The Heiligh and Harley family

NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES

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THE HARLEY ARMS

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Copyright 1914

J. R. WITCRAFT

Merchantville, N. J.

Dispatch Publishing House
frankford, phila.

I9I4

T^ V' !

ARMS.
Harley — Or a^ ben4 <?otise;i sa'.: ; *
Crest — A cfa^tie- tHiMe towcfed'ar:
Out of the micidle tcij^yir Ademi-lion.
Issuant Gu — Motto, Virtuteet fide.
Herle — Gu a 'fess cfr/b^t thte6 shovellers ppr.
Another — Gu three escallops and a border ar.
Robechon — Jersey — D'arg, a une biche de sa pass sur un tertre
de sin.

Robichen Ille de France-D'Azur au chev. d'arg accole d'un
serpent mordant sa queue, du meme, et ace. en chef de deux etoiles
d'or et en p d'une Colombe Du sec.

Robichon de Trovolland Bretagne-D'arg a une croiss desa, ace
de trois rencontres de cerf de gu.

I asked my father one day who his grandfather was and he
could not tell me — I never heard my father say who his father was,
said he — all I know is his mother's name was Rebecca, my father's
father must have died when his children were quite small, because
my father was apprenticed to a weaver in New Castle, Delaware,
when he was about eight years of age and ran away and went to
sea. He followed the sea for fifty years — was in the war of 1812 on
the Macedonia, under Jacob Jones. This started me on my inquiry.
I commenced writing letters to every Whitcraft in and about Dela-
ware— and one day in early summer on a Sunday morning, a knock
^ came to the door and a person inquired — Does John Whitcraft live
here? I replied that was my name. I am your cousin Harry, said
he. My father received a letter from you. He soon proved to my
satisfaction that his father's father and my grandfather were broth-
ers. I said — We will go to Philadelphia and see my father and aunt.
My aunt was living in Kensington and, upon going there, in the

course of the conversation, she said — John, I have found out for you
where Phoebe Loper lives. This Phoebe Loper was an old lady I
had been looking for for years £? a distant relation of my father who
might tell me something about the family history — she lives, said
she, on Fawn street, near Fifteenth. So, v/e took a car and went
down town to hunt up Phoebe Loper. After repeated inquiries
along Fawn street, we at last found a party who told us this old
lady did live there, but had moved to Fifteenth, and was living with
a cousin, Mrs. Abbot.

We found Mrs. Abbot, who said that Phoebe had moved to
Hancock street. So, we proceeded to that location and, after much
difficulty, located the said Phoebe Loper. My cousin said on the
way — John, do you believe in fortune-tellers. Why? said I. Well,
he said, before I found you I went to one and she told me I would
meet a tall man who would lead me on a long chase after an old
woman who could tell us about a fortune. Almost the first thing
Phoebe said to me was — John, did you see that advertisement in
the paper, inquiring for the heirs of Phoebe Rabjohn, to a fortune
of some $16,000,000. I said, who was Phoebe Rabjohn; why, she
was my grandmother, said she. I asked her how she came to see
the advertisement; why, said she, Mrs. Kohler and I had been out
to the park, about last November, and on her return she picked up
the Item and read it to me, and Mrs. Abbot also read it. Why did
you not cut it out, said I. Oh ! said she, I told her I was old and the
lav^^ers would get it all ; so, I did not bother with it. Where was it
located, said I. I think it was in Holland, said she, some place that
ends with a dam. Amsterdam? said I. No, said she. Rotterdam?
Yes, that's it, she said. So, I hunted up Mrs. Abbot, and she said,
yes, I remember reading it to Phoebe. What paper was it in? said
I. I think it was the Ledger, said she, although it might have been
the Record, because we often borrowed that paper from next door.

Every effort was made to find that advertisement, but without
avail; repeated advertisements were put in the papers, but all to no

2

purpose, at least twenty persons swore they had read it.

One woman said, Yes, I remember it, because I had an uncle,
Robert John Felon, and I think the lawyer was Oscar Beasley, be-
cause I rememHer:one time iny husband called on him and, in leav-
ing, took his hat ;n mistake and this incident came in my mind
when I read it. .;,;;;^ , ,,,. .

I at once looked for jOscarrvfieasley and he said the name was
familiar, that it related to wharf property in Liverpool. At another
time he said that he thought his partner, Jeitles, had the case, but
he was dead, that it was coal lands in Pennsylvania. His papers
were so mixed up on account of moving, that he would look further
into the matter and let me know ; finally he said he must have been
mistaken.

Another party swore that he read it in the Sunday Item, that
the lawyer's name commenced with a B.

Another man said he read it to his wife, and that name struck
him as odd.

Another man said he saw it in the Item, that he remembered it
because he used to go see a girl named Phpebe.

Another man said he saw it in the Sunday Press ; so it went on,
all saw it, yet none could find it.

One man said, I remember it distinctly, because I remarked I
would not do a thing if that was mine.

Who was Phoebe Rabjohn and who would be likely to adver-
tise for her, I found she was my great grandmother, my father's
mother's mother; so, the thing to do was to find out who were her
heirs, and I commenced to look them up. After much search I
found out that there were only about twenty living all told.

