212. Documentation for John Royer
(7 December 1743 to after 18 April and before 1 June 1831)
father of Philip Royer
(19 Oct 1772 to 25 June 1830)
John Royer, Fifth Great-Grandfather of Curtis Lynn Older:
1) John Royer, husband of Maria Elisabetha Neu, parents of Philip Royer
2) Philip Royer, husband of Keaty Keller (Catharine Caller), parents of Elizabeth Royer
3) Elizabeth Royer, wife of George Hartman, parents of William (Uner) Hartman
4) William (Uner) Hartman, husband of Elizabeth Nicholas, parents of Mary Luella Hartman
5) Mary Luella Hartman, wife of Joseph P Gouty, parents of Robert William Gouty
6) Robert William Gouty, husband of Ethel Belle Fox, parents of Mavis Lorene Gouty
7) Mavis Lorene Gouty, wife of Truxton James Older, parents of Curtis Lynn Older
Download Adobe Acrobat File - 212. John Royer - (The file has the following text plus images.)
John Royer was born 7 December 1743 in Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.(1) He died after 18 April 1831 and before 1 June 1831 in Rockingham County, Virginia.(2) John was the son of Samuel Royer and his wife, Eve, of Warwick Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.(3)
Samuel Royer was one of four sons of Sebastian Royer.(4) Sebastian Royer, the grandfather of John Royer, purchased 100 acres of land in Lancaster County on 3 January 1733. At the time of his death, Sebastian's will allocated his real estate to his children. This land was not far south of Brickerville, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
"Sebastian Royer died near Brickerville, in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster Co., PA, in 1758 or 1759."(5) "June 20, 1754, Sebastian Royer deeded to his son Samuel, 136 acres of the latter tract."(6) Samuel Royer witnessed a deed at Brickerville in 1762. Samuel Royer died intestate in 1763 in Warwick Township, Lancaster Co., PA.(7)
"We find from an old list of land owners that a George Royer in 1759 owned 200 acres of land in Warwick Township, Lancaster County, PA. This was the township in which Sebastian settled. George Royer was a brother of Samuel Royer. George Royer was listed in the Warwick Township Assessment of 1753.(8)
Samuel Royer and his wife, Eve, were the parents of at least four children:
i. Samuel was the oldest son of Samuel Royer and his wife, Eve.(9) He was said to have been born in 1738 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, and to have died in 1823 in Franklin Co., Pennsylvania.(10)
Samuel moved to Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, about 1774. He acquired 5 tracts of land in Cumberland Co., PA, on 4 and 5 May 1774.(11) Samuel became a Captain in the Pennsylvania Militia and was active in the American Revolution.(12) He is listed under Saml Royar in the Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Samuel Royer was one of the men who petitioned the state of Pennsylvania to form Franklin County in 1784.(13)
ii. Henry – no research undertaken
iii. Juliana apparently was the youngest remaining minor child of Samuel Reyer and his wife, Eve, when we read the 1769 Orphan's Court document.(14) We have not found a marriage record for Juliana Royer, sister of John Royer. However, it is possible to contend she married Peter Neu who may have been a brother of John Royer's wife, Maria Elisabetha Neu.(15)
iv. John Royer married Maria Elisabetha Neu on 20 October 1767.(16) The wedding was officiated by Reverend Casper Stoever. Maria was born on 12 June 1743.(17) There are four different publications that list the wedding date and location.
1) Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever, Baptismal and Marriage, 1730-1779, Harrisburg, PA.: Harrisburg Publishing Co. 1896, page 72, states, "Oct. 20. Johannes Reyer and Maria Elisabetha Neu. Warwick and Lebanon."
2) Pennsylvania Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages, 1730-1799, records the marriage of Johannes Reyer and Maria Elisabetha Neu on 20 Oct 1767 as taking place in Warwick and Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and cites as its source Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
3) Pennsylvania Church Records – Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881, records the Johannes Reyer and Maria Elisabetha Neu marriage on 20 Oct 1767 as taking place in Lancaster Co., PA, and as obtained from the records of Reverend Stoever.
4) Pennsylvania and New Jersey Church and Town Records, 1669-1999, records the marriage of Johannes Reyer and Maria Elisabetha Neuin on 20 Oct 1767 but taking place at No Annville Twp, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and at Hill Evangelical Lutheran.
Analysis of the situation leads us to conclude that the marriage unquestionably took place in Lancaster County. The confusion comes in when we look at the one entry which lists the location of the wedding at "No Annville Twp, Lebanon, Pennsylvania." Lebanon County was not formed until the year 1813 when it was formed from part of Lancaster County and Dauphin County.(18) Clearly, Lebanon County did not exist in 1767. When we search on "North Annville Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia, we find the following statement: "This area was originally part of Lebanon Township of Lancaster County and then Annville Township of Lebanon County."
We believe a website, pagenweb.org, which lists the "Marriage Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever (all 1,429 marriages)" provides adequate clarification. That website gives the following listing for the Reyer – Neu wedding:
1767 10 20 Reyer, Johannes (Warwick) Neu, Maria Elisabetha (Lebanon)
This record appears to indicate John Reyer was living in Warwick Township and Maria Elisabetha Neu was living in Lebanon Township. Both Warwick and Lebanon were townships in Lancaster County in 1767.
There is no Lebanon Township in Lancaster County currently, i.e., in the year 2017 when this is being written. The Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church, we believe, refers to a church which Reverend Casper Stoever founded in 1733 and in August 2017 is located at 998 N. Mill Street in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. This church is about 15 miles north of the Brickerville area were many members of the Reyer family lived. It is entirely possibly the Reyer – Neu wedding was held in this historic church which still stands today.
Reverend John Casper Stover appears on the listing of the 1758 Assessment for Lebanon Township, Lancaster County, PA.(19) We note the same minister, Reverend Casper Stoever, officiated at the marriage of John George Meyer and Maria Catarina Reyer on 8 September 1751 in Warwick Township, Lancaster County, PA.(20) Perhaps Maria Catarina was a sister of John's father, Samuel Royer.
There is a Michael Neu of Lancaster County who served in the 2nd Battallion, 2nd Company, 5th Class, Authority – C/R (1780-1783).(21) This record does not prove active duty. We also find "Michl Nye" listed in the 1772 Pennsylvania Tax and Exoneration records for "Town or Ward: Lebanon, County: Lancaster." While Michael Neu and Michael Nye may be two different individuals, these records may clarify the likelihood Maria Elisabetha Neu lived in Lebanon Town or Lebanon Township within Lancaster County at the time of her marriage.
Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940, has a listing for the marriage of a Michael Neu and Susanna Romich on 19 April 1796 at the Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Annville Township, Lebanon, Pennsylvania. We note again, there was no Lebanon County in Pennsylvania until 1813.
There is a baptism record for Rigina Catharina Reyer, a child of Samuel Ryer and wife, born 13 March 1754, baptized March 6th, we assume in the following year.(22) There also is a baptism record for Regina Reyer, a child of Samuel Reyer and Regina Scherlin, birth date 9 April 1739 and baptism date 22 April 1739.(23)
The widow of Samuel Royer remarried, apparently a short time after her husband's death. She married a man named John Unger.(24) A Jno Unger appears in the Pennsylvania Tax and Exoneration listing for Warwick Township, Lancaster County, in the year 1772 and a John Unger appears on the list in 1773 for Warwick Township. A John Unger Junior is on the 1779 Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Tax and Exoneration list. Also, a John Ungar is listed on page 1073 – Warwick Township.(??)
A John Unger served as a private in Lancaster County in 1778-1779 and again in 1781-1782. This John Unger was born 23 March 1755 and died 19 March 1825 in Franklin Co., PA. He came to Franklin County from Warwick Township in Lancaster County and perhaps was a son of the John Unger who married Eve, the widow of Samuel Royer.(25)
John Royer was a private serving under the command of a Captain Peter Grubb in the Warwick Township Association in the year 1775.(26) No other record for John Royer of Warwick Township has been found related to his service in the American Revolution.
There is a record for a John Royer in the Revolutionary War Battalions & Militia Index Cards 1775-1783.(27) However, there is nothing on this card to indicate this John Royer was in Warwick Township, Lancaster County. The index also has a card for a Capt. Samuel Royer.(28)
"The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted legislation to ensure inhabitants gave their allegiances to the newly formed government. On June 13, 1777 all male inhabitants over age 18 were required to subscribe an oath before a Justice of the Peace where they resided renouncing all allegiances to Great Britain. This legislation also extended to undocumented visitors that traveled into Lancaster County during this time. Justices of the Peace were required to keep registers of all names that subscribed to the oath of allegiance and submit them each year to the Recorder of Deeds. Justices of the Peace received one shilling for every person that took the oath. The Recorder’s office received five shillings for every hundred names recorded."
