Mays Family Tree - Person Sheet
Misc. Notes
These sources show her name as Christina Meels.1533,1534,1198
____________
Footnote: Inscriptions of Upper Germantown Cemetery (Pa. Mag. Vol 8, pp. 414-426):
DeWees, William d 1744
DeWees, Christina, wife of William d 17491532
____________
Footnote: Inscriptions of Upper Germantown Cemetery (Pa. Mag. Vol 8, pp. 414-426):
DeWees, William d 1744
DeWees, Christina, wife of William d 17491532
Spouses
Birth PlaceLeeuwarden, Friesland, NETHERLANDS
Bapt DateMar 1680
Death PlaceCrefeldt Township, Philadelphia Co., PA, USA
Burial PlaceUpper Germantown Cemetery, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA1459
FatherGarret Hendricks DEWEES (ca1640-ca1701)
MotherZytian LEWES (1649->1701)
Misc. Notes
Emigration: 1689, Holland to New Amsterdam (New York)
1710, built the 2nd paper mill/Wissachickon Creek
1729, erected another papermill & flour mill (Crefeldt)
Moved 1690 to Germantown, PA
Occupation: Constable and Sheriff
Occupation: Apprentice at the 1st papermill in America
Property: June 20, 1708, 390 acres of land at Bebber's (Skippack) Landing
Property: 1713, Sold Mill & 100 acres to Nicholas Rittenhouse
Religion: June 04, 1710, senior Deacon at the Whitemarsh Ref. Church
Religion: 1739, church elder
_________________________________________________________________
“William DeWees” Amercanized.3
____________
This source indicates: Willem Deweese b: 1679; d: 03 Mar 1745 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.1524
____________
In Rupp's collection of thirty thousand names of emigrants to Pennsylvania on page 471, among the four hundred and sixty-five names of German, Dutch and French inhabitants of Philadelphia county, who owned land and paid quit rents prior to 1734, are found the names of William De Wees, 150 acres, in Cresheim township, late part of Germantown; Cornelius De Wees, 24 acres, and Garrett DeWees,* 100 acres in Hanover township.
William Dewees, whose sister (Wilhelmina) married Nicholas, (Claus) Rittenhouse, came from New York to Germantown with his brother-in-law in 1689 or 1690.
It is the opinion of Horatio Gates Jones (a prominent local historian) that William Dewees learned the trade of paper making with William Rittenhouse (father of Nicholas), who built the first paper mill erected in America. William Dewees built the second Mill in 1710, on the west bank of the Wissahickon Creek, in that part of Germantown known as Crefeld, which he afterwards sold to Nicholas Rittenhouse and three others, and the recitals in the deed show that the mill was then in full operation.
We have a tradition from some of the older members of the family, long since dead, that there were two brothers and a sister who emigrated to New York in the latter part of the [17]th century.
The sister married a Rittenhouse, and of the brothers, William settled in Pennsylvania and Lewis settled in Delaware. Another account shows that William had a brother Cornelius, who in partnership with William, purchased land in Bebbertown on the Skippack in 1708.
William Dewees, presumably the elder of the three brothers [according to the record he was not], settled in Germantown, and his descendants are and have been prominent in the history of Philadelphia and surrounding country, many of whom distinguished themselves in the professions, both in military and civil life, as also in Church work.
William Dewees
William Dewees, or de Wees, the eldest son [sic] of Gerret Hendricks and Zytian de Wees, was born in 1677 at Lieuwarden, Province of Friesland, Holland. He, with his parents and brothers, Cornelius and Lewis, and sister Wilhelmina, emigrated to New York in the year 1688, and soon after removed to Germantown, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was employed as an apprentice in the first paper mill erected in America. It was built and operated by William Rittenhouse, father of Nicholas Rittenhouse, who married William's sister, Wilhelmina de Wees. This paper mill was situated on a small rivulet flowing into Wissahickon Creek, which flows through what is now Fail-mount Park, in the city of Philadelphia. In 1710 William Dewees built the second paper mill, which was on or near the present site of the Monastery of St. Joseph, farther up the stream. It has long since fallen into decay, and not a vestige of it remains.
On June 2Oth, 1708, he, in partnership with his brother Cornelius, bought 390 acres of land in Bebber's (afterwards Skippack) Township, which they sold during the succeeding five years. William Dewees did not live on this property, but Cornelius did.
