| Notes |
- Composite Record of Heinrich Roedt, the Elder
Heinrich RHOADT d: 1748 Also known as "The Elder."
Heinrich and his wife Katherina (Koebel) Rhoedt arrived at Philadelphia on 31 October 1737 on the ship William, under the direction of Captain John Carter. They came with two married sons, Heinrich Rhoedt Jr. and Daniel Rhoedt, and at least six more siblings. A number of grandchildren were also included in the group, and the entire family, of Swiss German background, belonged either to the Evangelical Protestant Church of southern Germany, or possibly to the Anabaptist movement. But in America, a great changes awaited them.
After their arrival at Philadelphia, the Rhoedt family apparently spent a period of time at Germantown, just outside of Philadelphia. Was it here that they first encountered the spiritually renewed currents and sects of Pennsylvania? No doubt. We have no written record of exactly what happened but within a number of years the Rhoedt families were deeply involved in the awakening taking place amongst the Dunkards (German Baptists) at Germantown and particularly along the Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Heinrich and Katherina Roedt, with their children, moved to the Cocalico settlement, by now known as Ephrata, led by truly remarkable brothers Conrad Beissel, Peter Müller and others. The core group of this Dunkard congregation was communal, celibate, and Sabbatarian. But a good number of other families lived around the community as kindred spirits, and supporting members.
In 1764, under the blessing of the Ephrata community and under the direction of Conrad Beissel and Georg Adam Martin, another newly awakened Dunkard fellowship group took shape along the Antietam Creek, not far from what is now Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. A good number of brothers and sisters from Ephrata, including the Rhoedt families, also moved to the Antietam area. The Schneeberg (Snow Hill) community took shape there. The Rhoedt families found new homes in what is now Franklin and Cumberland Counties in Pennsylvania, and after a number of years Georg Adam Martin led another group of pioneers further west into what is now the Brothersvalley area of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. A number of the Roedt descendants followed and became key members of the Dunkard work there.
At the same time, Johannes Roedt (later identified as John Rhoads or Rhodes), remained in Franklin County, living west of Mount Rock on the turnpike. Franklin County, Pennsylvania, at that time, was still part of Cumberland County.
Heinrich and Katherina (Koebel) Roedt apparently followed their children and grandchildren into the new Brothersvalley settlement and are presumed to be buried at the Rhodes cemetery in Black Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Rhodes descendants, of this family, continue to flourish and multiply in Cumberland, Franklin and Somerset Counties in Pennsylvania, Washington County in Maryland, and above all, in Rockingham County in Virginia.
Sources include: The extensive histories of the Ephrata and Snow Hill German Baptist communities, the Rhoads Family Genealogy by Al Rhods, and the book Henry Rhoads Senior: Immigrant and His Earliest Descendants, by Marie L. Engle, Salisbury, MD, 1997.
.
- Heinrich Roedt the Elder of Ephrata, Pennsylvania
In the book, THE FAMILY OF HENRY THE ELDER, by J. Paul Rhoads, he discusses the necessity of defining the three "Heinrichs Rhoedts" (Henry Rhoeds / Rhodes). He chose the name, "Heinrich the Elder," for the grandfather; Henry, Senior for his son; and Henry, Junior -- also known later as Captain Henry Rhoads -- for the grandson. On page 10 of that book he states:
"This is the history of Henry the Elder as we have been able to piece it together. He came to America at a time when he was about 50 years of age and lived for about ten years in the vicinity of Ephrata, Pennsylvania. His name may have been Heinrich Roth or Hendreek Rhodt while he lived in Germany, but his friends and neighbors in Ephrata simply called him HENRY the ELDER."
The spelling of the Rhoads name is seen in a variety of ways -- both in the ancestors and in the descendants. The descendants vary mainly in using or not using the "e" and using or not using the "a". But, the ancestors, as they moved around Europe would be given the English, French or German equivalents of their name. Those that migrated to America had the typical "Americanization" of their names.
William M. Rhoads(now deceased), the sixth-generation owner of the Rhoads homeplace and farm in Muhlenberg Co., Ky, gives the name as HEINRICH RODT, the Elder (1686-1747).
This is the spelling of the name on the immigration list of the ship William in October 1737 and also of his son who accompanied him. (See 1993 Kentucky Ancestors V29-1, page 57, a Kentucky Historical Society Publication, for William Rhoads's statements.)
In researching the family we find: de Rodez, Rhodt, Rodt, Roth, Roads, Rodes, Rhoads, Rhodes, Rhoades. - Virginia Rhoades.
