Ephraim was born on 25 Feb 1829, the youngest of six children of Rynear Tyson and Eleanor Jeanes of Upper Dublin, Montgomery County. In June of 1831 his father died, leaving Eleanor with a family of small children: Edmond, Peter, Sarah, Seth, William and Ephraim. She must have gone to live with relatives. Five of the children lived to adulthood, but only two of them—Ephraim and his older brother Edmond—married and had children.1 Ephraim and his siblings must have struggled to find work, and several of them went to the crowded city, where they were susceptible to diseases of poverty. Edmond moved to Philadelphia and became a stationer. He died in his early thirties and all three of his sons died of consumption. Sarah went to Philadelphia and lived with her cousins Seth and Rebecca Holt. Sarah worked as a milliner and died of consumption at age 40. Ephraim’s brother Seth went west in the Gold Rush, lived in Nevada, then in Nevada County and Yuba County, California. William never married and died in the household of his nephew William.

In 1850 Ephraim was living in Moreland with the household of Samuel Robinson. They were both shoemakers; Ephraim was learning the trade from the older Samuel.2 Ephraim must have moved to Germantown by 1855, when he married Anna Maust, daughter of Peter Maust and Anna Unruh.3 She was from two German families, with no Quaker background. In 1860 Ephraim and Anna were living in Germantown, probably on land inherited from Anna’s father.4 Ephraim was 31 years old, working as a cordwainer. Anna was 26. Ephraim’s widowed mother Eleanor was living with them. The next year Ephraim, then living in Bristol Township, bought two lots in Upper Dublin from the estate of William Carney. Ephraim paid $3,130 for the two lots, for a total of fourteen acres.5 He and Anna moved there, and in 1862 he was taxed there as a maker of boots and shoes.6 He registered for the Civil War in June 1863.7 In 1868 Ephraim and Anna moved again, probably for the last time. They bought a tract of 26 acres from William and Martha Palmer for $6,200, on the road from Horsham Meeting to Dreshertown.8 A day before they had sold the two lots in Upper Dublin to Jacob McVaugh for $4,000.9 In 1870 they were in the Horsham house, just off the Susquehanna Road, with five children. Eleanor was next door in a separate house.10 By 1880 they had seven children at home.11

Ephraim died in 1897. According to his obituary, “his death was not looked for, as he was up and around the house, but was ailing somewhat…an industrious and prosperous farmer…a member of Eagle Lodge, No. 222, I.O.O.F.”12 In 1900 Anna was still living on the Horsham farm, with three of her children: John, Hannah, and Charles.13 Her son William and his wife Catherine were nearby. She joined the Baptist Church, possibly after Ephraim died, since he had attended Friends meetings.14 Anna died in 1915 and was buried at Hatboro, with Ephraim, William and Catherine, Robert, and several grandchildren.15

Children of Ephraim and Anna:16

Ida Ann, born in 1858, died in 1941, m. William DePrefontaine, the son of John and Mary. They lived in Upper Dublin where William was a farmer. By 1920 they had moved to Philadelphia, where William ran a hardware store and his daughter Minnie was a saleslady in the store. Children: Ethel, Minnie.17

Edmund Jeanes, born in March 1860, lived for only twelve days

Samuel Maust, born in 1861, died in November 1917, married in 1894 Amelia Mackel. In 1900 he was farming in Moreland Township, Montgomery County. After he died Amelia must have gone to live with relatives, since she died in Southampton, Bucks County, in 1922. They are buried at Hatboro. Children: George, Amelia, Winfred, possibly Louisa.18

Robert Ephraim, born in 1864, died in 1946, married in 1887 Ellen Sutton. She died in 1897 and a year or two later he married Mary Weaver. In 1900 Robert was a farmer in Horsham Township, Montgomery County. Mary died in 1936. They are buried at Hatboro. Children: Ida, Florence, Walter.19

William Jeanes, born in 1866, died in 1947, married in 1889 Catherine Rinker, daughter of Francis and Catherine. They lived in Horsham, at the corner of Easton and Dresher Roads, right across from the Horsham Friends Meeting House.20 In 1900 they were there with their four oldest children and Catherine Rinker, Catherine’s mother. In 1910 they were still farming in Horsham, with five of their children at home. 21 Ten years later they were living on their farm in Horsham. Their son Raymond, age 24, was married but still living at home with his parents. In 1930 they were still on the Easton Road in Horsham.22  William died on March 24, 1947, Catherine died on June 25, 1950. They are buried in Hatboro Cemetery. Children of William and Catherine:23 William Francis, Ralph Steward, Raymond LeRoy, Harry Edwin, twins Katie and Anna, Mildred Evelyn, Earl Jeanes.

John Maust, born in 1868, died Nov 25, 1925, did not marry, lived on the same property as William, worked as a construction worker. He died of fractured skull and broken neck after an “unavoidable” car accident.24 He was buried at Hatboro.

Thomas Edwin, born in Dec  1870, lived for only five weeks.

Albert Alvin, born in 1872, died Oct 10, 1938, married in 1894 Kate DePrefontaine, daughter of Charles and Emma. They lived in Horsham where he was a farmer25 Albert was buried at Rose Hill, Ambler.26 Children: Emma, Harold, A. Russell.

Anna May, born in 1875, died in 1957, married in 1894 Jacob Refsnyder, lived in Camden, later in Cheltenham, where he was a steamfitter.27 Jacob died in 1925. Anna lived until 1957. They are buried at Hatboro. Children: Edith, John, Oliver, Anna, Ella, Edgar, Robert.

Hannah, born in 1877, died in 1958, married Jesse Lenhart, probably the son of Morris and Lettia.28 In 1920 they were living in Philadelphia where he was a motorman. In 1920 they were living in Germantown.29 Jesse died in 1945. Hannah died in 1958. They were buried at Hatboro with their daughter Florence, who lived for a year.30

Charles Pattison, born in Nov 1882, died in Oct 1946, m. Anna Frances Wheatland about 1904, lived in Abington. He worked as a gardener for a private estate, moved to San Diego briefly, then came back to Montgomery County and worked as a inspector for a bearing manufacturer.31 Anna died in 1943 and in 1945 Charles married Olive Houpt, daughter of Benjamin F. Houpt and Ella Maria Rinker. Olive’s sister Catherine P. Rinker, was married William J. Tyson, Charles’ brother. Olive was a spinster who married late in life, but lost her husband after only one year of marriage. Charles died in 1946 and was buried at Hillside Cemetery with his first wife Anna.32 Olive died in 1955 and was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Ambler with her parents.33 Children of Charles and Anna: Charles E, Katherine.

Rynear Tyson was born about 1793, the oldest son of Peter Tyson and Martha Kimble of Upper Dubin. Peter had been disowned by Abington Monthly Meeting for heavy drinking and suing a Friend at law. Around 1818, Rynear married Eleanor Jeanes, daughter of William Jeanes and Elizabeth McVaugh. The Jeanes family, like the Tysons, had originally been Quakers, but by William’s generation they were no longer part of the Society.

In 1830 they were living in Upper Dublin with five sons and a daughter.1 Soon afterwards Rynear died young, only a year after the death of his father. He left Eleanor with six children to raise. She might have gone to live with some of her Jeanes relatives.2 In 1860 she was living with her son Ephraim and his wife Anna in Germantown. Ten years later she was living in Horsham, in her own house next door to Ephraim and Anna. She died in 1876 and was buried at Upper Dublin Friends burying ground, in the same row as many of the Tysons. Rynear was buried there too; she had outlived him by 46 years.

Children of Rynear and Eleanor:3

Edmond J., born about 1819, died in Phila in 1852, m. Adeline —,  probably Shelmire.4 He was a stationer in Philadelphia; after he died Adeline took over the business.5 Edmund died in 1^st mo 1852. He was buried at Monument Cemetery, but later reburied at Fairhill with Adeline and 2 of their sons. In 1872 Adaline was living on 1040 North 2^nd Street in Philadelphia with her sons.6 She married a Haslett and died in 1923 after spending her declining days at the Aged Woman’s Home in Norristown.7 Children of Edmond and Adeline: Charles, Edmond, William.8 All three of the sons died in Philadelphia of consumption at a relatively young age.9

Peter, alive in 1831, no further record.