William Dewees, paper maker, owned and sold lands, mills and houses, in Crefeld, Germantown, prior to 1725. Where he lived from 1725 to 1730 is not definitely known. He also held many offices under the Proprietary Government such as Constable and Sheriff, as well as some minor positions. He was a zealous and exemplary Church worker, giving his time and his home for the benefit of the Reformed Church, of which he was a member. [There’s more on William’s involvement in Church affairs at this source.]
William Dewees was a man of sterling character and noble principle, generous to a fault, a Christian in every sense of the word; and one worthy to be called ancestor by his numerous descendants.
A tablet should be erected to his memory, by those who have been benefited by his unselfish zeal in the Church of which he was an honored member. Few have excelled him in the faithful discharge of his duties to his fellow-men.
Both William and Cornelius Dewees sent their children to the school taught by Francis Daniel Pastorius† at Germantown.
On the 20th of March, 1729, William Dewees purchased a place in Crefeld and entered into making paper, while Henry Antes attended to a part of the mill which was used for making flour, as the following record shows ... [omitted].
William Dewees lived on this tract from the time he took possession until his death in 1745. Here also Henry Antes lived for three or five years, until he removed to the mill he purchased of Hagennan near the branches of the Perkiomen in Hanover township.
This is the tract on which the Convent and Academy of St. Joseph stand to-day [1905]. It is an institution of educational value. As the home of William Dewees it possesses a peculiar interest, for he was a man of strong religous principles. All that time there was no house of worship for the members of the Reformed Faith, and William Dewees opened his own home to their need.
Will Of William Dewees.
In the name of God Amen.—I William Dewees of the Township of Germantown, in the County of Philadelphia and Province of Pennsylvania, Miller, being weak of body but of perfect and sound Mind and Memory thanks be given to God therefor calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body and the uncertain State of this Transitory Life do make this my last Will and Testament concerning my Real and personal Estate whereof I am any ways seized or possessed, Imprimis, its my Will that all my debts and funeral charges be first duely paid by my Executors hereafter named.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Dear Wife Anna Christina in lieu of her Dower the Sum of Twelve pounds to be paid her yearly, for Ever after my Decease and a feather Bed any she thinks fitt to Chose and the privilege of any Room of my new dwelling house to Live in so long as the said dwelling house shall remain unsold after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Christina the Sum of Seventy pounds to be paid in four years after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret the sum of Thirty pounds to be paid to her in four years after my decease having heretofore given her Land to the value of forty pounds.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son William the sum of five shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Henry the sum of five shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Cornelius the sum of One hundred pounds fifty whereof to be paid in six months and the other fifty in four years after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary the sum of Seventy pounds to be paid her in four years after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son Philip the sum of One hundred pounds to be paid him when he shall arrive at the age of Twenty one years.
Item. I give, devise and bequeath unto my Son Garrett Dewees All that my dwelling House, Grist Mill Land and plantation situate in Germantown aforesaid with the Buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging To Hold unto him his Heirs and Assigns for ever he paying unto the Legatees above named their respective Legacys at the time appointed for payment thereof and permitting my Wife Anna Christina peaceably to dwell in any Room of the said dwelling House whilst he occupies the same and in case of his or his Heirs Selling or demiseing the same to provide her a comfortable Room elsewhere to dwell in during her life.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said Son Garrett all my personal Estate of what kind soever (the Bed above bequeathed to my Wife Excepted) and Lastly I do make, ordain and appoint my dear Wife Anna Christina my said Son Garrett and my Son in Law Henry Antes Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke, disannul and make void all and every other Will and Wills Bequest and Legacys by me heretofore made bequeathed or given and do make and declare this only to be my Last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I the said William Dewees have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty second day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty four.
William Dewees (Seal)
Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said William Dewees for and as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of Richard Bull, John Johnson, Thomas Yorke.
Philadelphia July 13th, 1745, Then personally appeared John Johnson and Thomas Yorke two of the Witnesses to the foregoing Will and the said John Johnson on his solemn affirmation according to Law, and the said Thomas Yorke on his oath respectively did declare they saw and heard William Dewees the Testator therein named sign, seal, publish and declare the same Will to be 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.
Coram.
William Plurnsted. Reg'r General.
