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The 6^th Generation

  70. CATHERINE⁶ GORGAS (BENJAMIN⁵, ZYTIAN (SYTJE)⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#75108) was born in York County, PA,, USA 26 March 1762. CATHERINE died 10 February 1840 in Perry County, PA, USA, at age 77.

       She married EBERHART LUTMAN 2 April 1782 in York, York County, PA, USA. The following individual is also linked to this event: WILLIAM PHILLIP OTTERBEIN REV. (minister). (EBERHART LUTMAN is #75109.) EBERHART was born 15 March 1760 in Lancaster County, PA, USA. EBERHART was the son of JOHANN MICHAEL LUTMAN and ELIZABETHA WURTZ. EBERHART died 1807 in Tyrone Twp. Cumberland Co. PA, at age 47. His body was interred 1807 in His farm, Lancaster Co. PA.

       We do not know what EBERHART LUTMAN did up until the Revolutionary War. He is said to have served with the 6th Regiment of Lancaster Co, PA as a private in the Continental Army, commanded by Col. Robert Magaw. Other officers were Capt. John Doyle, Lt. Thomas Doyle and Lt. Ed Spears. He served for 3 years from 1778-1781. He apparently fought in New Jersey and was seriously wounded. For this he was given a tract of land.

       He and Catherine settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Perry County was later carved out of Cumberland County. It is stated that he and Catherine used to walk 15 miles to Carlisle to attend church services before the circuit riders came to preach in Cumberland County.

       In 1784 he and Catherine sold a house and lot in Carlisle, PA to Godfrey Lutz(Baker) "a house and lot of ground laying on south side of North Street - witnessed by Robert Smith and Wm Smith."

       He was listed as a skindresser in an early land transfer. It is stated that Eberhart hung himself on his farm and was buried on the farm also.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

MR. ERIC WILLIAMS, Redondo Beach, California, USA

       CATHERINE GORGAS was a member of the Ephrata Cloister at Ephrata, Pa. USA.

            CATHERINE GORGAS and EBERHART LUTMAN had the following children:

       196      i.  SARAH⁷ was born 1785

          197   ii.  ELIZABETH was born 25 April 1788

                 iii.  MARY (#75115) was born in Cumberland Co., Pa., USA 16 February 1789. MARY died 20 February 1878 in Macon County, Illinois, USA, at age 89. She married GEORGE FOULK date unknown. (GEORGE FOULK is #75116.) GEORGE was born 22 May 1788. GEORGE died 29 August 1872 in Perry County, PA, USA, at age 84.

          198  iv.  DANIEL W. was born 1792

          199   v.  JACOB was born 1793

                 vi.  CATHERINE (#75232) was born in Ickesburg, Cumberland Co. PA 18 May 1801. CATHERINE died 28 June 1881 in Markelsville, PA, USA, at age 80. She married an unknown person circa 1825.

          200 vii.  JOHN was born 11 March 1803

          201 viii.  SAMUEL was born 4 November 1807

  71. SOLOMON⁶ GORGAS (JACOB⁵, ZYTIAN (SYTJE)⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#29558) was born 22 January 1764. SOLOMON died 21 September 1838 at age 74.

       He married CATHERINE FAHNESTOCK date unknown. (CATHERINE FAHNESTOCK is #29653.) CATHERINE was born March 1774. CATHERINE died 09 August 1853 at age 79.

            SOLOMON GORGAS and CATHERINE FAHNESTOCK had the following child:

                   i.  WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE⁷ (#29654) was born 08 May 1806. WILLIAM died 07 December 1892 at age 86. He married ELIZABETH HUMMELL 1840. (ELIZABETH HUMMELL is #29655.) ELIZABETH was born 04 August 1817. ELIZABETH died 30 May 1894 at age 76.

  72. JOSEPH⁶ GORGAS (JACOB⁵, ZYTIAN (SYTJE)⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#75133) was born 1770.

            JOSEPH GORGAS had the following child:

       202      i.  JOSIAH⁷.

  73. MARTIN⁶ RITTENHOUSE (NICHOLAS⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21753) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 12 February 1746/47. MARTIN died before 20 January 1829 in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA, at age 81.

       He married SUSANNA KOLB DETWEILER 05 December 1769. (SUSANNA KOLB DETWEILER is #22495.) SUSANNA was the daughter of JOSEPH DETWEILER and MARIA VAN SINTERN KOLB.

       MARTIN RITTENHOUSE was a miller by trade and lived in Roxborough Township, Philadelphia County, Pa. He did not own any property in Roxborough Township so must have been working for someone else.

       He died late in 1828 Intestate and his estate was administered by his son JACOB. The probate in the Orphan's Court in Norristown. Pa. disclosed a surprising bit of information. The petition to the Court on 20 January 1829 outlined all the heirs to the estate including sons NICHOLAS, JACOB and MARTIN. Also daughters ELIZABETH wife of Thomas Umsted, SARAH wife of Phillip Reiner and SUSAN wife of Daniel Nixon. But the surprise was that the petition said he had another son JOSEPH who in 1793 had married MARY KNERR and they had 3 children, SUSAN, MARY and JOSEPH but about 1804 he had deserted his family and had never been heard from again. So the petition clarified the heirs who had a claim and asked that a jury be appointed by the Court to evaluate land that MARTIN RITTENHOUSE owned in Limerick township, Montgomery County, Pa.

       This property contained about 106 acres and was located on the Perkiomen and Reading turnpike and bounded by lands of George Boyer, Henry Hunsicker and Jacob Printzman. By law when a possible heir was not present, the Administrators were required to place an advertisement in 2 local newspapers which in this case were The Norristown Register and The Democratic Press. The Court ordered the Sheriff to form a jury to evaluate the land, Sheriff Jones Davis had to choose "twelve free, honest and lawful men". This was called an "inquisition" and they actually viewed the land in question. The men chosen were Adam Printzman, Peter Longaker, Isaac Linerman, John Gross, Johan peterman, P. Gilbert, George Wiedner, Conrad Fryer, George Beck, George Snyder and W. Binghust. They reported the value of the land as $30 per acre. Another of their jobs was to give their opinion as to whether the land could be divided fairly among the heirs without jeopardizing the value. They advised this could not be done as there were too many heirs.

       The Court in cases like this gives the Sheriff the order to sell the land at public auction after giving the "exposure and outcry" of the time and place the auction would be held. This was to be on 7 November 1829. The highest bidder was David Hartranst and he took the land for $2,751. 00.. This was affirmed by the Administrators of the estate on 16 November 1829.

       There is no distribution list in the file so we can assume this amount was divided equally among the heirs. There is also no further mention of the missing JOSEPH D. RITTENHOUSE so he may have died or preferred not to appear after deserting his family 25 years earlier.

       The Orphan's Court file is OR 15872 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

HISTORY of the RITTENHOUSE FAMILY by Daniel K. Kolb published 1894 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. This is one of the several books and pamphlets published by Daniel K. Kolb.

            MARTIN RITTENHOUSE and SUSANNA KOLB DETWEILER had the following children:

                   i.  WILLIAM DETWEILER⁷ (#22500) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA.

          203   ii.  NICHOLAS DETWEILER was born 02 July 1774

          204  iii.  JOSEPH DETWEILER was born 09 October 1776

          205  iv.  ELIZABETH was born 18 March 1779

          206   v.  JACOB DETWEILER was born 09 March 1783

          207  vi.  SARAH was born 1785

          208 vii.  SUSANNA was born 18 October 1786

          209 viii.  MARTIN DETWEILER was born 17 September 1788

  74. WILLIAM⁶ RITTENHOUSE (NICHOLAS⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21754) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 1749. WILLIAM died before 15 October 1810 in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA, at age 61.

       He married MARGARETHA WALCKERS 03 December 1772 in N. Goshenhoppen, Montgomery Co. Pa.. (MARGARETHA WALCKERS is #22515.) MARGARETHA was the daughter of DEITRICH WALCKERS and SARAH DEHAVEN.

       WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE was a Miller in Roxborough Township, Philadelphia County, Pa..He is described as such in the settling of the estate of his wife Margaretha's father, in the Montgomery County Deed Book. Also it shows he was a Miller in the Administration Papers filed by his brother NICHOLAS RITTENHOUSE on 15 October 1810.

       WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE died Intestate shortly before 15 October 1810. His brother MARTIN RITTENHOUSE renounced his right to administer the estate. However another brother NICHOLAS RITTENHOUSE, also a Miller in Roxborough Township, Philadelphia County, Pa. put up a bond of $2,000 to secure the amount of inventory until the estate was settled. It appears the Court did not think this was a large enough bond as there was a second document where the amount was increased to $4,000 and secured by all three brothers, NICHOLAS, a miller, MARTIN, a husbandman (cattle herder) and SAMUEL, also a miller. I am not sure who this SAMUEL was. I have no record of a brother of that name so it could have been a cousin, son of HENRY RITTENHOUSE.They were instructed to return the inventory to the Court by 15 November 1810. This inventory amounted to $2,656.88. But $2,426.32 was comprised of "Cash in the trade of the firm of NICHOLAS and WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE. " This shows they were in buiness together as millers but evidently not doing too well. There was $1,903.11 of debts and funeral expenses to be paid. In the end the estate only amounted to $753.77.

       There was no mention in these files of a widow. WILLIAM'S wife so MARGARETHA WELKER may have predeased him. There was also no mention of their 3 children, WILLIAM, JACOB and SARAH. So we are left with not knowing anything about the disposal of the estate.

       These papers are held by the Philadelphia County Register of Wills in Philadlephia, Pa. They are File #164 Book K Page 398.

            WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE and MARGARETHA WALCKERS had the following children:

                   i.  SARAH⁷ (#22516) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA CA 1795.

          210   ii.  WILLIAM was born 1798

                 iii.  JACOB (#22518) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA CA 1800.

  75. WILLIAM JOHNSON⁶ RITTENHOUSE (WILLIAM⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21879) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 1756. WILLIAM died 03 October 1819 in Briar Creek Twp., Columbia, Co. Pa., at age 63. His body was interred after 03 October 1819 in Briar Creek Twp., Columbia, Co. Pa..

       He married ANN ROOK 16 October 1780 in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA. (ANN ROOK is #22519.) ANN died 08 February 1826 in Briar Creek Twp., Columbia, Co. Pa., at age unknown. Her body was interred after 08 February 1826 in Briar Creek Twp., Columbia, Co. Pa..

       WILLIAM JOHNSON RITTENHOUSE purchased land at A Sheriff's sale in what is now Black Creek Twp. Columbia County, Pa. and built the first grist mill in the township. His property was near Berwick, Columbia Co., PA. Another mill was also built on the Nescopeck Creek. It was commenced by a Mr. Walker, who failed, and William Rittenhouse got possession of it and finished it. The land was not patented until 1803, when a patent was granted to Jacob Bittenbinder. William Rittenhouse owned a great deal of land, about three hundred and eighty acres. On the sixteenth day of January 1794, he sold to John Krunkle that tract whereon he had laid out the plan of Miffllinsburg on the side of the north branch of the Susquehanna River below Nescopeck. In his will he divided all his land among his children.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

THE FAMILY of MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE by Daniel Kolb Cassel. Published in 1897. some people refer to this bok as RITTENHOUSE FAMILY HISTORY VOLUME 2. A copy of this book is in my library.

            WILLIAM JOHNSON RITTENHOUSE and ANN ROOK had the following children:

       211      i.  MARY⁷ was born 25 July 1781

          212   ii.  SUSANNA was born 28 May 1783

                 iii.  ELIZABETH (#22524) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 04 August 1785. ELIZABETH died 07 May 1786 in Briar Creek Twp., Columbia, Co. Pa., at age unknown.

          213  iv.  CATHERINE was born 28 September 1788

          214   v.  AMELIE ROOK was born 22 July 1790

          215  vi.  HENRY was born 21 September 1792

                vii.  ANN (#22529) was born in Briar Creek Twp., Columbia, Co. Pa. 07 December 1794. She married twice. She married MORDECAI MILLARD date unknown. (MORDECAI MILLARD is #22530.) She married JOHN H. BOWMAN date unknown. (JOHN H. BOWMAN is #22531.)

  76. BARBARA⁶ RITTENHOUSE (WILLIAM⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24856) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 15 June 1761.

       She married twice. She married JOHN HENRY date unknown. (JOHN HENRY is #29809.) She married CONRAD ALLMAN date unknown. (CONRAD ALLMAN is #29810.)

            BARBARA RITTENHOUSE and CONRAD ALLMAN had the following children:

                   i.  SUSANNA⁷ (#29811) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. She married SAMUEL BUTCHER date unknown. (SAMUEL BUTCHER is #29812.) SAMUEL BUTCHER was the first coal dealer in Germantown. Pa.

                  ii.  SALLIE (#29813).

                 iii.  SAMUEL (#29814) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 30 October 1788.

                 iv.  LYDIA (#29815) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 03 August 1797.

                  v.  ESTHER (#29816) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 05 December 1800. She married GEORGE HELLERMAN date unknown. (GEORGE HELLERMAN is #29817.) His body was interred date unknown in Providence Mennonite Cem. Montgomery Co. Pa..

                            GEORGE HELLERMAN was an ordained Mennonite minister in Germantown, where he resided for about seven years. He then moved to Whitpain Township, Montgomery Co., PA, where he resided about fourteen years He then moved to Chester Co., PA. In his latter years he lived with his daughter in Upper Providence, Montgomery Co., PA.

                            SOURCE of INFORMATION

                      THE FAMILY of MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE by Daniel Kolb Cassel. Published in 1897. Some people refer to this book as Rittenhouse Family History Volume 2. A copy of this book is in my library.

  77. WILLIAM⁶ BRIGHT (SUSANNA⁵ RITTENHOUSE, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#29568) was born 1755. WILLIAM died 1786 at age 31.

       He married MARY ROBERTS date unknown. (MARY ROBERTS is #29569.)

            WILLIAM BRIGHT and MARY ROBERTS had the following child:

                   i.  ANN⁷ (#37546). ANN died young at age unknown.

  78. MARY⁶ BRIGHT (SUSANNA⁵ RITTENHOUSE, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24858) was born 1760. MARY died 1810 at age 50.

       She married EDWARD BARROWS CAPT. date unknown. (EDWARD BARROWS CAPT. is #29824.)

            MARY BRIGHT and EDWARD BARROWS CAPT. had the following children:

       216      i.  MARGARET⁷.

                  ii.  GEORGE (#37547).

                 iii.  SUSANNA (#37548).

          217  iv.  JACOB.

                  v.  MARY (#37562). She married twice. She married UNKNOWN GOODMAN date unknown. (UNKNOWN GOODMAN is #37563.) She married UNKNOWN UNDERHILL date unknown. (UNKNOWN UNDERHILL is #37564.)

          218  vi.  EDWARD M..

  79. MICHAEL⁶ BRIGHT GEN. (SUSANNA⁵ RITTENHOUSE, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#29570) was born 1762. MICHAEL died 9 February 1812 at age 49.

       He married ELIZABETH LONG date unknown. (ELIZABETH LONG is #29571.) ELIZABETH was born 1766. ELIZABETH was the daughter of PETER LONG CAPT.. ELIZABETH died 12 July 1810 at age 44.

            MICHAEL BRIGHT GEN. and ELIZABETH LONG had the following children:

       219      i.  MICHAEL⁷.

          220   ii.  JACOB.

          221  iii.  ELIZABETH.

          222  iv.  SUSAN was born 1790

          223   v.  GEORGE was born 1796

  80. JACOB⁶ RITTENHOUSE (ABRAHAM⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22434) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA CA 1788. JACOB died 16 January 1856 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 67. His body was interred after 16 January 1856 in First Pres. Church, Phil., PA.

       He married three times. He married HESTER BRUNNER date unknown. (HESTER BRUNNER is #22435.) HESTER was born CA 1794. HESTER died 09 February 1817 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 22. Her body was interred after 09 February 1817 in First Pres. Church, Phil., PA. He married MARY BRUNNER date unknown. (MARY BRUNNER is #22436.) MARY was born CA 1777. MARY died 02 January 1845 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 67. Her body was interred after 02 January 1845 in First Pres. Church, Phil., PA. He married ROSINA BEAR BAIRD 05 February 1846 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. The following individual is also linked to this event: THOMAS B. BRADFORD (REV.) (minister). (ROSINA BEAR BAIRD is #22437.) ROSINA was born CA 1819 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. ROSINA was the daughter of GEORGE RUSSELL. ROSINA died 03 November 1857 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 38. Her body was interred after 03 November 1857 in First Pres. Church, Phil., PA.

            JACOB RITTENHOUSE and ROSINA BEAR BAIRD had the following child:

                   i.  ENOCH⁷ (#29829) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. ENOCH died young at age unknown.

  81. SUSANNA⁶ SMITH (MARGARET⁵ RITTENHOUSE, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#29561) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 20 May 1758. SUSANNA died 20 May 1823 at age 65.

       She married JACOB KEYSER 16 October 1780 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. (JACOB KEYSER is #29795.) JACOB was born 18 September 1764.

