The Ancestry of Judge William Porter

I am unsure of the name of Judge William Porter's parents. There seem to be two possibilities based on the documents that I have access to. One is that his father was also named William. As noted on the page on Judge Porter, there were two William Porters naturalized, one listed as William Porter, Senior, who had come to the US prior to Jan 1795, the other, afterwards. Given an estimated date of birth of 1790 of Judge William Porter, it seems likely that his father William came to the US, and was followed by the rest of the family. On the other hand, I am not sure if males under the age of 21 were naturalized (Judge Porter would have been only about 15 in 1805).

There is another Porter in Plum Township at the same time, however, this being Patrick Porter. Based on information in the 1800 census, Patrick PORTER was born before 1755 in Ireland. ⁽⁴⁶⁶⁾ He appeared on the 1800 US census in 1800 in Allegheny County, Penn., as head of a household that included 4 males under the age of 10; 1 between 10-16; 1 over 45; 1 female between 10-16; and one female between 26-45. ⁽⁴⁶⁷⁾ Patrick was naturalized in 1809 in Allegheny County, Penn. The naturalization form lists Patrick Porter of Plum Twp., Alleg. County, born in Ireland, filed a declaration of intent to take US citizenship on 4 Apr 1809; his sponsor was Alexander McMath of Plum Twp, the same person who had sponsored the two William Porters four years earlier. ⁽⁴⁶⁸⁾ He appeared on the 1810 US census in Plum Twp., Allegheny Cnty, Penn. as head of a household that included 3 males under 10; 2 between 10-16; 1 between 16-26; 1 over 45; 1 female under 10; and one female over 45. ⁽⁴⁶⁹⁾ Patrick Porter's wife was born between 1765 and 1774, based on the 1800 and 1810 censuses.

It seems likely that there is a link between William Porter and Richard Porter given the fact that in 1810 all three were living in Plum Township, Allegheny County, and ages fit with 1800 census figures for Patrick Porter. Possibly Patrick was William, Senior's father, or his brother.

122 Judge William PORTER.

There is another Porter who is a contemporary of Judge Porter, perhaps a brother or first cousin:

Richard PORTER was born between 1790 and 1794. He appeared on the 1810 US census in Plum Twp., Allegheny Cnty, Penn., as head of a household that included one male between 16-26; one female under 10; and one female between 16-26⁽⁴⁷⁰⁾

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