Parents: Abraham Lincoln & Rebecca (Nettles) Custer
Married: August 1, 1925
Children: Eleanor Grace
Born on September 15, 1900, Mabel Susan spent her whole life in East Greenville and Red Hill. A pioneer woman, she entered the teaching profession by the age of 19, graduated from “Westchester Normal School,” completing at least three years, and held multiple teaching certificates. In 1984, she was named a “Sustaining Member” of the Century Club of the Perkiomen School.
She married Russell Custer on August 1, 1925, after which she appears to have left the teaching profession for a simpler job as a sewer in the local dress factory. In 1930, the family lived at 319 State Street in East Greenville, and in 1940 they lived on West 3rd Street in Red Hill.
Mabel died on November 2, 1985 and is buried at Palm Schwenkfelder Church in Palm, PA.
Third grade photo of Mabel
Portrait of Mabel
Wedding of Mabel (far left) and Russell (far right) with Henry Sylvanus and Agnes (Schultz) Hunsberger (center) – August 1, 1925
Russell and Mabel
Marriage Certificate Mabel’s first teaching certificateMabel’s teaching certificate upon graduation
Parents: Henry Sylvanus & Agnes (Schultz) Hunsberger
Married: August 1, 1925
Children: Eleanor Grace
Russell Custer was born on November 28, 1892 in Parker Ford, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
At the start of the first World War, Russell was living in North Dakota and working as a well driller. On March 28, 1918, at the age of 26, he enlisted at Camp Dodge in Iowa. His enlistment paperwork describes him as having brown eyes, black hair, a ruddy complexion, and standing 5′ 8.5″ tall. His father, Abraham Lincoln Custer, was listed as next of kin, and living at 518 Staubridge St in Morrisstown, PA (an address which no longer seems to exist).
A Private First Class, Russell served in the Company F (listed I in some documents), 138th Infantry. Fortunately, he kept incredible records of his travels through France on a massive, fold-out map.
Russell saw some of the most intense days of the War. He was involved in the offensives in St. Michiel from September 11 – 18, 1918, and Argonne Meuse from September 26 – October 1, 1918. The latter was a 47-day long, bloody offensive that proved to be the bloodiest battle in US Army history but ultimately brought an end to the war.
In thanks for his service, Russell later received a medal from the French government, as well as a letter stating that his name was “inscribed on the Book of Gold of the Soldiers of Verdun.” The letter is signed by the President of the Association of Verdun, the President of the Gold Book, and the mayor of Verdun, Parliament member of the House.
Russell returned to the States aboard the ship Aeolus, which departed St. Nazaire on the West Coast of France on April 16, 1919. His Honorary Discharge and release from the Army was May 12, 1919. In 1925, he received $350 for his service.
Russell married Mabel Susan Hunsberger, a highly-educated (especially for a female of the time) school teacher, on August 1, 1925. They had one daughter, Eleanor Grace.
After the war, Russell was a tinsmith in Red Hill for 19 years, after which he worked for the Liquor Control Board for 17 years. When he retired, he was the manager of the Schwenkville State Store. According to his obituary, Russell was a member of numerous organizations, including Perkiomen Post 184, the American Legion, Veterans of WWI Pennsylvania Barracks 84, and he was a 60-year member of Odd Fellows Lodge 106 in Barlow, North Dakota.
Photos
Left to right: Mabel (Hunsberger) Custer, Rebecca (Nettles) & Abram Custer, Russell Custer. At the wedding of Russell & Mabel, August 1, 1925
Russell & Mabel, Easter 1961
Document Photos
Russell & Mabel’s Marriage Certificate
A map of France carried by Russell during World War 1. He marked in pencil the places he traveled to
Russell’s “Certificate of Birth World War Veteran”
Russell received a medal from the French for his participation in crucial battles in WWI
Buried: Oak Grove Cemetery, Parker Ford, Chester County PA
Spouse: Rebecca Nettles
Born: 1866
Died: 1940
Parents: Isaac & Ann Elizabeth Nettles
Married: November 21, 1885
Children: James, Anna, Russell*, Clyde, Lawrence
Abram was the eldest living child of Abraham Custer and Ann Forges. Though his given name was “Abram,” his granddaughter Eleanor Grace Custer says he preferred to go by “Abraham Lincoln.”