            SUSANNA SMITH and JACOB KEYSER had the following children:

                   i.  MARGARET⁷ (#29796) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA.

                  ii.  ANN (#29797) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA.

                 iii.  ELIZABETH (#29800) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA.

                 iv.  SAMUEL (#29798) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 25 January 1783. SAMUEL died 09 July 1866 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 83. He married MARY MILLER date unknown in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. (MARY MILLER is #29799.) MARY was born 13 October 1785 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA.

                  v.  WILLIAM (#29801) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 14 September 1785. WILLIAM died 21 October 1853 in Swedesborough, N. Jersey. USA, at age 68. He married REBECCA DERRICKSON date unknown. (REBECCA DERRICKSON is #29802.)

                 vi.  SARAH (#29803) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 11 September 1787. She married JOHN GEORGE HASSINGER date unknown. (JOHN GEORGE HASSINGER is #29804.)

                vii.  JOHN (#29805) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 19 August 1792. JOHN died 23 November 1850 at age 58. He married ELIZABETH HACKENBURG date unknown. (ELIZABETH HACKENBURG is #29806.) ELIZABETH was born 17 January 1798. ELIZABETH died 24 February 1880 at age 82.

  82. PETER SCHWARTZ⁶ RITTENHOUSE (ISAAC⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21796) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 05 August 1770. PETER died 28 October 1826 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 56. His body was interred after 28 October 1826 in Germantown Mennonite Cem. PA.

       He married SUSANNAH LIPPEN March 1795. (SUSANNAH LIPPEN is #21797.) SUSANNAH was born 22 August 1769. SUSANNAH died 18 October 1839 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 70. Her body was interred after 18 October 1839 in Germantown Mennonite Cem. PA.

            PETER SCHWARTZ RITTENHOUSE and SUSANNAH LIPPEN had the following children:

       224      i.  ISAAC⁷ was born 01 December 1795

          225   ii.  PETER was born 09 November 1797

          226  iii.  JOHN LIPPEN was born 21 August 1799

                 iv.  SAMUEL (#22536) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 11 January 1802. SAMUEL died 05 September 1885 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 83. His body was interred after 05 September 1885 in Germantown Mennonite Cem. PA. He married MARGARET ELLOTT 12 June 1856 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. (MARGARET ELLOTT is #26863.) MARGARET was born 30 July 1820 in Lexington, Virginia, USA. MARGARET was the daughter of HUGH ELLIOTT and NANCY WEST. MARGARET died 11 January 1909 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 88. Her body was interred 15 January 1909 in Ch. of Bretheren, Germantown, Pa..

                            OBITUARY for MARGARET ELLIOTT wife of SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE

                            Mrs. Samuel Rittenhouse, widow of Samuel Rittenhouse, a member of the old Germantown family of that name, took place on Monday at her home, 114 W. Rittenhouse St. Mrs. Rittenhouse had a fall about a year ago, and owing to her advanced age, never fully recovered from the effects. She was the daughter of Hugh and Nancy West Elliott and was born near Lexington, VA, on July 30, 1820. Her husband died about twenty-four years ago. Mrs. Rittenhouse was a constituent member of the First Baptist Church, and her death leaves but one survivor of the organizers of that church. The funeral services were held on Friday morning at her late residence and were conducted by her Pastor, Rev. T. S. Sainson, D. D. The interment was made in the burial ground ol the Church of the Brethren, Main St. (Germantown Ave.).

                            The 1860 Census shows SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE at age 58 living in Ward 22 in the City of Philadelphia. His wife was MARGARET ELLIOT who was 40 years old and who had been born in Lexington, Virginia. Evidently SAMUEL had retired from whatever occupation he had earlier because it calls him "Gent". His real estate is valued at $10,000 and personal goods at $500. They had no children. Found in Philadelphia City 1860 Census Roll 1173 Book 1 Page 190.

                            In 1870 SAMUEL, age 68, and his wife MARGARET ELLIOT, age 49, were living in Ward 20, Philadelphia City. Pa. It shows that he was a retired Grocer with real estate valued at $8,000 and personal goods at $5,000. Shown in the Philadelphia City 1870 census Roll 1408 Book 1 Page 111.

          227   v.  GEORGE was born 06 April 1805

                 vi.  MARY (#22538) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 12 December 1807.

                vii.  SARAH (#22539) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 29 November 1811. SARAH died 21 April 1865 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 53. Her body was interred after 21 April 1865 in Germantown Mennonite Cem. PA.

  83. MICHAEL CONRAD⁶ RITTENHOUSE (JOHN⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#227) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 1 September 1768. MICHAEL died 2 August 1852 in Clinton Twp., Lincoln Co., ON, at age 83. His body was interred after 2 August 1852 Mennonite Cem. (Moyer) Vineland.

       He married twice. He married DINAH FRETZ 11 June 1793 in Hilltown Twp. Bucks Co. PA. (DINAH FRETZ is #228.) DINAH was born 30 May 1768 in Bedminster Twp. Bucks Co. PA. DINAH was the daughter of JOHANNES (JOHN) FRETZ (CANADA JOHN) and MARIA (MARY) CULP. DINAH died 7 September 1801 in Clinton Twp., Lincoln Co., ON, at age 33. Her body was interred after September 7 1801 Mennonite Cem. (Moyer) Vineland. He married BARBARA HUNSBERGER 5 March 1803 in Clinton Twp., Lincoln Co., ON. (BARBARA HUNSBERGER is #214.) BARBARA was born 27 December1783 in Hilltown Twp. Bucks Co. PA. BARBARA was the daughter of CHRISTIAN HUNSBERGER SR. and AGNES DIERSTEIN MEYER. BARBARA died 8 July 1849 in Clinton Twp., Lincoln Co., ON, at age 65. Her body was interred after 08 July 1849 Mennonite Cem. (Moyer) Vineland.

       MICHAEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE had moved up to Hilltown Township, Bucks County by 1793. This was the year he married DINAH FRETZ so it is still unknown where they met and where they married. In the 1794 tax files he is shown with no land but 1 horse and 1 cow, total value $14. By 1798 he still did not have any land but then had 1 horse and 2 cows, total value $20. It was a mystery why he did not appear in the 1798 Direct Tax (Glass Tax) where they show every house with a description and whether the person owned it or leased it, with the owner's name. Comparing the 1798 regular tax file with the 1798 Direct Tax we can see the neighbours of MICHAEL. HIs next door neighbour in the regular tax files is Henry Shellebury with 10 acres of land but no house and Henry not residing on the property. I believe that MICHAEL must have been using this land to keep his horse and cow but not residing there. He must have been boarding with someone else and it may turn out that he was living with his wife's family which was JOHN FRETZ.

       MICHAEL RITTENHOUSE with his wife DINAH and their 4 children emigrated to Canada in 1800. It appears they travelled with JOHN FRETZ JR. and his large family as well as the husbands of Dinah's sisters, Abraham Grobb and Laurence Hipple. In the record book of Deacon Philip Wismer of 1784 it confirms their arrival in 1800 and a copy of this hand written page is in my files.

       It is interesting to note that the baby John was only two months old when they travelled. However tragedy struck the family within a year after arriving in Clinton Township, Ontario, when Dinah died of typhoid fever.

       MICHAEL RITTENHOUSE petitioned for a Crown Land Grant which was granted 10 November 1808. It was for 100 acres east 1/2 Lot 26 Concession 4 Scott Township, Ontario County. Copy of the Abstract Ledger sheet is in my files taken from Ontario Archives microfilm reel GS 4687. Also a map showing the location. Although there is a missing entry on the ledger sheet, MICHAEL must have sold this property and never lived there.

       MICHAEL received from his father-in-law John Fretz Jr. 100 acres Lot 5 Concession 3 Clinton Township, Lincoln County, Ontario. Copy of Instrument #4024 dated 29 May 1812 is in my files as well as a copy of the Abstract Ledger Sheet. These were taken from Lincoln County Deed Books (old series). This land was located beside the 100 acres each of his brothers-in-law received from John Fretz Jr.

       MICHAEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE was a farmer and a miller. Both MICHAEL and DINAH were Mennonites.

       Visiting the Rittenhouse property in 1994 we found the present owner very interested in restoring the house that had been built circa 1850 and then enlarged later. The original smoke house is still standing. Photographs taken in 1994 are in my files as well as historic and modern maps showing the location. The present owner has an old wooden water well pump he had purchased at an auction on a Moyer farm. It was the original Moyer pump they had brought from Pennsylvania when they came to Ontario.

       MICHAEL RITTENHOUSE purchased 100 acres Lot 16 Concession 7 Clinton Township, Lincoln County. Copy of deed in my file is dated 8 May 1833 recorded 3 September 1833 Instrument #9166. Taken from Ontario Archives microfilm reel GS 1957. He sold this to his son Jacob 2 years later.

       MICHAEL was a member of the Clinton Singing School. Samuel Fry was the leader in May 1836. This is shown on Page 21 in the book by Michael S.Bird, Fractur In Ontario. A copy of this book is in my library.

       MICHAEL and DINAH are buried in the Mennonite Cemetery in Vineland, Ontario. There is a large monument in the south end of the "Old Section" that was erected by their children. Photographs taken in 1994 of the monument and the cemetery are in my files.

       MEMORIAL of WILL OF MICHAEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE

       Dated 3 September 1852 Found in Ontario Archives

       A Memorial to be registered persuant to the Statute in such cases made and provided of the last Will and Testament of Michael Rittenhouse of the Township of Clinton in the County of Lincoln in the District of Niagara and Province of Upper Canada, deceased, bearing date of the third day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty ___.

       Whereby he first ordered that all just debts and funeral expenses to be paid out of the estate.

       Secondly he gave and devised to his son Michael H. Rittenhouse and to the heirs and assignes forever, all his real estate consisting of lot number five in the third concession of the Township of Clinton, County of Lincoln, District of Niagara, Province of Canada, containing one hundred acres be it more or less, being the homestead that he resided upon subject however to the payment of seven hundred and fifty pounds currency to be paid in the following manner, that is to say one hundred and twenty five pounds to be paid on the first day of June at least one year after his decease, fifty pounds yearly thereafter until the last year in which it will be twenty five pounds, the same to be without interest unless any of the payments should remain overdue and the proceeds of the sale of his said farm if it should be disposed of as follows, a sufficient sum be retained therefrom that will at all times give his wife a comfortable support during her widowhood from the interest thereof and to supply her with good comfortable clothes and whatsoever other needs shall arise, other attendance she may require and it was not his wish or desire that she should be compelled to remain at any one place to receive such support but that she remain with any of his children that she thinks proper provided they will keep her at any whatever place amongst his children who while supporting her they shall be paid a reasonable sum for so doing for the time she shall remain and after her daily support is no longer required for his said wife, the cash and residue of his estate should be equally divided among all his children, their heirs and assigs, share and share alike.

       And lastly did thereby nominate, constitute and appoint his son John Rittenhouse and Jacob Hunsberger, his son-in-law, both of the Township of Clinton, Executors to his last Will and Testament with full authority to carry the same and every part thereof into effect and to make a good and sufficient deed for his farm when payments shall have been received for the same.

       And this Memorial therefore is hereby required to be registered by Mr. John Rittenhouse, one of the devisees therefore named. Witness my hand and seal at Louth the third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and fifty two.

Signed and sealed in John Rittenhouse the presence of James W. Clark Solomon Secord

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

       DIRECT TAX OF 1798 published by Adams Apple Press, Bedminster, Pa. in 1994.

       TAX RECORDS for Hilltown Township, Bucks County. 1794 and 1798.

       MR. DENNIS RITTENHOUSE. Maple Ridge, B.C. Canada

       RITTENHOUSE FAMILY HISTORY by Daniel K. Cassel published in 1893. Copy of this book is held by Conrad Grebel Library at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. There is also a copy in my own library.

       ANNALS OF THE FORTIES published by the Grimsby Historical Society. Copies of this set of books is in my library.

       SAMUEL FRY THE WEAVER by Barbara F. Coffman published in 1982 by the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society of Ontario. A copy of this book is in my library.

       A copy from a family bible was made by MICHAEL FUNK RITTENHOUSE in 1856, the year he died. He was a schoolteacher in Clinton Township, Lincoln County, Ontario, who died when he was only 27 years old.This not only gives birth and death details of his g-grandfather JOHN RITTENHOUSE, but also birth, marriage, and death details for his grandfather MICHAEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE This is the only known source for the marriage date of MICHAEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE and DINAH FRETZ. A copy of this important document is held by MR. LARRY RITTENHOUSE, Jordan Station, Ontario, Canada who was kind enough to make it available to me.

            MICHAEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE and DINAH FRETZ had the following children:

       228      i.  MARY FRETZ⁷ was born 01 April 1794

          229   ii.  MARGARET FRETZ was born 1 February 1796

          230  iii.  ANNA FRETZ was born 15 March 1798

          231  iv.  JOHN FRETZ was born 22 May 1800

       MICHAEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE and BARBARA HUNSBERGER had the following children:

       232     v.  ELIZABETH was born 27 August 1804

          233  vi.  AGNES HUNSBERGER was born 21 April 1806

                vii.  JACOB (#516) was born in Clinton Twp., Lincoln Co., ON 1 May 1808. JACOB died 06 December 1857 Louth Twp. Lincoln Co. ON, at age 49. His body was interred after 6 December 1857 in Campden Mennonite Cem. ON. He married SARAH FRETZ date unknown. (SARAH FRETZ is #2606.) SARAH was born 09 March 1791 in Bucks County. PA, USA. SARAH was the daughter of HENRY FRETZ and ANNA KRAUT. SARAH died 15 July 1871 Louth Twp. Lincoln Co. ON, at age 80. Her body was interred after 15 July 1871 in Campden Mennonite Cem. ON.

                            JACOB RITTENHOUSE and his wife SARAH FRETZ lived on the Fly Road about 2 miles west of Campden. She was the sister of JOSEPH FRETZ SR. but we have not identified who their father was. Whoever it was he lived back in Bucks County where both of them were born.

                            SOURCE of INFORMATION

                      MR. LARRY RITTENHOUSE, Jordan Station, Ontario, Canada.

          234 viii.  SUSANNA HUNSBERGER was born 4 April 1810

          235  ix.  CHRISTOPHER HUNSBERGER was born 25 December 1812

          236   x.  MICHAEL HUNSBERGER was born 12 March 1815

          237  xi.  SARAH HUNSBERGER was born 15 June 1817

          238 xii.  HENRY CULP was born July 1819

  84. JACOB CONRAD⁶ RITTENHOUSE (JOHN⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#522) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 22 January 1771. JACOB died 14 May 1849 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 78. His body was interred after 14 May 1849 in Germantown Mennonite Cem. PA.

       He married ELIZABETH SMITH date unknown. (ELIZABETH SMITH is #27357.) ELIZABETH was born 1788 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. ELIZABETH was the daughter of EZRA SMITH and NANCY WILDEY. ELIZABETH died after 1860 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age unknown. Her body was interred after 1860 in Germantown Mennonite Cem. PA.

       ELIZABETH SMITH widow of JACOB CONRAD RITTENHOUSE, in 1860, was lving in Ward 21 in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. Her property was valued at $4,000.Living with her were 3 of her daughters. There is MARY B. RITTENHOUSE, widow of JOHN SPENCER who had died in 1835. Their daughter MARY J. SPENCER was with them. Another daughter of ELIZABETH who was living with them was MARGARET RITTENHOUSE, age 39, who had never married. A third daughter ELIZABETH L. RITTENHOUSE was also living with her mother. A one year old child, named ROZELLA MARKLEwais probably the daughter of ELIZABEHT L. RITTENHOUSE. All the above is shown in the Philadelphia 1860 Census Roll 1172 Book 1 page 663.

       JACOB CONRAD RITTENHOUSE died Intestate in Germantown on 14 May 1849. He was survived by his wife ELIZABETH and 3 daughters, MARGARET, ELIZABETH married to EDMUND ASHWORTH and MARY married to JOHN SPENCER. His brother DANIEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE and WILLIAM UMSTED were appointed Administrators of the estate. When they took the inventory it amounted to $156.88 plus $50 owed to him by John Taylor's estate. There is no distribution list with the file so presumabley it was divided equally among the 3 daughters.

       For Canadians it is interesting to note JACOB CONRAD RITENHOUSE was the brother of MICHAEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE who took his family to Canada in 1800. This Administration file is recorded in Philadelphia Will Book "P" Page 489 and the Index number is A--178-1849. It is held by the Register of Wills, Philadelphia. Pa.

            JACOB CONRAD RITTENHOUSE and ELIZABETH SMITH had the following children:

       239      i.  MARY B.⁷ was born 15 June 1815

                  ii.  MARGARET W. (#27358) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 12 September 1817. MARGARET died August 1877 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 59. Her body was interred August 1877 in Germantown Mennonite Cem. PA.

          240  iii.  ELIZABETH SERENIUS was born 23 February 1827

  85. DANIEL CONRAD⁶ RITTENHOUSE (JOHN⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#523) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 31 December 1773. His body was interred after 21 January 1852 in Hicksite Cem. Germantown, Pa..

       He married SARAH ROBERTS 18 September 1798. (SARAH ROBERTS is #21613.) SARAH was the daughter of THOMAS ROBERTS and JANE PYATT. SARAH died 19 March 1851 in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA, at age unknown. Her body was interred after 19 March 1851 in Hicksite Cem. Germantown, Pa..

            DANIEL CONRAD RITTENHOUSE and SARAH ROBERTS had the following children:

                   i.  JOHN⁷ (#29838) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 19 September 1799. JOHN died 28 December 1801 in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA, at age 2.

          241   ii.  MARIA was born 06 April 1803

                 iii.  ABRAHAM ROBERTS (#29839) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 29 April 1806. ABRAHAM died 03 April 1883 in Franconia Twp. Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 76. His body was interred after 03 April 1883 Franconia Mennonite Cem. PA, USA.