Be it Remembered that on the thirteenth day of July 1745 the Last Will and Testament of William Dewees deceased was proved in due form of Law and Probate and Letters Testamentary were granted to Anna Christina and Garret Dewees two of the Executors therein named (Henry Antes the other Executor therein named being absent) having first sworn well and truly to administer the said Decedent's Estate and bring an Inventory thereof into the Reg'r General's Office at Philadelphia at or before the thirteenth day of August next and rendering a true and just account, calculation or reckoning of the said administration when thereunto Lawfully required. Given under the Seal of the said office. William Plumsted. Reg'r General.
It could be wished that there were in existence more facts concerning William Dewees and his contemporaries. They were an honest, frugal people, simple in their tastes and habits, faithful to their religious instincts, and careful to fulfill every obligation resting upon them. He and they belonged to a class of citizens of whom it may be truthfully said that their word was as good as their bond, both being kept with the most scrupulous devotion to principle. The conditions of life were very different in the early days of the colony from those in which their descendants find themselves at the present time. They were true to themselves and to their intuitions, and they have left behind them a record of which their descendants may well be proud. It is unfortunate that the work of commemorating their faithfulness and devotion to duty had not been begun earlier when it would have been possible to have obtained more information as to them.
Immigrants like Dewees and his contemporaries had a large share in the making of the State of Pennsylvania, now among the most populous and prosperous in the American Union. Their descendants have scattered over the entire country, carrying with them everywhere the virtues of industry, sobriety and morality which they have inherited from their ancestors.
[There is much more on William and his business dealings, other legal transactions, his involvement in Church affairs, anecdotes etc. at this source.]1525
_________________________________________________________________
William became a partner in business with Henry Antes (b. 1701). Together they established the “second paper mill in the nation.” Henry Antes would marry William’s daughter Christina of Germantown, PA.
The Dewees clan was well connected, with ties in other budding enterprises with another mover and shaker in colonial Pennsylvania, William Rittenhouse.‡
William Dewees was also the Sheriff of Philadelphia County. His son Col. William Dewees was the co-owner of Valley Forge [PA] at the time of the American Revolution.1196
____________
An official in the Reformed Church who owned mills on Wissahickon Creek, near Germantown, PA.1199
____________
DeWees, William d 1744
DeWees, Christina, wife of William d 17491526
____________
The Netherlands and Leeuwarden
The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as Holland, although North and South Holland are actually only two of its twelve provinces. The word Dutch is used to refer to the people, the language, and anything pertaining to the Netherlands.610
____________
Leeuwarden, the place of William’s birth is the capital city of the Dutch province of Friesland and is situated 70 miles north of Amsterdam. The area has been occupied since the 10th century (although recently [2010], remains of houses dating back to the 2nd century AD were discovered during a dig). Leeuwarden was granted a town charter in 1435. Situated along the Middelzee, it was an active trade centre, until the waterway silted up in the 15th century.
During World War Two, after extensive occupation by the German forces, on 15 April 1945, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, disobeying direct orders, charged into the heavily defended city and defeated the Germans, who were driven out by the next day.1527,1528
*Brothers William and Cornelius and their father Garret?3
†Francis Daniel Pastorius (1651-1720) was the founder of Germantown, PA, now part of Philadelphia, the first permanent German settlement and the gateway for subsequent emigrants from Germany.
In Philadelphia, he negotiated the purchase of 15,000 acres from William Penn, and laid out the settlement of Germantown, where he himself would live until his death. As one of Germantown's leading citizens, Pastorius served in many public offices and wrote extensively on topics ranging from beekeeping to religion. He was also a skilled poet.
Despite the Quaker sympathies of Pastorius, his name was appropriated in 1942 by the Abwehr of Nazi Germany for "Operation Patrorius”," a failed sabotage attack on the United State in World War Two that included a target in Philadelphia.1529
‡William Rittenhouse was born in Holland, in 1644; and died in Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1708. With his sons, Nicholas (Claus) and Gerhard, and his daughter, Elizabeth, Rittenhouse came to this country from Amsterdam, Holland, and settled at Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1687-'8. He was among the first German settlers in America and the first Mennonite minister in Pennsylvania.
