Conrad Ritter / Rutter and ?? (wife’s name unknown)

Joseph Ritter / Rutter and Barbara (nee Bichler)

Andrew Ritter / Rutter and Jane (nee Lightner)

Adam Rutter and Barbara (nee King)

Andrew Rutter and Susan (nee Gibson)

Jacob Small Rutter and Harriet Tabitha (nee Fry)

Abner Fry Rutter and Lydia Ann (nee Gregg)

Chester Gregg Rutter and Rachel Beatrice (nee Ridgely)

James Keith Rutter and Mary Helen (nee Odegard)

James Christopher Rutter

Source: June D. Brown, Abstracts of Cecil County, Maryland, Land Records: 1673-1751 (Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, 1999), pg. 157

 This Indenture made this Seventh day of June in the eighth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George by the grace of god of Great Britain, France and Ireland King defender of the faith Anno ye Dom one thousand and Seven hundred and twenty two between Ephraim Augt. Herman of Cecil County in the Province of Maryland, Gent, of the one part, and Andrew Rider of the same place, Planter, of the other part; Witnesseth that the said Eph Aug Herman for and in consideration of the Yearly Rents and Services herein after Mentioned have demised leesed and to farm lett and Sett and do by these Psents Demise lease and to farm lett & Sett unto the said Andrew Rider a tenament of land being part of Bohemia Manor; Beginning at the bounded tree of the land that William Husband took up, Standing on the North side of new Castle Road then up along the said Road East and by North one hundred and twenty perches to a Hakery [Hickory?] Standg by the said Road; thence North and by West one hundred and Sixty perches to a bounded red Oak; thence along the said line South South East to the first bounded tree containing one hundred twenty five acres of land; the said land formerly being taken up by James Wood and now called Andrew’s Comeby; To have and to hold all & singular the above said land with all Houses Outhouses Orchards Gardens and all and Singular the appurtenances unto the said Andrew Rider his heires and assigns for and during three naturall lives; that is to say for and during the Naturall life of him the said Andrew Rider & during the Naturall life of Peter Ryder & during the Natural life of Joseph Rider; he the said Andrew Rider his heires Exors admors or any in Possession Yielding and paying therefore yearly and every year unto the said Eph Augt Herman his heires Exors Admors and assigns on every tenth day of December during the above said three naturall lives at the [New? Now?] dwelling of the said Eph Augt Herman the full Sum of two Pounds lawfull Silver Money of Maryland or the Value thereof in good Merchantable leaf Tobacco good Winter Wheat Barley or Indian Corn and two Dunghill fowles; And the said Eph Augt Herman doth for himself and his heires Covent grant and agree to and with the said Andrew Rider heires and assigns that they the above said land & Premises with all houses out houses Orchards gardens & all & Singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging shall quietly and Peaceably have hold occupy Possess and enjoy during the abovesaid three naturall lives without any lett hindrances or Molestation of either the said Eph Augt Herman his heires Exors Admor or assigns or any other person or persons whatsoever lawfully claiming the same according to the true intent purport and meaning of these presents; And the said Andrew Rider doth for himself and his heires Covenant grant and agree to & with the said Eph Augt Herman that he the said Andrew Rider his heires & assigns shall & will in all things Demeane & behave themselves according to the common custom of Tennants of Mannors in old England to the true Performances of all & every thing and things Article and Articles herein above Mentioned both parties have hereunto interchangeably Set their hands and Seales ye Year & day above written; Sealed and delivered in the presence of us: William Taylor, Augt Larramore.

Eph. Augt Herman [Seal]

Memd Ye Word (heires and assigns) in the Eleventh line was Interlined before Delivery hereof -- Maryland Cecil County [City?] The 15^th day of Aug. 1722 then came the within named Eph Augt Herman before us the Subscribers two of his Lordships justices for the said County and did acknowledge the within Lease in due form before us         

Edward Jackson

It is well documented that a Conrad Backer / Rutters accompanied Francis Daniel Pastorius on the ship America, which departed from England June 10, 1683 and arrived at Philadelphia on Aug. 18^th. [i]  Daniel Pastorius was the scion of a distinguished German family, a scholar and practicing attorney in his early 30’s at the time he decided to emigrate to America.  While living in Frankfort, Pastorius became involved with a group of Pietists who followed the teachings of Phillip Jacob Spener.  Dismayed by the worldliness and lack of godliness that they saw all around them, several of this group made plans to emigrate to Pennsylvania, with the intention of establishing a more godly community under the freedom of religion promised by the Quaker provincial proprietor, William Penn.  Accordingly they purchased land in Pennsylvania from Penn under the name of The Frankfort Company  [aka The German Company or Society].  Pastorius was attracted to the plan and agreed to serve as their agent, preceding the rest in order to make preparations for the larger group to follow.

In April of 1683, Pastorius traveled up the Rhine to Rotterdam, then sailed by ship to London, accompanied by a servant, Jacob Shoemaker, who joined him in Frankfurt.  In London he added to his party, as described in the following excerpt from The Beehive, a biography and compendium of general knowledge that Pastorius began writing for his sons after coming to America. [ii]

“The 4^th of May I sailed from Rotterdam accompanied by Tob. Lud. Kohlhans, and the servant, then with me, and came the 8^th of ditto to London, taking our Lodging at John Hodgkinds in Lombard street.  After I had done my business with Hellmont and those I had letters for, I with Jacob Shoemaker (who came with me from Mentz), George Wertmuller, Issac Dilbeek, his wife Marieke and his two boys Abraham and Jacob, Thomas Gasper, Cunrad Backer, (alias Rutter,) and an English Maid, called Frances Simson, went a board of a ship, which had the name of America.”

From the passage above, it is apparent that the servants other than Shoemaker did not join Pastorius until he arrived in London.  No mention is made of where they came from or how Pastorius came to hire them.  That they were hired in the capacity of servants is made clear from a letter that Pastorius sent, dated March 7, 1684. [iii]

“Concerning my journey hither, on the tenth of June, I saild from Deal, with four men servants, two maids, two children and one young lad.”

Some background information is available on the group of servants that Pastorious hired in London to assist him in the new world.  Jacob Shoemaker was a tanner from Mainz.  The Shoemakers were reportedly Mennonites who converted to Quakerism.   Isaac Dilbeck was a Dutch weaver and Calvinist.  George (Joris) Wertmuller came from Berne, Switzerland. [iv]  No information is available on the origins of Thomas Gasper.

It seems likely that all but Shoemaker and Wertmuller were Dutch. [v]

“In regard to my household, I should like to arrange it in good German style in which Jacob Schumacher and the old Swiss are very serviceable, but the Hollanders, who are with me, are not of much use in it.  Now if you wish that our hope should not be disappointed, send only Germans, for the Hollanders (as sad experience has taught me) are not so easily satisfied, which in this new land is a very necessary quality, etc.”

Thus it is apparent that Conrad Backer / Rutters was Dutch, not German.  Some Dutch did live in Cleves, Germany, since it was near the Dutch border.  But as we have seen, Conrad was employed in London and there is no evidence that he was born or grew up in Cleves.  This mistake likely arose from the fact that many of the original group of thirteen families that Pastorius joined up with on the ship did come from Cleves, but we know that Conrad was not part of this group.  Rather he was one of group of servants whom Pastorius hired in London.

The author of “The History of Old Germantown” makes the supposition that “the young lad” mentioned by Pastorius was probably Conrad Bacher (alias Rutter). [vi]  This appears logical in light of the fact that no further references to Conrad are found for a period of 8 years from their landing in Philadelphia. 

Furthermore, the author of “William Penn and the Dutch Quaker Migration to Pennsylvania” states that Conrad may have acquired the Rutter name from Thomas Rutter, to whom he was apprenticed. [vii]  No evidence has been found to verify that Conrad served as an apprentice to Thomas Rutter, but it is plausible.  Pastorius did not begin writing the Beehive until 1696, thus Conrad could already have been apprenticed and associated with Thomas Rutter at the time Pastorious wrote Conrad’s name appended with the alias.  However, if true, it would be strange that Conrad was always referred to as Rutters (with an “s”), rather than as Rutter.  Therefore, there may have been another reason for the name change.

Indeed, it was not uncommon for the Dutch to change their name or append aliases, and this was done for a variety of reasons.  Occasionally, the Dutch used their mother’s maiden name as an alias.  In Westphalan and bordering areas, a family's surname was called a Hofname (farm-name).  Each farm had a surname associated with it and the family living on the farm took this surname.  For example, if a daughter inherited a farm, when she got married, her husband would change his name to the name associated with the farm. During this transition period they would often list his old name and his new surname with a phrase such as genannt, vulgo, modo, sive, or alias shown between them, meaning he had one surname but was called by another.

