The Lehr/Lahr, Rauch, and Yoder Families from Hereford Township

The following material was donated to the Berks County Genealogy project by: D. Leavitt.

New updated information with Individual source names have been added on January 15, 2003.

The family of George Henry Lahr and his wife, Maria Yoder of Hereford Township. in Berks Co., PA. are now documented. (George) Henry Lahr died in 1739 leaving behind his wife Maria and their six children. Apparently the will of Henry Lahr was never found but the estate was probated on the 9 Nov 1739. George Scholtze was the assigned Executor . Everything was left to Mary, his wife around 1746 Later she remarried Martin Sturtzman and the Estate was resettled by David Shultze, the husband of Elizabeth Lahr (daughter of Henry and Maria) on the 21 Feb 1759. The settlement papers name the children of Henry Lahr Deceased and Maria his widow and wife of Martin Sturtzman as Philip, Hans George, Barbara, Mary, Catherine, Eilzabeth and Magdalena Lahr .
We know the following about the children of Henry Lahr and Maria Yoder:
  1. Barbara Lahr b. abt 1727 was probably the Barbara Lahr married Johan Michael Huber 24 July 1749 in Upper Milford, Bucks Co., PA. (Now Lehigh Co. PA) and they lived at Douglass Twp. in what is now Montgomery Co., PA.
    The children of Barbara and Michael Huber were:
    1. child who died the 26th
    2. child who died 30th of Oct 1752.
    3. Johan Michael Huber b. 14 Nov 1755 d. 8 Oct 1836, md. Elizabeth ________..
    4. Anna Maria Huber b. 15 Aug 1758, d. 11 Feb 1834, md Henry Palsgrove.
    5. George Huber b. abt. 1762, md. Elisabeth ________.
    6. Christiana Huber b. 1764, md. Johannes Fischer.
    7. Jacob Huber b. 30 Aug 1761, d. 28 Nov 1821, md. Christina ________.
    8. Johannes Huber b. 16 Dec 1769, bur. 10 Apr 1770 at New Goshenhoppen RC.
  2. Mary Lahr b. abt 1730. Living at the time of the 1759 Henry Lahr Estate Settlement.
  3. Catherine b. abt. 1732. Living at the time of the 1759 Henry Lahr Estate Settlement.
  4. Philip Lahr b. abt 1734, the eldest son of Henry and Maria married Elizabeth Mack 25 Nov 1760 and they lived in Hereford Twp. of Berks Co., PA where Philip took out a land patent on the land that was warranted to his father in 1733 and 1737. Philip died shortly before 1800 and had at least two daughters.
    The children of Philip Lahr and Elizabeth Mack are:
    1. Margareta Lahr b. abt. 1764 at Hereford md. George Grub 25 Jun 1782.
    2. Elisabeth Lahr b.18 Oct 1774 at Hereford, md. George Steinman
  5. Johan George Lahr b. abt.1736, married Catharina Fink in 1760 (no date was given by Rev. George Michael Weiss) and they also lived in Hereford Twp. The children of Johan George Lahr and Catharina Fink were:
    1. Sarah Lahr b. 23 Jan 1769, bur. 7 Mar 1769 at New Goshenhoppen RC.
    2. Daughter (Anna Maria?)
  6. Elizabeth Lahr, b. 29 Apr 1738 at Hereford d. 6 Jun 1807. Married David Schultze 27 Jun 1758 and lived in Upper Hanover Twp of what is now Montgomery Co., PA.
    Elizabeth Lahr and David Schultze had the following children:
    1. Magdelena Schultze, b. 6 Nov 1759, d. 30 Nov 1830, md. Samuel Lobach.
    2. Anna Schultze, b. 1762 md. Abraham Clemmer
    3. Anna Maria Schultze, b. 1762 md. Henry Keck.
    4. Rosina Schultze b. 26 Apr. 1765, d. 10 Mar 1831, md. Jacob Hillegas
  7. Magdelana Lahr b. abt 1739 at Hereford, d. 1805. Married Henrich Jacob Rauch, 18 Dec 1759, but may have been previously married to a Kierner as she is listed as Magdelena Kierner in the Rev. George Michael Weiss marriage # 226 recorded in the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church Records. There is no doubt that this is the marriage of Henry Rauch and Magdelena Lahr as the marriage is also recorded in the Journals and Papers of David Schultz, vol. 1, p 249 for the 18 Dec 1759 as: "Nuptials-Henry Rauch with Magdelena".
Henry Jacob Rauch was b. 29 Aug 1731 at Odernheim, Rheinland , Pfatz, Germany to Johan Georg Rauch and Maria Margretha Schlarp. Odernheim, which was in the Meisherheim district of the Palatine, was the home of several of the Rauch families that settled in the Americas. Johan Georg Rauch immigrated aboard the ship the Robert and Alice which qualified 3 Dec 1740 at Philadelphia with his wife, three sons Philip, Henrich, Andreas, and two daughters Maria Margretha and Maria Barbara. Johan Georg Rauch was an early member of the Faulkner's Swamp Reformed Church and the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church in what is now Montgomery Co., PA.

