This exceptionally long and overly detailed query is being posted in an attempt to connect my 19th century Pennsylvania SEVART and SEIBERT ancestors to their roots in Alsace, and hopefully, to link them to other Sevart and Seibert families in America.
It is reported that my Alsatian Sevart/Seibert ancestors may have spelled the family name in various ways: SeVart, and SeVert, among others. In 1955, a Sevart cousin related that one of our distant Sevart relatives named DeSevar was a field marshal in Napoleon III's army in France.
According to our family lore, there were 7 brothers; 4 named Sevart (one of which was my G.G. Grandfather, John Sevart), and 3 named Seibert. When the French were in control of Alsace, the newborn children's surname was given the French spelling "Sevart". When the Germans were in control, the German Spelling "Seibert" was used. The story goes on to say that at the time they left for America in the early 1830’s, the Germans had re-taken control of Alsace and were inducting young Alsatian men into the German military.
These Seibert/Sevart’s were German speaking Protestants, possibly Mennonites or Calvinists. It's known that at least two of John’s children were Calvinist; one becoming a minister. Another son, my G. Grandfather, Joseph Elias Sevart, converted to the Catholic faith sometime prior to migrating to Kansas in the early 1870’s, and marrying Anna Rosane BALFAY in 1874.
Family lore relates that John Sevart immigrated from Alsace, to the US on 8-15-1832, when he was 42. It is said that he sailed from Bremen, Germany and arrived in NYC in November 1832. (Seems like a lengthy voyage). Another story has him landing at Baltimore. He may or may not have been accompanied by his Sevart/Seibert siblings, or parents.
Sometime between 1833 and 1836, John Sevart married “Nancyâ€, who was born in Pennsylvania.
John Sevart may have settled in Hagerstown or Baltimore before moving to Ayr Township, Pennsylvania in 1834-35.
The 1850 Ayr Township Census shows a "Seawart" spelling of the family name, and John’s naturalization papers show" Seaward" spelling. These papers record that he claimed to be 60 years old, born in Germany, was renouncing his allegiance to Fredrick, King of Prussia, and had as of 1-8-1851, lived in Ayr Township, Fulton County, for 16 years. The “Seawart†spelling by the clerks was probably a German "w"/"v" pronunciation-translation problem when John spoke his name.
The 1850 Federal Census, taken 9 August 1850, lists the John Sevart family as follows:
Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, Ayr Township, page 048, dwelling 179, family 185.
John Seawart, age 61
Nancy, 43
Anthony, 13 (Andrew))
Henry, 11
Lewis, 9
Mary M., 4
Ellis, 2 (Joseph Elias)
The census reports that John Sevart was a farmer and claimed to own real estate valued at $300. He gave his birthplace as Germany; the rest of the family being born in Pennsylvania. John did not read or write English. The youngest daughter, Louisa was not yet born at the time of this census.
It is believed that John Sevart and his wife Nancy, died sometime between 1857-59.
John Sevart died without leaving a will. The only document in his probate packet was an inventory listing a certificate of deposit in the Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank for ninety dollars plus interest; a total of $94.50. This inventory was dated 25 April 1862 and was filed at the courthouse in Chambersburg (Franklin County Administration Index #8309). Michael KUSS was his administrator. It is not known why this was filed three years after the guardianship petitions, or whether there were other documents regarding his estate. None have been found in Franklin or Fulton counties.
While on vacation near McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania on 10 August 1993, one of my Sevart cousins had the opportunity to visit a small burial ground on private property just west of McConnellsburg, near the turnoff for the U.S. Route 30 bypass. This land is near the convergence of two small creeks and the stony soil was very overgrown with brush and timber. Her guide, a local historian, told her that this was the John Sevart homestead, and these were Sevart graves. The present owner of the land, who discovered the graves in the early 1970’s, also accompanied her. He found five tombstones, all of Pennsylvania sandstone. They were totally illegible, having been worn smooth (if they ever were engraved). When the present owner of the land found the graves, he consulted an elderly gentleman (in his 90's at the time) who told him these were Sevarts. This man related a story of a funeral procession proceeding to the burial ground. Some of the children were running ahead and fell into the open grave.
John Sevart’s children next appear in public records on 8 March 1859, when a petition was heard in orphans' Court in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, appointing "... Michael KUSS, guardian of Elles Seavert and Louisa Seavert minor children of John Seavert" (Orphans' Court Docket Book H, page 529).
A similar petition was filed 6 April 1859 in Orphans' Court in McConnellsburg, Fulton County, Pennsylvania, naming George WILDS guardian of Mary Seavert "...a minor child of John Seavert late of the county of Fulton ..." This petition stated that Mary was under the age of fourteen years (Orphans' Court Docket, Book I, page 447).
Three of the Sevart children are found in the 1860 Federal Census in Pennsylvania. Henry, age 21, is living in the household of Henry and Sarah DEAN in Ayr Township. He was working as a farmhand. Louisa, age 9, was living in the Michael KUSS household in the South Ward of Chambersburg, Franklin County, and attended school. Elias, age 12, was living in the Bruno SHUBERT household in St. Thomas Township, Franklin County, and also attended school
Lewis Sevart next appears in Warren County, Ohio, when he married Adaline C. ROAT on 18 October 1862. Adaline died of consumption 17 March 1879. Lewis married her sister, Martha Roat on 20 July 1879. The family lived in Warren and Clermont counties in Ohio, where Lewis was a minister of the Church of Christ, a carpenter, a storekeeper, and postmaster of Hill station. He died in 1890.
John Sevart’s eldest son, Andrew (a Calvinist), adopted the Seibert spelling of the family name, as have his descendants. Andrew Seibert's great nephew George Sevart relates: "The name Seibert came from Grampa (Joseph Elias) Sevart's brother, Andrew (Andy). During the Civil War, one could hire another person to take his place in the army. Andy hired himself out, took the money and fled. He was later found as a trapper and fur trader on the Mississippi River. Grandpa’s son, uncle Joseph Henry Sevart may have told me who apprehended him, but I do not remember if he did. As far as we know, he was never charged with the desertion." "Andrew was the father of Annie HILLIGAS, Jake, George, Bill, and Andrew.â€
This family lore doesn’t ring entirely true if the following Andrew Seibert is, in-fact, great uncle Andy.
Source: History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865: “Andrew Seibert, Enlist Date: 09 August 1861, Enlist Rank: Private. Served: Pennsylvania. Enlisted: L Co. 5th Cav Reg. PA, Teamster (No further record)â€.
I have identified more than 2000 American descendants of John Sevart’s children:
Andrew Seibert, b.1836, PA-3 generations
Henry Sevart, b.1839, PA. No further information
Lewis Patrick Sevart, b. 1841-7 generations
Mary M. Sevart, b.1846, PA, m. George W. Cooper 11-12-1863. No further information.
Joseph Elias Sevart, b. 12-24-1848, PA-7 generations
Louise or Louisa Lee Sevart, b.1851, PA, m. George? Lane. No further information.
Cousins or other Sevart/Seibert or Alsace Area researchers can either post on the forum, or contact me directly at
schneidersite@earthlink.net Again, my apologies for such a long, rambling posting.
Joe Schneider
269-D Avenida Sevilla
Laguna Woods, CA 92653