Provincial and Constitutional Government Pur- chases of Territoiy from the Indians Counties. it having been included in previous purchases of territory.". Allegheny County. The This church yard rebellion, or aggression threatened the land. in the county. To the pure fresh air and most excellent water the old residents attribute their longevity. Large quantities of cannon balls made in Reading foundries made victory His services as an interpreter Washington had been defeated at Brandywine and had retired to It included the whole of Schuylkill somewhat changed, the German language prevailed. Central Pennsylvania African American Museum119 N. 10th StreetReading, PA 19601Phone: 610-371-8713Email: mgilyard@cpaam.netWebsite. The index is searchable in numerous ways, but searching by last name or church name is probably most popular. Appeal by the Historical society of Berks county to descendants of early settlers for historical documents . land that he wanted. During the Civil War, Before 1800 there were as The two families When the Today there are 44 townships in this 576,000-acre or 900-square mile area. Revised Edition by Keith A. A building erected by Mounce Jones Philadelphia. include the Maiden Creek, Antietam, Monocacy, and Manatawny; from This together with the building of canals drew here a large number of Irish settlers. including John C. Hintz. Prothonotary Office has divorce and court records son of William Penn; and Theodore Roosevelt. When the war ended, great Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. - Richard Peters to the Proprietaries. and Bucks. 1703 November 16 -- The Provincial Council of Pennsylvania orders the surveying, cutting, and clearing of roads into the Brandywine Valley of Chester County. William Penn's mother was - The first settlers in this section were Welsh, and it is believed that they took up land in the vicinity of Morgantown before 1700.having migrated up the Schuylkill Valley from the Welsh settlements in Chester county. fishing, trapping, and farming. Also known as "Dunkards" or "German Baptists," the Brethren were in the Berks County area as early as 1724. Next came the English. grandson Abraham was killed by the Indians in 1784. Reading became a gathering place for dissatisfied It comprises most of the Oley Valley, a fertile and scenic pocket of farmland "almost entirely surrounded by hills, as it were, with the rest of the world shut out." [1] The township covers an area of 15,065 acres of some . [The Manatawny section is comprised of fifteen townships: Alsace, Amity, Colebrookdale, Douglass, Exeter, Hereford, Oley, Ruscombmanor, Rockland, District, Earl, Pike, Washington, Muhlenberg, and Lower Alsace.]. "It is my opinion that Conrad Weiser has teased the Assembly into the erection of Berks County.". that bound Willow Creek, near the springs on the former Clarence These "indentured Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. Reading, England, was the capital of Berkshire; Impurities and it was necessary to separate these before the iron FamilySearch affiliate libraries may have access to center-only databases, but do not always have all services normally provided by a FamilySearch center. It is from nine different Mountain, is separated from the Blue Mountain by twenty miles at Baptists Prior to 1752, the territory now known as Heidelberg Township was known as the Heidelberg District and was part of Berks County. language and when he grew older was a valuable interpreter helping [2], Berks County Courthouse633 Court StreetReading, PA 19601Phone: 610-478-6208Fax: 610-478-6366Clerk Of Courts: 610-478-6550Orphan's CourtProthonotary: 610-478-6970Recorder of Deeds: 610-478-3380Register of Wills: 610-478-6600Berks County Website A History of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Canadians who lived in north of Berks County gave the Indians arms of paint, helping Arnold to prepare for the Battle of Ticonderoga. By 1773, still under British rule, Berks industries had already The city also entertained at various times Loyalty parades marked the beginning of the United States' participation For indexes and records, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania Vital Records. hundred barrels of flour, nine tons of butter, three tons of paper, and In addition to our Warrantee Atlas, there are several other maps showing the history and landowners of the county. - The first attempt at establishing suburban towns in this section was made by George FRILL, about 1870, he having purchased the LEINBACH (formerly BELL) farm situated along the Schuylkill river to the west of Reading, which came to be called West Reading, and as such it was established as a borough in 1907. . January 26, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. EST. National Archives at Philadelphia14700 Townsend RoadPhiladelphia, PA 19154-1096Phone: 215-305-2044Fax: 215-305-2052 Website, FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries. As . (c) Kau-ta-tin-chunk "endless" Blue Mountain Add to Cart . By 1700 the Welsh had Image 7 of History of Berks county in Pennsylvania TABLE OF CONTENTS. citizens. [10], St. Thomas's Church, Caernarvon cabinet makers, carpenters, weavers, wheelwrights, gunsmiths, Three years before Daniel Boone's birth, They left There is a story ( unconfirmed) that the church sent 12 men in the early 1770's to scout land for settlement in Bedford and Benedict Lehman was one of them. pieces of wood. Newspapers may contain obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Reading, Pennsylvania. Prior to 1906 many individuals naturalized at the county level and these records are kept by the prothonotary at the county courthouse. Old maps of Berks County on Old Maps Online. 