William Roy Sweigert Sr.

  General Notes:

The 1880 Federal Census for Martic Township, Lancaster Co., PA, District 169, page 385B, dated June 2, 1880 records a Wm Sweigart (22 - PA/PA/PA) living with the James (33) and Marthersa (30) Creamer family. Wm is employed as a Blacksmith probably employed as a helper to James Creamer who is also listed as a Blacksmith. Several pages over, page 399B, records Emma Armstrong and family ... Emma will soon marry a William Sweigert.

  Research Notes:

The death certificate for William's son records his father:
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963
Name: William R Sweigert
Residence: 314 Wood Street, Reading, PA
Occupation: Clerk at Auto Parts Co.
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 67
Birth Date: 31 Oct 1888
Birth Place: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Cause of Death: Myocarditis
Death Date: 8 Jan 1956
Death Place: Reading, Berks, Pennsylvania
Burial: Forestt Hills Cemetery, Reiffton, [Berks Co.,] PA
Father Name: William R Sweigert
Mother Name: Emma
Certificate Number: 1934
Informant: Anne E. Sweigert [wife]

The middle name, Roy, comes from his WWI Draft Registration Card:
William Roy Sweigart born Oct 31, 1888 in Martic Twp, Lanc Co., PA. He signs his name Roy Sweigart.

The WWII Draft Registration Card records:
William R. Sweigart living at 439 Bingaman St., Reading, PA with his wife, Annie Sweigart. William is employed as a Music Teacher. He is 6' tall with blue eyes and brown hair and light complexion. He signs his name William R. Sweigart.


William's other children spell their surname Sweigart:
Cecelia M. Sweigart (1890-1970) is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Lancaster City, PA. She shares a marker with her mother, Emma.
Guy M. Sweigart (1891 - 1918) Died in France during WWI and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Lancaster City, PA

The WWI Draft Registration Card for Guy Martin Sweigert records his date of birth as May 28, 1891 in Martic Twp, Lanc Co., PA. He signs his name Guy M. Sweigert.


This researcher found a website with a copy of a letter Guy send home to his mother. http://kingoftheslimes.weebly.com/1-pvt-guy-m-sweigert-aef-to-mother---july-21-1918.html
Pvt. Guy M. Sweigert (AEF) to mother - July 21 (1918)
This was the first letter I bought. It's a nice way to start out. Obviously from a young man, probably taking his first trip far away from home, writing to his mother after landing in France. He seems to have enjoyed his trip over. On most of the troop ships (many of which were converted passenger ships) the lower ranking soldiers were packed in pretty tightly, and at night they usually had to turn off all lights to avoid submarine attacks, so it wasn't exactly a pleasure cruise.
According to a November 15, 1918 casualty list, Pvt. Guy Sweigert died of disease before he was able to come home. Most of the troops arrived in France at Brest. In August of 1918, the flu epidemic hit Brest hard, so it is very likely that's what killed Pvt. Sweigert.
If you've never seen a WWI letter this is a good time to point out the purple censor stamp on the envelope. You'll also see the signature of the censor written underneath the stamp and on the last page. Soldiers in Europe were limited in what they could say. They could not give away any details about what they were doing or where they were. I have another letter in which some items were censored, which I'll post later. Officers were allowed to censor their own mail, so sometimes you'll find they say a bit more in their letters.


[Envelope]
Pvt. Guy M. Sweigert
Co. F. 304 Engrs.

Mrs. Emma Sweigert
505 S. Prince St.
Lancaster
Pa. U.S.A.

O.K. H.G. Thompson
2nd [Lt. ?] E.R.C.

[postmark] Jul 21

[Page 1]

France
Dear Mother:
We have had quite
a trip across the ocean and it was
[?] cold. Am well and do not
feel any the worst after being on
the water for a week. You would
never dream that there is so much
water until you get on a ship and
[???] you see for yourself. We
left Camp Meade on Sunday July 7.
There were quite a few visitors there
among them Florence Ghecht[?] the
girl that used to go with Lena
Cramer, she is married to Walter
Heisey and he is one of us. She was
the only one that I knew and was
glad I saw her, that being only by
chance as we were on our way.
Cannot write you very much as all
of our mail is censored. This will
let you that know that we arrived safe
and will expect a nice long letter

[Page 2]

from you and C. and R. Tell me all
of the news and tell Mary the after-
noon I left Lanc. while on the trolley
going out N. Queen St. I saw her and
tried to attract her attention but it
was of no use as she did not see me.
Give all of my friends my best regards
and tell them that they must do
the writing as you know I cannot
tell them very much and will
sure be glad for mail anytime.
Tell Abe and Emma I will write as
soon as possible. This is all for
this time and close with love to
you and the rest.
As ever
Pvt. Guy M. Sweigert
Co. F. 304 Engrs.
American Expeditionary Forces
Via New York
This address will reach me O.K.
We saw a couple of large fish, but only
saw their tails and don't know what
kind they were. We also saw several flying
fish and others that we tho't were
sword fish. Au revoir with the hope
that I will soon see you all again.

William married Emma Armstrong, daughter of William Armstrong and Rachael Gates. (Emma Armstrong was born on 12 Mar 1865 in Martic Townhip, Lancaster Co., PA, died on 15 Aug 1949 in Lancaster City, PA and was buried on 18 Aug 1949 in Greenwood Cemetery, Lancaster City, Lancaster County, PA.) The cause of her death was Coronary Thrombosis / Carcinoma Liver.