ABRAHAM STRICKLER

ABRAHAM STRICKLER

I began my Strickler research in the 1980’s believing I was a descendant of Abraham Strickler of Egypt. That was logical, my Stricklers were in Virginia, Abraham was in Virginia, it all seemed to fit. And like so many others I believed all the early writings and publications about Abraham and his family. Below is given a more objective survey of known records for Abraham Strickler.

This section is still developing. Unfortunately I was not a good source keeper in the early days and many of my sources I can not give a direct reference to. I have included many of them in hopes that someone will eventually track them down again. My records were again struck hard by a computer crash back in 1994. I was able to recover most of my records from backup disks, but many of the endnotes either did not restore themselves or were simply listed at the end of the document with no reference as to where they belonged.

With that said, I will quickly describe the nature of the below biography. It is written in a manner that all known records and theories are addressed. For example I have listed all the different speculated dates for immigration of Abraham Strickler, taken each one and given evidences as to why each may or may not be possible. With known records, I have also included tradition, as I believe there is some truth to all tradition. So with that said I hope this biography helps produce further leads as to the heritage of Abraham Strickler.

I might also add that several sections are in their infancy. This includes deeds and deed plats and other court records which pertain to Abraham Strickler’s land, estate and life.

Abraham Strickler was a well-known Indian Trader. He would travel several times a year to meet the Indians traveling the Indian Road through Virginia. He was traveling this road as early as 1725 as might be evidenced by an old passport giving Abraham permission to travel the lands south of the Potomac and west of the Blue Ridge for the purposes of commerce. Legend is that Abraham had a trading post somewhere in the Page Valley near the mouth of Mill Creek. This would have been the first permanent construction west of the Blue Ridge. It is believed that Abraham Strickler took up permanent residence in the state prior to 1735, evidenced by the transfer of his property in Lancaster Co. in 1733. It was not until 12 December 1733 that he was conveyed 1,033 acres from Jacob Stover which was part of a 5,000 acre tract granted to Stover by Lord Fairfax. Along with the Adam Mueller and Joist Heit families, the Strickler’s became among the first permanent settlers of the Shenandoah Valley. Adam Mueller is generally accepted as the first permanent settler in 1726 and Abraham Strickler the second in or about 1729-1734 (probably 1733).

The Strickler Plantation came to be known as Fort Egypt and the bend of the Shenandoah which it was located was known as Egypt Bend. The name Egypt is a metaphor likening the Swiss and German’s flight from religous persecution to the biblical flight of the Israelites from Egypt. Fort Egypt was actually a house. It was heavily fortified and was of massive

construct and lies west of the Shenandoah River off of Rt. 615 north of U.S. Rt 211, four miles west of Luray. The oldest construct was no doubt an enlargement of Abraham’s trading post. It was in 1757 when Abraham’s son, Jacob would renovate and build the Fort as it is today. The majority of the Fort is constructed of large Maple logs. A number of rooms are lined with Oak, Pine and Walnut paneling. A huge limestone central chimney measures 15 feet wide at its base and five feet wide in the second floor. It is open to several fireplaces, the one in the kitchen measuring 11 feet wide. The original peaked

Swiss style roof was lowered. Another wing and a porch have been added to the house since 1758. The cellar is well

preserved with loopholes for rifles, a spring for water and hooks to hang food. The cellar is made primarily of old logs sealed

wih straw and mud. Strickler descendants have owned the Fort now for nearly 270 years. Samuel B. Hoover bought the land in 1941 and carefully restored the home to an excellent state of condition. Samuel died in 1968 and his son James Hoover and daughter Janice (Hoover) Nashold inherited the property. The property is currently unoccupied.

One interesting note about the property is that a hill overlooking the home is an old Indian Burial Mound that has been excavated by the Smithsonian Institute. They found pipes, arrowheads and numerous other relics. A cemetery is located not far from the house. This is the burial site of Abraham Strickler and others of the old stock. A monument has been erected in the memory of our Strickler forefathers.

Abraham Strickler, I

Son of Rev. Hans & Elsbeth (Lohrer?) Strickler?

Born: ca 6 Dec 1693, Amsterdam, Netherlands Died: abt 14 April 1746, Page Co., VA

Buried: The Strickler Cemetery, Fort Egypt

Married: c1722 in Amsterdam?