The next time Conrad appeared in the records was 1691, when his name was shown amongst a list of Germantown residents who were naturalized as freeman of the province and recognized as subjects of England  by William Penn.  In this document, Conrad is named as Koendradt Backer (no alias). [viii] 

Because he apparently still lived in Germantown in 1691, it appears unlikely that Conrad moved to Montgomery in 1689, as indicated in the conventional history.  However there is evidence that a Konradt or Conradus Rutters lived in Burlington, NJ, for several years at the turn of the 18^th century.  On Nov. 7^th, 1698, Thomas Garwood sold 100 acres to Konradt Rutters for the price of 10 pounds. [ix]  The land was located in the township of Northhampton, Burlington Co., in the Province of New Jersey.  In the document, Konradt Rutters is referred to as a husbandman residing in Burlington.

A few years later, on Mar 4, 1703/4, John Blake, yeoman, sold 150 acres of land to Koonradt Rutters and his wife Anne for fifteen pounds. [x]  This land was also situated in Burlington County, and Conrad is referred to as a resident of the Township of Chesterfield in the same county (no profession noted).

On Feb. 6^th, 1704/5, Conradus Rutter and his wife Anne sold 150 acres of land to John Milns and Mary his wife for 51 pounds. [xi]  In this document, Conradus is described as a planter in Burlington.

New Jersey records also show that Koenradt Rutters registered his cattle and hog ear marks as a crop and a hole on the right ear and two slits in the left ear. [xii]

In 1706, Conrad resurfaces in Germantown when his name appears on a deed of indenture for land purchased from William DeWees. [xiii]  In the document, dated the Jan. 22, 1705/6, William DeWees, husbandman, residing in Germantown, sold 25 acres of land to Conrad Rutters, husbandman, also of Germantown, for 20 pounds silver money of PA.  The land was classified as Lot 20 on the Bristol side of Germantown, containing one town lot of 19 acres and a side lot of 6 acres.

Conrad Rutters  is listed as a patron of the Germantown school during the period 1706 – 1708. [xiv]  The Germantown school was founded by Pastorius in 1701.  Patrons were typically parents who sent children to the school.  Interestingly, the list of patrons shown in “The Founder of Germantown” appears to show two entries, one “Conrad Rutter” and another "Cunrad Rütters."  No other name appears twice in the list.  Is there a chance that both Conrad Rutters (of Germantown) and Conrad Rutter (then of Bohemia Manor, MD), both sent their children to Pastorius’ German school?  Research of the original document is needed to determine if the list does indeed include  both, or whether this was just a mistake introduced in the book.

On Dec 13, 1709, Conrad Rutters sold the 25 acres of Lot 20 to Paul and Catherine Engel for 25 pounds silver PA money. [xv]  On the same day, Conrad purchased from Jonas Potts 29-2/3 acres of land for the price of 37 pounds silver money of PA.  This was classified as Lot 6 on the Bristol side of Germantown.[xvi] 

On March 14, 1711/12, Conrad Rutters purchased 18-3/4 acres of land in Germantown from Isaac Van Sintern and Reinier Tisen for the price of 15 pounds silver money of PA. [xvii]  This land was a side lot (towards Philadelphia) of Lot 5, next to land that Conrad had previously purchased from Jonas Potts.  In the deed, Conrad Rutters is described as being a yeoman in the town of Germantown.

On March 15, 1711/12, Conrad Rutters & Ann his wife mortgaged two pieces of land in Germantown to Reinier Tisen for 15 pounds lawful silver money of America. [xviii]  The two parcels were the portions of Lots 5 and 6 purchased from Isaac Van Sintern and Jonas Potts, respectively.  Repayment of the 15 pounds, plus 4 pounds 16 shillings in interest, was to be made in accordance with the following schedule: 1 pound 4 shillings paid on Mar. 15, 1712/13 and 1713/14, then the remainder to be paid on Mar. 15, 1714/15.  Reinier Tissen appeared before the Deputy Recorder of deeds  on Mar. 14, 1714/15, and acknowledged that Conrad Rutters had repaid the full sum and that Rutters was released from the mortgage.

On March 16, 1714/15, Cunradt Rutters, yeoman, and Ann his wife mortgaged the same two parcels of land to Jacob Shoemaker for 20 pounds silver money. [xix]  Repayment of the 20 pounds, plus 6 pounds and 8 shillings in interest, was to be made in accordance with the following schedule: 1 pound and 12 shillings to be paid on Mar 15, 1716/17, and the same again on Mar. 20, 1717/18, and again on Mar. 25, 1718/19, with the remainder paid on Mar. 20, 1719/20.  On Sept. 22, 1731, the executrix of Jacob Shoemaker acknowledged that Cunrad Rutters had fulfilled the terms of the mortgage and released all rights to the mortgaged property.

That fact that Conrad Rutters was forced to repeatedly mortgage his property indicates that he was not a wealthy individual.  This is further substantiated by notes from the Quaker monthly meeting held at Abbington, PA, where friends of Conrad from Germantown petitioned on his behalf for financial assistance several times. [xx]

At monthly meeting ye 26^th day of the 2^nd month, 1708: “Friends of Germantown acquainted this meeting that Cunnard Rutter, a poor friend, would borrow four pounds to buy a cow, this meeting have concluded to lend him ye money, giving his bond for ye same.”

At meeting ye 28^th day of the 10^th month, 1713: “Friends of Germantown acquainted this meeting that Cunnard Rutter, a poor friend, wants some assistance which being considered Friends so order, that 2 pounds 10 shillings be let him out of ye Germantown subscription & to take his note for ye same.”

At meeting ye 27^th day of the 4^th month, 1714: “David Potts & Peter Cleaver who were intrusted by this meeting to take a bond of Cunnard Rutter for money lent him by this meeting at sundry times to ye time of 8 pounds, 10 shillings, which said bond they ye said persons are appointed to keep until such time as this meeting calls for it.”

Conrad Rutters financial difficulties appear to have continued for many years. On Aug 25, 1731, Cunradt Rutters and Ann his wife mortgaged two parcels of land to Isaac Leech of Chiltonham, tanner, for 40 pounds silver money. [xxi]  Conrad is described as being a yeoman in Germantown.  The property mortgaged includes a dwelling and two tracts of land.  Repayment of 40 pounds to be made according to the following schedule: interest of 2 pounds and 8 shillings to be paid on Aug 25, 1732 and again on Aug 25, 1733, and again on Aug. 25, 1734, with the remainder paid on Aug 25, 1735.

No will or probate records exist for either Conrad Rutters or his wife Ann.  Nor do we have any records pertaining to his children.

[i] Dr. Naaman H. Keyser, C. Henry Kain, John Palmer Garber and Horace F. McCann, History of Old Germantown (Germantown, PA: Horace F. McCann, 1907), pg. 30

[ii] Michael Dexter Learned, The Life of Francis Daniel Pastorius: The Founder of Germantown (Philadelphia: William J. Campbell, 1908), pg 111

[iii] Samuel Whitacker Pennypacker, The Settlement of Germantown, Pennsylvania (William J. Campbell, Philadelphia, 1899), pg. 82

[iv] Walter Lee Shepard, Jr., Passengers & Ships Prior to 1684 (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1970), pg. 84

[v] Pennypacker, pg. 96

[vi] Keyser, Kain and Garber, pg. 30

[vii] William Isaac Hull, William Penn & The Dutch Quaker Migration to Pennsylvania (Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1970), pg. 182

[viii] Hull, pg. 421

[ix] William Nelson, Archives of the State of New Jersey Archives, 1^st Series, XXI (Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State 1664-1703, 1899), pg 489, 294

[x] West Jersey Records, AAA-379-3-4

[xi] West Jersey Records, AAA-378-2-26

[xii] John E. Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, Vol. 2 (New York, 1903), pg. 30

[xiii] Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA, Exemplification Record No. 8, pg. 323 (also Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives & History, Records of the Land Office, Leases & Releases, Book B, No. 3, pg. 323)

[xiv] Michael Dexter Learned, pg. 182

[xv] Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA, Deed Book I, No. 8, pg. 283-285

[xvi] Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA, Deed Book I, Vol. 11, pg. 315-316

[xvii] Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA, Deed Book E, No. 6, Vol. 7, pg. 245-248

[xviii] Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA, Deed Book E, No. 6, Vol. 7, pg. 248-250

[xix] Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA, Deed Book E, Vol. 7, pg. 262-264

[xx] Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA; Abbington monthly meeting records for meeting dates 2/26/1708, 10/28/1713 and 4/27/1714 (microfilm)

[xxi] Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA, Deed Book F, Vol. 5, pg. 323-325

Source:  Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives & History, PA State Archives, Records of the Land Office: Copied Surveys, 1681-1912, survey number A-56-90;  www.phmc.state.pa.us/

Source:  Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA, Lancaster Co. Deed Book GG, pg. 43 (for online access to deeds, go to http://www.lancasterdeeds.com/onlineefilmreader/)

Joseph Rutter et al.

THIS INDENTURE, MADE The fifth day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-two.  BETWEEN Joseph Rutter and Barbara his Wife, Peter Rutter and Elizabeth his Wife, and William Gibbon and Elizabeth his Wife, all of Lancaster  County (the said Joseph and Peter being Sons and the said Elizabeth being the Daughter of Conrad Rutter, late of Leacock Township in the said County deceased) and Peter Rutter, Joseph Rutter and Andrew Rutter all of Cecil County in the Province of Maryland, Yeomen, and James Biles of the same Place and Rebecca his wife, (the said last named Peter, Joseph and Andrew being the Sons, and the said Rebecca being the Daughter of Andrew Rutter, deceased, who was another son of the said Decedent, Conrad Rutter) of the One Part  AND Conrad Rutter of the County aforesaid, Yeoman, another of the Sons of the said Conrad Rutter, deceased, of the other Part. 

