Notes for: David Cleaver
From WorldConnect:
Cleaver, William J. , "Some Descendents of Peter Cleaver" pp.80-81:
"David Cleaver (John 14, John 4, Peter 1) was probably born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania around 1762-1766. He died there in 1832, and administration papers were issued to his son Joseph and to Ezra Hayhurst with a bond of $16,000 on 7 November 1832. David was apparently married three times, but the evidence is tangled, and it may have been twice. Apparently he married, first, Elizabeth or Bridgett Collins, who was born 22 November 1773, the daughter of Joseph and Amy (Jones) Collins. A strong family tradition says that David told his grandson Elijah Collins Cleaver, that he was named for Bridgett, a Roman Catholic, and that this marriage with her caused the Friends meeting to disown him. The Collins name persists in the family. J. E. Eschelman found an entry "Elizabeth Cleaver m. 1801 - Cleaver", and Mrs. Nancy Sweeney, in her tireless efforts, charts a Polly (who is probably Elizabeth) as a second marriage. His third marriage (if it was his third) appears to be with Mary Burchfield, 18 Sept. 1831 in Columbia County. Mary signed her mark for release of administration in 1832 and again in 1836. Apparently the estate had not been settled before son Joseph's death, and a second appointment eas made 15 August 1846 "for which remains unadministered" to George Scott. She may be the Mary, age 71, who lived in Catawissa in 1870 with Ata, age 11, who was probably her granddaughter. (28) (205) (206) (270) (527) (537)
David Cleaver appears to have been the first merchant in Catawissa. The brick building "Susquehanna House" (still standing) was a hotel that he built. It is said he never managed it, but had a manager or rented it, as he did several farms of some 400 or 50 acres. The size of the bond for his estate, $16,000.00, indicates his holdings were extensive for the time. (66)
In August 1799 his name appears on a Petition to the President of the Court of Quarter Sessions at Sunbury, asking with other businessmen for a division of Mifflin Township because "in its present State nearly fifteen miles in width and thirty miles in length, making the Township Business Troublesome and Expensive..." Another petitioner was Reuben Burr, David's brother-in-law. (377)"
The children of David Cleaver are listed with the caveat "order and name of mother uncertain."
Munsell, p.275, lists David Cleaver "of Columbia county" as one of the founders of Miner's Bank, the first bank in Pottsville, in 1828.