Immigrated: ca Oct 1724

Maria Anna Ruffner (unproved)

Daughter of Hans and Elisabeth (Thommen) Ruffner

Born: 22 Oct 1696, Sigriswil, Tschingel, Bern, SWI Died: after 1751

Buried: The Strickler Cemetery, Fort Egypt

 

Much has been written about Abraham Strickler, the immigrant settler to what is now Page County, Virginia. Unfortunately, most of this information has been based on tradition and not on fact. In many instances these "legendary facts" have been disproven or at least proven improbable. To help sort the "known facts" from that which is speculated, I am here dividing records here into two setions. The first will contain a list of known facts. Following each such fact, a second list of facts and ideas which remain unproved will be provided. These fact I feel may be close to or will help in finding the truth.

Where was Abraham Strickler born?

Abraham Strickler was not a native of Switzerland, nor was he born in 1670, as is reported by H.M. Strickler’s Forerunners and many other researchers.

Although the exact location of Abraham Strickler’s birth remains a mystery, it has been determined that if he was the eldest child of Hans Strickler, he would have been born near Amsterdam, Netherlands. The timing is explained within the biography of Hans Strickler. (Which I promise will soon be posted!)

Who were Abraham’s parents?

There is no "smoking gun" evidence that links Abraham Strickler to any of the German Strickler families. However, known Mennonite records suggest he is the son of Rev. Hans Strickler and his first wife, whom some suggest is Elsbeth Zurrer. I suspect she was Elsbeth Lohrer.

When Did Abraham Strickler Arrive in America?

This question has been the source of much argument and speculation. There are many theories that have evolved. None have been proven. One suggested that Abraham and Conrad Strickler came to America with the Brubaker family, arriving at New York Harbor 16 June 1710. However, when Richard W. Davis of Provo, Utah looked into the 16 June 1710 immigrants, he could find no Brubakers or Stricklers arriving at that time.

H.M. Strickler suggested they arrived in America in or about 1700. This date is much to early for Abraham or Conrad to have arrived in America. Based on known data about Abraham’s birth, Abraham would have been 6 or 7 years old in 1700 and Conrad not more than 5 years old. Plus most German Mennonite Immigrations to America did not occur until after 1717.

Another theory again includes the Brubaker family. On 27 September 1717, Johannes Bruppacher and Christian Hershey took up a warrant of 1,000 acres on the Little Conestoga Creek in West Hempfield, PA. This land was near where

Abraham and Conrad Strickler first appear in records. The Brubaker family has ties to Ibersheim and Friederichstadt, Germany and to the same locations in Switzerland as the Strickler family. This theory is based on the idea that families who

had moved together for so many years, also came to America together. The conclusion here being the Stricklers arrived in America about 1717 with the Bruppachers.

What is known about the arrival of Abraham Strickler is as follows. He first paid taxes in Little Conestoga, Lancaster Co., PA in 1725. He paid tax there thru 1727. No deed for property exists for these years. In 1728, Abraham Strickler purchased 160 acres of land, more or less, from John Daugherty. He pays tax on this land through 1733. After that Heinrich Strickler pays tax on the property, Abraham Strickler having moved to Virginia. This indicates that Abraham Strickler and Heinrich Strickler, were brothers. Heinrich Strickler immigrated in 1727. Also on 9 September 1725, Abraham was issued a trading pass for transit from Pennsylvania to Virginia. In the 1921 the cornerstone for his trading shelter was found at Egypt Bend with the date reported to be 1725. The location of this stone is unknown at present.

Abraham Strickler and Conrad Strickler both took oaths of Naturalization in March 1728 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. It was often a few years before an oath of allegiance was taken. This indicates that Abraham and Conrad Strickler, arrived as early as 1723 to 1724.

I personally feel that Abraham and Conrad Strickler arrived in America about Oct 1724. They may have lived for several months with the Brubaker family. In 1725, the Strickler and Brubaker families had all grown and room was limited, so Abraham and Conrad ventured out on their own. In 1728, they purchased land from John Daugherty. They each lived there with their brother Heinrich Strickler. Conrad then moved south to York Co. and Abraham further south into the beautiful Valley of Virginia.

When Was Abraham Strickler Married?

When Abraham Strickler married has been another source of constant conflict. Estimates for his marriage run from H.M. Strickler’s date of about 1705, up to about 1728. Until more definitive dates for his children can be proven, it will be hard to pinpoint the date of his marriage.

Based on Abraham Strickler’s approximate birth date of ca Dec 1693/94, it is probable that he married between the ages of 20 and 30, or 1714-1724. Approximate and unproven birth dates for his children suggest a 1722 marriage.

