Individual Details

Witmeyer file:
Christian was born and raised on his parents' farm in Middle Creek, Warwick Twp., Lancaster Co. He was 6 years old when his father, JOHN HERCHELROTH died. CHRISTIAN was raised by his widowed mother, CATHERINE CORPHANS HERCHELROTH.
CHRISTIAN was 26 years old when he married his first wife. They had one child, Juliana. When he was 36 years old (1777) he purchased a house & lot on Prussian St. (now Main St. - the name was changed during WW I when people were unhappy with German names!) in Manheim, Lancaster Co. (Deed book BB Vol.2 p.536 LCCH). His occupation at that time was blacksmith and he no doubt set up his blacksmith shop at the rear of the property, which ran along Wolf St. (In those days the blacksmith not only shoed the horses but also made pots and pans, nails, tools, carriage and wagon parts, weather vanes, boot scrapers, door latches and hinges.) In 1779 he is listed on the Lancaster County tax records as owning 1 horse & 1 head of cattle (PA Archives, Series III, Vol. 17, p. 678).
This was at the time that America was fighting the Revolutionary War. According to the DAR records CHRISTIAN became a "Lieutenant in Captain Noah Ceasey's Company, 5th Class, 7th Battalion, Lancaster Co. Militia, commanded by Col. Alexander Lowrey, 1781-1783". In 1784 the Pa. Archives, 6th Series, Vol.3, p.507 states that "CHRISTIAN HERKELROD served Capt. George Gantze's Co. 3rd of the 4th Bat. of Lancaster under command of Lt. Col. Jacob Cook-1784-6th Class."
CHRISTIAN HERCLEROTH was on the "List of Public House keepers recommended at the August session 1783 for the County of Lancaster."
On 17Mar1789, when CHRISTIAN was 48 years old and CHRISTINA BARTRUFF was 25 years old they were married at the First Reformed Church in Lancaster, Pa., by Rev. John William Hendel.
They were married for 37 years when CHRISTIAN died at the age of 83 in 1826. In his Will, CHRISTIAN stipulates that his executors should buy for his widow "a good house not above the value of Two hundred pounds --in which she shall have a right to live Free during her life if she remains my widow and no longer.--Also the yearly sum of Eighteen pounds the Interest out of the Principal sum of three hundred pounds and two Bedds and Bedsteds one Ten plated Stove & Pipe, one Milk Cow, one Table my Drawer and so much of my house and Kitchen furniture as may be suficient for one Person to Keep house --she shall have during her life if she remains my Widow and no longer." The rest of his estate was to be divided equally among his children. (Will 0, Vol.1, p. 412 LCCH)
An inventory was made of CHRISTIAN'S belongings and is on file at the Lancaster County Historical Society.

The Clothing of the deceased 5.00
48 Bushel of Corn 21.00
15 Bushel of wheat 12.00
one mare 29.00
one waggen 12.00
one card 8.00
4 hoggs 8.00
Wind mill & cutting box 12.00
One flax ? & old Coper Kitle 3.00
2 ploughs 5.00
one closeprop 1.00
one bed & bed stead 12.00
10 yd. Linnen 2.50
12 ? 4.50
2 Chests & Cotten ? 2.00
2 Beds & Bedsteads 20.00
4 yd. of Cloth 3.00
Wollen yarn and Flax 1.00
1 Hilyard 2.00
2 Market & ? 2.00
7 Sheep 5.00
one Cow 10.00
one Heiffer 10.00
a ten plate Stove & pipe 6.00
Old Barrel & ? 1.00
Bords 2.73
Old Horse ?,Saddles &
10 Bushel of Hay 6.00
Clover, Wheat & ray in the ground 106.00
Loan to neighbor 158.75
Interest up to 10Jan1826 173.85
Debts due by the Children of the
deceased entered in his book 504.40
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$989.98

CHRISTINA lived for 21 more years. She died in 1847. We don't know if she lived in the home provided by her husband or if she lived with one of her children. In her Will she only mentions several lots "situated near the Village of Manheim," which she left to her unmarried daughter Catherine and her grandchildren SARAH, John & Peter Arnold. (Will U, Vol. 1, P. 282 LCCH)

ADDITIONAL SOURCES
The Continental Army by Robert K. Wright, Jr.
The Pa. Dutch Craftsmen & Farmers by Eva D. Costabel
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Christian and Elizabeth had 7 children.
Christian and Christina had 7 children.

Birth	13 April 1741	Middle Creek, Clay Twp, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Marriage	8 September 1767	Reiher's Reformed Church, Brickerville, Lancaster, Pennsylvania - Elizabeth RIEHM
Deed	12 December 1774	Lancaster Co. Deed, Book Ee, P. 386
Deed	1777	Lancaster Co. Deed Book Bb, Vol. 2, P. 536
Marriage	17 March 1789	First Reformed Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania - Christina Sophia BARTRUFF
Deed	8 July 1799	Lancaster Co. Deed Book G, Vol. 3, P. 65
Probate	18 January 1826
Inventory	19 January 1826	Lancaster Co. Court House
Letters of Administration	19 January 1826	Lancaster Co., Bond Book C, Vol. 1, P. 149
Death	9 April 1826	Manheim Twp., Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Burial		Manheim Reformed Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Military		Revolutionary War Veteran, Lt - Pennsylvania
Occupation		blacksmith

Spouse	Christina Sophia BARTRUFF (1764 - 1847)
Child	Catherine HERGELROTH (1789 - 1848)
Child	Elizabeth HERCHELROTH (1793 - 1827)
Child	Susanna HERGELROTH (1795 - 1874)
Child	Magdelena HERGELROTH (1796 - 1880)
Child	Sarah HERGELROTH (1798 - )
Child	Salomi HERCHELROTH (1800 - )
Child	John Bartruff HERGELROTH (1804 - 1891)

Spouse	Elizabeth RIEHM ( - )
Child	Julianna HERCHELROTH (1769 - )

Father	Johannes HERCHELROTH (1714 - 1762)
Mother	Maria Catherine (1710 - 1777)
Sibling	Anna Elizabeth HERCHELROTH (1737 - )
Sibling	Lorentz HERCHELROTH (1739 - 1804)
Sibling	Johannes HERCHELROTH (1740 - )
Sibling	Juliana HERCHELROTH (1741 - )
Sibling	Johannes Heinrich HERCHELROTH (1746 - 1814)

Notes