Some Known Variations Of The Levengood Name- Leibundgut, Leibenguth,
Leibengut, Leebengood, Liebengut, Lowengut, Loewengut, Livingood,
Levergood, Labingood Leurgood, Leivengood, Lavergood, Lowingood, Levigood,
Lavenguth, Lavagood, Levengood Laragood, Livergood, Lovegood, Lavergood,
Lovergood, Leavegood, Lavengood, Livengood, Levergood, Levingood,
Leavengood
Leavengood Family
of Northumberland, Union and Snyder County's, Pennsylvania
I started this research with the intent of finding the ancestors for
Jacob Leavengood b. October 12, 1809, in what is presently Chapman Twp., Snyder
County, PA. This area was originally part of Mahantango Township,
Mahantango had been erected in 1795, when in Northumberland County.
About 1815,the Levengood land was in Washington Twp., Union Co. and
after the census in 1820, Chapman was formed in Snyder, County and the
Levengood land was in this portion. So the family is listed as being in
three different counties depending on when the documents were recorded.
The original Levengood ancestor of this family to immigrate to the
United States was Jacob Levengood (Lowengut, Livingood, Lavergood, etc.)
There are varying accounts of his origination, and his family's
revolutionary war service, I will list them below with their sources.
The sources all agree that he had two brothers and that 'Indians'
killed one of them during a war. (I have yet to determine if it was
the revolutionary war or the war of 1812.) I have ordered the military
records and will update as soon as I receive them, in the meantime,
the military information I do have is listed in the next section.
To see all of my Levengoods, click on the apple.
Jacob Lowengut was born close to Marborg, (Marburg) Hesse, in Germany
about the year 1754. He lived in his native country until he was about
10 years of age, when tiring of his occupation "as Tender of Poultry"
Boylike, he ran away and embarked on a vessel as a stowaway for the New
World. After his arrival in this country at Philadelphia, he was bound
or practically for a term of years to pay for his passage across the
ocean, amounting to $40.00. This required several years to pay. But
after reaching manhood he bought or entered a two hundred acre tract
of land in what was originally called Northumberland Co. Pennsylvania,
but later was subdivided, and a portion now called Snyder county. The
cost of this land was recording and surveying fees and frequently the
lines then ran by the surveyor was not straight but with reference to
taking in the most desirable land. During the Revolutionary war,
Jacob Leavengood took a prominent part, as did two other brothers
who emigrated here later than he; and while detailed as "Guard of
Provisions" to be carried to the Patriots of our Revolution, his
brother Peter (probably supposed to read John) was ambushed and killed
by Indians.
His grandfather, Jacob Leavengood, was born in Germany, and with his
wife settled in Union County, Pennsylvania, near the Susquehanna River,
during the latter part of the seventeenth century. He, with his brothers
John and Fiedel and their sisters, were sold from the ship in which they
crossed the ocean, to pay their passage money. Jacob was married before
the war of 1812. (Actually before 1780) He and his brother John served
during that war, and during its progress John was killed and scalped by
the Indians. Twice during their early life in Pennsylvania Jacob had to
flee with his wife across the Susquehanna, where there were more
settlers, in order to save their lives from the prowling savages.
These savages were hostile, and frequently murdered and robbed the
early settlers.
This is another reference to Jacob's brother John that was killed by
'Indians'. The subject of this bio is the son of John, nephew of Jacob.
John Levegood sen., one of the pioneer settlers of Liberty, was born in
the southern portion of Pennsylvania. His father was killed by the
Indians. John Levegood sen. was one of the twelve men who each received
a donation of fifty acres of land from the Academy of Philadelphia to
induce them to settle on its lands in Liberty in 1814-16. He was a
brickmaker and shoemaker. His wife was Elizabeth Harpster, of Bethlehem,
Northampton county, Pa, They had six children: Jacob, George, John,
Martin, Fannie (wife of Michael Kehler) and Mary (wife of Rev. Henry
Keagle). Mr. Levegood added largely to the original fifty acres, and
cleared a large farm. He died in 1867 at an advanced age.