WHEREAS in pursuance of a WARRANT from the Honourable the Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, dated the third Day of January one Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty-three there was surveyed unto the said Conrad Rutter since deceased A CERTAIN TRACT OF LAND situate in Lancaster County, BEGINNING at a post a Corner of Land now of Nathaniel Lightner, thence by the said Land and Land of Daniel Watson, S:30° E. 319 Ps. To a Black Oak, thence by Land of William White N. 75° E. One Hundred and Twenty Perches to a black Oak, thence by Land of John Rouse S. 88° E. 118 perches to a Hickery marked for a Corner, thence by Land of the said John Rouse, Henry Skyles, and the Heirs of Peter Skyles N. 18° E. 280 perches to a Black Oak, thence by Land of the Heirs of Peter Skyles aforesaid N. 9° W. 107 perches to a Black Oak, thence by Land of Anthony Ellmaker S. 76° W. 330 perches to the BEGINNING.  CONTAINING Five Hundred and Eighty-eight Acres and the Allowance of Six Acres P. Cent for Roads, as by the same WARRANT and Survey remaining in the Surveyor Generals Office appears.

AND WHEREAS upon a settlement and Division of the Real and Personal Estate by and amongst the Children Legatees and Representatives of the said Conrad Rutter deceased to the Satisfaction of all concerned and interested therein, Two Hundred and Eight Acres of the said Tract of Land herein after described is allotted to Conrad Rutter the Sone of the said Conrad Rutter deceased for his Part and Share of his said Father’s Estate.

NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, That all the said Parties hereto of the first Part for and in Consideration of their having received their several and respective Parts, Purparties and Shares of the Real and Personal Estate of the said Conrad Rutter deceased, and for and in Consideration of the Sum of Five Shillings a piece to them severally and respectively in Hand paid by the said Conrad Rutter, Party hereto of the second part (the Receipt whereof they do hereby severally and respectively acknowledge and confess) HAVE and every of them HATH granted bargained sold aliened released quit claimed and confirmed, and by these presents DO and every of them DOTH grant bargain sell alien release quit claim and confirm unto the said Conrad Rutter the Party hereto of the second part, his Heirs and Assigns,  ALL THAT Piece or Parcel of Land, Part of the said Five Hundred and Fifty [Eighty?] Eight Acres Tract, hereinafter described as follows, viz:  BEGINNING at a post a corner of Nathaniel Lightner’s Land thence S. 3 [S:30°?] E. 319 Perches to a Black Oak, thence by Land of William White N. 75 E. 44 perches to a Black Oak thence N. 10° E. 155 Perches to a post, thence East thirty one perches to a post, thence N. 58 E. 15 Perches to a post, thence East 17 Perches to a post thence N. 8° W. 58 Perches to a post, thence North forty four degrees East forty three perches to a post, thence North ninety five perches to a post, thence by Land of Steuart Herbert S. 76° W. 170 perches to the Place of BEGINNING.  CONTAINING Two Hundred and Eight Acres and One Quarter Acre of Land and Allowance aforesaid for Roads, TOGETHER with all Improvements, Rights, Members and Appurtenances thereto belong and the Reversions and Remainders thereof. 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said hereby granted and released Land and Premises with the appurtenances unto the said Conrad Rutter, Party hereto of the Second Part, his Heirs and Assigns forever.  UNDER a proportionable Part of the Purchase Moneys Interest and Quit Rent due and to become due to the Honourable the Proprietaries of the said Province their Heirs and Successors.  AND the said Parties hereto of the first Part do for themselves and their Heirs severally and respectively, and not one for another covenant promise and grant to and with the said Conrad Rutter, party hereto of the Second Part, his Heirs and Assigns that they the said parties hereto of the First Part, the said hereby granted Land and Premises with the Appurtenances unto him the said Conrad Rutter, Party hereto of the Second Part his Heirs and Assigns, against them the said Parties hereto of the First Part, their Heirs and Assigns, severally and respectively and all other Person and Persons claiming or to claim by from or under them or any of them severally and respectively shall and will WARRANT and forever DEFEND by these Presents.

IN WITNESS THEREOF the Parties aforesaid to these presents have interchangeably set their Hands and Seals the Day and Year first above written.

Joseph Rutter  [his mark JR] [seal]

Sealed and Delivered in Presence of Jacob Joner  Emanuel Carpenter  

YORK COUNTY SS: Before me the Subscriber one of the Justices and President of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of York, personally came Jacob Youner and being duly qualified on his Solemn Affirmation according to Law did declare and say that he was present and did see the within named Joseph Rutter and Barbara his Wife, Peter Rutter and Elizabeth his Wife, Willm. Gibson and Elizabeth his Wife, Peter Rider, Joseph Rider, Andrew Rider and James Boyl sign seal & as their Act and Deed deliver the within Instrument of Writing as and for the Use and Purpose therein mentioned and that he subscribed his Name as a Witness to the same, and also that he did see Emanuel Carpenter subscribe his Name as a Witness to the same and at the same time.  IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the 8^th of Sept. 1787.  Heny. Slagle [seal]

Examd. Recorded the 10^th Day of September 1787.  P. James Jacks  Recorder

Source:  Lancaster County Historical Society, Lancaster, PA, Lancaster County Will Book C, Vol. 1, pg. 35

Conrad Ritter

In the Name of God Amen, I Conrad Ritter of Leacock Township Lancaster County in the province of Pennsylvania Yeoman on calling to mind the Uncertainty of Time and my present Indisposition of Body yet being of Sound mind and retaining memory, I thank God and do therefore make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, and Principally I recommend my Soul to God’s Mercy and my remains to the Earth as to the house appointed for all living in hopes of Receiving the Same again at the Resurrection.  And my Property in time Things I will and allow as follows.  First, that all my Just debts and Funeral Charges be fully paid out of my Personal Estate (except what is hereafter willed thereof); And wherein my Personal Estate runs short in what can be spared thereof to pay as aforesaid, I allow the Profits of my Real Estate to clear the Residue.  Then I will and allow my well beloved wife Catharina Ritter the full Possession and use of my Plantation on the Northern Side of my meadow and the Eastern End of said Meadow from a small swamp oak near the Run right Across to hold to her until she either Marries or dies or until my Son Henry Arrives of Age.  I will and Allow that then he shall have said Northern side of my Land and Eastern End of my Meadow to the Intent she may live comfortably herself and Maintain Cloath and School my Children viz, the said Henry, Rebecca, Barbara, and George.  And also Clear of my just debts above said out of the profits thereof [left?] when my Son Henry Arrives at age.  I will and allow that then he shall have said Northern Side of my Land and Eastern End of my Meadow to hold to him, his Heirs and Assigns forever, Subject to the Payment of Forty pounds money of said Province to Each and Every of my said Children  Rebecca, Barbara, and George as they Arrive at age Respectively and Subject to what is hereafter further Enjoyned expressly on the Same but if my said Wife should die my Widow then I allow her a decent burial off my said Real Estate and if it so happens before Henry is of Age, then I allow the said Profits still to the same purposes towards my children aforesaid.  But if my said Wife should Marry then and in such case I will and allow her the Sum of Forty pounds Money aforesaid to be paid her Immediately after off my said Lands and no more and that in Lieu of her Dower or thirds of all my Lands.  And as long as she remains my Widow after my Son Henry is of Age, so long I allow her a comfortable maintenance of my said Lands above willed (and no longer) and also my said Children as aforesaid until of Age as aforesaid.  And in case either of my said Wife’s death or Marriage before Henry is of age, I allow my said Lands to be rented for my said Children’s Benefit as aforesaid.  Item:  I give and devise the remaining Western End of my Meadow and what Land I have on the Southern Side of my Meadow unto my Son William Rutter to hold to him, his Heirs and Assigns forever, with Stay of Possession until two Years now next and Subject to the payment of Forty pounds money aforesaid unto my Son in Law John Rutter in Right of my daughter Martha, payable in four years hence.  I also will to my Son William a Good Horse and to my said Son in Law as aforesaid a good Colt and a Good Cow.  And also, but not until my wife’s Death or Marriage the large press.  And lastly I Nominate and Constitute my trusty friends Henry Skiles and Nathaniel Lightner to be my Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all former or other Will or Wills, Testament or Testaments by me hitherto had or made, and confirming this and this alone to be my last Will and Testament.  In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and Seal dated this Second day of March Anno Domini one Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty five.  Signed, sealed, pronounced and declared in the presence and sight of us.  Line 30 ye words (above willed) interlined before Signing.  Stewart Herbert, Joseph Ritter [his mark], Barbara Ritter [her mark]

Conrad Ritter [his mark] [seal]

