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Descendants of Johannas Rodenhizer

Generation No. 1

1. JOHANNAS² RODENHIZER (RODENHIZER¹ ???) was born Bef. 1755. He married MARIA MARGARET MULLER Abt. 1772.

Notes for JOHANNAS RODENHIZER:
Altspelling: Rodinghizer
altspelling: Rodenhauser
between Johannes Rothenheuser and Caspar Rodenhizer the following different
spellings appeared in the record as the name because angelicized

Rothenheuser
Rodenheuser
Rodenhyser
Rodinghiser
Rodenizer
Rodenhauser
Rodanizer
Rodenhaus
Rodeniser

ROTHENHEUSER 1769                                                        RODENHIZER 1997

The name Rodenhizer, as it is now spelled, was brought to America from Germany in 1769 by two brothers, Johannas and Phillip Peter Rothenheuser. Were they lived in Germany is not known, buy family tradition says that a special regiment for the standing army was being formed of young men six feet tall and perfectly proportioned. The Rothenheuser brothers qualified for these requirements but they did not care for inactive military service, and, to escape it they emigrated to America. We may also suppose that a desire for religious and civic freedom, which was causing an exodus from Europe at that time was another reason for their venture into the New World. Like many of their country-men, they first settled in Pennsylvania. The Germans of Colonial America have been given favorable comments by two historians:

"These early Germans, though often extravagant in their religious notions were usually men of character and as a class were a very choice lot of colonists."
                                                 Colonial America-Chitwood

"Germans contributed one of the most valuable elements in the American Hertiage. They not only engaged in type founding but were the finest wood and iron workers in the colonies."

                                                 Adult American History- Baldwin

In the records of the Historical Society, York, Penn., we find this statement:

Index of German Pioneers - List 276C
at the Court House, Philadelphia
13th of Oct. 1769, Present: Samuel Shoemaker, Esq Mayer
                            Issac Jones, Esq.
Rotenheuser, Johannes, and Phillip Peter, Came over in ship "Minerva", Capt.Thomas Arnett from Rotterdam, but last from Portsmouth, England, did this day take and subscribe the usual qualifications. Consigned to Mr. Samuel Shoemaker in the list 95, paid S7, 2s, 6p (7 pounds, 2 shillings, 6 pence)
Landed at Phila.

In connection with the above statement a librarian at the History Society called the attention of Mrs. James Worsham, lineal descendent of Johannes Rodenheuser, to the list of the ship’s passengers. Almost all of them, unable to write, signed by making a mark; but the Rothenheuser brothers wrote their signatures in beautiful German Script, which indicated a cultural background.

The early records of the family are sketchy which is explained by a statement from the State Library, Harrisburgh, Penn., which says:

"Vital statistics were not recorded in Pennsylvania prior to 1906. There were laws previous to that date, but they were not enforced"

However, we know that the Rothenheusers settled in York, County, Penn., and Johannes was married before 1775. By that time his name had become Anglicized and in the next records of him, the name is written John.

The variant in spelling of Rotheneuser is not difficult to understand. The majority of people in York, Co., before the Revelution were German, and naturally they were slow to give up their native language and customs. In fact they are very much in evidence today. When it was neceessary for them to discharge civic or legal duties before an official who spoke English, the name was written as it sounded to the said official. Here are some of the many spellings of the name that have been found: Rodenhyser, Rothenheuser, Rodenhauser, Rothenheiser, Rodanizer, Rodenhaus, Rodinghizer, Rodinizer, Rodenizer, Rodeniser and Rodenhizer.

The first official record of the family in the christening of the daughter of John Rodenheuser and his wife Maria Margaret (Muller). A son, John, was born in 1775. It indicates that they were communicauts of the German Church and conformed to an honorable standard of living in Hanover Township.

Maria Margaret Rodenhauser, born Feb. 11 1777, father John mother Maria Margaret, Christoned August 18, 1777. Sponsor - Catherine, wife of Casper Muller. (Probably the mother’s name was Muller)

The next record concerns the service rendered in the Revolution by John Rodenhyser. See the transcription of the Historical Society York, Penna. below. The son, John, of the above soldier stated that his father and also his uncle fought in the Revolution, but no record of Phillip Peter’s service can be found.

COPY;        The Historical Society
       225 East Market St. York, Penna.              July 26, 1950

This is to certify that the following is a true and correct abstract from York County, Penna. in the AMERICAN REVOLUTION: A Source Book compiled by Henry James Young, 1939
(Red Series, Vol. 1 Page 31)

"Payroll of Capt. John McIlvaine’s Company in Colonel John Andres’s Battalion of York County Malitia, A.D. 1778:

John Rodenhyser, Nov. 10, 1777        Pay for month              S. 2-10-0
Amt. Due when discharged                            S. 5-15-0
Whole pay received                                   S. 3-10-0

The record herein is from a longhand copy in the Historical Society of York Co. The whereabouts of the original is unknown.

                            SIGNED:       John Lowry Ruth, Director
Seal is attached

OTHER ITEMS FROM YORK, PA

John Rotenheizer lived in York, Penna. Between ages of 18 and under 53 Years. Vol II, 6 series, Penn. Archives

John Rodenhyser entered service Nov. 10, 1777. Amt. due when discharged 5, 16 shillings

Peter Rodenhizer paid tax in Hunting Township, York C. in 1780. Third Series, VOL. XXI, page 266.