"Lancaster County Oaths of Allegiances lists were recorded in Deed Book ‘L’ pages 375-406 but names were not indexed in the regular deed indexes. Subscriber names were recorded and are in typewritten format. Names have been indexed exactly as they were recorded in Deed Book ‘L’ so researchers should search for alternative spellings of surnames. Records may be viewed via the Recorder of Deeds website www.lancasterdeeds.com and selecting “E-Film Reader”. Original Oaths of Allegiance records may be kept at the Pennsylvania State Archives."
After a search of all names in Deed Book "L" pages 375-406, only three Royer family names were found. Those names were: "Saml Ryer 703" and "Sebastian Reyer 902" on page 384 and "Philip Reyer" on page 405. No John Royer name was found.
John Royer does not appear in the 1790 Warwick, Lancaster, Pennsylvania census records. A John Royer is in the Cocalico, Lancaster, Pennsylvania census records.(29) John Royer in Cocalico Township probably was a son of Emick or Emig Royer.(30) The John Royer of Cocalico township died in Cocalico Township in Lancaster County in 1816, the year his will was probated.(31)
John Royer acquired land from a John Craig Senior on 27 May 1790 in Rockingham County, Virginia.(32) The deed was "made the 27th day of May in the year 1790 by and between John Royer of the County of Rockingham and state of Virginia of the one part and John Craig Senr of the same county and state as aforesaid." The deed was for several tracts of land. This statement implies that John Royer already was living in Rockingham County at the time of his purchase.
No Royer was listed as owning land in 1789 in Rockingham Co., VA.(33) No record has been found for John Royer in Warwick Township, Lancaster Co., PA, in the 1790 census nor has one been found in the Rockingham Co., VA, census records for 1790.
We do not believe John Royer of Warwick Township owned any land in Lancaster County before he moved to Rockingham Co., VA, but perhaps he did. A John Reyer acquired land called Reyers Retreat on 15 Jun 1773, page 510, consisting of 115 acres, 100 perches, Warrantee was John Reyer, Date of Warrant – 13 March 1772, County – Lancaster.(33A) We do not know the township in which this property is located. John Royer's occupation has not been determined. It does seem a bit strange that he would move from Lancaster County, where he apparently owned no land, but then set about acquiring a large amount of land in Rockingham Co., VA.
The earliest appearance of the Royer (Reyer) name in the Peaked Mountain Church records, Rockingham County, Virginia, is on April 22, 1792, when the names of Elizabeth Reyer (Royers) and Elizabeth Reyer, Jr. are listed.(34) Also, on the same date, John Reyer is listed as one of the Elders. It probably would take a year or two for a man to become an Elder in a church, unless perhaps he already was known to members of the church.
The first appearance of Mary Elizabeth Reyer, the wife of John Royer, in the church records was on the Register of the catechisms, first admitted to the Lord's Supper on October 19, 1794.(35) Also listed on October 19, 1794 are: John Reyer, Peter Reyer, Catherine Reyer, and Elizabeth Reyer. A Nicholas Neu, perhaps a brother of Maria Elisabetha Neu, also appears on that listing.(36)
Two of the most interesting entries in the Peaked Mountain Church records appear in 1792 and 1793 in the baptismal register that mention a Peter Neu and Juliana, his wife.
Peter Neu and Juliana – parents
(221) Eva, born 30 Oct. 30, 1792; bapt. June 23, 1793
Maria Kissling - Sponsor
John Hardman and Anna Maria – parents
(222) Sarah, born June 2, 1793; bapt. June 23, 1793
Sponsor – Peter Neu and Juliana
Could Juliana, the wife of Peter Neu, be Juliana, the sister of John Royer? And likewise, could Peter Neu be a brother of Maria Elisabetha Neu, the wife of John Royer?
The children of John Royer and his first wife, Maria Elisabetha Neu and his second wife, Barbara Boyer, are clearly identified in an 1841 Rockingham County Chancery Court case:(37)
Children of John Royer and his first wife, Maria Elisabetha Neu:
1) Peter Royer, living in Rockingham County in 1841.(38) An 1850 census record for District 56 and a half, Rockingham County, Virginia, indicates a Peter Boyer, age 76, born about 1774, in Pennsylvania. Ancestry.com indicates this record could be for a Peter Royer. We believe this record was for Peter Royer, not Peter Boyer.
The reason we make this statement is due to several factors. On the next line below this Peter appears an Addison Royer. We know Addison Royer was a son of Peter Royer from Addison's marriage record in 1856. We also know from the records of the Peaked Mountain Church Peter's wife was named Elizabeth. Peter and his wife Elizabeth are both shown as not able to read or write. We also see a Peter Boyer listed on the same page a few lines above. This Peter appears as age 62 and born in a state other than Virginia. This Peter probably was the son of Barbara Boyer, the second wife of John Royer.
Peter Royer is listed as age 76 and he was born in Pennsylvania. Therefore, Peter was born in 1774. The 1850 census record shows the wife of Peter Royer as Elizabeth. Peter married Elizabeth Betty Kyger on 5 November 1793 in Rockingham Co., VA.(39) Peter may have died in September 1850. The most significant item in the 1850 census for Peter Royer is the fact that it indicates he was born in the state of Pennsylvania.
The first appearance of a Peter Royer in the Peaked Mountain Church records is on 19 October 1794 when Peter Reyer appears in a listing in the Register of the catechisms, first admitted to the Lord's Supper.(40) Peter Reier was in attendance on Easter of 1796. On 16 April 1797, Peter Ryer was a communicant at the Peaked Mountain Church. On 30 July 1797, Peter Ryer was in attendance as a Sponsor of the baptism of Elisabeth Royer, daughter of Philip Ryer (Royer). 26 February 1799 when Peter Reur (Royers) and Elizabeth, parents, of Annie Maria born 26 February 1799, Catherine Reyer Sponsor apparently was baptized.
Peter Royer appears in the 1840 Rockingham, Virginia, census next to an Adison Royer and near Peter Boyer.(41) Virginia Select Marriages 1785-1940, lists a marriage for an Addison Royer and a Malinda Catharine Kaylor. The father of Addison is listed as Peter Royer and the mother is listed as Elizabeth Kaylor. The marriage date was 3 September 1856 and took place in Augusta Co., Virginia. Addison was 28 years old and born in 1828 in Rockingham Co., VA.(42) The mother of Malinda Catharine Kaylor was Sarah Kigger, wife of Peter Kaylor.
Peter Royer is listed as 1 male age 26 and under 45 in both the 1810 and 1820 censuses. Therefore, Peter must have been no older than 34 at the time of the 1810 census and thus born no earlier than 1776. However, we find Peter Royer and his wife, Elizabeth, listed in the 1850 District 56 and a half, Rockingham County, VA, census as both age 76 and thus born in 1774.(43)
Peter Royer and his wife, Elizabeth, had a daughter Delia Royer who was born on 27 December 1804.(44) Peter Royer and his wife, Elizabeth, had a daughter Anna Maria who was born on 26 February 1799.(45) Peter Royer and his wife, Elizabeth, had a son Jacob Royer who was born on 11 December 1800.(46)
Jacob Royer, a son of Peter Royer and his wife, Elizabeth, was a witness to an indenture dated 11 December 1826 between Joseph Good and George Shaver, shoemaker, both of Rockingham County, VA. "Joseph Good hath this day put, bound and by these presents doth bind and place his son Joseph Good to be an apprentice unto the sd George Shaver, and with the said Shaver to dwell until he arrives at the age of twenty one years, which term will expire on the first day of February 1838." This indenture was the subject of an article by Dorothy A. Boyd-Rush, Ph.D., Chairman of the Department of History at James Madison University and a Virginia Genealogical Society Governor. Footnote number five by the author indicates, "Based on his signature, the Jacob Royer who witnessed the indenture in 1826 was a son of Peter Royer who, like many members of the Good Family, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and died in Rockingham County. Jacob himself was born in Rockingham County in 1800 and died in the same county in 1885.(47)
[There is a Peter Royer will, born 1774, about 1856 in Rockingham County, VA. There also is a codicil to the will. Total 4 pages.]
[Samuel V. Royer was a son of Peter Royer.
Samuel V. Royer was born 12 Nov 1802 in Rockingham Co., VA.(???)
He was christened January 1803 at the Peaked Mountain Church in Rockingham Co., VA
He married Henrietta Propst on 21 May 1827 in Rockingham Co., VA.
Henrietta Propst was the daughter of Henry Propst and Elizabeth M. Kyger. Henrietta was born on 9 March 1809 in McGaheysville and died after 1 June 1880 in Montevideo, Rockingham, Virginia.
He died 16 April 1860 at Rockingham Co., VA at age 57.
Cause of death – run over by a wagon.]
