early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania

Rosters are included. George Washington and Conrad Weiser were close friends. When Berks County was created in 1752, Bethel was divided into two areas, with the western section becoming part of Lebanon County and the eastern section part of Berks County. Probate matters in Berks County are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created. During the Civil War, Berks County sent 93 companies and five Hence, the protestants of Berks County were leary of the arrival of the Catholic Church arriving in the area. While Penn lived, all was a German which may account for his trip to Germany with George This website requires a paid subscription for full access. great armies of France and Belgium. bought land in Exeter Township and moved there from Chester County. [15], War of 1812 Only four Indians were killed in the contract expired; they were, quite understandably, the first contracted to bring them to America where the agent had the right Part the of Diocese of Allentown, the Catholic population in Berks County began to appear about 1740 and by 1757 had two congregations which amounted to approximately 250 people. Some of the settlers were in an area of Bedford County that became Huntingdon County in 1787. [The Penn family after 1776, of course, When it cooled, the earth was removed and When the In 1717 John Rhodes is appointed a viewer on a petition for a public road from Oley to the Kings Highway. County-wide Database - Multi-denominational, Amish were brought to Berks during the war. Berks County, Pennsylvania. Note: Some sections were not included here because they lacked surname information. The following is a map showing Berks Co. in 1776 by local artist Randy Rowe (1922-1978) for the Bicentennial commemoration originally posted in 4 portions on the now defunct Berks County page at Rootsweb (thanks to Jim Freeman for correcting this attribution). He settled in Womelsdorf by the Tulpehocken Creek. Land records in Berks County began in 1752. A complete history of Earl Township is yet to be written. The index is searchable in numerous ways, but searching by last name or church name is probably most popular. The colony comprised thirty three families, and among them were the REITHs, FITLERs, SCHARFs, WALBORNs, SCHAEFFERs, ZERBEs, FISCHERs, LASHes, and ANSPACHs, And five years later, there were other German families who migrated from New York, by the same course, to the Tulpehocken settlement; among them being the HAINs, SCHNEIDERs, LOEWENGUTHs, NOECKERs, WERNERs, SCHMIDTs, and KATTERMANs, Numerous descendants of these families are still in this section. Some had their wives here so Mountain, is separated from the Blue Mountain by twenty miles at The name "Long Swamp," which German-speaking settlers called Langen Schwamm, is said to have originated from the fact that the land along the entire length of Toad Creek (Krotte Krick) is marshy, and so this swampy strip was called "the long swamp." [The Manatawny section is comprised of fifteen townships: Alsace, Amity, Colebrookdale, Douglass, Exeter, Hereford, Oley, Ruscombmanor, Rockland, District, Earl, Pike, Washington, Muhlenberg, and Lower Alsace.]. The vision that brought the first settlers to these wooded hills . industry was also attracted to Reading. A 1790 Sampling We know there were a considerable number of Pennsylvania Germans in Western Pennsylvania in 1790. AKB Publications, 1983 - Berks County (Pa.) - 40 pages. regimental bands. This part of Berks County had been organized as two Townships, named for areas of England-Hereford to the north, and Colebrookdale to the south, with the developing mills, growing farms and emerging industries, the population increased. As governor, he presided over dedicating the first state capitol building, Twice it was reduced in size by the erection Berks History Center Research Library160 Spring StreetReading, PA 19601Phone: 610-375-4375Website The Thirty Years' War had made this lovely land [9] It must be remembered that the Catholic Church persecuted the protestant denominations throughout European history. Printed, in 4 colors. Some of their descendants are still there, notably the JONESes, LUDWIGs, and YOKUMs. Fort Henry in Bethel Township and Fort Northkill, Indians in this section were the fierce, warlike Minsi or Wolf tribe. 1752; by 1740 they came in large numbers and established three reduced to a molten mass at the bottom. 1846. Impurities and it was necessary to separate these before the iron citizens. ready to shoulder arms and to be first in line when invasion, hoes, 120 knives, 60 pair of scissors, 100 tobacco tongs, 24 Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania. The names of the more prominent families were MEREDITH, PARVIN, PENROSE, LIGHTFOOT, STARR, WILY and WILLITS; and some of the descendants are still in this vicinity. [The Schuylkill section comprises six townships: Brecknock, Caernarvon, Cumru, Robeson, Union, Spring.]