Lancaster County   On the thirteenth day of March, Anno Domini 1769, before me the Subscriber personally Appeared Joseph Ritter and Barbara Ritter, two of the Subscribing witnesses to the within will, and on their Corporal Oath did depose and Say that they were present and Saw and heard Conrad Ritter the Testator within named Sign, Seal, pronounce and declare the within writing as and for his last Will and Testament, and that at the doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their Knowledge, Observation and belief.  Edward Shippen D Rr

Be it Remembered that on the thirteenth Day of March, Anno Domini 1769, the Last Will and Testament of Conrad Ritter late of Leacock Township Lancaster County and province of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, deceased, was proved in due form of Law and thereof was appointed Henry Skiles and Nathaniel Lightner Executors who have both by their Certain Deed of Renunciation bearing the date the fifteenth Day of March Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine duly Executed and filed in the Register’s Office at Lancaster renounced all their Right of Executorship on the Estate of the same deceased and Letters of Administration were granted to Catherina Ritter and Andrew Little to the Uses in the said Testament mentioned.  The said Catherina Ritter and Andrew Little having first given Bond with two Good Sureties According to Law well and truly to Administer the Estate of the deceased to the uses in the said Testament mentioned and to Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of all and Singular the Goods and Chattles, Rights and Credits of the said decedent into the Register’s Office at Lancaster on or before the thirteenth day of April next and to render a true and just account of their Administration on or before the thirteenth Day of March which will be in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred seventy.  Given under the Seal of the said Office of me Edward Shippen  D Rr

Notes by the transcriber are enclosed in brackets.  Backslashes were added by the transcriber to facilitate understanding.  Spelling is left as it appears in the original document.

Source:  Lancaster County Historical Society, Lancaster, PA, Lancaster County Will Book A, Vol. 1, pg 29

In the name of God Amen the 19 Day of Aprill in the year of our Lord God 1734 I Conrad Rutter of Leacrok [sic] – in the County of Lancaster \ Plantationer \ Being Ould and Weake of Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God \ therefore calling unto mind the mortallity of my Body and knowing that it is apointed for all Men once to die do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament  \ that is to say Principally and First of all I give and recommend my Soul Into the Hands of God that gave it \ and for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian Like and decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors \ nothing Doubting but att the Generall Resureacttion I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God \ and as Touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me with in this Life I give and Devise and Dispose of the Same in the following and form \ Imprimus  I give and Bequeath to my eldest Son Andrew Rutter one milch cow and a calf and one horse kind along with one English Shilling \ Item  I give to my well Beloved Daughter Elizabeth Ever one cow and calf and one horse kind along with one English Shilling. \ Item  I give to my well Beloved Son Petter Rutter one English Shilling \ Item  I give to my well beloved Son Joseph Rutter one English Shilling \ Item  I give to my Grandaughter Eleasbeth Evers [sic] one milch cow and a calf and one Feather Beed and Beedclose \ And my Wife’s Body Cloase after her deseas  I Leave to the Discretion of my Executor to devid betwin my Grandaughter Eleasbeth Every [sic] and Rebecca Rutter \ Item  I give to my Grand Children Petter Rutter William Ever Eleasbeth Rutter and Hennory Rutter all the moveabls in my House but what I Exepted already or what I now will Exep \ Etim [sic]  I give to my Sons Conrad Rutter and Petter all my Coopers Tools to be made use of Betwixt them \ Item  I give to my well beloved Son Joseph Rutter my Chest \ Item  I give to my well Beloved Son Conrad Rutter \ whome I likewise constitut make and ordain my only and Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament \ my Largest iron Pot and the Smalest iron Pot [a?] Feather Bed and the Beed Cloase Belonging to it \ the Largest Pewter Dish and a [Pewter?] Beason \ a Table and a pair of the best Sheets in the House besides what is on - - the beed and all the [line ends here - appears to be a mistake in the original record, perhaps a line omitted]

      A Black Walnut Chest \ all the rest of my Moveable Goodes in my house  I Leave att the Discretion of my Executor to devid amongst my Foure GranChildren that I have mentioned within my will \ my Plantation and all therein and thereon to belonging I do Leave to my Executor but what I have already willed out of it \ he paying his three Brothers and his sister ten pounds out of it [the preceding sentence written in above the text] \ and that to be equealy divided amongst them \ but if soe be that he cannot raise mony they shall take such as he has in possession \ according as two Reasonable men will Value them \ to the Value of their mony if soe be that they cannot agree him and them about the Price \ I do give to my Executor Conrad Rutter Two hundred acres which belongs to the Ould Plantation wherein I Lived \ and if the return of the whole Sume amounts to more then Six hundred Acres I give it to him alsoe with all the Horses Mares Coults horned Cattel Sheep and hoogs and [weagons?] and Impliments of all Sorts that here [work?] - - [missing text?] Plantation with Houses Barns and Outhouses and all Improvements of all Sorts on the Plantation \ my Executor Conrad Rutter I do order and [alow?] to take care of my wife \ and that he shall not see her want anything that is reasonably in power to help her with during her Life \ but fearing there should be any mistake be it known that what I leave willed Bequeathed or Given is still to be given out of my Estate \ And I do hereby utterly disallow Revoke and [disanull?] all and every other former Testaments Wills and Leaggues requits and Executors no Other to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seale the Day and year above mentioned or written

Conrad Rutter [his mark CR]  [seal]

Signed sealed publised pronounced and Declared by the said Conrad Rutter as his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us the Subscribers viz

Andrew Douglas, James Douglas, Jean Douglas

[?]  the Eighth Day of February Ano Dom 1737 there Personally appeared Andrew Douglas & James Douglas two of the witnesses to the within written will and on their Oaths did Declare they saw and heard Conrad Rutter the Testator within named Sign Seal and Publish & Declare the said will to be his Last Will & Testament and at the Doing thereof he was of Sound mind memory & understanding to the best of their Knowledge

Coram Sa : Blunston Dep Regist.

Be it Remembered that on the 8^th Day of February Anno Dom 1737 the Last Will and Testament of Conrad Rutter Deced was proved in the form of Law and Probate and Letters Testamentary was Granted unto Conrad Rutter he having first Affirmed well and truly to Administer the sd Deseasers Estate and bring an Inventory thereof into the Registers Office in Lancaster County att or before the Eighth Day or March next and also to Render an Acct when thereunto Lawfully Required.  Given under the Seal of the said Office,

P. Sa : Blunston Dep Register

Notes by the transcriber are enclosed in brackets.  Spelling left unchanged as it appears in the original document.

Source:  Lancaster County Historical Society, Archives, Estate Inventory Inv. 1737/8, box 99, folder 2

Inventory

This being a true Inventry of the Estate of Conrad Rutter Deasesed of the township of Leacock in the County of Lancaster and province of pensilveanea taken this 7^th day feabery in the yeare 1737-8 by [us? vs?]

Source:  Lancaster County Historical Society, Lancaster, PA, Lancaster County Will Book B, Vol. 1, pg 177

Jacob Bichler, deceased

In the name of God Amen This fourteenth Day of February in the Year of our Lord One thousand and seven hundred fifty and seven I Jacob Bichler of Leacock Township, Lancaster County and Province of Pennsylvania Yeoman being weak and frail in Body but of a retaining Mind and Memory thanks to God for it and calling to mind the Mortality of my Body as knowing it to be appointed for all Men once to dye I do therefore make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner following, and principally I recommend my Soul to God who gave it and my Body to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors herein after named nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by Gods Almighty Power. Inprimus I will and allow that all my just Debts and funeral charges be paid out of my Personal Estate.  Item  I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth the Sum of two Pounds to be paid her four Years after my disease  Item  I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Barbara the Sum of Two Pounds to be paid her five Years after my disease  Item I give and Bequeath to my Grandson George Michael Wolf the Sum of five Pounds  to be paid him one year after my disease  Item  I give and Bequeath to my Grandson John Jacob Wolf the Sum of five Pounds two years after my disease  Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandson Henery Wolf the Sum of five pounds three Years after my disease.  Item I Give and bequeath to my Granddaughters Mary and Susannah Wolf and to my Grandson Abram Wolf to each and every of them the Sum of One Pound each and every of them to be paid four Years after my disease  Item  I Give and Bequeath the Sum of One Pound to the elder of the Reformed Dutch Church for the time being after my Disease which now stands in Andrew Seldenridge his plantation for the use and behoof of the said Church only  Item  I Give and Bequeath to my Granddaughter Rebecca Ritter a Cow to be given her by my Grandson Hennery Ritter  And my said Grandson Henery Ritter shall pay all and every the Legacies and bequeathments to the respective Legatees aforesaid at the time aforesaid, and the Money as hereby bequeathed shall all be in Pennsylvania Currency  Item  I Give and devise to my said Grandson Henery Ritter all and Singular my Real and Personal Estate under and liable to the restrictions limitations and incumbrances aforesaid to have and to hold to the said Henery Ritter his heirs and assigns forever  And furthermore I hereby Nominate and appoint my said Grandson Henery Ritter and Nathaniel Lightner both of said Township to be my whole and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament  hereby Revoking and disannulling all other and former Will or Wills Testament or Testaments by me heretofore made or ordained  hereby ratifying and confirming this and this only to be my last Will and Testament  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Day and year above written.