Sarah Ann, born about 1824, died in 1864 of consumption. She did not marry. In 1850 she was living in the family of her cousin Seth Holt and his wife Rebecca in Spring Garden, Philadelphia, where Seth was a confectioner.10 Sarah worked as a milliner. When Sarah died in Jan. 1864 at age 40 of consumption, the funeral was held from the house of her cousin W. J. Holt on Marshall Street.11 Sarah was buried at Monument Cemetery.

William J., born about 1828, in 1863 he was living in Moreland, working as a laborer.12 After that he disappears from the records until his death in August 1892. He was living in Horsham, in the household of his namesake nephew William Jeanes Tyson. The older William was probably unmarried, since his brother Ephraim was the administrator for his estate.13 There were few assets, mainly a share in the estate of Hannah A. Tyson, in litigation since her death, finally settled in October 1897.14 This was probably the estate of Rynear’s sister-in-law Hannah F. Tyson, who died in 1885; the settlement of her estate eventually went to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Seth Holt, born in 1826, headed west for the gold rush.15 For once a story passed down through the family turned out to be true. In 1860, he was living as a miner in Silver City, Carson, Utah Territory, surrounded by other unmarried miners.16 By 1870 he had moved west to Eureka, Nevada County, California, still surrounded by other unmarried miners.17 In 1872 he had moved west again, to the Slate Ridge township in the register of Yuba County, California. Slate Ridge was full of gravel mines where gold had been found.18 A date of death has not been found for him, and he probably never married.

Ephraim, born in 1829, died 1897. He apprenticed in Germantown as a young man and learned the cordwainer’s trade. That is where he met and married Anna Maust, from a Germantown family, that of Peter Maust and Anna Unruh. They married in 1855 and had nine children. In 1860 they were still in Philadelphia, with Ephraim’s mother Eleanor living with them.19 By 1870 they had moved out to Horsham and set up farming. Ephraim died there in 1897.20 Anna died in 1915. They are buried at Hatboro along with their son William and his wife Catherine, their son Robert, and several grandchildren.21 Children of Ephraim and Anna:22 Ida Ann, Edmund Jeanes, Samuel Maust, Robert Ephraim, William Jeanes, John Maust, Thomas Edwin, Albert Alvin, Anna May, Hannah, Charles Pattison.

Peter Tyson was born in 1762, the oldest child of Rynear Tyson and Mary Cleaver of Abington, Montgomery County. Peter was named for his grandfather Peter Tyson, who lived until 1791 and would have known his grandson.1 Rynear and Mary lived in Abington and attended Quaker meetings at Upper Dublin. In 1774, Rynear was disowned for heavy drinking and suing a Friend in a court of law.2 His children were still considered birthright Friends, but only one of them married under the auspices of a Monthly Meeting.3 Peter did not, and in 1786 he was disowned by Abington Monthly Meeting for going “out in marriage with one not of our Society, by the assistance of an hireling Priest.”4 Yet years later Peter and his wife Martha would be buried at Upper Dublin Friends burying ground.5

In 1793 Rynear Tyson conveyed a house and 73 acres of land to his son Peter.6 This was probably the time that Peter married and started his own family. Peter’s wife Martha Kimble was living either in Abington or Buckingham in 1790; her family owned land in both places.7 It would have been easier for them to meet if she were living in Abington, since it adjoined Upper Dublin.

Although Peter was a birthright Quaker, Martha was not. Her parents were William Kimble and Sarah Worthington. Sarah’s family had been Quakers, but by Sarah’s generation some were marrying outside of the Society. William’s mother Matilda was from the wealthy Morrey family of Philadelphia. Her grandfather Humphrey was a Friend, but her father Richard became an Anglican before his death. William and Sarah did not marry as Friends, and neither did Peter and Martha. There is no record of their marriage at any of the Monthly Meetings, and the births of their children were not recorded.8

As the oldest son, Peter was responsible for his siblings after the early death of their father. In 1796, he petitioned the Orphans’ Court on behalf of his sister Hannah, since she had just inherited some real estate from the estate of their brother Thomas.9 Peter also petitioned on behalf of his brother Jesse and was appointed his guardian.10

For the windowpane tax of 1798 Peter Tyson was recorded as living in a stone house with a separate stone kitchen, like many of his neighbors in Upper Dublin. The house was 37 by 17; it had two stories and 10 windows, more than the average. The stone kitchen was 10 by 18, one story with just two windows. There was also a shop, also made of stone.11 This house was probably on the Welsh Road, one mile east of the crossroads at Three Tuns. In 1787 Peter’s father Rynear bought it, then conveyed it to Peter in 1793. Peter added 52 more acres in 1812 bought from Jesse Trump.12 Peter also owned property on the Horsham border, adjoining the Butler pike and half a mile north of Three Tuns.13

Peter was the administrator for William Kimble, his father-in-law, and acted as the trustee for his brother-in-law Christopher, a “lunatic”. In 1830 the administrators of Peter’s estate filed a suit along with Jonathan Kimble against Isaiah Kimble. John Kirk, a neighbor, wrote to his son Seneca in 1832 that “I am supremenated to attend cort next Second Day and Likely will be there several Days as the Tryal between Peter Tyson and Isaiah Kimble is Likely to come on.”14

Peter died in early 1830, before the census was taken. Martha was living in their house in Upper Dublin with her son William. Her sons Peter, Jesse, and Rynear lived nearby. Peter left no will, and his estate was administered by David Thomas, his brother-in-law. Martha died in November 1832 without a will. Her estate was administered by her son Peter. A record of her death was made in the records of Upper Dublin Preparative Meeting.15 Peter and his wife Martha are buried together in the Upper Dublin Friends Graveyard, along with Peter’s brother Jesse.

Children of Peter and Martha16

Rynear, born about 1793, died summer 183117, married about 1818 Eleanor Jeanes, daughter of William Jeanes and Elizabeth McVaugh. They lived in Upper Dublin and had six children before Rynear’s early death, only a year after his father Peter. Rynear did not leave a will. Eleanor lived until 1876 and is buried at Upper Dublin Friends with Rynear. Children of Rynear and Eleanor: Edmund, Peter, Sarah Ann, William, Seth, Ephraim. The children were not buried at Upper Dublin Friends.

William, born about 1795, died 1874, married in 1826 Hannah Fitzwater, daughter of Thomas and Catherine.18 They were married by Justice Mahlon Van Buskirk. They lived in Upper Dublin on a farm of 64 acres. William died in 1874 and left a will, naming only his wife Hannah and son Thomas; other children must have died before him.19 Hannah died in 1885 and is buried at Upper Dublin Friends, along with William and her son Thomas.20 She left a will, naming many of her nieces and nephews, since her son Thomas died before her.21 Children: Thomas, Sarah, Peter, a daughter.