Henry and Magdelena (Lahr) Rauch lived in Upper Hanover Twp of what is now Montgomery Co. until the 8 Apr 1774 when they moved on to Andrew Mowers farm in Hereford Twp. Henry Rauch died between 15 Sep 1783 when his will was dated and the 6 Apr 1784 when his will was probated and he and Magdelena were probably buried at the "Marsteller Cemetery" near Harlem, in Hereford Twp. of Berks Co., PA. ( A Magdelena Rauch is listed as a witness at the 30 Mar 1799 Oley Hills Reformed Church baptism of Michael Rauch who was the son of Johan Rauch and Hannah Hoffman. It is believed this may have been a nephew's baptism and this Magdalena may have been his aunt, not his grandmother.) Henry Rauch and Magdelana Lahr had thirteen children:
  1. George Rauch b.abt 1760, d. abt 1830 at Nescopeck, Luzerne Co., PA. md. Barbara ________.
  2. Philip Rauch b. abt. 1762, d. abt. 1833 Columbiana Co., Ohio. md. Eva Marsteller.
  3. Henry Rauch b. abt. 1765 d. aft. 1830 Wiessenburg Twp. Lehigh Co., PA. md. Rosina Marsteller.
  4. Jacob Rauch b. 5 Oct 1767,d. 4 Jun 1811 Manheim, Schuylkill, PA.md. Gertraut Sicher/Seiger
  5. David Rauch b. 27 Nov 1769, d. 11 Dec 1843 Hereford, md. Barbara Lieser.
  6. Elizabeth Rauch b. 30 Sept 1765, d. 13 Mar 1830, Schuykill Co., PA, md. Johan Peter Klock b. 13 Sep 1771 and died 18 Dec 1846 and they are buried at Howerter's Church at Upper Mahantongo Twp., Northumberland Co., PA. (Bob Hammond)
  7. Son Rauch b. 24 Dec 1773, bur. 5 Jan 1774 New Goshenhoppen RC, Upper Hanover, Montg. PA.
  8. Mary Rauch b. abt. 1775 Hereford, Berks Co., PA., md. John Gilbert of New Hanover, Montg. PA. Some dispute this marriage and say that she was never married.
  9. Barbara Rauch, b. abt 1777 md. Johan Henrich Strauss lived Hamilton Twp. Northampton Co., PA
  10. Margaret Rauch b. abt. 1779 md. Peter Kreiss/Greiss of Hereford Twp. Berks Co., PA.
  11. Magdalena Rauch b. 15 Oct 1781 at Hereford and d. 17 Oct 1854 at Upper Milford Twp., Lehigh County, PA where she is buried. She md. Peter Raudenberg/Rothenberger b. 1 Jan 1784 at Upre Milford and d. 13 Sep 1858 and was buried at Upper Milford. (Stephen Prince)
  12. John Rauch, b. abt. 1782, md. Hannah Hoffman lived at Bushkill, Northampton, PA after 1810. They are buried at Salem Reformed Church in Morrestown, Northampton County, PA. (Bob Hammond)
Maria, the Widow of Henry Lahr married Martin Sturtzman, abt 1745 and had one daughter Rosina Sturtzman who married Michael Shell. Maria and Martin also had a child who died 30 Oct 1752

