Thomas Updegraff

     Thomas Updegraff was born on 24 June 1774 at York County, Province of Pennsylvania, America. He was the son of Abraham Updegraff and Mary Mendenheim.¹ Thomas Updegraff married, at age 22, Elizabeth Rothrock, age 17, daughter of John Rothrock and Charity Worley, on Wednesday, 17 August 1796 at First Moravian Church of York, Pennsylvania.¹ Thomas Updegraff died on 31 October 1857 at Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, at age 83 years, 4 months and 7 days.
     When Thomas was a young man of about ten, his father who was no longer able to work, taught him to read German and English - he could read like a minister. After his father's death, Thomas went into service with Caleb Kirk, a jeweler in York, PA, until the age of twelve, he then went as an indentured apprentice to his Uncle Herman, for a term of eight years, to learn the tanning and currier trade, who had a farm in the country. After his marriage he rented the old Michael Doudel tannery, on the banks of the Codorus, when business slowed down, he took a four horse load of leather and started peddling up the West Branch; he stopped with his Uncle Dirck/Derick Updegraff at the Long Reach, Lycoming County, PA while on his way to the Genessee country, and was very pleased with the West Branch Valley, selling all his load, on his way back he loaded up with wheat, most of which he had traded on the route. He made another trip in June of the same year, with his brother John, who was a hatter looking for a new location. They jointly bought the lot on the corner of Market Street and Black Horse Alley, in Williamsport, for $60, John paying his half in hats. His Uncle Derrick encouraged him to remove here, but Thomas decided to wait. In September 1799 Thomas and Elizabeth, their children and his mother moved up the Susquehanna River in two canoes and located at Williamsport, Lycoming Co, PA where he established a tannery and built a cabin. He was a very fluent reader and was well read in the Scriptures. He was an agent for the Under Ground Railroad station for many years - the route that the slaves used to escape from the south - no slave was ever reclaimed after once reaching this route.

Reference: Sketch of the life of the late Thomas Updegraffy - 1881 by son Abraham, pages 349 and 350 Lycoming County History by Meginnes. General and Personal History of Lycoming County, PA - Vol. II pages 548 - 550, 1906.

Thomas left a will - Will Book 2, page 374 - Williamsport, Lycoming County, PA made 20 January 1848, probated 29 January 1858. Listed 1800 through 1850 PA census records in Lycoming County.