Peter, born 1799, died in 1850, married in 1821 Sarah Fitzwater, daughter of Thomas and Catherine.22 They were married by Justice Mahlon Van Buskirk. In 1833 Peter and Sarah were received into membership at Horsham with their minor children John and Hannah. They lived in Horsham, on a 77-acre farm. Peter left a will, leaving his personal property and his Horsham farm to his wife Sarah, charged with maintaining their daughter Hannah Ann.23 Hannah Ann was “weak-minded” and could not manage her own affairs.24 His daughter-in-law Sarah, widow of his son Thomas, was to live with his wife if she chose to.25 The farm needed to be sold to pay the debts26. Children of Peter and Sarah: John, Hannah Ann, Thomas. Peter’s widow Sarah probably married Daniel Fisher in early 1857 at Horsham Meeting, but she died in May of that year.27

Martha, died in 1824, married in 1821 Benjamin Jones. They were married by Justice Mahlon Van Buskirk. They had a son Tyson Jones, born in 1823, who died in 1848 and was buried at Upper Dublin Friends.28 Another child died in 6^th month 1824 and Martha herself died a month later.29 Benjamin later married Ann Warner and had children with her: John, George, Rebecca, and Susan.30 Benjamin died in 1877 and was buried at Upper Dublin Friends burying ground with Martha and their son Tyson Jones.31

Sarah, d. 1861, m. 1) 1831 Thomas Tyson, d. 1835, son of Thomas and Sarah (Kirk), 2) in 1838 William Michener at Abington Friends.32 William died in 1849, leaving Sarah a widow.33 In 1860 she was living with her widowed sister Rebecca Roberts in Abington.34 Sarah died the next year. She left a will, leaving her estate to her sister Rebecca, her nieces Sarah Ann Tyson and Mary Ann Folwell35, with the residue to be shared among the children of her three brothers: Rynear, William and Jesse.36 From the wording of the will it is apparent that Sarah had no surviving children with either husband.

Mary, alive in 1833, took care of Martha after Peter died, died unmarried in 1845.37

Rebecca, born about 1810, died in 1872, took care of Martha after Peter died, m. 1833 Morris Roberts (married by Justice George Pawling). She was his second wife. Morris Roberts had married Lydia Gibbons, and had a daughter Lydia with her before the older Lydia died in 1829.38 Morris himself died in 1839. In 1860 Rebecca was living with her sister Sarah Michener in Abington. Sarah died the next year, making provision for Rebecca in her will. Rebecca died in 1872. She is not believed to have had children with Morris.

Jesse, born about 1808.39 He married a woman named Sidonia about 1835 to 1840.40 Jesse had a son Benjamin, buried at Upper Dublin Friends burying ground in 1850. He also had a son William, born about 1842, who married Jennie Smith and moved to Ogle County, Illinois.41 Around 1899 a son of William and Jennie, William Harry Tyson, corresponded with his second cousin William J. Tyson, son of Ephraim, about the family genealogy, in hopes of finding a link to an Australian millionaire who had recently died, supposedly leaving an unclaimed fortune.42 Jesse probably had another child, a daughter Mary Ann, who served as the administrator for the legacy of Sarah Michener in 1872.43 Jesse died in 1847, ten days before Sidonia. He did not leave a will, and his estate was administered by his brother Peter.44 Presumed children of Jesse and Sidonia: Benjamin, William, Mary Ann, Clayton.45

Rynear Tyson was born about 1735, the oldest son of Peter Tyson and Mary Roberts. He grew up in Abington, where his father was a carpenter, farmer and mill-owner. Rynear married Mary Cleaver in 1760 at Abington Meeting. She was the daughter of Isaac Cleaver and Rebecca Iredell.  Of the six daughters of Isaac and Rebecca, four married Tysons. Not surprisingly, the witnesses at the wedding of Rynear and Mary included many Tysons and Cleavers. In the marriage record Mary was described as a seamstress.

In 1769 Rynear and Mary were living in Abington, paying tax on 185 acres there.1 Besides the acreage, he paid tax on five horses and four cows. In the census of 1790, Rynear had ten people in his household.2 Rynear and Mary attended Upper Dublin Friends Meeting, a meeting for worship under the auspices of Abington Monthly Meeting. In 1774 Abington meeting reported that Rynear Tyson, son of Peter, had been drinking strong liquor to excess and suing a Friend at law. Testimony was prepared against him and he was disowned.3 This would explain why the children of Rynear and Mary did not marry as Friends.4 At least three of their children lived to young adulthood but died unmarried.

Mary died in 1787, at the age of forty-six. Rynear remarried, to a woman named Elizabeth, whose last name is not known. Since he had been disowned, the marriage was not recorded by Abington or Upper Dublin. In November (11^th month) 1793 he wrote his will.5 He left a legacy of £12 per year for Elizabeth, plus £250 to each of his daughters Mary and Hannah, to be given to them when they reached the age of eighteen.6 The residue of the estate was to be divided among his eight living children: Peter, Rynear, Jacob, Benjamin, Thomas, Jesse, Mary and Hannah. The sons Peter, Rynear and Jacob were to be the executors.

Rynear died three years later, in 1796, just five years after his father, who had lived to be ninety-one. The inventory of Rynear’s estate shows him to have been a prosperous farmer. He owned a silver watch, silver cream jug, a clock, and more.7 The value of the estate came to £662. Elizabeth was not happy with the terms of his will and filed a caveat against it.8 In spite of her caveat, the sons were appointed executors, and they filed an account in March 1797, showing a balance of £2236 for the legatees after the debts had been paid.9

The next generation, sons of Rynear and Mary, were not successful in passing on the family name.  Five of them either died young or died unmarried. Peter and Benjamin were the only sons to leave descendants, and Benjamin only had one son.

Children of Rynear and Mary10

Peter, born 8^th month 1762, died in 1830, married in 1768 Martha Kimble, daughter of William and Sarah. Peter was disowned by Abington meeting in 10^th month 1786 for going out in marriage with the assistance of a “hireling priest”.11 In 1793 his father Rynear conveyed a house and 73 acres to him, on the Welsh Road, one miles east of Three Tuns.12 Peter also owned land on the Butler Pike, which became part of his estate. Peter died in 1830 before the census was taken. Martha died in 1832. A record of her death appeared in the records of Upper Dublin Preparative Meeting.13 Peter and Martha were buried at Upper Dublin Friends. Peter’s estate was administered by his brother-in-law David Thomas.14 Children of Peter and Martha: Rynear, Sarah, Mary, William, Rebecca, Peter, Jesse, Martha.15

Rynear, born 10^th month 1763, a twin with Isaac, died in 1805 unmarried. He left a will,  describing himself as a lime burner, the grandson of Peter Tyson. Why didn’t he call himself the son of Rynear?16 In the will he gave legacies to his nephew Rynear, sisters Mary Hallowell and Hannah Thomas. He left his house and land in Abington to his brothers Peter and Benjamin. His brothers Isaac, Jacob, Thomas and Jesse were dead before him.

Isaac, born 10^th month 1763, a twin with Rynear, died in 1784.

Jacob, born 3^rd month 1768, died in 1795, unmarried and intestate.

Benjamin, born in 9^th month 1770, died in 1849, married Grace —. Benjamin moved to Philadelphia and became an iron monger.17 They had only one known child, a son John, who married Rachel Tyson.18 In 1826 Benjamin petitioned the Orphans’ Court of Montgomery County on behalf of his granddaughter Hannah, daughter of his deceased son John. Grace died in 1834.19 Benjamin Tyson, died in 1849; they were buried at Abington.20

Mary, born 1^st month 1774, died about 1856, married William Hallowell after 179721. They lived in Abington, where William worked as a carpenter. He died in 1824, leaving her with five children. He left a will, naming her and the children.22 After he died she lived with her daughter Mary.23 She died about 1856, since an Orphans’ Court petition in 1857 referred to her.24 She left two children Peter and Mary. Three other children died before her. Children: Peter, Mary, Hannah, Rebecca, and Grace.

Thomas, born 9^th month 1776, died intestate and unmarried.

Jesse, born 11^th month 1779, alive in 1799, died before 1824.25

Hannah, born 2^nd month 1783, died 1817, married David Thomas, son of Jonathan and Alice26.

Peter Tyson was born in May 1700 in Germantown, one of nine children of Rynear and Margaret Tyson.1 Peter was one of the younger children; his brother Mathias was fourteen years old when Peter was born. When Peter was still a boy, the family moved to Abington, where Rynear and Margaret owned a large tract of land. Peter would have helped on the farm, but he was probably apprenticed out to a carpenter living nearby, since Peter later worked as a carpenter.