Abram was born sometime in 1861. The highest schooling he received was the eighth grade, but he was able to read and write. He married Rebecca Nettles on November 21, 1885.
Rebecca (Nettles) and Abram Custer (center) at the wedding of their son Russell (right) and Mabel Hunsberger (left)
During the 1900 and 1910 Censuses, the family lived in East Coventry Township in Chester County. At the time of the 1900 Census, Abram was a trolley conductor. After that, he worked for 25 years as a steam fitter at the State Hospital in Norristown. In 1920, the family lived at 518 Stanbridge St. in Norristown, perhaps closer to where Abram worked. At this time, the family also hosted a boarder named Lillie Coulston, age 47, a nurse working for private families. In 1930, the family was again in East Coventry, at 77 Schylkill Rd. A modern search for this address does not show a residential area, so either the road name and numbers have changed, or the house no longer exists. By the 1940 Census, Abram was a widower, living on South Cherry Hill Road in East Coventry.
Rebecca died on March 24, 1940. Abram died on January 15, 1947 in Red hill, presumably in the home of a family member. They are both buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Parker Ford, Chester County.
Children of Abram and Rebecca
1 James was born in 1886 and died on April 4, 1968 in Pottstown, Montgomery County. He married twice: first to Lottie May Kulp (1888-1932) and second to Christianna Diffenderfer Schott (1901-1964).
2 Anna was born in either 1887 or 1888. There are not many records available for her, but it appears that she married Carl Sprenger on June 25, 1910.
4 Clyde was born in 1895 and died of pneumonia at the age of about twenty in 1915. He is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Parker Ford, Chester County.
5 Lawrence was born on May 11, 1904 and died in April, 1973. He married Selma Hemighaus.
Photos
A modern photo of Abram & Rebecca’s Norristown home in 1920
Abraham was the first-born son of Harman and Catherine Custer, born on February 16, 1816. He was another Custer who was a farmer by trade.
Abraham’s first wife was named Mary, though her maiden name is not clear. She was born on January 10, 1813, and they were married on December 20, 1826 at Wentz Reformed Church. From the 1850 census we can infer that they had five children: Catharine, born around 1838, Ann, born around 1840, Jesse, born around 1843, James, who lived from 1846 to 1928, and Garman, born around 1850.
In 1850, Abraham and his growing family lived in Norriton, and his real estate was valued at $5,700. Also living with the family at this time were John Custer (most likely Abraham’s brother), John Neal, age 11, and Catharine Denner, age 15. Miss Denner’s family appears to have lived at the neighboring dwelling, and she was likely a housekeeper for the Custers.
Mary died on January 6, 1859, and is buried at Brownback’s UCC Cemetery in Spring City, Chester County, PA.
Abraham remarried in October, 1859. His second wife was Ann Forges, possibly also spelled Forbes. She was born on January 21, 1827. No record of her parents have been found.
In 1860, Abraham and Ann lived in East Coventry in Chester County, with property valued at $4,000.. Three of Abraham’s older children – Jesse, James, and Herman – lived with them and likely helped on the family farm. Abraham and Ann’s first child, Susan, was only two months old at the time of the census. Also living with the family were Samuel Forges, age 10 (or 7), and Catherine Forges, age 4, likely Ann’s siblings. Additionally, Julia Hummel, age 10, resided in the home, as well as a “domestic,” Margaret Rambo, age 14.
Abraham and Anna remained in East Coventry for at least the next twenty years. In 1870, their property value had increased to $5,500. While the older children were no longer at home, several young children were Abram, Ida, Sallie, and Ellie. Also living with the family were Ann’s siblings, Samuel and Mary Forges, both teenagers.
In 1880, Abram, Ida, Sallie, and 10-year-old Lyman were still at home, as were two boarders: Charles Lear, 24, a worker at a needle factory, and Susan Walker, 77, who suffered from paralysis.
Abraham died on May 4, 1886 and Ann died on June 29, 1899. They are both buried at Brownback’s UCC in Spring City.
Children of Abraham and Mary
1 Except for her appearance in the 1850 census and dates on Ancestry, there is not much information about Catharine. Her birthdate is given as December 27, 1837, and her date of death July 15, 1853.
