Three Fantastic Finds Made While Researching 1752 Immigrant Johann Jacob Rupp

and Working Through Old and New Research Material to Prove the Immigrant’s Ship

I can remember the day I learned the name of the ship my 6th great-grandparents Johann Jacob RUPP and Maria Barbara NONNENMACHER came over on even though it was nearly fifteen years ago. I can close my eyes and imagine the way my living room looked on that day. Very little is the same today as it was then. It has more to do with the day than with new furniture and decorating.

I received a notification of a reply to my message on the GenForum board for AlsaceLorraine, France, from Genealogy.com. Dennis Welty had seen my post dated 15 April 2001 concerning a trip I was planning to make to the Oberhoffen-lès-Wissembourg and Steinseltz area in Northern Alsace to visit the birthplace of Johann Jacob RUPP (1723-aft. 1792).[1] I was so excited reading his message.[2]

My husband called home as I was copying the post to send to Rupe/Roop researchers Louise Akers and Theron Rupe. He told me to check the news on TV as two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center. It was 11 September 2001, the fateful day our world changed. The thrill of being able to share the information from Dennis with Louise and Theron turned to a chill. The events of the day prevented me from celebrating.

At the time I was new to researching my American families. Dennis Welty wrote about things I had no idea how to find or access. But I trusted what he wrote and his conclusion. I shared with others but I did not try to follow through on how he made the discoveries until many years later.

A little over a week ago, while reviewing everything I have on my immigrant ancestor Johann Jacob RUPP (1723-aft. 1792), I checked some of the trees on Ancestry.com. I found a statement I made in Jacob’s notes in my GEDCOM file was attached to a tree in 2009 and has been saved to 46 other family trees.

Jacob and his family arrived in Philadelphia on October 20, 1752 on the ship “Duke of Wirtenburg” that sailed from Rotterdam and Cowes under Captain Daniel Montpelier.[3]

I was convinced the information Dennis Welty sent in his message was correct when I wrote the above. However at the time I did not include the source. One public family tree owner wrote this comment, “Can’t be true, not on 20 Oct 1752 ship list for Duke of Wirtenburg.”  I realized I needed to review everything Dennis Welty mentioned and at least try to find an original source for each part of his message in order to prove the ship.

I came across the name Jacob Roop in Baltimore County Maryland in my Welty research. Frederick Decker and Jacob Roop were executers (sic) of the estate of Andrew Welty in 1774 who owned land near Manchester (now Carroll Co.) Maryland. In the administration accounts he is listed as Jacob Rupe.

Fantastic Find #1

I searched through FamilySearch’s Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999 for Jacob RUPE’s will (none found) but not for Andrew WELTY’s. Last week I realized I needed prove what Dennis wrote by finding the will records mentioned above and adding them to  Jacob’s story. These are the records I found:

Last Will and Testament of Andrew WELTY [4]

I hereby nominate and appoint my Trusty and well beloved friends Frederick Daker and Jacob Roop Executors of this my Last Will and Testament….2 November 1772 Andrew Welty

Administrative Bond for the estate of Andrew WELTY [5]

Seen as Jacob RUPE throughout the entire administrators’ bond, he signed his name Jacob RUB. Note: this is a copy of the original bond and the signatures are not the originals but show how the person signed. Jacob signed himself and did not leave a mark like George Fisher.

Inventory of Andrew WELTHY [6]

Baltimore County — March 30th 1773 then came Frederick Docker and Jacob Rupe Executors of the Testament and Last will of Andrew Welthy late of the County aforesaid deceased and severally made oath….

By finding the will, administrative bond, and inventory of the estate of Andrew WELTY, I was able to prove the first statement made by Dennis in his message.

In the 1768 list of signers for the removal of the county seat to Baltimore town are the names Michael Rub and Jacob Rub (five names down) along with Christian Daker and Andres Welti.

In July 2013 I found the 1768 “list of signers” for the removal of the county seat from Joppa to Baltimore town on the Maryland State Archives site with the names mentioned above by Dennis. Petition 29 was one of six petitions, formulated in English and German,  for the removal of the county seat.[7]

Christian DAKER and Andres WELTI signed with a mark. Also on the petition were three other men who would play a part in the story of the Jacob RUPP family: Dietrich REINHARTH, Johannes SCHAUER, and Anthon NOLL.

Michael and Jacob RUB left their mark (below) while another man left his signature which was transcribed as Jacob RUL [?].

In 1768 Jacob’s sons Jacob b. 1747 and Michael b. 1749 were over 18 years old but signed only with a mark. Did they not have the education their father received in the old county? From the 1772 administrative bond of Andrew WELTY’s estate we know the elder Jacob signed his surname RUB which may likely have been transcribed incorrectly as RUL (?) on this petition.

