William Porter

122. Judge William PORTER ⁽⁶²⁾ was born about 1790 in Ireland. ⁽³⁶⁰⁾

He became a US citizen on 25 Sep 1805 in Allegheny County, Penn.⁽³⁶¹⁾ There are two William Porters listed in the naturalization records of Allegheny County. One was William Porter Senior of Plum Twp., born in Ireland, who had come to the US before 29 Jan 1795. The other one was William Porter of Plum Twp, born in Ireland, who had come to the US between 29 Jan 1795 and 18 Jun 1798. Andrew McClintock of Plum Twp is listed as the sponsor of both.

He appeared on the 1810 US census in Plum Twp., Allegheny Cnty, Penn., as head of a household which included 1 male under 10, and 1 male between 16 and 26, and 1 female between the ages of 16 and 26.⁽³⁶²⁾ He appeared on the 1820 US census in Allegheny County, Penn., as the head of a household that included 1 male under 10; 1 male between the ages of 18 and 25; 1 male 26-45; 2 females under 10; 1 female 26-45.⁽³⁶³⁾ He appeared on the 1830 US census in Pittsburgh, Penn. as the head of a household with 2 males aged between 5 and 9; 1 male 10-14; 1 male 40-49; 2 females under 5; 2 females 10-14; 1 female 15-19; 1 female 30-39.⁽³⁶⁴⁾

William Porter was appointed as a lay associate judge (a layman appointed to be a judge) on 20 Mar 1840 in Allegheny County. His commission was however annulled by a decision of the supreme court. He was reappointed February 17, 1843. ⁽³⁶⁵⁾

He appeared on the 1850 US census in Pitt Township, Allegheny Cnty, Penn., as 60 years of age, "Late [sic; should read lay] Associate Judge", owning real estate valued at $100,000, born in Ireland, living in a household with children Robert (33 years old), James (27), William (23), Francis (19), Martha (28), Elizabeth (21), Jane (20) and Cornelia (17), plus servants Samuel Laughlin, (30), "laborer" and Elizabeth [illegible] (25). ⁽³⁶⁶⁾

William Porter signed his last will and testament (link to the text of his will) on 12 Jul 1851 in Allegheny County, Penn. ⁽³⁶⁷⁾

He died between 12 Jul 1851 and 28 Jul 1851 in Pittsburgh, Penn. (This date is based on the reference to the will of Hon. William Porter in 1851, in "Will Books of the County Courthouse of Allegheny County." His will is in vol.7, p.145.)

According to his great-grandson Edward McConaughy, "He was a founder of the 6th Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh and a very prominent citizen and a man of wealth. ... Grandmother [Mary N. Porter] and the others of the girls went to Steubenville, Ohio, Female Seminary."

He was married to [unknown] about 1808.

123. [unknown] was born between 1791 and 1800. ⁽³⁶⁸⁾ She died before Jun 1850. (Based on absence from 1850 census).

Children were:

61 i. Mary Neal PORTER.
ii. Robert PORTER was born about 1817 in Pennsylvania. He served in the military in 1848.⁽⁶²⁾ He was a captain during the Mexican-American War. He appeared on the census in 1850 in Pitt Township, Allegheny Cnty, Penn..⁽³⁶⁹⁾ Listed as age 33, attorney at law, born in Pennsylvania, living in household of William Porter. He was a lawyer.
iii. Martha PORTER was born about 1822 in Pennsylvania. ⁽³⁷⁰⁾
iv. James PORTER⁽⁶²⁾ was born about 1823 in Pennsylvania. He appeared on the census in 1850 in Pitt Township, Allegheny Cnty, Penn..⁽³⁷¹⁾ Listed as age 27, occupation "none", born in Pennsylvania, living with father William Porter. "James Porter ... was ... a bachelor, a gentleman of some talents and education, mostly along the lines of a celebrant, who sang darky songs to his little niece Emma, later Mrs. Chas. O. Longenecker, as she told me, and who required the assistance of his brother-in-law (John M. McConaughy) when he tarried too long with his fellow celebrants in the young city of Rockford, about 16 miles north of the farm where he was visiting his sister and family, about two miles north of the present village of Lindenwood.... Later this James Porter was the most active of any of the sons of Judge Porter to continue in the large paint business of the family, in Pittsburgh."
v. William PORTER was born about 1827 in Pennsylvania. He appeared on the census in 1850 in Pitt Township, Allegheny Cnty, Penn.. ⁽³⁷²⁾ Listed as age 23, occupation "none", born in Pennsylvania, living with father William Porter. He was a journalist. ⁽⁶²⁾
vi. Elizabeth PORTER was born about 1829 in Pennsylvania. ⁽³⁷³⁾
vii. Jane PORTER was born about 1830 in Pennsylvania. ⁽³⁷⁴⁾
viii. Francis PORTER was born about 1831 in Pennsylvania. ⁽³⁷⁵⁾
ix. Cornelia PORTER was born about 1833 in Pennsylvania. ⁽³⁷⁶⁾

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