Peter’s Tyson family were Quakers, active in the affairs of Abington Monthly Meeting. They attended Germantown meeting for worship, later Abington meeting. Rynear and his sons appear often in the records of the Monthly Meeting, serving on committees and attending Quarterly Meetings. A few of their wives are known to be active as well, although the early minutes of the women’s meeting have not survived. It is possible that everyone Peter knew as he was growing up was a Quaker.

In 1727 Peter married Mary Roberts under the care of Abington Monthly Meeting.2 She was the daughter of Thomas Roberts and Eleanor Potts. Her family were Quakers, like the Tysons. Thomas and Eleanor had both been born in Wales. They lived in Bristol Township, where Thomas worked as a mason.

Peter and Mary lived in Abington, but also owned land in Horsham. The 1734 tax list for Abington showed Peter with 200 acres, more than his brothers Isaac, John, and Abraham. In 1769 he owned 279 acres, 5 horses and 4 cows and was one of the largest landowners in the township.3  He also owned a tract in Horsham on the Welsh Road, bought in 1752 and sold to his son-in-law Thomas Hallowell Jr in 1763.4 Peter was active in the Abington Monthly Meeting and in 1735 served as its representative to the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting. His name appears as a witness in many of the weddings of his extended family.

In 1764, Peter became peripherally involved in a long-running land dispute. Peter’s aunt Anna, sister to his father Rynear, was married to Jan Strepers. Jan and Anna stayed in Germany, while Jan’s brother Wilhelm came to Germantown. Wilhelm was supposed to manage Jan’s extensive land holdings in Pennsylvania, but relations between the two brothers deteriorated. Jan refused to give Wilhelm title to the 100 acres he had promised him, while Wilhelm delayed surveying Jan’s land and refused to pay the ground rents. Finally in 1698 Jan gave complete power of attorney to Reiner Theißen and Heinrich Sellen. He had a falling out with them and Rynear relinquished the job to avoid conflict. Jan died in 1715 but years later some of his descendants in Germany still felt wronged and sent two emissaries to try to recover the land.5 One of them, Johannes Herbergs, kept a journal of his trip, and in 1764 they met with Peter Tyson, a “polite man”, who had been with his father Rynear when some of the Germantown land was surveyed in 1703.6 Peter invited them to stay with them and offered to take them to meet with Griffith Jones and Paul Krippner. They said goodbye to Peter with a promise to come back and visit soon.7

Peter wrote his will in 1788.8 He left the 180-acre farm to his son Peter, the youngest child, since he already given portions to the four oldest children. The son Peter was to allow his brothers Rynear and Thomas the privilege of digging limestone out of the quarry on the farm. The children were all to share a tract of 16 acres in the Manor of Moreland with a mill, probably the fulling mill that Peter had advertised for rent in 1754.9 Peter still owned the oil and fulling mill in 1787, when he paid taxes on it.10

There was no mention of Mary in the will; she must have died before him. She was still alive in 1752, when she signed the marriage certificate of her daughter Eleanor.11 Peter died in 1791, at the age of 91, and was buried at Abington. The inventory of his estate showed that he was no longer living on his own, but with one of his children, probably Peter, since he inherited the farm. The older Peter owned a few pieces of furniture, some cookware, carpenter’s tools, and some books. Most of his estate was tied up in bonds for debts owed to him. The total came to £1339.

The children of Peter and Mary were Friends and prosperous farmers. Out of the five children, four married. The one who did not marry left his estate to his nieces and nephews, keeping the money in the family. Most of them lived in Abington.

Children of Peter and Mary:12

Eleanor, born about 1730, died in 1777, married in 1752 Benjamin Hallowell, son of Benjamin and Mary. In the marriage record Eleanor was described as a seamstress. The marriage certificate was signed by many of her Tyson relatives. They lived in Abington. Benjamin died there in 1808, and left a will.13 He was a prosperous farmer; the inventory of his estate included a silver watch, twenty one sheets, twenty five pillow cases, nine table cloths, three stoves, and more. Children: Peter, Benjamin, Isaac, Tacy, Martha, Sarah, Mary.

Rynear, born about 1735, died in 1796, married in 1760 Mary Cleaver, daughter of Isaac and Rebecca. Rynear and Mary attended Upper Dublin Friends, but he was disowned in 1774 for excessive drinking and for suing a Friend in a court (instead of taking the matter before the Meeting for arbitration, in the approved Quaker manner). He was a farmer and a limeburner. After Mary died Rynear married a woman named Elizabeth, who survived him. Rynear left a will, providing for an annuity for Elizabeth and naming his living children.14 The inventory showed typical household goods and farm animals, for a total of £2236. Children: Peter, Rynear, Isaac, Jacob, Benjamin, Mary, Thomas, Jesse, Hannah.

Margaret, born about 1740, married in 1763 Thomas Hallowell, Jr, of the Manor of Moreland, son of Thomas the weaver and Mary Craft. Margaret and Thomas were married at Abington Meeting in 11^th month 1762/63 (January 1763). Margaret was living in Abington, Thomas in the Manor of Moreland. Thomas did not leave a will.15 Margaret and Thomas had five known children, three of whom married Shoemakers.16 Children: Mary, Sarah, Eleanor, Thomas, Margaret.

Thomas, born about 1740, died in 1821, married in 1767 his second cousin Sarah Kirk, daughter of Rynear and Mary.17 In 1766 Thomas’ father Peter had given him forty acres in Abington, where Thomas and Sarah settled. He was a limeburner. All but one of their eight children lived to adulthood. Thomas died in 1821. He left a will naming his wife Sarah and six daughters and a son Thomas.18 Thomas got the clock and the farm and the “best desk”.19 Children: Martha, Mary, Sarah, Elanor, Elizabeth, Hannah, Susanna, Thomas.

Peter, died in 1824 unmarried. His kinswomen Margaret Bird kept house for him for many years.20 He owned land in Abington, on Susquehanna Street Road, and in Upper Dublin. In his will, proved 17 February 1824, he named many of his nieces and nephews.21

Rynear Tyson’s family lived in Kaldenkirchen in the Rhineland of Germany in the 1600’s, after the end of the Thirty Years War. At that time the established churches were protected by the local government, while the Quakers and Mennonites were persecuted. Rynear’s father Theiss was a shopkeeper, like Theiss’ father Peter. At some point Theiss became a Mennonite and was harassed because of it. In 1655 he was fined 100 gold guilders for refusing to pay a tax, and his goods were confiscated. The family was threatened with banishment from Kaldenkirchen. Theiss joined the Reformed Church, possibly to deflect further persecution. It seems to have worked, because the Reformed pastor appealed to the Duke, who allowed them to stay and ordered that their goods be returned and the fine remitted. Some of their children would take the religious dissent one step further and become Quakers.

Quaker missionaries had visited the Rhineland on multiple visits starting in 1657. William Ames, Steven Crisp, Roger Longworth, Benjamin Furley, and William Penn himself—they had traveled through the region, visiting nobles and townspeople, spreading the creed of the Quakers.1 The most receptive to the message were the Mennonites, so the missionaries focused on towns where Mennonites already lived.

Those who supported the Quakers faced additional persecution. At the Synod of Julich the pastor from Kaldenkirchen, Pastor Eylert, complained that he had not been able to “restore to their senses” the women of the town who had become Quakers; he thought they were bewitched.2 When Quaker missionary Elizabeth Hendrick visited in 1680 with two companions, they were only able to meet with those who were already Quakers; the other townspeople called them evil names and threw dirt at them. As Elizabeth’s husband wrote, “Ye Calvinist priest stood by and countenanced it, there are both papists and Calvinists in that place; and ye papist have proclaimed it from theire pulpits that none was to Entertaine or take into their houses any quaker….”3

By 1680 there were Quakers in Krefeld. They held regular meeting for worship, and in 1681 they held a wedding.4 Derrick Isaacs op den Graeff and Nolcken Vijten had declared their intentions of marriage, and in 3^rd month 1681 they married each other. The certificate was signed by nineteen witnesses, nearly all of the members of the Friends’ Meeting.5 Almost all of the signers would emigrate to Pennsylvania just a few years later.