John, Jacob, and Fiedel LEVENGOOD, who came to America aboard "??," and
arrived in Philadelphia about 1765 and settled near Quarryville in
Lancaster County, PA. John apparently returned to Europe, married, and
returned with his bride on the Ship "Charming Bell" in 1773. John was
later killed by Indians leaving his widow, Mary Ann with three young
sons. One of those sons, John Jr., settled in a tract known as the
"Block House". It was a rugged outpost in what is now Tioga County,
PA, near the New York State Border. Later, this settlement became known
as "Liberty". [Information provided by John A. LIVINGOOD]
Email message from John A. Livingood
Two brothers, John and Jacob Levengood immigrated to Pennsylvania about
1765. They apparently settled in Lancaster County somewhere near
Quarryville which was then known as Barr's Quarry. John returned
to Europe in 1772 and returned the following year with his bride.
They had three sons, Jacob born 14 Dec. 1774, John, Jr. born 26 Aug 1776,
died 1867, and George born 27 Oct. 1779 and died 1850. According to
family tradition, John, Sr. was killed by Indians while serving in the
Continental Army. Son Jacob married in 1799 or 1800 to Christine Echart.
They had 7 children, Mary, George, Elizabeth, Jacob (born 1806), Rachel,
Rose Ann, and John. Around 1805 Jacob and his family migrated to
Coshocton County Ohio. The family began using the spelling of "Lavengood".
Most of the family apparently remained in Coshocton County, but part of
the family moved on and settled in Indiana. George, who was born in 1802,
had married Barbara Brickle. In 1863 George died from a broken back
suffered in a fall from a wagon and Barbara moved her family on to
Indiana. By the way, this Jacob met his
death in a sawmill accident where he worked.
Link to Letters of Administration for Jacob Livingoods estate.
Index reading
Letters of Administration, Union Co.
Date: 8/6/1822
Decedent: Jacob Levingood, Chapman Twp.
Letters to: Christrian Levingood and Jacob Hoffer
Sureties: Adam Stahl and Jacob Raigle
Military Records
Pennsylvania Archives, Volume 4, Fifth Series
Deprecation Pay
Lists on page 263- Levergood, Jacob, private. Levingood, Jacob, private
Page 333- Lebengood, George, private
Continental Line
Page 684- Levingood, Fught, private. Levinguth, George, private.
Livingood, Jacob, private.
Military Information from "The Snyder County Pioneers, Charles Adam Fisher, Selinsgrove, 1938
JACOB LIVINGOOD, SENIOR was assessed with 100 acres of land and personal
property in Douglass Township, Berks County, PA, in 1766 and 1767. About
1773, he came to what is now the southern section of Snyder County, and
was assessed there for the first time about 1776. From 1781 to 1787, he
was taxed with 100 acres and personal property. Jacob, Senior, died in
Penn Township in 1794. Jacob, Jr., Feight, John and Peter, may all have
been his sons, if not sons, relatives. One or more men of the name of
Jacob Livingood served in the Northumberland County Militia. It is
possible that Jacob, Sr., as well as Jacob, Jr., served in the forces
from Northumberland County. Letters of administration in his estate
were granted to Peter Livingood (probably a son) on November 18, 1794.
John Cummings and Deitrick Stonebraker were sureties for the
administrator. His children were: Peter, Elizabeth Crawford, Rebecca
Bachman, Jacob, Jr., Catherine, Polly and Esther.
JACOB LIVINGOOD, JUNIOR, was assessed in Penn Township before 1790.
In 1796 when Mahantango Township was formed from the lower part of
Penn Township, he was assessed with 100 acres of land, personal property,
and a sawmill. In 1790 his family consisted of one male over and three
under 16 years and four females. Jacob died in what is now Chapman
Township of Snyder County in 1822. He served as a private in Captain
Michael Weaver's Company of the Northumberland County Militia and
Lieutenant Jacob Spees' Company of Rangers on the Frontier. Christian
Livingood may have been one of his sons.
LIEUTENANT JOHN FEIGHT (or Velt or Felt) LIVINGOOD (also Livingood,
Levengood, Lebengood, Lieberguth, etc.) may have been a son of Jacob
Livingood, Sr. who died in Penn Township in 1794. Feight was assessed
in Penn Township for the first time in 1776. In 1781, he was assessed
with 400 acres of land and personal property. In May and June of 1780,
he was a private in Leiutenant in Captain Jacob Spees' Company of
Rangers, at another time he wasd a Lieutenant in Captain John Snyder's
Company, all of which were organizations of the Northumberland County
Militia. George was his son.
GEORGE LIVINGOOD was granted a warrant of survey for 100 acres of land
in Northumberland (now Snyder County) on April 8, 1774. He was assessed
in Penn Township for the first time in 1776. It is said that he died in
Penn Township in February 1781. He was a son of John Velt Livingood.