.A letter from the State Library, Harrisburg, Penn., signed by Jessica C. Fargusen, Genealogical Librarian, contains the following information concerning the Rodenheuser brothers:

"John Rothenheiser taxed in Newberry Township in year of 1779. In 1781 he was taxed in York Township on a house and lot, likewise a cow. His name disappears from the tax lists, nor do we find him listed as the head of a family in York, County in 1790."
"Peter Rothenheizer was taxed in Huntington Township, York County, in 1779 having a house and cow. In 1783 he is listed in Huntington Township as having a family of five persons. He did not seem to own real estate."

In 1955 this compiler wrote a letter to the Clerk of the Court at Huntington asking if the Rodenheuser or its variant in spelling, could be found on any records. There was no reply and a simular letter was sent to the Mayor of Huntington explaining that the Clerk of the Court did not answer the inquiry. It turned out that the Mayor was president of the Kiawanis Club and they made a through investigation, even consulting a genealogist, but no records of Peter’s family could be found.

On reading the above statements concerning their taxable property, you first impression is that they were very poor, but we cannot judge Colonial America by the standard of living which has developed since the Revolution. In "The Way of Our People" by Woodward he has this to say:

"To gain a clear view of the life of that period we must get some idea of the value of things as measured by the medium of exchange. Money was scarce and it went along way when expended on merchandise or food. Aworkman recived two shillings a day. Everyone including day laborers, had a garden, raised vegtables, kept a cow and horse. Clothes were expensive and made to last for years. The workman’s two shillings were just enough to keep him and his family well fed in a poorly furnished home."
The family of the Revolutionary soldier, John Rodenhyser, moved to Frederik, Md. about 1790.

Two items concerning the family are recorded in the Courthouse of Frederick, Md. The first is the marriage license of John Rodanizer and Elizabeth Carson, June 5, 1811.

Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Federick Co., Maryland.
"I hereby certify that a marriage license was issued to John Rodanizer and Elizabeth Carson on the 5th day of June 181, and appears by the record of marriage licenses of this office.

                                          Signed Ellis C. Wachter,
                                                 Clerk of Court
Two children were born of this marriage. Casper, named for his great-uncle Casper Muller, and Mary, who married a Mr. Fraley. Their descendants live in Emmetsburg, Maryland. Elizabeth Carson died about 1820 or 29 and John Rodanizer married Hannah Morehead. Two children of this marriage were Daniel, and a sister who married Manuel Miller.
The second record concerning the above John is as follows:

Frederick, MD.

Bill of sale from John Prutzman of Frederick Co. to Frederick C. Hase and John Rodenghizer, dated June 9th, 1812 and recorded June 12 1812, consideration of property $199.00

Deed from John Rodinghizer, and wife Elizabeth to George Eckman, Jr. Dated Aug. 24, 1816 and recorded January 20, 1817, consideration $300.00.

John Rodenhizer, Frederick, Md. Was evidently the son of John Rotenhziser (Rodenhyser) who fought in the Revolution, because so many of the German people living in Penna. came to Md. And Va. John Rodenhizer of Md. was born 1775 and died June 20th, 1862. Buried in Grove St. in Danville. His son Casper Rodenhizer was born in Frederick, Md. June 11th, 1812 and died March 13th, 1880 in Leaksville, NC.

Census Index: U.S. Selected Counties, 1840

Rodenizer, John       State : MD
County : Frederick Co.
Location : 4th Election Dist
Year : 1840
Page# : 206

Rodenizer, John       State : MD
County : Frederick Co.
Location : 4th Election Dist
Year : 1840
Page# : 215

Note: above two index's - do not know which is Johannas or John (father - son)? need to check the roll
and find out

From: " Names of Foreigners who took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province and State of Pennsylvania 1727-1775 With the Foreign Arrivals, 1786-1880." Edited by William Henry Egle, M.D.

Page 489 and 490.

List of Foreigners Inported in the Ship Minerva, Capt. Thomas Arnott, From Rotterdam, Last from Portsmouth. Qualified Oct 13, 1769.
Philip Peter Rothenheusser

       Children of JOHANNAS RODENHIZER and MARIA MULLER are:

MARIA MARGARET³ RODENHIZER, b. February 11, 1777, ,Frederick,MD (Source: The registers of the Emanuel Reformed Church, Hanover, Pennsylvania. A transcrip which remains in the possession of the Historical Society of York County - York Pennsyvania 11 April 1953); m. SAMUAL SHAFF, October 23, 1824.

Notes for MARIA MARGARET RODENHIZER:
altspelling: Rodenhauser
arealived: York Pa

From: Marriage Licenses of Frederick County 1811-1840 by Margaret E. Myers
Page: 203
Oct 23 1824        Rodeniser, Margaret to Shaff, Samuel

Notes for SAMUAL SHAFF:
From: Marriage Licenses of Frederick County 1811-1840 by Margaret E. Myers
Page: 203
Oct 23 1824        Rodeniser, Margaret to Shaff, Samuel

Marriage Notes for MARIA RODENHIZER and SAMUAL SHAFF:
From: Marriage Licenses of Frederick County 1811-1840 by Margaret E. Myers
Page: 203
Oct 23 1824        Rodeniser, Margaret to Shaff, Samuel

ii.

JOHN RODENHIZER, b. Abt. 1786, , York County, Penna.; d. June 20, 1862, Danville, Pittsylvania, VA.

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