Theiss and Neesen had eleven known children, six of whom emigrated to Pennsylvania.6 They were close-knit, acting as sponsors for the baptisms of each others’ children, and selling land to each other.

In June of 1683 a group of Quakers, including Rynear and four of his sisters and their husbands, assembled in Krefeld on the first stage of a journey to Pennsylvania. They traveled up the Rhine to Rotterdam, then to London, where passage had been booked for them to Pennsylvania. The arrangements were made by letters back and forth between Benjamin Furley and James Claypoole, two wealthy Quaker merchants, one of Amsterdam, and one of London. Claypoole intended to sail with his own family on the same ship.7 The Krefeld Friends were delayed between Rotterdam and London, and Claypoole was quite anxious about their arrival. There would be a penalty of £500 if they did not arrive to pay their passage and sail by the 6^th of July. As Claypoole wrote to Benjamin Furly, “He [the Captain] is not to stay beyond the day for one person, but to sail if with 60. So now I having engaged by thy order I desire thee not to fail, but send me the money, and let the friends get here in good time to take up their goods and ship them again, and buy such necessaries as they want, which will take up 6 or 8 days time. So before the last day of this month [June] they ought to be here.”8 They still had not arrived by July 3^rd and Claypoole was “fain to loiter and keep the ship at Blackwall upon one pretense of another, for when she comes to Gravesend the owners will not suffer her to stay many days. And indeed it would trouble me very much to go away without them, besides the great loss it will be to them, for the master will abate nothing of the ½ freight.” They had still not arrived by the 10^th, but eventually they did show up and the Concord began its voyage across the Atlantic.

The Concord, under Captain Jeffries, weighed over 500 tons and could carry 26 cannon, 40 sailors, and 180 passengers, although there were fewer on the October 1683 voyage. The passengers brought butter, cheese, clothing, iron, tools, rope, fishnets, and guns. Claypoole wrote that the voyage was comfortable and that no one died on board. In fact two babies were born at sea.9 They were within sight of England for the first three weeks, then 49 days out at sea, about average for the time.10 They successfully avoided the three main perils—storms, contagious illness on board, attack by Barbary pirates—and landed in Philadelphia in early October.11

When they landed in Philadelphia, ferried on shore in small boats, they found a few houses and many trees. Francis Daniel Pastorius had arrived a few months earlier. He reported that the city “consisted of three or four little cottages; all the residue being only weeds, underwood, timber, and trees.”12 He got lost several times just a few blocks from his house. The “house” was probably just a dug-out cellar. The settlers began to build their houses by digging out a hole for the basement. They were sometimes forced to live in this shelter through the first winter until they could finish erecting the rest of the house above His “cave” was at the present-day Front and Lombard Streets.13 Pastorius wrote that he built a house there with an inscription. “A little house, but a friend to the good: keep away, ye profane.” The Krefeld Quakers met there and drew lots for their tracts where they were to settle—their little territory of Germantown, six miles north of the center of the town.14 It was unusual for Penn to allow settlers to choose their own land. The usual procedure, as specified in his warrants to the Surveyor General, left the location to the discretion of the surveyor.15

Penn had previously sold rights to large blocks of land, to be laid out in Pennsylvania, to three merchants of Krefeld and Kaldenkirchen—Jacob Telner, Jan Strepers, and Dirck Sipman.16 Each of them bought 5,000 acres. In June 1683, three more men bought tracts of 1,000 acres each—Govert Remke, Lenert Arets, and Jacob Isaacs van Bebber—all of Krefeld. These well-off buyers pledged to send colonists to settle the land, since Penn did not want large tracts to stand empty.17 Along with Benjamin Furley in Amsterdam, they served as facilitators for the Krefeld settlers, who bought some of their land. Telner sold some of his land to the op den Graeff brothers, who then sold 116 acres to Rynear Tyson. He also bought 50 acres from Lenert Arets.

The Germantown settlers faced hardships in their first few months and years. Their most pressing need after landing was for food and shelter. “Their first business, after their arrival, was to land their property, and put in under such shelter as could be found; then, while some of the got warrants of survey… others went diversely further into the woods to different places, where their lands were laid out, often without any path or road to direct them… A chosen tree was frequently all the shelter they had against the inclemency of the weather. The next coverings of many of them were either caves in the earth, or such huts as could be most expeditiously procured.”18 The historian was writing about the English Quakers who arrived in 1682, but the shared experience of settling in the new colony was common to all. The Germans probably helped each other build simple log cabins at first, a trick learned from the Swedes. Felling trees was risky; an early settler in Bucks County was killed when he misjudged the direction.19 These early houses were crude, but would later be replaced by houses built from the distinctive Germantown “glimmerstone”, a type of schist flecked with mica.20

To get through the first winter and spring, until they were able to harvest a crop, they needed to buy provisions. In a letter written for friends in Germany, Pastorius wrote from Philadelphia, “Two hours from here, lies our Germantown, where already, forty-two people are living in twelve dwellings. They are mostly linen weavers and not any too skilled in agriculture. These good people laid out all their substance upon the journey, so that if William Penn had not advanced provisions to them, they must have become servants to others.”21 They also got support from other Friends. In early 1684 the minutes of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting reported that “Derrick Isaacs, a Dutch friend of Germantown, acquainted this meeting of the wants of some of the dutch there.”22 The Quakers who came in 1682 and 1683 had the advantage of being able to buy food from the Indians and the Swedes, who were happy to provide deer, corn and other provisions.23 Although there was no starvation, there was still hardship. Some “grim humorists among them transformed the name into ‘Armen-town,’ or ‘Povertytown.’”24

Germantown was not on a navigable waterway; it was north of the falls of the Schuylkill.25 The road to Philadelphia was a rough dirt track, muddy when it rained. “trodden out into good shape” by frequently traveling back and forth.26 Wissahickon Creek, the nearest large stream, was almost a mile away, but there were closer small creeks, like Monoshone Creek (later called Paper Mill Run). It was probably the job of the women to go for water while the men cut down trees and built houses.27

When they had built their houses, it must have looked a little like the towns they had left. “For companionship as well as protection they built their first quaint houses in two rows, one of either side of the rough track. By day they would scatter to the lands in the rear of the houses; by night they would be in close touch with each other. This arrangement, so popular in the homeland, had even greater advantages in the new country.”28 Rynear and Margaret Tyson were not only surrounded by fellow Quakers speaking their own dialect of Dutch-German, they were also surrounded by family, both his and hers.

There is no record of the marriage of Rynear and Margaret. The early vital records of Abington Monthly Meeting, which handled the business of Germantown meeting, were not carefully kept.29 They were not married in Krefeld, and must have married soon after arriving in Pennsylvania, since their first son was born in 1686. Her first name was Margaret.30 (In 1727 Rynear and Margaret Tyson granted 250 acres of land in Abington to their son Isaac.)31  Her last name has often been said to be Kunders or Streepers.32 However, there is strong circumstantial evidence that she was the sister of the three op den Graeff brothers—Abraham, Herman, and Derrick—and the daughter of Isaac and Grietje.33 The evidence comes from several sources: the names of their sons, the close relationship with the op den Graeff brothers, the suggestion that they were cousins, and the judgment of German researchers who had access to original records.34 Margaret, daughter of Isaac and Grietje, is believed to have emigrated in 1683 with her three brothers. She is sometimes confused with two of her nieces, also named Margaret.35

Rynear and Margaret named their first son Mathias, for his father Matheis, and their second son Isaac, presumably for her father. They also named sons Abraham, Derrick, and Henry, presumably for her brothers.36 In May 1684, Rynear bought 100 acres in Germantown from Dirck and Herman op den Graeff. He paid them £3.37 The following year the three op den Graeff brothers sold 25 acres to the new arrival Peter Schumacher for £5.38 This is considerably more than they had charged Rynear. This favorable treatment would be explained if he were their brother-in-law.