2) Catharine Royer, living in Rockingham County in 1841.(48)
3) Christian Royer, living in the state of Ohio in 1841.(49) Perhaps born 1772, died 1 September 1840. A Christian Royer and his wife Margaret were the parents of a Jenetta Caroline Royer who was born 31 Dec 1827 and christened 04 May 1828 at the Peaked Mountain Church, McGaheysville, Rockingham, VA.(50)
4) Maria Elizabeth Royer, was born 13 December 1776 and died 25 April 1802.(50A) We also know from another source she died before 1 June 1831, i.e., in the lifetime of her father.(52) She married Daniel Nunemaker about 27 April 1795 at Rockingham, VA.(51) Daniel Nunemaker and his children were living in the state of Ohio in 1841.(53) The children of Daniel and Maria Elizabeth (Royer) Nunemaker were: Ann Maria, Peter John, Jacob, and Elizabeth.(53A) Also see Appendix A below for the children who are identified in an 1841 Chancery Court record.
5) Philip Royer, died in 1830.(54) He married Keaty Keller (?Catharine Kaylor?) on 5 November 1793.(55) He was the father of seven children.(56) On 8 December 1794, John Reyer, a son of Philip Reyer, was born. He was baptized 8 March 1795. Sponsors were John Reyer (Royer) and wife Elizabeth.(57) On 2 July 1797, Elizabeth Reyer, daughter of Philip Ryer (Royer) was born. Elizabeth was baptized on 30 July 1797. The sponsor was Peter Ryer.(58) On 6 July 1799, Philip, a son of Philip Rey(er) and Catherine was born. The sponsor was John Koeler.(59)
Children of John Royer and his second wife, the former Barbary Boyer:
1) Henry Royer, living in the state of Ohio in 1841.(60) Barbary Boyer was first married to a John Boyer. Her maiden name may have been Zeigler.(60A)
We have strong confidence Philip Royer married on 5 November 1793 in Rockingham County, Virginia, strong confidence his tombstone inscription was accurate, and that he was born very near to 19 October 1772. If we assume he was at least 21 years old at the time of his marriage, then his birth date of 1772 seems quite reasonable. Therefore, we can assume he was living in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, from 1772 until he arrived in Rockingham County, Virginia. We have not found any records of Philip in Lancaster County during the time period. He would have been younger than 21 years of age during that time period.
Christian Royer is listed as 1 male age 26 and under 45 in both the 1810 and 1820 censuses. Therefore, Christian must have been no older than 34 at the time of the 1810 census and thus born no earlier than 1776. Therefore, Christian Royer of Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County, in the 1790 census was not the son of John Royer.(61) It seems very unlikely Christian would have been a head of household at age 14.
Based on the 1810 and 1820 census records we can assume Peter Royer and Christian Royer were alive and living in Lancaster County from the 1770s until they arrived in Rockingham County, VA, most likely about 1790. It seems very likely they would have been too young to be listed on a census or Tax and Exoneration listing before 1790 in Pennsylvania. We know Peter Royer and Philip Royer married in Rockingham County, Virginia, and not in Pennsylvania. It seems very likely Christian Royer married in Rockingham County, Virginia, as well.
The 1810 U. S. census for New Haven, Rockingham, Virginia, shows a John Royer. The 1810 U. S. census for Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia, shows John Royer, Peter Royer, and Christian Royer all appear on the same page.
John Royer is listed as 1 male age 45 and upwards in the 1810 Rockingham County, VA, census. If John Royer was born in 1743, as most Ancestry.com Family Trees indicate, he would have been 67 years old in 1810. Likewise, if he was 21 years of age when he married in 1767, he would have been 64 years old in 1810. This census record fits his age from records in Lancaster Co., PA.
In 1792, there were 11 males named Royer above 16 years of age in Rockingham County.(62) It seems very certain those men would have included John Royer and his three sons, Peter, Christian, and Philip.
Maria Elisabeth Neu Reyer is buried at the Peaked Mountain Church Cemetery in McGaheysville, Rockingham Co., Virginia. Most Ancestry.com public family trees list her year of death as 1801.(62A) However, her tombstone does not indicate a date of death.(63) According to the website, her tombstone reads "Maria Elisabeth Reyer" and her date of birth is given as "12 Jun 1743". No date of death is given. In a column listed as "Headstone Notes" there is a listing that reads "wife(?) of John Reiers". Then, in a "Remarks" column, we find the notation, "Illegible marker 2003-Inscriptions in German-recorded by John W. Wayland in 1930s."
Children (Royer) according to 1841 Chancery Court documents:
First wife: Maria Elizabeth Neu
1. Peter Royer – orator of court case – plaintiff
2. Philip Royer
3. Christian Royer – state of Ohio
4. Elizabeth – married Daniel Nunemaker – state of Ohio
5. Catherine – unmarried and residing in Rockingham Co., VA
Second wife: Barbary Boyer, widow of John Boyer
1. Henry Royer – state of Ohio
ORIGINAL SOURCE MATERIAL to support the RELATIONSHIP between
JOHN ROYER and his son PHILIP ROYER
1) Samuel Royer died intestate in 1763 in Warwick Township, Lancaster Co., PA. See Index to the intestate records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania 1729-1850, Name - Reier, Samuel, Year – 1763, Book - ___, Volume - ___, Page - ___.
See Lancaster Historical Society archive Inv 1764 F001 R – Reier, Samuel, "left several children some of whom were then minors."
See Lancaster Historical Society, probably Inv 1763 F001 R, five page document dated September 1763, page one - entitled Orphan's Court Order to assign Dower to Eve Unger late widow relict of Samuel Ryer; page two - first Tuesday in September 1765 petition of John Unger and Eve his wife late Eve Ryer widow and relict of Samuel Ryer late of Warwick Township, setting forth that the said Samuel Ryer died intestate, 150 acres, leaving issue four children; page three - labelled 1763 Return of the Widow Ryer's Dower; page four - division of land; page five - a drawing of the segments of land allocated to Eve Unger.
Also, The Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society library contains the following index card as part of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Mennonite Vital Records, 1750-2014, which shows the following: "Reyer Samuel, m Eve, 1. Samuel, 2. Henry, 3. John, 4. Juliana, wid Eve m John Unger. -Lanc. C. H. O. Ct., 1763, p. 106." The date on the actual typewritten document as obtained from the Lancaster Historical Society appears as 24 October 1764, not 1763. The document clearly shows a son of Samuel Royer who was named John. Also a son named Samuel who was the eldest of the four children of Samuel Royer.
2) John Royer (Johannes Reyer) of Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, married Maria Elisabetha Neu of Lebanon Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on 20 October 1767. The wedding was officiated by Reverend Casper Stoever.
There are four different publications that list the wedding date and location:
i) Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever, Baptismal and Marriage, 1730-1779, Harrisburg, PA.: Harrisburg Publishing Co. 1896, page 72, states, "Oct. 20. Johannes Reyer and Maria Elisabetha Neu. Warwick and Lebanon."
ii) Pennsylvania Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages, 1730-1799, records the marriage of Johannes Reyer and Maria Elisabetha Neu on 20 Oct 1767 as taking place in Warwick and Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and cites as its source Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
iii) Pennsylvania Church Records – Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881, records the Johannes Reyer and Maria Elisabetha Neu marriage on 20 Oct 1767 as taking place in Lancaster Co., PA, and as obtained from the records of Reverend Stoever.
iv) Pennsylvania and New Jersey Church and Town Records, 1669-1999, records the marriage of Johannes Reyer and Maria Elisabetha Neuin on 20 Oct 1767 but taking place at No Annville Twp, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and at Hill Evangelical Lutheran.
Analysis of the situation leads us to conclude that the marriage unquestionably took place in Lancaster County. The confusion comes in when we look at the one entry which lists the location of the wedding at "No Annville Twp, Lebanon, Pennsylvania." Lebanon County was not formed until the year 1813 when it was formed from part of Lancaster County and Dauphin County.(10) Clearly, Lebanon County did not exist in 1767. When we search on "North Annville Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia, we find the following statement: "This area was originally part of Lebanon Township of Lancaster County and then Annville Township of Lebanon County."
A website, pagenweb.org, which lists the "Marriage Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever (all 1,429 marriages)" provides adequate clarification. That website gives the following listing for the Reyer – Neu wedding:
1767 10 20 Reyer, Johannes (Warwick) Neu, Maria Elisabetha (Lebanon)
This record indicates John Reyer was living in Warwick Township and Maria Elisabetha Neu was living in Lebanon Township. Both Warwick and Lebanon were townships in Lancaster County in 1767.
There is no Lebanon Township in Lancaster County in the year 2017. The Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church, we believe, refers to a church which Reverend Casper Stoever founded in 1733 and in August 2017 is located at 998 N. Mill Street in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. This church is about 15 miles north of Brickerville, where many members of the Reyer family lived. It is entirely possibly the Reyer – Neu wedding was held in this historic church which still stands today.
