American Revolution Ancestor of Bob and Willie Reich

 

Early descendant Johannes Veit Reichelderfer (Reichelsdorfer) 1665-1755  Arrived in America between 1716 and 1728

Johan Adam REICHELDERFER served in the military in the American Revolution. He was born on 26 Dec 1741 in Albany Twp., Berks Co., Pennsylvania.   He died on 30 Aug 1810 in Saltcreek Twp., Pickaway Co., Ohio. He was buried in Sep 1810 in Stumpf Cemetery, Saltcreek Twp., Pickaway Co., Ohio.4038 Aged 68 years 8 months 4 days He was mentioned in a biography in 1880 History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties Ohio. John Reichelderfer and family, and his son John and family, came to Salt Creek from Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1806. The two families moved into a cabin which stood where the brick residence of George S. Hosler stands. John jr., and family shortly after words moved on to the farm now owned by Augustus Rose.
The two oldest daughters of John Reichelderfer, sr., (Catherine and Barbara) were the wives respectively of Conrad Braucher and Jacob Spangler. The former came to Salt Creek with her husband in 1805, as before mentioned, and the latter a year or two after the rest of the family, and settled with her husband on section number nine. The other daughters, who married after they came here, were: Mary, wife of Jacob Strous; Elizabeth, wife of William Stumpf; and Susan, wife of Samuel Feterolph. His Ancestral File Number is 5JCF-8K.69 Moved to Saltcreek Twp., Pickaway Co., in 1806, which at that time was part of Ross Co. Their son John, who had married Christina Spangler, came at the same time. Both families lived in a log cabin where later a brick house was built by George S. Hosler, whose wife Tena was a grand daughter of John and Christina Spangler Reichelderfer. The home is now owned by G. Hurst Armstrong. John Adam Reichelderfer was a soldier of the revolution, private, Capt. Ritters Co., III Battalion, Jacob Morgan Sr. Lieut. He returned for the year 1777-1778. This is recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives Volume VI (3rd series) page 284 and page 308. There is a record of the land he acquired in Ohio in Congress Lands Volume I, in Circleville, Ohio, Oct 21, 1806. The land was East Section 11, and Section 12. The inventory of his estate is recorded 16 Feb 1811, in Inventory record Volume I, pages 16-20. The value of the estate was $820.22.

Merged General Note: In History of Franklin, Pickaway Co. OH F34X/F834 1978 oversize. p.251 John R. and family and son John and family came to Salt Creek from Berks Co. Pennsylvania in 1806. The two families moved into a log cabin which stood where brick residence of George S. Hosler stands. John Jr. and family shortly afterwards moved to the farm now owned by Augustus Rose. The two eldest daughters of John Reichelderfer, Sr. (Catharine and Barbara) were wives respectively of Conrad Brancher and Jacob Spangler. The former came to Salt Creek with her husband in 1805, as before mentioned, the latter a year or two after the rest of the family and settled with her husband on section 9. Other daughters who were married after they came: Mary m. Jacob Strous Elizabeth m. William Stumpf Susan m. Sam Feterolph. Ohio marriages names her Susana and he is Daniel Jacob m. Rebecca Leonard Fetherolf. Parents: Frederick REICHELDERFER and Christina (REICHELDERFER).

 

Frederick REICHELDERFER was born about 1715. He died bet SEP 1759/1760 in Albany Twp., Berks Co., Pennsylvania. He signed a will on 20 Sep 1759 in Albany Twp., Berks Co., Pennsylvania. Albany Township, 20th September 1759.
I, the subscriber, Frederick Reichelsdorfer, make in my lingering pain and near the end of my life my Last Will and Testament as the following: My brother Henrich Reichelsdorfer and Andreas Hagenbuch living in Albany Township, after my Death shall take Christian Care of my Wife Christina and my Children. And my Wife shall remain on the place so long as she is a widow, and have all right and authority, over the Land, the Children, and the Cattle and all.
And my son Johann Adam shall before the other children have my Arms and with them to wit the four other children make an equal Division of all.
That this is my last will and purpose is such with my own Hand without deceit in great weakness confirmed in the presence of Witnesses.

Witnesses: Daniel Schumacher Frederick F. R. Reichelsdorfer

Henrich H. Schwenck his mark
(seal)

This will was probated November 13th, 1759, and is on file in Berks Co., Pa. The original is written in German.

Memorandum Nov. 1st, 1760

Henry Neithut, Cordwainer of Albany Twp., lately married Christina, Widow of the above named Frederick Reichelsdorfer, who left besides his widow the following children: son John Adam aged about 19 years, Maria Catherine aged 14 years, Susannah aged about 11 years, Mary Margaret aged about 7 Years and Christina aged about 4 years. The said H. Neithut and Wife with proper sureties, to take Administration on Monday.
His Ancestral File Number is D5T0-56. Frederick and his brother Henrich was among the first settlers of Berks County, Pennsylvania, where they settled about 1740 probably with their father and mother. They lived in or near Albany also called Allemangel. On page 919 of the Monnet Family Genealogy, he quoted what Dr. Brennan says about Frederick Reichelderfer's family in his "Indian History of Berks County."