In what must have been one harrowing journey George Henrich Lahr immigrated to America in 1727 aboard the Friendship of Bristoll from Rotterdam, John Davies Master and he can be found on lists 5 A and 5 B listed on pgs. 16 and 17 of Pennsylvania German Pioneers. The captian's list records the names of 52 men including Henry Leer, seven of which that were listed as dead and ten of which that were listed as sick. One can only imagine what hardships they must have faced during this voyage. On the 16th day of Oct. 1727 Henry took the Oaths of Allegiance at Philadelphia signing the name Yer Henrich Lahr. It has been assumed that Yer was a shortend form of George and a "g" has been added in brackets on the list provided by Dr. Hinke. Although the lists cite the immigrants as being Palatines, Montogmery Co., PA historians will recognize the names of several Swiss Mennonites that settled in the Salford and Franscosia Townships as well as Johann Philip Reed who was an early German Reformed Church Member who settled in Upper Hanover Township. It has been documented that several of the Weiss Mennonites temporally ended up in the Manniheim area not far from the German Rhineland and other areas of the Palatine before emigrating. Henry probably married Maria Yoder before arriving the New World, but it is possible that he married afterwards.

It might be well to note here that the branch of the Yoder family that Maria came from had early ties with the Montgomery Co. Mennonites so it is very plausible that Henry and Maria were also Anabaptists. Thanks to Don Norwood who directed me towards an extract of Daniel Yoder's will posted on the Yoder Newsletter Online, Back issue 16, April 1990, we now know who some of Maria's cousins were. Richard H. Yoder of Bechtelsville PA, found the will in the Schwenkenfelder Library and provided the following info. to the Yoder Newsletter:

"Daniel Yoder of Upper Hanover, but now of Hereford Twp. in the county of Berks, Batchelor," Heirs include his "beloved cousin John George Lahr," "my father's sister Mary Sturtzman: Philip Lahr" and to Elizabeth, the wife of Davide Schultze", "to my beloved Cousins, John Jacob Yoder and Melchoir Yoder and John Herblin (sp): Magdalena Rauchin (sp); and Rosina Shelton (sp)." John George Lahr was the executor. The will was written 20 Apr 1783 and witnessed by Johannes Roeder and Abraham Mayer. It was translated by David Shultz June 7, 1784."

This will not only names Mary (Maria) Sturtzman as a sister of Daniel Yoder's father but it also names Johan Jacob and Melchoir Yoder as Daniel's cousins which would seem to indicate that their father was also a brother to Mary Yoder Sturtzman. John George Lahr, Elizabeth Schultze, and Magdalena Rauch were all children of Mary Yoder and Henry Lahr, Mary's first husband. Rosina Shelton was probably a mistranslation and was probably Rosina Shellin (the wife of Michael Shell) the daughter of Mary Yoder and her second husband, Martin Sturzman.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT EARLIER RAUCH'S:

Johan Georg Rauch was b. 1 May 1696 at Odernheim, Pfalz, Gremany to Johann Nickal Rauch and Christina Catharina Muehlberg. Johan Georg Rauch md. 2) Maria Margretha Schlarp, 23 Apr 1724 at Odernheim and they had the following children:
  1. Phillip Leonhard Rauch b. Aug 1725 at Odernheim, Pfaltz Germany was probably the phillip Rauch who lived in Hereford Twp., from 1752 to 1778. Philip Rauchof Hereford md. Mary ____ abt. 1762 and had three children, Johan Georgus Rauch b. 5 Nove 1768, Daniel Rauch b. 10 Nov 1772, and Petrus Rauch b. 7 Mar 1774, baptized at the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church in Montgomery Co., PA. Philip and Mary also had a son Johan Rauch b. Sep 1763, a son Philip Rauch b. Nov 1776 and possibly some daughters according to John Rowe. Philip was a member of Captain David Strauss's eithth Hereford Revolutionary Company, eighth class. Philip and Mary sold their lands in Hereford on 21 Apr 1778 to Jacob Fisher and Samuel Heil and moved to Rowan Co. NC. By 1780 some kind of fatal tragedy befell Philip and his wife and daughters and their estate was probated 7 Aug 1781 and Philip's five sons were appointed guardians. Their son, Peter Rauch, b. 7 Mar 1774 was the ancestor of the Cantawba Co., NC Rauch family who later changed the spelling of their name to Rowe.

