William Hetselgesser

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William was a "wealthy and influential farmer and a stockman" in Winfield Township, Pennsylvania and was referred to as a "Pennsyvlania Dutchman". The 1908 Butler county History lists him and his family as one of the pioneers in the area, arriving at Winfield Township around 1815. A copy of a bill of sale shows that on 1 Dec 1820 he purchased the following items from George Otterman of Buffalo:

• one sorel horse
• one white horse
• one red cow white back
• two calves
• one red cow white back
• one cow black and white
• nine sheep
• one sow
• five pigs
• one plough
• two set of hind geers
• one pair of stretchers
• lone logchain to one iron

for the grand price of $180.89 with the note that George Otterman handled this transaction in German. The receipt was recorded 16 Dec 1820. In addition he is listed in the 1820 federal census. The 1820 census only includes the head of household name. The columns indicate the following in this household:

• 5 males aged 0-9 years,
• 2 males aged 10-15 years,
• 2 males aged 16-25 years old (both were over 18 years old),
• 1 male aged 45 or older,
• 2 females aged 0-9 years,
• 1 female aged 26-44 years.

5 persons were engaged in agriculture, or as farmers. This causes some concern, for if William's birthdate is 1778, this would place him as less than 45 years old at the time of the 1820 census. The census records 1 male as being 45 years or older, and no males between the ages of 26 - 44 years old. It is possible that William did not remember his actual age, or he may have been disposed when the census taker came by and someone guessed his age, if this census record depicts the William Hetselgesser that is my ancestor.

We can assume he was fairly prosperous, for in the Old Westmoreland Vol VI #3 we learn that he was surety for a $2000 bond issued for Robert McCreary, the letter for which was granted 10 Jan 1825 to William McCreary.

Winfield Township was organized in 1854 of territory formerly included in Clearfield and Buffalo Townships. The first pioneers in the area were mainly from Ireland. William Hetselgesser and family are listed as here by 1815.

The Mar 15 and Mar 22, 1828 issues of the Kittening Gazette reports a committee meeting at Charles Sipe's house in Buffalo Township to discuss a Grand circular hunt. The committee, consisting of William Hatselgasser and nine other men was responsible for planning a fox and/or wolf hunt scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. on 25 Mar 1828. William was one of the five marshals at the second grand circular hunt.

On 29 Sep 1836 it appears he purchased land from Andrew Kier and wife according to a copy of a deed.

Various spellings of Williams last name have appeared in various documents. Hesselgesser, Hetselgesser, Hetsilgesser and Hasselgefser may all refer to the same family name. It was William's children that settled on the spelling "Hesselgesser" as recorded in extant documents.

References

Last data update: Sep 27, 2018.

1820 United States Census Document, Buffalo Township, Butler County, PA; Enumeration date: unknown, page 2, line 8 Citation post date: 2009-07-04

20th Century History of Butler and Butler County, PA and Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by James A. McKee, Butler, PA, Published 1909, Citation post date: 2008-06-28

Personal genealogical research information and notes provided by Nancy Lee (Hesselgesser) Sutton, Citation post date: 2008-05-20