3) Maria Elisabetha Reyer is buried at the Peaked Mountain Church Cemetery in McGaheysville, Rockingham, Virginia. See Peaked Mountain Church Cemetery Records, McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, Survey Date 22 October 2003, Recorder – Bob & Lois Emswiler. "Reyer, Maria Elisabeth, Date of Birth – 12 Jun 1743, Date of Death – none, Headstone Notes – wife(?) of John Reiers, Remarks – Illegible marker 2003 – Inscriptions in German – recorded by John W. Wayland in 1930s. Also see: A History of Rockingham County Virginia by John W. Wayland, Ph.D., published by Ruebush-Elkins Company, Dayton, Virginia, 1912, for a probable listing of same. Also, for a partial listing of Peaked Mountain Church Records, see Wm. J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper, The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 4 (April 1905), pp. 247-256.
4) Maria Elisabetha Neu was born 12 June 1743. See Peaked Mountain Church Cemetery Records, McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, Survey Date 22 October 2003, Recorder – Bob & Lois Emswiler. "Reyer, Maria Elisabeth, Date of Birth – 12 Jun 1743, Date of Death – none, Headstone Notes – wife(?) of John Reiers, Remarks – Illegible marker 2003 – Inscriptions in German – recorded by John W. Wayland in 1930s.
See John Walter Wayland, Virginia Valley Records – Genealogical and Historical Materials of Rockingham, "Peaked Mountain Church Cemetery records". Wayland wrote on April 8, 1931: "Old graveyard at McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Va. On the N. W. side of the main road, around the old Lutheran (formerly Lutheran and German Reformed) Church."
5) John Royer and relatives attended the Peaked Mountain Church in McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, in the 1790s. See John Walter Wayland, Virginia Valley Records – Genealogical and Historical Materials of Rockingham. "Peaked Mountain Church records."
6) John Royer died in Rockingham County, Virginia, after 18 April 1831 and before 1 June 1831. John Royer and his family is well documented in an 1841 Chancery Court case in Rockingham County, Virginia. See University of Virginia, Chancery Records Index, Rockingham County, John Royer's administrator versus Peter Boyers et. al., Index Number 1842-002, Original Case Number 007. Also listed as 1842-02-CSC, Chancery Causes John Royer's Adm. vs Peter Boyer etc. The Court Case took place in 1841. Record consists of 44 pages. Website at 22 July 2017: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/.
7) Peter Royer was a son of John Royer. See University of Virginia, Chancery Records Index, Rockingham County, John Royer's administrator versus Peter Boyers et. al., Index Number 1842-002, Original Case Number 007. Also listed as 1842-02-CSC, Chancery Causes John Royer's Adm. vs Peter Boyer etc. The Court Case took place in 1841. Record consists of 44 pages. Website at 22 July 2017: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/. Page 165_1842_002_0002 states the following: "The said John Royer at the time of his death had by a previous wife the following children, to wit, your orator (i.e., Peter Royer) & Catharine of Rockingham County, & Philip Royer since dead his wife also dead ? but the said Philip left the following children to wit: John Royer, Abraham Royer, Jonathan Royer, and Joseph Royer, one Betsy married George Hartman all of the state of Ohio, also Catharine married to George Stumbough of Ohio, one Teney married to Peter of the County of Rockingham. John Royer left also Christian Royer of the state of Ohio, also Elizabeth married to Daniel Nunnemaker of the state of Ohio, she died in the lifetime of her father leaving the following children to wit Peter, Mary Ann and Elizabeth Nunnemaker all of the state of Ohio. The said John Royer also left by his last wife the said Barbary one son Henry Royer of the state of Ohio."
8) Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 lists a Peter Royer and wife, Elizabeth, son Jacob Royer, birth date 11 Dec 1800, Christening date 22 Feb 1801, at Peaked Mountain Church, McGaheysville, VA.
9) Peter Royer was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. See Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 343-4, "The 1826 Indenture of Joseph Good", transcribed by Dorothy A. Boyd-Rush, Ph.D. "Based on his signature, the Jacob Royer who witnessed the indenture in 1826 was a son of Peter Royer who, like many members of the Good Family, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and died in Rockingham County. Jacob himself was born in Rockingham County in 1800 and died in the same county in 1885." Also see, An 1850 census record for District 56 and a half, Rockingham County, Virginia, indicates a Peter Boyer, age 76, born about 1774, in Pennsylvania. Ancestry.com indicates this record could be for a Peter Royer. We believe this record was for Peter Royer, not Peter Boyer.
The reason we make this statement is due to several factors. On the next line below this Peter appears an Addison Royer. We know Addison Royer was a son of Peter Royer from Addison's marriage record in 1856. We also know from the records of the Peaked Mountain Church Peter's wife was named Elizabeth. Peter and his wife Elizabeth are both shown as not able to read or write. We also see a Peter Boyer listed on the same page a few lines above. This Peter appears as age 62 and born in a state other than Virginia. This Peter probably was the son of Barbara Boyer, the second wife of John Royer.
10) Philip Royer was a son of John Royer. See University of Virginia, Chancery Records Index, Rockingham County, John Royer's administrator versus Peter Boyers et. al., Index Number 1842-002, Original Case Number 007. Also listed as 1842-02-CSC, Chancery Causes John Royer's Adm. vs Peter Boyer etc. The Court Case took place in 1841. Record consists of 44 pages. Website at 22 July 2017: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/. Page 165_1842_002_0002 states the following: "The said John Royer at the time of his death had by a previous wife the following children, to wit, your orator (i.e., Peter Royer) & Catharine of Rockingham County, & Philip Royer since dead his wife also dead ? but the said Philip left the following children to wit: John Royer, Abraham Royer, Jonathan Royer, and Joseph Royer, one Betsy married George Hartman all of the state of Ohio, also Catharine married to George Stumbough of Ohio, one Teney married to Peter of the County of Rockingham. John Royer left also Christian Royer of the state of Ohio, also Elizabeth married to Daniel Nunnemaker of the state of Ohio, she died in the lifetime of her father leaving the following children to wit Peter, Mary Ann and Elizabeth Nunnemaker all of the state of Ohio. The said John Royer also left by his last wife the said Barbary one son Henry Royer of the state of Ohio."
11) Elizabeth Royer married George Hartman. See Rockingham County, VA, marriage records: George Hartman to Elizabeth Royer, daughter of Philip Royer, marriage bond dated March 25, 1818. Also see, University of Virginia, Chancery Records Index, Rockingham County, John Royer's administrator versus Peter Boyers et. al., Index Number 1842-002, Original Case Number 007. Also listed as 1842-02-CSC, Chancery Causes John Royer's Adm. vs Peter Boyer etc. Court Case took place in 1841. Record consists of 44 pages. Website at 22 July 2017: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/. Page 165_1842_002_0002 states the following: "The said John Royer at the time of his death had by a previous wife the following children, to wit, your orator (i.e., Peter Royer) & Catharine of Rockingham County, & Philip Royer since dead his wife also dead ? but the said Philip left the following children to wit: John Royer, Abraham Royer, Jonathan Royer, and Joseph Royer, one Betsy married George Hartman all of the state of Ohio,
12) John Royer served in the Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Militia in 1775. John Royer was a private serving under the command of a Captain Peter Grubb in the Warwick Township Association in the year 1775. See Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 7, pages 8 and 9.
13) No other record for John Royer of Warwick Township has been found related to his service in the American Revolution. However, there is a record for a John Royer in the Revolutionary War Battalions & Militia Index Cards 1775-1783. See Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, John Royer, Private, Associators and Militia, Volume 1, page 305. There is nothing on this card to indicate this John Royer was in Warwick Township, Lancaster County.
14) There is much evidence that Samuel Royer, the oldest brother of John Royer, served as a Captain in the American Revolution after moving to Cumberland County, PA. See Revolutionary War Battalions & Militia Index Cards 1775-1783, Volume 2, pages 414 and 440, Associators and Militia, Royer/Royar, Samuel, Captain. See S.A.R. membership application #66224 under Capt. Samuel Royer. Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 6, page 88, A Class Roll of Capt. Samuel Roger's Company (being the fifth) of the First Battalion of Cumberland County Militia, Aug. 16th, 1780. Also see Series 5, Volume 6, page 511, First Company, Captain. Samuel Royar, July 31, 1777. Samuel would be one of the men to petition the state of Pennsylvania to create Franklin County from Cumberland County after the war. It would make sense that John Royer, a younger brother of Samuel, also would have served in some capacity during the American Revolution. See also, Virginia Shannon Fendrick, compiler, American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin County (Chambersburg, PA: Historical Works Committee of the Franklin Co. Chapter, D.A.R., 1944). While Fendrick lists many men in her work who served under Captain Samuel Royer, she fails to include a biography on Captain Samuel Royer in her work.
