Introduction
A 2008 compendium lists Philip Bortner as a gunsmith in Bedford County, Pennsylvania in 1814. At the beginning of this study, I did not know if he worked within the present bounds of Bedford County. This study shows that Philip Bortner was a gunsmith in Ayr Township of Bedford County, and eventually moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Ayr Township is no longer a part of Bedford County.
1766-1855: Charles H. Glatfelter's 1949 book "George Bortner of Codorus Township, York County" reports that Philip Bortner was born on September 8, 1766, died July 16, 1855, and was married to Margaret Humbert who was born in 1773 and died in 1855. The book names ten of Philip's children and their spouses, and expressly states that no attempt was made to trace the Philip Bortner branch of the family. The book also says that apparently, this Philip Bortner moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania when he was a young adult. The border between Washington County and Jefferson Township of Fayette County is the Monongahela River.
1766-1816: The following excerpt from the 1900 book "Nelson's Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book of Fayette County" provides the names and birth dates of the children of the Philip Bortner who was born in 1766.
1790: I did not find a Phillip Bortner, Bordner, or Butner in the transcript of the 1790 census of Pennsylvania (46 MB).
1795: According to Nelson's 1900 book, excerpted above, Philip Bortner and his wife Margaret Humbert had a son named Jacob who was born September 30, 1795. Glatfelter's 1949 book indicates that Philip Bortner's son Jacob was born in 1795, married Beulah Newbold, and died in 1876. The "Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy" website reports that Philip Bortner and Anna Margaretha Humbert had a son named Jacob who was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
1797: According to Nelson's 1900 book, excerpted above, Philip Bortner and his wife Margaret Humbert had a daughter named Susan who was born April 7, 1797. The "Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy" website reports that Philip Bortner and Anna Margaretha Humbert had a daughter named Susan who was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania on April 7, 1797. Glatfelter's 1949 book indicates that Philip Bortner's daughter Susan was born in 1797, married Solomon Shearer, and died in 1886.
1799: According to Nelson's 1900 book, excerpted above, Philip Bortner and his wife Margaret Humbert had a daughter named Margaret who was born August 12, 1799. Glatfelter's 1949 book indicates that Philip Bortner's daughter Margaret was born in 1799, and married Caleb Newbold.
Before 1800: The 1967 book "The Bordner and Burtner families" mentions a Philip Bortner who settled in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and states that "Before 1800 he had married there and settled on a farm on Little Bull Creek...". Based on dates, this cannot be the Philip Bortner who was living in Bedford County in 1814.
1800: In the Dublin and Air Township portion of the 1800 census of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, a Philip Butner household has one male and one female in the 26 to 45 age group and one male and two females in the up to 10 age group. The number and ages of the children in the census are harmonious with the known children of Philip Borner. I did not find a Phillip Bortner, Bordner, or Butner in a transcript of the 1800 census of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The following image is a composite comprising a table heading from one page and tabular information from another page.
1802: According to Nelson's 1900 book, excerpted above, Philip Bortner and his wife Margaret Humbert had a son named George who was born January 3, 1802. A web page about George Bortner indicates he is the son of Philip Jacob Bortner and Anna Margaretha (Peggy) Humbert, was born in Ayrs Township on January 3, 1802, and died in Mercer County, Pennsylvania on August 5, 1885. Glatfelter's 1949 book indicates that Philip Bortner's son George was born in 1802, married Eleanor Reed, and died in 1885.
1805: According to Nelson's 1900 book, excerpted above, Philip Bortner and his wife Margaret Humbert had a daughter named Catherine who was born September 21, 1805. Glatfelter's 1949 book indicates that Philip Bortner's daughter Catherine was born in 1805,married George Metzler, and died in 1892. The "Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy" website reports that Philip Bortner and Anna Margaretha Humbert had a daughter named Catherine who was born in York County, Pennsylvania on September 21, 1805.
1807: According to Nelson's 1900 book, excerpted above, Philip Bortner and his wife Margaret Humbert had a son named John who was born March 7, 1807. Glatfelter's 1949 book indicates that Philip Bortner's son John was born in 1807, married Mary Shearer, and died in 1894. A web page about John Bortner indicates he was the son of Philip Jacob Bortner and Anna Margaretha (Peggy) Humbert, was born in Ayr Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania on March 7, 1807, and died on March 19, 1894, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. John Bortner is buried in the Little Redstone Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
1809: According to Nelson's 1900 book, excerpted above, Philip Bortner and his wife Margaret Humbert had a daughter named Elizabeth who was born September 10, 1809. Glatfelter's 1949 book indicates that Philip Bortner's daughter Elizabeth was born in 1809, married Christian Krepps, and died in 1886.