2 Even less information exists about Ann. Oddly, family trees on Ancestry give her birth date as two days prior to Catherine’s, and her death date as the same as Catherine’s. This likely means that one or both of these sets of dates are incorrect. It’s possible that Ann died young (she does not appear in the 1860 census), and perhaps even on the same day as Catherine. These sisters were not twins, though, as the 1850 census shows their ages as 12 and 10.
3 If records are correct, Jesse was born on February 14, 1843 and died on November 20, 1902. This information is not certain, however, as there seems to have been another Jesse Custer living in the area at the same time, resulting in the crossing of some records
4 James was born on Feb 19 1847 and died on January 5, 1928. According to his death certificate, he was a bleacher at an underwear factory. He married Elizabeth Elliot.
5 Herman was born around 1850 and died October 22, 1912. He married Mary Elizabeth Shaffer.
Several of the above children were baptised in January, 1853.
Children of Abraham and Ann
1 Susan is only listed as a newborn in the 1860 census. The lack of any further mention of her suggests that she likely died very young.
3 Ida was born around 1865 and died on August 25, 1881.
4 Sallie was born around 1867 and died on October 23, 1935. She married Henry Wismer on March 4, 1899.
5 Ellie was born around 1868. The lack of any further mention of her suggests that she likely died very young.
6 Lyman was born on September 21, 1870 and died on July 3, 1931. He married Florence “Flora” Virginia Carl in 1893. He was a Post Master for Parker Ford.
Married: August 12, 1810 at St. James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen
Children: Margaret, Lydia, Abram*, Susanna, Mary, Philip, Levi, John, Anna
Catherine was a descendant of early Schwenkfelder immigrants. Though they were not among the earliest waves of immigration like our Krauss line, they nevertheless deserve more than a mention:
Catherine’s Great-Grandparents:
Abraham Beyer (E 184) was born around 1690 in Silesia. He married Rosina Yeakel (E 185), also a Silesian, who was born around 1699. Their children were Abraham, Andrew*, Anna Rosina, Anna Maria, George, and Susanna.
Abraham, Rosina, and their children immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1736. They sailed aboard the Perth Amboy in what is referred to as the “5th migration” of Schwenkfelters. In the New World, Abraham bought land in Worcester Township from Jacob Metz on March 26, 1736.
According to the Schwenkfelder Genealogy, Abraham “became identified with the Schwenkfelders, and many of his descendants have continued faithful adherents of this church.” Abraham, Rosina, and several of their children are interred in the Methacton Mennonite Cemetery. In this cemetery is also a large stone listing each of the Schwenkfeld immigrants buried there.
Catherine’s Grandparents:
Andrew Beyer (E 189), sometimes referred to as Andreas, was born in Silesia in 1733. He traveled to Pennsylvania with his parents in 1736. He married Philipina Weyand (sometimes spelled Wieand) on November 7, 1758 at New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church. Philipina was born in Montgomery County on November 3, 1737. The Schwenkfelder Genealogy says that they lived in Valley Forge. Their children included Susanna (1759-1764), Abraham* (1760-1832), Jacob (1762-1846), Wendell (1763-1779), Daniel (1765-1852), Andrew (1767-1845), Rosanna (1769-1818), and David (1771-1771).
Andrew died on April 19, 1773 around the age of forty and is buried in the Methacton Mennonite Cemetery. Philipina remarried to Heinrich Frick and died on December 22, 1814. She is buried at the Wentz UCC cemetery.
Catherine’s Parents:
Catherine’s father was Abraham Beyer, the second child of Andrew and Philipina. He was born on October 8, 1760. Tax records indicate he spent his life in and around Worcester Township. He married Catherine Richerd (1762-1825) in 1779. Abraham died on August 8, 1832. The burial place of Abraham and Catherine is currently unknown.
Married: August 12, 1810 at St. James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen
Children: Margaret, Lydia, Abraham*, Susanna, Mary, Philip, Levi, John, Anna
Like his father, Harman Custer seems to have lived a simple farmer’s life in Montgomery County, PA. Towards the end of his life he would have witnessed the Civil War.
