Philip Wampler [hp3-1] of Maryland and Ohio

Section 1.7.A Last update: 02/05/'04 RETURN TO INDEX

Philip was born in Maryland (or Pennsylvania) on January 10th, 1790. He was the son of David and Mary Sanchwick Wampler. He was probably a third generation Dunkard (Church of the Brethren). Earlier analyses suggested that he was a first generation convert to this religion, but recent records suggest that his grandfather, Peter, and his grand mother, Barbara, were both members of the famous Conestoga Congregation in Pennsylvania. Many other members of his family were prominent in the work of the Brethren. He and his father were pioneers in the Ohio territory and in early Brethern congregations of Montgomery County. Philip's sons Edward and Joseph were early Brethren ministers and pioneers in Missouri. His Uncles John and Daniel were also active in the church. Remembering that the Dunkards believed in adult profession and baptism, the various mentions of Philip's joining the Dunkards are still consistent with his father and grandfather's families also being part of this sect.

Philip married Catherine Royer on April 27, 1815. Catherine was born February 21st, probably in 1798. She was the daughter of Peter and Anna Roop Royer of Maryland. Philip and Catherine moved to Montgomery County Ohio in 1825 or 1826 soon after his father David had made the move. The following letter written to her mother in Maryland on February 1830 gives some sense of the life of a farm wife in this frontier territory:

Montgomery Co., Ohio
February 1, 1830

Dear Mother,

I recieved sister Anna letter dated October 20th [1829]. I have negelected writing longer than I wish to have done. I wish some of you to write to me soon. I should be very happy to see Anna, Mary and Jacob out here this next summer or fall as Anna gave me some small hopes of it. I would be very glad to be at the yearly meeting [Brethern meeting?] with you and see all again if it could be as well as not. We are in rather good health at present.

We have another son born 18th of December and called him John. The boys are going to school. Our family is getting so large and heavy that I am afrail Mary Ann [her oldest daughter] will not get as much schooling as she ought to have. There are but few girls that go out to work for wages and not many that are used to constant work. We had a girl four weeks and paid her a dollar a week. Mary Ann and me can do the work when we are both well, but it keeps us very busy.

George Wirkingen came to this country last fall and has been to see us several times. He is working in Dayton at his trade. Dayton is improving pretty much. They have a market three times a week. Butter is twelve and one half cents. Philip has sold some for 18 3/4. Philip and Edward [eldest son] are going to market in the morning.

We have a snow that fell yesterday and today six or seven inches deep and very cold night. We had some remarkable cold winter weather in October and after that about five or six weeks for the most part rain. A good many had the potatoes froze in the ground before they were dug and some did not get their corn in until January.

Daniel Wampler [Philip's Uncle or Brother] is in very poor state of health since last summer and its very doubty if he will recover. No more at present, but my kind love to you and father and all the rest.

Your affectionate daughter,
Catherine Wampler

Philip and Catherine are buried near Dayton, Ohio, in the Ft. McKinley Cemetery which is associated with the Dunker Church and located Madison Township. She died on the 29^th of September, 1867, and he on the first of May, 1878. This reference in the letter above to Daniel places him in Ohio in 1830 and suggests that he was very ill at the time. In the will of Philip's father, David, from 1842, his son Daniel (Philip's brother) has died. So this reference is probably to Philip's brother, hp3-20. However, it could also be his uncle Daniel, hp2-6. Questions about this Daniel, hp2-6, are detailed on the page entitled "The Puzzle of Daniel Wampler".

Philip owned at least two slaves, Ann and Harriet Franklin, whom he bought from Adam Good. An interesting footnote is that the husband of Ann, Jared, was once owned by Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star Spangled Banner. Harriet was Ann and Jared's daughter. Quoting the web transcript of "A SKETCH OF HENRY FRANKLIN AND FAMILY" from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library:

Ann, with her daughter Harriet, was bought by Philip Wampler for $600, and Jared was sold to Joseph Engle, of Little Pipe Creek, for $500. Engle, being a Dunkard, felt somewhat conscientious about holding slaves, and told Jared that if he would serve him faithfully for ten years he should be free, which proposition he gladly accepted and he became a free man. Philip Wampler, having joined the Dunkards, agreed to set Ann free when she earned the money paid for her, which was done and she was no longer a slave. He afterward moved to Dayton, Ohio, and, not wishing to sell the daughter, he agreed that if Jared would allow him to take her with him at the end of six years he would set her free. At the expiration of that time her father went for her a distance of five hundred miles, walking all the way, and accompanied by his daughter also walked the whole distance back, except fifteen miles which they rode in a farmer's wagon--a journey of a thousand miles on foot, performed under the feeling of paternal love to secure the companionship and care of his child!