A trip to England and a visit to the court of Chancery revealed
the fact that a CaroUne Rabjohn left with the Bank of England cer-
tain papers for registration, her husband, William Rabjohn, hus-
bandman of Egg Buckland, died, leaving an estate of some £300.
This, then, was not what we were after. I found in Philadelphia

3

a will of John Rabjohn, my great grandfather, naming his ten chil-
dren; he was a tailor, lived at 229 St. John street.

So, this is how I came to vvTite the history. of the Heilighs, or,
as they later called themselves,- the*Harleyfi,".in.ths; hope that some-
one may have seen the advertisement and could locate it for me.

Phobe Loper died soon after I- met her Mrs. Kohler I saw
and she positively declared that she saw the advertisement in the
Item. The clerk in the Item office said he remembered putting it
in the paper, but the most diligent search failed to find it.

Heindrick Heiligh, Sr., came to this country in 1745 from Ams-
terdam, Holland, on the ship Peggy, Capt. Abercrombie, master.

He is said to have descended from William, Prince of Orange.
With him came his two brothers, John and George, the latter's
wife's name was Anna Barbara.

Hendrick Heilig or Heiligh's wife's name was Susanna; he
died in 1775, leaving four children:

John

George

Anna Maria and

Susanna

John died April 7th, 1841.

John married, June 28th, 1769, Elizabeth Taney and had:

John and

Jacob

Anna Maria married Michael Slonacre.

Susanna married October 24th, 1769, Henry Taney,

Henry, son of Henry and Susanna Heiligh, married Margaret,
issue two children, one named Barbara.

Henry, Jr., died in 1766.

Margaret afterward married a man named Knappenberger,

George Heiligh, son of Henry and Susanna, married, 1st,
Sophia Omenzetter, July 14th, 1763, who died February 9th, 1768,

4

aged 22 years, less 9 days ; daughter of John Omenzetter and Sophia
born February 17th, 1746, at Goscheim, in Dutchy Wurtemburg,
came to this country in 1753 at the age of 7 years. Lived 4 years
in wedlock to George Heiligh, begot 2 children, was sick 8 months.
Her children:

Phillipine Susanna, born September 6, 1764, and

George, born January, 1767.

George Heiligh married, 2nd, Margaret Webber, widow,
maiden name Anna Margaret Voss, Children:

Jacob, bap. 1771.

Christopher, who died in the Mexican War.

Elizabeth, who married Frances Cooper, maker of the first pipe
organ in Philadelphia, afterward a tobacco merchant.

Mary, who married Henry Weaver.

Catharine, who married:

1st, Faunce

2nd, Walters

3rd, Witherstein

Phillipine Susanna, daughter of George Heiligh and Sophia
Omenstetter, changed her name to Phoebe, married John Rabjohn,
April 18, 1786, in St. Michael's Lutheran Church, corner Fifth
street and Appletree alley. Witnesses, John Rabjohn, Sr., and
George Heiligh.

John Rabjohn was a tailor by trade, lived at 229 St. John street,
between Coates and Brown, died June 15th, 1823. His will is re-
corded in Book 8, page 45, No. 100, PJiiladelphia. His father, John
Rabjohn, Sr., married Isabella Stuttzen, in 1760, in St. Michael's
Church. Witnesses, Edward Pennly, Hugh Low, Isaac Warner
and Maria Barbara Stuttzen. He was supposed to be the same
Henry Roberjot, Head Bookkeeper and confidential man to Stephen
Girard. His children were:

Maria Regina, bap. in 1761.

Zelia, who married Andrew Crostby, a sea captain.

5

John and Adam.

He married, 2nd, Hannah Wicks, widow, April 2, 1791.

Adam Rabjohn married Mary Weinemeyer January 19th, 1794.

Phillipine Susanna Rabjohn died April 29th, 1826, and was bur-
ied, with her husband, in the Baptist Churchyard, in New Market
street, Philadelphia, They were afterward removed to Ivy Hill
Cemetery, Germantown, where they now rest. They had 10 chil-
dren:

Sarah

Mary

Frances

Phoebe

Eliza

William

James

George

John and

Jacob

The name Rabjohn, Robjohn, Robichon and Roberjot are prac-
tically one and the same, meaning originally the Robber John; it is
of French origin, they came by the way of the English Channel
Islands to the south of England and to this country. In London
they go by the name Rabjohns to this day.

William, son of John Rabjohn and Phoebe, left a son, Thomas,
who married, but left no children, died at Seaman's Retreat, Staten
Island, in 1870.

John Rabjohn and Phoebe had:

James, born on December 1, 1798; died April 15, 1829, unmar-
ried.

John Rabjohn and Phoebe had:

John, born August 16, 1806; died July 13, 1835; married Han-
nah Monroe ; one child, died young.

John Rabjohn and Phoebe had:

Jacob, born March 11, 1809; went by the name of Yockey
Rapp; died a bachelor; chairmaker by trade; went to California in
'49; returned to Reading, Pa., where he died, supposedly rich.

John Rabjohn and Phoebe had:

George, born April 23, 1801; died May 28, 1828; oak cooper by
trade. His wife's name was Elizabeth; they had two children, both
girls, Mary and Sarah.

Mary died unmarried; the other, Sarah, married a cab driver,
no children.

George's widow afterward married a man named William
Davenport.

John Rabjohn and Phoebe had:

Sarah, married Jacob Riffert about 1803; she was born January
2, 1787; baptized January 7, 1787; died February 8, 1882. Their
first child, Mary, was born September 27, 1803; died March 5, 1895.
Their second child, Isabella, born December 12, 1812.