In 1690 he started the first paper mill in America. It became the major paper manufacturing mill in America for over one hundred years and was carried on by later generations of Rittenhouses. Previous to this operation, all paper was imported from Europe and taxed accordingly. The new mill provided a local source of printing, writing, and wrapping paper, as well as pasteboard. Rittenhouse could well be called America's father of recycling, since all of the mill's fiber for hand papermaking was obtained from discarded rags and cotton.1530
1710, built the 2nd paper mill/Wissachickon Creek
1729, erected another papermill & flour mill (Crefeldt)
Moved 1690 to Germantown, PA
Occupation: Constable and Sheriff
Occupation: Apprentice at the 1st papermill in America
Property: June 20, 1708, 390 acres of land at Bebber's (Skippack) Landing
Property: 1713, Sold Mill & 100 acres to Nicholas Rittenhouse
Religion: June 04, 1710, senior Deacon at the Whitemarsh Ref. Church
Religion: 1739, church elder
_________________________________________________________________
“William DeWees” Amercanized.3
____________
This source indicates: Willem Deweese b: 1679; d: 03 Mar 1745 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.1524
____________
In Rupp's collection of thirty thousand names of emigrants to Pennsylvania on page 471, among the four hundred and sixty-five names of German, Dutch and French inhabitants of Philadelphia county, who owned land and paid quit rents prior to 1734, are found the names of William De Wees, 150 acres, in Cresheim township, late part of Germantown; Cornelius De Wees, 24 acres, and Garrett DeWees,* 100 acres in Hanover township.
William Dewees, whose sister (Wilhelmina) married Nicholas, (Claus) Rittenhouse, came from New York to Germantown with his brother-in-law in 1689 or 1690.
It is the opinion of Horatio Gates Jones (a prominent local historian) that William Dewees learned the trade of paper making with William Rittenhouse (father of Nicholas), who built the first paper mill erected in America. William Dewees built the second Mill in 1710, on the west bank of the Wissahickon Creek, in that part of Germantown known as Crefeld, which he afterwards sold to Nicholas Rittenhouse and three others, and the recitals in the deed show that the mill was then in full operation.
We have a tradition from some of the older members of the family, long since dead, that there were two brothers and a sister who emigrated to New York in the latter part of the [17]th century.
The sister married a Rittenhouse, and of the brothers, William settled in Pennsylvania and Lewis settled in Delaware. Another account shows that William had a brother Cornelius, who in partnership with William, purchased land in Bebbertown on the Skippack in 1708.
William Dewees, presumably the elder of the three brothers [according to the record he was not], settled in Germantown, and his descendants are and have been prominent in the history of Philadelphia and surrounding country, many of whom distinguished themselves in the professions, both in military and civil life, as also in Church work.
William Dewees
William Dewees, or de Wees, the eldest son [sic] of Gerret Hendricks and Zytian de Wees, was born in 1677 at Lieuwarden, Province of Friesland, Holland. He, with his parents and brothers, Cornelius and Lewis, and sister Wilhelmina, emigrated to New York in the year 1688, and soon after removed to Germantown, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was employed as an apprentice in the first paper mill erected in America. It was built and operated by William Rittenhouse, father of Nicholas Rittenhouse, who married William's sister, Wilhelmina de Wees. This paper mill was situated on a small rivulet flowing into Wissahickon Creek, which flows through what is now Fail-mount Park, in the city of Philadelphia. In 1710 William Dewees built the second paper mill, which was on or near the present site of the Monastery of St. Joseph, farther up the stream. It has long since fallen into decay, and not a vestige of it remains.
On June 2Oth, 1708, he, in partnership with his brother Cornelius, bought 390 acres of land in Bebber's (afterwards Skippack) Township, which they sold during the succeeding five years. William Dewees did not live on this property, but Cornelius did.
William Dewees, paper maker, owned and sold lands, mills and houses, in Crefeld, Germantown, prior to 1725. Where he lived from 1725 to 1730 is not definitely known. He also held many offices under the Proprietary Government such as Constable and Sheriff, as well as some minor positions. He was a zealous and exemplary Church worker, giving his time and his home for the benefit of the Reformed Church, of which he was a member. [There’s more on William’s involvement in Church affairs at this source.]
William Dewees was a man of sterling character and noble principle, generous to a fault, a Christian in every sense of the word; and one worthy to be called ancestor by his numerous descendants.
