1711 Map of Palatinate area of Germany [3] [4]
with Meinbach, Webenheim, Zweibrucken (DeuxPonts) in the lower right quadrant
and Walscheid in upper left.
Note that Rorbach is midway between DeuxPonts and Walscheid.
1717 Maria Catharina Kuntz, was baptized on January 17 in Webenheim, a village two miles north of Mimbach, Germany. Her parents were Hans Georg Friedrich Kuntz, cart wright and inhabitant of Webenheim, and his second wife, Anna Barbara Schunck. [1]
1720 Christian Rohrbach was born in the village of Wahlscheid, eighteen miles northwest of Zweibrucken in the Palatinate area of Germany. His father Hans Rohrbach had emigrated from the village of Rüeggisberg, Bern, Switzerland to the Palatinate about 1700-1720. [2]
1743 Christian Rohrbach and Maria Catharina Kuntz were married on January 29 at the Evangelical Reformed Church in the village of Mimbach, eight miles west of Zweibrucken. [5] [6] [7] On January 29, 1743, Christian Rohrbach, son of the late Johann Rohrbach of Walst in Nassau-Saarbrucken, married Maria Catharina Kuntz, daughter of late Georg Kuntz. Gemeindsmann at Webenheim. [8] Births of three children were recorded at Trappe Augustus Lutheran KB, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [9]
29 Januarÿ würde copulirut Christian Rohrbach, Wÿland Johann Rohrbachs gewesener? hindersass zu Walstun? HochG(?) furstl~:Nassau Saarbrückishen nachgelessener? eheleiblicher? sohn mit Maria Catharina Wÿland Görg Kuntz (?) und gemeindmann(?) zu Webenheim eheleiblicher? tochtor.
The Christuskirche is a Protestant church in Mimbach, a district of Blieskastel in the Saarland-Palatinate district. The church is the parish church of the Protestant parish of Mimbach in the parish of Zweibrücken (deanery) of the Evangelical Church of the Palatinate. The church is regarded as the most important 18th-century Protestant church building in the entire Saar-Palatinate district and is included in the Saarland Individual monument listing. … History: The oldest part of the church is the lower part of the 14th century tower. During the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) the church building was severely damaged, so it was decided to make a new construction of the nave. This happened between 1767 and 1769. At the beginning of the construction work, the medieval tower was raised and given its characteristic dome. [10]
1743 Christian Rorbagh and Maria Catharina (Kuntz) emigrated to Pennsylvania. They arrived in Rotterdam late in July, 1743. They emigrated on the ship Phoenix, from Rotterdam, commanded by William Wilson. The ship stopped at the English port of Cowes, and arrived in Philadelphia, qualified September 30, 1743. [11] [12] [13]
1743 Male passengers aged 16 years and up took oaths on September 30, 1743 at the Courthouse in Philadelphia before the Honourable George Thomas, Esq. Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. The link between the Rohrbach emigrant and settler is given by the names on the list of men who took the Oath that day (Oath of Abjuration): Christian Rorbagh his mark, Lorentz Cuntz his mark, Johannes Nusbaum his mark, Jorg Huber [17]. Lorentz Kuntz was a sponsor for the baptism of Christian's second son Lorentz Rohrbach, and was likely a relative of Christian's first wife Maria Catharina Kuntz. Johannes Nusbaum came from the village of Offweiler in the government district of Zweibrucken, according to research by Dr. Karl Friedrich von Frank, F.A.S.G. Jorg Huber is likely the Gorg Huber of Walshausen who left for America in 1743. [18] [19] Several members of the Bar family from Bockweiler, four miles south of Mimbach, also took the oath. Lorentz Kuntz and Jorg Huber remained close to Christian Rohrbach after arriving in Pennsylvania.
