Allegheny Valley Genealogies Archives - Pennsylvania Genealogy

The Raymer Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania

Old town hall, Allegheny City, torn down in 1863

This genealogical sketch traces the Raymer family from early Schuylkill County roots to later generations in Smethport and McKean County. It begins with Nicholas Raymer, a farmer and Methodist whose children spread across western Pennsylvania, and follows his son William, a wheelwright and wagonmaker who later became a farmer and dairyman near Smethport. The article also profiles William’s wife, Matilda Fry, her Berks County family, and their daughter Alice, whose marriages to Robert Walters and Samuel McClure connect the Raymers to other Pennsylvania and Midwestern families. The account includes occupations, residences, church affiliations, and descendants.

The Webster Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

A detailed genealogical sketch traces the Webster line from early New England settlers through several generations of military, civic, and business service, culminating in Philip Leavitt Webster of Bradford, Pennsylvania. The account follows the family from Thomas Webster of Hampton, New Hampshire, through Ebenezer Webster’s Revolutionary War service and David Webster’s descendants, then to Philip Huntoon and his sons Charles Dix and Philip Leavitt. It also connects the Webster family to the prominent Dix family through Lucy Jane Dix Webster, whose relatives included Governor and General John A. Dix. The article emphasizes frontier settlement, public service, and the family’s lasting presence in Bradford.

The Camp Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

This article traces the Camp family line from Nicholas Camp, an early New England settler who came from England in 1638, through successive generations in Connecticut and New Jersey to the Pennsylvania branch associated with glass manufacturing. It follows Samuel, John, Israel, Daniel, Ephraim, and William Davis Camp, showing the family’s migrations, marriages, and occupations, especially the glass trade that shaped many descendants’ lives. The narrative then focuses on Thomas Wescott Camp, who worked in Pennsylvania glass plants before becoming a prominent manufacturer and businessman in Smethport, Bradford, and Mount Vernon, while also outlining the Barber and Scott family connections through his marriage.

The King Family of McKean County, Pennsylvania

This article traces the King family line from Clement King of early Massachusetts and Rhode Island to its establishment in McKean County, Pennsylvania, in 1816. It follows several generations, including Isaac King, the Rhode Island farmer whose son Isaac settled on East Potato Creek, and Horace Brown King, a farmer, lumberman, and long-serving Smethport court crier. The account also covers George W. King, who served briefly in the Civil War before becoming a merchant, postmaster, and community leader, and includes family connections by marriage, children, occupations, church ties, and public service across Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.

The Gifford Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

This genealogy traces the Gifford family from its legendary English origins through successive generations in New England, New Jersey, and finally northwestern Pennsylvania. It follows the line from early colonial settlers Walter and William Gifford to later descendants in McKean County, including farmers, merchants, public officials, and church members in Smethport, Keating township, and Bradford. The account also connects the family by marriage to the Hackett, Bishop, Gallup, and Cogswell lines, preserving dates, residences, occupations, and children for multiple generations. A final section outlines the Cogswell ancestry and a Revolutionary War descent linked to Emma A. (Gallup) Gifford.

The Gallup Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

This genealogy traces the Gallup family from its English origins in Dorset to its early American roots in New England and later branches in Pennsylvania. Beginning with Captain John Gallup, a noted colonial mariner and Indian fighter, the account follows successive generations through Connecticut towns such as Stonington and Voluntown, noting marriages, children, military service, and local civic roles. It then shifts to Nathaniel C. Gallup’s move to McKean County, where the family became established as farmers, merchants, and professionals. The article concludes with William D. Gallup and his son, attorney Fred D. Gallup, highlighting their public service, business activity, and prominence in Smethport and Bradford.

The Devine Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

This genealogical sketch traces the Devine and Donahue families of Bradford, Pennsylvania, from their Irish roots to their lives in western Pennsylvania. It highlights Thomas Devine’s immigration from Ireland and his work as a merchant tailor in Pittsburgh, then follows his son William Francis Devine, a Civil War veteran who later became a successful Bradford hotel proprietor and respected civic figure. The account also details William’s marriage to Sarah Louise Donahue and outlines the Donahue family history in County Tyrone and Butler County, including their occupations, children, church affiliations, and community ties.

The Lindsley Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

This genealogical sketch traces the Lindsley line from its early Connecticut and New Jersey origins to its later settlement in western New York and Pennsylvania. It follows Eleazer Lindsley, a Revolutionary War officer who helped establish the community that became Lindley, New York, and then outlines the descent through Samuel, William, and Abram Bradley Lindsley. The account describes their farms, public service, church connections, and family marriages, then concludes with Sterling Ross Lindsley, a printer and newspaper editor in Smethport, Pennsylvania. The article combines family relationships with local history and community development.

The Coffin Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

This genealogical sketch traces the Coffin family from its ancient Devon, England, origins through successive generations in colonial Massachusetts and New Hampshire to Smith Gale Coffin of Bradford, Pennsylvania. It follows the line from Tristram Coffin, the immigrant ancestor who settled in New England in the 1640s, through Newbury and Alton descendants whose lives included farming, local civic service, and church activity. The article concludes with a detailed account of Smith Gale Coffin’s move to western Pennsylvania, his work in livery, grain, and oil interests, and his family connections in Bradford and surrounding communities.

The Dempsey Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

The American ancestor of the Dempsey family of Bradford, Pennsylvania, herein recorded, was Lawrence Dempsey, born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestors. He first became a resident of Center county, Pennsylvania, soon after the close of the revolution. In 1797 he penetrated the wilds of the Upper Allegheny Valley to the lands open to settlement on the general terms presented by the state. He was the first settler in the region and made his first improvement on the “Cauvel” farm, not far from the old graveyard near Dempseytown, a hamlet named in his honor. Here he planted an orchard, one of … Read more