18. Elizabeth Burket (Borgert) was born on 23 May 1806 in Stoyestown, Somerset, Pennsylvania.⁸⁹ There is no Christening date only a birth date.


3 April 1890 Obituary from the Genius Liberty, the Uniontown Newspaper. Elisabeth Smitely died Saturday 22 March 1890 at ther residence at Tucker Run, this township, on Saturday March 22, 1890. In her 99th year. Husband Michael Smitely. (Dunbar Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania)

1860 census lists her as 73 which puts her born in 1787. VERY confusing. That would put her over 100 when she died. WHAT is going on here? THis is DEFINITELY the same Elisabeth Smitely as listed above...same township and everything. Widowed. There is a 16 year old Enoch living with her and she is next to a William Hughes and wife Elisabeth, in their 30s. With 5 kids or so. Then a young farm laborer and wife named Boyd, and then a James Smitely age 25 laborer. Probably grandson. Wife is Rebecca and they have a Michael Smitely age 4 (great grandson?) Then a Samuel Smitely age 22 who has a daughter Elisabeth Smitely, age 2. Definitely all related.

There is a conflict here with the Stoystown records which show her birth as 23 May 1806 which would make her 84 at death. HUM. Church records are a true source as they are recorded first hand and the obituary is 80 plus years after the fact. Still, the church records may be reflecting the christening, which could have happened as a 6 yer old. Check.

Should find her on the 1850 census and see how old she is there. Confirm. Jack Tishue says she was 50 on the 1850. That means born 1800. That is still a far cry different. 15 years different. That means that she would have been 65 on the 1850. I guess she could have fudged on her age. Her husband was 68. HUM.

If she was born in 1800 she would be on the census. AND, CHristopher DID have two girls and three boys on the 1800 census, so that would confirm. 50 in the 1850 census. Makes perfect sense.


2003 from Cindy [mccachern@att.net]

Here is something else that I found. It is the obituary of Christopher's daughter, Elizabeth, who died in 1899. It mentions Christopher and Mary--including Mary's maiden name.. I'm not sure if I've sent this to you before or not.
SMITLEY [From our Dunbar Correspondent] Died of old age at her residence at Tucker Run, this township, on Saturday March 22, 1890, Mrs. Elizabeth Smitley-for years known as "Granny Smitley"-in the 99th year of her age. Her husband, Michael Smitley, long since decease, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was with General Harrieson at the famous battle of Tippecanoe. Her father, Christopher Burket of German descent and a Revolutionary soldir, lived to be 104 years old, and his remains with those of her mother, Mary Burket, nee Ross who was of Irish descent, and who lived to be 102, repose in the old home grave yard in Shade township, Somerset County, Pa, in which township Mrs. Smitley was born. Mrs. Smitley came to Fayette County in 1837 and has since resided in Dunbar township. She leaves a large number of relatives to mourn her loss. The funeral took place on Monday, March 24, from the Dunbar M.E. church, Rev. W.F. Hunter officiating and her remains were laid to rest in old Franklin cemetery, there to await the call of the last trump.
THE GENIUS OF LIBERTY Uniontown Pa Thursday October 3, 1889 front page
TUCKER RUN Mrs. E. Smitley is still confined to her bed from a serious fall she received three weeks ago. The probabilies are that she will never be able to make use of her right leg, she being 92 years of age.
*note the difference in age but that is a typo in 92
She appeared in the census in 1830 in Shade Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania. She appeared in the census in 1850 in Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania. age 50. This does NOT compute. She is age 73 on 1860!! She appeared in the census in 1860 in Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania. SMITLY, ELIZABETH

State: PA Year: 1860
County: Fayette County Record Type: Federal Population Schedule
Township: Dunbar Township Page: 413
Database: PA 1860 Federal Census Index

She is age 73 in 1860

She appeared in the census in 1870 in Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania. she is age 72 in 1870 census. wierd. so born 1798 She appeared in the census in 1880 in Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania. age 88 so born 1792 Not a SINGLE census year lines up. She was either born in 1787 or 1792 or 1798 or 1800 or 1806. MY.

Elisabeth SMITLEY
Other Information: Birth Year <1792> Birthplace PA Age 88 Occupation Housekeeper Marital Status W <Widowed> Race W <White> Head of Household Elisabeth SMITLEY Relation Self Father's Birthplace PA Mother's Birthplace IRE

Source Information: Census Place Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania Family History Library Film 1255129 Page Number 134C

Mother born in Ireland??????That would be Mary Ann Ross!!!!! VERY interesting.