A tablet should be erected to his memory, by those who have been benefited by his unselfish zeal in the Church of which he was an honored member. Few have excelled him in the faithful discharge of his duties to his fellow-men.
Both William and Cornelius Dewees sent their children to the school taught by Francis Daniel Pastorius† at Germantown.
On the 20th of March, 1729, William Dewees purchased a place in Crefeld and entered into making paper, while Henry Antes attended to a part of the mill which was used for making flour, as the following record shows ... [omitted].
William Dewees lived on this tract from the time he took possession until his death in 1745. Here also Henry Antes lived for three or five years, until he removed to the mill he purchased of Hagennan near the branches of the Perkiomen in Hanover township.
This is the tract on which the Convent and Academy of St. Joseph stand to-day [1905]. It is an institution of educational value. As the home of William Dewees it possesses a peculiar interest, for he was a man of strong religous principles. All that time there was no house of worship for the members of the Reformed Faith, and William Dewees opened his own home to their need.
Will Of William Dewees.
In the name of God Amen.—I William Dewees of the Township of Germantown, in the County of Philadelphia and Province of Pennsylvania, Miller, being weak of body but of perfect and sound Mind and Memory thanks be given to God therefor calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body and the uncertain State of this Transitory Life do make this my last Will and Testament concerning my Real and personal Estate whereof I am any ways seized or possessed, Imprimis, its my Will that all my debts and funeral charges be first duely paid by my Executors hereafter named.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Dear Wife Anna Christina in lieu of her Dower the Sum of Twelve pounds to be paid her yearly, for Ever after my Decease and a feather Bed any she thinks fitt to Chose and the privilege of any Room of my new dwelling house to Live in so long as the said dwelling house shall remain unsold after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Christina the Sum of Seventy pounds to be paid in four years after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret the sum of Thirty pounds to be paid to her in four years after my decease having heretofore given her Land to the value of forty pounds.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son William the sum of five shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Henry the sum of five shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Cornelius the sum of One hundred pounds fifty whereof to be paid in six months and the other fifty in four years after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary the sum of Seventy pounds to be paid her in four years after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son Philip the sum of One hundred pounds to be paid him when he shall arrive at the age of Twenty one years.
Item. I give, devise and bequeath unto my Son Garrett Dewees All that my dwelling House, Grist Mill Land and plantation situate in Germantown aforesaid with the Buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging To Hold unto him his Heirs and Assigns for ever he paying unto the Legatees above named their respective Legacys at the time appointed for payment thereof and permitting my Wife Anna Christina peaceably to dwell in any Room of the said dwelling House whilst he occupies the same and in case of his or his Heirs Selling or demiseing the same to provide her a comfortable Room elsewhere to dwell in during her life.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said Son Garrett all my personal Estate of what kind soever (the Bed above bequeathed to my Wife Excepted) and Lastly I do make, ordain and appoint my dear Wife Anna Christina my said Son Garrett and my Son in Law Henry Antes Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke, disannul and make void all and every other Will and Wills Bequest and Legacys by me heretofore made bequeathed or given and do make and declare this only to be my Last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I the said William Dewees have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty second day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty four.
William Dewees (Seal)
Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said William Dewees for and as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of Richard Bull, John Johnson, Thomas Yorke.
Philadelphia July 13th, 1745, Then personally appeared John Johnson and Thomas Yorke two of the Witnesses to the foregoing Will and the said John Johnson on his solemn affirmation according to Law, and the said Thomas Yorke on his oath respectively did declare they saw and heard William Dewees the Testator therein named sign, seal, publish and declare the same Will to be 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.
Coram.
William Plurnsted. Reg'r General.
Be it Remembered that on the thirteenth day of July 1745 the Last Will and Testament of William Dewees deceased was proved in due form of Law and Probate and Letters Testamentary were granted to Anna Christina and Garret Dewees two of the Executors therein named (Henry Antes the other Executor therein named being absent) having first sworn well and truly to administer the said Decedent's Estate and bring an Inventory thereof into the Reg'r General's Office at Philadelphia at or before the thirteenth day of August next and rendering a true and just account, calculation or reckoning of the said administration when thereunto Lawfully required. Given under the Seal of the said office. William Plumsted. Reg'r General.