There is some evidence that Margaret and Rynear were first cousins. Charles Kirk in 1892 wrote “I recollect hearing him [John Kirk] relate that his grand-father, Reynier Tyson, was not married when he first came to this country, and being disposed to marry his first cousin and our Discipline not allowing it, they made preparation to go back to Germany to accomplish their marriage, but Friends seeing their sincerity allowed them to proceed.”39  First-cousin marriages occurred occasionally among Friends, even though they were disapproved of.40 How could Margaret and Rynear be first cousins? Isaac Op den Graeff’s wife Grietje signed her name Grietje Peters at the 1681 wedding of her son Derrick. Some researchers believe that she was the daughter of Peter Doors, father of Matheis/Theiss Doors and Rynear’s grandfather.41 This leads directly to the idea that her daughter Margaret married Rynear Tyson, accepted by several researchers.42

In any case, Rynear and his wife settled into life in Germantown and started their family. Their house was used as a public center, for a meeting in 1692.  He was elected as a burgess in 1692, 1693, 1694, and 1696. His fencing was found insufficient in 1696; and he performed jury service in 1701.43  As burgess he participated in the affairs of the town. For example, in 1692 Paul Wulff conveyed a lot to the commonality of Germantown for a burial ground. Reinier Tison signed the deed with his mark along with Peter Shoemaker and other burgesses.44 In 1689 he replaced Pastorius as a bailiff. In 1702 he sent his children to the school, taught by Pastorius. His children would learn to read and write, even if he could not.

Rynear was also active in Abington Meeting. In 1695 he was selected as an overseer of youth for Germantown. The overseers were responsible for guiding the youth in the Quaker way. As the minutes of Abington Monthly Meeting stated, “It is agreed upon at this Meeting that four Friends belonging to the Monthly Meeting, be appointed to take Care of ye Youth belonging to Each Meeting, as Concerning their Orderly walking, as becomes ye Truth they make profession of; according to ye good advice of Friends in an Epistle from ye yearly Meeting at Burlington 1694; whereupon Richard Wall is appointed for Cheltenham, Richard Whitefield for Oxford, John Carver for ye upper township, and Ryner Tyson for Ger.Town.”45 Rynear became an elder of the church. He represented Abington in the Quarterly Meetings in 1695, 1698 and again in 1728. He was several times appointed to visit with families; in 1735 this was with Thomas Roberts, whose daughter Mary was already married to his son Peter.

Rynear’s family could be a source of trouble to him. His sister Anna stayed in Germany with her husband Jan Streepers, while Jan’s brother Wilhelm came to Germantown. Wilhelm was supposed to manage Jan’s extensive land holdings in Pennsylvania, but relations between the two brothers deteriorated. Jan refused to give Wilhelm title to the 100 acres he had promised him, while Wilhelm delayed surveying Jan’s land and refused to pay the ground rents. Finally on May 13, 1698, Jan gave complete power of attorney to Reiner Theißen and Heinrich Sellen. He soon accused them of looking after the interests of Wilhelm and Lenssen rather than his. This may have caused Reiner to try to avoid further conflict. In March 1700 he declared before the bailiff that he relinquished the job.46

In 1683 Tyson bought 50 acres from Lenert Arets for 3 pounds Pennsylvania money. This was lot number five; his immediate neighbors were Arets and John Lucken.47 In 1684 Dirck and Herman op den Graeff sold 100 acres of land in Germantown to Tyson for 3 pounds Pennsylvania money. Around 1700 he bought 250 acres in Abington Township, Montgomery County and later resettled his family there. Why did he leave Germantown? He may have wanted more land for his sons. Jesse Tyson, a descendent, reminisced in 1870. “Reynear Tyson continued a resident of Germantown until it became thickly settled, then he sold his possessions there, which had become very valuable, and united with his wife’s property (for she had some property as well as spirit), he was quite independent. He purchased a large tract in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Here by industry, prudent land management, and judicious investments he accumulated much wealth and lived to good old age.”48

Rynear wrote his will in December 1741. He named his eight living children, but not his wife Margaret. She had died before him. He left a cash legacy to all of the children, plus his “Dutch books” to his daughter Elizabeth Lukens and his riding horse to his granddaughter Abigail. When he died in December 1745, the inventory of his estate was sparse, just the furnishings for one room, plus his apparel and a riding horse. He owned a bed and bedding, a chest of drawers, a cupboard, four chairs and a table, and an old white horse. 49  With the money that people owed him, the total came to £310.50 He must have been living with one of his children by then. A memorial of him published in The Friend, said that “He was innocent and inoffensive in life and conversation, and diligent in attending his religious meetings.”51

The family of Rynear and Margaret included nine children and over twenty grandchildren. Rynear and his sons owned large farms in Abington and Upper Dublin. On the list of landowners there in 1734, Rynear, Abraham, Isaac, John, Peter, and Derrick Tyson together owned over 500 acres.  In addition to farming they also built limekilns.52 Their descendants intermarried with English Quaker families and stayed around Abington and Upper Dublin for generations.

Children of Rynear and Margaret:53

Mathias, born 6^th month 1686, died 1747, married in 1708 Mary Potts at Abington Monthly Meeting. Mary was one of the orphan children of John Potts of Llangirig, Wales. Mathias and Mary lived in Abington, where he was a farmer. After Mathias died in 1727 she married Thomas Fitzwater, son of Thomas and Mary.54 Children of Mathias and Mary: Margaret, Mary, Rynear, John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Isaac, Martha, Elizabeth, Matthew.

Isaac, born 9^th month 1688, died 1766, married in 1727 Sarah Jenkins, the daughter of Stephen and Abigail and granddaughter of noted Quaker Phineas Pemberton. They lived in Abington on a 200-acre tract.55 After Sarah died in 1759, Isaac married Lydia Robinson. Children of Isaac and Sarah: Thomas, Abigail, Lydia, Margaret, Isaac, Sarah, Israel, Rynear, Hannah, Levi.

Elizabeth, born 8th month 1690, married in 1710 William Lucken, son of Jan and Merken. They lived in Horsham, where William died in 1739 and left a will naming Elizabeth and nine children.56 Children: John, William, Mary, Sarah, Reinear, Mathew, Jacob, Elizabeth and Joseph.57

John, born 10^th month 1692, died 1775, married in 1720 Priscilla Naylor, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth. They lived in Abington, where John is supposed to have discovered the limestone deposits and set up kilns for burning it to make quicklime.58 Priscilla was an elder of Abington Meeting. She died in 1760 and in 1764 John married the widow Sarah Lewis. John died in 1775. He left a will naming Sarah and eight of his children, but she had died in 1768. Children of John and Priscilla: Rynear, Elizabeth, Margaret, Sarah, John, Mary, Susanna, Joseph.59

Abraham, born 8^th month 1694, died 1781, married in 1721 Mary Hallowell, daughter of Thomas and Rosamund. Like several of his brothers, Abraham lived in Abington and was a farmer. He died in 1781, and left a will naming his wife Mary and children Samuel, Abraham and Rosamund.60

Derrick, born 9th month 1696, died 1776, married about 1727 Ann Hooten. They lived in Hatboro, where he was a whip maker. Ann died in 1734 and he married Susanna Thomas in 1738. Derrick died in 1776, leaving a will naming his six living children.61 Children of Derrick and Ann: Deborah, Mary, Margaret, Benjamin. Children of Derrick and Susanna: Hannah, Jonathan, Daniel.

Sarah, born 12th month 1698, died in 1780, married in 1722 John Kirk, son of John Kirk and Joan (Ellet). They married at Abington; he had a certificate from Darby Mtg62. John died in 1759 and left a will naming Sarah and seven living children.63 She died in 1780.64 Children of John and Sarah: John, Rynear, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah.