Mary, first child of Sarah, married Mark Elliot; see family for
record.

Sarah married, 2nd, McClain; had Frances, born December
25, 1822; died January 21, 1876.

Frances McClain married Richard McClain March 8, 1843;
children :

Henry, born November 4, 1844; died September 3, 1879; mar-
ried, 1st, Mary Smith; 2nd, Sarah Mackalvia, leaving two children:

John McClain, born April 1, 1871, went to the Phillipines, U.
S. A., and

Sarah, born December 31, 1874; unmarried.

The other children of Frances McClain were:

Sarah Frances, born January 8, 1848; died January 9, 1853.

Charles McClain, born July 6, 1851; married Catharien Tay-
man, widow, maiden name Dougherty, and had:

Mary, born January 26, 1884.

7

Katie, d. y.

John Napolean, born August 15, 1854; died December 22, 1855.

Joseph Francis, born March 17, 1857; died January 11, 1864.

William James, born June 9, 1859; died December 13, 1863.

John Rabjohn and Phoebe had:

Mary, born 1794; died November 15.

Married three times:

1st, Tom Smiles

2nd, Tom Hill

3rd, Tom Dawson.

No children.

John Rabjohn and Phoebe had:

Veronica Blair, changed her name to Frances, was born March
4, 1796; bap. April 19, 1796; died July 27, 1874. Married Abner
Witcraft June 13, 1818. She was called the Belle of Northern Lib-
erties.

William Witcraft, son of Abner and Frances, born March 4,
1819 ; died March 13, 1882 ; married Ann Watson, and they had two
children :

George, who died at the age of 14, and

Sarah Jane, who married :

1st, John Guise, by whom she had all her children

2nd,

3rd, Ricker.

Her children were:

George

Samuel

John

Joanna

Frances

Mary

Abner and Frances had:

Mary, born February 4, 1821 ; died February 21, 1821.

8

Abner and Frances had:

John R., born April 9, 1822; died October 31, 1898. He mar-
ried:

1st, Martha Black, and had:

Thomas, d. y.

Mary Emma, who married Joseph Schofield, and had:

Bertha

Clair

George

Hilda and

Grace

John R. married:

2nd, Mary Elizabeth Todd, and had :

John R., bom January 20, 1858.

Joanna T., 1860.

John R. married Mary B. Clopper January 5, 1882, and had:

Amy D., May 4, 1883.

Alice May, March 11, 1885, d. y.

Eugene Howard, September 11, 1886.

Frances Clopper, September 3, 1888, married A. R. Schmidt,
and had:

Frances Witcraft

Jane Clopper

Rena Dorothy, October 2, 1892.

Joanna T. married George T. Seckle and had:

George T. married Ethel Spooner, and had:

Catherine

Mary Virginia

Helen

Wetherill

Abner and Frances had:

Abner, bom March 21, 1824; died May 18, 1878. Married Ann
Haines and had:

9

John and

Thomas

Abner and Frances had :

Rebecca, born March 28, 1826; died November 28, 1826.

Abner and Frances had:

Sarah Jane, born June 10, 1828; died February 8, 1842.

Abner and Frances had:

George, born October 12, 1832; died November 22, 1832.

Abner and Frances had :

Eliza, born May 25, 1834; died May 30, 1896; leaving one
daughter, Louisa Wright, born May 30, 1855; married Gillis Cun-
ningham.

Abner and Frances had:

Arabella, born July 24, 1837; married George Clements, and
had:

Frances

John Rabjohn and Phoebe had a daughter, Phoebe, born Feb-
ruary 21, 1804; died about 1828. Married John Hartley, born July
23, 1802; died April 22, 1856, leaving the following children:

Mary S., born February 17, 1824; died November 2, 1846; no
children. Married.

John, born June 14, 1827; went to the Civil War.

Phoebe, born December, 1828; died September 9, 1897; mar-
ried a man named Loper; no children.
John Rabjohn and Phoebe had:

Elizabeth, born November 20, 1811; died November 13, 1855;
married a man named Elliot; no children.

Married, 2nd, John Fritz, July 27, 1829, and had:

Cordelia, born October 15, 1853; died at the age of 14.

John, born September 15, 1835, d. y.

Elizabeth, born November 8, 1830; married Samuel Leather-
bury.

Emmaline, born March 9, 1833; married a man named Coates.

lO

Frances, born April 26, 1849 ; married a man named Dickinson,
one son.

William, born February 14, 1843.

Charles, born January 17, 1846.

Henry, twin to Frances, d. y.

Joseph, d. y.

Catherine, born November 18, 1837; died at the age of 26; un-
married.

Sarah, born September 18, 1840, d. y.

William Elliot married Mary E. Riffert, widow of Mark Elliot,
had:

Fanny Pedrick

John Elliot

Elizabeth Cavis

Matilda and

Sarah

John Elliot married Emma Matilda Hartley, had:

Harriet

Abie Duling

William Tucker Elliot

Mary H. E. Jones

Francis Cooper and Elizabeth had issue:

Francis Cooper, Jr.

Elizabeth

Susan

Maria

George and

Peter

Francis Cooper, Jr., married Frances Bowman, October 15,

1810; had:

Charles B. Cooper, born August 21, 1811.