REFERENCES
1) 7 December 1743 is the date given in most Ancestry.com public family trees for the date of birth of John Royer. No primary source document has been found to support this date. However, this time period seems to fit John Royer for several reasons. Court records indicate Samuel was the eldest sibling in the family and Samuel is said to have been born in 1738. John Royer probably was about the same age of his spouse, Maria Elisabetha Neu, whose tombstone indicates she was born 12 June 1743. Samuel, brother of John, must have been 21 years old by the date of their father's death in 1763, so he should have been born at least by 1742. See Lancaster Historical Society archive Inv 1764 F001 R – Reier, Samuel, "left several children some of whom were then minors." See Peaked Mountain Church Cemetery Records, McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, Survey Date 22 October 2003, Recorder – Bob & Lois Emswiler. "Reyer, Maria Elisabeth, Date of Birth – 12 Jun 1743, Date of Death – none, Headstone Notes – wife(?) of John Reiers, Remarks – Illegible marker 2003 – Inscriptions in German – recorded by John W. Wayland in 1930s. Also see: A History of Rockingham County Virginia by John W. Wayland, Ph.D., published by Ruebush-Elkins Company, Dayton, Virginia, 1912, for a probable listing of same. Also, for a partial listing of Peaked Mountain Church Records, see Wm. J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper, The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 4 (April 1905), pp. 247-256.
2) University of Virginia, Chancery Records Index, Rockingham County, John Royer's administrator versus Peter Boyers et. al., Index Number 1842-002, Original Case Number 007. Also listed as 1842-02-CSC, Chancery Causes John Royer's Adm. vs Peter Boyer etc. Court Case took place in 1841. Record consists of 44 pages. Website at 22 July 2017: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/. See first page of court documents, page labelled 165_1842_002_0002, which begins as follows: "To the honourable Daniel Smith, Judge of the circuit superior court of law and chancery for the county of Rockingham. Your orator Peter Royer of Rockingham administrator with the will annexed de bonis non of John Royer dec'd, and in his own right as a distribute of the said John Royer, respectfully represents that on the ___ day of ___________ 1831 the said John Royer then a citizen of the county of Rockingham departed this life after having first made and published his Last Will and Testament bearing date the 19th day of April 1831 wherein he appointed his wife Barbary Royer sole executrix of said will, who at the June court 1831 for the county of Rockingham had the same proven and admitted to record in said court and there took upon herself according to law the sole execution of the same." Page 165_1842_002_0027, "John Royer, late of Rockingham County, died in the year 1831, having made his will, a copy of which is hereunto annexed. His widow, the sole legatee in the will was the testator's second wife, by whom he left one child. He also left children of a former marriage, & so did she." Page 165_1842_002_0023, the last will and testament of John Royer: "In witness whereof I have hereunto set my and seal this nineteenth day of April 1831 In the presence of Henry Pence Senr, Peter Boyers, Mathias Chrider
John his X mark Royer"
3) See Lancaster Historical Society archives for Samuel Royer (Reier) related documents:
Inv 1763 F001 R – Reier, Samuel – Only renunciation, administrators' bond. Renunciation in German. 2 items, 2 pieces.
Inv 1764 F001 R – Reier, Samuel – Only administrators' account. 1 item, 1 piece.
Inv 1769 F006 R – Royer, Samuel
Also, Lancaster Historical Society, probably Inv 1763 F001 R, five page document dated September 1763, page one - entitled Orphan's Court Order to assign Dower to Eve Unger late widow relict of Samuel Ryer; page two - first Tuesday in September 1765 petition of John Unger and Eve his wife late Eve Ryer widow and relict of Samuel Ryer late of Warwick Township, setting forth that the said Samuel Ryer died intestate, 150 acres, leaving issue four children; page three - labelled 1763 Return of the Widow Ryer's Dower; page four - division of land; page five - a drawing of the segments of land allocated to Eve Unger. Also: The Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society library contains the following index card as part of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Mennonite Vital Records, 1750-2014, which shows the following: "Reyer Samuel, m Eve, 1. Samuel, 2. Henry, 3. John, 4. Juliana, wid Eve m John Unger. -Lanc. C. H. O. Ct., 1763, p. 106." The date on the actual typewritten document as obtained from the Lancaster Historical Society appears as 24 October 1764, not 1763. The typewritten document states the following:
October 24, 1764. AT AN ORPHAN'S COURT held at Lancaster for the County of Lancaster the twenty fourth Day of October Ano Domini 1764, Before Adam Simon Kuhn, Edward Shippen, and James Burd Esquires, Justices of the same Court.
Samuel Reier deced.
GEORGE REIER & Philip Kautz (Hautz), Admors of all & Singular the Goods & Chattels, Rights & Credits which were of Samuel Reier late of Warwick Township deceased, produced to this Court the Account of their Admron on the Estate of the said deceased, duly passed before the Deputy Register whereby there appears a Balance in the Hands of the said Accountants of three hundred Pounds seven Shillings & eight Pence, to be distributed according to Law; which Accont being considerd is allowed & approved of by the Court: And the Shares of the Widow and Children of the said deceased of & in the same, after deducting the sum of One Pound, two Shillings & Six Pence (their Expences at this Court and settled and ordered to be paid as follows, to wit-
To John Unger & Eve his Wife, late Widow of the sd deceased . . . L 99..15..0 ½
To Samuel Royer, the eldest son L 79..16..0
To Henry Royer L 39..18..0 ½
To John Royer L 39..18..0 ½
To Julianna Royer L 39..18..0 ½
L 299.. 5..2
Also: Lancaster Historical Society archives, Inv 1764 F001 R Reier, Samuel:
"At an Orphans Court at Lancaster for the County of Lancaster on the tenth day of August 1764 before Emanuel Carpenter Zaccheus Davis & James Burd Esqrs Justices etc.
On reading the petition of Samuel Royer Eldest Son of Samuel Royer late of the township of Warwick in the County of Lancaster yeoman deceased setting forth that the said Samuel Royer the Petrs (i.e., Petitioner's) Father dyed intestate seized in fee of and in a certain plantation & tract of land situate in the Township of Warwick containing one hundred & thirty six acres & left Several Children some of whom were then minors that the Petitioner was willing and desirous to hold and enjoy the said plantation and tract of land and Pay the several and respective shares of the other children of the said deceased according to the valuation or appraisement thereof to be made by an Inquest to be awarded by the court for that purpose . . ."
(4) Genealogical records of the Royer family of America: or more especially those of Sebastian Royer's family, Lebanon, PA: Francis, 1928, pages 9 and 10, and also the page following page XLV entitled, The First Four Generations of the Family of Sebastian Royer in America.
(5) Genealogical records of the Royer family of America: or more especially those of Sebastian Royer's family, Lebanon, PA: Francis, 1928, page 10.
(6) Genealogical records of the Royer family of America: or more especially those of Sebastian Royer's family, Lebanon, PA: Francis, 1928, pages 9 and 10.
(7) Index to the intestate records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania 1729-1850, Name - Reier, Samuel, Year – 1763, Book - ___, Volume - ___, Page - ___. For the will of Emick Reier, brother of Samuel, see Index to the will books of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania 1729-1850, Name - Reier, Emick, Year – 1772, Book – Y, Volume - 2, Page - 513. Emick Royer also appears in the same book listed under Year – 1769, Book – C, Volume 1, Page 39. The John Royer who is found in the same Index and who is listed under Year – 1816, Book – M, Volume 1, Page 70, lived in Cocalico Township and probably was a son of Emick Royer.
(8) History of Lancaster Co., PA. page 1073. – owned 200 acres. Also see, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Quarter Session Docket Index 1729-1872, Defendant Last Name – Royer et al., Defendant First Name – George, Court Session – November 1760, Docket Page Number – 14.
(9) Lancaster Historical Society archives, Inv 1764 F001 R Reier, Samuel: "On reading the petition of Samuel Royer Eldest Son of Samuel Royer late of the township of Warwick in the County of Lancaster . . . " Also see, The Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society Library contains the following index card which states: "Lanc. C. H. O. Ct., 1763, p. 106." This item refers to their Lancaster Court House Orphan's Court, 1763, page 106, record which lists the four children of Samuel and Eve Reier. Also see, Lancaster Historical Society Archives INV 1769 F006 R.
(10) Royer Genealogy by Floyd G. Hoenstine.
