c 1700 Cornelis Boumeester, View of Rotterdam.
A tile painting, composed of 33 Delft tiles (trimmed).
Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston [3]
Research Notes:
1727 Christian Rohrer was born about this time, based on his age reported as 49 in 1766. [1]
1751 Christian Rohrer arrived in Philadelphia on the ship "Two Brothers" from Rotterdam via Cowes, England and was registered at the court house on September 21. Christian Rohr signed his name with an "X" on the ship list. [2]
Christian Rohrer married Fronica. [8] Christian Rohrer reportedly married Veronica Lehman. [9]
1764 Christian Rohrer bought 119 acres "addition to Good Luck" in Frederick County, Maryland from Jacob Funck on December 19. [10]
1765 Christian Rohrer bought land in Washington County (was Frederick County) from Jacob French. [11]
1776 Christian Rohrer was fined in Washington County for refusal to bear arms, which indicates that he was born after 1726. He was a Mennonite. [12]
1776 Census for Elizabeth parish, Frederick County, Maryland [13] lists Christian Sr age 49 [14], Froncia age 35 [15], Christian age 11 [16], John age 9 (perhaps died in 1791) [17], Barbara age 8, Mary age 5 (married Abraham Troxell) [18], Ann age 4 (married ? Miller) [19], Jacob (age 3), and Samuel (age 2). Christian Rohrer was in the 1776 Maryland census at Washington County living one household away from Jacob Rohrer (born 1744). [20]
1790 Christian Rohrer lived in Washington County, Maryland in a household with Males: 2 (age Under 16), and 2 (age 16 and over); Females: 4. Christopher Rohrer, with 2 males under age 16, (perhaps a son of Christian) was listed adjacent. [21]
1791-1805 Christian Rohrer dated his will on January 13, 1791 and it was proved on September 14, 1805. He wrote that he was "of sound mind memory and health" and made his mark on the will with an "X". He names his wife Fronica in his will and states that he has seven children, but does not name them. [22]
1800 Christian Rohrer lived in Elizabeth Hundred, Washington County, Maryland in a household with Males: 1 (age Under 10), 2 (age 16 thru 25), 1 (age 26 thru 44), and 1 (age 45 and over); Females: 1 (age Under 10), 1 (age 26 thru 44), and 1 (age 45 and over). [23] Jacob Rohrer, [son] of Chr[istian], was listed adjacent. [24] Henry Miller (perhaps a spouse of daughter Ann), Jacob Rohrer Sr (who was this?) and Jacob Rohrer Jr were listed below.
1801 Christian Rohrer reportedly died on January 12, in Washington County, Maryland. [25]
1810 Jacob Rohrer lived in Elizabeth Hundred, Washington County, Maryland in a household with males: 1 (under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44); and females: 2 (under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44). [26]
1810 Daniel Rohrer lived in Marsh Hundred, Washington County, Maryland in a household with males: 3 (under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44); and females: 1 (under 10), 1 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over). [27]
1813 An index entry for the Maryland Chancery Court dated 1813/08/15 records [28]
4386: Daniel Rohrer, Daniel Bragonier, and Barbara Bragonier. WA. Estate of Christian Rohrer - Establishment. Recorded (Chancery Record) 90, p. 551.
Accession No.: 17,898-4386 MSA S512-6- 4533 Location: 1/37/1/
1813 Daniel Rohrer, Daniel Bragonier and Barbara his wife late Barbara Rohrer petitioned the court concerning the will of Christian Rohrer, the father of Daniel and Barbara. Christian died about January 13, 1801. The will specified that after the death of wife Fronica, the estate was to be sold and equally divided among 7 children. The will mention a tract of 119 acres called "Establishment" in Washington County, Maryland. The seven heirs were named as Daniel Rohrer, Barbara the wife of Daniel Bragonier, Christian Rohrer now living in upper Canada, Samuel Rohrer of the state of Pennsylvania, Jacob Rohrer of Washington County Maryland, Maria married to Abraham Troxell of the state of Ohio, and Anna Miller widow of Washington County, Maryland. Dated August 15, 1813. [29]
1814 Maryland Chancery Court records report [30]:
In Chancery, March 18th 1814.
Vs.
Christian Rohrer, Samuel Rohrer, e Abraham Troxell and Maria his wife.
The object of the bill filed in this case is to obtain a decree for the sale of the real estate of Christian Rohrer, deceased.
The bill states that the said Christian Rohrer hath departed this life, having first made and executed his last Will and Testament, that he bequeathed to his wife Frances all his real and personal estate, during her life, and after her decease, the said real estate to be sold and the money arising fro the sale to be divided amongst his seven children.—
That the said Christian Rohrer appointed his wife Frances his executrix, who hath also departed this life—That the said Christian Rohrer left the following heirs to wit, Daniel Rohrer, and Barbara the wife of Daniel Bragonier the petitioners, and Christian Rohrer, Samuel Rohrer, Jacob Rohrer, Maria married to Abraham Troxell & Ann Miller—That the said Christian Rohrer, Samuel Rohrer and Maria married to Abraham Troxell reside out of the state of Maryland.