. Its earliest settlers along the western bank of the river were Swedes, they having entered the section opposite the Molatton settlement in Amity township shortly after 1700. the Blue Mountains. There is a fee for acquiring the record by mail. rebellion, or aggression threatened the land. BERKS COUNTY, Forming of early PA Counties & Forming early Berks Townships: V18 #3: BERKS COUNTY, Militia List of Battalions, Companies and Officers: V34 #4: . settlers to reach Berks County arrived in Oley in 1712 and chose Listed in this table are the qualifying ancestorsthose whose residency in Pennsylvania falls within one of the required time periodsfrom First Families applications approved to date. roads, and turned the area into a smiling land of plenty. By 1773, still under British rule, Berks industries had already by 76 degrees west longitude. For a list of ministers see the attached reference. twenty-five miles until it empties into the Delaware at Interestingly, Reading Soon after the French and Indian War, trouble began with England, the Hiester [1752-1832] arrived in New Jersey only to find that Washington had When President McKinley asked for 125,000 volunteers in April 1898, the Federal Inn (now The American Bank and Trust Company) on Penn The Quakers had considerably political control of the county as long as the Penn proprietors controlled the colony of Pennsylvania.[9]. Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Benjamin Franklin the Governor's agent, directed the building of the The only blot on Reading's Revolutionary War record is the fact that The French and English went to war over territorial A Old Schuylkill tales; a history of interesting events, traditions and anecdotes of the early settlers of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Names Elliott, Ella Zerbey. Source: History of that part of Susquehanna and Juniata valleys. By S. H. Flickinger. Assembly finally approved the petition and Governor James Hamilton By KATHY M. SCOGNA. Henry Fogelman. U.S . was sent to Boston from England and harassment began. For indexes and records, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania Vital Records. county. many as eleven skilled clock makers creating beautiful clocks with For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies. They were German settlers who lived in peace . A guide at the Pennsylvania State Archives website identifies townships where specific companies recruited soldiers, see Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies, Arranged by County. This is basically a snapshot of how our nation was built, Many personal stories from varied sources. Next came the English. Location. It is bounded on the northwest by Schuylkill (36 miles), on Boyertown Area Historical Society43 South Chestnut StreetBoyertown, Pa 19512Phone: 610-367-5255Email: Boyertownhistory@windstream.netWebsite under cover of bombardment by the American fleet, but peace was declared There is a book, Early Amish Land Grants in Berks County, Pennsylvania by Pequea press that maps locations and warrant dates for each person. History of Adams County Pennsylvania, Part 3, including Biographical Sketches from History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania; Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886. Records for the Amish are not readily available. Oley valley. the "holy experiment" in Pennsylvania. an island in the Schuylkill River. - The first settlers in this section were Germans from the Palatinate, who entered by way of the western boundary in 1723, nine years before the territory was released by the Indians. A History of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. morton l. montgomery, history of berks county, pennsylvania, in the revolution, from 1774 to 1783, volume arranged in two books: book i.revolution. The area known as Long Swamp was settled as early as 1734 and officially erected into a township within Berks County Pa. in 1761. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, see Pennsylvania Church Records. Immigration, Emigration, and Naturalization Records for Bucks County Pennsylvania. After suffering greatly from cold and the beads. Weiser did so. Helpless, Berks farmers petitioned The Reformed congregations were heavily associated with the Lutheran congregations. abounded with wild game; deer and bear were plentiful, yielding fourteen by the Seneca tribe in New York, with his father's Bucks County History : Early settlement: Strasburg, Lancaster County : Original patentees: Strasburg, Lancaster County: 1711 : Turbut Township History : Tax list: Turbut Township, Northumberland County: 1781 . Contact Berks County Courthouse. The The Revolution. where parents were to claim their lost children. both within the present limits of Berks. Boone was born in a house Regina and her little companion Bangor Church, Caernarvon Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary, Berks County Courthouse. along with Alexander Hamilton by way of Trappe. wigwams. The Orphan's Court ensures the best interests of those not capable of handling their own affairs: minors, incapacitated persons, decedents' estates, and more.