                            In 1860 ABRAHAM ROBERTS RITTENHOUSE was working as a farm labourer in Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pa. He never married and is working on the farm of DANIEL UMSTEAD. This is a prime case of how genealogy records can get confused. DANIEL UMSTEAD's wife was LEAH RITTENHOUSE who is a daughter of another ABRAHAM RITTENHOUSE whose middle name is METZ. He farmed in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, Pa. where LEAH was born. The two ABRAHAMS are not from the same family but here was one working on the farm of the other one's daughter. A very easy way to get mixed up !! Found in Montgomery County 1860 Census Roll 1143 Book 1 Page 209.

                            ABRAHAM ROBERTS RITTENHOUSE of Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pa. never married. He must have been very sick when he wrote a Will which is undated but documents show he actually died on 3 March 1883. On 21 April 1883 William Tyson and Catharine Yoder filed a document with the Court swearing they had witnessed ABRAHAM RITTENHOUSE make this will so it was accepted as valid. He didn't own any real estate but he was holding a bond for $3,000 from Daniel Umstead, the owner of the farm where he had been working. In his Will he left his sister REBECCA RITTENHOUSE the interest from $2.500 of this bond for her lifetime. He appointed Daniel Umsted Executor of his Will. ABRAHAM had another sister MARIA who had married WILLIAM UMSTED. They had children HARRISON, MARIA, JONATHON, WILLIAM , ANGELINA, and CHARLES. When his sister REBECCA died, the Executor was to use the bond and give each of those children #325. When they took an inventory of his goods and chattels it only amounted to $78.00.

                            Problems evidently arose when REBECCA died and also with the valuation of the original bond. The Executor told the Court that after expenses were paid, he still had $355.49 to distribute. As it was 5 years since ABRAHAM had died, he had to publicly advertise to see if there were any other claimants. He did this in the Norristown Register on 22 May, 27 May and 3 June 1884... Also in the Norristown Herald on 19 May, 23 May and 2 June 1884. No records have survived to show the actual distribution that was made.

                            All of the above proceedings are shown in Will File RW 5198 and Orphan's Court File OR 14,882. They are held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

                            Obituary of ABRAHAM ROBERTS RITTENHOUSE

                            Taken from the Herald of Truth May 1883

                            April 3rd, in Franconia Township, Montgomery Co., PA, Abraham R. Rittenhouse, aged 76 years, 11 months and 5 days. Services at the house by Josiah Clemmmer in German and at the meeting-house by Samuel Godshalk in English.

                 iv.  REBECCA (#29840) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 04 July 1808. REBECCA died 13 April 1885 at age 76.

                  v.  JONATHON (#29841) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 06 January 1811. JONATHON died 11 January 1881 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 70. He married NAOMI MURPHY date unknown. (NAOMI MURPHY is #29842.) NAOMI was born 1814.

                            JONATHON RITTENHOUSE, in 1860 was living in Philadelphia Ward 21. By 1860 this Ward must have been the old area of Germantown or Roxborough Township as it states he is a farmer with real estate valued at $15,000 and personal goods at $6,000. On this Census his wife's name appears to be NANNA but it is very hard to read. Other records show it as NAOMI. She is 46 years old and there is no mention of children. Found in Philadelphia 1860 Census Roll 1172 Book 1 Page 675.

                            In 1870 JONATHON RITTENHOUSE, age 58, and his wife, NAOMI MURPHY, age 53. were still living in Ward 21, Philadelphia City, Pa. It doesn't state his occupation, so maybe he was retired. His real estate was valued at $9,000 and personal goods at $3,000. Living with him was a WILLIAM MURPH, age 50, who we can't identify. But also there was ELMIRA RITTENHOUSE 21 and LETITIA RITTENHOUSE 13. These two girls must be related but we haven't found their parent's names. Shown in Phildeplphia City 1870 census Roll 1409 Book 1 Page 463.

                            Obituary of JONATHON RITTENHOUSE

                            From Herald of Truth February 1881

                      RITTENHOUSE. - January 11th, in Germantown, Pennsylvania, of apoplexy, Jonathan Rittenhouse, aged 70 years and 5 days. Deceased was a prominent and exemplary member of the Society of Friends to whom, as well as to his family and unusual large circle of friends, his loss will he a great bereavement.

  86. ANNA NANCY⁶ RITTENHOUSE (JOHN⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#530) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 13 September 1778. ANNA died 10 August 1798 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 19.

       She married JOHN ASH date unknown. (JOHN ASH is #8467.) JOHN died 10 August 1898 at age unknown.

            ANNA NANCY RITTENHOUSE and JOHN ASH had the following child:

                   i.  SARAH⁷ (#15042) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 28 January 1798. SARAH died 24 September 1808 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age unknown.

  87. CORNELIUS⁶ RITTENHOUSE (JOHN⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#526) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 29 June 1785. CORNELIUS died 30 August 1851 in Beaver Twp. Columbia Co. Pa., at age 66. His body was interred after 30 August 1851 in Trinity Lutheran Cem., Mt. Grove, Pa..

       He married ELIZABETH SEIWELL date unknown. (ELIZABETH SEIWELL is #8468.) ELIZABETH was born 05 September 1793. ELIZABETH was the daughter of JOHANNES SEIWELL and SUSANNA. ELIZABETH died 7 February 1856 in Beaver Twp. Columbia Co. Pa., at age 62. Her body was interred after 07 February 1856 in Trinity Lutheran Cem., Mt. Grove, Pa..

       In 1850 CORNELIUS RITTENHOUSE, age 65, was farming in Beaver Township, Columbia County, Pa.. His farm was valued at $4,000. In some records his wife's name was spelled SEIWELL. But in others it is SEIPLE and even SOUPLEE. They had 3 children living at home, PETER 22, TILLMAN 20 and URIAH age 17. Also ANN HUNSINGER, age 25, who later married URIAH. ANGELINA SEIPLE, age 11 was living with them but I have not found if she is a niece. Shown in Columbia County 1850 census Roll 769 Book 1 Page 261.

            CORNELIUS RITTENHOUSE and ELIZABETH SEIWELL had the following children:

       242      i.  JOHN SEIWELL.⁷ was born November 1816

                  ii.  MARIA (#8505) was born in Mifflin Twp., Columbia Co. Pa. 6 March 1818. MARIA died 30 November 1874 at age 56. She married ROSWELL TRUMBELL date unknown. (ROSWELL TRUMBELL is #8506.)

          243  iii.  MICHAEL was born 18 January 1821

          244  iv.  JOSIAH was born 26 March 1824

          245   v.  ANN was born 1826

                 vi.  PETER (#8512) was born Pennsylvania, USA 19 April 1828. PETER died 21 July 1860 in Sugarloaf Twp. Luzerne Co. Pa., at age 32. He married ANNA (ANNIE) HUNSINGER date unknown. (ANNA (ANNIE) HUNSINGER is #26657.) ANNA was the daughter of SOLOMON HUNSINGER and SUSANNAH KATHERINA WEAVER.

          246 vii.  TILLMAN was born 9 August 1830

                viii.  URIAH (#8515) was born in Mifflin Twp., Columbia Co. Pa. 1833. URIAH died June 1912 in S. Cayuga Twp, Haldimand, ON, at age 78. He married ANN HUNSINGER date unknown. (ANN HUNSINGER is #8516.) ANN was born 25 July 1832 in Beaver Twp. Columbia Co. Pa.. ANN was the daughter of JOHN B. HUNSINGER and LYDIA OXENRIDER. ANN died 12 August 1877 in S. Cayuga Twp, Haldimand, ON, at age 45. Her body was interred after 12 August 1877 in S, Cayuga Mennonite Cem. ON.

                            URIAH RITTENHOUSE along with his brothers, JOHN and JOSIAH, and sisters and their families moved to Canada in 1862

                            When they arrived in Canada they settled in South Cayuga, Haldimand County, Ontario.

  88. SUSANNA⁶ RITTENHOUSE (JOHN⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#527) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 4 October 1788. SUSANNA died 1858 at age 69.

       She married THOMAS ROBERTS date unknown. (THOMAS ROBERTS is #29845.) THOMAS was born 1744. THOMAS was the son of THOMAS ROBERTS and JANE PYATT. THOMAS died 1846 at age 102.

            SUSANNA RITTENHOUSE and THOMAS ROBERTS had the following children:

                   i.  MARGARET⁷ (#29846) was born 1815.

          247   ii.  REBECCA was born 1820

                 iii.  THOMAS (#29848) was born 1824.

  89. HENRY CONRAD⁶ RITTENHOUSE (JOHN⁵, WILLIAM DEWEES⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#528) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 08 July 1791. HENRY died 02 June 1844 in Beaver Twp. Columbia Co. Pa., at age 52.

       He married HANNAH CROUT date unknown. (HANNAH CROUT is #21614.) HANNAH was born 22 March 1798. HANNAH died 27 January 1885 at age 86. Her body was interred after 27 January 1885 in L. Prov. Twp. Montgomery Co. PA.

       In 1870 and still in 1880 HANNAH CROUT, widow of HENRY CONRAD RITTENHOUSE, was living with her daughter ELIZABETH in Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pa. She was 82 years old. ELIZABETH had married JOHN CUSTER, a farmer, and they had a daughter HANNAH. Taken from Montgomery County 180 census Roll 1158 Book 1 Page 362.

       HENRY CONRAD RITTENHOUSE moved his family to Beaver Township, Columbia County, Pa. He died there in 1844 but his wife HANNAH CROUT continued to farm. In the 1850 census she is shown on the farm with no value shown for the real estate but her personal goods valued at $1,200. This farm was next to the farm owned by his brother CORNELIUS RITTENHOUSE and several of his sons such as MICHAEL, TILLMAN and JOSIAH.

       Widow HANNAH CROUT RITTENHOUSE in 1850 had 3 of her children still living with her, SUSANNAH, 29 MARTHA 17 and ALBERT age 10. Shown in Columbia County 1850 census Roll 769 Book 1 page 262.

       On 9 June 1845 the widow HANNAH CROUT and son SAMUEL filed a petition with the Court in Philadelphia to have an Administrator appointed because they said HENRY had died without a Will. This was granted to HANNAH and SAMUEL They took the inventory on 17 June 1845 and the personal goods totalled only $45.52. But the farm was sold to son ALBERT for $2,425. Each of the legal heirs received $77,23. These were the widow HANNAH and the sons SAMUEL, MILES, ALBERT, ENOCH and daughters SUSANNAH, ELIZABETH and MARTHA

       This file is found under Index A-288174-1845 and is held by the Register of Wills, Philadelphia, Pa.

            HENRY CONRAD RITTENHOUSE and HANNAH CROUT had the following children:

                   i.  SUSANNAH⁷ (#27012) was born in Mifflin Twp., Columbia Co. Pa. 15 April 1821. SUSANNAH died 22 May 1903 in Norristown, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 82.

                            SUSANNAH RITTENHOUSE died Intestate in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa. on 22 May 1903. She had never married and her 3 brothers and two sisters were named as heirs. MILES, of Norristown, SAMUEL of Fairview Village, ENOCH of Luzerne County, Pa., ELIZABETH of Norristown and MARTHA of Michigan. As it turned out her estate was appraised at less than $250 so each if the legatees received $50. Estates under $250 were not subject to Inheritance Tax.

                            This Administration file is RW #23,336 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

          248   ii.  SAMUEL was born 28 May 1824

          249  iii.  ENOCH was born 13 March 1827

                 iv.  BENJAMIN (#44279) was born in Mifflin Twp., Columbia Co. Pa. 11 February 1829. BENJAMIN died 5 January 1834 in Mifflin Twp., Columbia Co. Pa., at age 4.

          250   v.  ELIZABETH was born 23 March 1831

                 vi.  MARTHA (#27040) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 25 September 1833. She married DANIEL DREACHER date unknown. (DANIEL DREACHER is #34172.)

                vii.  MILES (#27010) was born in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA 24 July 1836. MILES died 27 February 1915 in Norristown, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 78. His body was interred 10 September 1862 in Riverside Cem. Norriston Twp.. He married SARAH LORETTA THOMAS date unknown. (SARAH LORETTA THOMAS is #27011.) SARAH was born March 1834. SARAH was the daughter of MARY A. THOMAS. SARAH died 28 October 1904 in Norristown, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 70.

                            SARAH LAURETTA THOMAS, wife of MILES RITTENHOUSE, died Intestate on 28 October 1904. They were living at 707 Swede Street in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa. at the time of her death. For some reason her husband MILES RITTENHOUSE did not file any administration papers at the time of her death. So it wasn't until after he died in 1915 that JOHN RITTENHOUSE, a nephew of MILES, was appointed. The stock she had been holding in the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company was appraised at $652.50. There were no other legal heirs still alive so JOHN RITTENHOUSE was granted the payment of $644.79.

                            The Administration file is RW #24,090 and the Orphan's Court file is OC #30,333. They are both held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown. Pa.

                            MILES RITTENHOUSE was a tinsmith living in Philadelphia in 1870. He evidently did not own any real estate but his personal property was valued at $500. With him were his wife, SARAH LORETTA THOMAS, and her mother MARY A. THOMAS, age 60. Shown in Philadelphia 1870 census Roll 1398 Book 1 Page 194.

                            In 1900 MILES RITTENHOUSE was living at 707 Swede Street in Ward 2 of Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa. He was a tin sheet iron worker. With him as well as his wife SARAH L. were his 2 sisters SUSANNA age 79 and ELIZABETH, age 69, who was the widow of JOHN CUSTER. Shown in Montgomery County 1900 census Roll 1443 Book 2 Page 45a.

                            MILES RITTENHOUSE died Intestate on 27 February 1915. His wife SARAH LORETTA THOMAS had already predeceased him on 28 October 1904. They didn't have any children so JOHN RITTENHOUSE, a nephew was appointed Administrator of the estate by the Court. Any sisters or brothers could claim a one quarter interest in the estate. Any nephews or nieces could claim one eighth. Children of the nephews and nieces could claim one sixteenth of the estate.

                            The first problem for the Administrator was to clear the estate of MILES' wife as MILES had failed to have some stock in the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company transferred at the time of her death. The inventory value came to $1,487.11 but by the time $416.80 of debts and expenses were deducted, the net estate to be distributed was $1,070.51.

                            MILES' sister MARTHA received $378.96. HANNAH ZEITLER, daughter of another sister ELIZABETH received $378.06. Two nephews, sons of deceased brother SAMUEL, JOHN and HARVEY received $189.03 each. Children of the deceased brother ENOCH, ELLIS, AMOS, MILES, WILLIAM and ELLIS MILLER each received $75.62. The latter was a son of SARAH MILLER, deceased daughter of ENOCH RITTENHOUSE.

                            The Administration Papers are file RW #30,419 and the Orphan's Court record is OC #30,332. Both of these are held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

                viii.  ALBERT (#27041) was born in Harrison House, Virginia, USA 12 January 1839. ALBERT died before 27 February 1915 at age 76.

  90. RACHEL⁶ QUEE (SARAH⁵ ENGEL, CATHERINE⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21794) birth date unknown.

       She married JOHN WADDELL date unknown. (JOHN WADDELL is #21795.)

            RACHEL QUEE and JOHN WADDELL had the following child:

       251      i.  ESTHER⁷.

  91. EVA ELIZABETH⁶ HEILIG (JOHANNES GEORGE⁵, SUSANNA⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24256) was born in Montgomery Co. PA, USA 12 November 1762. EVA died 06 February 1846 at age 83.

       She married JOHANN KLEIN date unknown. (JOHANN KLEIN is #24271.)

            EVA ELIZABETH HEILIG and JOHANN KLEIN had the following children:

                   i.  JOHN⁷ (#24272) was born November 1780.

                  ii.  ELIZABETH BARBARA (#24273) was born 24 April 1781.

                 iii.  JOHANN PETER (#24274) was born 18 June 1782.

                 iv.  JACOB (#24275) was born 1784.

                  v.  EVA ELIZABETH (#24276) was born 27 February 1786.

                 vi.  CHRISTIANA (#24277) was born 13 September 1788.

                vii.  DANIEL HEILIG (#24278) was born 23 September 1791.

                viii.  GEORGE HEILIG (#24279) was born 04 August 1794.

                 ix.  ELIZABETH (#24280) was born 05 October 1796.

                  x.  PHILIP (#24281) was born 06 March 1799.

                 xi.  MICHAEL (#24282) was born 28 November 1801.

                xii.  ANNA MARIA (#24283) was born 01 June 1806.

                xiii.  SOLOMON (#24284) was born 27 June 1807.

  92. JOHANN GEORGE⁶ HEILIG (JOHANNES GEORGE⁵, SUSANNA⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#29721) was born in Shartlesville, Berks Co. Pa. 17 January 1767. JOHANN died CA 1841 in Shartlesville, Berks Co. Pa., at age unknown. His body was interred CA 1841 in St. Paul's Lutheran Cem. Red H, Pa..

       He married MARGARETHA L. BRUNNER 1792. (MARGARETHA L. BRUNNER is #29722.) MARGARETHA was born 19 February 1772 in N. Hanover Twp. Montgomery Co. Pa. MARGARETHA was the daughter of PETER BRUNNER and CHRISTINA. MARGARETHA died 24 November 1846 in Montgomery Co. PA, USA, at age 74. Her body was interred after 24 November 1846 in St. Paul's Lutheran Cem. Red H, Pa..