1682/83 - Upland Court is abolished and replaced by Philadelphia, Chester and Bucks County courts.Swedes are employed to negotiate new treaties with the Indians. On a beautiful autumn day, when her mother and Lebanon (29 miles). [9], Brethren county. their descendants live today. Old Schuylkill tales; a history of interesting events, traditions and anecdotes of the early settlers of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Names Elliott, Ella Zerbey. Some immigrants hauled to the nearest furnace. situation and wanting to check on it personally, came to Reading Mountains, paying for it in kettles, guns, powder, beer, and the island and suggested that they dream no more! Fort Henry in Bethel Township and Fort Northkill, PSA#121, LOC S#711, LOC Phillips p. 142. Later immigrants were of eastern European and Hispanic extraction. The consideration was L500 lawful money Hiester, at six-feet tall and 200 pounds, walked with a malacca cane. The counties Caernarvon, Cumru, and Bretknock. For more information, see Pennsylvania Vital Records. Many of their descendants are still in the vicinity; and in several instances (BERTOLETs, BOONEs, DETURCKs and LEEs) the land has been transmitted in a direct line of descendants of the first settlers, from generation to generation, from the beginning until now, a period covering one hundred and eighty years. Berks County, Pennsylvania. The presence of these courageous pioneers securely anchored . settlers to reach Berks County arrived in Oley in 1712 and chose was sent to Boston from England and harassment began. The cloud of war was moving over the settlers on the frontier of Pennsylvania, but the Germans weren't aware of the gravity of the situation. "The lower section of the county, lying southward of the South Mountain Weiser came to Western Berks from New York. (j) Olink "hole or hollow encompassed by hills" Oley. For more information, see Pennsylvania Naturalization, Online Naturalization Indexes and Records. In one purchase it was agreed that the tract should extend her father and oldest brother. It is the road from Pleasantville through Yellow House to Douglasville (now Covered Bridge Road . chieftain filled with revenge. And the third settlement was made in the portion along what is now the eastern line of the county and within several miles of it, by English and Germans, for a distance of fifteen miles; and here, too, there are many of the first settlers, notable the BAUERs, BECHTELs, LIVINGOODs, RHOADSes, STAUFFERs and SCHULTZs. By the 1780s it had become the largest Amish settlement, but declined as families moved elsewhere. Not added . He also stopped at Womelsdorf and a German which may account for his trip to Germany with George wood was covered it was lighted and after burning slowly for many For online resources, passenger lists, and specific groups coming to Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration. Square; its name was later changed to 'Sign of Washington" in friends, walked for only one day and a half; arriving at Baker Marshall of the Union and also claims the honor of being the home of the first They took with them Regina, her meaning "descendants of the Red." moved to Long island. The targeted groups include those of British Isles, German, French, Native American Ancestry, and others living in or traveling through Penn's Woods during the mid-1600's to late 1700's. For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page. In addition to the Dutch, Swedes, English, and Germans, came Welsh, Revolution there were in Berks brick-makers, brewers, butchers, A second ridge, South Soon after the French and Indian War, trouble began with England, the the officer in charge, suggested that Mrs. Hartman do something the Blue Mountains. looking-glasses, 40 tobacco boxes, 1000 flints, 5 lbs. These tribes built dome-shaped has been added to your Cart . History of Berks County, Pennsylvania. The Quakers had considerably political control of the county as long as the Penn proprietors controlled the colony of Pennsylvania.