Harman was born on July 2, 1788 in Worcester Township. He married Catherine Beyer on August 12, 1810 at St. James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen. Catherine was descended from Schwenkfelder immigrants from Silesia, and her family is discussed separately.
We learn a little about Harman and Catherine’s family from federal census records:
In 1850, Harman was 61 years of age, a farmer, and his real estate was worth $3000. Living with him and Catherine were their children Mary, Philip, Levi, and Ann.
In 1860, Harman was still working as a farmer, likely just farming his own land for his family’s sustenance, and his real estate was worth $4000. Living with him and Catherine were their children Mary (working as a tailoress), Philip, and Ann. Additionally, the family appeared to have been caring for three additional children: Eunice Haller, 8-year-old daughter of Lydia, and Mahlon Custer (age 6) and Catharine Custer (age 2), their grandchildren by John Custer and his first wife, Sara. In 1860, the family’s direct neighbor was Joseph Beyer, age 42, who perhaps was a relative of Catherine’s.
Catherine died on February 9, 1867, and Harman died on April 1, 1871 in Whitpain Township. They are buried in the Wentz UCC cemetery in Worcester.
Children of Harman and Catherine
1 Margaret Custer, their first child, lived only about a month and a half. She was born on February 6, 1811, and died on March 21, 1811.
2 Lydia Custer was born on January 11, 1812 in Worcester Township and died on December 30, 1895 in Chester County. She married George Haller (1807-1882) on December 16, 1847 at Norriton Providence Presbyterian. They had four children that are known of: John (1848-1893), Eunice (1850-1913), Lydia (1853-1881), and Absalom (1854-1935).
4 Susanna Custer was born on May 12, 1815 and died on March 12, 1881. She is buried in the Lower Skippack Mennonite cemetery. She married William Wanner (1802-1880). They had one known child, named Jesse Custer Wanner (1854-1935).
5 Mary Custer was born on June 23, 1817 and died on March 12, 1885. She married Jesse Davis (1808-1876) in 1838. Their children were Jacob, Nathan, Mary, Benjamin, Emma Catharine, and Hannah. Interestingly, Mary is included in her parents’ household in both the 1850 & 1860 censuses, and with her brother in the 1870 census, a span of time during which she was married and bearing children. Why she is listed at home with her parents and not with her husband and children is peculiar.
6 Philip Custer was born on January 2, 1821 and died on April 28, 1900. He married Margaret “Maggie” Hoffman (1818-1911) on June 2, 1887. At the time of their marriage, Philip was 66 and Maggie was 69 (though the marriage license lists Maggie as 49). Philip and Maggie are both buried in the Wentz UCC cemetery.
After his mother’s death, Philip seems to have become the caretaker of the family. The 1870 census lists him as “PB Custer,” a 49-year-old farmer, with his sisters Ann (39), the housekeeper, and Mary (53), who had no occupation. Also living with them were their father, Harman, who was then 82 and a “retired farmer,” and a 12-year-old Catharine Custer, whose parents were John Custer (Philip’s brother) and his first wife, Sara.
7 Levi Custer was born on March 25, 1825 and died on October 9, 1886. His Civil War draft card lists his occupation as mason. He married Sarah Auchey/Ache (1827-1893) on March 11, 1851 at Norriton Providence Presbyterian. They had two children: Naomi (born ~1852) and George (born ~1854). Levi and Sarah are buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Parker Ford, Chester County.
A map which shows the location of Levi Custer’s farm
8 John Custer was born on September 18, 1827 and died on May 11, 1886. His Civil War draft card lists his occupation as a farmer, and he spent much of his life in Norristown, Montgomery County.
A photo said to be of John Custer
John’s first wife was Sara Landis (1831-1859). They were married on October 16, 1852. They had four children: Mahlon (1854-1939), Sarah (1855-1938), Catharine (1857-1919), and Sallie (1859-1950). Sara died in childbirth and is buried in the Methacton Mennonite cemetery. Though Sallie survived and ended up living to the age of 91, her death certificate lists her cause of death as pneumonia, with “arterio sclerosis” and “senility” as contributing factors. As we now know, complications during childbirth can lead to life-long health problems and disabilities which, in the mid 1800’s, would simply have been called “senility.”