Who Was Abraham’s wife?

For many generations, tradition has stated that Abraham Strickler married Peter Ruffner’s only sister. This has never been proven. The only known and proven fact about Abraham’s wife is that his wife was named Anna. Upon Abraham’s death, his wife Anna refused to administer his estate. Peter Ruffner was appointed to do this.

It has been assumed by most that Peter Ruffner was asked to administer the estate because he was the brother of the widow. Thus the tradition is established that Abraham married Anna Ruffner.

Ruffner tradition states that the family was from Hanover, Germany. However, known records of the early Ruffner family place them in Tsigriswil, Bern, Switzerland. In 1711 many of the Ruffner families were expelled from Tsigriswil for being Tauffers. Amongst these families was the Hans Ruffner family who moved to Amsterdam. This family established a

prosperous winery. The children of Hans Ruffner included one Anna Maria Ruffner b. c1696 and a Peter Ruffner b. 1705.

What I personally believe is that it was on one of the Mennonite exiles from Germany to Amsterdam that Abraham Strickler met and married Anna Maria Ruffner. I also feel that this may have been as early as 1721, possibly as late as 1723. But, like so many other questions about the family, there remains no solid proof of any marriage within this family.

When were Abraham’s children born?

I have seen little hard evidence concerning the births of Abraham’s children. I have seen births varying as much as 20 years for each child. Below I will give my best opinion as to when his children were born and a brief mention of the rather scant evidences that indicate each to me. Further details about these dates may be found in the section on each child.

From the estate settlement of Abraham Strickler, Sr. it is known that he had sons, Abraham, Jr., Isaac, Benjamin, Jacob and John. There was also a daughter Mary who is never mentioned in these deed records. They appear to be named

in these deeds in order of their births.

Abraham Strickler, Jr. was probably born in 1723. I was once told he was born 29 August 1723. The records of this person may not be accurate as this record also listed his place of birth as Hempfield, PA, which did not exist in 1723. I am told that the records came orginally from a large sheet of paper in an old German Bible. I have had no luck locating this old document.

Isaac Strickler, Sr., was married to Magdalena Neff, d/o Heinrich Neff of Hempfield, PA. According to the Neff researchers she was a younger daughter in the family and was born about 1721-24 in or near Ibersheim, Germany. Assuming that Isaac and Magdalena were of similar age, Isaac must have been born in or about 1724.

When Benjamin Strickler died, several obituaries appeared in local papers. Each gave a different age for him when he died. But using either date, his birth was either 1726 or 1727. I have not seen these obituaries. The Funk History states that Benjamin was about 1720-25.

Jacob Strickler’s birth is reportedly contained in Mennonite Ministerial records. I have not been able to find the manuscript containing these dates. It would be interesting to know how they obtained these dates and how accurate of a source it was. His birth is reported as 4 December 1729. On another instance in 1750, Jacob Strickler refused to enter Military service on grounds he was against war. One source includes the phrase "he was then about 22 years of age," (b. c1728). Other sources do not include this phrase.

Joseph Strickler’s birth was reported by Tobias Miley as 1 September 1731. This appears to be accurate.

John Strickler is not mentioned in the survey of Abraham Strickler’s estate June 1747, but then in Feb 1749, he is listed in the list of heirs. It must be that John became of age (age 16) between June 1747 and February 1749, thus being born in late 1732 or early 1733.

Mary’s first born was in 1755. She was probably about 20 years of age. Thus she was probably born about 1735 or 1736. She would be the only child born in Virginia. Her birth is listed as 1736 by one Roads family researcher.

Deeds, Property, Death and other records of Abraham Strickler listed chronologically

1725-1728, Abraham Strickler pays personal property taxes in Lancaster County, PA. He works as an Indian Trade making __________trips into Virginia.

Mar 1728, Abraham Strickler is naturalized with brother Conrad Strickler in Lancaster County, PA.

1728, Abraham Strickler, purchases 160 acres of land from John Daugherty in Hempfield Twp., Lancaster Co., PA

1729-1732, Abraham Strickler pays tax on 160 acres of land in Hempfield Twp., Lancaster Co., PA

1733, Abraham Strickler appears to have moved family to Virginia as his brother Heinrich Strickler pays tax

____ on the property owned by Abraham Strickler in Hempfield.

12 Dec 1733, Abraham Strickler is granted 1,000 acres, more or less, of land in Virginia from Jacob Stover.

 

Two land surveys recorded at the Orange County Courthouse proves that Abraham Strickler, 1st had six sons:

A warrant in Orange County in 12 June 1747 appears to name Abraham Sr.’s sons by age. It reads, Abraham Strickler execution for division of 647 acres in two tracts, land of Abraham Strickler, dec’d. Said land divided by Abraham Strickler, Jr. amongst himself and his brothers. It lists them Abraham, Jr., Isaac, Benjamin, Jacob and Joseph. The same is found in 1749 except John has been added to the end.