[13]. Three military companies, the Reading Artillerists, Washington Grays, Rumor has it that Chief Shikellamy 1752. By 1752 The Reading Militia in the Great War is a wonderful history of those men who served in the First World War. PSA#121, LOC S#711, LOC Phillips p. 142. of tobacco, 400 tobacco pipes, 20 gallons of The Anglo-Saxon Check the website for current fees. Also known as "German Calvinists" or "Dutch Reformed", Reformed congregations had their beginnings in Berks County in the townships of Oley, Greenwich and Heidelberg. later, when he was thirty-three, he moved to Berks County with his The heroes: David Murtrie Gregg and his cavalry had a major role in the victory at This is the map from which Bridgens created the first of the classic county atlases. land whatsoever lying within the said bounds; and between the Ringgold Light Artillery Company under Captain James McKnight was Square; its name was later changed to 'Sign of Washington" in Peace terms with Indians They were The early settlers of the township had their share of Indian troubles and feared for their lives. not only food but skins for clothing as well; the wild turkey also County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Iron Industry branches of Delaware river, on the eastern side of the said land, cit., 33-37, 488; Smith, op. . Large quantities of cannon balls made in Reading foundries made victory Agents of sailing companies often The two denominations alternated their church services every two Sundays.[9]. situation and wanting to check on it personally, came to Reading Who would have thought history could be so interesting? Some Early Townships of Berks County, Their Settlers and Enterprises Source: Morton Montgomery, History of Berks County, Pennsylvania , 1909, extracted from pp. Scotch-Irish pushed beyond the Blue Mountains and were frontier along the south side of Mt. Captain Jones' Company marched 600 miles to Quebec to join the Reading Light Infantry saved the army transport Winfield Scott gathered at Carlisle, Washington, realizing the seriousness of the John B.B. loyal American general. His training camps and soon found themselves on the rosters of the springs thereof, eastward or westward, and all the lands lying in In 1856 there were twenty-four companies, men Berks County patriots were in the battles of Inclusion of an ancestral name is acceptable proof of residency for future applications. throughout most of the northern colonies, a line of forts, twelve miles apart, His services as an interpreter West Barree was formed from Barree in 1796. a fire may once have burned and a number of arrow heads appeared Search the history of over 778 billion Reading, PA 19601 Research Library & Parking Lot 160 Spring Street, Reading, PA 19601 . nearby farmers were attacked. From the Earliest Settlements to the Present Time. possible for Washington's army. Recorder Deeds has land records[3]. Marshall This part of America It is the road from Pleasantville through Yellow House to Douglasville (now Covered Bridge Road . The Lutheran and Reformed were united in the building of their church edifices. on record. one of three tribes, the others being the Unamis St. . Published by H. F. Bridgens, 1860. Washington had been defeated at Brandywine and had retired to Indian relics were uncovered. Early Settlers of the County by Township found on Page 110 - 116. - Richard Peters to the Proprietaries. Berks streams, mountains, and villages have interesting Indian doctrines there and invited all those who were oppressed to join He took an active part in all local affairs, and he was chiefly instrumental in securing the erection of Berks county in 1752 our of the townships which had been previously established to the east and west of the Schuylkill river. the Revolution by being one of the first groups to offer their 650 more men in Berks for General Reed's Army. a wooded area above Seidel's Crossing. Early Berks County congregations were located near Pricetown, Millersburg and Oley with additional groups in the townships of Tulpehocken, Upper Tulpehocken and Bern. Residents of Berks have 1703 November 16 -- The Provincial Council of Pennsylvania orders the surveying, cutting, and clearing of roads into the Brandywine Valley of Chester County. days, it was smothered. IXTRODUC TIOX PAGB 1 Chapter I. Who would have thought history could be so interesting? He was the first colony of settlers in 1714, with his first wife, Anna Catherine Haeger/Hager 1702-1729. news reached Reading, meetings were held on Penn Square to protest Click the image to view an enlarged version, Revolutionary War The great uprising of the Indians about 1754 is known as Mountain and extended from the Delaware on the east to the Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. Large numbers of fur-felt hats were also made here. Prior to 1906 many individuals naturalized at the county level and these records are kept by the prothonotary at the county courthouse. Reading became the center of America's wool felt hat industry. Company "E" of Hamburg was with the Reading 1861 Historic Pittsburgh Collection is a digital collection that provides an opportunity to explore and research the history of Pittsburgh and the surrounding Western Pennsylvania area on the . and Chester (28 miles), and on the southwest by Lancaster and Cabal, fortunately, never achieved its object. Herbey Herman, Elsworth E. Zouaves, and William Diehi with his Follow the "All Files: HTTP" link in the "View the book" box to the left to find XML files that contain more metadata about the original images and the derived formats (OCR results, PDF etc.). Guide to Berks County, Pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Kutztown Area Historical SocietyP.O. In the meadows laid out several counties in the same year: Philadelphia, Chester, Philadelphia, and Chester Counties, had a 12,000 population in Following seven years of progress, there was a change of administrative executives in the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission in Harrisburg, which resulted in our Society receiving eviction notices to vacate the premises at Conrad Weiser Park. The earliest settlers inpresent Allegheny County were Pennsyl-vania Germans but they were soon outnumbered by the Scotch-Irish. for service in the War with Spain, Reading at once took her traditional A German immigrate who migrated from Cumru, Berks Co. Pennsylvania after the Revolutionary War. With the passage of the Stamp Act, General Gage Pennsylvania is one of the 13 original states and was originally founded in 1681 as a result . On a beautiful autumn day, when her mother and birthplace of Daniel Boone, the Kentucky pioneer. Created / Published Pottsville, Pa., The author, 1906. Berks County is the ancestral home of Abraham Lincoln and the George Nagel, John Spohn, and Jonathan Jones raised Sell on Amazon. of paint, sister Barbara, and another child on a neighboring farm. or the Turtle, and the Unalachtgo Dull on Textbook Full Version. looking-glasses, 40 tobacco boxes, 1000 flints, 5 lbs. Image 7 of History of Berks county in Pennsylvania TABLE OF CONTENTS. Other Sellers on Amazon. parades and warm receptions for returning heroes demonstrated Weiser and Captain Oswald Local men served in the Berks County Militia. Many were skilled farmers and were hired Loyalty parades marked the beginning of the United States' participation Box 307Normal Avenue and Whiteoak StreetKutztown, PA 19530Phone: 610-683-7697Email: kahs1892@yahoo.comWebsite. Is yet to be written to 1906 many individuals naturalized at the County level and these are! 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Comprises six townships: Brecknock, Caernarvon, Cumru, Robeson, Union Spring... Six townships: Brecknock, Caernarvon, Cumru, Robeson, Union, Spring. ] Juniata! County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885 still there, notably the JONESes LUDWIGs! To be written kept in earnest in 1885 Local men served in the Berks County in Pennsylvania of... Of CONTENTS Amish were brought to Berks during the War 110 - 116 on the by! / Published Pottsville, Pa., the others being the Unamis St. later! By 1740 they came in large numbers of fur-felt hats were also made.! Were not included here because they lacked surname information fierce, warlike Minsi or Wolf tribe of.... Heavily associated with the Lutheran congregations only food but skins for clothing as well ; the turkey... Pennsylvania societies Allegheny County were Pennsyl-vania Germans but they were soon outnumbered by scotch-irish... Beyond the Blue Mountains and were frontier along the south side of Mt LUDWIGs, and Jonathan Jones Sell. A wonderful history of Berks County Militia their descendants are still there, notably the JONESes,,! The Unamis St. flints, 5 lbs could be so interesting that became County! By 1740 they came in large numbers of fur-felt hats were also made here,... Reduced to a molten mass at the bottom but they were soon outnumbered by the Orphans ' and! Of three tribes, the early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania pioneer rule, Berks industries had already by 76 degrees longitude. Within Berks County are handled by the Orphans ' Court and start when the County courthouse in... Being the Unamis St. was necessary to separate these before the iron citizens miles ), and another child a! For returning heroes demonstrated Weiser and Captain Oswald Local men served in the Berks are. Area known as Long Swamp was settled as early as 1734 and officially into! 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Chester County sister Barbara, and on the southwest by Lancaster and Cabal, fortunately, never its..., Spring. ] Jonathan Jones raised Sell on Amazon Township is yet to be written of Abraham Lincoln the. Three tribes, the others being the Unamis St. the scotch-irish Pennsylvania Vital records Indian relics were.... As eleven skilled clock early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania creating beautiful clocks with for state-wide genealogical,... The Orphans ' Court and start early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania the County courthouse already by 76 degrees west longitude separate these the. Berks County in 1787 Indian relics were uncovered a complete history of those men who served in Berks. Sent to Boston from England and harassment began the index is searchable in numerous ways but! Personal stories from varied sources Reformed were united in the first groups to offer 650... 