After Sara’s death, it seems their children went to stay with other family members. Mahlon and Catharine lived with their grandparents (Harmon and Catherine) for some time after their mother’s death, and Catherine lived with her uncle, Philip, at the time of the 1870 census.
At the time of the 1860 census, John is listed with the Rittenhouse family as a laborer on their farm. A widower, it is likely he boarded with the family as well. The following year, on May 9, 1861, he married the Rittenhouse’s daughter, Eliza (1831-1911). They had one child, Hannah (1863-1935).
9 Ann, or Anna, Custer was born on December 9, 1831 and died on September 8, 1909. She spent her life living with family members, mainly her parents and then her brother, Philip. On June 9, 1892, at the age of 60, she was married for the first time to her first cousin, Henry Custer. Henry was the son of William Custer (brother of Harman) and Mary Walker, and was 74 at the time of this marriage. By then, Henry was a widower; his first wife was Mariah Bowers (1816-1887) and they had seven children. It’s likely that the marriage of Ann and her cousin was not necessarily one of love, but rather a mutual arrangement affording them each both company and increased financial security in their final years. Born in 1818, Henry died in 1901.
A Mystery:
As a side note, in the Wentz UCC records of deaths & burials, there is an Abram Custer listed. His death date is April 14, 1900, and the cause of death appears to be “Accidental poisoning.” I am currently not sure who this Abram is, but he would have likely been around the same age as Harman & Catherine’s children.
Children: Peter, Catherine, Harman*, Nathan, William
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)
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.
Born: February 26, 1729 in Worcester, Montgomery County, PA
Died: January 26, 1800 in Skippack, Montgomery County, PA
Buried: Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery
Spouse: Eve Van Fossen
Born: May 24, 1734
Died: November 29, 1816
Parents: Adam (1703-1771) & Catharine (1705-1771) Van Fossen
Married: Around 1750
Children: Jacob, Catharine, Peter*, Anna, Henry, Mary, Levi, Cornelius
Harmon was the eldest son of Peter Custer & Ann Godschalk. His name sometimes appears as “Herman,” but most records and his gravestone are spelled “Harmon.”
Harmon spent his entire life in Worcester Township, though we do not know the details as to exactly where he lived or what his trade may have been.
He married Eve Van Fossen, around the year 1750. Eve, born on May 24, 1734, was the sister of Harmon’s brother Jacob’s wife, Elizabeth Van Fossen. Eve and Elizabeth also had a sister named Barbara. They were the daughters of Adam & Catherine Van Fossen.
Harmon served in the Revolution in 1781 alongside brothers and cousins. Their unit was drawn entirely from Worcester township: 6th Battalion, Third Company, Worcester Township, Philadelphia County Militia, under Captain Jonathan Lowry.
Harmon died on January 26, 1800. Eve died on November 29, 1816. They are buried at the Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.
Children of Harmon and Eve
1. Jacob Custer was born in the early 1750s. He may have died young, as no other information on his life is available.
2. Catharine Custer may have lived from 1756 to 1840. There are many records about a different “Catherine Custer,” except her married name was Custer and her maiden name was Golb. Due to the confusion regarding these two women with the same name, details about this Catherine’s life are scarce.
4. Anna Custer was born on June 3, 1762. She married Philip Beck (1773-1843) on September 13, 1804 at St James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen. She died on September 11, 1839. There is no record of any children.
5. Henry Custer was born on September 3, 1767. He married Mary Zimmerman (1765-1835) on December 9, 1803 at St James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen. He died on September 13, 1827. There is no record of any children.
6. Levi Custer was born on March 8, 1770. He married Elizabeth Zimmerman (1774-1832) on February 17, 1810 at St James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen. Elizabeth was the sister of Mary Zimmerman, wife of Levi’s brother Henry. Elizabeth and Mary’s parents were Jacob Engle & Elizabeth Supplee Zimmerman. Levi died on June 21, 1845 and is buried at the Lower Providence Baptist Church in Eagleville, Montgomery County. Levi and Eliabeth’s children were named Hannah (1811-1895) and Catharine (1813-1896).
7. Mary Custer was born on May 7, 1772. She married Matthias Brumbach (1776-1852) on October 25, 1801 at St James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen. She died on August 24, 1844. Their children were named Catharine, Mary Ann, and Lydia.