Peter, born 3^rd month 1700, died in 1791, married in 1727 at Abington Monthly Meeting, Mary Roberts, daughter of Thomas and Eleanor (Potts). They lived in Abington, but also owned land in Horsham. In 1769 he was one of the largest landowners in Abington township.65 He was active in Abington Monthly Meeting. Peter died in 1791, leaving a will naming his children Eleanor, Rynear, Margaret, Thomas, Peter.66 Mary had died before him, and he was living with one of his children (at age 91).

Henry, born 3^rd month 1702, married in 1735 Ann Harker at Wrightstown Meeting. They moved to Wrightstown in 1738 but were back in Abington when the birth of their daughter Margaret was recorded there. He died after 1764 when he signed the wedding certificate of his son James. Children: Elizabeth, James, Margaret.

Matthias Doors and his wife Neesen lived in the valley of the lower Rhine River as it winds its way north toward the Netherlands.1 The countryside is flat, with meadows, moors and heaths. It was dotted with small towns in the 1600s: Kaldenkirchen, Krefeld, Gladbach, Dahlen. Some of them were little fortified places with city walls. The walls were more than just boundaries. When Matthias and Neesen were growing up, the Thirty Years’ War was raging across the countryside. Mercenary armies devastated the land, looting from the inhabitants, leaving death, plague and famine.

When, in 1648, it had ended in exhaustion in the Peace of Westphalia, with hardly a stone on top of another, wolves roaming empty lanes, once-lush fields scrub-forested, and, in places, a tenth of the population left, the old Catholic German Empire had become a shell. Sixty-one cities and some 300 petty princes paid lip service to it, the map of their holdings a splotchy puzzle.

… However small, each such hereditary realm had its ruined castle and wasted fields. Villages, or even single farmsteads, called ‘hofs,’ might be divided among two or three baronies or church properties, each with its peculiar set of taxes, tithes, and excises. Small farmers might own modest plots, but their feudal landlords still lived by inherited, multiple, and endless revenues.2

It was a difficult time to live in the northern Rhineland, and doubly difficult for Mennonites such as Matthias and Neesen.

[The]…Mennonite inhabitants… did not fit any of the three religious categories—Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed—that were recognized under the treaties made at the end of the Thirty Years’ War. Nor were they appreciated by the clergy of the three official churches. These pastors felt that they had enough of a struggle to administer their decimated parishes without the irritating presence of people who looked after their own spiritual concerns, did not ‘go to church’ or the official statement, ‘let their children run about unbaptized,’ sometimes held ‘their services boldly in the forest,’ and even had the audacity to ‘solemnize marriages’ on their own.3

As a persecuted minority, Mennonites often moved from one area to another, seeking places where they were tolerated. At a time when the religion of the ruler became the official religion of the state (“cuius regio, eius religio”), they had no reliable protector. They were welcome in only a few areas, when the local ruler needed to repopulate the land. Matthias lived in Kaldenkirchen, near the border with the Netherlands. It was one of the centers of religious and political unrest, and Theiss and his wife had trouble with the authorities because of their religion.

Theiss was a son of Peter and Lyssgen Doors. He was baptized as a Catholic in 1614, but his mother Lyssgen was on a list of Mennonites by 1638.4 Theiss worked as a grocer, like his father and brother Reiner.5

“At least two large families of Doors lived in the Kaldenkirchen vicinity during the seventeenth century. One family lived in a marshy area near the village, whereas the Theiss Doors family lived in a little house on a small piece of land near the town wall. Theiss was a shopkeeper as was his father before him.”6 In 1652 he owned a house and lot and a small plot of arable land and some fishing rights.7 Perhaps Theiss sold fish in his shop. In larger medieval cities, merchants would cluster on streets or in quarters, based on their specialty. Butchers, cordwainers, and others would be found on the same street. Sometimes the clustering was dictated by needs, for example dyers needed running water and fishmongers were forced to live in less-central areas.8 Was Kaldenkirchen large enough to have areas where sellers would cluster?9

At some point Theiss married, probably about 1640. His wife’s family name is not known. Her first name was Neesen; the English equivalent would be Agnes. Some have speculated that she was a daughter of Hermann op den Graeff and his wife Grietje Pletjes. Hermann and Grietje didn’t have a daughter Neesen, but Theiss’ wife is claimed to be their daughter Hilleken, a claim that has no good evidence to support it.10

Whether Theiss was raised as a Mennonite, or whether he became one later in life, he was in trouble with the authorities in 1655, when his and his wife’s names appear in a court record.11 After the Treaty of 1648 the rulers of Jülich and Cleves were particularly hostile to Mennonites, many of whom fled to Krefeld, an “island of toleration”.12 Theiss and Neesen had stayed in Kaldenkirchen, possibly because of the difficulty of moving their business. In 1655 he was fined 100 gold guilders for a violation, probably refusal to pay taxes. He was unable to pay the fine and the authorities confiscated the goods in his shop.

In the middle of July 1655, the Governor of Brüggen, in whose jurisdiction Kaldenkirchen lies, is ordered by Duke Philip Wilhelm, the Count Palatine at Rhein, also Duke of Jülich, to collect a fine of 100 Gold Ducats from Theiß, for disobeying a submission. Should he disobey the ducal decrees, he would be denied to remain in the country any longer. He could have someone tend his house for him, the person couldn’t be a Mennonite or even have Mennonite servants, but rather had to be a local person and a citizen of Kaldenkirchen.13

The bailiff went into Theiss’ house to read the decree and argued with Neesen. She tried to tear the document from him and he struck her in the face. She was heavily pregnant at the time. To avoid further persecution, Theiss and Neesen took several steps. They entered their children in the Reformed Church school, then switched them to the Catholic school, and had their newborn Margarita baptized as a Catholic.14 Neesgen had “played with the idea of becoming Catholic, but only if she wouldn’t be forced to walk in the procession to the Niederrheinische well-known place of pilgrimage, the town of Kevela. That she didn’t have to, since the meantime she had joined the Reformed, the Calvinist faith.”15

“Theis Gohrs or Peterschen, born at Kaldenkirchen of Catholic parents, later adhering to the Anabaptist sect, joined the Reformed Church three months ago but did this only to escape persecution.”16 Then the Calvinist Pastor appealed to the Duke Philip Wilhelm about the treatment of Theiss and Neesen, and the Duke of Jülich, Philipp Wilhelm, ruled in his favor, allowing the family to stay in Kaldenkirchen and for their goods to be returned to them. They were to be recompensed for any goods already sold in Venlo, outside the country. The bailiff reported that he still had the 100 guilden and agreed to repay it to Theiss.

Whether their conversion was sincere or not, Theiss and Neesen did have their youngest child, Herman, baptized in the Calvinist church. As a descendant put it, “My (reputed) ancestor was baptized a Roman Catholic, persecuted as a Mennonite, joined the Reformed Church, and sent his children first to a Reformed Church school and then back to a Catholic School.  He and his wife (Agnes) were probably devout Mennonites, but they kept changing their religious affiliation to avoid political and economic persecution.”17

The records of the family are incomplete, but Thiess and Neesen had at least nine children.18 There are numerous references to Theiss’ children in the church records, where they acted as sponsors for the baptisms of each others’ children.19 Most of them became Quakers and immigrated to Germantown, where they formed the nucleus of the town of Germantown.20

Children of Theiss and Neesen21

Anna (Enke), baptized in July 1641 at the Reformed Church at Kaldenkirchen, married first in 1663 Hendrich Kürlis, son of Johan and Mechtild, had two children with him, Mechtild and Jan. In May 1669 at the Reformed Church in Kaldenkirchen she married Jan Streepers, son of Wilhelm and Gertrude22. Anna and Jan did not immigrate. They were close to the families of Anna’s sisters, and Jan referred to them as his “five families” when he bought land in Germantown.23 Children of Anna and Jan: Leonhard, Hendrik, Katharina, Agnes, and Anneken.

