Individual Details
George RAU Sr.
(1723 - 1780)
George RAU arrived at Philadelphia on the ship "Phoenix" from Rotterdam on 1 OCT 1754. Captain John SPURRIER was in charge of the 554 passengers "inhabitants from Francona, the Palatinate and Zweibrucken, seventeen Roman Catholics, twenty-five Mennonites"(1.) included. George RAU took the oath of allegiance in Philadelphia, then he and his wife Mary Magdalene and two infant sons, John and George, Jr., proceeded to Northumberland County of Pennsylvania.
"On 18 MAY 1774, he was granted a warrant of survey for 50 acres of land in Northumberland (now Snyder) County. He was assessed for the first time in Penn Twp. in 1776. It is believed that he became a resident on his land soon after the granting of the warrant and lived there until his death. This tract of land lay back (north) of the present Salem (RAU's) Church. His wife was named Mary Magdalene. George Jr. and John were their sons and both Revolutionary soldiers." (2.)
(1.) Rupp, Daniel Israel, Thirty Thousand names of Immigrants, p. 334
(2.) Fisher, Dr. Charles Adams, Snyder County Pioneers
Events
| Birth | 1723 | Baden, Germany |  | ||
| Marriage | Mary Magdalene KRAMER | ||||
| Death | 1780 | when killed by Indians - Buffalo Valley, Northumberland Co., PA |  | | |
| Military | 1780 | |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Magdalene KRAMER ( - ) |
| Child | John RAU (1749 - ) |
| Child | Ludwig RAU ( - ) |
| Child | Jacob RAU ( - 1795) |
| Child | Martin RAU ( - 1805) |
| Child | George RAU Jr. (1751 - 1815) |
Notes
Death
George was one of the first persons buried in the Rau's (Salem) Cemetery and his grave is marked. The tombstone inscription on the monument erected to George ROW, who gave 50 acres for the founding of the Lutheran Church, and is now in the graveyard back of the "Rauen Kirchen" at Salem, PA, reads:" George Row
Born 1723
Killed by Indians
1780
Der Ted Gewiss
Ungewiss der Tag,
Die Stunde Auch
Nieman Wissen Mag
Drum fuerchte."
The Translation from "Back to Yesteryear" column by Agnes Selin Schoch in the 1931 Selinsgrove Times reads: "Death cometh, Uncertain the day, The hour neither, No one knoweth of, Therefore fear."
Military
George ROWE, Sr. (RAU now) enlisted in a battalion of Northumberland County militia, commanded by Col. Peter HOSTERMAN. He was stationed at Foutz(focht's) Mill in Buffalo Valley in JUL 1780 and was wounded by the Indians in the defense of this place. A musket ball or rifle ball pierced his breast and he died within five hours after being wounded. He served as a Private in Captain Michael WEAVER's Company of the Northumberland Company Militia (Pennsylvania), and may have served in Lt. SPEE's party of Rangers. He was 58 years of age when he died.
Under Militia Loand of 1 APR 1784, a certificate of public debt, Number 5590, in the amount of L 1.2.6, was issued in the name of George ROWE for a tour of active duty in the Northumberland County Militia (PA) which he performed as a member of Captain Michael WEAVER's Company during the period 17-26 JUN 1780.
From:
Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 4, pgs. 379,552,692
Snyder County Pioneers by Dr. Fisher, page 77
Tombstone Inscriptions of Snyder County, PA 1903 - by George W. Wagonseller, page 213
Division of Archives and Manuscripts, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Endnotes
1. Wtk Rensberger, e-mail message from
2. Wtk Rensberger, e-mail message from