It could be wished that there were in existence more facts concerning William Dewees and his contemporaries. They were an honest, frugal people, simple in their tastes and habits, faithful to their religious instincts, and careful to fulfill every obligation resting upon them. He and they belonged to a class of citizens of whom it may be truthfully said that their word was as good as their bond, both being kept with the most scrupulous devotion to principle. The conditions of life were very different in the early days of the colony from those in which their descendants find themselves at the present time. They were true to themselves and to their intuitions, and they have left behind them a record of which their descendants may well be proud. It is unfortunate that the work of commemorating their faithfulness and devotion to duty had not been begun earlier when it would have been possible to have obtained more information as to them.
Immigrants like Dewees and his contemporaries had a large share in the making of the State of Pennsylvania, now among the most populous and prosperous in the American Union. Their descendants have scattered over the entire country, carrying with them everywhere the virtues of industry, sobriety and morality which they have inherited from their ancestors.
[There is much more on William and his business dealings, other legal transactions, his involvement in Church affairs, anecdotes etc. at this source.]1525
_________________________________________________________________
William became a partner in business with Henry Antes (b. 1701). Together they established the “second paper mill in the nation.” Henry Antes would marry William’s daughter Christina of Germantown, PA.
The Dewees clan was well connected, with ties in other budding enterprises with another mover and shaker in colonial Pennsylvania, William Rittenhouse.‡
William Dewees was also the Sheriff of Philadelphia County. His son Col. William Dewees was the co-owner of Valley Forge [PA] at the time of the American Revolution.1196
____________
An official in the Reformed Church who owned mills on Wissahickon Creek, near Germantown, PA.1199
____________
DeWees, William d 1744
DeWees, Christina, wife of William d 17491526
____________
The Netherlands and Leeuwarden
The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as Holland, although North and South Holland are actually only two of its twelve provinces. The word Dutch is used to refer to the people, the language, and anything pertaining to the Netherlands.610
____________
Leeuwarden, the place of William’s birth is the capital city of the Dutch province of Friesland and is situated 70 miles north of Amsterdam. The area has been occupied since the 10th century (although recently [2010], remains of houses dating back to the 2nd century AD were discovered during a dig). Leeuwarden was granted a town charter in 1435. Situated along the Middelzee, it was an active trade centre, until the waterway silted up in the 15th century.
During World War Two, after extensive occupation by the German forces, on 15 April 1945, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, disobeying direct orders, charged into the heavily defended city and defeated the Germans, who were driven out by the next day.1527,1528
*Brothers William and Cornelius and their father Garret?3
†Francis Daniel Pastorius (1651-1720) was the founder of Germantown, PA, now part of Philadelphia, the first permanent German settlement and the gateway for subsequent emigrants from Germany.
In Philadelphia, he negotiated the purchase of 15,000 acres from William Penn, and laid out the settlement of Germantown, where he himself would live until his death. As one of Germantown's leading citizens, Pastorius served in many public offices and wrote extensively on topics ranging from beekeeping to religion. He was also a skilled poet.
Despite the Quaker sympathies of Pastorius, his name was appropriated in 1942 by the Abwehr of Nazi Germany for "Operation Patrorius”," a failed sabotage attack on the United State in World War Two that included a target in Philadelphia.1529
‡William Rittenhouse was born in Holland, in 1644; and died in Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1708. With his sons, Nicholas (Claus) and Gerhard, and his daughter, Elizabeth, Rittenhouse came to this country from Amsterdam, Holland, and settled at Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1687-'8. He was among the first German settlers in America and the first Mennonite minister in Pennsylvania.
In 1690 he started the first paper mill in America. It became the major paper manufacturing mill in America for over one hundred years and was carried on by later generations of Rittenhouses. Previous to this operation, all paper was imported from Europe and taxed accordingly. The new mill provided a local source of printing, writing, and wrapping paper, as well as pasteboard. Rittenhouse could well be called America's father of recycling, since all of the mill's fiber for hand papermaking was obtained from discarded rags and cotton.1530
Family ID987
Marr PlaceCrefeldt Township, Philadelphia Co., PA, USA1198
Misc. Notes
Various sources identify William and Anna’s burial place as Crefeldt Township, Philadelphia, PA. However compiler is unable to find a Credeldt Township in PA, but this source does mention on several occasions in relation to William “in that part of Germantown known as Crefeld.”1535