       The History of Berks County by George Montgomery states JOHANN GEORGE HEILIG died in Shartlesville about 1747 and is buried in the Zion Blue Mountain Church Cemetery in Srausstown, Berks County, Pa. No marker has been found and it is believed he went to live with one of his children after his wife Margaretha had died.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

Mr.David Helfrich

            JOHANN GEORGE HEILIG and MARGARETHA L. BRUNNER had the following children:

                   i.  ELIZABETH⁷ (#29726) was born 23 July 1793.

          252   ii.  JOHN was born 19 April 1795

                 iii.  GEORGE (#29727) was born 19 May 1797.

                 iv.  SARAH (#29728) was born 09 August 1799.

                  v.  HANNAH (#29734) was born 10 March 1802.

                 vi.  CARL (CHARLES) (#29735) was born 27 April 1804.

                vii.  MOLLY (#29729) was born 1805.

                viii.  MAGDALENA (#29730) was born 24 June 1806.

                 ix.  SAMUEL (#29731) was born 10 May 1810.

                  x.  FRANCIS (#29732) was born 10 May 1815.

                 xi.  REUBEN (#29733) was born 01 May 1820.

  93. HENRY⁶ HEILIG (JOHANNES GEORGE⁵, SUSANNA⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24255) was born in Montgomery Co. PA, USA CA 1770. HENRY died 13 January 1827 in Rowan City, N.C. USA, at age 56.

       He married BARBARA date unknown. (BARBARA is #24262.)

            HENRY HEILIG and BARBARA had the following children:

                   i.  JOHN⁷ (#24265) was born in Rowan City, N.C. USA.

                  ii.  MICHAEL (#24266) was born in Rowan City, N.C. USA.

                 iii.  JAMES (#24267) was born in Rowan City, N.C. USA.

                 iv.  SALLY (#24268) was born in Rowan City, N.C. USA.

                  v.  PATSEY (#24269) was born in Rowan City, N.C. USA.

                 vi.  CATY (#24270) was born in Rowan City, N.C. USA.

                vii.  LEONARD (#24263) was born in Rowan City, N.C. USA 1816. LEONARD died 1865 in Asheboro, N.C. USA, at age unknown. He married SARAH HARTSELL 05 September 1832 in Cabbarus City, N.C. USA. (SARAH HARTSELL is #24264.) SARAH was born 1816 in Cabbarus City, N.C. USA.

  94. GEORGE ADAM⁶ HEILIG (JOHANNES GEORGE⁵, SUSANNA⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21800) was born in Montgomery Co. PA, USA 27 February 1774.

            GEORGE ADAM HEILIG had the following child:

       253      i.  DANIEL⁷.

  95. SUSANNA⁶ HEILIG (JOHANNES GEORGE⁵, SUSANNA⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24257) was born in Montgomery Co. PA, USA 07 September 1776.

       She married SAMUEL BROWN date unknown. (SAMUEL BROWN is #36490.) SAMUEL was the son of BENJAMIN BROWN.

            SUSANNA HEILIG and SAMUEL BROWN had the following children:

                   i.  GEORGE HEILIG⁷ (#36491). He married LAVINIA RITTENHOUSE date unknown. (LAVINIA RITTENHOUSE is #34787.) LAVINIA was born 30 January 1817. LAVINIA was the daughter of PETER RITTENHOUSE and MARGARET YOUNG.

                  ii.  RACHEL (#36492).

                 iii.  MARY (#36493).

                 iv.  WILLIAM (#36494). He married UNKNOWN SHANNON date unknown. (UNKNOWN SHANNON is #36495.)

  96. JACOB⁶ HEILIG (JOHANNES GEORGE⁵, SUSANNA⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24251) was born in Montgomery Co. PA, USA 08 November 1782.

       He married SARAH ROBERTS date unknown. (SARAH ROBERTS is #29849.)

            JACOB HEILIG and SARAH ROBERTS had the following child:

                   i.  MARY⁷ (#29850).

  97. BARBARA⁶ HEILIG (JOHANNES HEINRICH⁵, SUSANNA⁴ RITTENHOUSE, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24675) was born 1761.

       She married UNKNOWN CHRISTMAN date unknown. (UNKNOWN CHRISTMAN is #24676.)

            BARBARA HEILIG and UNKNOWN CHRISTMAN had the following child:

       254      i.  GEORGE⁷ was born 1788

  98. ELIZABETH⁶ RITTENHOUSE (JOSEPH⁶, HENRY⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24261) was born in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa. 1789. ELIZABETH died before 21 May 1887 at age 97.

       She married WILLIAM R. MOYER date unknown. (WILLIAM R. MOYER is #27084.)

       ELIZABETH RITTENHOUSE, age 81 and widow of WILLIAM MOYER, was living with her sister LOUISA in Norristown , Montgomery County, Pa. in 1870. shown in Montgomery County 1870 census Roll 1378 Book 1 Page 45.

            ELIZABETH RITTENHOUSE and WILLIAM R. MOYER had the following child:

                   i.  JOHN RITTENHOUSE⁷ (#31953).

  99. BENJAMIN⁶ RITTENHOUSE (JOSEPH⁶, HENRY⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24259) was born in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa. 17 January 1810. BENJAMIN died 14 April 1893 in Norristown, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 83.

       He married MARGARET SELL 24 January 1845. (MARGARET SELL is #26832.) MARGARET was born 14 March 1819. MARGARET died 31 May 1903 in Norristown, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 84.

       MARGARET SELL widow of BENJAMIN RITTENHOUSE wrote her Will on 17 July 1895, just two years afte her husband had died, She was living at 658 Chain Street in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa. . However her death wasn't until 31 May 1903. It will help to understand her Will if you know the circumstances of she and her husband raising a grandson, BENJAMIN F. RITTENHOUSE, a son of their own son BENJAMIN. At age 20 in 1868 the son had been working on the farm of Benjamin Spare, in Norriton Township, Montgomery County. He was a blacksmith by trade. He had a son, BENJAMIN F. but some time before he was two years old, he had left his son to be raised by the grandparents. I could not find out whether the father had died or had departed to look for land elsewhere. He may not have been married. So the grandparents brought up BENJAMIN F. and he was still living with his grandmother at the time of her death. He was married in the meantime to CLARA and they had two children, CLARA and another BENJAMIN F.

       So in her Will MARGARET SELL left to the grandson BENJAMIN F., 2 shares of stock in the Excelsior Savings Bank. Also he was to have any debts he owed her forgiven. Evidently he had paid for some house repairs and taxes. All the residue of the estate was to be shared equally between her daughter ELIZABETH and grandson BENJAMIN F. She then appointed the grandson as sole Executor.

       All that should have been straight forward but on 14 July 1903, JAMES and JOHN O'HARA, filed with the Court a protest against the appointment of the Executor. I could not find out who these two men were. I think it most probable they were the children of the daughter ELIZABETH. However I don't show her as being married in my files. As there were no minor children involved, this Will did not have to be probated through the Orphan's Court. There is nothing in the Administration file to show what happened to the protest, the value of the estate or its distribution.

       The Administration file is RW #23,523 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

       BENJAMIN RITTENHOUSE was living in Worcester Township, Montgomery County in 1850. Hi property was appraised at $5,000 in the census but it doesn't show his occupation. His wife MARGARET SELL and daughter ELIZABETH age 3, are listed. Montgomery County 1850 census Roll 799 Book 1 Page 273.

       He is shown in the 1860 census for Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pa. with his wife MARGARET and 12 year old daughter ELIZABETH. His land was appraised at $3,000 and his personal property at $200. Montgomery County 1860 Census Roll 1145 Book 1 Page 432.

       BENJAMIN RITTENHOUSE, age 60, was living in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa. in 1870. His occupation was Boxmaker with fairly extensive real estate. It was appraised at $13,300 and his personal goods at $4,500. With him were his wife MARGARET and 22 year old daughter ELIZABETH who is a Dressmaker. Also living with them was their grandson BENJAMIN, age 2. Their son BENJAMIN would have been 31 years old by this date but he and his wife must have died as there is no mention of them. Shown in Montgomery County 1870 census Roll 1378 Book 1 Page 131.

       BENJAMIN got into a huge legal battle in connection with his sister, LOUISE's Will. See her biographical notes for all the details.

       When BENJAMIN died on 14 April 1893, he bequeathed his total estate and personal goods to his wife MARGARET SELL for her comfort and support for the rest of her natural life. At the time of her death everything would be sold and the money derived from the sale should be divided into two equal parts. One part was to be given to his daughter ELIZABETH RITTENHOUSE and the other to his grandson BENJAMIN J. RITTENHOUSE. His own son BENJAMIN, must have already predeceased him. He appointed his wife MARGARET and the grandson BENJAMIN as Executors of the estate. The Will is dated 26 January 1891. As there was no distribution at this time there is no actual inventory filed.

       This Will is file RW 18,543 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

            BENJAMIN RITTENHOUSE and MARGARET SELL had the following children:

       255      i.  BENJAMIN FRANKLIN⁷ was born 1839

                  ii.  ELIZABETH (#26833) was born in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa. 1848.

                            ELIZABETH RITTENHOUSE, age 22. was a Dressmaker in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa in 1870. She was living with her parents, BENJAMIN and MARGARET. Found in Montgomery County 1870 census Roll 1378 Book 1 Page 131.

  100. HEINRICH (HENRY)⁶ KOLB (WILHELMINA⁵ RITTENHOUSE, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22452) was born in Skippack Twp, Montgomery Co., Pa.. HEINRICH died 08 March 1823 at age unknown.

       He married ESTHER METZ date unknown. (ESTHER METZ is #22652.) ESTHER was born 11 August 1769. ESTHER died 11 July 1834 at age 64.

            HEINRICH (HENRY) KOLB and ESTHER METZ had the following children:

       256      i.  JACOB⁷.

          257   ii.  DANIEL.

                 iii.  JOHN (#29855).

          258  iv.  MARTIN.

          259   v.  WILHELMINA.

          260  vi.  SARAH.

          261 vii.  HENRY.

          262 viii.  DAVID was born 20 August 1791

          263  ix.  NANCY was born 1797

  101. ISAAC⁶ KOLB (WILHELMINA⁵ RITTENHOUSE, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22455) was born in Skippack Twp, Montgomery Co., Pa.. ISAAC died 1828 in Frederick Co. Maryland, USA, at age unknown.

       He married SUSANNA KEYSER date unknown. (SUSANNA KEYSER is #22645.)

            ISAAC KOLB and SUSANNA KEYSER had the following children:

                   i.  DAUGHTER⁷ (#38805). She married ISAAC MEACH date unknown. (ISAAC MEACH is #38806.)

                  ii.  DAUGHTER (#38807). She married SAMUEL FRANER date unknown. (SAMUEL FRANER is #38808.)

                 iii.  SAMUEL (#38803) was born 1791. SAMUEL died 1866 Ohio, USA, at age 75.

          264  iv.  DAVID was born 1793

          265   v.  MATTHIAS was born 1804

  102. WILHELMINA⁶ KOLB (WILHELMINA⁵ RITTENHOUSE, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22457) birth date unknown.

       She married DIRCK KEYSER. (DIRCK KEYSER is #54134.) DIRCK was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa.. DIRCK was the son of PETER DIRCK KEYSER and SUSANNAH PENNEBECKER.

            WILHELMINA KOLB and DIRCK KEYSER had the following children:

                   i.  JACOB⁷ (#38809). He married HANNAH GODSHALL date unknown. (HANNAH GODSHALL is #38810.)

                  ii.  MOLLY (#38811). She married JOHN JOHNSON date unknown. (JOHN JOHNSON is #38812.)

  103. MATTHIAS⁶ KOLB (WILHELMINA⁵ RITTENHOUSE, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22456) was born in Skippack Twp, Montgomery Co., Pa. 16 December 1759. MATTHIAS died 09 March 1837 in Vincent Twp., Chester Co., Pa., at age 77.

       He married ANNA FUNK date unknown. (ANNA FUNK is #22649.) ANNA was born 10 May 1767 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. ANNA was the daughter of JACOB FUNK REV.. ANNA died 20 May 1849 in Vincent Twp., Chester Co., Pa., at age 82.

            MATTHIAS KOLB and ANNA FUNK had the following children:

       266      i.  ELIZABETH⁷ was born 9 May 1786

                  ii.  MARTIN (#38816) was born in Vincent Twp., Chester Co., Pa. 7 November 1789. MARTIN died 19 July 1811 at age 21.

          267  iii.  JACOB was born 17 September 1793

          268  iv.  JOHN was born 3 October 1795

          269   v.  ANN was born 28 March 1798

          270  vi.  ISAAC was born 26 April 1800

                vii.  MARY (#38826) was born in Vincent Twp., Chester Co., Pa. 29 January 1802. MARY died 31 October 1804 in Vincent Twp., Chester Co., Pa., at age 2.

  104. DANIEL⁶ KOLB (WILHELMINA⁵ RITTENHOUSE, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22453) was born in Skippack Twp, Montgomery Co., Pa. 1766. DANIEL died 1816 in L. Prov. Twp. Montgomery Co. PA, at age 50. His body was interred 1816 in Skippack Mennonite Cem. Pa..

       He married ELIZABETH FUNK date unknown. (ELIZABETH FUNK is #22650.) ELIZABETH was born 20 November 1768 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. ELIZABETH was the daughter of JACOB FUNK REV.. ELIZABETH died 28 December 1851 in L. Prov. Twp. Montgomery Co. PA, at age 83. Her body was interred after 28 December 1851 in Skippack Mennonite Cem. Pa..

            DANIEL KOLB and ELIZABETH FUNK had the following children:

       271      i.  SAMUEL⁷ was born 17 November 1794

                  ii.  MAGDALENA (#37174) was born in L. Prov. Twp. Montgomery Co. PA circa 1796. MAGDALENA died circa 1814 in Skippack Twp, Montgomery Co., Pa., at age unknown.

                 iii.  ANNA (#37175) was born in L. Prov. Twp. Montgomery Co. PA circa 1798. ANNA died 1847 in L. Prov. Twp. Montgomery Co. PA, at age 49. Her body was interred 1847 in Skippack Mennonite Cem. Pa.. She married JOHN SLOATZ date unknown. (JOHN SLOATZ is #37176.)

          272  iv.  WILHELMINA was born 25 May 1800

                  v.  DANIEL (#37179) was born in L. Prov. Twp. Montgomery Co. PA 21 November 1802. DANIEL died 6 August 1875 in Coventry Twp., Chester Co., Pa., at age 72.

          273  vi.  JACOB was born 26 August 1805

          274 vii.  DAVID was born 7 November 1807

  105. ESTHER⁶ KOLB (WILHELMINA⁵ RITTENHOUSE, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22450) was born in Skippack Twp, Montgomery Co., Pa. 1770.

       She married SAMUEL FUNK 29 April 1788. (SAMUEL FUNK is #22646.) SAMUEL was born 06 March 1762 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. SAMUEL was the son of JACOB FUNK REV.. SAMUEL died 07 January 1829 at age 66.

            ESTHER KOLB and SAMUEL FUNK had the following children:

                   i.  ISAAC⁷ (#38830).

                  ii.  SAMUEL (#38831). SAMUEL died 7 January 1829 at age unknown.

                 iii.  ABRAHAM (#38833).

                 iv.  JACOB (#38829) was born 28 April 1789. JACOB died 30 May 1824 at age 35.

          275   v.  ANN was born 23 March 1794

                 vi.  DAVID (#38834) was born 11 April 1797. DAVID died 5 May 1872 at age 75. He married MARY HEISER date unknown. (MARY HEISER is #38835.) MARY was born 1 July 1813. MARY died 3 February 1850 at age 36.

                vii.  MARIA (#38836) was born 14 January 1799. MARIA died 16 September 1831 at age 32.

                viii.  MARTIN (#38837) was born 1801. MARTIN died 11 April 1882 at age 80.

                 ix.  DANIEL (#38838) was born 30 April 1804. DANIEL died 13 December 1832 at age 28.

                  x.  WILHELMINA (#38839) was born 1806.

          276  xi.  ELEANOR was born 1807

  106. WILLIAM⁶ RITTENHOUSE JR. (WILLIAM⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22461) was born 1774. WILLIAM died 11 October 1850 in Juniata Co. Pa. USA, at age 76.

       He married ELIZABETH BEYER date unknown. (ELIZABETH BEYER is #29870.) ELIZABETH was born 1783 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa..

       Confirmation from Wentz's Reformed Church Records 1768-1858.

The following person made a confession of their faith, were baptized and confirmed and were then received as a member of our congregation, Reformed according to the Word of God. Elizabeth Rittenhouse, age 23.

       Confirmation from Wentz's Reformed Church Records 1768-1858.

Confirmation: Anno Domini 1806, April 19th. The following person made a confession of their faith, were baptized and confirmed and were then received as a member of our congregation, Reformed according to the Word of God. William Rittenhouse, age 32.

            WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE JR. and ELIZABETH BEYER had the following children:

       277      i.  CATHERINE⁷ was born 16 November 1799

          278   ii.  JOSHUA was born 04 October 1802

          279  iii.  ANNA was born 05 September 1804

          280  iv.  ELIZABETH was born 01 July 1806

                  v.  HENRY (#29879) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 25 October 1808. HENRY died 23 December 1879 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 71. His body was interred after 23 December 1879 in St. John's Lutheran Cem. Worce. He married SOPHIA GOULDEY 05 December 1843. (SOPHIA GOULDEY is #29880.) SOPHIA was born 02 October 1816. SOPHIA was the daughter of UNKNOWN GOULDEY. SOPHIA died 27 December 1899 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 83. Her body was interred after 27 December 1899 in St. John's Lutheran Cem. Worce.

