Despite the impressive (but inaccurate) historical marker on Long Hollow Road in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County, there is strong evidence that eliminates George Adam Wedel of the Mortonhouse as the pioneer George Weddell.
In 1875 I. Daniel Rupp first published his book, Thirty Thousand Names, (1) lists of ship's passengers immigrating to Pennsylvania. On page 59 is this unique footnote concerning George Adam Weidel of the ship Mortonhouse that arrived in Philadelphia on August 19, 1729: "George Adam Weidel, the paternal grand-father of Jacob Weidel, Esq., of Lebanon, Pa.". Rupp knew Jacob Weidel personally and stayed at his home in Union Township, Lebanon County on January 27, 1844. Jacob Weidel contributed to Rupp's History of Berks and Lebanon Counties (2). Also, Rupp had a personal interest in the Mortonhouse. His great-grandfather, his father's maternal grandfather, Michael Burst, was a passenger on the Mortonhouse.
Volume 1 of Monacacy and Catoctin (3)by C.E. Schildknect lists George Adam Wedel and his wife Anna Maria as being witnesses at the Monacay Settlement in 1743 and George Adam Wedel signing a petition to the Governor of Maryland there in 1766. But, in 1766 our pioneer George was well established on the banks of the Youghiogheny.
In Strassburger and Hinke's book, Pennsylvania German Pioneers, (4) are the passenger lists for the
Ship Mourtonhouse. There are three (3) versions; 9A, 9B, and 9C. One list 9A there is a Dirick
Adam Weedle; on 9B, a Görg Adam Wedel; and on 9C, a Georg Adam Wedel. Note the spelling
differences. George and Dirick never appear on the same list; therefore they appear to be the same
person. In Rupp's book the name is spelled Georg Adam Weidel. The record in Pennsylvania
Archives, 2nd Series, Volume 17, page 16 is a list of passengers from the Mortonhouse including
"George Adam Weddel" and as originally written "Dirick Adam Weedle"; the same as Strassburger and Hinke.
Photo of the Historical Marker
1. I. Daniel Rupp, Thirty Thousand Names, (1875; reprint, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Company,
1965) 58-59
2. I. Daniel Rupp, History of the Counties of Berks and Lebanon, (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, G. Hills,
1844), 64-66
3. C. E. Schildknecht, Monacacy and Catoctin, 2 volumes (Westminster, MD, Family Line Publications,
1989) I:96 &167
Ralph Beaver Strassburger, LL.D. and William John Hinke, Ph.D., D.D., Pennsylvania German
Pioneers, 2 volumes (Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Company, 1980), 1: 23-26