Research Notes:
Several researchers name children of Jacob Ritner with similar names to those named as children of Joseph Ritner on an 1850 census record. There may be errors in the names of children of brothers Jacob and Joseph Ritner. Or perhaps the father's name in the census record is incorrect and should be Jacob. It fits Jacob very well. Barbara Smith may have been a daughter of Jacob?
1850 Joseph Rittner (age 58, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Reading North West Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Catharine Rittner (age 56), Barbara Rittner (age 27), Sarah Rittner (age 24), Mary A Rittner (age 21), Joseph Rittner (age 17), and Charles Rittner (age 13). Joseph Rittner's occupation was weaver, Yarn, thread, and fabric mills. [1]
1870 Charl Ritner (age 28, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Reading Ward 2, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Cath Greath (age 48), and Will Greath (age 19). Charl Ritner's occupation was laborer. [2]
1870 Joseph T Smith (age 45, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Reading Ward 9, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Barbara Smith (age 45), Francis Smith (age 16), Charles Smith (age 13), Mary Smith (age 10), John Smith (age 8), Vincent Smith (age 6), and William Smith (age 2). Joseph T Smith's occupation was bricklayer. [3]
1917 Francis J Smith, son of Joseph T Smith and Barbara Ritner, died on November 26, 1917, at age 63, in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Francis J Smith was born on June 4, 1854, in Pennsylvania. [4]
1840 Joseph Rittner lived in Reading North Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (under 5) and 1 (30 thru 39); and females: 1 (under 5), 1 (5 thru 9), and 1 (20 thru 29). Who was this Joseph? The age does not match. [5]
[1] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[2] United States Federal Census, 1870, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[3] United States Federal Census, 1870, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] Pennsylvania Death Certificates, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[5] United States Federal Census, 1840, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].