                            SOPHIA GOULDEY widow of HENRY RITTENHOUSE made her Will on 21 July 1888 and died on 27 December 1899. Her husband had predeceased her having died in 1879. There is no record of any children and none mentioned as heirs in the Will. She directed in her Will that the Executor was to " have placed on her grave a tombstone similar to that of my husband and to erect a fence or railing around our graves of about the style of that around my father and mother's graves." She appointed her brother CHARLES T. GOULDEY as Execitor. Her neice MARY E. GOULDEY, daughter of her brother CHARLES, who was a minor at the time, was to have the chance to choose any of her personal possessions that she wished with the help of her father. All the rest of her goods were to be sold at public or private auction.

                            Unfortunately her personal goods were appraised at less than $80. The funeral expenses came to $88.85 so the estate was declared insolvent. The interesting part of this Administration file is the list of expenses of which the following are just a few of the items.

                            Register of Wills $6.60

                            Newspaper notice $3.00

                            Rev. Snyder, clergyman $2.00

                            Undertaker $27.00

                            Grave digger $5.00

                            Sexton $5.00

                            Butter for funeral $1.55

                            Bread for funeral $1.80

                            The Will file is RW #21,647 and the Orphan's Court file is OC #23,732. They are both held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa..

                            Baptism record from Wentz's Reformed Church Records 1768-1858. Sponsor Henry Frick Sr. & Wife.

          281  vi.  MARY was born 18 January 1811

          282 vii.  ELLEN HANNAH was born 01 May 1814

                viii.  JOSEPH H. (#29885) was born in Juniata Co. Pa. USA 18 April 1818. JOSEPH died 07 July 1892 in Juniata Co. Pa. USA, at age 74. His body was interred after 07 July 1892 in St. Mark's Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa..

                 ix.  EDMOND B. (#29886) was born in Juniata Co. Pa. USA 27 February 1820. EDMOND died 1822 in Juniata Co. Pa. USA, at age 2.

                  x.  ISABEL JANE (#29887) was born in Juniata Co. Pa. USA 04 May 1823.

  107. JOSEPH⁶ RITTENHOUSE (WILLIAM⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22458) was born in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA 03 March 1776. JOSEPH died 02 March 1842 in Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa. USA, at age 65. His body was interred after 02 March 1842 in Old Town Cem. Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa..

       He married twice. He married SUSANNA MCFADDEN date unknown. (SUSANNA MCFADDEN is #29888.) SUSANNA was born 1800. SUSANNA died 05 January 1838 in Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa. USA, at age 37. Her body was interred after 05 January 1838 in Old Town Cem. Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa.. He married REBECCA CUSTER 16 December 1798. (REBECCA CUSTER is #29889.) REBECCA was born 1772 in Montgomery Co. PA, USA. REBECCA died 26 July 1815 at age 43.

       JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE was a blacksmith in Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pa.

            JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE and REBECCA CUSTER had the following children:

       283      i.  DAVID⁷ was born 24 February 1799

          284   ii.  JACOB ELWOOD was born 06 July 1801

                 iii.  WILLIAM (#29904) was born in Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa. USA 06 July 1801. WILLIAM died 06 March 1830 in Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa. USA, at age 28.

          285  iv.  ELIZABETH was born 27 January 1804

          286   v.  SAMUEL was born 26 August 1805

                 vi.  ANNA (#29909) was born 16 December 1807. She married JAMES WAREAM date unknown. (JAMES WAREAM is #29910.)

                vii.  MARGARET (#29911) was born 17 May 1813. MARGARET died 28 January 1833 at age 19.

       JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE and SUSANNA MCFADDEN had the following children:

       287   viii.  ZACHARIAH was born 12 June 1816

                 ix.  JOHN HENRY (#29892) was born in Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa. USA 12 September 1818. JOHN died 11 October 1819 in Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa. USA, at age 1.

                  x.  JOSEPH (#29893) was born in Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa. USA 29 October 1820. JOSEPH died 31 May 1881 in Lewistown, Mifflin Co. Pa. USA, at age 60.

                            In 1860 at age 42, JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE was living on the farm of his nephew GEORGE CUSTER RITTENHOUSE in Granville Township, Mifflin County, Pa.. He was a mason by trade. Mifflin County 1860 Census Roll 1141 Book1 Page 181.

                            By 1880 JOSEPH at age 65 was living with his nephew SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE in Granville Township, Mifflin County. Pa. He was still active at his trade of Brick Mason. Shown in the Mifflin County, Pa. 1880 census page 20.

          288  xi.  MARTHA was born 09 September 1822

          289 xii.  HANNAH MARIA was born 24 December 1825

          290 xiii.  MARY ARISSA was born 16 September 1830

  108. ZACHARIAH⁶ RITTENHOUSE (WILLIAM⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22459) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. CA 1778.

       He married ELVIRA date unknown. (ELVIRA is #26962.) ELVIRA was born 1809.

       ZACHARIAH RITTENHOUSE was a shoemaker in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pa. in 1850. His wife was ELVIRA but we don't know her maiden name. With them were their 2 children JOHN 22 and CAROLINE 15. Found in Montgomery County 1850 census Roll 799 Book 1 Page 293.

       By 1870 ZACHARIAH had moved into Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa. He is still a shoemaker and his personal belongings were valued at $300 with no real estate. His wife ELVIRA must have died prior to this date but a daughter MARY age 32 , was livng with him. Shown in Montgomery County 1870 census Roll 1378 Book 1 Page 110,

            ZACHARIAH RITTENHOUSE and ELVIRA had the following children:

                   i.  JOHN⁷ (#26963) was born in U. Prov. Twp, Montgomery Co. PA 1828.

                            JOHN RITTENHOUSE, in 1850, was a shoemaker in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pa. He was living with his father who was also a shoemaker, and his mother ELVIRA and sister CAROLINE. Shown in Montgomery Coiunty 1850 census Roll 799 Book 1 Page 293.

                  ii.  CAROLINE (#26964) was born in U. Prov. Twp, Montgomery Co. PA 1835.

                 iii.  MARY (#27114) was born in U. Prov. Twp, Montgomery Co. PA 1838.

  109. HENRY⁶ RITTENHOUSE (NICHOLAS⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21804) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 18 January 1755. HENRY died 02 December 1797 in Louisa County, Virginia, USA, at age 42.

       He married SUSANNAH 1774 in Louisa County, Virginia, USA. (SUSANNAH is #21805.) SUSANNAH was born 1759 in Albemarle Co., Virginia, USA.

            HENRY RITTENHOUSE and SUSANNAH had the following children:

       291      i.  ISAAC⁷.

                  ii.  CATHERINE (#22563) was born in Albemarle Co., Virginia, USA. She married twice. She married JOHN WHITWORTH date unknown. (JOHN WHITWORTH is #22564.) She married UNKNOWN LAW date unknown. (UNKNOWN LAW is #65050.)

          292  iii.  SAMUEL THOMAS was born 20 October 1774

          293  iv.  NICHOLAS was born 1775

                  v.  NANCY (#22567) was born in Albemarle Co., Virginia, USA 1778. She married RICHARD ROCHE 09 August 1798 in Louisa County, Virginia, USA. (RICHARD ROCHE is #22568.)

          294  vi.  HENRY was born 1783

                vii.  HANNAH (#22571) was born in Louisa County, Virginia, USA 1785. HANNAH died date unknown in Stokes Co. North Carolina, USA, at age unknown. She married WILLIAM MEEKS 17 September 1805 in Stokes Co. North Carolina, USA. (WILLIAM MEEKS is #22572.) WILLIAM died date unknown in Stokes Co. North Carolina, USA, at age unknown.

          295 viii.  RICHARD was born 1786

  110. ISAAC⁶ RITTENHOUSE (NICHOLAS⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21806) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 07 September 1759. ISAAC died 1834 in Harrison Co., W. Virginia, USA, at age 74.

       He married ELIZABETH ZINN date unknown. (ELIZABETH ZINN is #29914.) ELIZABETH was born CA 1775.

            ISAAC RITTENHOUSE and ELIZABETH ZINN had the following children:

                   i.  ELIZABETH⁷ (#22543). She married ARCHIBALD WYER 05 July 1815. (ARCHIBALD WYER is #22544.)

                  ii.  ANN (NANCY) (#22545). She married SAMUEL B. HARBERT 09 August 1822 in Harrison Co., W. Virginia, USA. (SAMUEL B. HARBERT is #22546.) SAMUEL was born 15 November 1789 in Nolan Run, Harrison Co. WV. SAMUEL died 28 February 1884 in Harrison Co., W. Virginia, USA, at age 94.

          296  iii.  SAMUEL.

                 iv.  ISAAC (#22549) was born CA 1793. ISAAC died 1814 at age 21. He married MARY CORNELIUS 02 December 1813 in Harrison Co., W. Virginia, USA. (MARY CORNELIUS is #22550.)

          297   v.  BENNETT was born 30 October 1804

       ISAAC RITTENHOUSE had the following child:

                 vi.  MARY (#22547). She married JOHN HULL date unknown. (JOHN HULL is #22548.)

  111. RICHARD⁶ RITTENHOUSE (NICHOLAS⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22468) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 05 April 1766.

       He married twice. He married UNKNOWN CASSEL date unknown. (UNKNOWN CASSEL is #36478.) He married CATHERINE RHODES date unknown. (CATHERINE RHODES is #36479.)

            RICHARD RITTENHOUSE and UNKNOWN CASSEL had the following children:

       298      i.  SAMUEL⁷ was born 1802

          299   ii.  ANN MATILDA was born 06 October 1806

  112. SAMUEL POWELL⁶ RITTENHOUSE (NICHOLAS⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21807) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 12 November 1770. SAMUEL died 15 February 1857 in Bainbridge, Perry Twp. Pike Co, Ohio, at age 86.

       He married twice. He married ELISABETH SMITH 16 April 1791 in Montgomery Co. Maryland, USA. (ELISABETH SMITH is #21809.) ELISABETH was born CA 1768 in Montgomery Co. Maryland, USA. ELISABETH died 12 December 1838 in Bainbridge, Perry Twp. Pike Co, Ohio, at age 70. Her body was interred after 12 December 1838 in Penn Cemetery #2, Pike Co. Ohio. He married SUSANNAH HUSTON 25 March 1841 in Ross County, Ohio, USA. (SUSANNAH HUSTON is #21808.)

       Obituary of SAMUEL POWELL RITTENHOUSE

       By John Rittenhouse 1857

       Shown through the courtesy of Barbara Walker, Spring, Texas

"SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE Senior was born Nov. 28th A.D. 1770 in Montgomery County, Worcester Township, Pa. His parents were Nicholas and Anna Rittenhouse. They were members of Nomence (?) Church. They both died near the same time when he was only five years old. This was to him a sore trial but he was comforted in the night after their burial in a vision. He saw them bot h bright and shining. They came to him, placed their hands on his head and bid him weep no more but be good and that he should soon be with them with Jesus. He did not feel like weeping any more but felt an earnest desire to be good that he might realize that association. This impression never wore off his mind but was rehearsed by him when near the age of 86 years . He was married in his 20th year to Elisabeth Smith of Montgomery City, MD. They removed to Ohio in the year of 1804 and settled in Ross County near Old Town. Here they were severely tried by sickness, chills and fever and lost their oldest son, David. After this they removed some four miles south of Old Town where they resided until the year 1836, when they removed to Pike Co., near Bainbridge. Here he lost his companion Elisabeth. They raised a famil y of 10 children except the one referred to who died near Old Town. They endeavored to teach them to fear God and to keep his Commandments and lived to know that their labor was not in vain. After the loss of Elisabeth he was married to Susan Huston who still survives him. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in the year 1807 under the labors of Walter Griffiths an d remained a consistent member until death. He never wished to change his religious or political principles. He was one with Wesley and Washington a lover of the Bible of liberty and the Union. His Christian experience was that of a continual increase of faith and love. His delight was in the law of his God and in it he did meditate day and night. He could not b e led away from the teaching of The Saviour and the Prophets by any new ism but was always ready with some bolt as it were of revelation to mash them to pieces. He even acted on that principle taught in The Word that though an Angel from Heaven should preach anything else than that he had received he would not believe it. He was concious of his approaching dissolution but death to him had no terror. He had the entire victory over it, made arrangements for it with as much composure as though he was going on an earthly journey. As the time drew nea r when he must go, his mind was much taken up in quoting certain portions of Scripture in which he seemed to take great delight. His last quotation was this--"For ye are dead and your life is his with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we appear also with Him in glory". He has left a number of children, grand and great-grandchildren a nd friends to mourn their loss, but our loss is but his gain. We sorrow but not without hope . He died 15 Feb 1857 as one going to sleep. May my last days be as his.        John Rittenhouse 1857"

            SAMUEL POWELL RITTENHOUSE and ELISABETH SMITH had the following children:

       300      i.  ELEANOR⁷ was born 09 February 1794

                  ii.  DAVID (#22552) was born in Louisa County, Virginia, USA 22 July 1795. DAVID died 1804 in Ross County, Ohio, USA, at age 8.

                 iii.  ANN (#22553) was born in Louisa County, Virginia, USA 11 October 1797. She married CHARLES BLACK 21 December 1820 in Ross County, Ohio, USA. (CHARLES BLACK is #29921.)

          301  iv.  TILGHMAN was born 25 August 1800

                  v.  JEMIMA (#22555) was born in Louisa County, Virginia, USA 31 May 1802. She married SAMUEL HAYES 08 March 1821 in Ross County, Ohio, USA. (SAMUEL HAYES is #29924.)

                 vi.  LEVI (#22556) was born in Louisa County, Virginia, USA 04 January 1804. LEVI died 01 April 1886 at age 82. He married HANNAH SINNETT December 1826 in Franklin County, Ohio, USA. (HANNAH SINNETT is #29925.) HANNAH was born 1815 Ohio, USA.

                            In 1860 at age 54, LEVI RITTENHOUSE was farming in Chariton Township, Chariton County, Missouri. His property was assessed at $1,200 and personal goods at $1,924. But it verifies he was born in Virginia. His wife HANNAH SINNETT, age 45, was born in Ohio. From Chariton County, Missouri 1860 Census Roll 613 Book 1 Page 169.

                vii.  MARY (#22557) was born in Pike County, Ohio, USA 21 February 1806. She married JOHN HEMPHILL 04 August 1824 in Ross County, Ohio, USA. (JOHN HEMPHILL is #29926.)

          302 viii.  MARTHA was born 20 January 1808

          303  ix.  JOHN SMITH was born 21 February 1810

          304   x.  SAMUEL POWELL was born 28 November 1812

  113. WILLIAM⁶ RITTENHOUSE (HENRY⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22470) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 12 August 1754. WILLIAM died before 24 October 1822 in Pikeland Twp, Chester Co., Pa., at age 68.

       He married CATHARINE JOHNSON 30 June 1785 in Montgomery Co. PA, USA. The following individual is also linked to this event: HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG (DR.) (minister). (CATHARINE JOHNSON is #29932.) CATHARINE was the daughter of PETER JOHNSON. CATHARINE died 05 September 1834 at age unknown.

       The marriage record of WILLIAM and Catharine Johnson are reflected in the Journals of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, Vol. HI, 1958. page 675.

       "June 25, 1785 Mr. William Rittenhouse and Catharine Johnson, desire to be married next Thursday, God willing; June 30, 1785 United in marriage William Rittenhouse and Catharine Johnson, heretofore unmarried persons of Norrington, Montgomery Co., upon written consent from parents of both parties, Messrs. Henry Rittenhouse and Peter Johnson. "

       WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE and his family moved to Pikeland Township, Chester County, Pa. prior to 1810. He is shown in the 1810 Chester County Census Roll 47 Book 1 Page134 in Pikeland Township. By 1820 the family had moved to Coventry Township, Chester County, as shown in the Chester County 1820 Census Roll 96 Book 1 Page 114.

       His wife CATHARINE JOHNSON relinquished her rights to Administer the estate on 24 October 1822 so WILLIAM must have died just before that date. Her sons WILLIAM and DAVID witnessed this document filed with the Court. WILLIAM had died Intestate without a Will so the Court appointed his son JESSE and NATHANIEL BROOKE as Administrators. When they took the inventory of goods and chattels it totalled $734.87. The sale of the real estate brought in another $1,521.77. Also there was due to the estate an inheritance from WILLIAM's brother CHRISTOPHER of $2525.30 Altogether the total estate came to $5,238.98.

       However the debts and expenses totalled $4,687.48 so the actual estate was reduced to $551.49. It appears that most of the debts were various loans made to family, relations and neighbours. At this date the current law ruled that the widow was allowed to choose $300 value of the personal goods and chattles before the estate was distributed. This file does not record whether this happened but obviously there was practically no estate to divide anyway.

       This Administration is Estate File #7162 Chester County Orphan's Court and is held by the Chester County Archives in West Chester, Pa.

            WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE and CATHARINE JOHNSON had the following children:

       305      i.  DAVID⁷.

                  ii.  CATHARINE (#26201). She married twice. She married JAMES WILSON date unknown. (JAMES WILSON is #29936.) She married FRANKLIN LEAR date unknown. (FRANKLIN LEAR is #29937.)

