• Born: November 4, 1760, likely in Perkiomen
• Died: January 1799 in Worcester
• Buried: Unknown
• Spouse: Margaret Shutt
  • Born: About 1760
  • Died: 1801
  • Parents: George Shott & Anna Barbara Laurin
• Married: 1784?
• Children: Peter, Catherine, Harman*, Nathan, William

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Peter is one of those individuals who went through life without leaving much of a paper trail – not that this was a huge feat in the late 1700’s.  With the exception of some local tax and census records listing “Peter Custer” residing in Worcester Township, I have found no further documentation of his life. 

The names and dates associated with Peter come almost entirely from others’ public family trees on Ancestry.com, and so their validity must be taken with a grain of salt.

Peter’s birthdate is listed as November 4, 1760.  His marriage date is also listed as November 4, but in 1784. Was Peter married on his 24th birthday? Perhaps; but what calls the marriage date into question is the fact that two of Peter and Margaret’s children would then have been born out of wedlock, if their birthdates are correct. This is a scenario that is certainly possible, but is not one that is commonly seen at this time in history.  Most eighteenth- and nineteenth century families would have hid such an event by placing the “illegitimate” children with other family members to be raised or forcing the couple to be married as soon as a pregnancy was discovered. 

Peter spent his life in Montgomery County and was likely a farmer. Peter married Margaret Shutt (~1760-1801). She was the daughter of George “Shott” (1742-1788) and Anna Barbara Laurin (1740-1812).

The location of Peter and Margaret’s burial is unknown. If they were buried in one of the Mennonite cemeteries like others in the family, their stones are either missing or illegible.

Children of Peter and Margaret

1 Peter Custer was born on March 3, 1782 and died in 1832. Like many of his forefathers, he was a farmer.  He married Esther Morgan (1785-1850) and their children were Hannah, James, and Catharine.

2 Catharine Custer was born in 1784 and died in 1853. She married Jacob Derricks (1776-1860)

3 Harman Custer is discussed here.

4 Nathan Custer was born on October 1, 1791 and died on February 11, 1873. He is buried in the Methacton Mennonite cemetery. He married Catharine Winston (Aug 27, 1795 – April 2, 1868).

5 William Custer was born around 1795 and died on February 4, 1849. He married Mary Walker (1799-1864) in 1815. They had two children who are known of: William, and Henry, who we will meet again in discussion of Harman Custer’s family.