1744-1749 Christian Rohrbach settled in the vicinity of Trappe (then Philadelphia County, now Montgomery County) Pennsylvania. The baptisms of their first three sons are recorded in the Evangelical Augustus Lutheran Church at Trappe in 1744, 1746 and 1749. The baptismal records for Christian Rohrbach's sons indicate that the family belonged to the Reformed rather than the Lutheran Church. Pastor H. M. Muhlenberg was the pastor of the church and perhaps performed the baptisms. [22]
1744 Johann Christian, son of Christian Rohrbach, was born on September 14. He was baptized on October 30, 1744 at the Trappe Church, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [23]
1746 Laurentz, son of Christian and Maria Catharina Rohrbach, was born on October 16. He was baptized (Reformed) on November 21, 1746, with sponsor Laurentz Kuhes (Reformed) at the Trappe Church, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [24]
1749 Johann Heinrich, son of Christian and Maria Catharina Rohrbach, was born on April 20. He was baptized on July 31, 1749 with sponsor Heinrich Müller, at the Trappe Church, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [25]
1749 Christian Rohrbach moved to Vincent Twp, Chester County, Pennsylvania and bought a 145 acre farm from Thomas Bateman, the first settler on the land. The farm bordered the east bank of French Creek. The farm is now in East Vincent Twp, Chester County, Pennsylvania on the grounds of the Kinberton Farm School. [27]
1749 Maria Kuntz Rohrbach died between 1749 and 1753, in Vincent Twp, Chester County, Pennsylvania [now East Vincent Twp]. No gravestone has been found. [28]
1753 Christopher Roraback was on the taxables list for Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. [29]
1752-1764 Christian Rohrbach married Susanna Hause, perhaps about 1756, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. [30]
1766 Christian Rhoreback was taxed for 140 acres in Vincent Twp, Chester County, Pennsylvania. [31]
1766 Christian Rohrbach sold the farm in Vincent Twp, Chester County, Pennsylvania to Heinrich Knerr and moved to Codorus Twp, York County, Pennsylvania. About the same time Lorentz Kuntz, Jorg Huber, Jacob Eppley and some of their neighbors also moved from Chester County to York County. Several, including Kuntz, Huber and Eppley, settled in Codorus Twp near Christian Rohrbach. Benjamin Brenneman, who witnessed Christian Rohrbach's will in Codorus Twp in 1786, and whose land adjoined that of Christian's son Johann Heinrich Rohrbach in Codorus Twp, came to Codorus Twp in 1769 from Sadesbury Twp, Chester County, Pennsylvania. [32] [33]
1766 Christian Rohrbach and his family joined St. Jacob's (Stone) Lutheran and Reformed Church in Brodbecks, Codorus Twp, York County, Pennsylvania.
Lorentz Kuntz, perhaps Christian Rohrbach's brother-in-law, appeared on the tax lists of Pikeland Twp, Chester County. Lorentz and his wife Anna Maria joined St. Jacob's (Stone) Lutheran and Reformed Church in Codorus Twp, the same church that the Rohrbachs joined. Lorentz Kuntz later moved from York County; it is possible that he is the Lorentz Kuntz who was taxed in 1779 in Lebanon Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
1767 Christian Rohrbach and his second wife Susanna were sponsors at the baptism of Susanna Eppley, the daughter of Jacob and Christina Eppley, on October 11, at St. Jacob's (Stone) Lutheran and Reformed Church. [34]
1768 Christian Rorebach applied for a warrant for 50 acres of land, in Codorus Twp, York County, Pennsylvania, on June 23. [35] Christian Rohrbach Jr received a patent for the land on June 27, 1789. [36] The 1768 survey returned 134 acres for a tract named Deep Dike. [37] Adjacent tracts were owned by Christian Rohrbach, John Glassick, Jacob Apply, Jacob Kellar, Jacob Lorch, and Leonard Miller. [38] [39] [40] [41] [42]