  2. Maria Margretha Rauch b. 2 Jul 1728 at Odernheim, Pfaltz, Germany.

  3. Henrich Jacob Rauch b. 29 Aug 1731 at Odernheim, Pfalz, Germany and went by Henry Rauch. He is listed on Georg Michael Weiss" 1748 to 1758 first communion list for the New Goshenhoppen RC as Henrich Rauch and married Magdalena Lahr/Kiener 18 Dec 1759 at the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church. (See the notes on Henry Lar family) Henry waa member of Captain Davd Strauss's eighth Hereford Revolutionary War Company, eighth class along with his brother Philip Rauch and his brother-in-law George Lahr. Henry Rauch and George Moll also served as Court-martial Men.

  4. Johann Andreas Rauch b. 26 Jun 1734 at Odernheim, Pfatz, Germany. He is listed on the Faulkner's Swamp Reformed Churc in New Hanover, Montgomery Co., PA confirmation lists for "Whit Sunday 1750" as Andrew Rauch s/o George. He is probably the Andrew Rauch who is listed on the Northampton Co., PA tax ists for 1761 Lynn Twp. of what is now Lehigh Co., PA and on the 1733 to 1780 Penn Twp of what is now Schuylkill Co., PA. According to the Genealogical and Biographical History of Lehigh County, PA by Charles Rhoads Roberts, p. 1017, Andreas Rauch and his wife Elizabeth had a on Andreas b. 2 Dec 1769 in what is now Lehigh County, PA. Andreas and Elizabeth may also have had a son named George as a George Rauch is also listed on the Lynn Township tax lists along with Andrew Rauch jr. in 1789. Andrew Rauch Sr. was a member of Capt. William Mayer's second company, seventh class of the Northampton 3rd Battalion Militia in the Revolutionary War. In the Journals and Papers of David Shultze, vol. 2, p. 125, David Shultze who was #2 Henry Rauch's brother-in-law, notes for the 11 Aug 1780 that "Andreas Rauch was buried on the 11th at the Blue Mountains". One has to speculate as to whether or not his death was due to the war, as the Sugar Loaf Massacre took place exactly one month later resulting in several losses to Captain Van Etten's Northampton "Seven Months Men" Unit including a Jacob and Philip Rough. Adreas Rauch Jr., b. 1789 married Catherine Eberts 17 May 1795 at Heidelberg, Lehigh County, PA and they had at least four children: John, Benjamin, Michael, and Joshua Rauch who all lived in Heidelberg.

  5. Maria Barbara Rauch b. 27 October 1737 at Odernheim, Pfaltz, Germany. Possibly was the Maria Barbara who married Hartman Haas of Montgomery Couty, PA and who was buried 4 May 1792 at Faulkners' Swamp Reformed Church at new Hanover, Moontgomery County, PA. On page 210 of the Journals and Papers of David Shultze, vol II, David notes for Apr of 1790 that the "Old Haas in Limerick at the Schuylkill was buried on the 11th, he was the schoolmast4r's brother-in-law." David often referred to Henry Rauch as "the schoolmaster". Hartman Haas lived in Limerick Township off and on according to montgomery County Tax lists. Hartman and Barbara had th following children: Johan Hartman Haas b. 22 Jan 1766 at New Providence, Montgomery County, PA; Maria Barbara Haas 13 Jan 1770 at New Hanover, Montgomery County, PA and Benjamin Haas b. 9 Dec 1771 at New Hanover, Montgomery County, PA.

