Conrad Roth/Catharina Billheimer and Family

Conrad Roth was born August 27, 1752. I have seen numerous informational sources regarding him as Johan Conrad Roth and others as Conrad Roth. My guess would be that he dropped the Johan to better fit into American society (a common practice). It is not known where Conrad was born, but my two best guesses would be either Germany or around Northampton PA. In collaboration with another researcher I have learned of the possibility that Conrad's father was Jacob Roth and lived in Hamilton PA. Supposedly Jacob was killed in an Indian attack. After the attack Conrad's mother/family moved to Northampton PA.  However, there is no hard documentation supporting this hypothesis. 

Like most people living in rural parts of Pennsylvania Conrad probably made a living as a farmer.

Conrad and his wife Catharina were members of the Salem Lutheran and Reformed Congregations church in Mooretownship Northampton County Pennsylvania . The extensive records found at this church provided detailed information about important events in Conrad and Catharina's lives. Some of the events that were recorded were births, deaths, and baptisms of their children. Conrad and Catharina had eight children; their names were Christian Roth, Johann Jacob Roth, Peter Roth, Anna Barbara Roth, Elisabeth Roth, Daniel Roth, Anna-Maria Roth, and Johannes Roth. Notice the use of Johannes/Johan, Jacob, Christian, Maria, and Barbara as names of their children. The use of these names are interesting because it was common practice to name children after themselves, parents, brothers/sisters and other loved ones. Their son Christian was probably named after Catharina's brother Christian Billheimer. More interestingly is the fact that their eldest son was named Johann Jacob Roth (remember the above hypothesis?).  In the church records there is a list of people who attended various events and one interesting name that consistently popped up was Margaretha Roth the wife of Christian Billheimer. Is it possible that Margaretha was Conrad's sister?  If this was the case the Billheimer family and the Roth family would be connected with two marriages. Another interesting name that was found in the church records was "Catharina wife of Adam Roth" who attended Conrad's Communion on at least two occasions. Could Adam Roth be Conrad's brother? 

According to the Pennsylvania Archives volume VIII (fifth series), which is found in the Godfrey Memorial Library, Conrad Roth was a member of the Pennsylvania Militia. More specifically, he served under Captain Jacob Heller in Second Battilion of the third company during the years 1781 and 1782 (at least these two years). Conrad's rank was 2nd class. Interestingly Conrad served with a man named Jacob Werner whose daughter (Susanna) would eventually marry Conrad's son Peter Roth. 

Conrad Roth's Will provides a great deal of information about many things such as his children, his estate, and his life. It states that Conrad died in Bushkill Township in Northampton PA.  Conrad wanted his "plantation" to be rented and that the rent earned would be used to support Catharina after his death. However, Conrad also gave Catharina the option to sell the plantation if she wanted. Catharina also received two cows, two sheep, a Bay Mare, her choice of furniture and a "riding chair".  Apparently Conrad owned a small tract of land (in addition to his plantation) on which he owed money so he instructed his executors to sell off the remaining estate to pay off that debt. After the death of Catharina the remaining estate was to be divided into equal shares and given to his eight children. In addition, his five sons were to receive 50 pounds each after the death of Catharina. This Will was written August 14th 1814 and proved on March 28th 1815.  Both Conrad and Catharina are buried in the Salem Lutheran Reformed cemetery.  

I found a Federal tax list of people living in Moore Township in the year 1785. In this tax list there is a Conrad Rath. Rath may have been Roth misspelled. If this is the case (which I am 95% sure of) Conrad owned 50 acres of land, two cows and paid seven pounds of federal tax in 1785. Jacob Werner is on this same tax list which provides some credibility to the above assumption since Conrad and Jacob lived close to each other. In another document I came across Conrad Roth was a witness in the Will of Gottlieb Bauer, they were probably old buddies. Gottlieb's son Henry Bouer married Conrad's daughter Anna-Maria. Note: I am assuming that Henry Bauer was Gottlieb's son.  

According to the 1790 Federal Census, Conrad lived in Plainfield Township, Northampton, PA. The household consisted of Conrad, Catharina, and one other female. In the same census on the previous line was Conrad's son Jacob Roth. This indicates they lived very close to one another. Jacob at the time had five males and three females living in his household besides Jacob and his wife. Jacob's Will, which was written on April 5th 1829, states that there were four sons and three daughters.  One of the witnesses of the Will was Joseph Bauer. The numerous Bauer/Roth connections signal a strong relationship between the Roth and the Bauer families. 

According to the 1800 Federal Census, Conrad still lived in Northampton PA. In his household there were four other males and three other females besides Conrad and Catharina. 

According to the 1810 Federal Census, Conrad lived in Plainfield Township, Northampton, PA. On the census Christian Roth, David Roth and Conrad Roth are listed next to each other thus are possibly neighbors. In the household there was one male and one female that lived with Conrad and Catharina. 

Catharina Billheimer was born around 1750 in Germany. She died around 1835. Her father was Hans Michael Billheimer and her mother's name was probably Barbara. They immigrated to the United States sometime after 1750. Many researchers believe that they came from Pflozheim Baden Germany.