          306  iii.  JESSE.

                 iv.  ELIZABETH (#37197).

          307   v.  HENRY was born 15 September 1788

                 vi.  WILLIAM (#26199) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 1805. WILLIAM died 08 May 1843 in L. Prov. Twp. Montgomery Co. PA, at age 37.

                            WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE died shortly ater 8 July 1843 when he left his Will signed with "his mark X" The witnesses, Joseph Brower and Joseph Kindy, had to appear in Court and swear that the Will was a true version of what WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE had wished. It sounds as though they were the ones who actually handwrote the Will and then had WILLIAM sign it with "his mark".

                            He appointed "his esteemed friend and brother in Christ, William Cassellberry, as well as his beloved brother DAVID RITTENHOUSE as Executors. He bequeathed $400 to the German Baptist Dunkard Church in Lumberville for the sole purpose of building a new Meeting House. There is no mention of a wife or children so I am assuming he was never married.

                            He ordered the remaining part of his estate, of every kind, be divided into 4 equal parts, One part was to go to each of his brothers, DAVID, JESSE and HENRY. This information securely ties WILLIAM as a son of WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE and CATHARINE JOHNSON.

                            The interest from the fourth part was to go to his sister CATHARINE, formerly the wife of JAMES WILSON but now the wife of FRANKLIN LEAR. She was to receive that for her lifetime but after she died this interest was to go to her cildren.

                            The inventory of his estate amounted to $2,701.09, most of which was in Notes and Bonds. There is no mention of him owning any land. On 24 August 1867, his sister, CATHARINE RITTENHOUSE LEAR, petitioned the Court to have any obligations discharged from the orignal terms of the Will. William Cassellberry, the Executor, was deceased and she herself did not have any children, so the petition was granted.

                            This will is File # 5684 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

  114. WILHELMINA (MINA)⁶ RITTENHOUSE (HENRY⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22471) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 03 August 1759.

       She married SAMUEL R. BROWN 22 March 1792 in First Baptist Ch. Philadelphia, PA. (SAMUEL R. BROWN is #71505.) SAMUEL was born circa 1762 in Cumberland Co., Pa., USA. SAMUEL was the son of SAMUEL BROWN and ANN. SAMUEL died 1803 in Shelby Co. Indiana, USA, at age 41.

       SAMUEL BROWN PLANTATION

       Samuel Brown Sr. bought his farm from Isaac Norris, Jr., in 1763 and farmed it with his wife Ann until 1783. Because his will was defective, the widow had to buy his estate from the Sheriff. A sale notice in the Pennsylvania Gazette described a stone dwelling with one end partly new, an excellent cellar underneath, a stone spring house and log barn and stabling. In 1791 Ann Brown transferred the property to her son Samuel R. Brown, Jr.

       Taney Brown was assessed for the farm in 1798. He was taxed for a one-story house, 35 x 18, with 5 windows and 12 lights, a stone spring house, 12 x 13, and a stone barn, 45 x 33. Samuel Brown died intestate in 1803, leaving his wife Williamina Brown and six children: Nancy (wife of Jesse Davis), Peggy (wife of David McAfee), Henry, Samuel, Benjamin, and Sophia, all minors. Legal guardians were appointed for the minor children. In 1829 Henry Hartle was appointed to a committee for Sophia's estate because she had been declared a lunatic.

       John Brown held the farm from 1804 until 1810, when he sold it to Martin Summers. Because the title was not clear, the sale was recorded again in 1830 as a transaction from Williamina Brown, widow of Samuel Brown, deceased, and SAmuel Brown (son), Benjamin Brown (son), John McFarland, guardian of Benjamin and also Henry Brown, now deceased (another son of the same Samuel, deceased), Stephen POrter, guardian of Samuel Brown the younger, and also Sophia (daughter), Henry Hartle, Committee of the estate of Sophia, now a lunatic.

       After Martin Summers bought the farm in 1810 he built a new house in 1812. This house stands now at 1515 Sterigere Street. Summers' father, Philip, served as a private in Captain David Marple's Company of the Pennsylvania Militia, fought at Germantown, and is thought to have held a lieutenant's commission. Martin Summers attended St. John's Episcopal Church in Norristown.

       Martin Summers died in 1845 in his eighty-second year. The newspaper advertisement for the sale of his estate described the property:

       106 acres 2 quarters and 35 perches ..., Two story stone house 36 x 20, 2 rooms and entry on the first floor, 3 on second, large and well finished garret. Large 2 story stone building running back, containing a large and commodious kitchen, a piazza, and cellar under the whole building. Stone barn 53 x 33 with wagon house. Stone hog stable, spring house, two wells.

       Personal property being sold included pigeon nets and tackles a clock and case, and kraut tubs.

       The heirs of Martin Summers, Sr., that is, his widow Anna Elizabeth, Sarrah Buscard, George, Margaret Gouldy, Philip, Elizabeth Keel, Samuel (father of William Summers, who served as librarian of the Historical Society of Montgomery County at one time), Hannah Shambough, and Henry sold the property to Henry Novioch, and Novioch deeded approximately half to it to Philip Summers.

       Philip Summers was succeeded by Martin Summers, who held the property until it was sold to James McIntyre in the late nineteenth century. McIntyre sold it to the Commonwealth.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

A Report prepared by the Rev. Judith A. Meier in 1988 for the Norristown State Hospital.

            WILHELMINA (MINA) RITTENHOUSE and SAMUEL R. BROWN had the following children:

                   i.  NANCY⁷ (#74290). She married JESSE DAVIS date unknown. (JESSE DAVIS is #74291.)

                  ii.  PEGGY (#74292). She married DAVID MCAFEE date unknown. (DAVID MCAFEE is #74293.)

                 iii.  HENRY (#74294).

                 iv.  SAMUEL (#74295).

                  v.  BENJAMIN (#74296).

                 vi.  SOPHIA (#74297).

          308 vii.  STEWART was born 2 June 1801

          309 viii.  THOMAS was born circa 1802/3

  115. DAVID⁶ RITTENHOUSE (HENRY⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22472) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 03 August 1763. DAVID died before 14 March 1848 in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 84.

       He married RACHEL ZIMMERMAN 20 December 1798 in St. Michael's and Zion Ch. Phil. Pa.. (RACHEL ZIMMERMAN is #22577.) RACHEL was the daughter of WILLIAM ZIMMERMAN. RACHEL died before 08 April 1851 in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa., at age unknown.

       RACHEL ZIMMERMAN was the widow of DAVID RITTENHOUSE who had died about 3 years previously. As she died Intestate the Court appointed WILLIAM RITTENHOUSE, one of her sons, as Administrator. He took an inventory of her personal goods and chattels and returned it on 8 April 1851. $2,475 of the total of $2,985.54 was made up of Bonds that were outstanding for loans she had made to her 3 sons, WILLIAM, CHRISTOPHER and HENRY.. There is no distribution sheet in the file so presumable this amount was divided btween all the surviving children.

       The above is found in the Files RW #15,494 and OC #15820. Both of these are held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

       DAVID RITTENHOUSE evidently died Intestate in 1848 but the exact date is not known. It must have been before 14 March 1848. His wife RACHEL ZIMMERMAN filed a petition with the Court to relinquish all her rights as the Administrator. She asked instead that 3 of her sons be appointed, WILLIAM, CHRISTOPHER and HENRY. They took an inventory on 10 April 1848 which amounted to $8,042.38 1/2 cents. This use of half a cent seems to us a little strange to say the least.

       As in a case where there was no Will the Administrators were required to post an advertisement in 4 local newspapers to see if any other claimants to the inheritance were involved. The widow would be entitled to one third of the estate and the balance would be divided equally among all the children. As there were minor children involved it would have to be probated through the Orphan's Court.

       This Administrative File is RW 5342 and the Orphan's Court File is OC 15,080 and they are both held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

            DAVID RITTENHOUSE and RACHEL ZIMMERMAN had the following children:

                   i.  SUSAN⁷ (#22579) was born in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa.. She married JOSEPH ERNHART date unknown. (JOSEPH ERNHART is #26179.)

                  ii.  SOPHIA (#22583) was born in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa.. She married JOHN SHANNON date unknown. (JOHN SHANNON is #26180.)

          310  iii.  CHARLOTTE was born 1799

          311  iv.  DAVID was born 1799

          312   v.  WILLIAM was born 03 August 1803

          313  vi.  CHRISTOPHER was born 01 February 1806

          314 vii.  HENRY was born 1810

  116. JOSEPH⁶ RITTENHOUSE (HENRY⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22473) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 20 May 1766. JOSEPH died 23 June 1838 in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 72.

       He married ELIZABETH HEILIG 26 May 1801. (ELIZABETH HEILIG is #21776.) ELIZABETH was born 24 December 1769 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa.. ELIZABETH was the daughter of JOHANN HEINRICH HEILIG and SUSANNA RITTENHOUSE. ELIZABETH died 11 February 1865 in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 95.

       JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE made his verbal Will on 20 June 1838. He was evidently too sick to write or sign a Will. He dictated his Will and asked the doctor if his son could sign it. The doctor said this would not be legal. It would need two witnesses who would produce a document swearing that JOSEPH was of a sound mind and that he had given his desired Will verbally. So Benjamin Johnson and William Show signed the document which was also signed by Dr. F. S. Boilann.

       JOSEPH bequeathed all his estate to his wfe ELIZABETH HEILIG for the remainder of her natual life, to manage as she saw fit subject to several provisions.. But this is where his Will gets very unusual. He stipulated that all his sons nd daughters should continue living in their present house with their mother ELIZABETH, "in sickness or in health". The earnings from the estate were to maintain their living standards the same as before his decease. I suppose this was to protect the care of the mother but it is far different than the normal conditions in a Will of that time period.

       If any of the children should marry, ELIZABETH, the widow was to give them sufficient that in her opinion would maintain their living standards, The Court demanded that the children all sign an agreement that they had heard their father's wishes and agreed to the terms. The children were JOHN H., BENJAMIN, LOUISA and ELIZABETH. The widow ELIZABETH also had to sign this document.

       The valuation of the inventory was $2,261.00. The Will File is RW 5432 and the Orphan';s Court File is OC 15,622. They are both held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

       JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE was farming in Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pa at the time of his death in 1838. His widow ELIZABETH HEILIG in 1850 was living with their son JOHN and a daughter LOUISA. This is presumably still on the original farm in Norriton Township. From Montgomery County 1850 census Roll 799 Book 1 Page 229.

       I went into a great deal of detail in recounting the JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE Will because it was so unusual. However as it turned out that was only the beginning of the problems. It is a classic example of how an ill advised Will can cause the inheritors a lot of grief. You will remember that JOSEPH had stipulated the children would have to remain living with their mother until they were married. At that stage she could decide how much money she would give them from the estate to maintain their living standards.

       JOHN H. RITTENHOUSE, the son, remained on the farm and ran it for his mother and did not marry. Also the eldest daughter, LOUISE, did not marry and remained on the farm. Daughter ELIZABETH married WILLIAM MOYER and moved away. The other son BENJAMIN also married and moved away. In 1865 the widow, ELIZABETH HEILIG, died which meant the original Will of JOSEPH had to be probated. This was 27 years after JOSEPH had died and in the meantime Widow ELIZABETH had been paying money out of the estate as provided in the Will to both BENJAMIN and daughter ELIZABETH. So when the Will was probated it was a question of how to divide the esate as JOHN and his sister LOUISE were both still living on the property. Then to complicate things even more, JOHN died a month after his mother.

       The Court first of all ordered that a jury of 12 men should evaluate the property. These men were chosen by High Sherif E. M. Beysher. These men inspected the property and took an inventory. The value they assigned was $20,000. By the original Will of JOSEPH, JOHN would have had the first chance to take over the property at the valued amount. He would then have to pay his brother and sisters their share of this amount.

       But by this time JOHN had died so LOUISA the eldest daughter had the next chance and she decided she would take over the house and 101 acres of the land. That left the two married children, BENJAMIN and ELIZABETH to be looked after in the inheritance. That is where things got really sticky. There are 39 hand written legal size pages of petitions, protestations and evidence in the Court files.

       As far as I can make out, BENJAMIN objected to the settlement. The amounts he had been paid over the years by his mother were deemed to be part of his share of the estate. So he filed a petition that the Court not make a decision until he was heard in Court. He and maybe his sister, ELIZABETH MYER, also did not agree with the evaluation by the jury. At one stage he (or they) sent an appraiser to the farm to make their own evaluation. This was considered illegal and that appraiser was ordered off the property. When he would not leave, the High Sherif was called to remove him.

       Another problem arose when nobody could say how much BENJAMIN and his sister ELIZABETH had received from their mother over the 27 years. It appears that BENJAMIN lost his case and the Court ordered the estate to pay BENJAMIN $485.93. Also his sister ELIZABETH MOYER received the same amount. As we saw from the 1870 census LOUISA was still living on the farm. Her sister ELIZABETH RITTENHOUSE MOYER, age 81, was living with her so presumably her husband WILLIAM MOYER had died.

       All this huge Court legal tangle is contained in File RW 5432 which is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

            JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE and ELIZABETH HEILIG had the following children:

         98      i.  ELIZABETH⁶ (#24261) was born in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa. 1789. ELIZABETH died before 21 May 1887 at age 97. She married WILLIAM R. MOYER date unknown. (WILLIAM R. MOYER is #27084.)

                            ELIZABETH RITTENHOUSE, age 81 and widow of WILLIAM MOYER, was living with her sister LOUISA in Norristown , Montgomery County, Pa. in 1870. shown in Montgomery County 1870 census Roll 1378 Book 1 Page 45.

          99     ii.  BENJAMIN (#24259) was born in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa. 17 January 1810. BENJAMIN died 14 April 1893 in Norristown, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 83. He married MARGARET SELL 24 January 1845. (MARGARET SELL is #26832.) MARGARET was born 14 March 1819. MARGARET died 31 May 1903 in Norristown, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 84.

                            MARGARET SELL widow of BENJAMIN RITTENHOUSE wrote her Will on 17 July 1895, just two years afte her husband had died, She was living at 658 Chain Street in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa. . However her death wasn't until 31 May 1903. It will help to understand her Will if you know the circumstances of she and her husband raising a grandson, BENJAMIN F. RITTENHOUSE, a son of their own son BENJAMIN. At age 20 in 1868 the son had been working on the farm of Benjamin Spare, in Norriton Township, Montgomery County. He was a blacksmith by trade. He had a son, BENJAMIN F. but some time before he was two years old, he had left his son to be raised by the grandparents. I could not find out whether the father had died or had departed to look for land elsewhere. He may not have been married. So the grandparents brought up BENJAMIN F. and he was still living with his grandmother at the time of her death. He was married in the meantime to CLARA and they had two children, CLARA and another BENJAMIN.

                            So in her Will MARGARET SELL left to the grandson BENJAMIN F., 2 shares of stock in the Excelsior Savings Bank. Also he was to have any debts he owed her forgiven. Evidently he had paid for some house repairs and taxes. All the residue of the estate was to be shared equally between her daughter ELIZABETH and grandson BENJAMIN F. She then appointed the grandson as sole Executor.

                            All that should have been straight forward but on 14 July 1903, JAMES and JOHN O'HARA, filed with the Court a protest against the appointment of the Executor. I could not find out who these two men were. I think it most probable they were the children of the daughter ELIZABETH. However I don't show her as being married in my files. As there were no minor children involved, this Will did not have to be probated through the Orphan's Court. There is nothing in the Administration file to show what happened to the protest, the value of the estate or its distribution.

                            The Administration file is RW #23,523 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

                            BENJAMIN RITTENHOUSE was living in Worcester Township, Montgomery County in 1850. Hi property was appraised at $5,000 in the census but it doesn't show his occupation. His wife MARGARET SELL and dauther ELIZABETH age 3, are listed. Montgomery County 1850 census Roll 799 Book 1 Page 273.

                            He is shown in the 1860 census for Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pa. with his wife MARGARET and 12 year old daughter ELIZABETH. His land was appraised at $3,000 and his personal property at $200. Montgomery County 1860 Census Roll 1145 Book 1 Page 432.

                            BENJAMIN RITTENHOUSE, age 60, was living in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa. in 1870. His occupation was Boxmaker with fairly extensive real estate. It was appraised at $13,300 and his personal goods at $4,500. With him were his wife MARGARET and 22 year old daughter ELIZABETH who is a Dressmaker. Also living with them was their grandson BENJAMIN, age 2. Their son BENJAMIN would have been 31 years old by this date but he and his wife must have died as there is no mention of them. Shown in Montgomery County 1870 census Roll 1378 Book 1 Page 131.

                            BENJAMIN got into a huge legal battle in connection with his sister, LOUISE's Will. See her biographical notes for all the details.

                            When BENJAMIN died on 14 April 1893, he bequeathed his total estate and personal goods to his wife MARGARET SELL for her comfort and support for the rest of her natural life. At the time of her death everything would be sold and the money derived from the sale should be divided into two equal parts. One part was to be given to his daughter ELIZABETH RITTENHOUSE and the other to his grandson BENJAMIN J. RITTENHOUSE. His own son BENJAMIN, must have already predeceased him. He appointed his wife MARGARET and the grandson BENJAMIN as Executors of the estate. The Will is dated 26 January 1891. As there was no distribution at this time there is no actual inventory filed.

                            This Will is file RW 18,543 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

                 iii.  JOHN HEILIG (#24258) was born in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa. 1810. JOHN died 14 March 1865 in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 54. He married an unknown person date unknown.