Peter, born in 1643. No definite information is known about him. Some researchers have him marrying Judith Preyers about 1686.24

Gertrude, born about 1645. In 1668 she married Paulus Küsters, son of Arnold and Katherine, at the Reformed Church in Kaldenkirchen; in the marriage record they were both of Kaldenkirchen. In 1674, when their son was baptized in the Reformed Church, the pastor made a note that Gertrude was unable to use her mental faculties, and her mother served as sponsor. This may have been a ruse to allow her children to be baptized.25 Gertrude and Paulus emigrated to Germantown, although not on the Concord in 1683. Paulus died in January 1708 and named her as executor, but she died the next month.26 Children: Arnold, Johannes, Matthias, Rainer, Elisabeth, Hermann, Katherine.

Johanna, no further information

Leentien/Helene, born about 1650, baptized as an adult in 1670 at the Mennonite church in Goch. In 1677 she married Thönis Kunders, son of Coen and Anna (Entgen) at the Reformed Church in Kaldenkirchen.27 They came on the Concord in 1683. Thönis (Dennis) died in 1729 in Germantown. Many of the first settlers of Germantown attended his large funeral.28 Children: Jan, Konrad, Matthias, Anna, Agnes, Hendrik, Elisabeth.29

Elisabeth, married in 1675 Peter Kürlis, son of Johann and Mechtild from Waldniel30, came on the Concord. Peter was an innkeeper in Germantown. Children: Mechtild, Johannes, Agnes, Peter, Matthias.

Margarita, baptized in 1655 in Kaldenkirchen, no further information.

Maria, born about 1657, married Joachim Hüskes.31 Their daughter was baptized in 1674 at the Reformed Church in Kaldenkirchen. The record said, “’the little daughter of Jochim Huiskens and Maria Doors with the witnesses Thonis Huiskens and Nys Doors”.32 They did not immigrate. Children of Joachim and Maria: Ummel, Jan, Leonard, Mathias, Agnes, Elisabeth.33

Reinier, born about 1659, came on the Concord in 1683, married about 1685 Margaret Op den Graeff, possibly daughter of Isaac and Grietje.34 Reiner and Margaret settled in Germantown, later moved to Abington, Montgomery County, where he died in 1745. Children: Matthias, Isaac, Elisabeth, John, Abraham, Derrick, Sarah, Peter, Henry.

Agnes, married Lenhard Arets, son of Arendt and Katherine. They immigrated to Germantown, where Lenhard worked as a weaver. He died in 1714 and left a will naming his daughters.35 Children: Katharina, Margaret, Elisabeth.

Herman Dohrs, born about 1663, immigrated in 1684, died in 1739 in Germantown.36 He used the surname Dohrs or Dauers. He did not marry.37

Peter Doors and his wife Lyssgen (Elisabeth) lived in Kaldenkirchen, in the lower Rhine in the late 1500s and early 1600s.1 This was a border town, just a few miles from the Netherlands, where the Dutch had been fighting for their independence from Spain since the 1560s.2 It was a time of upheaval and religious wars, when different religions vied for the allegiance and faith of the people. We can assume that Peter and Lyssgen were resilient in their ability to make a living and raise a family.

In the 1600s Germany was not a unified country. It was a patchwork of hundreds of duchies, counties, margraveshafts, and other jurisdictions, each ruled over by different rulers. Sometimes a few villages were under the control of a count and in other cases hundreds of towns might be under the control of a neighboring duke.3

Kaldenkirchen belonged to the Duchy of Jülich, also known as Jülich-Berg. The dukes were historically wealthy, because the flat country of the northern Rhineland was fertile.4  At the time when Peter and Lyssgen married, it was ruled by the Duke Johann Wilhelm, son of Wilhelm the Rich. When Johann Wilhelm died childless in 1609, the duchy was plunged into a struggle for the succession, which helped lead to the Thirty Years’ War in 1618.5

Peter and Lyssgen were probably not directly affected by the wars. “The civilian population—except in the actual area of fighting—remained undisturbed at least until the need for money caused an exceptional levy on private wealth. Even in the actual district of the conflict the impact of war was at first less overwhelming than in the nicely balanced civilization of to-day. Bloodshed, rape, robbery, torture, and famine were less revolting to a people whose ordinary life was encompassed by them in milder forms.”6

Life in early modern Germany was very different from ours, almost beyond our ability to imagine. “Underneath a veneer of courtesy, manners were primitive; drunkenness and cruelty were common in all classes, judges were more often severe than just, civil authority more often brutal than effective and charity came limping far behind the needs of the people. Discomfort was too natural to provoke comment; winter’s cold and summer’s heat found European man lamentably unprepared, his houses too damp and draughty for the one, too airless for the other.”7

The family surname in the late 1500s was Doors (sometimes spelled Daers, Dorss, Dohrs, or some other variation). An early record of Kaldenkirchen suggests that the family had been there for generations.8 A population record for the town in 1473 to 1475 includes Peter an gen Daere.9 In March 1615, a Tisken Doors died in Kaldenkirchen.10 If Tisken was a form of Theiß, short for Mathias, then Tisken might have been the father of Peter Doors.11 Tisken was a Catholic, and Peter was too, at least initially.

Peter was a grocer. In some records he was called “an gen Door alias Küppers”. “Küpper” could mean barrel-maker (like the English name Cooper), but apparently could also mean merchant (possibly someone who sells goods in barrels). Both of his sons were listed years later as retail merchants, presumably inheriting the business from their father Peter.

By 1638, Lyssgen appeared in a Mennonite record.12 In a land where most people were Catholic or Reform, she had turned away from the official religions in favor of an often-persecuted sect. Mennonites or Anabaptists, as they are also called, followed the teachings of Menno Simon. They rejected infant baptism, refused to fight, and often did not respect the authority of civil governments. It is not clear whether Peter shared Lyssgen’s faith, but at least one of their children, Mattheis, became a committed Mennonite.

Peter died in December 1638, possibly of bubonic plague, “which raged in that area at the time”.13 A Mennonite record made at the time referred to “Lyssgen Daers widow whose husband died a few days ago. Their property, after all debts are paid off out of principal, shall be worth about 36 Reichstalers.”14 Did Peter’s sons inherit his property? Presumably they did, since two of them were in business in Kaldenkirchen for years to come. It is not known when Lyssgen died. Peter and Lyssgen are believed to have three sons and at least one daughter. Perhaps she lived with one of them after Peter died.

Children of Peter and Lyssgen15

Reiner, m. Trinken —, died after 1663, lived in Kaldenkirchen. In 1638 he was listed as owning three acres of orchard and fields, and in 1652 as a retail merchant, with two acres and about thirty rothen, worth about 220 Reichstalers.16 He had a daughter Trinken (Katharina) baptized as an adult in 1663 at the Reformed Church in Kaldenkirchen. The witnesses were Jan Strepers and Neesen Doors, wife of Theiss.17 The records of the Reformed Church are lost before 1663; Reiner probably had other children as well.18

Peter, baptized 1609, no further record.

Mattheis (Theiss), christened at the Catholic Church in 1614, married about 1636 Neesen —, became a Mennonite19, died after 1663. In 1652 list he was listed as a “retail merchant, with a building lot and small house and a quarter of an acre of arable land and alongside it a quarter of an acre of fishery rights, worth altogether about three hundred and fifty Reichstalers”.20 The fishing rights were presumably in the Königsbach creek, which flows through the town and into the Nette, which in turn flows into the Rhine.21 Theiss and his wife Neesen were Mennonites and faced fines and penalties for their refusal to pay the war tax. They raised a large family in Kaldenkirchen. It is not known when Theiss or Neesen died. Children: Anna, Peter, Gertrude, Johanna, Leentien, Elisabeth, Margarita, Maria, Reinier, Agnes, Hermann.

(probably) Grietjen, married Isaac Op den Graeff, son of Herman and Grietjen22, a Mennonite23. After Isaac died in 1679, she immigrated in 1683 with her three sons and a daughter to Pennsylvania, and died soon after their arrival. Known children of Isaac and Grietjen: Adolphus, Dirck, Herman, Abraham, and Margaret.24 Adolphus stayed in Germany, while the others immigrated.