It is thereupon adjudged and ordered that the complainants by causing a copy of this order to be inserted, once in each of three such successive weeks, in the Maryland herald, printed at Hagers-town before the 50th day of April next, give notice to the absent defendants of the substance and object of the bill, that they may be warned to appear in this court in person, or by a solicitor before the 30th day of August next, to shew cause if any they have, why a decree should not pass as prayed.
Documents possibly related to son-in-law Daniel Bragunier:
1810 Son-in-law Daniel Bragunier lived in Elizabeth Hundred, Washington County, Maryland in a household with males: 3 (under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44); and females: 2 (under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44). [31] Frederick Rohrer and Jacob Rohrer were listed on the same page.
1820 Son-in-law Daniel Braggoonier lived in Election District 2, Washington County, Maryland in a household with males: 1 (under 10), 2 (10 thru 15), 1 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over); and females: 1 (under 10), 2 (10 thru 15), and 1 (16 thru 25). [32]
Documents possibly related to son-in-law Abraham Troxell:
1776 Abraham Draxel (perhaps future son-in-law Troxel?), age 7, lived in Elizabeth parish, Fredrick County, Maryland. [33]
1810 Son-in-law A Troxel lived in Frederick County, Maryland in a household with males: 1 (under 10), 1 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over); and females: 3 (under 10), 1 (16 thru 25), 1 (26 thru 44), and 1 (45 and over). [34]
1810 Abraham Troxel was taxed in Jefferson Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. [35]
1820 Son-in-law Abram Troxell lived in Jefferson Twp, Montgomery County, Ohio in a household with males: 1 (under 10), 2 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over); and females: 1 (10 thru 15) and 2 (26 thru 44). [36]
1830 Abraham Droxel lived in Baltimore Ward 10, Baltimore County, Maryland in a household with males: 1 (under 5), 2 (10 thru 14), 2 (15 thru 19), and 1 (40 thru 49); and females: 1 (under 5), 2 (5 thru 9), and 1 (15 thru 19). [37]
1834 Mary A Troxell died on July 20 and was buried at Troxell Cemetery, Ellerton, Montgomery County, Ohio. Mary A Troxell was born on April 21, 1771. She is speculatively named as Rohrer. [38] [39]
1845 Abraham Troxell died on January 13 and was buried at Troxell Cemetery, Ellerton, Montgomery County, Ohio. Abraham Troxell was born on March 11, 1770. [40] [41]
The Mennonite card file names Christian Rohrer, spouse of Veronica Lehman, as a son of John Rohrer and Elizabeth Snavely. [42]
DNA [43]
[1] Maryland, U.S., Colonial Census, 1776, [AncestryRecord].
[2] Ralph B. Strassburger, William J. Hinke, ed., Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Vol. 1 (1934, Pennsylvania German Society), 465, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[3] 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].
[4] 1675 Francis Place, Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight (Used with permission from the Victoria and Albert Museum), [Victoria and Albert Museum].
[5] 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].
[6] Nicholas Scull, George Heap, A Map of Philadelphia and Parts Adjacent with a Perspective of the State House (Philadelphia: 1752), [LibraryOfCongress], [LibraryOfCongress Catalog].
[7] The Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1751, page 2, [NewspapersClip].
[8] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Rohrer H15, [Website].
[9] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[10] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Rohrer H15, [Website].
[11] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Rohrer H15, [Website].
[12] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Rohrer H15, [Website].
[13] Bettie Stirling Carothers, Maryland, U.S., Colonial Census, 1776, 57, 58, 63, [FamilySearch Library].
[14] Maryland, U.S., Colonial Census, 1776, [AncestryRecord].
[15] Maryland, U.S., Colonial Census, 1776, [AncestryRecord].
[16] Maryland, U.S., Colonial Census, 1776, [AncestryRecord].
[17] Maryland, U.S., Colonial Census, 1776, [AncestryRecord].
[18] Maryland, U.S., Colonial Census, 1776, [AncestryRecord].
[19] Maryland, U.S., Colonial Census, 1776, [AncestryRecord].
[20] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Rohrer H15, [Website].
[21] United States Federal Census, 1790, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[22] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Rohrer H15, [Website].
[23] United States Federal Census, 1800, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[24] United States Federal Census, 1800, [AncestryRecord].
[25] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Rohrer H15, [Website].
[26] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryRecord].
[27] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryRecord].
[28] Maryland State Archives Chancery Court, [URL].
[29] Copy of document provided by Brenda Rohrer Smith.
[30] Copy of document provided by Brenda Rohrer Smith.
[31] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryRecord].
[32] United States Federal Census, 1820, [AncestryRecord].
[33] Maryland, U.S., Colonial Census, 1776, [AncestryRecord].
[34] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryRecord].
[35] Ohio, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890, [AncestryRecord].
[36] United States Federal Census, 1820, [AncestryRecord].
[37] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryRecord].
[38] Find A Grave Memorial 70027625, [FindAGrave].
[39] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[40] Find A Grave Memorial 70027876, [FindAGrave].
[41] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[42] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord].
[43] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert's family suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, The ancestry shown in this tree is inconsistent with the notes above for son Christian, of Upper Canada, [Link].