John Rupert and Family

We don't know when or where John Rupert was born. Some “sources” (using that term very loosely) indicate that John Rupert was born in Pennsylvania and was a member of the family of Johann Adam Rupert and his wife Barbara Holtzappel who arrived with her parents Johan Leonhard and Margaret (Klein) Holtzappel in 1731 on the ship Britannia. It does appear that their son Johan Adam could be the same person as the Adam Rupert who lived in Columbiana County, Ohio at the same time as “my” John Rupert. However, I am not totally convinced of that due to an eight-year discrepancy in the date of birth of the two Adams. In “Early German Settlers of York County, PA” the family of Johan Adam and Barbara Rupert seems to be documented and no son John is listed. I really don't think he belongs to them!

Other “sources” say that John was born in Germany and immigrated on the ship Richmond, which sailed from Rotterdam and arrived in Philadelphia in the fall of 1764. The Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild website shows that a Johannes Rupert and a Johann Martin Rupert were on the passenger list for the Richmond on October 20th, 1764.

On page 157 in the “History of Columbiana County, Ohio” (Mack, 1879) we find that “John Rupert, a German, who upon his arrival in Baltimore from Germany, being unable to pay his passage money, was sold by the captain of the vessel to a person who, in consideration of receiving Rupert's services free for the ensuing three years, paid the captain's demand. Rupert lived in Hanover until his death, after reaching the age of one hundred years. The farm he owned is now owned by C. Pfeffer, in section 26, Hanover twp.”

In spite of the claim that he was a centenarian, it is plausible that John was single when he arrived, penniless, and became an indentured servant. We know that he did live in section 26 of Hanover Township. We don't know his date of birth - a “best guess would be that he was born between 1741 and 1750 because he was age 80-89 in the 1830 census (Hanover Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p19 enumerated as John Ropert). It is definitely possible that John is the Johannes Rupert who arrived on the Richmond in 1764. It is my understanding that to be listed on the passenger lists you had to be a male of age 16 or over. Given those parameters, the Johannes on the Richmond would have been born by 1748 or earlier, which “fits” within the years of birth from the 1830 census.

However, the bottom line is that we don't know who the parents of John Rupert were or when or where he was born!

We do know that John lived for a time in that part of York County, Pennsylvania that became Adams County. He and his wife Barbara were sponsors at the baptism of Johannes, son of John Adam Rubbert and Margaret who was born on November 9, 1786. (Recorded in the records of the Reformed Congregation, Bermudian Church, Adams County, Pennsylvania, page 22). The births of three children of John and Barbara were also recorded in the Bermudian Church records. (See the post Father of Eva Rupert :: Is it John or Adam? for details on those records.)

Going back a little in time, in “York County, Pennsylvania Church Records of the 18th Century, Volume 2” (Bates and Wright, 1991) there is an entry for Anna Maria Rupert. She was born February 11, 1777 and baptized March 23, 1777 at the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were John and Barbara and it was noted that they were from Conojohela, Canadochly District. So this is another clue regarding where to look for them in Pennsylvania!

Moving forward again, John Rupert settled in Columbiana County, Ohio before December 1, 1804 when he was issued a patent certificate at the Steubenville Land Office for 159.4 acres in R4 T15 S26. That record shows that he was then a resident of Columbiana County. John was listed in the 1820 and 1830 census records for Hanover Township, Columbiana County (page 5 and page 19, respectively). He was also listed as the land owner in the tax lists for the property in R4 T15 S26 for the years 1816 through 1836. About 1820 he sold half of his land to his son Andrew Richard Rupert. In 1824 they sold a portion of that land to Durs Walser.

On October 17, 1828 John Ruppart wrote his will naming his wife, eight daughters, one son, and two sons-in-law. His estate entered probate on August 22, 1831 at which time his wife Barbara was still living. The executors of his estate, Conrad Yarian and David Ehrhart, were his sons-in-law. They recorded the sale of John's land on October 6, 1842 so it is likely that Barbara had passed away since the land was not to be sold until after her death.

We do not know the names of Barbara's parents, thus her maiden name is a mystery. According to the 1830 census, she was age 70-79, which puts her year of birth between 1751 and 1760. We don't know where she was born. We also don't know when or where she and John were married. Lots of unknowns ;-)

There are twelve known children of John and Barbara Rupert, nine of whom were mentioned in his will and three others for whom we have a birth record but were not mentioned in his will. Complete Sources are available upon request.

Anna Maria Rupert

• not mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart but have record of her birth
• born February 11, 1777 and baptized March 23, 1777 Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania (parents John and Barbara were from Conojohela, Canadochly District).

Jacob Rupert

• not mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• baptized June 23, 1782 Lutheran Congregation, Bermudian, Latimore Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. Parents were Johannes Ruppert and Barbara. Witnesses were Gerog Hermann and Apollonia.