1768 Christian Rohrbach received a warrant for a tract of 124 acres called "Poplar Springs" on June 23. [43] The tract was surveyed on September 29, 1768, for 50 acres "adjoining the land he holds by warrant granted Jacob Bear in 1749." (Land surveys, #5101). Christian Rohrbach's farm was on a branch of the Codorus Creek on the west side of the Baltimore Road (now PA route 516). His neighbors were Jacob Eppley, Jacob Keller, Jacob Dellman and John Glapsick. Across the Baltimore Road were Jacob Lorch and Leonard Miller. The Deep Dike farm of Christian Rorebaugh was surveyed on 29 of 9th month, 1768. It was granted to "said Rorebaugh" on June 23, 1768. Adjacent land belonged to Leonard Miller, Jacob Lorch, Jacob Kellar, Jacob Apply, and John Glassick. Part of the land had been granted to Jacob Bear in 1751. [44] There are several surveys for lands of Jacob Bear: [45] [46] [47] [48] The land of Christian Rohrbach adjoined the land of Jacob Eppley. [49] [50]
1776 Susanna, daughter of Christian and Christina Rohrbach, was born on April 5, 1776. Susannah, wife of Christian Rohrbach and grandmother to the child, was a sponsor at the baptism on May 19, 1776 at St. Jacobs Stone Lutheran and Reformed Church, Brodbecks, Codorus Twp, York County, Pennsylvania. [51]
1778 Christian Rohrbach and neighbor Johann Bernhard Ziegler ("Barnet Ziegler") served as executors of the will of Tobias Friedrich Hobis of Codorus Twp, dated December 4, 1778 and proved in York County April 6, 1781. Tobias Hobis also was a member of St. Jacob's (Stone) Lutheran and Reformed Church [52]
1779 Christian Rohrbough was taxed 18 pounds, 17 shillings in Codorus Twp for 259 acres, 3 horses, 8 cattle. [53]
1780 Christian Rohrbach was taxed in Codorus Twp 15 pounds for 100 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle. [54]
1781 Christian Rohrbach was taxed in Codorus Twp 2 pounds 7 shillings for 258 acres, 2 horses. [55]
1782 Christian Rohrbach was taxed 4 pounds 13 shillings and 9 pence for 258 acres, 2 horses, 9 cattle in Codorus Twp, York County, Pennsylvania. [56]
1783 Christian Rhorbach was taxed for 258 acres, 9 inhabitants in Codorus Twp, York County, Pennsylvania. [57]
1786 Christian Rohrbach, of Codorus Twp, dated his will on November 24, 1786, and it was proved in York County, Pennsylvania on December 9, 1789. Barnet Ziegler and Christian Rohrbach were named executors. Administration of Christian Rohrbach's estate continued for several years. His 258 acre farm, composed of "Deep Dike" and "Poplar Spring," passed to his eldest son Johann Christian Rohrbach. [58]
In the name of God, Amen, I, Christian Rhorbach of Codorus Twp in the County of York and State of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being weak in body but sound disposing mind and understanding do this twenty fourth day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty six do make and publish this my last Will and Testament as follows: First I comand my soul in the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body to the earth to be decently buried and as touching all my corporal and worldly estate whereof I am possessed I give and dispose of the same as follows; first it is my will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied. Item, I give and bequeath unto Susannah my unto belonging, one large and one small iron pot, one pewter dish, two pewter plates, and six spoons, one kitchen croasunt (?), one chist (chest) her choise, one small dough trough, two bokets and one cup, one peper mill, a churn, a sermon book and two other books her choise, an oil tusk (?) and cant (?), two iron ladles and fork, her spining wheel, one table, a pewter tankard, a spate (spade) and how (hoe), and all the linen I posess, and thirty pounds in real specie. Item, I give and bequeath to my eldest son Christian Rhorbach my clok (cloak/clock?) and one cow for his birth right. All the residue of my personall estate shall be sold by public auction and with the rest of my personal estate equally dividet amongst all my children, that is to say, to Christian, Lawrence, Henry, and John Rhorbach share and share alike. And lastly I hereby nominate and appoint my son Christian Rhorbach and my trusty friend Barnet Ziegler to be executors of this my last will and testament, revoking and disannulling all other and former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and holding these to firm and effectual In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and yearfirst above written. his mark: Christian Rhorbach. Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Christian Rhorbach the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us. Benjamin Brenneman Jacob Eppele.