There is a difference of opinion among researchers, and even among the members of the families, as to the name of the WIFE of Hendreek Rhodt, the Elder (Heinrich Rode, the Elder). Some say CATHERINE ULRICH, adding a question mark. Others say CATRINA CABLE (KOEBEL / CAUBLE). The most accurate thing to say at this point (Sept., 1993) is that this is yet unproven.
It is obvious to me that one name given: Hendreek Rhoodt, appeared because of the family migrating to America with one stop being in the Netherlands. Perhaps they went to England to get on a ship and a stop was made across the English Channel. Manifest lists often give a name the spelling of the local site.
Courtesy, in part, to the Rhoedes, Haarter, May, Tapp and Allied Families Database, Rootsweb.com.
.
- Notes from Virginia Rhoades, Family Resourcher
The book published on 1 March 1997 by Marie Engel of Maryland describes the family of Henry Rhoads Senior. It attempts to explain and clarify "misconceptions and confusion" about the books and other information about Henry Rhoads Senior.
An incredible amount of intensive and careful research has been made available for the purpose of establishing the genealogy of Christian Rhodt; Henry Rhoads, the Elder; and, for Henry Rhoads Senior, but I find a lack of agreement among the sources.
From the Book, HENRY THE ELDER, by J. Paul Rhoades, page 21 the following will is presented:
"The following is the will of Henry Rhoads Sr., as recorded in the Bedford County Courthouse on January 28, 1774, in Will Book No. 1, page 5. It has been copied as recorded including spelling and punctuation:
"In the name of God Amen. I, Handry Rhoads of the County of Bedford and Province of Pennsylvania being weack in health but sound in mind & mamry do this Twenty-eight day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred & seventy four mack and ordain these my last Will and Testament in following manner first I do ordin all my just Debts to be paid and next that my that my two sons JOHN Rhoads and JOSEPH Rhoads are to delivere unto my wife CATERINA in yearly and every year as shee is a withe the sum of fourteen bushels of gut and clean wheat and to sow or cause to be sowet for her use one quarter of an acker of flocks and also to plant for use one quarter of an acker of Potatoes and I do further will in this my last will and testament that the said JOHN and JOSEPH Rhoads shall keep and feet two couse for her use along as long as she liveth and provide fier wood or case the same to be done and let her life where I life now during her life time but in case she marris again then all the above articles are to be void and I do further order in my last will and testament that all my children shall have an eckwill part of my estate of the sum of Sixty Pounds before my wife CATERINA shall come in for her thords and I do further order in this my last will and testament that if all my children are of one eckwill sheer of the Sixty Pounds to earch of them then JOHN Rhoads and JOSEPH Rhoads is to take no more in sheer with the rest of my children because the Plantation is not offset for them and I do further will and mack over to my son JOSEPH Rhoads one plow and all the geirs and one Bolt Horse or gelten and the harrow and all the tackline thereunto Belonging which the said JOSEPH Rhoads is to have and has cot to the Plantation in his bargain of Beying the same and I do hereby ordin and appoint MICHAEL SYLL and ABRAHAM ( ) both of the County of Bedford to be the executors of this my last will and testament and lastly i do hereby revoke and mack void all former and other wills by me heretofore made Declaring this to be my will and testament. In witness whereof I the same Handry Rhoads have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Signed sealed & published by the said Handry Rhoads the testator as for his last will & testament in the presence of us who in his presence have subscribed our names & written hereunto.
ABRAHAM CABLE
JOHANNY FRAZE (GROSS)
JACOB CABLE
April 12, 1774 John Gross & Jacob Cable attested to the fact that the above was Will of Henry Rhoads. The same day MICHAEL SYLL and ABRAHAM CABLE were appointed Executors."
(NOTE: Barbara Rhoads, the daughter of this Henry Rhoads, was married to MICHAEL SILL / SYLL and that could account for one of the Executors. As to the
ABRAHAM CABLE and JACOB CABLE who were witnesses and Executor, these could have been relatives. Some researchers show an Abraham Cable as the grandfather of his Henry Rhoads. H. Austin Cooper offers the name Catherine Ulrich rather than Caterina Cable as the mother of this Henry Rhoads.)
Another document was attached to the above Will of Henry Rhoads, Date of Will January 28, 1774. This document is "LEGACIES and NAMES" and is the record of the settlement of the estate giving the date, the name and the amount received by each:
October 29, 1774 JOHN RHOADS 4 pounds 14 shillings 6 pence
January 20, 1775 JOSEPH RHOADS 4 pounds 11 shillings
October 30, 1775 MICHAEL SILL 10 pounds 5 shillings 6 pence
October 30, 1775 MICHAEL SILL 4 pounds 16 shillings
May 11, 1776 HENRY RHOADS 8 pounds 19 shillings 9 pence
June 10, 1776 JACOB RHOADS 2 pounds 18 shillings
June 11, 1776 GABRIEL RHOAD 48 pounds 3 shillings
June 11, 1776 MICHAEL SILL 47 pounds
June 19, 1776 JOHN SWITZER 20 pounds 16 shillings
June 10, 1776 FREDERICK SEVERS 51 pounds 15 shillings 6 pence
June 10, 1776 JOHN SWITZER 45 pounds 16 shillings
April 29, 1777 DANIEL RHOADS 50 pounds"
End of document giving Legacies and Names.
