Others Researching this Line: Rebecca Romanchuk <romanchuk@mail.utexas.edu> is researching Peter Musser and Margaret Wertman. If you are also researching this line, she would appreciate hearing from you

Family Remembrance:1420 Peter Musser Sr. of Mahoning County, Ohio. He was a private 2nd class in Capt. Smythe's company of Lancaster County (Pa.) Militia; Also in Capt. Wright's company in Sept. 1776. He was born in 1740. He married Margaret _____ (1743-1821). Children: John, Peter (founder of Petersburg), Jacob (drum major, war of 1812). There were four sons, and two daughters. He died in 1808. He is buried in the Old Church Cemetery at Petersburg. He kept a tavern, built a sawmill and gristmill. He came from York County, Penna. in 1801. He was the first settler in Springfield Township, was wealthy, bought four sections of land."

Biographical Sketch (1882):1229, v. 2, p. 202. "[Springfield Township, Mahoning County, Ohio] was permanently settled about 1801. Peter Musser was the first to establish himself in what is now Springfield. He came from York County, Pennsylvania, and having considerable means purchased the four sections in the southeast corner of the township, living a little north of the present village of Petersburg. Here he built small grist- and saw-mills, and made other desirable improvments. He died in 1808, leaving a family of four sons and two daughters. The oldest son, John, succeeded to the mill property, but after a few years removed to Missouri. Peter was the proprietor of the village site, and the founder of Petersburg. He removed to the northern part of the State. The third son, Jacob, lived in the village, selling there the first goods. He enlisted in the army of 1812, and afterwards in the regular army of the United States, serving as drum-major; he finally settled in Missouri. One of Musser’s daughters was married to Israel Warner, who came with his father-in-law in 1801, and settled on the farm now occupied by his son, Ellis. Other sons of Warner were John, George, Peter, David, Israel, William, and Jacob. Some of these yet live in Springfield and the adjacent towns. Israel Warner was a captain in 1812. The other daughter of Musser married Jacob Rudisill, and lived north of the Warner homestead."

Biographical Sketch (1932):1372, p. 154-156. "Peter Musser was born April 26, 1740. He likely spent the greater part of his life in Frederick County, Maryland. He died Nov. 26, 1808 in Columbiana County, Ohio, in what is now Springfield Township of Mahoning County, near the small city of Petersburg, which was named after him or his son. Peter spelled his name 'Moser' in the Maryland records, but when he purchased his first land in Ohio though the government land office at Steubenville, he used the spelling 'Mosser.' In a few years he was using 'Musser.' This transition represents that of all of the children and Maria Eva.

Peter married Margaret Wertman (or Wurtman), b. Feb. 1, 1743; d. Mar. 7, 1821. In the U. S. census of 1790 the Wertman families were living only in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. This is one of several facts which seem to link the Northampton Mussers with those of Maryland, West Virginia, and York County.

During the Revolution, Peter Musser seems to have spent some time in Lancaster County, although he was living according to Maryland records, in Frederick County before the war began. Peter is the only member of the family of whom we have any record in Lancaster. As a Revolutionary soldier he served as a private in Capt. Smythe's Co., Lancaster County militia, also in Capt. Joseph Wright's Co., Sept. 11, 1776,1372, p. 154. As his authority, Farley cites Pennsylvania Archives Series 5, vol. VII, p. 33, 640; also Henderson, F. D.; Rea, J. R.; and Dailey, J. M.; Official Roster of the Sons of the American Revolutio Buried in Ohio, 1929, p. 268. which was perhaps his original service.

About 1780 Peter Sr. appears again in the records of Frederick County, Maryland.1372, p. 154. As his authority, Farley cites the first Maryland record after the Revolution, Maryland Chancery #13, p. 460, Oct. court, 1781. His name occurs in the court records also in 1784, 1786, 1787, 1789. Here he purchased 294 acres in 1793, which he called New Haven,1372, p. 154. As his authority, Farley cites Maryland Land Office, Annapolis, Maryland. although his name appears in Frederick County deeds as early as June 30, 1790. It also appears many times thereafter until 1800, when he evidently left the county for York County.1372, p. 155. Farley indicates Peter was mentioned last in Frederick County records June 4, 1800. Peter was an innkeeper as well as a farmer.1372, p. 155. As his authority, Farley cites Frederick County deeds of record, August 10, 1795.

Prior to the Revolution Peter and his wife, Margaret, were members of the Salem German Reformed Church at Hagarstown. His brother Samuel and his wife Elizabeth were also members of this congregation at the same time, during the 1770s.

Peter entered Sec. 26, 27, and 36, Township 9, Range 1, in what is now Springfield Township of Mahoning County, Ohio, Nov. 27, 1800. December 25, he entered Sec. 25 in the same township.1372, p. 155. As his authority, Farley cites Steubenville vol. I, p. 155, U.S. Land Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D. C. At that time he claimed residence in the Northwest Territory, although county histories say that he came to the Territory from York County.1372, p. 155. As his authority, Farley cites Williams, H. A. History of Trumbull and Mahoning County, v. II, p. 202. See also Butler, Jos. Co., Youngstown and The Ohio Valley, vol. I, p. 585, 595. He is said to have brought his mother with him to the new home. On these four sections of land, he spent the remainder of his life. He kept tavern, operated a mill, and farmed on a large scale with the help of his sons and sons-in-law. He was quite wealthy for this time. His will1372, p. 155. As his authority, Farley cites Columbiana County wills. written Nov. 16, 1808, devised his property to his three sons and two sons-in-law. Descendants as well as local histories1372, p. 156. As his authority, Farley cites Williams, H. A. History of Trumbull and Mahoning County, v. II, p. 202. state that Peter Musser Sr. had four sons and two daughters. Only three sons are mentioned in Peter's will. A descendant1372, p. 156. As his authority, Farley cites Ed Warner, East Palestine, Ohio. A Michael Musser, wife Susanna, lived near Peter in Maryland, and also in Columbiana County, Ohio. says the fourth son's name was Michael. Evidently he died before his father, or was for some reaon cut off in his father's will. The gravestones of Peter and Margaret Musser, with that of Peter's mother, and of other members of the family are well preserved in the Old Church Cemetery north of Petersburg."

Biographical Sketch (1974):1887 "Peter (1740-1808) married Margaret Wortman (1743-1821), served in the Revolution. He was both a farmer and an innkeeper and in 1794 purchased 294 acres, which he called ‘New Haven’ in Frederick County, Maryland. He and his wife have been identified as members of the Salem German Reformed Church at Hagerstown, Maryland for a time, but on November 27, 1800, he entered three sections of land (followed by a fourth section in December) in Springfield Township, Mahoning County (then Columbiana County), Ohio. He and Margaret are both buried in the same cemetery as his mother, Eva. Five children are mentioned in the will: Catherine, John, Eve, Peter Jr. (who became a Major General) and Jacob. There is believed to have been a sixth, namely Michael, who, for an unexplained reason, was not mentioned in the will."

1744 Baptism:2093, As her authority, Donson cites Family History Library Film 0727366. Transcribed and translated from the Bischwiller Reformed Church records: "1744 26 Apr. (baptized) Hans Peter, son of Hans Michael Moser & Eva nee Elsasser."

1790 U.S. Census:1943
Maryland, Frederick County
Head of Household •• Peter Musser
Males 16 and over •• 3
Males under 16 •• 2
Females •• 6

1808 Will:1420 "His will was probated in 1808 at Lisbon, Ohio, Columbiana County, listing his wife and five children as heirs."