Samuel Eberly Esq.

  General Notes:

Samuel was a scrivener and conveyancer and built a home at Durlach, Pa. in 1832.
So what is a scrivener? - According to Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) : SCRIVENER. A person whose, business it is to write deeds and other instruments for others; a conveyancer. 2. Money scriveners are those who are engaged in procuring money to be lent on mortgages and other securities, and lending such money accordingly. They act also as agents for the purchase and sale of real estates. 3. To be considered a money scrivener, a person must be concerned in carrying on the trade or profession as a means of making a livelihood. He must in the course of his occupation receive other men's moneys into his trust and custody, to lay out for them as occasion offers.
And what about a Conveyancer. Well that is about the same thing:
One whose business is to draw up conveyances of property, as deeds, mortgages, leases, etc.


The 1850 Federal Census for Elizabeth Township, Lancaster Co., Pa. (page 272) records Samuel Eberly Esq. (56), wife Catherine (49), and children Henry S. (20) and Adam (10). In the same household is mother-in-law Catharine Weich (75) and Israel Eberly (23)-Blacksmith.

The 1860 Federal Census for Clay (Elizabeth) Township, Lancaster Co., Pa. (page 36) records Samuel Eberly Esq. (67), wife Catherine (55), and mother-in-law Catharine Wike (86) in the same household. Son Henry S. Eberly (29) and his wife Salinda (19) are living next door. Several generations of the Wikes and Eberly familes are living next to each other.

The 1870 Federal Census for Durlach P.O., Clay Township, Lancaster Co., Pa. (page 60B) records Samuel Eberly (77), wife Catherine (68) with Domestic Servant Fianna Borry (21) and day laborer Hiram (indexed as Urius at ancestry.com) Wike (16) in the same household. Samuel has real estate valued at $13,000 and personal property at $20,3000. Son H. [Henry] S. Eberly (39) with his wife Salinda (29) and daughter, Lilly (4) are living next door. Samuel is listed as a Surveyor, however, this was probably "misheard" by the census taker and the occupation and should have been written as "conveyancer". Henry is a Dry Goods Merchant with personal property valued at $12,000.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Merchant/Surveyer (1870).

Samuel married Catherine Wike (Weik, Weich), daughter of Living and Catharine. (Catherine Wike (Weik, Weich) was born about 1801 and died after 1870.)