"The following pathetic description of the murder of Frederick Reichelderfer's family is from the pen of the patriarch Muhlenburg: In New Hanover (Montgomery County), I had confirmed two grown daughters of F. R. This man had subsequently bought a tract of forest land near the Blue Mts. which he cultivated successfully with much toil and great sacrifice to enable him to support his family. But fearing the Indians who scouted the regions, sacking, burning and murdering, he removed his family back to New Hanover, whilst he journed to and fro to attend his place. In the month of March, after he and his daughters had threshed out his wheat, on a Friday morning, they suddenly felt an uncomfortable presentment of fear. Entering upon their evening devotions, they joined in singing an old hymn, "Wer weiss wie nahe mer mein Ende." Committing themselves to God they retired. On the following Saturday morn, as the father had gone upon the open field to bring in the horses, and on the eve of starting for home, he was surrounded by Indians. From sudden fright in view of his great peril, he could neither utter a cry nor move a limb. As the savages were within twenty paces, he turned his thoughts to God and was enabled to cry: "Jesus, I live to Thee! Jesus, I die in Thee!" In the moment of this exclamation, he felt himself endowed with a superhuman energy in virtue of which he turned, became swift-footed and reaches his home; but alas, his hut lay it ashes. The cattle were bellowing in a sheet of flame, his eldest daughter lying in a crisp and the younger partly alive, scalped and horribly mutilated, had barely strength to relate the harrowing circumstances and to impress a dying kiss upon the distracted brow of her father bending over her."

Rupp's History of Berks and Lebanon Counties written in 1844 gives another account.

Mr. Jacob Levan: Feb. 15, 1756 I cannot omit writing about the dreadful circumstances of our township, Albany. The Indians came yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, to Frederick Reichelderfer's home, as he was feeding his horses and two of the Indians ran upon him and followed him into the field ten or twelve perches off; but he escaped and ran towards Jacob Gerhart's house, with a design to fetch some arms. When he came near Gerhart's he heard a lamentable cry., "Lord Jesus! Lord Jesus!" which made him run back toward his own house; but before he got quite home, he saw his house and stables in flames; and heard the cattle bellowing and thereupon ran away again. Two of his children were shot; one of them was found dead in the field, the other was found alive, and brought to the Hakenbrook's house but died three hours afterwards. All his grain and cattle are burnt up. At Jacob Gerhart's they have killed one man, two women and six children. Two children slipped under the bed; one of which was burned; the other escaped, and ran a mile to get to the people. We desire help, or we must leave our homes. Yours, Valentine Probst. (Brobst)

In 1928, the Reichelderfer land was owned by Charles Bolick, Eckville, Berks County, Pa. In 1756, Jacob Levan lived in Moxatawny, Berks Co., Pa. Valentine Probst lived in Albany Twp. in the vicinity of Wessnersville.

In 1934, Mr. Greenawalt showed us (Laura Alice Buchanan Reichelderfer and daughter Mary Werkman) the foundation stones of the Reichelderfer cabin which had been burned by the Indians. The foundation of the barn was not so clearly outlined. The adjoining farm to the Reichelderfers' belonged to Peter Fries and here was erected one of the first Indian forts. Monnette states on page 416 that "it almost follows without official record that Frederick Reichelderfer was an Indian fighter and unquestionably served in the Indian Wars, for he was one of the vigorous, stalwart pioneers." Orra Monnette was a member of the Society of Colonial Wars and qualified under this ancestor.

The will of Frederick Reichelderfer is copied from page 929 of the Monnet Family Genealogy.

Albany Township, 20th September 1759. I, the subscriber, Frederick Reichelsdorfer, make in my lingering pain and near the end of my life my Last Will and Testament as the following: My brother Henrich Reichelsdorfer and Andreas Hagenbuch living in Albany Township, after my Death shall take Christian Care of my Wife Christina and my Children. And my Wife shall remain on the place so long as she is a widow, and have all right and authority, over the Land, the Children, and the Cattle and all. And my son Johann Adam shall before the other children have my Arms and with them to wit the four other children make an equal Division of all. That this is my last will and purpose is such with my own Hand without deceit in great weakness confirmed in the presence of Witnesses.

Witnesses: Daniel Schumacher Frederick F. R. Reichelsdorfer Henrich H. Schwenck his mark

(seal)

This will was probated November 13th, 1759, and is on file in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The original is written in German.

Memorandum Nov. 1st, 1760

Henry Neithut, Cordwainer of Albany Twp., lately married Christina, Widow of the above named Frederick Reichelsdorfer, who left besides his widow the following children: son John Adam aged about 19 years, Maria Catherine aged 14 years, Susannah aged about 11 years, Mary Margaret aged about 7 Years and Christina aged about 4 years. The said H. Neithut and Wife with proper sureties, to take Administration on Monday.

There was an inventory of Frederick Reichelsdorfer's estate Oct. 28, 1760. It is also given in the Monnet History. The 150 acres of "Sorvaied land" vas valued at 65 pounds. The entire estate was valued at a little more than 143 pounds. Parents: Johan REICHELDERFER and Cadarina (REICHELDERFER). Spouse: Christina (REICHELDERFER). Children were: Johan Adam REICHELDERFER, Maria Catherine REICHELDERFER, Susannah REICHELDERFER, Mary Margaret REICHELDERFER, Christina REICHELDERFER