polly.			Only the Beers book mentions Polly, which is a nickname for Mary. Her existence is confirmed by the 1800 and 1810 Federal censuses.
Bitten by a Spider	One night while in bed, he was bitten by a spider. The doctor sent for was drunk and sent medicine, which though it saved his life, left him paralyzed.					Miss Hazelbaker, from her family historical writings, draws the story of Peter Hazelbaker's unusual death. "He was bitten by a Black Widow spider and an itinerant doctor was summoned. The doctor was drunk and could not come so Peter Hazelbaker went to his reward"	These accounts differ in that Kinne has Peter surviving the spider bite and being paralyzed, while Ella Hazelbaker has him dying from the bite. Also, Kinne appears to place this event before the move to Pennsylvania. Even if Kinne's account is correct, the spider bite no doubt attributed to Peter's early death.
Migration to Washington County, Pennsylvania	Sometime later, with his family, Peter moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania, settling in Allen township.	Soon after their marriage Peter and wife emigrated to Washington County, Pa. and settled in an old log house on the farm now owned by S. A. Chester, in Allen township.  This was in the beginning of the present century, but in what year we are not informed.	After their marriage Peter and his wife immigrated to Washington County, Pa., and settled in an old log house on the farm now owned by one of the heirs of S. A. Chester, in Allen Township.			After his release from custody of Colonial troops he crossed the Alleghenies and settled in Washington County's great oak and chestnut forests along the Monongahela River.	Census records of surviving children indicate that they were all born in Virginia (the 1860 census for Abraham indicates Pennsylvania, but the 1870 indicates Virginia) The last son, Jacob was born about 1795 - 1796, so the move to Pennsylvania had to happen after that.
Peter's Death & Burial	He died in 1800 at about the age of 38 years and was buried in a field near the present residence of Major Henry Sphor.	He died in 1800, and his remains were buried in the field just above the present residence of Maj. Henry Sphar.	He died in 1800 and his remains are buried in the field just above the present residence of Major Henry Spharr.			...(Peter) is buried in a small cemetery on the Henry Sphar Jr. farm in Long Branch.	All sources agree he died in 1800. Kinne gives his age as 38, but the 1759 birth date would make him 40 or 41. The 1800 Federal Census lists Elizabeth as the head of household, so Peter had passed away before the census was taken. The official date of the census was August 4, 1800. While the Sphar Cemetery can be located, the stones are in such bad shape that Peter's grave cannot be identified.
Re-marriage of Elizabeth Shively Hazelbaker				Ralph (Smith) was born in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., and was a slave until twenty-eight years of age. When a young man he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth H. (Shiveley) Hazelbaker, a widow …			The 1810 Federal Census supports this account. Ralph Smith is listed as a resident of East Bethlehem township in Washington County. In his household are 2 white females and 4 "other free persons". Pennsylvania, unlike some other states, had no laws prohibiting interracial marriage.
Elizabeth Hazelbaker's other children				...(She) bore him four children, viz.: Henry (deceased), Joseph, James (living in West Pike Run township) and Louisa (deceased).			Joseph Smith, despite the prejudice that was widespread at the time, was considered a prominent citizen of Washington County. He is described by in the Beers book as "an honest, industrious citizen" and owns an 194 acre farm in West Pike township.
Elizabeth's Death & Burial				(She) died in 1850 and was interred in the Quaker cemetery in East Bethlehem township.			The Beers book is the only source we have for Elizabeth's death and burial. Crumrine notes that the Quakers did not mark their graves with memorials or stones, so her grave may be unmarked.
John Hazelbaker	John was born September 16, 1782 and died September 21, 1864. He was the first school teacher in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, using what is now the kitchen of the residence of the late Mrs. Mary Corwin as a school house. He moved to Blue Creek, Ohio, and later to New Market, Iowa, where he died.	John was one of the old-time school-teachers, and was the first man who ever taught school in Belle Vernon.  His school-house was the present residence of Mrs. Mary Corwin, on Main Street in that town.  He died years ago in Iowa.	John was an old time school teacher. He taught the first school in Belleveron. The kitchen part of the residence of the late Aunt Polly Corwin on Main Street was the schoolhouse. He ... died in the West. The first school in the village of Belleveron was taught by John Hazelbaker in the kitchen part of the house of the venerable Mary Corwin.		For some time after Belle Vernon received its first inhabitants the village children were obliged to go a long distance to attend school. Morris Corwin thought something should be done to establish a school in the village and announced that his wife would give up her kitchen to school uses if a teacher were provided. The teacher was John Haselbaker, of Washington County. While teaching in Belle Vernon he lived in the village with his brother George (a hatter).		Census records verfiy that John moved first to Ohio and then to Iowa. The 1850 census lists his age as 66 and the 1860 census lists his age as 78 which would place his birth year between 1781 - 1784. The birth and death dates given by Kinne match the dates recorded on John's tombstone in New Market, Taylor County, Iowa.