                            JOHN HEILIG RITTENHOUSE was farming in Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pa. in 1850. His father JOSEPH had died prior to this date and presumably the farm had belonged to him. Living with JOHN were his mother ELIZABETH HEILIG age 70 and his sister LOUISA age 30. From Montgomery County 1850 census Roll 799 Book 1 Page 229.

                            By 1860 the three of them were still on the same property and it was still shown in the mother's name. The farm was appraised at $6,000 and personal property at $500 so it must have been a fair sized farm. From Montgomery County 1860 Census Roll 1145 Book 1 Page 432.

                            I have not found the precise location of this farm for sure. However in the 1871 Montgomery County Historic Atlas there was a SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE shown. He is just southeast of Jeffersonville and he may be some relation to JOHN RITTENHOUSE.

                            JOHN HEILIG RITTENHOUSE wrote his Will on 8 March 1865 and died 6 days later on the 14th. He had never married and so he ordered that his farm of 101 acres in Norriton Township be sold at public auction. It was sold for $4,924.25. His personal goods were valued at $552 His debts amounted to $596.25.

                            In his Will JOHN stipulated that the proceeds form the sale of the property was to be divided into 4 equal shares. One share was for his sister LOUISA. One share would be for his sister ELIZABETH married to WILLIAM MOYER. One share was to go to his brother-in-law WILLIAM MOYER and the final share was to go to JOHN RITTENHOUSE MOYER son of his sister ELIZABETH.

                            JOHN appointed his friend GEORGE W. ROGERS as Executor. It was probated on 21 March 1885. The Will is file RW 5468 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

                 iv.  LOUISA (#24260) was born in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa. 1820. LOUISA died 21 May 1887 in Norristown, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 66.

                            LOUISA RITTENHOUSE, was living on her deceased father's farm in Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pa. in 1850. Her father JOSEPH died prior to this and on the farm were her mother ELIZABETH HEILIG age 70 and brother JOHN. age 40. From Montgomery County 1850 census Roll 799 Book1 Page 229.

                            By 1860 the 3 of them were still living together so I assume JOHN never married. He was 50 years old by this time. The appraisal of the farm was still shown in the mother's name and the farm was valued at $6,000 and personal property at $500 so it must have been a fair sized farm. From Montgomery County 1860 census Roll 1145 Book1 Page 432.

                            By 1870 LOUISA RITTENHOUSE had moved into Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa. Her real estate was valued at $8,000 and personal goods at $24, 260. This amount must have been in bank accounts or investments and may have come from the sale of her father's farm after her brother JOHN, had died. Living with her was her widowed sister, ELIZABETH, age 81. Shown in Montgomery County 1870 Cenus Roll 1378 Book 1 Page 45.

                            LOUISA RITTENHOUSE made her will on 14 July 1886 but her actual death was 1 May 1887. In her will she directed her Executors to erect a tombstone for herself but it was not to exceed $300. The graves of her deceased brother and sister were to be repaired and sodded. She gave the family bible to her only living brother BENJAMIN. $1,500 was to go to the St. John's Episcopal Church in Norristown. $1,500 to St. James Episcopal Church at Evansburg. $500 to the Episcopal Church at Conshohocken. #500 to the Christ's Episcopal Church at Swedesburg. Her friend George Highley received $200. Martha Arnold $200. Maria Laver $50. Then she divided $450 between the children of Frank Lavish, namely Henry, William, John, George, Florence and Walter..All the balance of the estate was to go to George W. Rogers and his wife Cara B.Rogers. Lastly she appointed George W. Rogers as Executor.

                            The inventory of her goods amounted to $8,607.50. That is when BENJAMIN RITTENHOUSE, the brother who had only received the family bible started to raise a fuss. The lawyers were able to have a hayday over the next 5 years. First of all BENJAMIN filed a petition with the Court claiming the Will was not legal and there had been another Will. The Courts made a ruling the Will was valid. BENJAMIN then filed what they called "exceptions" and over a period of 3 years he made 6 of these. First he claimed the Executor had acted improperly and hadn't gone through all the correct legal steps. Then there were petitions that 2 of the churches involved had accepted money when they should not have. He even filed petitions that the children of Frank Lavis had no claim on the estate. In the end the Court squashed all of these claims and BENJAMIN was forced to pay half of all the Court costs that had been incurred.

                            This huge file is Orphan's Court File OC 15,767 and Will File RW 5525 and they are held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown. Pa.

  117. HENRY⁶ RITTENHOUSE JR. (HENRY⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22474) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 17 January 1773. His body was interred date unknown in West Laurel Hill Cem. Phil, Pa..

       He married three times. He married ELIZABETH NORMAN date unknown. (ELIZABETH NORMAN is #29938.) ELIZABETH was born 1787. ELIZABETH died 1885 in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 98. Her body was interred 1885 in West Laurel Hill Cem. Phil, Pa.. He married SARAH COOK date unknown. (SARAH COOK is #36496.) He married ANNIE WILLIAMS date unknown. (ANNIE WILLIAMS is #36497.)

            HENRY RITTENHOUSE JR. and ELIZABETH NORMAN had the following children:

       315      i.  WILLIAM⁷ was born 09 January 1801

                  ii.  HENRY (#29941) was born in Montgomery Co. PA, USA 13 January 1803. HENRY died young in Montgomery Co. PA, USA, at age unknown.

                 iii.  DAVID (#29942) was born in Montgomery Co. PA, USA 21 April 1805. DAVID died young in Montgomery Co. PA, USA, at age unknown.

          316  iv.  CHRISTOPHER was born 14 April 1809

                  v.  ANNA (#29945) was born in Montgomery Co. PA, USA 27 February 1811. ANNA died young in Montgomery Co. PA, USA, at age unknown.

          317  vi.  JOSEPH was born 27 January 1813

          318 vii.  HENRY NORMAN was born 31 December 1831

  118. WHILHELMINA (MINNIE)⁶ RITTENHOUSE (MATTHIAS⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#29643) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 12 May 1765. WHILHELMINA died 1832 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 67. Her body was interred 1832 in Methacton Mennonite Cem. PA, USA.

       She married JACOB H. METZ date unknown. (JACOB H. METZ is #29950.) JACOB was born 10 May 1764. JACOB died 1832 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 68. His body was interred 1832 in Methacton Mennonite Cem. PA, USA.

            WHILHELMINA (MINNIE) RITTENHOUSE and JACOB H. METZ had the following children:

                   i.  JOHN⁷ (#29951) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 16 February 1789. JOHN died 19 April 1863 in Iroquois County, Illinois, USA, at age 74. He married MARGARET FERRIER 22 November 1813. (MARGARET FERRIER is #29952.) MARGARET was born 12 October 1796. MARGARET died 02 June 1861 at age 64.

                  ii.  CATHERINE (#29953) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. CA 1792.

                 iii.  MARY (#29954) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 02 December 1794. MARY died 18 September 1826 at age 31.

          319  iv.  ESTHER (HETTY) was born 07 August 1804

  119. MATTHIAS⁶ RITTENHOUSE (MATTHIAS⁵ RITTENHOUSE, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21810) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 11 April 1770. MATTHIAS died 30 May 1832 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 62. His body was interred after 30 May 1832 in Methacton Mennonite Cem. PA, USA.

       He married twice. He married CATHARINE STAUFFER 11 March 1794 in Methacton Mennonite Ch. Worcester Twsp.. (CATHARINE STAUFFER is #22484.) CATHARINE was born CA 1772 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa.. CATHARINE died 16 October 1822 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 50. Her body was interred after 16 October 1822 in Methacton Mennonite Cem. PA, USA. He married MARY DIERSTEIN (WIDOW) after 16 October 1822. (MARY DIERSTEIN (WIDOW) is #30996.) She married UNKNOWN DIERSTEIN date unknown. MARY died 1835 in Skippack Twp, Montgomery Co., Pa., at age unknown.

       MARY, second wife and widow of MATTHIUS RITTENHOUSE, had been widowed before. She had originally married an UNKNOWN DERSTEIN who had died leaving her with 6 children, DAVID, HENRY, CATHERINE, MARY, SOPHIA and ANN DERSTEIN. We don't know MARY's original family name.

       When MARY died in 1835, 3 years after MATTHIUS, she was living in Skippack Township. Montgomery County, Pa. She did not own any real estate as the farm owned by MATTHIUS RITTENHOUSE had gone to his children by his first wife. However MARY owned some goods and chattels which were auctioned off by none other than MARY's son DAVID DERSTEIN. DAVID and his brother HENRY DERSTEIN had taken an inventory which was valued at $82.71. MARY also had notes owing her totalling $300.00. this would be the money received in the Will of MATTHIUS RITTENHOUSE.

       So they auctioned off the goods and this makes a most interesting file to read as it give a very clear picture of the value of goods in 1835. Anybody bidding on an item under $3 value had to pay in cash. Anybody bidding on items over $3 could have 30 days credit but had to leave a note for the amount for security. The auctioneer kept a detail list of every amount bid and the nature of the item. It is so detailed it takes 4 and a half legal pages.

       It is fun to read what people bid on and the amount they paid. For instance Mary Ruth successfully bid on a new frock and got it for $2.36. Daniel Springer got a barn box for 1 cent. David Heebner got a looking glass for 16 cents. It is interesting to see some of the names who attended the auction. There was John Fry who was a descendant of another one of our ancestors, Heinrich Frey. Also Leonard and Joseph Van Fossen, all connected to our ancestors in some way or another. When they totalled the auction it amounted to $90.67.

       This interesting file is RW 15,407 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

       The property MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE inherited from his father was the original land owned by his grandfather HENRY RITTENHOUSE. It is on what is now known as Griffith Road which runs between Quarry Hall Road and Valley Forge Road just north of Fairview Village. The deed describes the land as on the road leading to Ritter's Tavern and extending to the Reading Turnpike to the Methacton Mennonite Meeting House. It contained 90 acres and 42 and a half perches.

       MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE will is dated 24 February 1832 but his death wasn't until 1 April 1833. He ordered that all his real estate be sold by his Executors Christian Detwiler and John Custer. The Will mentions his wife MARY (widow of UNKNOWN DERSTEIN) who MATTHIUS married after his first wife, CATHERINE STAUFFER died in 1822. MARY DERSTEIN had brought 6 Derstein children to this marriage. DAVID, HENRY, CATHERINE married to ABRAHAM CLEMMER, MARY married to JOSEPH ROOT, SOPHIA maried to LEONARD VAN FOSSEN and MARY DERSTEIN. Of course all the married children probably did not come to live with MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE. However he left $400 to be divided equally among these 6 Dertein children,

       MATTHIUS bequeathed to his wife, MARY, "one bedstead and bedding, one case of drawers and their contents, one corner cupboard and its contents, one small stove and pipe." He also bqueathed her the interest at 5% from $800 principal to be taken from his estate. for her lifetime. At her decease this $800 was to be divided equally among the children from his first wife, SAMUEL, HENRY, JESSE, DANIEL, CHRISTIAN, JOSEPH, HANNAH and MATTHIAS. Finally he bequeathed his wife, MARY, $400 in cash. He appointed Christian Detweiler and John Custer as Executors of the estate. When they took the inventory it amounted to $1,648.86 which according to the Will was to be sold at public auction. This was held on 2 June 1832 and there is a complete detailed list in the file showing what each successful bidder paid.By the rules of the auction, if the amount was under $3 they had to pay cash. If it was over this amount they could have 90 days credit on giving satisfactory security.

       When one of the inheritors was the successful bidder for the real estate, this amount would go into the estate. Sometimes the person making the Will would put an appraised value on the property and designate the eldest son to have first chance to buy at this amount . If he refused, then the next son could buy it.This was common in Wills of that time and the purchase price would go into the estate to be divided between the other children.

       In this case the son JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE purchased the 88 acres and homestead for $4,106. But 12 years later on 28 March 1846 his brother SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE took possession of the estate for $4,207. Four of MATTHIAS'S boys, seeing ther would be no land available to them, all went out to Ohio to farm. This included JESSE, CHRISTIAN, HENRY an MATTIUS (4) along with JOSEPH after he had sold the land to his brother SAMUEL.

       This will is File RW 5535 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

       But 80 years later in 1911 a petition was filed with the Court by HENRY LOUCKS. He had been guardian for MARY ANN RUPELL (?) who we haven't identified but probably she was a granddaughter of MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE. The guardian had been holding an inheritance until she came of age. It was $1,042.38. She had since married JOHN PAYNTER (?) and HENRY LOUCKS wanted to discharge his guardian duties and have the Court declare the case closed. But evidently this was easier said than done as the Court had to review all the conditions in the original Will to make sure there were no other livng heirs involved. This is all shown in Orpahn's Court File OC 15,878 which is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

       THE HISTORY OF WORCESTER TOWNSHIP published in 1976 by the Worcester Historical Society. It was printed by the Boyertown Publishing Co. Pa. A copy of this book is in my library.

       THE SPRUCE. A handwritten 30 page manuscript (14 inches by 24 inches) held by the Wayne County Library in Wooster, Ohio. It was part of the Curtis Rittenhouse Memorial Library which was willed to the Wayne County Library on the death of Curtis Rittenhouse. It is believed to be written y Curtis Rittenhouse himself. Some pages are obviosly done by others and so it appears to heve been made for the Rittenhouse Memorial Association which was founded in 1890. Photocopies of the complete manuscript are in my library.

            MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE and CATHARINE STAUFFER had the following children:

                   i.  ABRAHAM⁷ (#36500) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa..

                  ii.  ELIZABETH (#36501) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa..

                 iii.  CATHERINE (#29960) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 03 February 1794. CATHERINE died 09 October 1809 in Franconia Twp. Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 15. Her body was interred after 09 October 1809 in Methacton Mennonite Cem. PA, USA.

          320  iv.  HENRY STAUFFER was born 05 June 1795

          321   v.  JESSE FRANKLIN was born 14 December 1796

          322  vi.  DANIEL was born 17 November 1798

          323 vii.  SAMUEL was born 05 January 1801

          324 viii.  CHRISTIAN STAUFFER was born 17 January 1803

          325  ix.  MATTHIAS was born 08 January 1805

          326   x.  JOSEPH was born 21 September 1809

                 xi.  HANNAH (#24399) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 22 August 1814. HANNAH died 13 November 1886 at age 72. She married MICHAEL HECKLER 17 April 1836 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa.. (MICHAEL HECKLER is #24400.) MICHAEL was born 14 April 1813. MICHAEL was the son of PETER HECKLER and SARAH DETWEILER.

                            HANNAH RITTENHOUSE filed a petition with the Orpahn's Court to have a guardian appointed to protect her interest in the estate of her deceased father MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE. As she was over the age of 14 years, she could file the petition on her own behalf.

                            This petition is Orphan's Court File OC 15,347 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

  120. CATHARINE (KATE)⁶ RITTENHOUSE (MATTHIAS⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22481) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 13 January 1772. CATHARINE died 27 September 1851 in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 79.

       She married ABRAHAM HEEBNER 01 December 1791 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa.. (ABRAHAM HEEBNER is #22483.) ABRAHAM was born 28 December 1766 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa.. ABRAHAM was the son of DAVID HÜBNER (HEEBNER) and MARIA KRIEBEL. ABRAHAM died 25 November 1846 in Norriton Twp., Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 79.

            CATHARINE (KATE) RITTENHOUSE and ABRAHAM HEEBNER had the following children:

       327      i.  SARAH⁷ was born 20 November 1792

          328   ii.  HANNAH was born 01 October 1794

                 iii.  CHRISTOPHER (#29967) was born 17 January 1797. CHRISTOPHER died 25 January 1797 at age unknown.

                 iv.  JOHN (#29968) was born 15 January 1798. JOHN died 15 January 1798 at age unknown.

          329   v.  JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE was born 09 April 1799

                 vi.  SUSANNA (#29971) was born 25 July 1801. SUSANNA died 01 May 1868 at age 66. She married ISAAC F. CASSEL date unknown. (ISAAC F. CASSEL is #29972.)

          330 vii.  CATHERINE was born 05 January 1804

          331 viii.  REBECCA was born 09 July 1806

          332  ix.  MARY was born 27 August 1808

                  x.  ELIZABETH (#29979) was born 23 March 1811. ELIZABETH died 31 March 1811 at age unknown.

  121. SARAH⁶ RITTENHOUSE (MATTHIAS⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22485) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 03 September 1778. SARAH died 1850 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 71.

       She married JOSEPH VAN FOSSEN date unknown in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa.. (JOSEPH VAN FOSSEN is #22486.) JOSEPH was born 02 February 1775. JOSEPH was the son of LEONARD VAN FOSSEN and MARY TYSON. JOSEPH died 18 December 1853 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 78.

            SARAH RITTENHOUSE and JOSEPH VAN FOSSEN had the following children:

                   i.  MARY (POLLY)⁷ (#29982).

                  ii.  CATHERINE (#29983). She married UNKNOWN FRICK date unknown. (UNKNOWN FRICK is #29984.)

                 iii.  LEONARD (#29985).

                 iv.  ANN (#29986).

                  v.  SARAH (#29987) was born 04 August 1818. SARAH died 10 September 1893 in Montgomery Co. PA, USA, at age 75. She married ISAAC B. BEAN 30 September 1840 in Montgomery Co. PA, USA. (ISAAC B. BEAN is #29988.) ISAAC was born 11 July 1817. ISAAC died 19 December 1888 at age 71.