This survey entered into record on June 12, 1747, done by George Hume on behalf of Abraham Strickler, eldest son of Abraham dec'd and his brothers Isaac, Benjamin, Jacob, and Joseph (no mention of John). Land surveyed and divided into two plats of 263 and 384 acres, respectively, and lying on Misonuttin, being part of a patent formerly granted to Jacob Stover of 5,000 acres December 15, 1733, lying on the North side of the Shenandoah River. The land above mentioned shall be divided (Unreadable words). The division is as follows:

On the tract of 263 acres, Joseph Strickler 102 acres; Jacob Strickler 106 acres; to Abraham Strickler 55 acres. On

the 384 acres tract, to Benjamin Strickler 201 acres; and to Isaac Strickler 183 acres.

From Orange County Court Records p. 32 Book #??.

This record was also found by P/eggy Shomo Joyner and is in Vol. 1 of Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys 1730-1754. Her abstraction was slightly different, but the material was the same.

Another survey recorded on February 19, 1749 by George Hume for an additional 208 acres of the above land is also recorded at Orange County. 208 acres to John Strickler, (now of age?), situated on the south branch of the Shenandoah River dividing the corner between Jacob, Joseph and Abraham Strickler's land.

Other Records of Abraham Strickler

1744, Abraham Strickler taxed with 129 pounds of tobacco in Frederick Co., VA. This is recorded in Col. James Wood’s

fee book.

Children: 7

*1. Abraham Strickler, Jr. b. 29 Aug 1723 d. 30 Dec 1754 md cJul 1742, Lanc. Co., PA to Catherina Schneider?

*2. Dr. Isaac Strickler b. ca Oct 1724 d. Aug 1766 md: ca Apr-May 1745 in Lancaster Co., PA to Magdelena Neff

*3. Benjamin Strickler b. 21 Jun 1727 d. 28 Apr 1795 md ca 1758 to Anna Maria Funk

*4. Jacob Strickler b. 9 Dec 1729 d. 29 Jan 1784 md1 c1754 Nancy Kauffman md2 c1775 to Magdalena Moomaw

*5. Joseph Strickler b.1 Sep 1731 d.30 Aug 1795 md1 1754 Elisapätha Stoeckli md2 21 Jun 1774, Shen Co. Barbara Harnish

*6. Johannes Strickler, 1st b. cDec 1732 d. in 1807 md ca 1759 Magdalena Heistand

*7. Maria Elizapetha Strickler b. 14 May 1736 d. aft 1815 md1 c1755 Joseph Roads, Sr. md2 1766 Jacob Huddle, Sr.

PIONEER LIFE AND ABRAHAM STRICKLER'S ESTATE (From Brunk’s History of the Mennonites Vol. 1)

THE MENNONITE SETTLEMENTS PROSPERED FROM THE START. THERE WAS NO REPETITION OF THE STARVATION AND ILL HEALTH OF COLONIAL VIRGINIA AT JAMESTOWN ISLAND ONE-HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS EARLIER. WHILE HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING WERE NO DOUBT ENGAGED IN SOME EXTENT, THIS WAS OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE TO THE PLOWING, PLANTING, AND TILLING OF CROPS IN THE PRODUCTIVE LAND. ONE OF THE BENDS OF THE SOUTH FORK OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVER IS CALLED EGYPT BEND BECAUSE CROPS HAVE NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO FAIL THERE. STOCK-BREEDING AND -RAISING , AS THE RECORDS SHOW, ALSO FIGURED LARGELY IN THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE EARLY MENNONITES OF VIRGINIA. THEY CAME HERE TO ESTABLISH PERMANENT HOMES. ORCHARDS WERE PLANTED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF EACH FARM OR PLANTATION. MILLS WERE CONSTRUCTED ON THE RIVERS TO TAKE CARE THE MILLINGS NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY, NOT UNLIKE THEIR NEIGHBORS, BUILT ONE-STORY HOUSES. THE HOUSE, BUILT OVER A CELLAR WITH A CHIMNEY IN THE CENTER WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS; IN THE ONE END THERE WAS A FIREPLACE, IN THE OTHER, A STOVE. THE ATTIC OF THE HOUSE IN A NUMBER OF INSTANCES WAS A PLACE FOR STORING GRAIN. THE MENNONITE PREACHER WHO WAS FIRST SHOT BY THE INDIANS AND WHOSE HOUSE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY BURNED REVEALED THIS FACT. THE GRAIN STORED IN THE ATTIC, BURNED TO CHARCOAL, WAS FOUND AFTER THE FIRE, IN THE CELLAR WHERE ANYONE COULD FINE GRAINS OF WHEAT STILL PERFECTLY FORMED.