8. Cornelius Custer was born in November, 1774. He married Susanna Stouver (1783-1870) on February 10, 1803 at St James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen. Cornelius died on July 8, 1848 and is buried at the Worcester Mennonite Cemetery.
Buried: Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery (no stone)
Spouse: Ann Godschalk
Born: 1706
Died: Sept 28, 1768
Parents: Jacob Godschalk
Married: 1728
Children: Harmon*, Jacob, Else, John, Paul
Peter, the eldest son of Hermanus and Isabella, was born around 1709 in Germantown.
If he was indeed born around 1709, then he was only 17 or 18 years old in 1727 when he purchased 110 acres adjoining his father’s plantation in Worcester Township and settled down to farm it. The following year, he married Ann Godschalk of Towamencin, the daughter of an old family friend. Ann’s brother, Gaedschalk, married Paulus Kuster’s daughter, Eva.
Ann was the daughter of Jacob Godschalk, born around 1670 in a village called Gog, in the County Cleave in Holland. Early on in the history of the Mennonite settlements, Jacob gave land which became one of the earliest burial grounds for the community. Jacob was also a deacon and preacher of the German Mennonite congregation, and later went on to become Bishop.
In 1728, Peter purchased another 50 from George Lawrence. The “Elenor Custer” genealogy depicts his property as being secluded and peaceful. Peter and his oldest son, Paul, built a mill and a 2-story stone house, and the property featured a natural spring sheltered by a cave which provided water. Over time, he sold a small amount of land, with 110 acres remaining before his death.
Peter was a trustee of the Dutch Anabaptist Society, which later became the Methacton Mennonite Church. His sons Paul and Jacob were also trustees after him. The church was near Peter’s property and became the resting place of later generations of Custers.
The Methacton Mennonite Church still exists, and a brief history of the parish is recounted on its website:
“In 1739 the land was deeded to the Dutch Anabaptist Society for 5 shillings and thus begins the written record of the Methacton Mennonite Church. The first Meetinghouse was built prior to 1771, although the exact date is unknown. A second Meetinghouse was erected of stone in 1805 and used as a community school and place of worship. The third and present Meetinghouse was erected in 1873.” (Methactonmennonite.org)
Peter died on October 19, 1768. Ann died before he wrote his will. Peter left his entire 110 acre plantation to his youngest son, Paul. He gave 40 pounds to his daughter Else Stem. All “moveable property” was to be sold and shared between his five children.
Peter & wife likely buried in Skippack but no stones exist. Many early stones were rough cut with just initials
2. Jacob Custer was born on October 14, 1731 and died on December 14, 1804. He married Elizabeth Van Fossen on April 17, 1760. She was, the sister of Hermann’s wife, Eve Van Fossen. Elizabeth died on November 19, 1819. Both are buried in the Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.
He served in the Revolutionary War in 1781 alongside his brothers Harmon and Paul. They were in the 6th Battalion, Third Company, Worcester Township, Philadelphia County Militia, under Captain Jonathan Lowry.
Jacob & Elizabeth’s children were Peter (1764-1832), Samuel, Joseph, Jacob (1778-1854), Catherine, Mary, Ann, and Rebecca.
3. Else Custer was born around 1733 and died around 1759. She married Balzer Stame (Stem).
4. John Custer was born on October 14,1735 and died on February 22, 1794. He married Sarah (last name unknown).
5. Paul Custer was born around 1737 and died before the end of July, 1800. He married Elizabeth (last name unknown). Their children were John, Susanna, Mary, Peter, Jonas (who moved to Frederick County, Maryland), Ann, Elizabeth, and Sarah. He served in the Revolutionary War in 1781 alongside his brothers Harmon and Jacob. They were in the 6th Battalion, Third Company, Worcester Township, Philadelphia County Militia, under Captain Jonathan Lowry.
After Paul’s death, his oldest son, John, petitioned the court to partition the 150-acre estate (much of which had been in the family since 18-year-old Peter purchased it in 1727) so that it could be divided equally among Paul’s children. The court refused, “find it would be prejudicial to divide the real estate among the heirs.” The court awarded all 150 acres to John, who ultimately sold it to John Van Fessen.
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.
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.
Leaves on the Tree 