Peter Hazelbaker Jr.	Peter dies six weeks later than his father and was buried beside him in the Sphor graveyard.	Peter died six weeks after the death of his father, and was buried with his father in the Sphar graveyard.	Peter died six weeks after the death of his father and was buried in the same graveyard.				Peter Jr. had also passed away before the 1800 Federal Census was taken.
Daniel Hazelbaker	Daniel was born about 1786. He married, and after some years, his wife dying, he left his children in Pennsylvania, and moved to Blue Creek, Ohio, later moving to Summitville, Indiana, where he dies, leaving three sets of children.	Daniel died in Indiana.	Daniel died in the West.				Census records verify that Daniel moved first to Ohio and then to Indiana. The 1850 census lists his age as 65 which would make his birth year either 1785 or 1786.
Daniel Hazelbaker's Children		The late Shively Hazelbaker, who many years ago occupied the Shepler Hotel in town, was a nephew of the deceased (George Hazelbaker).	After his (James Mercer's) death the house was used as a tavern by Mrs. Backhouse, Shively Hazelbaker, Abram Fulton, Jas. P. Shepler, T.B. Wilgus and the present landlord.				Daniel Shively Hazelbaker was the son of Daniel Hazelbaker. He is identified in the Washington County histories only as George Hazelbaker's nephew.
George Hazelbaker	George was born November 18, 1790, and after outliving all his brothers, died near the old home June 25, 1880.	George lived beyond all his brothers.  He married Matilda Dunlevy, sister of the late Andrew Dunlevy, who died in 1853. George Hazelbaker first lived in Belle Vernon, where he built the house on Main Street now occupied by Rebecca Laneheart.  He afterwards resided on the farm where John R. Gould, now lives; then on the Johnson, the Rutan, The Cooper farms, and finally in 1841 he purchased the farm in Allen township (on which he died) from Abia Allen and Robert Stockdale.  George Hazelbaker died June 23, 1880, aged ninety-two years.  In his seventy-fifth year he united with Rehoboth Church, and remained in that membership until his death.  He was a good citizen, a genial neighbor, and above all a Christian.	George lived beyond all of his brothers. He was born in Berkeley County, West Va., January 18, 1790. His wife was Matilda Dunlevy sister of Andrew Dunlevy. She died in 1853. After his marriage he erected the lower part of the old house on Main Street in Belleveron where now stands the house owned by A.L. Brown and occupied by Abe Lewis. In the old house George and his wife first set up housekeeping and there he carried on the hat business until he and Dunlevy started the shop in the Billiter house. He also resided for a time on the Gould farm, then on the Levi Johnson, then on the Rutan farm opposite Columbia owned now by W.J. Manown. He moved from this farm to the Cooper farm near the mouth of Maple Creek and finally in 1841 he purchased the farm on which he died, in Allen Township, from Abia Allen and Robert Stockdale. George Hazelbaker, the father of this large family, died on the house farm, June 23, 1880. He united with Rehoboth church in his seventy-fifth year and remained in that membership until his death. He was a good citizen, a genial neighbor, and above all a Christian. His remains were interred in Howe Cemetery.		His (Jacob Hazelbaker's) brother George, the hatter, lived in the house now the home of Rebecca Lenhart.		Census records verfiy that George lived his whole adult life in the Washington County area. The 1850 census lists his age as 60, the 1860 lists his age as 69, the 1870 lists his age as 80, and the 1880 lists his age as 91, which would place his birth year between 1789 and 1791. Van Voorhis gives us the exact birth and death dates.