George served as a private in Captain John Moll's Company of the
Northumberland County Militia. On November 16, 1773, he married Anna
Maria, daughter of Henry Werner, Tulpehocken Township. Their children
were: Jacob, John, and George.
JOHN LIVINGOOD is supposed to have been a son of Jacob Livingood, Sr.
He lived in Penn Township as early as 1776. In 1790 his family consisted
of one male over and three under 16 years, and three females. In 1796
when Mahantango Township was formed from the lower part of Penn Township,
he was assessed there. On January 30, 1777, he was a private in Captain
Benjamin Weiser's Company of the German Regiment, Continental Line,
stationed at Philadelphia, PA.
Family of Jacob Levengood
The relationship of the Jacob Livingood Sr. and that of the Jacob
Livingood Jr. of the "The Snyder County Pioneers, Charles Adam Fisher,
Selinsgrove, 1938" is unproven, the Jacob Jr. of this bio is the original
ancestor of this line, but Jacob Sr. is probably not his father. The
letters of administration for the Jacob Sr. of this book can be seen by
clicking here and they do not list a son named Jacob. These Jacob's are
most likely uncle and nephew.
The original Jacob of this family line was married to Marion Elizabeth
Leiningem, probably in Northumberland county prior to the birth of their
first child, Christian Levengood, born December 18, 1780.
Children of Jacob Levengood and Marion Elizabeth Leiningem
Christian Leavengood born December 18, 1780 in Chapman, Snyder, PA
--used to be part of Mahantango Township, Union Co PA and was originally
Northumberland Co. Married Elizabeth Keiser, 1805 in Northumberland, Co.
For the descendents of Christian and Elizabeth follow this link.
http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=SRCH&db=mickiw&surname=L
John Leavengood born Bet. 1780 - 1784
Catherine Leavengood born 1785; married Jacob Hoffer about 1805 in
Mckees Half Falls, Snyder, Pennsylvania
Jacob Leavengood born Bet. 1784 - 1790
Elizabeth Leavengood born before 1790; married Burket
Mary Leavengood born before 1790; married Brown
Biography of Christian Leavengood
Christian Leavengood was born December 18, 1780 in Chapman, Snyder, PA
--used to be part of Mahantango Township, Union Co PA and was originally
Northumberland County. Christian married Elizabeth Keiser, about 1805 in
Northumberland, Co. The first census listing for him is found in 1820
and reads Christian Levigood, Union County, Washington Township, page 111.
Sometime between 1820 to 1830 he moved his family to Tuscarawas County,
Ohio. In the 1830 census he is listed as Christian Lavagood, Tuscarawas
Co. Sugar Creek Township, page 78.
From the Leavengood family narrative "Christian Leavengood emigrated to
Tuscarawas Co. Ohio in 1812 (did not actually move until after 1820,
unless he went back and forth) and pre-empted 160 acres of land on Sugar
Creek bottom, for which he paid $1.25 per acre and was given a patent
therefor in 1813. His occupation was farming and Blacksmithing. He was
married to Elizabeth Keiser in Northumberland Co. Penn. in 1805 who
emigrated with him to Ohio and shared his joys and sorrows until death,
April 30th 1868, aged 80 years 3 months and 25 days. The husband followed
her April 7 1870, aged 89 years 3 months and 19 days. To this union was
born the following children: Mary born June 21st, 1807, Elizabeth born
Sept. 22 1808; John Jacob born Oct 12 1809; (should read Jacob John)
John born Jan 8th 1811; Susanna born July 8th 1814; Peter born May 10th
1824; George born March 20th 1827. Mary married Jacob Stall. Elizabeth
married Abraham Deitz. Susanna married Jacob Lehman. Catherine married
George Pershing. Daniel Leavengood was born near Shaneville Tuscarawas
Co Ohio on February 20th 1819 and was reared on a farm owned by father.
(Daniel was actually born on this date but he was born while the family
was still in PA and his birth is recorded at the Dreisbch Lutheran and
Reformed Church in present day Snyder County.
From the biography of Peter. C. Leavengood son of Christian.
"At the age of eighteen years Christian began to learn the blacksmith's
trade, and later took charge of his employer's shop. Previous to his
marriage he built a shop on his father's farm, where he worked at the
forge for many years, quitting it in later life to take charge of the
ancestral homestead. On this farm their nine children were born-Mary,
Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Susanna, Daniel, Catherine, Peter C. and George.
