Biography of Anna Barbara Sell (1785–1863)
Early Life and Family Background
Anna Barbara Sell was born on December 14, 1785, in Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Benjamin Sell (1746–1836) and Anna Margaretha Detweiler (1755–1788). Her baptism took place shortly after her birth, on January 29, 1786, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Upper Hanover, Pennsylvania.
Barbara’s early years were shaped by her family and the community of Montgomery County during the post-Revolutionary War era. Pennsylvania was undergoing growth as the new nation established itself, and communities remained closely knit around church and family life. Unfortunately, Barbara’s mother died when Barbara was very young, in 1788, leaving Benjamin Sell a widower.
Anna Barbara Sell was the 6th child of six borne to Benjamin Sell and Anna Margaretha Detweiler. She had four sisters; Maria Margareth, Elisabeth, Maria Elizabeth, Anna Hannah and a brother, Johan Jacob “John” Sell. She belonged to a family rooted in the early German-American settler culture of Pennsylvania.
Marriage and Children
Around 1808, when Barbara was about 23 years old, she married Francis Augustus Boyer Sr. (1790–1876). Francis was born five years after Barbara and lived to the age of 85. The marriage bonded two families in Pennsylvania during a time when the frontier was shifting westward and communities were expanding in the early 19th century.
Together, Barbara and Francis had six children:
Delilah Boyer (1809–1813) – Born shortly after their marriage, Delilah sadly died young at the age of four.
Catharine Ann Boyer (1811–1814) – Another daughter whose life was brief, passing away at only three years old.
Henry Sell Boyer (1813–1866) – Their eldest surviving son who lived through much of the mid-19th century.
Augustus Sell Boyer (1815–1851) – Son who died relatively young, at 36.
Phillip Sell Boyer (1818–1857) – Another son who died in middle age.
Caroline Boyer (1821–1886) – The youngest child and the only one of their six children to outlive both parents into old age. Caroline married Isaac D. Boyer and is noted for having cared for her father during his final sickness.
Sadly, all of Barbara’s children except Caroline passed away before their father, Francis Augustus Boyer Sr.
Later Life
Anna Barbara Sell lived most of her adult life in Pennsylvania, eventually moving to Snyder County. Records from the 1850 and 1860 U.S. Censuses show that she lived with Francis Augustus Boyer Sr. in Washington Township, Pennsylvania, during those years.
She passed away on March 27, 1863, at the age of 77 in Snyder County. Barbara was buried at Saint Peters Cemetery in Freeburg, Pennsylvania, close to her husband and many family members.
Her husband’s obituary mentions that all their children except Caroline had passed away by the time of his death in 1876. Caroline’s devotion to her father during his illness reflected the strong family bonds cherished by this family.
Historical Context: 1790–1876
Barbara’s life spanned a fascinating and transformative period of American history. Born during the early years of the United States just after the Constitution was ratified, she lived through:
The expansion of Pennsylvania from frontier lands to established communities.
The War of 1812 era, which shaped national identity.
Rapid growth in infrastructure and industry in Pennsylvania, particularly with canals and railroads emerging in the 1830s and 1840s.
The social strains before and during the Civil War era (1861–1865), which overlapped with the last years of her life.
Changes in agriculture and rural life in Pennsylvania, where families like the Boyers maintained farming traditions.
Barbara and Francis’ family experiences—losing several children young and caring for aging parents—were common in the 19th century due to disease and the rigors of frontier and rural life, yet their story reflects resilience and deep family commitment.
Summary:
Anna Barbara Sell was a devoted wife and mother rooted in Pennsylvania’s German-American community. Her early years under the guidance of her parents, then her marriage to Francis Augustus Boyer Sr., brought her into a family that faced both joy and hardship over the decades. Her children’s lives were cut short except for Caroline, who carried forward the family legacy.
Barbara’s passing in 1863 marked the end of a life that witnessed the birth and growth of the United States through significant social and political changes. Her story is preserved through church records, census data, and family records, leaving descendants a valuable connection to their heritage.
Anna Barbara Sell is my 2nd Cousin 5X Removed.
Note: This blog post was compiled with Perplexity. Additional edits and family detailed was added to this biography before posting.
__________________________
1. St Paul Lutheran Church, St Paul Lutheran Church, St Paul Lutheran Church Birth & Baptism (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9HM-43Z: online June 2025), Birth of Anna Barbara Sell.
2. Church, St Paul Lutheran Church Birth & Baptism, Baptism of Anna Barbara Sell. [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9HM-43Z ]
3. 1850 US CENSUS, Union County, Pennsylvania, population census schedule, Washington, Union, Pennsylvania, Page#:129B (Stamped); Line#:17, Dwelling#:184, Family#184, Household of Francis A. BOYER; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm M432_831.
4. 1860 US CENSUS, Synder County, Pennsylvania, population census schedule, Washington, Snyder, Pennsylvania, Page#:614A (Stamped); Line#:13, Dwelling#:970, Family#1001, Household of Francis A. BOYER; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: online June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm M653 -.
5. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed June 2025); Memorial page for Francis Augustus Boyer; (9 July 1790–24 May 1876); Find a Grave memorial # 166773593, Citing Saint Peters Cemetery; Freeburg, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, USA.
6. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Barbara Sell Boyer (15 December 1785–27 March 1865), Memorial # 166773628
No comments:
Post a Comment