1791 Christian Rohrbauch and Barnet Zigler, executors for the estate of Christian Rohrbaugh, deceased, produced an account of their administration on March 24, with balance £125.3.11, which was to be distributed according to the will of Christian Rohrbaugh. [59]
1785-1802 Susan Rohrbach and [daughters-in-law?] Catharine and Christina Rohrbach were listed as coming to Holy Communion, on several different days, at St Jacobs (Stone), Lutheran and Reformed church, Brodbecks, York County, Pennsylvania. [60] [61] [62] [63]
Research Notes:
Johannes Rohrbach, Hans Jerg Rohrbach, and Lorentz Rohrbach were confirmed at the Zion Lehigh Evangelical Lutheran Church. [64]
1768 Christian Rorebach purchased land, on September 27, in Reading Twp, York County, from Michael Kimel. [65]
[1] Lewis Bunker Rohrbaugh, Rohrbach Genealogy (1970), 7.
[2] Lewis Bunker Rohrbaugh, Rohrbach Genealogy (1970), 7.
[3] Pieter Mortier, Partie Meridionale Des Pays Qui Sont Situéz Entre Le Rhein, La Saare, La Moselle Et La Basse Alsace (1711), [OldMapsOnline].
[4] Alexis-Hubert Jaillot, Les Estats du Duc de Lorraine ou sont les Duchez de Lorraine et de Bar (1705), Map with more detail, [Map], [OldMapsOnline].
[5] Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1971, [AncestryRecord].
[6] Lewis Bunker Rohrbaugh, Rohrbach Genealogy (1970), 7.
[7] Lewis Bunker Rohrbaugh, Rohrbach Genealogy (1970), 525, see D9.i.
[8] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Mimbach (BA. Zweibrücken), Kirchenbuch, 1696-1798, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[9] Annette Kunselman Burgert, Eighteenth Century Emigrants From German Speaking Lands to North America, Vol. 2: The Western Palatinate (1985), 274-275.
[11] John B. Linn and William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume 17. (Oath of Allegiance 1727-1775) (1890), 245, top, left, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[12] I. Daniel Rupp, A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776, 2nd ed. (1875), 164, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[13] Lewis Bunker Rohrbaugh, Rohrbach Genealogy (1970), 7.
[14] Cornelis Boumeester, View of Rotterdam, A tile painting, composed of 33 Delft tiles. (about 1700–20, Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), [MFA], [MFA terms of use].
[15] 1675 Francis Place, Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight (Used with permission from the Victoria and Albert Museum), [Victoria and Albert Museum].
[16] Thomas Jefferys, George Heap, An east prospect of the city of Philadelphia; taken by George Heap from the Jersey shore (London: 1768), [LibraryOfCongress], [LibraryOfCongress Catalog].
[17] Ralph B. Strassburger, William J. Hinke, ed., Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Vol. 1 (1934, Pennsylvania German Society), 347, list 101C, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[18] Ralph B. Strassburger, William J. Hinke, ed., Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Vol. 1 (1934, Pennsylvania German Society), 349, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[19] Donald Herbert Yoder, ed., "Zweibrucken Immigrant List," Pennsylvania German Folklore Society 1 (1936), 101-124, at 123, Names Görg Huber of Walhausen, 1743 and Bär of Bockweiler, 1743.
[20] Nicholas Scull, George Heap, A Map of Philadelphia and Parts Adjacent with a Perspective of the State House (Philadelphia: 1752), [LibraryOfCongress], [LibraryOfCongress Catalog].
[21] Thomas Kitchin, A map of the province of Pensilvania (London: 1756), [LibraryOfCongress Map].
[22] Matricul of the Augustus Ev. Luth. congregation of New Providence, Pennsylvania, usually called the Old Trappe church, 1729-1777 … Part 1. Baptisms (Pennsylvania German Society, 1896), 27, [HathiTrust].
