Thomas Moore Family Record
This old document is still in the family's possession. It is taken as authoritative, tying together three generations of this Moore line. Broken pieces can be filled in from other records. Be a handwriting expert - when was it written?
Image courtesy David Seyler. (full size here)
Signature
William Moore's signature is preserved in various probate files:
1800 brother Robert Moore
bond,
1802 uncle Judge James Moore
bond &
inventory
1806 friend Robert Gray died at William's home
bond
1824 James Moore of Convoy & Womelsdorf, witness
will.
Family tradition, from the Judge James Moore family
Written in 1888, first two pages here
Full article, links to JSTOR:
Part 1 - Judge James Moore,
Part 2 - son Major James Moore
1778 Militia Fines - Earliest record of William Moore in America
Capt. Nagle's company guarded the large prisoners of war camp at Reading.
1784 Berks County Tax Collections
Thomas Dundas was William Moore's neighbor and business associate from 1784 to at least 1795.
1791 Marriage to Mary Campbell
Son Thomas was ten, so this must have been a second marriage.
1794 Whiskey Insurrection - Cavalry
1795 Will of Samuel Moore - Proof that William and Samuel are brothers!
Samuel's will names "my nephew Thomas Moore son of my brother William Moore", and appoints executors "my brother William Moore and my cousin David Moore of Chester".".
A 1796 deed repeats: "Samuel Moore...made his last Will and Testament...and...did...appoint his brother the above named William Moore and his Cousin David Moore of Chester to be the Executor..."
1797 Newspaper Add
1806 Reading City Directory
PDF doc here
Five families, from Moore and Cook lines:
- Geo. Repplier, p. 22, on Penn St., between 4th & 5th
- Wm. Moore & Son, p. 22, on Penn St., between 5th & 6th, Callowhill & Prince
- Sebastian Allgair, p. 22, on Penn St., between 7th & 8th
- Widow Heckman, p. 23, on Richard St., between 6th & 7th
- Joseph Allgier, p. 25, on Prince St., between Thomas & Penn
Reading map, center of town, (Penn St. aka Market). Wm Moore had lots #10 & #11:
1817 Partnership ended
This business partner is Samuel Moore of Stouchsburg, not to be confused with William's brother Samuel Moore of Lebanon.
1820 Fire
Fire newspaper clipping from Berks Journal courtesy William Wells.
1820 After the fire - sincere thanks
1820 Ran Away
1822 Assignment - Insolvent Debtor
In January 1822 William Moore of Reading, unable to pay his creditors, assigned all his assets in trust to two assignees, who were to sell the lands and pay off his creditors as best possible. This was then common practice.
The assignment instructions gave favorable treatment to the husband of William's niece, John Reynolds.
Also of interest, one of the assignees, William Moore of Lebanon and his wife Elizabeth Graff were raising her orphaned niece, Mary Anne Doll, who would eventually marry Dr. William Moore, grandson of William Moore of Reading.
Rough transcription of assignment document - here. Entire document - here.
1822 April - All of William Moore's real estate for sale
William Moore of Reading had assigned all his real estate to George D.B. Keim and William Moore of Lebanon to be sold off to pay his creditors.
1823 Newspaper death notice
"Died, 14 days ago today, William Moore, in his 77th year of age, for many years a well-known and esteemed businessman in Reading." Translation courtesy Brigitte Keen.