INVENTORIES AND SALES RECORDS OF THE SETTLERS INDICATE IN PART THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THEIR PROSPERITY. THIS IS WELL ILLUSTRATED BY THE LISTS OF ARTICLES OWNED BY THE ABRAHAM STRICKLER IN 1746, THE YEAR OF HIS DEATH. THERE WERE

EIGHTY-ONE SEPARATE ITEMS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY OR COMBINATIONS OF THEM. HAVING A TOTAL VALUE OF 218 POUNDS 17 SHILLINGS AND 3 PENCE. THE LIST INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING LIVESTOCK, SIXTEEN HORSES AND ONE COLT VALUED AT 63 POUNDS, TWENTY COWS AT 20 POUNDS, ONE BULL, TWELVE HEIFERS, AND TEN STEERS AT 19 POUNDS, AND FOURTY-TWO HOGS AND PIGS VALUED AT 6 POUNDS AND 3 SHILLINGS. THE FOLLOWING IS A PARTIAL LIST OF OTHER ARTICLES OF PERSONAL PROPERTY: TWO STILLS AND "PROPER IMPLEMENTS BELONGING, BATH TUB AND RUNLETS" 33 POUNDS, FOUR CAST WHEELS WITH TIRE BELONGING 4 POUNDS, TWO SAWS, ONE WHIP SAW, ONE CROSSCUT SAW AND FIVE FILES 2 POUNDS, 3 SHILLINGS, OXCHAIN, WEDGES, ONE IRON DOG 1 POUND, 11 SHILLINGS, 4 PENCE, OLD STOVE 3 SHILLINGS, A SPADE SHOVEL AND CUTTING IRON 7 SHILLINGS, THREE HAMMERS AND SMALL HOE 5 SHILLINGS, 6 PENCE, SIX OLD AXES AND ONE HATCHET 1 POUND, ONE HAY FORK 1 SHILLING, 6 PENCE, FIVE SICKLES 9 SHILLINGS, TWO BRANDING IRONS 4 SHILLINGS, TWO CHISELS AND FOUR PLAIN IRONS 4 SHILLINGS,, TWO AUGERS AND A RASP 10 SHILLINGS, TURNER TOOLS 18 SHILLINGS A PAIR OF SPOON MOLES 5 SHILLINGS, A PAIR OF OLD SCALES AND WEIGHTS 6 SHILLINGS, A PAIR OF PISTOLS AND HOLSTERS 18 SHILLINGS, RAW HIDES AND TWO CALF SKINS 12 SHILLINGS, TWO PAIRS OF STEELYARDS 18 SHILLINGS, AND DUNG HOOK, ONE AX AND BROAD AX 8 SHILLINGS, TWO PLOWS, HOOK AND SHOVEL PLOWS 12 SHILLINGS, TWO ENGLISH PLOWS WITH ALL THE TACKLING BELONGING 3 POUNDS, THREE SADDLES AND PAD, TWO COLLARS AND QUILLERS 1 POUND, ALL THE IMPLEMENTS FOR ROPE MAKING 10 SHILLINGS, A JOINTER, BOX FOUR PLAIN AND SAW 6 SHILLINGS, TWO FLAX HACKLES 10 SHILLINGS, TWENTY-FIVE DEER SKINS 3 POUNDS, 15 SHILLINGS, LEATHER SOLE, UPPER LEATHER AND NEW BOOTS 1 POUND, 13 SHILLINGS, THREE HIVES OF BEES 15 SHILLINGS, ONE HEMP BRAKE 2 SHILLINGS, SIX GALLONS OF "LICKQUER" AT 2 SHILLINGS, 6 PENCE PER GALLON 7 POUNDS, 10 SHILLINGS, ALL THE DISHES, PLATES, BASINS AND A PEWTER QUART POT 1 POUND 10 SHILLINGS, ALL THE IRON POTS, BASINS. TWO FRYING PANS, SKIMMER 1 POUND, ALL ABRAHAM'S WEARING CLOTHES 2 POUNDS, LARGE CHEST 5 SHILLINGS, SAFE 5 SHILLINGS, ONE HUNDRED FOURTY-NINE "tt" OF LINEN YARN 7 POUNDS, 9 SHILLINGS, A STRAW KNIFE AND BOX 15 SHILLINGS, ONE BED IN STILLHOUSE LOFT AND FURNITURE IN THE OLD HOUSE 2 POUNDS, EIGHT SMALL DUTCH BOOKS, A LARGE DUTCH BIBLE AND SOME OLD BOOKS 2 POUNDS, 2 SHILLINGS, PAIR OF NEW AND ONE PAIR OF OLD MONEY SCALES 5 SHILLINGS, TWO STONE GALLON JUGS 2 SHILLINGS, ONE LIFTER AND TWO "KIDLES: 4 SHILLINGS, TWO LINEN WHEELS 5 SHILLINGS, ONE BRASS COCK AND TWO OLD RAZORS 2, SHILLINGS 6 PENCE, AND ONE HONE 1 SHILLING, SIX PENCE.

