I finally have time for my own research and have decided to work on First Families of Pennsylvania through the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (GSP). My initial family was Sarah Shoemaker who arrived in Philadelphia in 1686 and purchased 200 acres. Her husband, George had died on the way over from Germany or before she had left so it was that she landed in Philadelphia with seven children.
From further research, we know that Sarah’s son, George married Sarah Wall, whose family was already here in 1682. I will work on the Wall/Waln family for my supplement to First Families of PA. There is an abundance written about the Wall’s, but I haven’t found EVERYTHING, so if you are researching the Shoemaker/Wall connection and have some records not available on line, I would love to have a copy.
The next families will be the Richardson and Levering families. It is a challenge to get them listed in the oldest division of First Families – Colony and Commonwealth: 1638–1790, but how fun to see how much information is available from that time period at GSP and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, both in Philadelphia.
Happy hunting to those who try.