Elizabeth, born, November 17, 1813.

Francis Cooper, born December 19, 1813.

Susan, born December 24th, 1819.

II

Anna Maria, born June 27, 1822,

George, born September 12, 1824.

Catherine, born July 25, 1827 ; d. y.

Maria Louisa, born April 25, 1829.

Matilda and Harriet, twins, born March 2, 1830; d. y.

Thomas Sterritt, born January 3, 1832.

Catherine Heiligh, daughter of George and Margaret, married
Faunce, and

2nd, Walters; issue, one daughter, married Richard Fetters.

Jacob, son of Margaret, lived at Magnolia, N. J,, on the White
Horse Pike, took the name of Harley, married:

1st, Priscilla Jones, February 10, 1791.

2nd, Sarah Monroe (widow) ; children :

Elizabeth, born August 25, 1791.

Mary, born September 25, 1793.

George, bom October 28, 1795.

Margaret, born October 21, 1801.

George, born October 28, 1795, married Ann Giberson and had:

Jacob, born November 15, 1819.

Priscilla, born August 17, 1822.

Hannah, born November 25, 1824.

John, born August 14, 1827.

Elizabeth, born February 14, 1831.

George, born October 18, 1833.

Josiah, born July 7, 1836.

Mary Ann, born April 2, 1839.

Susanna, born November 11, 1841.

Hester, born January 26, 1847.

Jacob married Mary Ford.

John married Rebecca Shreevis.

Josiah married Susan Mapes.

George married Ellen McEntyre.

Priscilla married James Cooper.

12

Hannah married Charles Shreevis.
Margaret married Job Pidgeon.
Elizabeth married Urin Larsen.
Susanna married Oliver Larsen.
Hester married William Watson.

Jacob and Mary Ford had:

Ann

Jacob

George

John and

Mary

John married Margaret Mennel and had:

Sarah

Robert

Herbert

Alberta

May

John married Rebecca Shreeve and had:

Edward

George and

Anna

Edward married Severus.

George married Sarah Rogers and had:

Halvor

Henry

Wallace

Rebecca and

Sarah

Anna married Amos Leek and had:

Bessie

Josiah and Susan Mapes had:

Jacob

13

Phoebe

Calvin

George

Hettie

Lott

Josiah and

John

Phoebe married Malvin Albertson.

George and Ellen McEntyre had:

George

Dela and

Bernard

Dela married George Lambert and had:

Mira

Bell and

George

Priscilla and John Cooper had:

Anna, married Thomas Walker.

Alice, married Samuel Watson,

John, single.

Hannah, married Albert Vanderslice.

William, married Catherine .

Emma, married John Bettle.

Anna and Thomas Walker had:

Isaac and

Ellis.

Alice and Samuel Watson had:

Carrie

Harry

Spencer and

Laura

Emma and John Bettle had:

Clarence

14

Hannah and Charles Shreeves had:

George Henry.

Jennie, married John E. Dougherty.

Rebecca, married Marmaduke Bakely.

Mary Anna and Job Pidgeon had:

Emma, married John Kercher.

Lydia, married Jacob Hansel.

William, single.

Elizabeth and Urin Larsen had:

Rena, married Edward Come, had:

Priscilla

Ida

Halvor

Priscilla Bertha, died May 27, 1895, bom December 22, 1858,
married Daniel Horner, February 10, 1882, and had:

Breta L,, bom February 11, 1885.

Hannah Frances, born March 19, 1887.

Larsen, born August 17, 1889.

Dan'l Horner, died July 18, 1911.

Ida, born January 8, 1861, married Daniel Horner February 15,
1897, and had :

Alice F., born December 22, 1898, died same day.

Helen Elizabeth, born June 22, 1900.

Hettie, married William Watson, had:

William

Susan and Oliver Larsen had:

Edward and

Frank, U. S. N.

Was in Battleship Maine — still living.

Mary, daughter of Jacob and Priscilla Jones, married Jesse
Price; children:

Hester

Jessie

15

Jacob

Harley

Frank, all went to Indiana.

Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Priscilla Jones, married Job
Price; children:

Mary

Elizabeth

Priscilla

Margaret

Rebecca

Samuel

Job

George

George, son of Margaret and Job Price, married Elizabeth
Parker.

Samuel married Rebecca A. Lippincott.

Mary married Walker; had:

Elizabeth

Maggie married Dietz, had:

Mary

Elizabeth married Vorhees; had:

Mary Jane and

Catharine

Priscilla married John Johnson, had:

John

Job married Severn, had :

Kate, married John Matlack.

Mary, married Morris Gorman.

Margaret, married Samuel Monroe.

Rebecca, married Peters,

George Heiligh, son of George and Sophia Omenzetter, mar-
ried Anna Maria Walthers, February 20, 1780,

i6

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voe^ty

'9

Book 14—559 — Will of John Heiligh, Germantown, wife Bar-
bara, grandchildren named:

John

George

Maria Anna and

Henry Daniel

Phoebe Rabjohn was a great beauty in her day and a beautiful
singer. It is related that in one of Washington's visits to Phila-
delphia she happened to be at the same hotel on Sixth street, where
he stopped, and was prevailed upon to sing for him. She did so
and he was so charmed and delighted that he gave her his picture
of himself that is highly prized to this day.

