On the stone at the grave of David Styer are these lines:

"A pale consumption gave the fatal blow-----
The stroke was certain, though the effect was slow.
With lingering pain Heaven saw me sore opprest,
Pitied my sighs and kindly gave me rest."

For some years David Styer and his family lived on a farm in the lowerpart of Worcester Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a half milewest of Acorn Station, on the Stony Creek Railroad. This farm DavidStyer bought in 1797 from David Wagener, a relative. David Wagener was ason of Melchior Wagener, one of the Schwenkfelder pioneers who settled inPennsylvania in 1734. He married Gertrude Styer, a sister of DavidStyer's father. The sale of the farm was the outcome of religiousexcitement in Worcester Township due to the preaching of JemimaWilkinson, David Wagener having become a convert of this faith.

Jemima Wilkinson began to attract attention in her native state of RhodeIsland about the time of the American Revolution, when she appeared as aprophet and miracle worker, adopting the title of the Universal Friend.Coming to Philadelphia in 1782, where she held meetings in St. George'sMethodist Church, she made the acquaintance of Abraham Supplee, ministerof the Methodist congregation worshipping in Bethel Meeting House, onSkippack Pike, in the eastern part of Worcester Township, the oldestMethodist church in Pennsylvania other than St. George's. Suppleeinvited her to come to Worcester, which she did, preaching at least twicein Bethel Meeting House to large assemblages. A disagreement occurredbetween her and Abraham Supplee, and she was then welcomed into the homeof David Wagener, one of a -number of residents of the neighborhood whohad fallen under her sway.

She returned to Worcester several times, bringing some of her RhodeIsland followers with her and remaining for long periods, nine months in1784, during which time her party subsisted largely at the expense ofDavid Wagener. Finally she founded a colony for her followers in YatesCounty, New York, naming it New Jerusalem. The locality is now the townof Penn Yan, twelve miles west of Seneca Lake. Thither David Wagenertook his family.

It is said that because of neglect of his farm by reason of his religiousenthusiasm as well as because of his liberality in providing for JemimaWilkinson and her retinue, David Wagener became impoverished. At anyrate he abandoned the three large farms which he owned, and in 1797 hesold two of them to David Styer. These farms David Wagener had inheritedfrom his father, and they comprised 179 acres.

Among those who followed Jemima Wilkinson to her New Jerusalem was AnnStyer, of Worcester, who served Jemima as a domestic. After some time inher new home Ann Styer became mentally deranged and committed suicide.

Subsequently David Styer moved to Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County,Pennsylvania, for in 1808 he bought a house and eighty-acre farm on theupper edge of that township, on Butler pike, a half mile northeast ofBroad Axe. The datestone on the house indicated it had been built in1715.

David Styer also owned a farm on Skippack Pike, in Whitpain Township, andin his later life he conducted the tavern at Blue Bell, in Whitpain,being thus engaged at the time of his death.

• Married: 12 MAR 1797 in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,before John Huston,a justice of the peace

1. Henry Styer b: BET. 1797 - 1803
2. Mary Greger Styer b: 14 APR 1803
3. Catherine S. Greger Styer b: 11 FEB 1810