In 1830 the family removed to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where Christian
had bought land before the Indians left that county. Only three houses
had been built in New Philadelphia, the county seat of that county,
when he made his purchase, and one of these he helped to put the rafters
upon. When he selected these lands Indians yet had their cabins in the
woods, and he slept in their deserted wigwams. The parents died on this
farm, the father at the age of ninety years, and the mother at the age
of seventy-nine years. All their children were married before their
death, and all are living in Ohio except our subject and his sister Mary,
who married Jacob Stahe (Stahl) in Pennsylvania previous to the removal
of the family to Ohio. Elizabeth married Abram Deitz; Jacob married
Susanna Stahl; John became the husband of Margaret Homer; Susanna
married Jacob Lehmann; Daniel married Mary Lowrey; Catherine became the
wife of George Peshing; George married Magdalene Forney, and Peter C.
married Martha A. Zimmerlee, daughter of Jacob and Clara (Brown) Zimmerlee,
of this county."
In the 1840 census Christian Leavengood is listed as Christian Laragood,
Tuscarawas Co. Sugar Creek Twp page 368.
In the 1850 census Christian Leavengood is listed as Christian Lovegood,
Tuscarawas Co. Auburn Twp, page 63.
Biography of Jacob J. Leavengod
Jacob John Leavengood was born October 12, 1809 in Chapman, Snyder, PA
--used to be part of Mahantango Township, Union Co PA and was originally
Northumberland. His father was Christian Levengood and his mother was
Elizabeth Keiser. Jacob J. Leavengood married Susanah Stahl, born
May 9, 1811, in Snyder, PA. She was the daughter of Adam Stahl and
Eve Susanna Albright, both of PA.
Jacob and Susanah accompanied his father Christian to Tuscarawas County
and in 1835 they bought land in Crawford Township, Coshocton County.
The land deed information is as follows:
Accession/Serial #: OH0450__.211 BLM Serial #: OH NO S/N
State: OHIO Patentee Name: JACOB LAVENGOOD
Document #: 5737
Certificate 5737 reads, Whereas Jacob Lavengood of Tuscarawas County
Ohio has deposited in the general land office of the United States, a
certificate of the Register of the Land Office of Zanesville whereby it
appears that full payment has been made by the said Jacob Lavengood
according to the provisions of the act of Congress of the 24th April,
1820 entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of the
Public Lands", for the North East quarters of the North East quarters,
of Section Sixteen, in Township Seven, of Range 5, of the unappropriated
lands in the military district, subject to sale at Zanesville, Ohio,
containing 40 acres."
Susannah Stahl Leavengood died October 9, 1878, and Jacob remarried Eve
Reagle before 1880.
Jacob Leavengood is listed in the 1840 census for Crawford Township,
Coshocton County on page 392 as Jacob Levengood
In the 1880 Census Crawford Twp. Coshocton, OH. pg 49B the following
information is found- Jacob Leavengood 70yrs, retired farmer, born in
PA, both parents born in PA wife-(his 2nd) Eve Leavengood, 66yrs,
housewife, born in PA, both parent born in PA
"County and Family Histories: OH, 1780-1970", Page #262-263
Bio of Jacob J. Leavengood-grandson of Jacob J. Leavengood
"Jacob Leavengood, who was one of the early settlers of that township,
coming to Ohio from Pennsylvania. The work of development still largely
lay in the future, but the county offered good opportunities because of
the rich land and climate favorable to the production of various cereals
and fruits. Much of the territory embraced within the borders of the
county was still government property and Jacob Leavengood, Sr.,
purchased eighty acres of land from the government for one dollar and
sixty-five cents per acre. On this he built a log cabin in the midst of
the forests, and there, amid The wild scenes and environments of pioneer
life, John Leavengood was reared, early becoming familiar with the
arduous task of developing new land and transforming a forest region
into productive fields."
If you can add
any new information or corrections, I would love to hear from you, please send an email.
1. From a family narrative given to me by Don Leavengood, which he
believes to have been composed by his Great Grandfather Benjamin C.
Leavengood and then handed down to his grandfather, father and then
to himself. To see the whole narrative click here.
2. Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties,
Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. pp. 758-759. Biography of
Peter C. Leavengood, grandson of this Jacob. To see the whole narrative click here.
3. History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, Portraits,
& Sketches of Prominent Families and Individuals (1883),
(New York: W. W. Munsell & Co., Press of George MacNamara), pp. 191-199.
4. Posting by John A. Livingood