George Adam (father George Thomas) Heiligh and Anna
Margaret Lensin were married March 26, 1797, issue:

George Adam, born November 10, 1806; died September, 1813.

Daniel, born February 22, 1801 ; married Julia R.

George, born April 14, 1799, married Susan Hook,

Jacob, born October 19, 1802; married Mary Hong,

John, born June 18, 1804; married Anna Murphy,

Anna Maria, born November 8, 1808; married Robert Bisping.

Carl, born June 14, 1811; married Emma Dare.

Margareth Wilhelmina, born November 12, 1815; married Sol-
omon Unroh.

Susanna Amanda, born August 5, 1818 ; married Daniel Yeakle.

Emmelina Levina, born June 19, 1824; married William Thiele.

James Luther, born May 7, 1827; married Wilhelmina Stall-
man.

Wilhelm, born June 7, 1813; married Mary Coral.

Jacob, son of George Adam and Margareth, married Mary W.
Hong, April 30, 1833, and had:

Albert Elijah, born January 31, 1834.

Jeremiah Jacob, born November 22, 1835.

Mary Elizabeth, born November 19, 1837.

17

Reverend George Heilig, son of George Adam and Margareth,
married Susan Hook, September 22, 1828, issue:
Theopholis, born July 30, 1837.
Edwin Miller, born December 17, 1839.

Theodore Keller, born December 10, 1829; died June 6, 1837.
Emma Caroline, born February 17, 1833.
August Muhlenberg, born January 2, 1835.
Michael Slonacre and Maria Heilig had issue:
Michael and
John, etc.

Michael married Susan Nyce, and had :
Mary
Harriet
Samuel
Daniel

Samuel married Edith Rapp and had:
Marshall

Daniel married Salome and had:

Frederick

Maria

Josiah

Maggie

Katie

Sarah

Maria married Fellman.

Maggie married Clay.

Katie married Steinwick.

Sarah married Fellman.

Milton, father Frederick, mother Elizabeth, married and had:

Sarah Geist

Hannah

John

Daniel

i8

Frederick

George

Samuel

Margaret, sisters Sarah, Maria, Catharine, brothers Frederick
and Josiah, father Daniel, married Sarah Fogel; Uncle Jacob; Aunt
Kate Batman, etc.

Grandfather Daniel, and Mary.

Greatfather Michael, and Susanna.

Ella Amanda Farley.

Brothers Henry C. Lott and Cleventime V. Lott.

Samuel B. Lott.

James R. Lott.

William L. Lott.

Anna E. Taylor, father John T. Lott, mother Elmora, Uncles
Clementine Southard, Alban Clay, Harry Clay and Lavina Bisping.

Grandparents James R. Clay, Margaret S.

Great-grandparents Daniel and Sarah Slonacre.

Jeremiah J. Heilig, father Jacob Heilig, mother Mary W.,
Uncles Luther and Lavina.

Grandfather George Adam, and Margaret.

Sterling Heilig, father Daniel, mother Emily, brother George
H., Uncles Rev. Theopholis Heilig, Augutus H., Emma C. William,
Edwin M.

Grandfather Rev. George Heilig, grandmother Susanna Hook.

Davis Slonaker, father Michael, mother Hannah.

Grandfather Michael, Uncles Jacob, John, William and Samuel ;
Elizabeth Marshall, Susan Linderman, Margaret Root.

George Heilig, father Edward Heilig, mother Maltida W.,
brother James E. ; Kate M. De Witt, Mary A. Fisher had :

Laura V.

Laura V. Millhouse had:

Irwin W. Heilig

19

Agnes R. Brendlinger

Uncles William G. Heilig married Anna

John G. Heilig married Sarah

Aunt Matilda Byer.

John A., brother to George Adam, married Barbara ; children :

Daniel Heilig, who married Julia Rittenhouse, who afterward
married Daniel Buddy.

George Heilig died in 1766; wife, Anna Barbara, died 1776;
children :

Leonard

Adam

John

A daughter married Bernard Bisping.

William and Mary Coral had issue;

Mary

Wilhelmina

Katie

Charles

John

William

Ada

Daniel and Julia Rittenhouse had children:

John George, born August 22, 1814.

Henry, born 1824.

Anna Maria, born 1817.

Andrew Jackson, born 1827.

John George married Ann Murphy, children:

Carline, d. y.

Anna and

Julia

Michael Slonacre died April 12, 1839; born 1760.

Susanna Heilg, his wife, born March 9, 1762; married April
3, 1781, had 6 sons and 5 daughters, died January, 1818.

20

Hannah, the 2nd wife, died July 10, 1823.

Henry Slonacre died April 9, 1826.

Samuel Slonacre died April 2, 1839.

Michael, Jr., died October 3, 1841.

Jacob died July 12, 1849.

John died July 21, 1849.

Michael died July 29, 1849.

John died August 23, 1849.

Fransina died September 14th, 1851.

Samuel died June 6th, 1862.

Isaac died September 3, 1863.

Lewis died July 29, 1876.

Elizabeth Slonacre died July 12, 1889.

Elmera Slonacre died September 12, 1851.

Mary Slonacre died July 18, 1847.

Michael Slonacre died November 15, 1846.

William Slonacre died October 20, 1866.