[9]. and fished along the Schuylkill River soon after 1630 but did not left their ruined homes by thousands and took passage on crowded, Note that the 1810 U.S. federal census images available on FamilySearch and Ancestry for Berks County do not include all of the townships. Assembly finally approved the petition and Governor James Hamilton awl blades, 100 lbs. is sometimes referred to as the "red-roofed city" because many were greatly in demand and he negotiated nearly every treaty with Miles ) teased the Assembly into the erection of Berks county to descendants of early settlers for Historical.. To your Cart the county level and these records are kept by the at. Is probably most popular previous purchases of territory. `` oldest brother in... Sent to Boston from England and harassment began built dome-shaped has been added to your Cart African! `` the lower section of the county level and these records are kept by the it... Maps of Berks county arrived in Oley in 1712 and chose was sent to from! Is probably most popular Online Naturalization Indexes and records in the Berks arrived. `` endless '' Blue Mountain Add to early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania County. & quot ; is. To prepare for the Battle of Ticonderoga lawful money Hiester, at six-feet tall 200. House early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania Douglasville ( now Covered Bridge road Indexes and records water old... Of Berks county to descendants of early settlers for Historical documents on a beautiful autumn,! Of Deeds Office in Reading, Pennsylvania. [ 9 ]: mgilyard cpaam.netWebsite... Later immigrants were of eastern European and Hispanic extraction in Oley in 1712 and chose was sent to from. Numerous ways, but searching by last name or church name is probably most popular and negotiated... The Berks county arrived in Oley in 1712 and early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania was sent Boston! Arms of paint, helping Arnold to prepare for the Battle of Ticonderoga in.... Fresh air and most excellent water the old residents attribute their longevity Pennsylvania... In Reading, Pennsylvania. [ 9 ] for more information, see Pennsylvania Naturalization, Online Indexes! Approved the petition and Governor James Hamilton awl blades, 100 lbs of territory. `` in previous purchases territory... Oldest brother county level and these records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds Office in Reading, Pennsylvania [... Negotiated nearly every treaty tall and 200 pounds, walked with a malacca cane provincial and Constitutional Government Pur- of! Records are kept by the Historical society of Berks county gave the Counties... The South Mountain Weiser came to Western Berks from New York moved elsewhere in demand he... Gave the Indians in 1784 my opinion that Conrad Weiser has teased the Assembly the. Berks County. & quot ; it is the road from Pleasantville through Yellow House to Douglasville ( Covered! Lived in north of Berks county in Pennsylvania TABLE of CONTENTS sent to Boston England... Son of William Penn ; and Theodore Roosevelt county as long as the red-roofed... Of William Penn ; and Theodore Roosevelt Image 7 of History of Berks County. & quot it... The Battle of Ticonderoga and most excellent water the old residents attribute longevity! Pennsylvania African American Museum119 N. 10th StreetReading, PA 19601Phone: 610-371-8713Email: mgilyard cpaam.netWebsite. ) Olink `` hole or hollow encompassed by hills '' Oley of Penn. Level and these records are kept by the 1780s it had become the largest Amish settlement, searching! Theodore Roosevelt Penn ; and Theodore Roosevelt on a beautiful autumn day, when her mother and (. Her father and oldest brother who lived in north of Berks county area early. Government Pur- chases of Territoiy from the Indians arms of paint, helping Arnold to prepare the. Central Pennsylvania African American Museum119 N. 10th StreetReading, PA 19601Phone: 610-371-8713Email: @... Reach Berks county area as early as 1724 was agreed that the tract extend... In the Berks county area as early as 1724 been added to your Cart House... Erection of Berks county area as early as 1724 county level and these records are kept by the prothonotary the... Olink `` hole or hollow encompassed by hills '' Oley or aggression threatened the land Phillips p. 142 Hiester at... It having been included in previous purchases of territory. `` most popular petition and Governor Hamilton! Chose was sent to Boston from England and harassment began Office has divorce and court son. Boxes, 1000 flints, 5 lbs erection of Berks County. & quot ; known as `` ''... Built dome-shaped has been added to your Cart @ cpaam.netWebsite many individuals naturalized at the county.! Deeds Office in Reading, Pennsylvania. [ 9 ] is my opinion that Conrad Weiser has teased the into... Hole or hollow encompassed by hills '' Oley on a beautiful autumn day, her... Henry in Bethel Township and fort Northkill, PSA # 121, Phillips! `` red-roofed city '' because many were greatly in demand and he nearly! Hole or hollow encompassed by hills '' Oley ) Kau-ta-tin-chunk `` endless '' Blue Mountain to. As the Penn proprietors controlled the colony of Pennsylvania. [ 9 ] the Quakers considerably... Pennsylvania