Abraham Levering b. MAY 1717, on Green Lane, Roxborough, Philadelphia Co., PA.; m. 14 NOV 1745, Anna Thomas, who was born in 1726. She was a daughter of Griffith and Margaret Thomas, who came from Carmarthenshire, in Wales, and was a cousin of the great hymnologist, Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D.

ABRAHAM'S PARENTS: Alice (nee Tunes) and Jacob Levering.

ABRAHAM'S SIBLINGS (all born Roxborough, Philadelphia Co., PA):

1) Magdalena b. Bet. 1715-1718
2) Abraham [SELF]
3) Wigard/Wechard b. 1719
4) William b. 1721
5) Jacob b. Abt. 1723
6) Anthony b. Abt. 1725
7) Benjamin b. 15 SEP 1728
8) Septimus b. Abt. 1731

Both Abraham and Anna were notably pious persons. The records of the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, which is now (1894) situated on the northwest corner of Arch and Fourteenth (Broad) Streets, show that both Abraham and Anna Levering were baptised in the river Schuylkill, on September 11, 1756. Subsequently they became constituent members of the Roxborough Baptist Church, which was organized August 23, 1789, and he was made the first Deacon, having been chosen to that office on March 27, 1791. Until that time, since the organization, the pastor or supply officiated in the service of communion.

The office of Deacon in this church has been continued in his family to this time. His son, John Levering, was chosen on Dec. 22, 1792; his son Anthony on Sept. 22, 1800; his grandson, Peregrine W., on Aug. 18, 1832; his great grandson, Anthony D., on June 15, 1851; his grandson, Enoch, on Jan. 22, 1866. While of his immediate relations, descending from brothers, Charles was chosen on March 24, 1821; Thomas, on May 27, 1837; George B., on Feb. 16, 1874, and Morris, on Jan. 7, 1884.(*)

Mr. Jones states of Abraham: In early life he lived on the Ridge Road, below the 6-mile stone (measured from Second and Market Street), where, about the year 1746, he built a large stone house upon land adjoining that of his brother Wigard, and opposite to that of his brother Jacob. (*)The church, as first constituted, consisted of 32 members, of whom 11 were Leverings and 2 were married women who had borne the name. The old "meeting house," as first erected in 1793, stood in the midst of the present Leverington Cemetery. The approach from Ridge Avenue was between two long lines of Lombardy Poplar trees, while the building was surrounded by large Elms. These were consumed by fire, which destroyed the building. It was rebuilt in 1830, and like destruction compelled a third building in 1870, which also followed in flames in April, 1876. This third loss determined the congregation to remove to a new site, which was selected close against Ridge Avenue, a few rods east of the entrance gate to the long-used location.

During Abraham's later years he lived on Green Lane, at the old homestead of his father. Before a meeting house was built in Roxborough his dwelling was often used as a preaching place. He was a constant attendant at church, and usually carried a large cane. He had a peculiar dislike for dogs in the meeting house, hence, whenever he found one there he caned it out.

Mrs. Levering died Aug. 1, 1799. He survived her several years. At the time of his death, which occurred on Oct. 31, 1804, he was a venerable looking man with white, flowing locks.

His estate embraced a large tract of land, upon which a part of Manayunk is now built. His will, dated Aug. 20, 1798, was proved in Philadelphia on Dec. 15, 1804. Both were interred in Leverington Cemetery.

SOURCES:

1) "LEVERING FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY" by Col. John Levering; Pages 115, 116 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dynamo53/LeveringFamilyHistory/page1.html

2) "SCHULER-BOBENMYER CLAN BOOK 1758-1917" by A.B. Schuyler; The Otterbein Press, Dayton, Ohio; 25 JUL 1917

Biography contributed by Kati McSweeney.