Jacob [HB his mark] Bichler [seal]

Signed sealed published and declared as the last Will and Testament of the said Jacob Bichler in the Presence of us who at his request do Witness the same  Stewart Herbert, William Skiles  Henery Skiles [his mark]

Lancaster County SS  October the 25^th 1757  Before me the Subscriber same William skiles and Nenry Skiles two of the Witnesses to the above written Will and on their Corporate oaths did depose and say that they were present and saw and heard Jacob Bichler the testator above named Sign Seal  Publish Pronounce and declare the above and within writing as and for his last Will & Testament  & that at the doing thereof he was of Sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding according to the best of their Knowledge Observation & Belief

P  Edward Shippen  D Register 

Be it Remembered that on the 25^th Day of October 1757 The Last Will and Testament of Jacob Bichler deceased was proved in due form of Law and Probate and Letters Testamentory were granted unto Henry Ritter and Nathaniel Lightner the Executors in the said Testament named  they being first duly Qualified well and truly to Administer the said Decedents Estate  to bring an inventory thereof unto the Registers Office at Lancaster on or before the 25^th Day of November next  And also to render a true and just Account of their said Administration when thereto lawfully required

Given under the Seal of the said office

P  Edw Shippen

Deputy Register

Source:  Lancaster County Historical Society, Archives, Estate Inventory,Inv. 1737/8, box 99, folder 2

1746

Administration BondConrad Rutter Et Al

Wm. Plumsted

[dated?] 27 March, 1746

Jeremiah Evats, deced.

Know all men by these presents that we Conrad Rutter [Jr.], Joseph Rutter and Matthew [Lery?] all of the County of Lancaster and Province of Pennsylvania, yeomen, are jointly held and severally bound unto William Plumsted, [Register?] General for ye probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware in the sum of three hundred pounds lawfull money of Pennsylvania to be paid Wm. Plumsted, his certain attorney, executors, administrators or assigns.  To the said payment well and truly to be made we being ourselves jointly and severally our heirs, executors, administrators each and every of them firmly by the said presents sealed with our seals and dated this twenty seventh day of March in the year of our Lord 1746.

The condition of this obligation is such that if the above bounder, Conrad Rutter, administrator of all and [singular?] the goods, chattles, rights and credits of Jeremia Evats, deced, do make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, rights and credits of the deced. which shall come to the hands or possession of the said Conrad Rutter, or unto the hands or possession of any other person or persons for him and the same so made, do, exhibit or [cause?] to be exhibited into the Registers Office at Lancaster at or before the twenty sixth day of April next ensuing, and the same goods, chattles, rights and credits of the said Deced. which at the time of his death or which at any time after shall come to the hands or possession of the said Conrad Rutter or into the hands or possession of any other person or persons for him do well and truly administer according to the law further do make or cause to be made a true and just account of their said administration at or before the twenty sixth day of April now next call the rest and residue of the said goods, chattles, rights and credits which shall be found upon the said Administration Account (the same being first examined and allowed of by the Orphan’s Court of the said County, shall deliver and pay to such person or persons respectively as the said Orphan’s Court by their decree or sentence pursuant to ye true intent and meaning of the act entitled : an act for the better settling [?] estates) shall limit and appoint; and if it shall hereafter appear that any last will and testament was made by the said Deced, and the Executor or Executors do exhibit the same in to ye into the Registers Office making request to have it allowed and approved accordingly if the sd. Conrad Rutter above bound on being there unto required do tender or deliver

Source:  Lancaster County Historical Society, Archives, Estate Inventory,Inv. 1737/8, box 99, folder 2

Account Jeremia Evats Estate

Conrad Rutter, Administrator

The Accompt of Conrad Rutter, Administrator on the Estate of Jeremia Evats, Deceased, as well of all and singular the goods & chattles of the said deceased which came to the hands of the said Accomptor as of their payments to and out of the same.

L S d

An abatement made to George Maccard who bought the plantation by order 50 0 cut off

of the Orphans Court in photo

Pd Matthew Lery of Account exhibited [?] all by Orp. Court 39 3 copyPd Marcus Cooly 1-11-0 ½ to pd Geo. Bighly 6/6 1 10Pd a Clear for drawing some Account 0 2John Montgomery 0 2Sum for appraisement and cleark drawing [Do?] 0 43 bushels of rye & oats for deced's cows before vendue 0 5Straw for [Do?] 0 3Pd for writing advertisement for the vendue 0 310 gallons of Liquor at vendue 1 10Pd Clerk & crier at vendue 0 12The administrator's cost of time, trouble, expenses about the estate 5 0Drawing out the administration account copy and [Quietus?] 0 5Settling the above account 2

The charge of ye Orphan's Court 0 14

100 17 1

Balance remaining in the Administrator's hands to be applied as the Orphan's 107 2 4

Court shall direct

--------------------

289 19 5

The said Accompters charge themselves with all ye singular the goods and chattles of the deced mentioned in an Inventory thereof exhibited remaining in the Registers Office at Lancaster amounting to:

139 1 6

Advance of sales at Vendue amounting to: 140 17 11

---------------------

289 19 5

Exhibition in the Registers Office at Lancaster

The mark of Conrad Rutter, Administrator

Source:  Lancaster County Historical Society, Archives, Estate Inventory,Inv. 1737/8, box 99, folder 2

Pequea March ye 4^th, 1747/8

Sir

Having with mature deliberation weighed ye case with respect to ye estate of Jeremiah Evats ye result of which, (I being slow of speech) have made bold to commit to manuscript, as follows, viz, ye whole estate vendue money & all 9save ye 3 pounds that was mistaken and for with there is no bond nor acknowledgement)

                                                                                                                                                                     L             S               d

                                                                                                                                                                     183        4               0

Out of which there is paid to Matthew Leary by virtue of Orphan’s Court                   46           8             6

My charge as may be seen in my account                                                                            12           1             11-1/2

                                                                                                                                                                     --------------------------

In all, to be reduced out of ye above estate                                                                                       58           10               5-1/2

So yet when L58 S10 d5-1/2 is taken from L183 S4 d0 I presume thee will remain L124 S13 d6-1/2 ye which when orderly divided among them as you tould me will (I believe) appear to be thus viz.

                                                                                                                                                                     L             S               d             [qr?]

To ye mother                                                                                                                                             41           11               2             0 1/3

To ye eldest son                                                                                                                         23           14           11               0 14/6

To each of ye other five                                                                                                           11           15           5               ½ 7/3

Now Dear Sir I would that you would with all possible speed dispatch ye affair as authentick as may be to prevent further cavils between me and those concerned, [Concinding/], Sir, Yours in ye most profound manner, Conrad Rutter

Amo of [tally?] to be deducted p.

231  13  9

  53  16  0

-------------

 71  17  9

Source:  Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives & History, PA State Archives, Records of the Land Office: Copied Surveys, 1681-1912, survey number C-169-246;  www.phmc.state.pa.us/

Source:  Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA, Lancaster Co. Deed Book UU, pg. 779 43 (for online access to deeds go to http://www.lancasterdeeds.com/onlineefilmreader/)

Conrad Rutter et al.

THIS INDENTURE, Made the fifth day of April in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty two  Between Conrad Rutter and Catharina his Wife, Peter Rutter and Elizabeth his Wife, and William Gibbon and Elizabeth his Wife, all of Lancaster  County (the said Conrad and Peter being Sons and the said Elizabeth being Daughter of Conrad Rutter late of Leacock Township in the said County, yeoman, deceased) and Peter Rutter, Joseph Rutter and Andrew Rutter all of Cecil County in the Province of Maryland, yeomen, and James Biles of the same Place and Rebecca his wife, (the said last named Peter, Joseph and Andrew being the Sons, and the said Rebecca being the Daughter of Andrew Rutter, deceased, who was another son of the said Decedent, Conrad Rutter) of the One Part  and Joseph Rutter of Lancaster aforesaid, yeoman, another of the sons of the said Conrad Rutter, deceased, of the other Part. 

WHEREAS in pursuance of a WARRANT from the Honorable the Proprietaries of the said Province, dated the third Day of January One thousand Seven hundred and thirty three there was surveyed unto the said Conrad Rutter since deceased A certain Tract of Land situate in Lancaster County, Beginning at a post a Corner of Nathaniel Lightners Land, thence South three Degrees East three hundred and nineteen perches to a black Oak marked for a corner, thence by Land of William White north seventy five degrees East one hundred and twenty perches to a black Oak, thence by Land of John Rouse 88° E. 118 perches to a hickery marked for a corner, thence by Lands of the said John Rouse, Henry Skiles, and the Heirs of Peter Skyles N. 18° E. 280 perches to a black Oak, thence by Land of the Heirs of Peter Skyles aforesaid N. 9° W. 107 perches to a black Oak, thence by Lands of Anthony Ellmaker 76° W. 330 perches to the Beginning containing Five Hundred and Eighty-eight Acres and the Allowance of Six Acres P. Cent for Roads and Highways, as by the same warrant and Survey remaining in the Surveyor Generals Office appears.

