circa 1820 Map of Reading, Pennsylvania with lot numbers. Note that North is to the left [10]
1810 John Rittner, son of Peter Rittner, and Elizabeth, daughter of Martin Felix, were married on December 10 in a Catholic ceremony in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. James Felix and Catharine Hartman were witnesses. [1]
1813 Mary, daughter of John and Elizabeth Rittner was baptized, with sponsors James and Mary Roger. [2]
1820 John Ritner lived in Reading South Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44); and females: 3 (under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44). [3]
1830 John Ritner lived in Reading South Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (10 thru 14) and 1 (40 thru 49); and females: 1 (5 thru 9), 1 (10 thru 14), 1 (15 thru 19), and 1 (40 thru 49). [4]
1831 On April 6, attorneys of the Penn family sold, to John Ritner of Reading Borough (in trust for himself and other heirs of Peter Ritner, deceased), lot 299 on the west side of Duke Street in Reading Pennsylvania, being the same lot reserved by Patent to Philip J Moyer. [5]
1840 John Rittner lived in Reading South Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (50 thru 59); and females: 1 (15 thru 19) and 1 (50 thru 59). Henry Sherer and Widow Smith were listed adjacent. [6]
1842 John Ritner of the Borough of Reading, bricklayer, and wife Elizabeth sold two lots of land, number 20 and 21 on the Southern side of Canal Street, to George R. Frill. John Ritner had purchased the lots from Philip Zieber by deed dated March 8, 1840. [7]
1842 John Rittner of the Borough of Reading purchased one fourth of lot 128, between 7th and Franklin streets, between widow Christine and Henry High, in Reading Borough, from James A. Smith and his wife Harriet. The deed was dated November 28. [8]
1845 John and Elizabeth Ritner sold a certain house and half lot, part of lot 299, on the west side of seventh (formerly Duke) Street, in Reading, Pennsylvania, to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. The deed was dated June 20. [9]
1848 John Ritner died in 1848 and was buried at Saint Peter the Apostle Church Cemetery, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. John Ritner was born in 1788. No grave marker photo or documentation, but a Veteran's burial record reports the grave registrar as a source. John Ritner served 1812-1814 in the company of Captain J Marshall. [11] [12] [13]
Wife is Elizabeth, she applied for widow's benefits in 1868.
Muster roll of Capt. Jacob Marshall's company, in the First regiment, Second brigade, Pennsylvania militia, under the command of Col. Jeremiah Shappell, at York, Pennsylvania. In service from August 28, 1814 to March 5, 1815, from Berks county.
Captain: Jacob Marshall
First Lieutenant: Henry Burckher
Second Lieutenant: William Hiester
Ensign: Lemuel Alston
Sergeant Major: Jacob Bright
1850 Elizabeth Ritner (age 64, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Reading South East Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in a household with John Winter (age 33), Louisa Winter (age 29), Jacob Winter (age 8), and Daniel Winter (age 4). [14]
1858 Maurice James and wife Sarah purchased land from Samuel St Clair and wife Catherine of the City of Reading, Henry J. Clay and wife Anna of Reading, James hadcroft and wife Mary of Covington Kenton County Kentucky by deed dated July 26. The land was a quarter of lot 128 in Reading Borough, bounded as described in Berks County Deed 48-519 dated in 1842. John Ritner owned the land and died intestate with four children to wit Sarah wife of Maurice James, Catharine wife of Samuel St Clair, Mary (wife of James Hadcroft) and Anna (wife of Henry J Clay). [15]
1860 Elizabeth Ritner (age 70, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Reading, Spruce Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in a household with [son-in-law] Samuel Stclair (age 56), Catharine Stclair (age 44), John Stclair (age 22), Elizabeth Stclair (age 18), Isabella Stclair (age 16), Daniel Stclair (age 14), Mary Stclair (age 12), Sarah Stclair (age 10), Anna Stclair (age 8), and Henry Stclair (age 2). [16]
1882 Estate papers for Elizabeth Ritner of the city of Reading, administered by Anna Clay, were recorded. The will of Elizabeth Ritner states [17]:
I Elizabeth Ritner being of Sound mind do make this my last will and testament revoking all other wills heretofore made I will and bequeath all my personal property consisting of household goods and furniture &c also a note of Two hundred & twenty against M. Keffer & Son dated Sept 14th 1875 and whatever moneys may be paid by the Reading Savings Bank per Wm Arnold Assignee of Said Bank [very faint writing: to my daughter ?]
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 14th day of November AD 1879
Signed & Sealed in the presence of us ?
Registers Office, Berks County On the 9th day of March AD 1882. Before me … [the will was witnessed]
Research Notes:
Some researchers name Elisabeth Felix as John's wife. We seek documentation for this possibility.
Elisabeth Felix Ritner was reportedly buried at Saint Peter the Apostle Church Cemetery, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Elisabeth Felix Ritner was born on January 9, 1786. No grave marker photo or documentation is provided. [18]
[1] St. Paul's Mission, Church of the most blessed sacrament, The Goshenhoppen Registers, Marriages, 1741-1819 [Abstracts], [Reading Berks Website].
[2] St. Paul's Mission, Church of the most blessed sacrament, The Goshenhoppen Registers, Baptisms, 1741-1818 [Abstracts], [Reading Berks Website].
[3] United States Federal Census, 1820, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[5] Berks County, Pennsylvania Deed (online at Berks County Recorder of Deeds, with free login), Penn 1-162, [Berks_PA_Recorder_Deeds].
[6] United States Federal Census, 1840, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[7] Berks County, Pennsylvania, Deed 50-15, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[8] Berks County, Pennsylvania, Deed 48-519, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[9] Berks County, Pennsylvania, Deed 52-56, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[10] H[enry] M. Richards, C.F. Engelman, Engraver, Ground Plan of Reading. Map of Berks County Surveyed By H.M. Richards, Image courtesy of Boston Rare Maps, Southampton, Mass. (Reading, Pennsylvania?: ca. 1825-1828), [Boston_Rare_Maps].
[11] Find A Grave Memorial 121670794, [FindAGrave].
[12] Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[13] Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[14] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[15] Berks County, Pennsylvania, Deed 67-438, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[16] United States Federal Census, 1860, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[17] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Berks Estate Papers, [FamilySearchImage].
[18] Find A Grave Memorial 204220026, [FindAGrave].