(11) Samuel Royer, the brother of John, acquired 5 tracts of land in Cumberland Co., PA, on 4 and 5 May 1774:
4 May 1774 page 313 145 acres Warrantee – James Jack
Name of tract – Turn Spit Date of Warrant – 28 September 1750
4 May 1774 page 313 356 acres 120 perches Warrantee – James Jack
Name of tract – Jack Spit Date of Warrant – 29 October 1765
5 May 1774 page 314 165 acres 127 perches Warrantee – Samuel Royer
Name of tract – Dry Pond Date of Warrant – 2 May 1774
5 May 1774 page 315 83 acres 76 perches Warrantee – Samuel Royer
Name of tract - Reinard's Victory Date of Warrant – 3 May 1774
4 May 1774 page 316 111 acres 80 perches Warrantee – James Jack
Name of tract – Jack's Line Date of Warrant – 10 June 1762
(12) Virginia Shannon Fendrick, compiler, American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin County (Chambersburg, PA: Historical Works Committee of the Franklin Co. Chapter, D.A.R., 1944). Many pages reference soldiers who were in a unit commanded by Capt. Samuel Royer. However, there is no biography of Capt. Samuel Royer included in the Fendrick compilation. She does include Christian Royer, a cousin of Samuel. Also see Historical Sketch of Franklin County, Pennsylvania by I. H. M'Cauley, page 87, as well as Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 7, page 440, Eighth Battalion, First Company, Captain, Samuel Royer, May 14, 1778, under the heading of Cumberland Militia in 1778.
(13) Historical Sketch of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, I. H. M'Cauley, page 25.
(14) Lancaster Historical Society archives, Inv 1764 F001 R Reier, Samuel: "that the said Samuel Royer the Petr's (i.e., Petitioner's) Father dyed intestate seized in fee of and in a certain plantation & tract of land situate in the Township of Warwick containing one hundred & thirty six acres & left Several Children some of whom were then minors". It is unfortunate the court did not specify a number instead of stating, "some of whom were then minors". Lancaster Historical Society, INV 1769 F006 R Royer, Samuel. Page one entitiled: Samuel Royer 1769 Account of Jacob Erb Guardian of the Estate of Juliana Royer – copied. Page two entitled: The account of Jacob Erb late guardian of the estate of Juliana Royer one of the children of Samuel Royer late of Warwick Township in the County of Lancaster deceased. This page includes the following statement: ". . . received from Samuel Royer the eldest son of the deceased." Page three consists primarily of the following lines: "Exhibited to the Orphan Court the 6th June 1769 – Jacob Erb".
(15) Virginia Vital Records, Record of the Peaked Mountain Church (German Reformed & Lutheran), Rockingham County, edited by Prof. William J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper.
We find the following Baptisms:
Peter Neu and Juliana – parents
(221) Eva, born 30 Oct. 30, 1792; bapt. June 23, 1793
Maria Kissling - Sponsor
John Hardman and Anna Maria – parents
(222) Sarah, born June 2, 1793; bapt. June 23, 1793
Sponsor – Peter Neu and Juliana
On another page we find: Register of the catechisms, first admitted to the Lord's Supper on October 19, 1794 Nicholas Neu, John Reyer, Peter Reyer, Mary Elizabeth Reyer, Catherine Rayer, Elizabeth Reyer. All of these individuals were admitted for the first time at this church at the same time. It appears some of the Neu family probably accompanied the Royer family to Rockingham Co.
(16) Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever, Baptismal and Marriage, 1730-1779, Harrisburg, PA.: Harrisburg Publishing Co. 1896. Page 72, Oct. 20, 1767, Johannes Reyer and Maria Elisabetha Neu. Warwick and Lebanon. Also, Pennsylvania, Church Records – Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881, Ancestry.com. Name: Maria Elisabetha Neu, Event: Marriage, Marriage Date: 20 Oct 1767, Marriage Place: Lancaster Co., PA, Church: Records of Rev. Stoever, Role: Bride, Household Members: Maria Elisabetha Neu – Bride, Johannes Reyer – Groom, Casper Stoever – Reverend. Also, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-1999, Name: Johannes Reyer, Event Type: Marriage, Marriage Date: 20 Oct 1767, Marriage Place: No Annville Twp, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA, Denomination: Lutheran, Organization Name: Hill Evangelical Lutheran, Spouse: Maria Elisabetha Neuin. This entry is typewritten and appears on page 131.
(17) See Peaked Mountain Church Cemetery Records, McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, Survey Date 22 October 2003, Recorder – Bob & Lois Emswiler. "Reyer, Maria Elisabeth, Date of Birth – 12 Jun 1743, Date of Death – none, Headstone Notes – wife(?) of John Reiers, Remarks – Illegible marker 2003 – Inscriptions in German – recorded by John W. Wayland in 1930s.
(18) www.lebanoncountyhistoricalsociety.org, Municipal History of Lebanon County.
(19) William Henry Egle, "History of Dauphin & Lebanon Counties, PA." However, I did not find this listing in the Internet copies of the Egle book. A list was also prepared by a Nathan Zipfel on Thursday, 27 February 2014 citing the Egle book and was on an Internet site called pa-roots.com.
(20) Pennsylvania Church Records – Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881.
(21) Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
(22) Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-1999, Baptism Place – Warwick, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Denomination - Lutheran, Church Record and Minutes for the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. Father – Samuel Reyer. This record initially was written in German.
(23) Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-1999, Baptism Place – Warwick, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Denomination - Lutheran, Church Record and Minutes for the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. Father – Samuel Reyer, Mother – Regina Scherlin. This record initially was written in German.
(24) Lancaster Historical Society, probably Inv 1763 F001 R, five page document dated September 1763, page one - entitled Orphan's Court Order to assign Dower to Eve Unger late widow relict of Samuel Ryer; page two - first Tuesday in September 1765 petition of John Unger and Eve his wife late Eve Ryer widow and relict of Samuel Ryer late of Warwick Township.
(25) Virginia Shannon Fendrick, compiler, American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin County (Chambersburg, PA: Historical Works Committee of the Franklin Co. Chapter, D.A.R., 1944), page 244.
(26) Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 7, pages 8 and 9.
(27) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, John Royer, Private, Associators and Militia, Volume 1, page 305.
(28) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Samuel Royer, Volume 2, page 440.
(29) 1790 U.S. Census, Cocalico, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, John Royer, 1 male under 16; 4 males 16 and over; 7 free white females; number of household members – 12.
(30) See the page following page XLV entitled, The First Four Generations of the Family of Sebastian Royer in America, Genealogical records of the Royer family of America: or more especially those of Sebastian Royer's family, Lebanon, PA: Francis, 1928.
(31) See the page following page xlv entitled, The First Four Generations of the Family of Sebastian Royer in America, Genealogical records of the Royer family of America: or more especially those of Sebastian Royer's family, Lebanon, PA: Francis, 1928.
(32) The image of the original deed was provided by the University of Virginia. The request for the deed was made through The Heritage Museum, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society. John Royer from John Craig Senior, made 27 May 1790, Rockingham County, Virginia. Not sure where it would be found at the UVA Library.
(33) Landowners in the year 1789, Rockingham County, listed by Reuben Moore, Commissioner, page 45, shows no Royer names. No ROYER surname matches were found in 1783 Virginia Heads of Families census.
(33A) A John Reyer acquired land called Reyers Retreat on 15 Jun 1773, page 510, consisting of 115 acres, 100 perches, Warrantee was John Reyer, Date of Warrant – 13 March 1772, County – Lancaster.
(34) Virginia Vital Records, Record of the Peaked Mountain Church (German Reformed & Lutheran), Rockingham County, edited by Prof. William J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper.
We find the following: "Register of the catechisms, admitted for the first time to the Lord's Supper, on April 22, 1792."
(35) Virginia Vital Records, Record of the Peaked Mountain Church (German Reformed & Lutheran), Rockingham County, edited by Prof. William J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper.
We find the following: "Register of the catechisms, admitted for the first time to the Lord's Supper, on October 19, 1794."
Register of the catechisms, first admitted to the Lord's Supper on 19 October 1794:
Peter Ahl
Nicholas Neu
George Mallo
Catherine Mallo
John Ruesch
Mary Elizabeth Reyer
Augustin Preuss
Catherine Reyer
Conrad Biedefish (Peterfish)
Catherine Biedefisch
John Weinberg
Elizabeth Reyer
John Reyer
Elizabeth Luecke
Peter Reyer
Ann Maria Deschler
Christopher Wetzel
Elizabeth Meili
Irene Priss
(36) Virginia Vital Records, Record of the Peaked Mountain Church (German Reformed & Lutheran), Rockingham County, edited by Prof. William J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper.
We find the following: "Register of the catechisms, admitted for the first time to the Lord's Supper, on October 19, 1794."