AND WHEREAS upon a settlement and Division of the Real and personal Estate by and among the Children Legatees and Representatives of the said Conrad Rutter deceased to the Satisfaction of all concerned and interested therein, One hundred and Eighty eight Acres of the said Tract of is allotted to the said Joseph Rutter the son of the said Conrad Rutter deceased for his Part and Share of his said Father’s Estate.

NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that all the said Parties hereto of the first part for and in consideration of their having received their several and respective Parts, Purparties and Shares of the Real and personal Estate of the said Conrad Rutter deceased, and for and in consideration of the sum of Five shillings a piece to them severally and respectively in hand paid by the said Joseph Rutter, the party hereto of the second part (the Receipt whereof they do hereby severally and respectively acknowledge and confess) HAVE and every of them HATH granted bargained sold aliened released quit claimed and confirmed, and by these presents DO and every of them DOTH grant bargain sell alien release quit claim and confirm unto the said Joseph Rutter party hereto of the second part, his Heirs and Assigns,  All that piece or parcel of Land (part of the said Five Hundred and Eighty eight Acres Tract) hereinafter described as follows, that is to say:  BEGINNING at a black Oak a corner of Anthony Elmaker’s Land thence S 76° W 159 perches to a post thence South ninety five perches to a post, thence S 44° W 43 p.s to a post thence S8° E 45 perches to a hickory, thence by Land of Peter Rutter East 162 perches to a post thence by Land of Henry Skyles and the Heirs of Peter Skyles N18° E107 perches to a black Oak by the said last mentioned Land N9° W107 perches to a black Oak the place of Beginning containing one hundred and Eighty eight acres be the same more or less and the allowance aforesaid  TOGETHER with all Improvements, Rights, Members and Appurtenances thereto belong and the reversions and remainders thereof. 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same hereby granted and released Lands and Premises with the appurtenances unto the said Joseph Rutter, party hereto of the second part, his Heirs and Assigns, to and for the proper Use and Behoof of the same Joseph Rutter his Heirs and Assigns forever.  Under a proportionable part of the purchase money Interest and quit rent due and to become due to the Honorable the Proprietaries of the said Province of Pennsylvania their Heirs and Successors.  AND the said parties hereto of the first Part do for themselves and their Heirs severally and respectively, and not one for another covenant promise and grant to and with the said Joseph Rutter his Heirs and Assigns that they the said Parties hereto of the first part, the said hereby granted Land and Premises with the appurtenances unto him the said Joseph Rutter, party hereto of the second part his Heirs and Assigns, against them the said Parties hereto of the first part, their Heirs and Assigns, severally and respectively and all other person and Persons claiming or to claim by from or under them or any of them severally and respectively shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.

IN WITNESS whereof the Parties aforesaid to these presents have interchangeably set their Hands and Seals the day and Year first above written.

Conrad Rutter  [his mark C] [seal]

Sealed and Delivered in Presence of Jacob Joner  Emanuel Carpenter  

Lancaster County SS: Be it remembered that on the Sixth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand and seven hundred and ninety seven, Before me the Subscriber one of the Justices and peace in and for the county aforesaid personally appeared Adam [Reigal?] of the Borough of Lancaster in the said County, Esquire, who upon his Solemn Affirmation according to Law did declare and say that he is well acquainted with the Hand writing of Emanuel Carpenter, Esquire (now deceased) one of the subscribing Witnesses to the within written Indenture he having frequently seen him write and this Affirmant verily belies the name of the said Emanuel Carpenter subscribed as a witness to the same Indenture to be the proper hand writing of him the said Emanuel Carpenter.  In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and seal the Day and Year aforesaid.  Jacob Graeff [seal]

Ex.d Recorded the 7^th day of January, A Dom 1797  P. [signature illegible]  Recorder

Source: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives, Records of the Land Office, Lancaster County Patent Books, series AA, volume 4: 369-372

Lancaster County Patent Books, series AA, volume 4: 369-372, record group 17, series 17.142, Records of the Land Office, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. ---------- Thomas Penn & Richard Penn Esquires true and absolute proprietaries & Governors in Chief of the province of Pennsylvania & Counties of Newcastle Kent & Sussex on Delaware To all unto whom these presents shall come Greeting Whereas it hath been represented & fully made appear to us that in or about the year One thousand Seven hundred & twenty eight Conrad Ruter came with his three Sons to wit Conrad peter & Joseph all of fulle Age and agreed to take up & by the Consent of our then Commissioners of Property did settle upon a Tract of Land on or near Mill Creek then in the County of Chester but now of Leacock Township in the County of Lancaster then computed to contain Six hundred acres or thereabouts & procured a Survey & Division to be made thereof amongst them to wit to the said Conrad the Father Two hundred and eight Acres and Allowance for Roads to the said Peter One hundred ninety one Acres and three Quarters of an Acre & Allowance aforesaid and to the said Joseph One hundred and eighty eight Acres and Allowance aforesaid That said Conrad the Father and Peter & Joseph his Sons did thereupon accordingly then build upon & make considerable Improvements on their several plantations aforesaid & continued to live on & enjoy the same respectively till the Death of the said Conrad the Father and that the said Conrad the Father did in his Life Time take out a Warrant under the Seal of our Land Office bearing Date the third Day of January One thousand Seven hundred & thirty three for five hundred acres in Order to Secure for himself & his said Sons Peter & Joseph their plantations aforesaid severally & respectively as he then Declared And Whereas the said Conrad the Father in & by his Last Will & Testament bearing Date the nineteenth Day of April One thousand seven hundred & thirty four Devised to his said Son Conrad in Fee his the said Testators said plantation whereon he then lived therein said to be Two hundred acres and afterwards dyed in or about the year One thousand Seven hundred & forty three possessed of the said Plantation of Two hundred & Eight Acres and Whereas the said Conrad the Son ever since & now possesses his said plantation and the said peter and Joseph have ever since possessed their respective plantations aforesaid from the first Settlement thereof to this Time And Whereas by the mutual Consent and Agreement of the said Conrad the Son and the said peter & Joseph their said several Plantations were Resurveyed on the Sixth Day of January One thousand Seven hundred & Sixty one by Benjamin Parvin Deputy Surveyor agreeable to the Lines & Bounds thereof as originally made & marked by the said John Taylor and at their special Instance & Request & in Virtue of the Said Warrant of the third of January One thousand Seven hundred & thirty three the said Survey of the said Two hundred & Eight Acres and Allowance for the said Conrad the Son the said One hundred ninety one Acres & three Quarters of an Acre & Allowance for the said peter Rutter & the said One hundred eighty eight Acres and Allowance for the said Joseph were severally & respectively returned into the Surveyor Generals Office  And Whereas the said Joseph Rutter paid to our Use unto James Steel our then Receiver General five pounds ten Shillings & Six pence on the Sixteenth Day of June One Thousand Seven hundred & forty one in part for his said plantation therein mentioned to have been Surveyed to him in Leacock Township and also paid on the nineteenth Day of March One thousand Seven hundred & sixty two unto Richard Hockley Esqr. Our present Receiver General Eighty pounds more on Account of his the said Joseph’s said Land as by the said Receiver Generals Receipts for the same respectively now produced appears And Whereas at the Humble Request of the sd. Conrad Rutter the Son Peter & Joseph Rutter a Warrant Dated the eighteenth Day of this Instant May was issued under the Seal of our Land Office to the Surveyor General requiring him to accept & make Return into our Secretaries Office of the said several Resurveys of the said Two hundred & eight acres One hundred ninety one Acres & three Quarters of an Acre & One hundred & Eighty eight acres and Allowance aforesaid in Order for Confirmation to the said Conrad the Son & Peter & Joseph Severally & respectively on each of them paying to our Use the Remainder of the Purchase Monies (which the said Conrad the Father ought agreeable to the Condition of the said Warrant to have Done but did not) together with the Interest & Quit Rent from the first of March One Thousand Seven hundred & twenty eight And Whereas the Surveyor General hath now made his Returns of the said three plantations & Tracts of Land accordingly and the said Joseph Rutters said plantation is therein described as follows that is to Say Beginning at a post thence by Conrad Rutters part South ninety five perches to a post South forty four Degrees West forty three perches to a post & South eight Degrees East forty five perches to a marked Hickory thence by said Peters Post East One hundred & sixty two perches to a post thence by Peter Skyles Heirs Land North eighteen Degrees East One hundred & Seven perches to a marked Black Oak & North nine Degrees West One hundred & Seven perches to a marked Black Oak Thence by Anthony Ellmaker’s Land & Land of Stuart Herbert South Seventy six Degrees West One hundred & fifty nine perches to the place of Beginning Containing One hundred & Eighty eight Acres of Land & allowance of six Acres Pcent for Roads as by the same Warrants & Survey remaining in the Surveyor Generals Office & from thence certified into our Secretary’s Office more fully appears...

