Since there are so many variants of SWISHER..SWITZER..SWEITZER..SCHWISSER I thought I'd start a page of information I've found on those too while doing my research. Hope it helps someone!
Taken from:
History of Washington County, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches and many of its
Pioneers and Prominent Men.
Edited by Boyd Crumrine
PHILADELPHIA:
L.H. Everts & Co.
1882
Press of J. B. Lippincott & Co. Philadelphia
Pg 638
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The first ferries on the Monongahela River were authorized by the Virginia courts Feb. 23, 1775, then in session at Fort Dunmore (now Pittsburgh). On that day Jacob BAUSMAN was licensed to keep a ferry from his house on the south side of the Monongahela River to Fort Dunmore. Michael
CRESAP was also licensed the same day "to keep a ferry on Monongahela River at Redstone Old Fort to the land of Indian Peter [now West Brownsville], and that he provide a boat." CRESAP died in the fall of that year. It is not known by whom the ferry was continued. The lands on the east side of the river came into possession of Thomas BROWN, and in 1784 the lands on the west side were purchased by Neal GILLESPIE. In the minutes of the December sessions of Fayette County Court for 1788 is found a report of certain persons appointed to view "the road from Friends' Meeting-House to the ferry at the fort," meaning Gillespie's ferry at Redstone Old Fort, or Brownsville. The landing-place of the ferry in Brownsville is in front of the residence of Henry SWEITZER (now the United States Hotel), and in West Brownsville directly opposite. The old road that led back into the country from the ferry is now unused, but may be seen winding along the bank of the little stream that comes in at that place.
This ferry continued making its landings at this point until about 1820, when the National road was opened to the Monongahela River, and the ferry landing was moved up to the point near where the great highway struck the river at Bridgeport. It was there continued until the bridge across the river was completed...........
History of Lancaster County
by I. Daniel RUPP
Published for PENNSYLVANIA REPRINT SOCIETY and Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services
Laughlin, Pennsylvania
The Reprint Company, Publishers, Spartanburg, South Carolina...1984
Page 96-97
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. Having openly and honestly adjusted their affairs previous to their departure, they bade adieu to their old and endeared home, this family, via Holland and England made their way to the new world, where they arrived, sometime in 1709, in the city of New York.-- Having arrived, and being pleased with the country, their next step was to acquire the rights of citizenship from the proper authority. The following letters patent, under the Privy seal of Queen Anne will show they were successful in their application, and will be read with interest by the descendants of all named in it.
ANNE, by the grace of God, of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, defender of faith, & c. To whom all these presents may come, know ye that we for good causes and considerations especially moving us hereunto by our special grace, moving us thereunto, do grant for ourselves, our heirs and successors to our beloved Joshua ROCHERTHAL, Sybella Charlotte, his wife, Christian Joshua, his son, and Sybella and Susanna his daughters, Lawrence SCHWISSER, and Ann Catharine his wife, and John his son,.........................Isaac FEBER, Catharine his wife, and Abraham his son, ....................................; which persons are truly German Lutherans........
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