(37) University of Virginia, Chancery Records Index, Rockingham County, John Royer's administrator versus Peter Boyers et. al., Index Number 1842-002, Original Case Number 007. Also listed as 1842-02-CSC, Chancery Causes John Royer's Adm. vs Peter Boyer etc. Court Case took place in 1841. Record consists of 44 pages. Website at 22 July 2017: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/. Page 165_1842_002_0002 states the following: "The said John Royer at the time of his death had by a previous wife the following children, to wit, your orator (i.e., Peter Royer) & Catharine of Rockingham County, & Philip Royer since dead his wife also dead ? but the said Philip left the following children to wit: John Royer, Abraham Royer, Jonathan Royer, and Joseph Royer, one Betsy married George Hartman all of the state of Ohio, also Catharine married to George Stumbough of Ohio, one Teney married to Peter of the County of Rockingham. John Royer left also Christian Royer of the state of Ohio, also Elizabeth married to Daniel Nunnemaker of the state of Ohio, she died in the lifetime of her father leaving the following children to wit Peter, Mary Ann and Elizabeth Nunnemaker all of the state of Ohio. The said John Royer also left by his last wife the said Barbary one son Henry Royer of the state of Ohio."
(38) 1840 U. S. Census, Rockingham County, Virginia, 1 mage age 60 thru 69, etc. Be careful not to confuse Peter Royer with Peter Boyer on the same page.
(39) Marriage Book 1, pp. 795-796, Rockingham County, VA. Marriage Notes for PETER ROYER and ELIZABETH KAYLOR: John Keyler gave proof that Betsey Keyler is above the age of 21 and that her father Michael Keyler gives permission for her to marry Peter Royer — dated April 21, 1798. Bond issued April 21, 1798 by Peter Royer and John Keeler for marriage of Peter Royer to Betsey Keeler -- daughter of Michael Keeler. See Virginia Select Marriages, 1785 – 1940, includes a Peter Royer who married an Elizabeth Kaylor. They were the parents of Addison Royer.
(40) Virginia Vital Records, Record of the Peaked Mountain Church (German Reformed & Lutheran), Rockingham County, edited by Prof. William J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper. Register of the catechisms, first admitted to the Lord's Supper on October 19, 1794: Nicholas Neu, John Reyer, Peter Reyer, Mary Elizabeth Reyer, Catherine Rayer, Elizabeth Reyer. All of these individuals were admitted for the first time at this church at the same time. It appears some of the Neu family probably accompanied the Royer family to Rockingham Co.
(41) 1840 Rockingham County, Virginia, census.
(42) Virginia Select Marriages 1785-1940, Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. FHL Film Number 30416, Reference ID: No. 452. The record lists the father as Peter Royer, wife as Elizabeth Kaylor, Son – Addison Royer born in 1828, Rockingham Co., VA, age 28, marital status as widowed, event place as Augusta County, VA, event date of 3 Sept 1856, spouse's name as Malinda Catharine Kaylor, spouses birth date 1838, spouse's birthplace Augusta County, VA, spouse's age as 18, spouse's father's name – Peter Kaylor, spouse's mother's name – Sarah Kiger, spouse's marital status – single.
(43) 1750 census, Rockingham County, VA.
(44) Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 database lists Peter Royer, wife Elizabeth, daughter Delia Royer, Christening – 14 April 1805, Birth date – 27 December 1804, Christening Place - Peaked Mountain Church, McGaheysville, Rockingham, VA.
(45) Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 lists a Peter Ruer or Royers and wife Elizabeth, daughter Anna Maria Ruer, date of birth 26 Feb 1799, at Peaked Mountain Church, McGaheysville, VA.
(46) Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 list a Peter Royer and wife, Elizabeth, son Jacob Royer, birth date 11 Dec 1800, Christening date 22 Feb 1801, at Peaked Mountain Church McGaheysville, VA.
(47) Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 343-4, The 1826 Indenture of Joseph Good, transcribed by Dorothy A. Boyd-Rush, Ph.D. Baptism no. 331, Peaked Mountain Church Register, William and Mary Quarterly, 1st series, 14:186; Rockingham County Marriage Book 4, p. 710; Peter Cline Kaylor, Kaylor Genealogy, unpublished genealogy (ca. 1938) pp. 8-9, at Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.
(48) 1840 U.S. Census Rockingham County, Virginia, 1 female age 50 thru 59, etc.
(49) 1840 U. S. Census Washington, Logan, Ohio, 1 male age 60 thru 69, etc.
(50) Not in Peaked Mountain records on website. This was on freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com.
(50A) The Nunnemacher, Nunemaker, Nunnemaker Family compiled by Ramona Nunnemaker Burke, 1972, Van Nuys, California. 1-A Bible records owned by Mrs. Milton Hamilton, Danville, Indiana.
(51) FamilySearch.org indicates "Daniel Nunnemacher (Nunnemaker) was born 10 August 1771. His birthplace and names of his parents have not been found . . . The Rockingham County, Virginia, marriage bond of Daniel and Maria Elizabeth Royer is dated 27 April 1795. See The Nunnemacher, Nunemaker, Nunnemaker Family compiled by Ramona Nunnemaker Burke, 1972, Van Nuys, California: "Her parents were John Royer and Maria Elizabeth _______, born in 1743, died in 1801 and was buried in the old McGaheysville Cemetery in Rockingham County, Virginia. (I-A, XIII-A)" 1-A Bible records owned by Mrs. Milton Hamilton, Danville, Indiana. XIII-A Kaylor Genealogy from Rockingham Historical Society, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
(52) See Appendix E below, 1841 Rockingham Chancery Court Case, Statement by Plaintiff of Parties to the Case
(53) 1840 U. S. Census Clinton, Jackson, Ohio, 1 male age 20 thru 29, etc.
(53A) The Nunnemacher, Nunemaker, Nunnemaker Family compiled by Ramona Nunnemaker Burke, 1972, Van Nuys, California, page 1. Burke cites Peaked Mountain Church records and also several other sources, including New Lexington, Perry County, Ohio Probate Court records.
(54) Peaked Mountain Church Cemetery Records, McGaheysville, Rockingham County, Virginia, Survey Date 22 October 2003, Recorder – Bob & Lois Emswiler. "Royer, Philip, Date of Birth – about 1772, Date of Death – 25 Jun 1830, Headstone Notes – Age 57y 8m 6d, Remarks – No visible marker – recorded by John W. Wayland in 1930s, Data from Q. G. Kaylor 21 Aug 1931; Father(?) of Philip Reiers? Royers? B. 1799 listed above.
(55) A History of Rockingham County Virginia by John W. Wayland, Ph.D., published by Ruebush-Elkins Company, Dayton, Virginia, 1912, lists Philip Royer – Keaty Keller – Nov. 5, 1793, page 448, under a listing of Early Marriage Records in Rockingham County – The following list is compiled from the records in the Rockingham County Clerk's office.
(56) A History of Rockingham County Virginia by John W. Wayland, Ph.D., published by Ruebush-Elkins Company, Dayton, Virginia, 1912, lists Philip Royer – Keaty Keller – Nov. 5, 1793, page 448, under a listing of Early Marriage Records in Rockingham County – The following list is compiled from the records in the Rockingham County Clerk's office.
(57) Virginia Vital Records, Record of the Peaked Mountain Church (German Reformed & Lutheran), Rockingham County, edited by Prof. William J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper.
(58) Virginia Vital Records, Record of the Peaked Mountain Church (German Reformed & Lutheran), Rockingham County, page 483, "Parents: Philip Ryer (Royer) (265); children: Elisabeth, born July 2, Bapt. July 30 (1797) Sponsors: Peter Ryer". Also see John Walter Wayland, Virginia Valley Records – Genealogical and Historical Materials of Rockingham, Peaked Mountain Church records.
(59) Virginia Vital Records, Record of the Peaked Mountain Church (German Reformed & Lutheran), Rockingham County.
(60) 1840 U. S. Census Harrison, Logan, Ohio, 1 male age 30 thru 39, etc.
(60A) MCQUILLANCROSS514 Family Tree on Ancestry.com gives the maiden name of John Royer's second wife as Barbara Zeigler. She formerly was married to a John Boyer who preceded her in death.
(61) 1790 Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, census.
(62) The Tenth legion tithables (Rockingham Division) Rockingham County, Virginia: tithables for 1792, a list of all the white males above 16 years of age in the county and all the slaves above 12 in the county in 1792. Luray, VA.: Stricker, 1930.
(62A) The Nunnemacher, Nunemaker, Nunnemaker Family compiled by Ramona Nunnemaker Burke, 1972, Van Nuys, California: "Her parents were John Royer and Maria Elizabeth _______, born in 1743, died in 1801 and was buried in the old McGaheysville Cemetery in Rockingham County, Virginia. (I-A, XIII-A)" 1-A Bible records owned by Mrs. Milton Hamilton, Danville, Indiana. XIII-A Kaylor Genealogy from Rockingham Historical Society, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
(63) Heritage Museum, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society website listing for Peaked Mountain Church Cemetery.
