Most SUMMERS in Guilford County can trace their ancestry to Capt. Peter SUMMERS. He was the son of the first settler in the Guilford County, NC area with this surname, Jacob SUMMERS (b. 1710 Germany - d. 1790 Guilford Co., NC). Jacob's wife was Margaret FAUST (b. 1720 Germany - d. 1810 Guilford Co., NC). Being the first born son, he was named for his paternal grandfather that was left in Germany, Peter SOMERS.

Captain Peter SUMMERS (b. 16 May 1757 Guilford Co., NC - d. 17 Aug 1837 Guilford Co., NC) lived in or near Guilford County and Alamance County, NC and attended Frieden's Lutheran Church. He served as a Captain in the 1st NC Battalion in the American Revolutionary War.  The 1st NC Battalion was part of the American Army that capitulated and surrendered Charleston, SC, 12 May 1780. Captain Peter SUMMERS is referenced in the list of the Prisoners of War, under American Major General Lincoln.

Several family sources say that Captain Peter SUMMERS was part of the entourage that escorted President George Washington when he visited the Guilford Court House Battleground, when he was on his Southern Tour. 


Married four times, Captain Peter SUMMERS had a total of nine children. I am related through his third wife, Elizabeth WEITZEL (WHITESELL) (b.7 Feb 1776 - d. 27 Feb 1812). This marrige produced three children Abel, Lucinda and Joshua. 

Not much is known about Abel SUMMERS except what is mentioned in his father's will. He married Margaret TINDEL / TENDALL (b. 1809 - d. 17 Mar 1877 Guilford Co., NC). They had seven children, one of who was Nathan Madison SUMMERS (b. 14 Mar 1834 - d. 23 Jan 1878). Nathan Madison SUMMERS married Hannah Donell CLARK (b. 20 Nov 1835 Guilford Co., NC - 19 Dec 1899 Guilford Co., NC). She was the daughter of David CLARK (b. 16 Aug 1789 Guilford Co., NC - d. 21 Oct 1871 Guilford Co., NC) and Mary ROGERS  (b. 16 Aug 1799 New Bern, NC - d. 30 Jun 1877 Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC).

Nathan and Hannah had a family of five, three sons and two daughters. The youngest child was Nathaniel Ilia (Ira) SUMMERS (b. 16 May 1872 Guilford Co., NC - d. 6 Jul 1951 Granville Co., NC). On 25 Dec 1898, he married Mary Malinda SMITH (b. 13 Feb 1879 Guilford Co., NC - d. 31 May 1951 Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC). To this union was blessed ten children, the eldest of whom was Henry Fred SUMMERS (b. 21 Oct 1899 - 8 Jun 1961 Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC). Mary Malinda Smith was the daughter of Elisha Smith (b. 26 Feb 1822 Guilford Co., NC - d. 2 Nov 1898; Guilford Co., NC) and Malinda LOY (b. 24 Sep 1836 Guilford Co., NC - d. 26 Nov 1917 Guilford Co., NC).  Elisha SMITH was the son of John SMITH and Barbary WYRICK.

On 20 May 1923, Henry Fred SUMMERS married Freda Viola CAGLE (b. 3 Jan 1903 Randolph Co., NC - d. 12 Sept 2000, Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC). They had four children, which only two survived into adulthood.

Freda Viola CAGLE was the daughter of Enoch Eratus "Ras" CAGLE (b. 23 Mar 1881 Randolph Co., NC - d. 21 Mar 1944 Guilford Co., NC) and Sarah Emily SILER (b. 3 Sept 1881 Randolph Co., NC - d. 17 Sept 1969 Guilford Co., NC). They were married in Randolph County, NC, 10 Oct 1901.  

"Ras" CAGLE was one of twelve children of George CAGLE (b.28 Jul 1841 Moore Co., NC - d. 15 Aug 1919 Randolph Co., NC) and Mary BIRD / BYRD (b. 12 May 1844 Randolph Co., NC - 3 July 1905 Randolph Co., NC).  They were married 9 Oct 1863 in Moore Co., NC.

George CAGLE was the son of Enoch CAGLE (b. Jan 1811 - d. 25 Jan 1871) and Nancy STUTTS (b. 10 Jan 1814 - d. 1884). Enoch CAGLE was the son of George W. CAGLE (b. 1782 - 1864) and Nancy Lucinda BEAN (b.1790 - 1850).