Rest of patent not shown

Source:  To be determined

1775 Inventory

Joseph Ritter, deced

Copied

Inventory and appraisement of the personal estate of Joseph Ritter

An inventory and appraisement of the goods and chattles, rights and credits which were of Joseph Ritter, late of Leacock Township, Lancaster County, yeoman, deceased viz.t

                                                                                                                        L             S             P

Horse and furniture                                                                      12           0             0 Apparel                                                                            7             10           0 Cash                                                                                                5             15           0 Three cows and a calf                                                                 12           0             0 A mare                                                                                            12           0             0 Nine head of swine                                                                      12           0             0 Eight sheep                                                                                    4             10           0 A road wagon                                                                                9             0             0 Eleven barrels flouer lying at home                                          12           0             0 Ninety eight bushes wheat                                                         24           10           0 Fifty bushels rye                                                             10           0             0 A wind mill                                                                                     2             0             0 A table                                                                                            0             12           0 A clock                                                                             2             0             0 A chest of drawers                                                                       3             0             0 Six chairs                                                                                        0             13           0 Three beds and furniture                                                            20           0             0 Other household goods                                               5             10           0 A negro wench called Eve                                                           8             0             0 A grindstone                                                                                  0             2             6 Maul and wedges                                                                         0             4             6 A pitch fork                                                                                    0             1             6 A cupboard                                                                                    0             5             0

\March 14^th, 1775, taken and appraised to the best of  our skill and knowledge, by us:

Nathaniel Lightner, Stewart Herbert

Exhibited into the Registers Office at Lancaster the 11^th day of April, Dom 1775

Affirmed before me the same day & year by the appraisors & John Lightner one of the Executors of the executors sworn.  Barbara Ritter [her mark], John Lightner [his mark]

Source:  Lancaster County Historical Society, Lancaster, PA, Lancaster County Will Book B, Vol. 1, pg. 735

Will:  Joseph Rutter, decedent

Be it remembered that I, Joseph Ritter, of Leacock Township, Lancaster County, in the province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being sick in body but of sound mind and memory, I thank God.  I therefore make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.  That is to say, I will and allow that first all my just debts and funeral charges be fully paid and satisfied out of my personal estate undivided except wherein I am bound for any of my children.  I also allow to my beloved wife, Barbara, her riding mare, saddle, bridle, my best bed and furniture and generally all my household goods and two cows in lieu of her dower of my personal estate and before any division thereof.  I further allow to my said wife a free residence in my dwelling house during her natural life or her own pleasure she remaining my widow, and allow her my negro wench called Eve and likewise absolutely the sum of two hundred pounds money of said province payable to her in three distinct and equal quotas yearly, the first commencing one year after my decease, the one half of each gale or quota to be paid by my son George Ritter out of what he has got from above his share for he has so got.  I give and devise to my son Joseph Ritter all land singular my plantation and tract of land whereon I dwell in said township to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever and likewise the residue of my personal estate, all under and liable as well to the payment of the other half or hundred pounds to my said wife, as also to the payment of the sum of five shillings to my son Henry Ritter and the sum of one hundred pounds money aforesaid to and amongst the children of my said son Henry, share and share alike, and payable as they arrive at age respectively.  And also to the payment of one hundred pounds money aforesaid to each of my daughters, to wit, Barbara, the wife of John Lightner, Margaret, the wife of Nathaniel Lightner Jr., and Catherine, the wife of Andrew Hershey, payable first to Catherine in two equal yearly payments the first to commence two years after my decease.  Secondly to Barbara in two equal yearly payments the first to commence four years after my decease.  And then to Margaret in two equal yearly payments the first to commence six years after my decease; and likewise liable to the payment of the money which was borrowed for the use of my son Andrew Ritter and; and to the payment of the sum of 5 shillings to my son Andrew and as much to my son George Ritter aforesaid. And lastly I nominate and ordain my said wife and son-in-law John Lightner to be my executors of this my last will and testament.  And confirming this above to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof I hereto set my hand and seal this 7^th of February, 1775.  Joseph Ritter [his mark and seal]  Sealed and published in the presence of us:  Stewart Herbert, David Glen, Maget [Margaret] Evetts.

On the eleventh day of April anno domini 1775, before me the subscriber personally appeard the within named Stewart Herbert and on his solemn affirmation according to law and Margaret Evets another of the witnesses to the will, and on her corporal oath did depose and say that they were present and saw and heard Joseph Rutter the testator within named sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the within writing as and for his last will and testament, and that at the doing thereof he was of sound mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge, observation and belief.

Be it remembered that on the eleventh day of April anno domini 1775 the last will and testament of Joseph Ritter, late of Leacock township, in the county of Lancaster, yeoman, deceased, was proved in due form of law and letters testamentary were granted to Barbara Ritter and John Lightner, the executors, they being first duly qualified well and truly to administer in the estate of the testator and to exhibit a true and perfect inventory thereof into the Register Office at Lancaster on or before the eleventh day of May next and to render a true and just account of their administration when then lawfully required.  Given under the seal of the said office.

Today, the C & D Canal spans the distance between Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River.  But the canal was not built until 1829.  From the middle 1600’s, communities of colonists sprang up along the shores of both the Chesapeake and the Delaware, but trade and communication between the Philadelphia and Baltimore was hampered by the need for ships to traverse all the way around Delmarva peninsula.

 A trader name Augustine Herman recognized the strategic value of facilitating overland transport between these two important waterways and centers of colonization.   Herman was born in Bohemia, but immigrated to New Amsterdam (New York) as a young man and became closely associated with the prominent Dutch families of that city.  Recognizing the potential for profit, he determined to establish a trans-shipment and trading center along the shortest portage between the Delaware and Chesapeake bays.  Herman succeeded in acquiring the rights to land along the Bohemia River (originally called Oppoquerimine River), which emptied into the Chesapeake Bay, and along Appoquinimink Creek, which fed the Delaware.  The distance between the end points of two waterways was only about 4 miles.  Herman built landings or docks near the sources of each branch, facilitating the transport of goods and people between the colonies along the Delaware and the Chesapeake.  Throughout the colonial period, nearly all the trade between the people living along the shores of the two bays was carried on by this route. 

On the Bohemia River side, Herman was granted 4,000 acres in 1662 by Lord Baltimore, the proprietor of Maryland.  The tract extended from the Bohemia River north to Long Creek (located where the C&D canal runs today), and from the Elk river in the west to a trail called The Choptank Road, which ran roughly down the middle of the Delmarva peninsula. 

Herman called the tract Bohemia Manor, and set it up as an estate along the lines of an English manor.  As such, most of the people who lived on the manor were tenant farmers who leased, rather than purchased, their tracts from Herman.  The one exception to this was a tract called the Labadie Tract, which Hermann sold outright to a small group of religious colonists, followers of the French pietist Jean de Labadie.  The Labadists were a religious society that adhered strictly to the principles of asceticism and communalism.  They abhorred the worldly corruption of European society and practiced communal ownership of goods and property.   Moreover, they were suspicious, even contemptuous, of outside forms of authority.  Reserving their allegiance to God alone, they refused to take an oath of allegiance to any government, royal family or even to the established state churches.  This anti-authority bias put them in the bad graces of both Catholic and Protestant leaders, and the group was repeatedly forced to flee from one place to another until finding a tolerant home in Wieuwerd, Friesland (Netherlands).

In the late 1670’s, the Labadist leaders determined to establish a colony in the New World where their adherents could live and expand the community outside the influence and control of European society.  To this purpose, Jasper Dankaerts and Petrus Sluyter, two community leaders, traveled to America and visited several locations along the Eastern seaboard.  In New Amsterdam, they met Ephraim Herman, the son of Augustine Herman, and succeeded in converting him to the Labadist faith.  Ephraim recommended Bohemia Manor as a suitable place to establish the colony, in part because Maryland was more tolerant of religious freedom.  Perhaps more important was Augustine Herman’s close association with and loyalty to the Dutch.  As a largely self-regulated estate owned by Herman, Bohemia Manor became a refuge for Dutchmen, Germans, French Huguenots and other northern Europeans who sought a more familiar cultural environment and more equitable treatment than they typically received at the hands of the English.  Although he later regretted the decision, Augustine Herman agreed to sell Sluyter and Dankaert 3,750 acres of land, expressly, he reportedly said, because they were not English.  This land, called the Labadie Tract, was situated inland from the mouth of the Bohemia river, and was comprised of four necks of land separated by small creeks.

In 1684, a commune was established on the Labadie Tract, composed of some emigrants from the mother community at Wiewert and others who were converted in the Americas, mostly from the formerly Dutch colonies of New York and the Lower Delaware.  Led by Petrus Sluyter and Jasper Dankerts, the community also boasted several prominent local members, including Petrus Bayard, John Moll, and Arnoldus de la Grange, who helped finance the land purchase, subsequently transferring all their rights to Petrus Sluyter in accordance with the communal precepts of the sect.  The colony maintained itself for several decades, but the decline of the mother community in the Netherlands gradually led to a dissipation of the colony in Maryland, as well.  The mother community at Wiewert elected to discontinue the practice of communal property ownership in 1692, and the Maryland colony followed suit in 1698.  Petrus Sluyter retained one neck of the Labadie Tract for himself, but sold or bequeathed the other three necks to individual community members and descendants of the original investors.  Samuel Bayard (son of Petrus Bayard) and Henry Sluyter (cousin to Petrus Sluyter) acquired a large portion of this land for ₤470 paid to Petrus Sluyter, and both eventually settled on their section of the Labadie Tract.