Appendix A
1841 Rockingham Chancery Court Case
1842-02-CSC Rockingham County
Chancery Causes John Royer's Adm. versus Peter Boyers et. al.
VIRGINIA, to wit:
At Rules held in the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery held for Rockingham County, on the first Monday in April, 1841, -
BETWEEN
Peter Royer, Administrator de bonis non, with the Will annexed of John Royer, deceased, Plaintiffs
AND
Peter Boyer, John Royer, Jonathan Royer, Joseph Royer, David Royer, George Hartman and Betsey his wife, George Stumbough and Catharine his wife, Catharine Royer, Christian Royer, Daniel Nunemaker, and Peter, Mary Ann and Elizabeth Nunemaker, and Henry Royer, Andrew Hudlow and Betsey his wife, Peter Boyer, (son of John Boyer, dec'd,) and John Rush, Administrator of Barbara Royer, deceased Defendants,
IN CHANCERY
The said Defendant, Peter Boyer, (son of John,) not having entered his appearance and given security, according to the act of Assembly and the rules of this Court, and it appearing by satisfactory evidence that he is not an inhabitant of this Commonwealth; - It is ordered that the said Defendant do appear at the Clerk's Office of the said Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for said county, on the first Monday in July next and answer the Plaintif's bill; and that a copy of this order be forthwith published in the Rockingham Register, (a newspaper printed in Harrisonburg,) for two months successively, and a like copy be posted up at the front door of the Court-house of said count.
A. copy – Teste,
H. J. GAMBILL, C. C. S. C R. C.
April 11 – 2m
Appendix B
1841 Rockingham Chancery Court Case
Additional Newspaper Notice from Court Case
John Royer, Abraham Royer, Jonathan Royer, Joseph Royer, George Hartman and Betsey Hartman his wife, George Stumbough and Catharine Stumbough his wife, Christian Royer, Daniel Nunemaker, Peter Nunemaker, Mary Ann Nunemaker, Elizabeth Nunemaker, Henry Royer, and Peter Boyers jun'r, - You will please to take notice, as you are not inhabitants of the State of Virginia and have no attorney known to me residing in the same, that I shall, on the 29th and 30th days of September, in the year 1841 at the office of John Kenney, in the town of Harrisonburg, in the county of Rockingham, in the State of Virginia, take the depositions of Nancy Laberty, alias Nancy Laberdy, John May and Isaac Burk, to be read in evidence on the trial of a cause depending in Chancery, in the Circuit Superier Court of Law ans Chancery for the county of Rockingham, in the State of Virginia, wherein I, Peter Royer, as administrator with the will annexed de bonis non of John Royer, dec'd, and in my own right as a distribute of the said John Royer, dec'd, am Plaintiff, against you the person above noticed, and Peter Cline and Teney his wife, Catharine Royer, Peter Boyers of Rockingham, and Andrew Hudlow and Betsey his wife, and John Rush, Ad'r. of Barbara Royer, Defendants. PETER ROYER.
August 27th, 1841 – 4t
Appendix C
1841 Rockingham Chancery Court Case
Statement of Facts
John Royer, late of Rockingham County, died in the year 1831, having made his will, a copy of which is hereunto annexed. His widow, the sole legatee in the will was the testator's second wife, by whom he left one child. He also left children of a former marriage, & so did she. The widow shortly after the testator's death gave one of the slaves to Peter Boyers her son by her first husband; which slave has been held by Boyers ever since, he claiming the absolute right. The widows never married again and died lately intestate.
Appendix D
1841 Rockingham Chancery Court Case
19 April 1831 Will of John Royer
In the name of God Amen I, John Royer Senior of the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia being sick and weak in body. But of a perfect mind and disposing memory thanks be to God therefore and well knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament 1st of all I recommend my soul in the hand of the almighty God and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent manner. 2nd I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Barbary all my worldly estate wherewith the Lord hath blessed me with in this my transitory life Viz. horses, cows hogs sheep waggons ploughs and all my farming utensils let it be whatever it may be together with all my household and kitchen furniture namely beds chests tables cupboards chairs kettles pots ovens and all and every other articles let it be whatever it will 3rd Also my Negroes namely Rosannah, Suse, Isaac, Deannah, Abline, and their increase, so that she may dispose of any part thereof to any person or persons who she thinks fit or proper. 4th That is to say as long as she will remain in her widowhood I constitute and appoint my beloved wife Barbary my whole and sole executrix of this my last will Testament It is also my request that the court shall rule her to security only admit the same on record. 5th my wife is to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses and I gave and bequeath unto my beloved wife Barbary all my bonds notes & book accounts to be freely enjoyed by her forever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my and seal this nineteenth day of April 1831 In the presence of Henry Pence Senr, Peter Boyers, Mathias Chrider John his X mark Royer
Appendix E
1841 Rockingham Chancery Court Case
Statement by Plaintiff of Parties to the Case
To the honourable Daniel Smith, Judge of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for the County of Rockingham. Your orator Peter Royer of Rockingham Administrator with the will annexed de bonis non of John Royer dec'd, and in his own right as a distribute of the said John Royer, respectfully ?represents? that on the ____ day of 1831 the said John Royer then a citizen of the county of Rockingham departed this life after having first made and published his last will and testament bearing date the 19th day of April 1831 wherein he appointed his his wife Barbary Royers sole executrix of said will, who at the June Court 1831 for the County of Rockingham had the same proven and admitted to record in said court and there and then took upon ? according to law the sole execution of the same. The said John Royer at the time of his death had by a previous wife the following children, to wit, your orator & Catharine of Rockingham County, & Philip Royer since dead his wife also dead ? but the said Philip left the following children to wit: John Royer, Abraham Royer, Jonathan Royer, and Joseph Royer, one Betsy married George Hartman all of the state of Ohio, also Catharine married to George Stumbough of Ohio, one Teney married to Peter Cline of the County of Rockingham, John Royer left also Christian Royer of the state of Ohio, also Elizabeth married to Daniel Nunemaker of the State of Ohio, she died in the lifetime of her father leaving the following children to wit Peter, Mary Ann, and Elizabeth Nunemaker all of the state of Ohio, the said John Royer also left by his last wife the said Barbary one son Henry Royer of the State of Ohio.
. . . .
. . . .
The answer of Peter Boyers to a bill of complaint exhibited against him & others, in the Circuit Superior Court of Chancery for Rockingham County, by Peter Royer as admr de bonis non of John Royer decd & in his own right as one of the distributes of the said John Royer decd.
. . . .
. . . .
It is also true that the said testator left by a former wife, the children & other descendants mentioned in the bill. But he also left another child by the former wife, not mentioned in the bill, to wit, a daughter named Catherine, still unmarried & residing in Rockingham County.
It is, morever, true that the said testator left by his last wife, a son named Henry Royer, of the state of Ohio: & that the said Barbara Royer left by a former husband, the children mentioned in the bill, to wit, this deft, & Betsey the wife of Andrew Hudlow. But she also left a descendant by her former husband not mentioned in the bill, to wit, Peter Boyers of the state of Illinois, the child of her deceased son John Boyers, who died in the life time of his mother.
APPENDIX F
Children and their Parents according to 1841 Chancery Court Documents
Children of John Royer according to 1841 Chancery Court documents:
First wife: Maria Elizabeth Rohr
1. Peter Royer – orator of court case – plaintiff
2. Philip Royer
3. Christian Royer – state of Ohio
4. Elizabeth – married Daniel Nunemaker – state of Ohio
5. Catherine – unmarried and residing in Rockingham Co., VA
Second wife: Barbary Boyer, widow of John Boyer
1. Henry Royer – state of Ohio
Children of Philip Royer according to 1841 Chancery Court documents:
Wife – Keaty Keller – married 5 November 1793 – Rockingham Co., VA
1. John Royer
2. Abraham Royer
3. Jonathan Royer
4. Joseph Royer
5. Elizabeth Betsy Royer, married George Hartman
All of above living in state of Ohio in 1841 according to Plaintiff, Peter Royer
6. Catharine Royer, married George Stumbough of Ohio
7. Teney Royer, married Peter Cline of Rockingham Co
Children of Elizabeth Royer Nunemaker - left following children according to 1841 Chancery Court documents: Elizabeth Royer Nunemaker died in the lifetime of her father John Royer
1. Peter Nunemaker
2. Mary Ann Nunemaker
3. Elizabeth Nunemaker
all above of the state of Ohio
Children of Barbary Boyer by her first marriage (the second wife of John Royer):
1. Defendant – Peter Boyer
2. Betsey, the wife of Andrew Hudlow
3. John Boyers – died in the lifetime of his mother Barbary Boyers
a. Peter Boyers Junior – state of Illinois – son of John Boyers