Elisabeth SMITLEY Self W Female W 88 PA Housekeeper PA IRE
Rebecca SMITLEY DauL W Female W 38 PA PA PA
Mary Anne SMITLEY <./individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_9743515_2&frompage=5> Dau S Female W 24 PA PA PA Mike SMITLEY <./individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_9743515_3&frompage=5> Son S Male W 16 PA Laborer PA PA Louis SMITLEY <./individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_9743515_4&frompage=5> Son S Male W 14 PA Labors PA PA Sarah SMITLEY <./individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_9743515_5&frompage=5> Dau S Female W 10 PA PA PA Ellen SMITLEY <./individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_9743515_6&frompage=5> Dau S Female W 8 PA PA PA Josephene SMITLEY <./individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_9743515_7&frompage=5> Dau S Female W 5 PA PA PA

She died on 22 Mar 1890 in Tucker Run, Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania.⁹⁰ 3 April 1890 Obituary from the Genius Liberty, the Uniontown Newspaper. Elisabeth Smitely died Saturday 22 March 1890 at their residence at Tucker Run, this township, on Saturday March 22, 1890. In her 99th year. Husband Michael Smitely. (Dunbar Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania) She was christened in Stoyestown, Somerset, Pennsylvania.⁹¹ The obituary of Elisabeth confirms that the records in Stoyestown truely belong to my family.

Witness to this christening is Ludwig Kopp and wife. She was buried in Franklin Cemetery, Fayette, Pennsylvania.⁹² Obituary (see death notes) She received first communion. Said to have had a William Hughes son of John Hughes. William born

Elizabeth Burket (Borgert) and Michael Smitely were married on 1 Nov 1821 in Shade Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania.⁹³ In the home of her father, Christopher. According to Pension application files.

This info from Rose@hhs.net (Rose Heiboer)
In the applications.
1.. dated December 3, 1881 Elizabeth states she and Micheal were married on
November 1, 1820. In Soystwon, Somerset County by Squire Hartzal. And that
she and Micheal spent the first 15 years of their marraige in Somerset, and
the remiander in Fayette. (also please note Elizabeth could not write)
Signed with a X

2...Dated November 13, 1886 John H. Burkett states that Elizabeth and
Micheal were married November 1, 1821 In Shade Township, Somerset County at
the residence of Christopher Burkett. and that he (John H Burkett)
wittnessed it..and the marraige was given by Thomas Gaskin. Signed X
John H. BurKett.
Michael Smitely⁹² was born in 1782 of Shade Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania. age 68 on 1850 He appeared in the census in 1830 in Shade Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania. 1100010- page 113

So Michael is 30-40 and Elisabeth is 20-30. They have two boys, one 0-5 and 5-10. He appeared in the census in 1840 in Buskkill, Northampton, Pennsylvania. Age 30-40 110101 100001 and Elisabeth the same. IS THIS THEM? Only Michael Smitely on 1840. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania. page 237. WASN'T in online index for some reason. AGE 68 He died before 1860. Elisabeth is a widow on the 1860 in Dunbar. 3 April 1890 Obituary from the Genius Liberty, the Uniontown Newspaper. Elisabeth Smitely died Saturday 22 March 1890 at ther residence at Tucker Run, this township, on Saturday March 22, 1890. In her 99th year. Husband Michael Smitely. (Dunbar Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania)

There is an Elijah Smitely (Millwright) age 47 on the 1850 in Quemahoning, 3 houses down from John Jacob Burket, Elisabeth Burket's brother. Elijah could be a brother of Michael who married Elisabeth.

SMITLEY, Elijah 43 M . Millwright . PA (wife catherine and 6 kids)

There is also a Sarah Smitely who is 36 years old and a Jane Smitely who is 72 years old on the 1850 living 3 houses down from Mary A. Burket, wife of Christopher Burket in Shade Township. They are living with Samuel W. Dickenson age 39 who married Eliza. Maybe Elisa was a Smitely. They were all born in Virginia! Must see where ELIJAH smitely was born.

Perhaps Jane Lessinger was named after Jane Smitely and she is a great grandchild of Mary A. Burket. Elizabeth Burket (Borgert) and Michael Smitely had the following children:

66	i.	John Smitely was born in 1825 in Shade Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania. Age 25 and living next door to mom and dad in Dunbar Township on 1850 with wife Charlotte 22 and kids Louis 4, Elisabeth 3 and Hannah 1. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania. Occupation--Miner
67	ii.	Samuel Smitely was born in 1830 in Shade Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania. Age 20 on 1850 in Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania
68	iii.	Michael Smitely was born in 1832 of Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania. Age 18 on 1850 in Dunbar
69	iv.	Enoch Smitely was born in 1834 of Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania. Age 16 on 1850 in Dunbar
70	v.	James Smitely was born in 1834 of Dunbar Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania. Age 16 in 1850 in Dunbar--twin?