George Hazelbaker's Children		His sons Andrew and Joseph died many years since.  Anthony lives in Illinois; Jacob now resides near Foxburg, in the oil regions; George, Jr., resides near the home farm; and John, since his marriage has taken care of his father on the homestead; Matilda married Joseph Wolf, and resides in the West; Mary married John Cooper, now deceased, and lives in the West; Sarah Ann is the wife of Addison Cummings, and lives in Allen township; Margaret was the wife of R. C. Guffey, of North Belle Vernon.  He belongs to the Guffey family which has been so long identified with politics in Westmoreland County.	His son Andrew married a daughter of Thomas Frye and died about the year 1856 near Lock No. 4. Joseph died at the homestead unmarried. Anthony lived for many years in the house near the mouth of Maple Creek now owned by Charles Baltzee. He carried on the flouring mill which stood between the dwelling and the present bridge. The mill has passed away. Anthony over thirty years ago moved to Illinois where he died a few years since. Jacob married a Miss Crow and lives in Clarion County. George married a Miss Riggs and lives on a part of the homestead and John resided in Allen township not far from Wood's Run. Matilda married Joseph Wolf and resides in the west. Mary married Jehu Cooper, now deceased. She lived in Illinois. Sarah Ann is the wife of Addison Cummings of Allen township. Margaret married R.C. Guffey and died in North Belleveron.
Abraham Hazelbaker	Abraham was born about 1794. He moved early in the century to Blue Creek, Ohio, where he died.	Abraham died near Brush Creek, in Ohio.	Abraham died near Brush Creek in Ohio.				Census records confirm Abraham moved to Ohio. The 1860 census lists his age as 68, the 1870 lists his age as 77, which would place his birth year between 1792 - 1794
Jacob Hazelbaker	Jacob was born about 1796. He was a shoemaker by trade and lived many years near the old home, moving in 1848 to near Perryopolis, where he dies in 1868.	Jacob lived for many years in the stone house a short distance above Belle Vernon, now owned by R. C. Schmertz & Co.  He removed to a farm near Perryopolis about thirty years ago.	Jacob was well known in the community. He was a shoemaker by trade and lived many years in the stone house just above Belleveron now owned by R.C. Schmertz & Co. About 1848 he removed to a farm near Perryopolis where he died. Old Dr. Jacob Hazelbaker ran down delinquents for his cobbling services, on the hob-nailed shoes of the teazers, rendered in the intervals of his veterinary practice.		In 1816 the shoemaker for the village was Jacob Hazelbaker who lived near J.B. Gould's present residence.		Most of the sources agree that he was a shoemaker, although Van Voorhis refers to him as "Dr. Hazelbaker" and indicates that he was a Veterinarian as well as a shoemaker. Census records confirm that he lived in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. His age on the census records is a bit confusing. The 1810 census lists him as being between 16 and 25 years old; the 1820 census lists him as being between 26 and 45 years old; the 1830 census lists him as being between 40 and 50 years old; the 1840 census as being between 50 and 60 years old; yet the 1850 census lists his age as 50 and the 1860 lists his age as 55! According to his headstone in the Little Redstone Methodist Church cemetery in Fayette County, Pennsylvania he died in 1868 and was 63 years old. Taking all of these together the range for his birth date goes from 1794 to 1805. Since Peter died in 1800 we know that any dates after that are impossible. We also know that he was living on his own in 1810, so that would seem to push his birth date at least back to 1795.
Notes About the Authors	Louis Beebe Kinne was married to Henrietta Eva Cooper, the daughter of Jehu Cooper and Mary Hazelbaker. Mary was the daughter of George Hazelbaker and Matilda Dunlevy.	Information on Boyd Crumrine from "Beer's Biographical Record"	John S. Van Voorhis was a close personal friend of George Hazelbaker and served as executor of George's will	The J.H. Beers Company of Chicago Illinois printed "Commemorative Biographical Records" for a number of counties in various states during the late 1800's. Biographies may have been written by family members and included in the book for a fee.	Franklin Ellis was a local historian who also wrote a "History of the Susquehanna & Juniata Valleys" and collaborated with Samuel Evans on a "History of Lancaster County"	Ella Hazelbaker was the last surviving daughter of George W. Hazelbaker and Caroline Riggs. She was born in 1868 and died in 1959. George W. Hazelbaker was the son of George Hazelbaker and Matilda Dunlevy. The whole article can be viewed here.
Other Notes		Crumrine cited Dr. J.S. Van Voorhis as his source for Peter Hazelbaker's story.