Robert M. Slonacre, father Jared Nyce Slonacre, born July 11,
1800; died 1878; mother Elizabeth Eaton. Grandfather John Slon-
acre. Great-grandfather Jacob Slonacre. Great-grandmother Mar-
garet Nyce. Uncles, and Aunts Elizabeth Bastress and Mary
Horeater.

Cardin, or Catherine, Keyser Jonas — Mark, John Slonacre,
brothers, and sisters Isabell Rogers-Garnett; John Slonacre, son of
John G., Margaret Gregg.

John Heilig, Sr., parents George and Barbara, born March 4,
1765.

John Heilig, 1736 Beechwood street, Philadelphia, father John,
mother Mary Yoos, lived in Neider brom Alsace.

John Nyce Slonacre, father Mark, mother Mary Elizabeth,
grandfather John, grandmother Margaret.

John Heilig, wife Wernia, died 1746, left 5 daughters.

21

John Henry Roberjot died September, 1828, and was buried
in Trinity Churchyard, Sixth and Spruce streets.

The American Sentinel gave his age as 66, but I think he was
older. He was buried from the residence of Mrs. Greland, 120
South Third street. He left one daughter, Zelia Miriam, who mar-
ried Andrew D. Crosby.

Andrew Doz Crosby was the son of Elizabeth Magaw, who
married a man named Crosby, afterward a man named Thomas
Cumpson; her mother's name was Martha Doz, who married Rev.
Samuel Magaw; her father's name was Samuel Doz.

Mrs. Robert John Foulon, living in Union street. West Phila-
delphia, near Thirty-ninth street, claims her husband was named
after Roberjot and that his right name was John H. Robjohn; she
has often heard the name of Maria Regina spoken of.

This Maria Regina was a sister of Zelia M. Crosby, and John
Rabjohn, son of John H. Rabjohn, Sr. It is supposed that Girard
called him Roberjot, after the noted Frenchman of that name, who
died in 1790, and Rabjohn assumed the name. It is very likely that
this is true, as John Henry is purely English and not French.

Mr. Roberjot was one of the refugee merchants from Santo
Domingo, who saved valuable papers for Stephen Girard.

Speaking of Girard's profanity when excited to anger, Simpson,
in his book on Life of Stephen Girard, says:

Mr. Roberjot was in a peculiar manner the butt of this kind
of invective, and generally bore the torments lavished upon him
with a philosophical patience, which full entitled him to Saintship,
for he frequently had occasion for all the equanimity of Job him-
self, for all crosses, disappoinments, blunders, mistakes and the end-
less little miseries of country house life were to be fathered as a
matter of course by Mr. Roberjot, the friend and factotum of Girard,
alternately the substance and shadow of his employer and proverb-
ial for his industry, his attention, and his fidelity to the complicated
concerns of the great merchant.

22

FRANCES WITCRAFT

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Mr. Roberjot was both by nature and education a true repre-
sentative of his nation in genuine politeness.

"Whatever was wanted Mr, Roberot was called, he was dis-
patched on a frivolous errand, or summoned in solemn council, at
one time man important embassy entrusted with millions, and at
another he was employed to do what a boy would have smiled to
be engaged in.

"No idea of dignity could be preserved in his atmosphere of
vmiversal utility and constant labour."

149— Year 1775. (Probably 78 years old.)

In the name of God Amen. I Henry Heiligh of Cheltenham,
Township in the county of Phila., in the Province of Penna. Yeo-
man, being aged and infirm in body, yet of sound and disposing
mind, memory and understanding, blessed be God, therefor

Do think proper to settle and dispose my outward affairs by
these presents in way of my last will and testament in manner fol-
lowing, to wit.

1st. I order that all and singular of my Just debts, funeral and
other expenses, concerning me or my state be well and truly paid
and discharged.

Item. I empower and authorize my Executor hereinafter
named or survivor of them to sell and dispose of, by Public sale or
Vendue to the highest bidder, all and singular, my messanges tene-
ments lands and Real Estates whatsoever which I may be possessed
of at the time of my decease, and in my name and stead to make
execute and acknowledge proper and authentic deed or deeds or
conveyance for the same or any part thereof to the purchaser or
purchasers, his, her heirs, their heirs and assigns forever and the
money arising and payable by such sale and all other my estate
whatsoever debts and expenses being paid I Dispose thereof in

manner following, viz —

I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Susannah, the sum of
Two Hundred (200) pounds currant lawful money of Pennsylvania,

23

together with my best bed and bedding, all furniture thereto be-
longing, all our kitchen furniture, all our pewter, our dresser and
furniture thereof, one mare and one cow to dispose of all which she
pleases in full of her part of dower or widows part of my estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Barbara
Heiligh the only surviving child of my late eldest son, Henry
Heiligh, the sum of seventy-five (75) pounds money aforesaid in
full of her part or share of my estate as the representative of my
said son deceased.

Item. I bequeath the sum of three (3) pounds like money to
my friend Sam'l Mehlin of Germantown, Tanner, in trust and to be
by him paid to and for the use of the Lutheran Church in German-
town aforesaid.

Item. I give and bequeath all the rest and residue of my estate
whatsoever, unto my four (4) children now living, viz: —

George Heiligh

Johannes Heiligh

Anna Maria the present wife of Michael Sloanacre

Susanna the present wife of Henry Teany
to be equally divided among them, part and share alike.

Lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my trusty friends,
John Fry and Peter Bocknis, both of Germantown, in the aforesaid
County of Philada. and Province aforesaid shopkeepers, Executors
of this my last will and testament truly revoking all for memories
by me made, ratifying these presents only for and as my last will
and testament.

In v/itncss v.'hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal dated
the Twenty-ninth (29) day of October, in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and seventy-two (1772).

Henry Heiligh.

24

Will of Henry Heiligh Jr.

In the name of God Amen. Whereas I Henry Heiligh of
Upper Hanover Township in the County of Philada. and Province
of Penna., Yeoman, do find myself very sick and weak in body, but
of sound mind memory, thanks be to God.

I on this first day of April, in the year of our Lord one thou-
sand seven hundred and sixty six, make and ordain this my last will
and testament, and first of all recommend my soul into the hands
of Almighty God that gave it, and as touching my worldly estate I
do hereby dispose of same in the following manner, that is to say,
as I have already paid my father, Henry Heiligh, Sr., part of tne
Consideration for which he promised to me to let me have his plan-
tation where I now live, but in case I should happen to die, and my
father should intend to keep or sell the said plantation and pay
twenty-five (25) pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania back again,
so it is my will and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my beloved
wife Margaret the said sum of twenty-five (25) pounds in money as
also my cattle and movable house-hold goods and personal estate
of what name soever upon condition that she shall sell so much of
the same as she may not have necessary for her use and pay all my
debts and costs therewith so the remainder I give to her, her heirs
and assigns forever, and I do hope and confide that my beloved
father will take care and provide for my two children as he shall
think fit and right.

And I further recommend my said wife and children to the
care and direction of said father and of my brother, George Heiligh
and my brother-in-law Michael Sloanacre Jr. to take care and sup-
port my said family in the best manner they can. And I do hereby
nominate and appoint my said beloved wife Margareth to be the
sole executrix of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the
day and year first above written.

Henry Heiligh.
25

Signed sealed and declared by the said Henry Heiligh Jr. as his
last will and testament in the presence of us David Schultze, Johr.
Gallman, Wally Graber Philada. June 2nd 1766.

There personally appeared David Shultze and Johannes Gall-
man, two of the witnesses to the foregoing will and on their solemn
affirmation according to law did declare that they saw and heard
Henry Heiligh, the Testator therein named sign and seal publist
and declare the same will for and his last will and testament and
that at the doing thereof he was sound mind, memory and under
standing to the best of their knowledge.

Corem — Benj. Chew Reg. Genl.

Be it remembered that on the second day of June 1776 the last
will and testament of Henry Heiligh deceased, in due form of law
was proved and probate and letters testamentary thereof were
granted to Margareth Heiligh, sole executrix in the same will
named, being duly sworn, well and truly to administer the said de-
ceased estate and bring inventory thereof unto the Reg, Genl. office
at Philada. on or before the 3rd day of July next and render a true
and just account thereunto legally acquired, given under the seal of
the said office.

Ben. Chew,

Reg. Genl.

Phillipa was daughter of Count William 3rd of Holland.
Barbara was the washerwoman mother of Don John by Charles 5th,
supposed to be the ancestors of the Heilighs.

About November, 1896, an advertisement is said to have ap-
peared in the Philadelphia papers inquiring for the heirs of Phoebe
Rabjohn to an estate of $16,000,000; long effort was made to find
the lawyer or lawyers who inserted the advertisement, but without
effect. Some ten or twenty persons claimed to have read the ad-
vertisement and said the lawyer's name commenced with a "B."
This fortune is supposed to have come in one or two channels,

26

either direct from Holland or through Jacob Rabjohn, son of
Phoebe, who is said to have died rich, having invested in coal lands
in Pennsylvania, with one Jacob Riffert, a brother-in-law.

It is said that Phoebe Rabjohn was descended from a Holland
Dutchess or Princess. That she fell in love with the coachman or
butler and they eloped to this country.

Harleyville, Pa., July 25, 1898.
S. M. Mason.
Dear Sir: —

Yours of the 23rd is just to hand. Let me ask are you a de-
scendant of the Harley's, or why do you care about knowing their
history, and, second, I would ask what do you know of me and how
did you get my name and address so correct? I am nearly blind
and the little sight that I have yet is so weak that I cannot read or
write more than a few minutes at a time without resting them, and
meanwhile I forget my idea, therefore, writing becomes a task
which used to be a pleasure, and can't read any more without a
large microscope. Under these circumstances it is impossible to
do anything like justice to your query. Therefore I will tell only
a little of their earliest history. The latter history you can perhaps
get from other sources.

"All of the Harleys of America are of German ancestry. They
appear to have been a distinguished family in Germany, as there
were several Divines and Authors that lived and wrote 200 or more
years ago, of whose works I have in my library, but while they did
not worship with the established or National religion they were
greatly persecuted, so that they were obliged to flee from the coun-
try, consequently some fled to England, where they soon became
distinguished, as I know of at least one who became a member of
Parliament.

"A Robert Harley became Librarian to King George the 2nd

27

and a Thomas Harley who purchased 5000 acres of land from Wil-
liam Penn in 1682. This land was located partly in Hatfield, partly
in Franconia and in other townships of Montgomery County. So,
in after times some of their descendants emigrated to America,
who settled mostly in the Southern and the Western States, who
have a right to say they are of English Nationality, but if they
would trace their pedigree a few generations back they would find
them as German as any in America.