  122. JOSEPH T.⁶ RITTENHOUSE (MATTHIAS⁵, HENRY⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#21811) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 23 September 1783. JOSEPH died CA 1851 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age unknown. His body was interred CA 1851 in Methacton Mennonite Cem. PA, USA.

       He married MARY CASSEL 1807. (MARY CASSEL is #29989.) MARY was born 03 January 1775 in Montgomery Co. PA, USA. MARY was the daughter of JOHN CASSEL and ELIZABETH. MARY died 1837 at age 62. Her body was interred 1837 in Methacton Mennonite Cem. PA, USA.

       JOSEPH sold his share of his late father's land to his brother MATTHIUS for £568. Shown in Montgomery County Deed Book 20 Page 261, held by Montgomery County Archives on Norristown, Pa. JOSEPH T. RITTENHOUSE at age 67 was living on the farm of his son SAMUEL in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, Pa. 1850 census Roll 799 Book 1 Page 282.

       JOSEPH wrote his Will on 8 July 1848 but there is some confusion as to when he actually died. On the 9 June 1851 the Court took a sworn statement from John Hoffman and Robert Argue, that the Will presented was authentic. The inventory taken by his son SAMUEL was returned on 2 January 1852. So JOSEPH must have died between 8 July 1848 and 9 June 1851. The confusion arises from some records which say he died on 26 May 1859 and was buried in the Mennonite Methacton Burying Ground. Because of the Administration papers and Will, I am showing the death date as circa 1851.

       JOSEPH's wife MARY CASSEL had died in 1837. In his Will he bequeathed $150 to the children of his deceased daughter LYDIA who had been married to JOSEPH BEYER..He specified it was to go to LYSIA's 3 surviving children and it is clear later why he specified her children as JOSEPH BEYER married LYDIA's sister MARY after LYDIA had died. And Mary is mentioned later in the will with the other children.

       JOSEPH then specified that the balance of the estate was to be divided equally among his 5 surviving children, ABRAHAM, JOHN, ELIZABETH, married to WILLIAM EBBERT, SAMUEL and MARY now maried to JOEPH BEYER. Evidently his son SAMUEL owed him some money which he said did not have to be paid to the estate until one year after JOSEPH's demise and without interest. He ordered the Executors to sell all his property at public auction. He appointed as Executors his son SAMUEL and JOHN HOFFMAN.

       The Will file is # 5445 and Orphan's Court file is #15,575 dated 8 July, 1848 and is held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

       Dr. E. Mark Haake. The Haake Family History is on Internet. The URL is http://haacke.com

            JOSEPH T. RITTENHOUSE and MARY CASSEL had the following children:

       333      i.  ABRAHAM CASSEL⁷ was born 09 October 1807

                  ii.  JOHN (#26846) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 01 June 1809. JOHN died 04 May 1878 in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa., at age 68. He married an unknown person date unknown.

                            In 1850 JOHN RITTENHOUSE was shown in the census as working as a farm labourer on his borther SAMUEL's farm. Also their father JOSEPH RITTENHOUSE was living with them. Montgomery County Census Roll 799 Book 1 Page 282

                            It doesn't appear that JOHN RITTNHOUSE was ever married. He died Intestate so the Court appointed JOHN HOFFMAN to administer the estate. His personal goods were valued at $3.524.22 but by the time expenses and debts, amounting to $445.05, were paid the net value was $3,078.27. This file does not specify how it was distributed but legally any brothers or sisters would share in the inheritance.

                            The Administration file is RW #15,345 and the Orphan's Court File is OC #15,675 and both of these are held by the Montgomery County Archives in Norristown, Pa.

                 iii.  ELIZABETH (#29990) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 13 February 1811. She married WILLIAM EBBERT date unknown. (WILLIAM EBBERT is #29991.)

          334  iv.  SAMUEL was born 14 October 1813

                  v.  LYDIA (#29992) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 25 June 1817. LYDIA died 23 May 1847 at age 29. She married JOSEPH B, BEYER 17 November 1839 in Whitpain Reform Ch. Montgomery Co.. (JOSEPH B, BEYER is #29993.) JOSEPH was born 17 April 1817 in Penn Twp. Huntingdon Co. Pa.. He married MARIA RITTENHOUSE 15 June 1848. JOSEPH died 14 January 1867 at age 49.

                 vi.  MARIA (#29994) was born in Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co. Pa. 02 November 1823. MARIA died 04 January 1867 at age 43. She married JOSEPH B, BEYER 15 June 1848. (JOSEPH B, BEYER is #29993.) JOSEPH was born 17 April 1817 in Penn Twp. Huntingdon Co. Pa.. He married LYDIA RITTENHOUSE 17 November 1839 in Whitpain Reform Ch. Montgomery Co.. JOSEPH died 14 January 1867 at age 49.

  123. MORGAN⁶ MORGAN (MARGARET⁵ RITTENHOUSE, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24859) was born in Montgomery Twp. Phil. Co. Pa. 03 May 1749. MORGAN died 29 May 1852 Whitpain Twp, Montgomery Co. PA, at age 103.

       He married ANN ROBERTS 21 July 1774 in Gwynedd Meeting House, Pa.. (ANN ROBERTS is #28228.) ANN was born 14 March 1748 Whitpain Twp, Montgomery Co. PA. ANN was the daughter of JOHN ROBERTS. ANN died 15 January 1808 at age 59.

            MORGAN MORGAN and ANN ROBERTS had the following children:

       335      i.  BENJAMIN⁷ was born 06 July 1775

                  ii.  ELIZABETH (#28236) was born 05 December 1776.

          336  iii.  SARAH was born 10 July 1779

          337  iv.  MORGAN was born 21 May 1782

          338   v.  ANN was born 14 December 1784

          339  vi.  DAVID was born 06 July 1785

                vii.  MAY (#28249) was born 17 December 1788. MAY died July 1847 in U. Gwyn. Twp., Montgomery Co. PA, at age 58. Her body was interred July 1847 in Friend's Burying Gr. Gwynedd, Pa..

  124. WILLIAM⁶ BARTON (ESTHER⁵ RITTENHOUSE, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22739) was born in..

       He married ELIZABETH RHEA date unknown. (ELIZABETH RHEA is #27474.)

       WILLIAMM BARTON was the oldest son of Rev. Thomas Barton, and was a man of solid ability and great energy of character. In September, 1775, at the suggestion of his father, he left America for England, bearing with him letters of recommendation from Bishop Peters and other persons. While in Europe he laid the foundation of his education, and otherwise advanced his literary interests, for which he had a peculiar fondness.

       He left England and the West Indies, and landed at Baltimore on January 8, 1779. He was admitted to the Lancaster Bar, and also chosen an officer of the Militia of the Borough of Lancaster. On the 15th of August, 1789, he was nominated by President Washington, one of the Judges of the Western Territory, and the Senate ratified the nomination. He was afterwards unanimously recommended by the Lancaster Bar for the appointment to the President Judgeship of the District, composed of the counties of Lancaster, Chester, York and Dauphin.

       He removed to Philadelphia, and was chosen secretary of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. He obtained from the University of Pennsylvania the honorary title of Master of Arts. He is the author of a dissertation on the Freedom of Navigation and Maritime Commerce, and also of a biography of the philosopher, David Rittenhouse. The design for the great seal of the United States, made in in 1776, was drawn by William Barton, of Lancaster. He was educated at the Temple in London under the patronage of Hon. Thomas Penn.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

Egle's Notes and Queries of PA 1700-1800, Fourth Volume II, Notes and Queries

THE FAMILY of MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE by Daniel Kolb Cassel. Published in 1897. A copy of this book is in my library. Some researchers refer to this book as RITTENHOUSE FAMILY HISTORY Volume 2.

            WILLIAM BARTON and ELIZABETH RHEA had the following children:

       340      i.  JOHN RHEA⁷.

                  ii.  THOMAS (#27492). THOMAS died 1818 at age unknown.

                 iii.  CHARLES (#27493). CHARLES died young at age unknown.

                 iv.  HETTIE ANN (#27494).

                  v.  MARY RHEA (#27495).

                 vi.  ELIZABETH SOPHIA (#27496).

          341 vii.  SUSANNA JULIANNA.

                viii.  NANCY (#27498). NANCY died young at age unknown.

          342  ix.  WILLIAM P. C. was born 17 November 1786

  125. DAVID RITTENHOUSE⁶ BARTON (ESTHER⁵ RITTENHOUSE, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22743) was born in..

       He married CATHARINE GRAEFF 1793. (CATHARINE GRAEFF is #27479.)

            DAVID RITTENHOUSE BARTON and CATHARINE GRAEFF had the following children:

       343      i.  JOHN GRAEFF⁷.

                  ii.  ESTHER RITTENHOUSE (#27480) was born 1795. ESTHER died 1866 at age 71.

                 iii.  EDMUND (#27481) was born 1797. EDMUND died 1853 at age 56.

          344  iv.  GEORGE WASHINGTON was born 1810

  126. THOMAS⁶ BARTON (ESTHER⁵ RITTENHOUSE, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22744) was born in..

            THOMAS BARTON had the following children:

                   i.  HETTIE⁷ (#27484).

                  ii.  GEORGE (#27485). He married UNKNOWN DAVIS date unknown. (UNKNOWN DAVIS is #27534.)

                 iii.  JULIANNA (#27486).

  127. JULIANNA SUSANNA⁶ BARTON (ESTHER⁵ RITTENHOUSE, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22745) was born in..

       She married JOHN MOORE WHITE Major date unknown. (JOHN MOORE WHITE Major is #27487.) JOHN died 1860 at age unknown.

            JULIANNA SUSANNA BARTON and JOHN MOORE WHITE Major had the following child:

                   i.  ESTHER⁷ (#27535). ESTHER died Died young at age unknown.

  128. RICHARD PETERS⁶ BARTON (ESTHER⁵ RITTENHOUSE, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22746) was born in.. RICHARD died January 1821 Frederick County, Virginia, at age unknown.

       He married MARTHA WALKER 1780. (MARTHA WALKER is #27488.) MARTHA was the daughter of R. WALKER and ABIGAIL LEWIS.

            RICHARD PETERS BARTON and MARTHA WALKER had the following children:

       345      i.  RICHARD W.⁷.

          346   ii.  ROBERT RITTENHOUSE was born 1792

          347  iii.  DAVID WALKER was born 1800

  129. ESTHER⁶ BARTON (ESTHER⁵ RITTENHOUSE, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22740) was born in. 17 April 1756.

       She married PAUL ZANTZINGER 03 March 1774. (PAUL ZANTZINGER is #27475.) PAUL was born 1744 in.. PAUL died 23 June 1817 at age 72.

            ESTHER BARTON and PAUL ZANTZINGER had the following children:

                   i.  ESTHER MARIA⁷ (#27500) was born in. 09 December 1774. ESTHER died 15 August 1775 in., at age unknown.

          348   ii.  THOMAS BARTON was born 05 January 1776

          349  iii.  MARY was born 15 March 1777

                 iv.  SARAH BARTON (#27507) was born in. 09 March 1778. She married FRANKLIN DAVENPORT (GEN.) date unknown. (FRANKLIN DAVENPORT (GEN.) is #27508.)

                  v.  ESTHER SOPHIA (#27509) was born in. 15 May 1779. ESTHER died young at age unknown.

                 vi.  JULIANNA ELIZABETH (#27510) was born in. 26 August 1781. JULIANNA died 13 August 1854 in Salem, New Jersey, USA, at age 72. Her body was interred after 13 August 1854 in St. John's Cem. Salem, N.J. USA. She married ROBERT G. JOHNSON (COL.) 17 November 1813. (ROBERT G. JOHNSON (COL.) is #27511.) ROBERT died September 1849 in Salem, New Jersey, USA, at age unknown. His body was interred September 1849 in St. John's Cem. Salem, N.J. USA.

                vii.  HARRIET ANN (#27512) was born in. 05 January 1783. HARRIET died 17 July 1783 in., at age unknown.

                viii.  HARRIET RENNETTE (#27513) was born in. 17 August 1784. HARRIET died 1856 in Salem, New Jersey, USA, at age 71.

                 ix.  WILLIAM PAUL (#27514) was born in. 30 January 1786.

                  x.  CAROLINE AMELIA (#27515) was born in. 18 October 1787. CAROLINE died young at age unknown.

                 xi.  HENRY RICHARD (#27516) was born in. 24 August 1789.

                xii.  HENRY DAVID (#27517) was born in. 24 March 1791.

                xiii.  RICHARD AUGUSTUS (#27518) was born in. 24 October 1792.

          350 xiv.  JOHN PAUL was born 21 March 1794

                xv.  CAROLINE AMELIA (#27523) was born in. 30 August 1795. CAROLINE died September 1795 in., at age unknown.

               xvi.  CAROLINE CATHARINE (#27524) was born in. 15 July 1799. She married HARRY GILBERT 11 July 1822. (HARRY GILBERT is #27525.)

  130. BENJAMIN SMITH⁶ BARTON (ESTHER⁵ RITTENHOUSE, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22741) was born in. 10 February 1766. BENJAMIN died 19 December 1816 at age 50.

       He married MARY PENNINGTON date unknown. (MARY PENNINGTON is #27476.) MARY was born 17 March 1771.

       DR. BENJAMIN SMITH BARTON soon after the death of his parents, moved to the family of a brother in Philadelphia, in 1782, where he spent several years in the study of literature, the sciences, and medicine. In 1776 he went to Great Britain and pursued his medical studies at Edinburgh and London. He afterwards visited Gottingen, and there obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine. On returning to Philadelphia, in 1789, he established himself as a physician in the city. He was that year appointed Professor of Natural History and Botany in the College of Philadelphia, and continued in that office on the incorporation of the college with the University, in 1791.

       In 1803 he published "Elements of Botany, or Outlines of the National History of Vegetables, & etc". Dr. Badon has the honor of being the first American who gave to his country an elementary work of botany.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

THE FAMILY of MATTHIAS RITTENHOUSE by Daniel Kolb Cassel. Published in 1897. A copy of this book is in my library. Some researchers refer to this book as RITTENHOUSE FAMILY HISTORY VOLUME 2.

            BENJAMIN SMITH BARTON and MARY PENNINGTON had the following children:

                   i.  THOMAS PENNANT⁷ (#27526). He married CORA LIVINGSTON April 1833. (CORA LIVINGSTON is #27527.)

                  ii.  HETTIE (#27528).

  131. ELIZABETH⁶ RITTENHOUSE (DAVID⁵, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24862) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 23 January 1767.

       She married JONATHON DICKINSON SERGEANT 20 December 1788 in First Pres. Church, Phil., PA. (JONATHON DICKINSON SERGEANT is #27381.) JONATHON was born 23 January 1746 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. JONATHON was the son of JONATHON SEREANT and ABIGAIL DICKINSON. JONATHON died 08 October 1793 in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 47.

       JONATHON DICKINSON SERGEANT was a lawyer in Philadelphia and for some time was Attorney General of Pennsylvania. In the early 1790s there was a serious outbreak of Yellow Fever in Philadelphia. Most people who could afford to move out, fled Philadelphia but Jonathon Dickinson remained to help set up hospitals and care for the victims. He contracted Yellow Fever himself while performing this humanitarian action and died in 1793.

            ELIZABETH RITTENHOUSE and JONATHON DICKINSON SERGEANT had the following children:

       351      i.  ESTHER RITTENHOUSE⁷ was born 16 October 1789

                  ii.  DAVID RITTENHOUSE (#27399) was born in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA 01 July 1791. DAVID died 08 August 1872 at age 81.

          352  iii.  FRANCES RITTENHOUSE was born 17 November 1793

  132. ESTHER⁶ RITTENHOUSE (DAVID⁵, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#24861) was born in Roxborough Twp, Phil. Co., PA 1769.

       She married NICHOLAS BAKER WATERS M.D. 23 October 1790 in First Pres. Church, Phil., PA. (NICHOLAS BAKER WATERS M.D. is #27383.) NICHOLAS died August 1794 in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age unknown.

            ESTHER RITTENHOUSE and NICHOLAS BAKER WATERS M.D. had the following child:

                   i.  DAVID RITTENHOUSE⁷ (#27384) was born in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA 1791. DAVID died 04 September 1813 in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA, at age 22.

  133. DAVID⁶ EVANS (ELEANOR⁵ RITTENHOUSE, MATTHIAS⁴, NICHOLAS (CLAES)³, WILHELM² RÜDDINGHUYSEN, CLAES¹ RETTINGHAUSEN) (#22736) birth date unknown. DAVID died CA 1836 in Pittsburg, Allegheny Co. PA, at age unknown.

       He married ELIZABETH CARSON date unknown in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA. (ELIZABETH CARSON is #27453.) ELIZABETH was born date unknown in Philadelphia, Phil. Co. PA, USA.

            DAVID EVANS and ELIZABETH CARSON had the following children:

                   i.  ELIZABETH⁷ (#27463).

                  ii.  ELLEN (#27464). ELLEN died young at age unknown.

                 iii.  ANNE (#27468). She married MARCUS WILSON date unknown. (MARCUS WILSON is #27469.)

                 iv.  SUSAN (#27470).

                  v.  HANNAH SMITH (#27471). She married twice. She married JOHN GLADDEN (DR.) date unknown. (JOHN GLADDEN (DR.) is #27472.) She married WILLIAM EATON (REV.) date unknown. (WILLIAM EATON (REV.) is #27473.)