Peter Weaver used to be described as a later arrival because he seemed to be younger than many of the people who were known to have arrived in 1717. But in recent years more information has been found and it is now known that he came in 1717. It is true that he was younger than many of the adults who came in 1717.
The two pieces of information which helped to clarify his relationship came from the church register in Gemmingen and from Alexander Spotswood's list of head rights. The church records tell us that he was the son of Philipp Joseph Weber who had married Susanna Klaar (Clore). The pastor in Gemmingen recorded that the family which left there in 1717 consisted of Joseph Weber, age 30, Susanna, age 25, Hans Dietrich, age 7, and Sophia, age 4. When they landed, all of these names were recorded (i.e, Joseph Wever, Susanna Wever, Hans Fredich Wever, and Maria Sophia Wever), plus Wabburie Wever. The head right names are recorded in Virginia Patent Book 14, page 378ff. The Gemmingen records were uncovered by Gary Zimmerman and Johni Cerny.
Joseph Weaver died soon his arrival in Virginia though it is possible that he was the father of more children, especially daughters, before he died.
Susanna Weaver married secondly Jacob Crigler and apparently had two sons in this family, Nicholas and Christopher. Later in life she married Nicholas Yager, but there were no children in this last marriage. Susanna was the sister of Michael Clore.
Maria Sophia Weaver became the wife of Peter Fleshman, who became acquainted with her on board the ship as they crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, they were both children then, and they probably had no thought that they would someday marry. That Maria Sophia Weaver was the wife of Peter Fleshman was discovered by myself only a few months ago when I examined the Hebron communion lists.
Wabburie Weaver's formal name was probably Waldburga but she was called Wabburie as an infant, and as Burga when she was an adult. She became the wife of John Willheit. (There is no evidence that any part of her name was Margaret.) The wife of Peter Weaver was Elizabeth, but we have never found any clues as to her maiden name.
As to how Peter Weaver came to be called Peter is traced by Zimmerman and Cerny. It may be that a possible influence was the fact that Peter Fleshman was a brother-in-law of the "future" Peter Weaver.
(19 Nov 01)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.