[23] Matricul of the Augustus Ev. Luth. congregation of New Providence, Pennsylvania, usually called the Old Trappe church, 1729-1777 … Part 1. Baptisms (Pennsylvania German Society, 1896), 30, [HathiTrust].
[24] Matricul of the Augustus Ev. Luth. congregation of New Providence, Pennsylvania, usually called the Old Trappe church, 1729-1777 … Part 1. Baptisms (Pennsylvania German Society, 1896), 35, [HathiTrust].
[25] Matricul of the Augustus Ev. Luth. congregation of New Providence, Pennsylvania, usually called the Old Trappe church, 1729-1777 … Part 1. Baptisms (Pennsylvania German Society, 1896), 44, [HathiTrust].
[26] Ernest Theodore Kretschmann, The old Trappe Church, 1743-1893: a memorial of the sesqui-centennial (1893), 16, facing, [HathiTrust].
[27] Lewis Bunker Rohrbaugh, Rohrbach Genealogy (1970), 8.
[28] Lewis Bunker Rohrbaugh, Rohrbach Genealogy (1970), 7, 10.
[29] rootsweb, 1753 Taxables, Chester County, [URL].
[30] Lewis Bunker Rohrbaugh, Rohrbach Genealogy (1970), 7, 10.
[31] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 11 (Proprietary Tax Lists Chester 1765-1771) (1897), 208, [HathiTrust].
[32] Albert Horwell Gerberich, The Brenneman History (Mennonite Publishing House, 1938), 770, [GoogleBooks].
[33] Lewis Bunker Rohrbaugh, Rohrbach Genealogy (1970), 11.
[34] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, PA,York, Brodbecks, Lutheran and Reformed, St Jacobs (Stone), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[35] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, York County, R-106, [PALandWarrantLinks].
[36] Pennsylvania Land Patent, P17-54, reported original warrants by Jacob Bear on December 17, 1751 and by Christian Rohrbach on June 23, 1768 in York, [PAPatentBookLinks].
[37] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C168-292, [PASurveyBookLinks].
[38] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C65-55, [PASurveyBookLinks].
[39] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, B15-119, [PASurveyBookLinks].
[40] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, A35-34, [PASurveyBookLinks].
[41] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C156-177, Survey dated 1822 shows land then belonging to David Rohrbach, [PASurveyBookLinks].
[42] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C156-180, Survey dated 1822 shows land then belonging to David Rohrbach, [PASurveyBookLinks].
[43] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, York County, R-106, [PHMC Warrant].
[44] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C168-292, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[45] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, H-25, Granted to Jacob Bear 1758, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[46] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, B-10-200, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[47] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C104-49, mentions Poplar, Jacob Bear, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[48] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, B-10-11, Bares Range, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[49] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C065-55, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[50] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, B-15-119, See surveys #5473, 5474 in mss. collection, Historical Society of York County, York, Pennsylvania, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[51] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, PA,York, Brodbecks, Lutheran and Reformed, St Jacobs (Stone), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[52] Florence Hepp Petersen, Fisher-Stombaugh: Stombaugh Families and Allied Lineages of Md. and Penna., 1715-1949 (1997), 318, [GoogleBooks].
[53] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 21 (York Taxables) (1897), 80, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[54] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 21 (York Taxables) (1897), 252, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[55] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 21 (York Taxables) (1897), 466, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[56] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 21 (York Taxables) (1897), 546, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[57] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 21 (York Taxables) (1897), 705, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[58] York County, Pennsylvania Probate Records, Will H-31, [FamilySearchImage].
[59] York County, Pennsylvania, Orphans Court Docket F-287, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog York Orphans Court].
[60] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, 1785, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[61] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, 1786, records husband of Sus. Rohrbach, Reformed, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[62] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, 1788, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[63] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[64] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, Zion Lehigh Evangelical Lutheran Church, 169, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[65] York County, Pennsylvania, Deed C-84, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].