  6.   Johan Peter Rauch, probable son, b. abt. 1741. No record has been found to prove that Hans Peter Rauch was definitely a son of Johann Georg Rauch, but, there is circumstantial evidence to support this possibility. In the Journals and Papers of David Shultze, vol. II p. 22 David notes for Aug. 8th and 9th of 1768, "Henry Rauch and Peter mowed oats". Then on the 30th and 31th of Aug. 1768 David makes the same note, "The second crop of grass mowed by Henry Rauch and Peter". Although it is notable that David does not include Peter's surname, and it is possible that David is referring to Peter Helligas, since Henry did rent land from this Peter, nowhere in his journals is anyone outside of David's immediate family ever mentioned by a given name alone. Even close friends are mentioned by full names. So I must assume that this was probably a peculiarity of German grammatical or David's pen, and should be translated as Henry and Peter Rauch. On page 198 for 3 Dec 1786 David notes the following: "Henry Rauch and Hans Peter Rauch were here." This was Henry Rauch Jr. as Henry Rauch Sr. died after 1783. It is notable that the 3 Dec is the anniversary of the Johan Georg Rauch family's arrival at Philadelphia. It should also be noted that no one in the immediate family was named Hans Peter Rauch. Philip Rauch who moved to NC did have a son named Peter who would have been 13 in 1786, but I can find no reference that he ever went by Johan or Hans and he was baptized simply as Petrus on the 7 Mar 1774. Plus there was a Peter Rauch who lived nearby who would have been the right age to be a son of Johan Georg Rauch. The Egypt Reformed Church of Whitehall twp. in what is now Lehigh Co., PA., lists the following baptisms. Johannes Rauch, s/o Peter and Margreth, b. 14 Jan 1773, bp. 14 Feb. listing Johann Theobald Hertzog and Eva Catharina Saeger as sponsors. Susanna Rauch d/o Peter and Anna Margreth Rauch, b. 4 Aug 1774, bp. 4 Sep listing Johannes Grob and Anna Maria Leisiring as sponsors. And Catharina Rauch d/o Peter and Anna Margreth Rauch, b. 10 Nov 1776, bp. 2 Feb 1777 listing Christian and Maria Susanna Saeger as sponsors. This Peter Rauch probably was the Peter Rauch who served in the Rev. War in Captain John Morritz's fourth Co., second battalion, Northampton County Militia from Whitehall Twp. This Peter Rauch and family moved to Staunton, Augusta Co., VA around 1789 where he resided until his death before 1820. Peter and Margreth Rauch also had sons George and Peter Rauch and a daughter named Margaret (Peggy) Rauch. Susanna married Edward McFadden 16 Oct 1798 and Peggy married Mathias Fuch/Fox 27 Nov 1799. It is interesting to note that members of this Peter Rauch family eventually changed the spelling of the surname to Rowe as did members of the Philip and Henry Rauch families.  

    1. Johannes Rauch, s/o Peter and Margreth, b. 14 Jan 1771, bp. 14 Feb, listing Johann Theobald Hertzog and Eve Catharina Saeger as sponsors.

    7- George Rauch, son of George Rauch, as recorded in the Faulkner's Swamp Reformed Church Registers p. 2 was bapt. 11 Dec 1748 listing George Mull and his wife as witnesses. He may have been the George Rauch that is listed on the Northampton Co., tax lists for Penn Twp. that now lies in Schuylkill Co., PA. This George Rauch had at least one son Peter who is listed as a single freeman on the 1787 Penn Twp. lists.  

      It is not known for sure what became of Johan Georg Rauch the immigrant. It is assumed that he lived in what is now Montgomery Co., PA., perhaps in New Hanover or Limerick Twp. By the time the 1769 Montgomery Co., Tax lists begin he had either moved or died. It is possible that he moved to the Albany Twp. of Berks Co., as a George Rouch is listed on the tax lists beginning in 1757 with a Peter Sebold who's name always appears next to George's. A Johan Peter Sebodt also came to the New World on the Robert and Alice that arrived in Philadelphia on the 3 Dec 1740, so it is possible that they were either friends or relatives. Albany Twp. also boarders Penn and Lynn Twps. where Andreas and George Rauch Jr. probably resided. By 1765 George Rouch is no longer listed on the Albany Tax Lists and probably had passed on by this time at age 69. Peter Sebold appears in 1770 for the last time on the Albany Tax lists and then in 1774 Peter and Anna Maria Seebold have a child Anna Maria b. 31 Oct 1774 and bp. 26 Dec 1774 at Faulkner's Reformed Church at New Hanover Twp. back in Montgomery Co., PA. Several generations of the Sebold family are listed in the same register.

    Any one interested in any of these Lahr, Rauch and related families can contact DelLynn Leavitt at dleavitt@cableone.net. This information was contributed May 26, 2002

    Last Modified Tuesday, 26-Jan-2021 10:43:38 PST

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