Salome Rupert

• not mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• born November 5, 1782 baptized -----, 1783 Lutheran Congregation, Bermudian, Latimore Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. Parents were Johannes Ruppert and Barbara. Witnesses were Felix Thiel and Elisabeth. Note that this record was on a page with births for both 1782 and 1783. It is highly unlikely that Salome was born in November 1782 if Jacob was born in June of the same year.

Catherine Rupert married David Ehrhart

• mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• born March 9, 1785
• married about 1807 David Ehrhart
• 1820 Hanover Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p5
• 1830 Hanover Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p23
• 1840 Beaver Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p39
• died April 18, 1848 in Ohio
• David Ehrhart was born February 24, 1785 and died March 19, 1861 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana
• had ten children

Eva/Eve Rupert married Conrad Yarian - My Ancestors

• born December 21, 1786 baptized ----, 1787. Reformed Congregation, Bermudian, Latimore Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. Parents were Hannes Rubbert and Barbara. Witnesses were John Adam Rubbert and Margaret
• married July 22, 1805 Columbiana County, Ohio (v1 p8) to Conrad Yarian
• 1820 Unity Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p27
• 1830 Unity Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p398
• 1840 Unity Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p180
• 1850 Unity Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p57
• 1860 Unity Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p387
• Conrad Yarian was born September 1, 1780 Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and died May 5, 1860 Columbiana County, Ohio
• died July 1, 1866
• both buried in Unity Brick Church Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio
• had thirteen children

Leah Louisa Rupert married John Catt

• mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• born December 7, 1787
• married August 5, 1809 Columbiana County, Ohio v1 p59 to John Catt
• 1820 Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio p4
• 1830 Blue River Township, Hancock County, Indiana p1
• 1850 Centre Township, Hancock County, Indiana p13
• 1860 Jackson Township, Hancock County, Indiana p16
• 1870 Scott Township, Bourbon County, Kansas p8
• died on December 27, 1872 Bourbon County, Kansas

Andrew Richard Rupert

• mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• born 1791-1795 based on age in 1820 and 1830 census records, or born 1797 if the right person in 1850 and 1860 census, age 53 and 63 respectively (see below)
• 1820 Hanover Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p5 (enumerated as Richard Rupert, on line just below John Rupert)
• wife was named Mary (according to the 1824 Deed Record)
• 1830 may be the Andrew Rupert in Sandy Township, Stark County, Ohio p1
• Not positive that the Andrew R Rupert below is the same man, but seems likely.
• 1850 Flatrock Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana p5 (Andrew R Rupert, no wife, four children age 16-24)
• 1852 June 13 married Elizabeth Spinlin in Shelby County, Indiana (bk6a p335 per WPA Records)
• 1860 Washington Township, Shelby County, Indiana p13 (Andrew R Rupert, wife Elizabeth, three children age 16-20 probably wife's children from a previous marriage)
• 1861 September 05 married Rebekah Cochran in Shelby County, Indiana (bk8 p4 per WPA Records)
• Jul 1862 July 04 married Roda Driscol in Shelby County, Indiana (bk8 p82 per WPA Records)

Rachael Rupert married Henry Fox

• mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• born about 1795/1796
• married May 5, 1812 Columbiana County, Ohio (v1 p129) to Henry Fox
• 1820 Hanover Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p5 (same page as John Rupert)
• Henry Fox (aka Heinrich Fuchs) was born in 1791 and died September 5, 1829 in Columbiana County, Ohio
• 1830 Hanover Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p7 (Rachel Fox is head of household)
• possibly eight children

Margaret Rupert

• mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• date of birth unknown

Sarah Rupert

• mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• date of birth unknown

Barbara Rupert

• mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• date of birth unknown

Elizabeth Rupert married William Meanor

• mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart
• date of birth unknown, estimate about 1805 if age 20 when married
• married September 18, 1825 Columbiana County, Ohio (v2 p216) to William Meaner

=+=+=+=+= There are possibly two other sons =+=+=+=+=

Christian Rupert married Mary Steller

• not mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart, no record of his birth
• born 1776-1794 (age 26-44 in 1820 census)
• married September 1, 1818 Columbiana County, Ohio v2 p12 to Mary Steller
• 1820 Centreville, Columbiana County, Ohio p2

George Rupert

• not mentioned in the 1828 will of John Rupart, no record of his birth
• born 1799-1810 (age 20-29 in 1830 census)
• 1820 not in the household of John Rupert
• 1830 Hanover Township, Columbiana County, Ohio p19 (head of household is Geo Ropert)

To state the obvious ;-) additional research needs to be done! If you are related to or doing research on any of these families, please contact me via email at kinexxions@gmail.com

For additional information on this and other Rupert families in Columbiana County, Ohio see Rupert Family :: Index to Posts