Notes for Leonard Wise and Barbara Ritner

1808 Leonard Wise was taxed in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, for 1 cow. He was not on the 1811 tax list.

1808 Son Michael Wise was born 19 April 1808 to Leonard and Barbara (born Rittner) Wise [Weis] in Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, and was baptised by Mr. Jonathan Helfenstein reformed minister (Reformirter Prediger) in August, 1808. The sponsors were Johannes Weis and Sophia Weis (Johannes Weis und seine Ehe Frau, Sophia Weis, geborne Weisin). [1][2]
Photocopy 1808 Birth Certificate for Michael born to Leonard Wise and Barbara Ritner.

1810 Jacob Jr, Frederick, and John Wise lived in Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, each household with a male age 26-44, so these are plausibly Leonard Wise's brothers. Jacob Ritner (Barbara Ritner Brenizer's father) was listed nearby. [3]

1820 Leonard Wise (age 25-45) and an older male (age 46+) and female (age 25-45) lived in South Middleton, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with 2 males 0-10 (Immanuel and Leonard), 2 males 10-16 (Michael and Jacob?), 1 male 26-45 (Leonard), 1 male 45+, 2 females 0-10, 2 females 10-16 (Mary and ?), 1 female 26-45 (Barbara). Four of them were engaged in agriculture. Next door was George Wise (age 25-45). John Wise with three males age 25-45, was listed on the next page of the census. John Ritner age 26-45 lived in East Pennsboro, Cumberland Co. [4]

1820 Leonard Wise was taxed in South Middleton as a laborer. He did not appear on the 1817 tax list. [5]

1823 Leonard Wise was taxed in South Middleton as a cropper with 1 cow. [6]

1823 Leonard Wise [Weise] was taxed as a cropper in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland Co, for 1 cow. [7]

1827 Leonard Wise was taxed in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, for 150 acres of land, log house, log barn, 6 horses, and 4 cows. [8]

1829 Leonard Wise was taxed as a farmer in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland Co, for 130 acres of limestone land, log house, log barn, tenant house, 6 horses, and 5 cows. [9]

1830 On 29 January, Jacob Wise Senior yeoman of South Middleton Twp, Cumberland Co, sold 17+ acres of land to a Leonard Wise for $300. The land was bordered by land already owned by Leonard, by David Rowan's land, by and intended to be conveyed to Henry Wise, and by land owned by Frederick Wise [10]. Signed in the presence of Michael Brenizer. It is unclear whether this was a sale to Leonard Sr (born 1777) or to Leonard Jr at age 22.

1830 On 18th Feb, Jacob Wise sold more land to Leonard bordered by land of Frederick, Henry, and Jacob Jr. Wise.

1830 Leonard Wise lived in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Males by age were: one 0-5, two 10-15 (Leonard and ?), one 15-20 (Immanuel), one 20-30 (Michael), one 40-50 (Leonard), one 80-90 (perhaps Leonard's father, born 1744, who died late in 1830). Females by age were: two 5-10, one 30-40, one 40-50 (wife Mary). On the same page were households for Jacob Wise, age 20-30, and William Wise age 15-20. The next page listed Henry Wise age 30-40. The family of Jacob Weise age 60-70 lived in the same township. Frederick, George, and Jacob Wise and Jacob and John Ritner also lived in Cumberland. [11]

1838 A living sister of Joseph Ritner, candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, was named as married to Leonard Wise of Cumberland County and she was reported to have a family. Joseph was the second child of nine in his family, born 1780 in Alsace Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania and his mother died in 1795. Two brothers were named: John (older than Joseph) and Peter (then living in Clearfield County), both had lived in Cumberland Co (Peter had been sheriff in Cumberland). Other sisters were married to Jacob Brindle of Perry, Peter Swanger of Cumberland, C Winters of Dauphin and a widow in Ohio. Other brothers and sisters were dead. Joseph Ritner was well-connected with German farmers, including the Wises. [12]

1840 Households for Leonard Wise (age 50-60) with female (age 50-60) and female (age 5-10)[perhaps Joanna Brenizer], and for Emanuel Wise (age 20-30) and female (age 20-30) and children, were listed for South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The link with Emanuel, who had an outstanding debt for Mary Wise, suggests this was our Leonard Wise, the father of both Mary and Emanuel. Two George Wise's were listed on prior pages. Jacob Weise (age 70-80) and wife (age 60-70) lived with younger family members (William?) age 20-30 close to Mary Brenizer in South Middleton. [13]

1843 Leonard Wise, an old and highly respectable citizen of South Middleton Twp, died on 6 June 1843. [14] He died intestate in Cumberland County. "Be it remembered that on the 18th day of June 1843 letters of administration were issued in common form to Peter McLaughton and Leonard Wise Jun. on all and singular the goods and chattels rights and codels which were of Leonard Wise sen, deceased. Inventory account to be exhibited at the time appointed by law. Bond, John Moore (Dick.) and Michael G Ege, sum of $1500. Witness my hand, Jacob Bretzler. [15] At the estate sale for Leonard Wise, purchases were made by Emanual Wise, Jacob Wise, William Wise, Henry Wise, Widow Wise, John Brenizer, and Ritner Brenizer, among others.