There are some sources who claim that Samuel Bayard and Henry Sluyter served as the second generation leaders of the Labadist community in Maryland.  While they certainly were related to the founders of the commune, there is no reason to believe they themselves were adherents to the faith or active members of the community.  In fact, Samuel Bayard’s father, Petrus Bayard, became disillusioned with the Labadists after only a couple of years and returned to New York, where he eventually became Deacon of the Dutch Reformed church.  Samuel Bayard grew up in New York and did not move to his land on the Labadie Tract until 1698 or later.  Both Samuel Bayard and Henry Sluyter became prosperous plantation owners and traders, and there is no evidence that they adhered to the religious beliefs of the Labadists or that they participated in the affairs of the community.  In fact, the children of both Bayard and Sluyter were baptized at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, located a few miles south of the Bohemia River, providing further evidence that they were not closely associated with the Labadist sect.

The Labadie community in Maryland reportedly continued, albeit in much diminished form, until the death of their leader Petrus Sluyter in 1722.  Samuel Bownas, a Quaker traveling minister had visited the colony first in 1702, then returned again in 1726, reported that on his second visit the Labadist followers were all “scattered and gone, and nothing of them remaining of a religious community in that shape.”

The traditional history states that Conrad’s first wife died in Germany and that he married Jane Douglas while residing in London on the voyage over to America.[i]  The origin of this assertion probably stems from the fact that three members of the Douglas clan (Andrew, Jean and James) served as witnesses to Conrad’s will in 1734.[ii]  Witnesses tended to be relatives or trusted friends, and in this case, the fact that all three witnesses were Douglas’s does seem to suggest a family relationship.  It makes sense that the Douglas’ would be involved in the drafting and validating of Conrad’s will to protect the interests of one of their own kin.

Some genealogy records assert that Conrad’s second wife was a sister to the four Douglas brothers who settled in Lancaster at about the same time as Conrad.[iii]  The four brothers (Archibald, Andrew, James and Thomas) were the sons of Lord Archibald Douglas, and claimed to be of royal Scottish descent.  While research into the family origins is ongoing and as yet inconclusive, the preponderance of the evidence suggests that they were Scotch Anglicans who came from the vicinity of Edinburgh on the border of Scotland and England.[iv]  In the Biographical Annals, it is said that the four brothers hired a private ship and traveled in style with a party of friends to America around 1728.  It is unclear if their father, Lord Archibald, immigrated with them or remained behind.

While a relationship between the Rutters and Douglas’s in Lancaster is indisputable, it seems improbable that Conrad met and married his second wife in London.   The logistics might make more sense if Conrad had come over during the Palatine immigration of 1709/10, since at that time the German immigrants were held up in London for over a year before gaining approval to travel to New York.  However, during that interim, the Palatines were housed in camps, and there are depictions of English citizens “touring” the camps and being shocked at the poverty and strange peasant lifestyle of the Palatine residents.  Under these conditions, it seems highly unlikely that a poor German immigrant would find the opportunity to meet and marry Scottish lass supposedly from an aristocratic family. 

Besides, as outlined on the The New History page, it appears more probable that Conrad immigrated to America after 1715.  At this time, England remained a transshipment point from travelers from Northern Europe, but they were not typically held up for prolonged stays before making their way onward to America.  Thus there would have been even less time and opportunity for chance meetings and marriages between Scots and Germans.  Nor is it likely that Conrad met and married a Douglas on the ship over, since the Douglas genealogy states that the four Douglas brothers came over on a private ship they chartered around 1728, a full ten years after Conrad was already residing in Maryland.

Finally, it seems improbable that Conrad would even attempt the voyage to the New World without his wife.  With five children, several certainly under the age of ten in 1715, it would seem almost foolhardy for Conrad to pick up stakes and attempt to move to the harsh, unsettled New World on his own.  For all the reasons above, it seems much more likely that Conrad’s first wife died on the voyage to America or after their arrival in the new world.  If Conrad did get remarried to a Douglas, this marriage most likely happened in America, not London.

If Conrad did not meet and marry his second wife until they were both in America, and if she came over with her brothers, that marriage most likely happened in Lancaster, since the brothers reportedly sailed for the colonies around 1725-1728,[v] which is about the same time that Conrad settled on his farm in Leacock.  But there is another possibility that deserves serious consideration.  Records show that numerous Douglas’s immigrated to the colonies in the latter half of the 1600’s.  In fact, we know of several Douglas families residing in Maryland in the early 1700’s, and one in particular that even lived near Bohemia Manor when Conrad was there.   William Douglas, a merchant from New Castle, purchased a 500-acre plantation called Vulcan’s Rest in 1702.[vi]  Vulcan’s rest was situated on a branch of the Bohemia River.  William Douglas, his children and their descendants continued to live on the plantation until the last sections were sold off in the 1740’s and 1750’s. 

Conrad would have had ample opportunity to meet and become friends with the family of William Douglas over the approximately 10 years that he resided in Bohemia Manor (1717-1728).  Like the Skiles, the family of William Douglas attended St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.[vii]   It is even possible that the Douglas he married came from the William Douglas family, rather than the Lord Archibald Douglas branch.  But that can only be true if we can establish a relationship between the two branches of the Douglas families, because we know it was the descendants of Lord Archibald Douglas that witnessed Conrad’s will in 1734.  They would have no reason to have taken on this responsibility unless there was a family connection of some sort.  Luckily, evidence of such a connection exists between the family of William Douglas and that of Lord Archibald Douglas.

The “Douglas Family” sketch in the Biographical Annals of Pennsylvania states that:  “It is possible that the wife of Conrad Rutter may have been in America long before her brothers, and that her letters home induced them to emigrate.”  The Annals go on to say that, immediately upon their arrival in America, the brothers “spent some time at the headwaters of Chesapeake Bay.”  Bohemia Manor can certainly be considered as part of the headwaters of the Chesapeake.  Thus the simplest explanation is that the four Douglas brothers were related to the Douglas’s of Vulcan’s Rest, and that they temporarily stopped at Vulcan’s Rest in order to take advantage of the hospitality and New World experience of their colonial cousins.

The source of the information that Conrad’s second wife was named Jane is unclear.  In the Biographical Annals,  J. Watson Ellmaker, a Rutter descendent and historian who lived around the turn of the 20th century, and who appears to be responsible for much of the traditional history about Conrad, is reported to have written that “Conrad’s wife was a Douglas,” but does not specify a first name.  It also raises suspicion that not one of Conrad’s children named even one of their own daughters Jane.  While we believe that all of Conrad’s children were born of his first wife, it seems somewhat hard to believe that Conrad’s children would fail to honor their step-mother in such a way.   (That said, none of Conrad’s children chose to name even one of their sons Conrad, which is even stranger.)

Finally, many genealogy websites quote the research of Earl Deveney, said to be the former Covener of Clan Douglas in Oregon, who reportedly determined that Conrad did indeed marry a daughter of Lord Archibald, but that her name was Margaret.[viii]  This is intriguing because Conrad’s two youngest children - Peter and Conrad Jr. – each named one of their own daughters Margaret.  Conrad’s daughter Elizabeth may also have had a daughter named Margaret.  On a side note, according to Deveny, Lord Archibald did have a daughter named Jane, but she reportedly married James Wilson.[ix]  Lord Archibald also had two other daughters:  Mary (who married John Gibson) and Ann (who married John Caldwell).  Interestingly, there were Gibsons, Caldwells and Wilsons living in the vicinity of the Rutters and Douglas’s in Lancaster during the 1730’s.  Further research is required to see if these families do, in fact, have ties to Lord Archibald Douglas.

[i] John Franklin Meginness, “The Douglas Family,” Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL:  J.H. Beers & Co., 1903), pg 1508

[ii] Lancaster County Historical Society, Lancaster, PA, Lancaster County Will Book A, Vol. 1, pg 29

[iii] John Franklin Meginness, pg. 1508; also Albert D. Hart, Jr., “Douglass Family Genealogy,” Our Folk website, http://hartgen.renderplus.com/htm/douglass_2.htm

[iv] Various online sources, but for one see “The Douglas Family” (pdf), The Saunders Family History website, www.saundersfamilyhistory.com

[v] John Franklin Meginness, pg. 1507

[vi] June D. Brown, Abstracts of Cecil County, Maryland, Land Records: 1673-1751 (Westminster, MD:  Willow Bend Books, 1999), pg. 162

[vii] William Douglas’s children were baptized at St. Stephen’s;  see Henry C. Peden, Early Anglican Church Records of Cecil County Maryland (Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, 2007), pg. 33

[viii] For example, see Albert D. Hart, Jr., “Douglass Family Genealogy,” Our Folk website, http://hartgen.renderplus.com/htm/douglass_2.htm

[ix] Albert D. Hart, Jr.