• Born: Around 1677
• Died: February, 1760
• Buried: Most likely Old Mennonite Church, Germantown
• Spouse: Isabella Conrad
  • Born: 1683 in Germany
  • Died: 1760 in Skippack, PA
  • Parents: Peter Conrad
• Married: 1708
• Children: Peter*, Gertrude, Margaret, Modlen, John, Paul, Rebecca

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Hermanus’s exact date of birth is unknown, but has been estimated as 1677, making him a young child of about seven when the family journeyed from Crefeld, Germany, to Philadelphia. 

As a young man, Hermanus was among several who moved from Germantown to found what was originally known as Bebbers Township.  The area was called “Bebbers” after its original owner; another settler from Crefeld, Matthias Van Bebber, purchased a large portion of land from William Penn on the Skippack Creek in 1702.  

In either 1707 or 1708, shortly after the death of his father, Hermanus bought 266 acres from Van Bebber and built a home. In 1713, he was also among other early settlers of the area to sign a petition for a road to be constructed, connecting the new town of Bebbers to surrounding settlements.  

In 1717, Matthias Van Bebber gave 100 acres to the trustees of the town, all of whom were Mennonites, for the construction of a school house and fenced-on graveyard. The school house, built in 1725, was only second to be constructed in Pennsylvania. In the same year, the town’s name of “Bebbers” began to be replaced by “Skippack and Perkiomen.” Modern-day Skippack is located in Montgomery County, between the Skippack and Perkiomen creeks (two Native American names believed to refer to cranberries) and just north of Evansburg State Park. Interestingly, a “Germantown Pike” running south of it eventually ends in Philadelphia, though its name changes along the way.

The only engagement with Native Americans near Philadelphia occured in Skippack in 1728. Hearing of attacks on other settlers in nearby Falkner’s Swamp and Goshenhoppen, the townspeople sent a petition to the Governor of Pennsylvania. Hermanus was among those who signed “The Falkner Swamp Petition.” The Governor came to their aid the same day, authorizing settlers to organize a defense and distributing “some powder and lead among them” (Storer). As it turns out, the Natives moving through the area of Montgomery County were Shawnees on their way to aid Delaware tribes in their war with the “Flatfeet.” Further details of this event are currently unknown, including whether any casualties were involved or how violent this “engagement” with Natives may have been.

Hermanus married Isabella Conrad (known as “Civilia”), daughter of Peter Conrad, late in 1708.  She was also born in or near Kaldenkirchen, Germany. According to the town census of 1756, Hermanus owned 150 acres of land, 50 of which were cleared. Two of his sons, Paul and John, rented farms on this land from him.  

Hermanus died between Feb 1 and 20 in 1760.  His will is long and “full of minute particulars,” especially in regards to the many comforts and allowances he required to be maintained or his “well beloved Wife Isabella Kuster.” Among these stipulations were that she have free occupation of his home, have a 10 pound annuity, be provided ample firewood, crops, and apples, a cow, a garden, and that their sons must upkeep her home.  The executors of the will were his wife, his son Peter, and his son-in-law Henry Pennebacker. 

Hermanus and Isabella are likely buried in the graveyard of the “Old Mennonite Church at Skippackville,” but no stones exist to confirm their resting place.

Children of Hermanus and Isabella

1. Peter Kuster is discussed here. 

2. Gertrude married Henry Umstadt.

3.  Margaret married Gesbert Bohrs.

4. Modlen married Henry Tyson. Their children were Isabella and Barbara.

5. John was born around 1715 and died in 1795. 

John’s first wife was Ester, and they had one daughter named Mary Custer. Mary was born around 1750 and died around 1800.  She married Matthias Pennebaker on May 24, 1768.

John’s second wife was Catherine Miller. Their first son, John Custer, was born in 1785 and married Magdalena Miller of Norriton.  Ther second son, Daniel Custer, was born October 7, 1787, died November 21, 1863, and married Magdalenda Smith.

6 Rebecca was born around 1718. She married Henry Pennbacker, born 1717, the son of Henry and Eve Umstat Pennebaker.

7. Paul was born around 1721 and died in 1795. He lived in Skippack and married Gertrude Johnson. Their son, John Custer, was born on June 21, 1759 and died on October 24, 1824.