A Brief Sketch of the Ruffner Family

Hans Ruffner b. ca 1610 married _______ ( )

1. Peter Ruffner b. 1635, Sigriswil, SWI

2. Benedict Ruffner b. 1638, Sigriswil, SWI md Anna Amstutz

3. Dorothea Ruffner b. 1639, Sigriswil, SWI she md 1 ??? md2 17 Oct 1695, Melchoir Graber

4. Hans Ruffner b. 1645, Sigriswil, SWI md Margaret Zeller

…….Hans has many descendants, most of whom remained in Tsigriswil Area. In more recent years, a number of his

…….descendants have settled in Oregon State.

……….a) Christian Ruffner

……….b) Peter Ruffner

……….c) Hans Ruffner

5. Christian Ruffner b. 1640, Sigriswil, Tschingel, SWI md 1665, Sigriswil, Bern, SWI to Madle Buhler

………a) Hans Ruffner b. 7 Apr 1669, Sigriswil, Tschingel, Bern, SWI md c1695 Elisbeth Thommen b.1672 In 1711, Hans Ruffner, …………..age 42, and his reformed wife Elsbeth, age 39; along with three sons and four daughters, were all exiled to Holland. Hans …………..established himself there as a renowned wine-maker. His birth is not recorded at Sigriswil. Of the children listed below, only …………..Peter and Anna Maria can be confirmed as children of Hans. The others are most his children. This assumption is based on the …………..idea that no other Ruffner families are shown immigrating to Holland before 1711. The names of the other five children were …………..given to me by a researcher in Holland, Jans Ilickson, whom I have since not been able to contact. I have not been able to …………..confirm his information as to these names. He said these were the Ruffners who lived at the Ruffner winery for many years.

…………..He never said where this was. He also provided me the birth dates given which are recorded somewhere in Amsterdam.

……………………a1) Maria Anna Ruffner b. 7 Apr 1696 d. aft 1751 in Pae Co., VA md Abraham Strickler

………………….. a2) Verena Ruffner b. 4 Mar 1697 NFR

……………………a3) Christian Ruffner b. 16 Jun 1699 lived in Holland, later back to Germany

……………………a4) Dorothea Ruffner b. 6 Mar 1700 md Geryt Ilickson (It is unclear which daughter married Geryt)

……………………a5) Elisapetha Ruffner b. 11 Jun 1702

………………….. a6) Peter Ruffner b. 11 May 1705 d. 1773, VA to America aged 19 in 1724 possibly with the Strickler Family

………………………..married Maria Steiner

……………………a7) Simon Ruffner b. 27 Oct 1707 NFR settled in Lancaster Co., PA

………b) Maria Ruffner b. 13 Aug 1671, Sigriswil, Tschingel, Bern, SWI

………c) Verena Ruffner b. 18 May 1673, Sigriswil, Tschingel, Bern, SWI

………d) Anna Rufner b. 10 Aug 1679, Sigriswil, Tschingel, Bern, SWI

………e) Peter Ruffner b. 16 Jul 1682, Sigriswil, Tschingel, Bern, SWI