Also in the 1773 list of taxables belonging to Pipe Creek Hundred is the name Jacob Rupe, Frederick Deker and Margaret Welty (widow of Andrew Welty). This info is from the book “Inhabitants of Baltimore County 1763-1774” by Henry C. Peden Jr.

Fantastic Find #2

While searching online for Henry Peden’s book Inhabitants of Baltimore County 1763-1774 I virtually stumbled upon the scanned images of the 1773 tax list which I needed to confirm Dennis’ statement about Jacob RUPE being on the list of taxables with Frederich DECKER and Andrew WELTY’s widow.[8]

A List of Taxables in Pipe Creek Hundred taken by William Kelley Junior 1773

Fantastic Find #3

Before I found the 1773 tax list I located another tax list which is even more noteworthy. It will be discussed in detail in a new post. This much I can tell you, other researchers claim Revolutionary War service for Jacob RUPP however they are claiming the wrong patriot.

In the church records of Zion Church (Protestant) in Manchester Maryland, Jacob and Barbara Rub were baptismal sponsors on Oct. 29, 1768 for Barbara, dau. of Bernhardt and Anna Maria Weinmann. Christian Weinmann and Barbara Rubin were also sponsors for the same couple in 1772. Jacob and Barbara Rub were also sponsors for Johannes and Anna Maria Schauer in 1776, Henrich and Anamarya Gottier in 1780 and Johannes Born in 1780. Jacob Rub and Magdalena Gottiern were sponsors for George Weber in 1781. Also Michl. and Magdl. Rupp gave birth to a dau An. Mar. in 1783 with Michl. and An. Mar. Ritter sponsors and to another dau. Maria Barbara in 1785 with George and Barbara Rubin Weber sponsors. Also Henry Rub and another Jacob Rub appear in later years as does Phil. Nonnenaker. This is from “Maryland German Church Records Volume 10”.

The above events brought up by Dennis Welty were easily confirmed many years ago (2001) when Louise Akers sent me the book with the compilation of English translation of the German church records.[9] [Keep in mind the presence of persons with the surname GOTTIER above.] I don’t have actual images of the church records and have not tried to find where the collections are kept.

In the church records of Evangelical Reformed Church in Frederick, Maryland, Jacob Rupp is on the list of communicants for Easter 1759 along with Christian Biller and Christoph Stoll. This is from “Maryland Church Records Volume 5.

The 1768 petition mentioned earlier was practically a census of all adult males over 18 as the referendum for and against the change of the county seat was circulated throughout Baltimore County. Jacob RUPP and his sons’ appearance on the petition was the earliest known sighting of the RUPP family in Maryland and in America.

Dennis’ statement (above) gives a new and earlier sighting. I have not been able to confirm Jacob RUPP was on a list of communicants with Christian BILLER and Christoph STOLL in 1759 at Easter as I do not have Volume 5 of this series of Maryland Church Records or access to the records. All previous information Dennis wrote about has been confirmed and it is only a matter of time before this statement will be proven as true.

This was the first mention of Christian BILLER and Christoph STOLL. They were not on the 1768 petition or the 1773 tax list with Jacob RUPP which suggests they remained in Frederick County while Jacob moved [check formation of counties] to Baltimore County between 1759 and 1768. What makes finding these three men on the list of communicants so remarkable is Dennis’ next statement:

These names are significant because on the ship Duke of Wirtenburg which arrived in Philadelphia in October 1752 are the names (in order) Hans George Gottle, Jacob (O) Bub, Christian Stahl and Christoff Fridrich Biller. You can draw your own conclusions. I hope this helps.

At the Court House at Philadelphia on Friday, the 20th October 1752 Joshua Maddox, Esqr. met the foreigners, whose names were recorded, imported in the ship Duke of Wirtenburg, Daniel Montpelier, Commander, from Rotterdam by way of Cowes. All adult male passengers age 16 and above signed the oath of allegiance. A transcribed list was found online[10] as well as in the book Pennsylvania German Pioneers. A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808 by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, William John Hinke.[11]

The names listed by Dennis Welty were found in the book – next step would be to view the original oath of allegiance list for the passengers who came over on the Duke of Wirtenburg to determine if the name Jacob BUB was transcribed incorrectly and should be Jacob RUP. An email query has been sent to the Pennsylvania State Archives – wish me luck.

You can draw your own conclusions

I believe Dennis Welty was correct when he pointed me to the Duke of Wirtenburg being the ship my ancestor Johann Jacob RUPP came over on in 1752. To further support this I would like to note the information found in two other sources which do not include the name of the ship but give 1752 as the year of immigration.[12], [13]

This exciting news, received on 9/11, was overshadowed by what followed several hours later but it taught me a wonderful lesson about reaching out, sharing and helping others, and giving credit where credit is due. If you would like to include this post in your family tree, please do not copy/paste it as errors made [it happens] may be corrected at a later date. Instead please feel free to include a link back to this article. Thank you.