"I come now to tell of the other branch of family of Harleys,
who came over direct from Germany, as Germans, to the United
States of America.

"The first pioneer of all Harleys of the direct German branch
was Rudolph; when or where he was born I do not remember, but
he landed in Philadelphia in 1719. His wife was pregnant before
they left for America, but they thought sure to reach the shore
before the time of her accouchement, but having an unusually long
and tedious voyage from contrary winds and many days no wind at
all, she gave birth to a little baby boy while in mid-ocean. That
little baby boy was called Rudolph, Jr. He was born July 14th,
1719. He had one sister who was married to a Mr. Graff and
moved to the then new settlement in the Southwest, where she
soon died and left no children that we know of.

"Her brother, Rudolph, Jr., married Mary Becker, daughter of
Elder Peter Becker, of Germantown, and had 13 children, 12 of
whom lived to a good old age. Their names in English were:

"John

"Joanna

"Lena

"Mary

"Rudolph

"Elizabeth

"Jacob

"Henry

28

"Sarah

"Samuel

"Joseph

"Margaret and

"Abraham

"As you wish to know their family connection I will give them
briefly.

"John Harley was born August 16th, 1741 ; married a woman
whose name I do not remember. They had a number of children,
but I know the name of only one, that was Rudolph. They lived
in Pikeland Township, Chester County. He had a farm and valu-
able merchant mill and was at one time in good circumstances, but
in advanced age he married his housekeeper, who was a widow and
had a number of children, and they yet one together when he was
nearly 81 years of age. She was an artful Delilah in providing for
her own children. She prevailed on him to sign her a certain writ-
ing. He did so when he was quite old. She died soon afterward
and by that writing his estate went to her children, leaving him in
extreme poverty, with one little child. At that time he lived near
Mercersburg, in Franklin Couny, Pa., where necessity compelled
him to go begging.

"Joanna Harley, the second child and oldest daughter of Ru-
dolph, was born April 21, 1743, and married to Hans Ulrich Stanffer,
generally called Handley. They also raised a large family, but on
account of failing sight it is impossible to give details of all.

"Lena Harley was born May 4th, 1745, and died young.

"Maria Harley was born March 12th, 1747. She was twice
married. First to a Mr. Landis and second to Frederick Deal. It
is said they had nine children, but their posterity is so scattered
that we know but little of them, and the most are in the West.

"Rudolph Harley, 3rd, was born February 7th, 1749 ; vv^as twice

married. First to Barbara Bach and second to Miss

Bornberger; said to have had 13 children.

^9 S74'i-»

"Elizabeth Harley, born September 9, 1750; married to Chris-
tian Dettry. It is said she had 10 children, but I only have the
names of seven, namely:

"John

"Isaac

"Zachariah

"Christian

"Abraham, and several daughters, one of whom was married
to Holman.

"Jacob Harley, born June 8, 1752, was never married, but lived
to an advanced age and then died from the effects of a kick from
his horse.

"Henry Harley, born July 1, 1754, was married to Elizabeth, or
Betty, Keely. It is said they had 16 children. I have the names
of at least 12 or 13.

"Sarah Harley, born June 20, 1756, married Elder George Price,
of Coventry. He was the father of Preacher Isaac Price, of Phoen-
ixville; they had 6 children.

"Samuel Harley, born March 6, 1758, married Catharine Saur,
or Sower, daughter of the celebrated printer and Elder of German-
town, She had 12 children, 10 of which lived to a good old age.
My dear mother was one of them.

"Joseph Harley was born March 14, 1760, was married to Cath-
erine Reiff ; no children.

"Margaretta Harley, born September 13, 1762, married a Jacob
Detwiler. They had a large family of 10, if not 11, children.

''Abraham Harley was born June 14, 1765, married Christianna
Giesz. She was a waif, insofar, at least, that nothing is known of
her parents or kinship. She was a very worthy and amiable woman,
raised a large and very respectable family of 8 sons and 2 daugh-
ters, among them Abraham, married to Katie Reiff. They lived
for awhile in Chester County, then moved West, and died at an ad-
vanced age in Montgomery County, Ohio. He was a very able

30

preacher in English and German languages.

"His son, Jacob, was a successful merchant at Norriton Square,
below Fairview. Their son, Samuel, was also a very popular
preacher and the father of the famous preacher, Jonas Harley, who
died only a few years ago.

"Their son, Benjamin, was also a preacher. They were all
farmers and mechanics.

"I have now written a very long letter, but, after all, only a
very short and incomplete sketch of a large and interesting family.
I would have material enough to fill several sheets, but while you
did not define your request minutely I did not know exactly what
you wanted. Whether merely history or genealogy, therefore, I
have tried to give a little of both.

"Would be pleased to hear of its coming safe to hand and
whether it is what you wanted.

"While I know I could not write a complete or comprehensive
sketch, I confined myself wholly to the earliest or remotest part,
which perhaps no one else could have done at this time. But while
I brought the history down to the third generation and gave all
the names and connections of that third generation, I think any de-
scendent that cares might trace their lineage that far back. You
will excuse the crippled hand and bad handwriting, for I am 78
years old, my fingers are stiff and my hands are not steady any
more. A few years ago I would not have recognized this as my
handwriting.

"Respectfully yours,

"ABRAM H. CASSELL."

31

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