1810: In the 1810 manuscript census records
of Air Township of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, the Philip Butner household has one male and one female in the 26 to 45 age group, one male in the 16 to 26 age group, one male and two females in the 10 to 16 age group, and two males and two females in the up to ten age group. The number and ages of children in the census are a reasonable fit with the known children of Philip Bortner.
1812: According to Nelson's 1900 book, excerpted above, Philip Bortner and his wife Margaret Humbert had daughters named Maria and Sophia who were born February 1, 1812. Glatfelter's 1949 book indicates that Philip Bortner's daughter Maria was born in 1812, married Samuel Swabe, and died in 1860, and indicates that Philip Bortner's daughter Sophia was born in 1812, married William Krepps, and died in 1891. The following excerpt is from the 1899 book "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County, Pennsylvania". It indicates that Philip Borner had a daughter named Sophia who married William Krepps. Sophia is buried in the Little Redstone Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where her tombstone is inscribed, "Sophia Bortner wife of William Krepps born Feb. 1, 1812 died Dec. 23, 1891."
1814: Sellers' 2008 book "American Gunsmiths" lists Philip Bortner as a gunsmith in Bedford County, Pennsylvania in 1814. Sellers source was the 1984 book "Pennsylvania Gunmakers, A Collection" by Chandler and Whisker, which puts Philip Bortner in Ayr Township of Bedford County, Pennsylvania in 1814 and reports that Ayr Township is now part of Fulton County. Whisker's 1991 book "Arms Makers of Pennsylvania" reports that Philip Bortner is listed as a gunsmith in the 1814 tax list of Ayr Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Philip Bortner is not listed in Whisker's 2017 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford County, Pennsylvania". Ayr Township has changed significantly over time, and is now part of Fulton County. To the best I can determine, the shape of Ayr Township in 1814 is represented on the circa 1819 Melish-Whiteside map of Bedford County.
1816: According to Nelson's 1900 book, excerpted above, Philip Bortner and his wife Margaret Humbert had a daughter named Julia Ann who was born September 25, 1816. Glatfelter's 1949 book indicates that Philip Bortner's daughter Julian was born in 1816 and married Philip Fisher.
1816: The following excerpt is from the Jefferson Township portion of the 1882 book "History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania". Although the death date is different than indicated above, I believe the excerpt is a reference to the individual who is buried at the Little Redstone Presbyterian Cemetery.
1817: The following excerpt is from the 1964 book "The Pattison Family Association" (Book 2):
1820: In a transcript of the 1820 census of Bedford County, I could find no households that might be that of Philip Bortner. His household may be listed in the following excerpt from the 1820 census records of Washington Township in Fayette County, but the image is too faint to be sure:
1830: The following excerpt is from the 1830 census records of Washington Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
1840: Page 623 of the 1882 book "History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania" indicates that Jefferson Township was formed in June of 1840.
1840: The following excerpt is from the 1840 census records of Jefferson Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
1850: The "Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy" website reports that 83-year-old Pennsylvania-born Phillip Bourtner is enumerated in the 1850 census of Jefferson Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Also listed in his household are 77-year-old Margarett Bourtner, 45-year-old John Bourtner, 40-year-old Mary Bourtner, 30-year-old July A Bourtner, 10-year-old Daniel Bourtner , 11-year-old Margarett Bourtner, 7-year-old Ruth Bourtner, and 3-year-old Phillip Bourtner.
1855: Philip Bortner wrote his will on January 1, 1855 and it was proven on August 11, 1855. The will mentions his plantation in Jefferson Township, his wife Margaret, and his son John. It also mentions his his sons-in-law Christian and William Krepps, and appointed them as Executors.
Circa 1853-1855: Margaret Bortner died July 23, 1855 or 1853 (the date on tombstone is hard to read) at the age of 82, and is buried in the Little Redstone Presbyterian Cemetery (40.06136272, -79.83449676) in Jefferson Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. As a reminder to me, the cemetery is 2.43 miles due east of my Alma Mater, California University of Pennsylvania.
1855: Philip Bortner is buried in the Little Redstone Presbyterian Cemetery in Jefferson Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He is said to have been born in 1766 in York County, and is said to have died in 1855. An individual born in 1766 would have been about 34 years old in 1800 and about 44 years old in 1810. That means a 1766 birth date is harmonious with the age range of the Philip Butner who is listed in the 1800 and 1810 censuses of Bedford County.