Sources:
[1] Alsacelorraine, France Genforum, Genealogy.com, Cathy Meder-Dempsey, Descendants of Northern Alsace Rupp/Rupe, message #321 posted 21 April 2001, online http://www.genealogy.com/forum/regional/countries/topics/france/alsacelorraine/321/
[2] Ibid., Dennis Welty, Re: Descendants of Northern Alsace Rupp/Rupe, message #456 posted 11 September 2001, online http://www.genealogy.com/forum/regional/countries/topics/france/alsacelorraine/456/
[3] “Public Member Trees,” database, Ancestry.com, “Simpson/Roupe” family tree by jrunwolfepack, profile for Johann Jacob Rupp 1723-1793 (http://person.ancestry.com/tree/365371/), media file “Information” attached 3 March 2009 (http://mv.ancestry.com/viewer/29d65d53-d7a7-45f1-b5b5-340c8bc28fd5/365371/-701064003?_phsrc=azf211&usePUBJs=true: accessed 12 February 2016).
[4] “Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-24090-18189-65?cc=1803986 : accessed 12 February 2016), Baltimore > Wills 1763-1784 vol 3 > image 126 and 127 of 318; citing Hall of Records, Annapolis.
[5] Ibid., (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-24257-76812-40?cc=1803986 : accessed 12 February 2016), Baltimore > Administration bonds 1769-1772 vol 4 > image 54 of 187; Hall of Records, Annapolis.
[6] Ibid., (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-24259-28543-45?cc=1803986 : accessed 12 February 2016), Baltimore > Inventories 1772-1776 vol 11 > image 62 and 63 of 186; Hall of Records, Annapolis.
[7] J. Hall Pleasants, editor under the direction of the Maryland Historical Society, Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly May 9, 1766 to June 22, 1768, Volume 61, pgs. 556-558, Maryland State Archives (http://aomol.msa.maryland.gov/000001/000061/html/ : accessed 18 July 2013)
[8] Maryland State Archives (http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/coagser/c400/c428/000000/000052/pdf/msa_c428-000052.pdf : accessed accessed 19 February 2016)
[9] C. T. Zahn and Frederick S. Weiser, translators and editors, Maryland German Church Records Volume 10, subtitle: Zion Church “The German Church”, Manchester, Carroll County — today Trinity United Church of Christ Records, 1760-1836 and Immanuel Lutheran Church Records, 1760-1853 (published by the Historical Society of Carroll County, Westminster, Maryland).
[10] Joe Beine, Professional Genealogy & Family History Research, website, citing The Ship Duke of Wirtenburg Passenger List, Rotterdam to Philadelphia, 20 October 1752. (http://www.genesearch.com/genealogy-records/penngermanpioneers/dukeofwirtenburg1752.html : accessed 15 February 2016)
[11] Pennsylvania-German Society, Pennsylvania-German Society Volume 3, publisher The Society, 876 pages, call number 974.8 P38623, State Library of Pennsylvania [Digitizing sponsor: This project is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor], (https://archive.org/stream/pennsylvaniagerm03penn_2#page/498/mode/2up/search/bub : accessed 15 February 2016)
[12] Annette Kunsel Burgert, Eighteenth Century Emigrants from the Northern Alsace to America  (Camden Press, Camden, Maine, 1992), pg. 413-414, entry #409 for Rubb, Joh. Jacob of Oberhoffen.
[13] Dr. Friedrich Krebs, Eine Liste deutscher Auswanderer nach den amerikanischen Kolonien aus Zweibrücken in der Pfalz 1750-1771, citing Rubb, Jacob, von Oberhofen (Kr. Weißenburg, Els.) mit Weib und 3 Kindern 1752

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Johann Jacob RUPP
Parents: Johann Jacob RUPP Jr. and Maria Apollonia FETZER
Spouse: Maria Barbara NONNENMACHER
Parents of spouse: Johannes NONNENMACHER and Maria Barbara STAMBACH
Whereabouts: Oberhoffen-lès-Wissembourg, Pennsylvania, Maryland
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: 6th great-grandfather

1. 1. Johann Jacob RUPP
   2. Heinrich Thomas “Henry” RUPE Sr.
   3. James ROOP
   4. Gordon ROOP
   5. Gordon Washington ROOP
   6. Walter Farmer ROOP
   7. Myrtle Hazel ROOP
   8. Fred Roosevelt Dempsey
   9. Cathy Meder-Dempsey

© 2016, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.