Biography |
Biography: Elias Rattge (or Redche), the first of the name here, came to Pennsylvania Sept. 26, 1737, from Germany, and was accompanied by Nicholas Rattge, a relative. Both names were written by a cleric and that of Elias was spelled Ratgen. Tradition says he was related to John Jacob Radge, who arrived in Philadelphia Dec. 3, 1740, on the ship "Robert and Alice”, Capt. Goodman, commander. Elias Rattge settled at once in Robeson Township, Lancaster County, and Nicholas in Albany Township, Berks (then Philadelphia) County, and on Nov. 28, 1750, the latter received a warrant for fifty acres in Philadelphia County. He was a farmer, but little is known of him. He died in 1760, leaving a widow, Maria Ann Ursula, and children Elias (died in Greenwich Township. Berks County, in 1773) and Anna Margarete.
In 1750 Elias Rattge (or Redche) secured a warrant from the proprietaries of Pennsylvania for sixty-five acres of land in Robeson Township, Lancaster County; in 1752 this township was transferred to Berks County. On Oct. 28, 1765, he purchased 140 acres adjoining the sixty-five, and there he farmed until 1773. On June 12, 1773, he sold his property at Gibraltar to his only son, Elias, Jr., and moved to Cumru (now Brecknock) Township, in what was called “the Forest". There he purchased 134 acres, through which ran the Allegheny Creek, and on the banks of that stream he erected a sawmill, which he conducted successfully until the time of his death. He also followed farming on this land. He died in 1786, aged about seventy years, and is buried at St. John's Cemetery, Gibraltar - a part of his old farm. Elias Redche was twice married. By his first wife Elizabeth he had the following children: (1) Elias, horn in 1745, married April 6. 1773, Elizabeth Hunter, of Oley (born in 1752, died Jan. 11. 1816), and died Jan. 3. 1829. (2) Barbara married John Kendall. (3) Mary, born Aug. 5, 1747, married May 28, 1770, Gottlieb Christian, and died in 1832. (4) Catharine, born April 22, 1756, married Sept. 5, 1773, Christian Krauss, and died Feb. 14, 1809. (5) Elizabeth married Frederich Rapp Sept. 20, 1770, and died before 1786. Elias Redche married (second) March 21, 1773, Rosina Zigler, widow of Adam Zigler. They had no children, and at his death in 1788 she married Christian Eschelman, a neighbor.
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