1847 On 1 April, 48+ acres from the estate of Leonard Wise Sr in South Middleton, Cumberland Co was sold to Leonard Wise Jr. for $2467. The land was bordered by land of Jacob Goodyear. The land was siezed in 1845 by the Orphans' Court after the death of Leonard Wise Sr until it was partitioned. The other parties in the partition were not named.

1847 On 1 April, 132 acres and 67 perches of land from the estate of Leonard Wise Sr, in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, was sold to Jacob Lehman for $5180.88. The land was bordered by land of Frederick Wise, Solomon Gorgas, John Kauffman, Robert Irvine, and Henry Wise. The land had been held by the Carlisle Orphans' Court since 11 Aug 1845. The partition of other lands and the heirs were also mentioned, but the heirs were not named.

1848 (Son?) Jacob Wise of Richland County, Ohio gave power of attorney to Mr. Goodyear to represent his interests in the estate of Leonard Wise. [16]

1850 In March, widow Barbara [Ritner] Wise [Weise] died of dropsy at age 68 in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [17] Photocopy 1850 inventory for Barbara Wise.

1850 Leonard Wise Jr sold the land in South Middleton, Cumberland Co. On 8 March, Leonard Wise Jr and Mary his wife entered into an agreement with Jacob Ritner. Whereas the said Leonard Weise owing to sundry ? and misfortune is at present unable to discharge his just debt, and is willing to assign all his property for the benefit of creditors...Leonard and wife...for the purpose of making a just distribution of the estate and effects among the creditors of the said Leonard also of the sum of one dollar to them in hand paid by the said Jacob Ritner the receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged ... do assign unto the said Jacob Ritner all that plantation or tract of land situate in South Middleton...

1850 Son Immanuel Weise age 39 lived in South Middleton, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with first son Leonard, first daughter Barbara next to a Jacob Eichelberger age 38. Daughter Mary Brenizer's family lived next door to Jacob (age 80) and Mary (age 76) Weise and William (age 37) and Rebecca (age 35) Weise. Son Leonard Weise (age 32) lived in the township with a family. [18]

1853 The death record for Mary Brenizer named her father as Leonard Wise.

1860 and 1870 Son Emanuel Wise age 49/59 lived in South Middleton, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with wife Catharine and daughter Barbara. [19]

Research Notes:

There is little documentation about the children of this couple, except for Michael and Mary.

Documents about the Wise family of Richland County, Ohio suggest that Jacob, named in the 1848 power of attorney note, might not be a son to Leonard. 
Link genealogy page for Jacob Wise of Richland County, Ohio.

Another researcher reports different parents for both Leonard and Barbara Wise. Jack Wise in "Wise Family History from Pennsylvania to Ohio to Texas" concludes that this Leonard Wise is the same as Leonard Wise born at Tulpehocken Church and married to Barbara Framdlingsen. Jack Wise reports children Johannes (1802-1803), Anna Maria (1803), Catherina (1805), Michael (1808-1870), and Leonard Jr (1818-1868). We have found no evidence to support this ancestry. Here, we show Leonard's wife to be one of the sisters of Joseph Ritner (governor of Pennsylvania), who married Leonard Wise of Cumberland County. Two descendants of this Leonard have the name Joseph Ritner or Joseph R. The names of Joseph Ritner and his siblings appear in Cumberland county censuses during this time period.

1834 A burials at the Zeigler Church Cemetery has the transcription Leoliard [Leonard] Wise, born Mar 27, 1821. Death: March 11, 1834. Another is for Elizabeth Wise (1772-Aug 15, 1840). [20] 

Footnotes
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[1] image of baptism certificate in Wise Family History From Pennsylvania to Ohio to Texas
[2] Note: There is a record of Jacob, born on 08 January, 1819 and christened 05 August,1819 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania to Johannes and Sophia Weise. IGI extract from FHL film 0823844
[3] US Census, 1810
[4] US Census, 1820
[5] PA Cumberland: Tax Lists 1762-1829, South Middleton
[6] PA Cumberland: Tax Lists 1762-1829, South Middleton
[7] PA Cumberland: Tax Lists 1762-1829, South Middleton, p 214
[8] PA Cumberland: Tax Lists 1762-1829, South Middleton, p 224
[9] PA Cumberland: Tax Lists 1762-1829, South Middleton, p 235
[10] 1798 direct tax for grand-father Jacob Wise lists David Rowan as adjoining house
[11] US census, 1830 (Reel.Page): 0150.66, line 8, [Link]
[12] Lives of David Porter and Joseph Ritner, printed 1838, page 5
[13] US census, 1840 (Reel.Page): 0455.295, line 3 from bottom, [Link]
[14] Cumberland County Historical Society, Necrology notes, p 302
[15] Cumberland County Pennsylvania Administration Records D-328
[16] Note: 1850 census Jacob Wise, age 49, lived in Madison Twp, Richland County, Ohio with wife and children
[17] 1850 US Census mortality schedule
[18] US Census, 1850
[19] US Census, 1860, 1870
[20] Nancy Shaw Tritt, ed. History of Zion Lutheran Congregation, 1795 to 1995 (1995):47