Page News & Courier
Heritage and Heraldry
The Roudabush Family of Page County, Part I
Article of August 16, 2001
Among the masses of emigrants from the Palatinate of Germany in the early 18th century was a man by the name of Hans Heinrich Raudenbusch. Born in Steinsfurt, Germany around 1712, he was the grandson of Hans Peter Raudenbusch.
The earliest professional miller to whom the Raudenbusch lines can be traced at present, Hans Peter (also the Courtier of Steinsfurt, Baden-Wurttemberg) had been born prior to 1600 and continued to operate a mill throughout the 30 Years War (1618 � 1648). For this amazing feat, the Kurphaz Government paid homage to him by giving him the flourmill. Hans Peter died October 17, 1657 in Reihen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.
It is interesting to note that this family profession would carry on for over 300 years and well into the 20th century!
Alas, I digress, back to Hans Heinrich - he arrived (apparently with other family members) in Philadelphia on September 30, 1732 aboard the good ship Dragon. It is uncertain if he arrived with his wife or, that soon after arrival, he married Anne Maria Becker. Nevertheless, by 1743, he was warranted 150 acres along the Great Conawago Creek in York (now Adams) County. Seven years later, Heinrich/Henry was warranted yet another 200 acres nearby.
According to a very good descendant maintained website (http://www.habersack.com/geneology/hhr.htm), Henry�s reasons for settlement in this area appeared to be �religious in nature.� Specifically, �Henry was a member of the Church of the Brethren (German Baptist or Dunkard), and one of the first churches of that denomination in America was established around 1741, also near the Great Conawago Creek. Henry was one of the founding members. This congregation still exists and is known today as �Mummert's Meeting House.��
A constable in 1757, supervisor of highways in 1761, overseer of the poor in 1768, Henry was an active member in the community in Berwick Township, Pennsylvania. Though his sons may have served in a militia organization or even an regiment of the line, when the American Revolution came around, Henry remained firm in his religious beliefs as a Brethren and pacifist and refused to take the Oath of Loyalty. Henry died on February 5, 1784.
One of Henry�s sons, Jacob, is the key tie to the line of Roudabush families that later came to the Shenandoah Valley. A brother of his � John � also came to Virginia but the last name was changed in his line, beginning with him, to RUEBUSH. Though John died while living near Hagerstown, his widow and children settled near Frieden�s Reformed Church near Mt. Crawford in Rockingham County.
But back to Jacob - born in Adams County ca. 1752, he married by the 1770s to Anne Rickstacker and lived in Berwick Township through 1795. Moving to Rockingham County, Virginia, Jacob was listed in reference to a deposition being taken December 2, 1806 as living �at the sign of Cross Keys.�
As a sidenote that may tie to this family, on his way home from the Ohio Valley at some point, George Washington stayed several days in Rockingham County at the home of a family known as �Rudiborts.�
Jacob did not stay long in Virginia. By 1810 he had moved his family to Strabane Township in Pennsylvania. Another eleven years later, he moved yet again to Washington, Carroll County, Ohio. A member of the Whig Party and member of the Disciples of Christ Church, he died in 1837. He and his wife were buried near the farm that they built at Washington.
More to follow . . .
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