Philip Wentzel Sr.

   Another name for Philip was Philip Wentzell.

  General Notes:

From the Westmoreland County biographies:

The founder of the family of Wentzel in Westmoreland county, was Philip Wentzel, a Revolutionary soldier, son of the emigrant from Germany, who about 1746 came from his native land to what is now Plainfield township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Little is known of him further than that he had four sons, Conrad, Philip, Barnet and Joseph. Philip Wentzel, the founder of the Westmoreland branch, is recorded in Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Volume V, page 137, as having enlisted in July, 1776, as a private in Captain D. Turk's Company of Berks County Associators, and is credited with service at the battle of Lexington, siege of Boston, and at Trenton.

At the close of the Revolutionary War, Philip Wentzel came to Westmoreland county and here took out a warrant for land located at then Philipsbury, later known as Millersdale or Cribbs Station, along Little Sewickley creek. This warrant was issued February 10, 1786, and the tract surveyed, August 10, 1786, when it was found to contain two hundred and thirty- three acres and a six per cent allowance. The farm as then surveyed became the home of Philip Wentzel and his descendants. During his active life Philip Wentzel was a member of the military company commanded by Dr. Marchand, this company being the defense of the district against Indian depredations. When the raid was made which resulted in the murder of the Henry and Davis families and the carrying off of prisoners, Captain Marchand with his company, including Philip Wentzel, followed the Indians up Beaver river, being closely upon the band. The troops rescued Peter Henry and his sister and recovered the scalps of the Davis children and others of the prisoners whom the Indians had slain.

Philip Wentzel was one of the pioneer members of the Reformed church in the United States, and aided in the erection of one of the first, if not the first church west of the Allegheny mountains. The site of this first church, which was built of logs, was that upon which the latter day Harrold Church stood. It was used in common by the Lutheran and Reformed congregations and was also used for day school purposes. Philip Wentzel, the Westmoreland pioneer, married Anna Maria Lauffer, born 10 May 1763, daughter of Christian the Pioneer , Philip and Anna Maria were the parents of sons: Philip and John, and of daughters: Christina, Susanna and Catherine.

Philip was a farmer by trade.

Philip married Anna Maria (Mary) Lauffer, daughter of Christian Lauffer Sr. and Susanah Catharina Best, in 1779 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. (Anna Maria (Mary) Lauffer was born on 10 May 1766 in Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania and died on 11 Apr 1837 in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA.)