Note that in the above settlement of the estate all (9) nine children are named. The husbands of the three daughters are named rather than the daughters: Barbara Rhoads m. Michael Sills; Susannah Rhoads m. John Switzer; Catherine Rhoads m. Frederick Severs (sometimes his name has been given as Frederick Sipes).
The death of Henry Rhoads, Senior was in April, 1774. The first settlement was on October 29, 1774. The last settlement was made April 29, 1777, about 2-1/2 years later. The differences in the sums granted must be interpreted through the meaning of the will.
I have searched these books: TWO CENTURIES OF BROTHERSVALLEY CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN by H. Austin Cooper; HENRY the ELDER by J. Paul Rhoads; excerpts from manuscripts by Col. Owen Rivers Rhoads; Nelson Osgood Rhoads; and, a variety of others. Alternate spellings of the name include: RODT, ROTH, RHODT, RODE, RHODE, RHODES, RHOADS, RHOADES.
Personally, I regard the information concerning Captain Henry Rhoads (1739-1814) and wife, Elizabeth Stoner, as rather well-documented. Data on his parents and grandparents are interesting and represent much intensive research; however, I see no consistent data on his ancestors. (For example, there are conflicts as to which children of Captain Henry Rhoads's father, Henry, Senior, belonged to which wife, Elizabeth or Catherine Rhinehart.) And, there are many more examples of inconsistency. - Virginia Rhoades.
The book TWO CENTURIES OF BROTHERSVALLEY - Church of the Brethren - 1762-1962 by H. Austin Cooper has Chapter IX -"Two Famous Pathfinders" which includes information about Henry Roth (Rhoads) Senior and Henry Roth (Rhoads) Junior. There is also Chapter XI -"Captain Henry Rhoads".
To quote from H. Austin Cooper: "The Dunker (or Brethren) Church began in 1708 at Schwarenau, Germany.....this new congregation..began the Taufers (or Tunkers or Dunkers) or German Baptist Brethren Church."
Henry Rhoads (Rode), Sr. (or, Heinrich Rhodt, Sr.) and his father, Heinrich, the Elder, Rhoads (1686-1747) is said to have arrived in America from Germany in Oct. 1737. I have a copy of the boat list. (See page 199 -Pennsylvania German Pioneers - a 3-volume book at the Strasburger, PA Library. Also, "Names of German, Swiss and Other Immigrants - 1738, page 112-113, found at the Harbin Memorial Library at Greenville, KY.) The Strasburger, PA book "Pennsylvania German Pioneers", page 199, has the listings of: Heinrich Rodt, Senior and Heinrich Rodt, Junior. It is the list of the "Palatines imported in the Ship William themselves" - Ship William, October 31, 1737, List 50-B". "50) Oct 31, 1737. Palatines imported in the ship William, John Carter, Master , from Rotterdam, last from Dover - 180 passengers". (Virginia Burke May Rhoades).
Notes from Virginia Rhoades, Family Research
A descendant, Thomas Dale Ashby, of Western Springs, Illinois, in November, 1988, offers the following in his notes:
"Information from LAUREL MESSENGER of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County, PA, Box 533, Somerset, PA, May 1971, page 2:
Henry emigrated to Philadelphia in ship 'William' 1737, first settled in Germantown, thence Bedford-Somerset via Ephrata and Maryland. Somerset County was established in 1795 from part of Bedford, Rhoads homestead straddled the county line. Part in Bedford (St.Clair Township) and part in Somerset (Brothersvalley Township). His last name was ROTH. -- From the Rhoads file in the Centertown Library, Centertown, KY (NOTE: Does he mean Central City, KY?) 10 Oct. 1988: 'He is buried in the Rhoads Cemetery on his tract of 1771, near Brooks Tunnel on the B & O Railroad, near Ursina, in lower Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.' He was also known as Heinrich Roth, Senior." -End of quoting from Thomas Dale Ashby.
From the book, THE FAMILY OF HENRY THE ELDER, by J. Paul Rhoads, pg. 27, "ALL the sons of Henry Rhoads, Senior, and Catherine Rhinehardt served in the Revolutionary War."
.
|
Rainham Builders
1686 - 1747 (~ 61 years)