- Born: 1644 Kaldenkirchen or Crefeld, Germany
- Died: 1707 Germantown, PA
- Buried: Germantown Mennonite Cemetery
- Immigrated: 1684
- Spouse: Gertrude Streypers
- Born: 1645 Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
- Died:1707 Germantown, PA
- Buried: Germantown Mennonite Cemetery
- Married: unknown
- Children: Arnoldus, Johannes, Hermanus*, Elizabeth
Paulus was born in 1644 in either Kaldenkirchen or Crefeld, Germany, near the border of Holland.
He married Gertrude Streypers, the daughter of another Mennonite family. The names of her parents are unknown, but she had two brothers named Willem (or Willhelm) and Johannes (or Jan). In that region, especially so close to Holland, it was common for first-born sons to be given their father’s name. If this is the case, it is likely that Gertrude’s father was also Jan or Johannes. Gertrude’s mother’s maiden name was Op den Graeff.
In 1684, Paulus traveled to Philadelphia with his wife, Gertrude, and their four small children: Arnold, Johannes, Hermanus, and Elizabeth. They were among 29 other Mennonite and Quaker families traveling from the Crefeld region via Rotterdam to Philadelphia. Theirs is considered the second migration. The first migration of thirteen families from Crefeld, including Gertrude’s brother Willem and several of her Op de Graeff cousins, sailed on the ship “Concord.” This first group arrived in Philadelphia on October 6, 1683; it is not known what date Paulus and the rest of the second migration arrived in the New World.
Like many of the original Mennonite and Quaker settlers, it is likely that Paulus and his family initially lived in Philadelphia, at the time a city of about 600 homes, before settling in Germantown. We know that Paulus and his family moved to Germantown in or before 1693, at which time Paulus appears on a Germantown tax list. As for exactly where in the original layout of Germantown Paulus and his family lived, this is uncertain. It is likely that the family lived on some of the land owned by Gertrude’s brother Jan, or land owned by her Op de Graeff cousins. We do know that Paulus purchased his own 50 acres from Henry Bucholz on December 4, 1704, but “Paulus Kuster” does not appear on a map of Germantown plots. The closest name is Paul Kestner which, though similar, is not a typical variant on “Kuster.”
While Germantown was home to many skilled weavers and became renowned for its linens and textiles, Paulus was a mason by trade. He also became an important member of the growing town. He was chosen to be a committeeman of the Corporation of Germantown on December 2, 1700 and was appointed the Overseer of Fences on January 5, 1706.
Paulus died in 1707. He declared his will on his deathbed, leaving his entire estate to his “loving wife Gertrude Kuster” (Storer p. 11). Gertrude, however, is said to have died only a few days later.
Children of Paulus & Gertrude
Paulus and Gertrude traveled from Germany to Pennsylvania with four children. While there is no record of any additional children, it is possible that the couple had other daughters who went unrecorded or other children who died young.
1. Arnold Kuster was born in Crefed, Germany around 1669 in Germany and traveled to Pennsylvania with his parents. He was a bricklayer by trade and lived in Germantown for several years. He was a member of the Mennonite Church at least as of 1708 and was asked to be a Committeeman, “but because of conscientious scruples against taking the necessary oath in court he declined the honor” (Storer, 48).
In 1714 he bought 316 acres in Manatawney from John Henry Sprogell. He died in Manatawney, Pennsylvania in 1739.
Arnold married Elizabeth Rebecca Sellen (according to the Geneanet online genealogy on General Armstrong Custer). Their line connects to George Washington, as outlined below.
Arnold & Elizabeth’s Children:
- Conrad Custer, who married Susannah Adams.
- Paul Custer, born between 1718-1720. In 1740 he married Sarah Ball, who was second cousins with George Washington.
- George Custer, who married Mary Roades at Christ Church in Philadelphia on June 28, 1730 or 1731.
- Nicholas Custer was a blacksmith whose wife’s name was Susanna.
- Arnold Custer married Barbara.
- Catherine Custer married Thomas Jenkins.
- Dorothy Custer was unmarried.
- Hannah Custer was unmarried.
2. Johannes Koster became a Quaker and also changed the spelling of his last name. He was born in Crefeld on December 10, 1670 and died in Germantown in 1708. He married Elizabeth Cassel in 1692 at the Abington Meeting of Friends.
Johannes was the constable of Germantown in 1695, 1696, and 1697 and was one of the burgesses of the town in 1707. He purchased 100 acres of land from John Henry Sprogell and Thomas Tresse on March 23, 1704 in the Manor of Springfield, Germantown. At the time of his death he owned a good deal of property both in the country and within the city of Philadelphia, but his home was in Germantown. He died 6 months after the death of his father.
Johannes’s wife, Elizabeth Cassel, also came from an important family. She was born in 1663 in Germany and died on January 8, 1728 in Germantown. Her parents were Johannes and Mary Cassel. Along with her parents and siblings, Elizabeth arrived in Philadelphia on November 20, 1686 after a seven-month voyage aboard the ship “Jefries.” They departed Kriegsheim, Germany on March 20, 1686. Like many of the first residents of Germantown, her father was a weaver. Johannes Cassel was among those who signed the application for a charter for the Borough of Germantown, and was one of the members of the first council of Germantown. Johannes was the son of Julius (or Telles) Cassel of Kriegsheim. More about the Cassel family can be found in “A Genealogical History of the Cassel Family in America: being the descendants of Julius Kassel.
Johannes and Elizabeth’s children were:
- John Koster was born in 1693 and died in 1760. He married Elizabeth Hood.
- Margaret Koster was born August 13, 1694.
- Rynier Koster was born May 26, 1696.
- Hermanus Kester was born January 11, 1703. He married Ann (last name unknown) who was born on May 29, 1712.
- Arnold Koster was born around 1710-1712. He married Rachel Coffing on April 28,. 1737. He died on August 2, 1753.
- Abigail Koster married William Browning on January 21, 1748.
G. Samuel Koster married Ann Thomas on December 5, 1747. Their daughter, Rachel, died at 10 months of age and was buried in the Friends’ Burial Ground. Samuel Died in 1751. - Dorothy Koster married Daniel Tool in 1744.
- Charity Koster married Uriah Humbell in 1735.
3. Hermanus Kuster is discussed here.
4. There is not much record of Eva, or Elizabeth, Kuster. She married Gaedschalk Godschalk.
Leaves on the Tree 