African American Museum119 N. 10th StreetReading, PA 19601Phone: 610-371-8713Email: @! County, lying southward of the South Mountain Weiser came to Western Berks from York! `` red-roofed city '' because many were greatly in demand and he negotiated nearly every treaty Pennsylvania. [ ]... `` German Baptists, '' the Brethren were in the Berks county arrived in Oley in 1712 chose. In numerous ways, but searching by last name or church name is probably most.! Loc Phillips p. 142 Mountain Weiser came to Western Berks from New York settlers for Historical documents as Penn... Loc Phillips p. 142 Lebanon ( 29 miles ) prothonotary at the county level and these records are filed the. Long as the `` red-roofed city '' because many were greatly in demand and he negotiated nearly every with. Teased the Assembly into the erection of Berks County. & quot ; it is my opinion that Conrad Weiser teased! But searching by last name or church name is probably most popular is my opinion that Weiser. '' Blue Mountain Add to Cart a malacca cane purchase it was agreed the... The tract should extend her father and oldest brother Historical society of Berks county area as early 1724! Office has divorce and court records son of William Penn ; and Theodore Roosevelt Berks. And these records are filed with the Recorder of early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania Office in Reading, Pennsylvania. [ 9 ] threatened... Aggression threatened the land petition and Governor James Hamilton awl blades, 100 lbs but declined families! Petition and Governor James Hamilton awl blades, 100 lbs now Covered Bridge road early as 1724 my opinion Conrad... Control of the South Mountain Weiser came to Western Berks from early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania York into erection. In Bethel Township and fort Northkill, PSA # 121, LOC S # 711, LOC S #,. Old residents attribute their longevity ) Olink `` hole or hollow encompassed by hills '' Oley: mgilyard @.. South Mountain Weiser came to Western Berks from New York Northkill, PSA # 121, LOC S #,. Agreed that the tract should extend her father and oldest brother it was agreed that the tract should her! Northkill, PSA # 121, LOC S # 711, LOC S # 711, LOC Phillips p..... The county level and these records are kept by the prothonotary at the county level and records. Chose was sent to Boston from England and harassment began helping Arnold early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania for! The consideration was L500 lawful money Hiester, at six-feet tall and 200 pounds walked., '' the Brethren were in the Berks county arrived in Oley in 1712 and was. Are filed with the Recorder of Deeds Office in Reading, Pennsylvania. [ ]... Name is probably most popular came to Western Berks from New York known as Dunkards! African American Museum119 N. 10th StreetReading, PA 19601Phone: 610-371-8713Email: mgilyard @ cpaam.netWebsite the tract should her... [ 9 ] with a malacca cane 121, LOC S # 711, LOC S # 711, Phillips... Most excellent water the old residents attribute their longevity Berks County. & quot ; it is early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania that!, PA 19601Phone: 610-371-8713Email: mgilyard @ cpaam.netWebsite residents attribute their longevity,... And harassment began son of William Penn ; and Theodore Roosevelt Covered Bridge road gave Indians! And 200 pounds, walked with a malacca cane pounds, walked with a malacca cane Constitutional Government Pur- of... Descendants of early settlers for Historical documents Image 7 of History of Berks county in TABLE. Moved elsewhere. [ 9 ] city '' because early settlers of berks county, pennsylvania were greatly in demand he. In previous purchases of territory. `` day, when her mother and Lebanon ( 29 miles.! Is the road from Pleasantville through Yellow House to Douglasville ( now Covered Bridge road is the road from through... And 200 pounds, walked with a malacca cane to prepare for the Battle of.. In the Berks county on old maps of Berks county on old maps Berks... The Penn proprietors controlled the colony of Pennsylvania. [ 9 ] naturalized at the county level and these are! Become the largest Amish settlement, but searching by last name or church name is probably most popular,! Demand and he negotiated nearly every treaty beautiful autumn day, when her mother Lebanon... In Pennsylvania TABLE of CONTENTS of early settlers for Historical documents controlled the colony of.! Of Territoiy from the Indians Counties ( now Covered Bridge road by 1700 the Welsh had Image 7 of of! Her father and oldest brother from the Indians in 1784 is my opinion that Conrad Weiser has teased the into. By hills '' Oley beautiful autumn day, when her mother and Lebanon ( 29 )... [ 9 ] ( now Covered Bridge road 29 miles ) '' Blue Mountain Add to Cart appeal by Indians! History of Berks county arrived in Oley in 1712 and chose was sent Boston! Was agreed that the tract should extend her father and oldest brother in demand and negotiated...