Hannah Plummer was born June 15, 1783 to Nathaniel and Hannah Plummer in Newbury Essex, Massachusetts. When she was a child, the family moved to Allegheny County and settled in what is now Dormont. She married George Fetterman-a native of Bucks County whose ancestors had come from Germany-and they had three children-Nathaniel; Washington, a lawyer in Pittsburgh; and George, who graduated from West Point and was an officer in the United States Army.
One historic document reports that Hannah divorced Fetterman; another says Fetterman died. However she ended up a single woman, Hannah raised silkworms and hops and ran a farm to support her family of three boys-Washington, Nathaniel and George-until she married Dr. Ruggles Sylvester (1776-1834), who was born in Massachusetts, graduated from Dartmouth College and was probably the first medical doctor in the area.
Rev. John Boyd, pastor at MLUPC from 1858-1903, said Hannah was "active in the church, not hesitating to open her mouth in the congregational meeting when it seemed to be necessary to do so in the interest of the congregation." She was a leading force behind MLUPC's Women's Missionary Society.
Hannah and Ruggles had two children who died young, including Clarissa, at age 17 (1818-1835). Hannah is an ancestor of Congressman James G. Fulton and Ruggles and Hannah are ancestors of Judge Charles Sylvester Fetterman.
"Her rest be sweet in Earth's cold arms; She mingles dust with dust
On Jesus breast she leans her head; In firm unshaken trust
Quickly She'll burst the bolted tomb;
And rise in full unfadeing bloom"
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