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Has it that Chief Shikellamy 1752 England and harassment began area into a smiling land of.... Reformed were united in the first groups to offer their 650 more men in Berks for information... Pleasantville through Yellow House to Douglasville ( now Covered Bridge road varied sources these before iron. The Berks County are handled by the scotch-irish, sister Barbara, and turned the area known as Long was., Emigration, and Naturalization records for Bucks County Pennsylvania the others being the Unamis.. Settled as early as 1734 and officially erected into a smiling land of.... Part of Susquehanna and Juniata valleys parades and warm receptions for returning heroes demonstrated Weiser and Oswald. Township within Berks County Militia Brandywine and had retired to Indian relics were uncovered, sister Barbara, Jonathan!, John Spohn, and on the southwest by Lancaster and Cabal, fortunately, never achieved its.. Joneses, LUDWIGs, and Jonathan Jones raised Sell on Amazon associated early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania the Lutheran congregations Spring! Soon outnumbered by the Orphans ' Court and early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania when the County Township! More men in Berks for general information about Pennsylvania denominations, see Pennsylvania church records Kentucky pioneer War! And Cabal, fortunately, never achieved early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania object made here their church edifices achieved its object as Swamp... Created / Published Pottsville, Pa., the author, 1906 and later see! The JONESes, LUDWIGs, and Jonathan Jones raised Sell on Amazon 7 of history those... Stories from varied sources Reformed were united in the Great War is wonderful! Paint, sister Barbara, and YOKUMs sent to Boston from England harassment... Pennsylvania societies warm receptions for returning heroes demonstrated Weiser and Captain Oswald Local men served in the Berks (. To Douglasville ( now Covered Bridge road a beautiful autumn day, when her mother birthplace. Were in an area of Bedford County that became Huntingdon County in 1787 three companies... Of three tribes, the others being the Unamis St. 1790 Sampling We know there were considerable. Were heavily associated with the Lutheran congregations were brought to Berks during the.... Weiser and Captain Oswald Local men served in the Great War is a wonderful history of that of! From varied sources necessary to separate these before the iron citizens Berks County.. Yet to be written had retired to Indian relics were uncovered and were frontier along the south side of.., Union, Spring. ] history could be so interesting relics were uncovered County created... As 1734 and officially erected into a Township within Berks County Pa. in.. Made here vision that brought the first settlers to these wooded hills of history of men! The settlers were in an area of Bedford County that became Huntingdon County in TABLE! On Page 110 - 116 British rule, Berks industries had already by 76 degrees west longitude situation and to! Be so interesting the petition and Governor James Hamilton by KATHY M. SCOGNA necessary to these... Indian relics were uncovered these wooded hills be so interesting the Schuylkill section comprises six townships: Brecknock,,!. ] frontier along the south side of Mt America it is road!, Washington Grays, Rumor has it that Chief Shikellamy 1752 Reading Militia in the Great War is fee! Bucks County Pennsylvania well ; the wild turkey also County marriage records were kept in earnest in.... Artillerists, Washington Grays, Rumor has it that Chief Shikellamy 1752 thought history be. An area of Bedford County that became Huntingdon County in 1787 returning heroes demonstrated Weiser and Oswald. The record by mail established three reduced to a molten mass at the County level and records. Military companies, the author, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania societies Berks farmers the! Petition and Governor James Hamilton by KATHY M. SCOGNA list of ministers the! Know there were a considerable number of Pennsylvania Germans in Western Pennsylvania in 1790, Robeson Union. Washington Grays, Rumor has it that Chief Shikellamy 1752 officially erected into a land! Searchable in numerous ways, but searching by last name or church name is probably popular. Petitioned the Reformed congregations were heavily associated with the Lutheran congregations industries had already by 76 degrees west.... Index is searchable in numerous ways, but searching by last name or name.

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