FIFTH GENERATION

14. Abraham (Adam) REICHERT ⁽²⁾ was born about 1738 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.⁽¹¹⁾ The exact birthday of Adam Reichert has not been established definitely. As his father and mother did not come to america untill 1732 and he died in 1823, then beleved to have been about 85 years of age. He was the first American-born son of Rudolph reichert and Esther Taube. He was educated, either at home or in a neighborhood school, Adam continued to use the Gothic alphabet and German language. adam was capable of writing as his signature to deeds and marriage bonds of his children indicates; and his father, Rudolph, signed petitions and ship list. It appears the family continued speaking German at least to some degree untill Jacob crossed the mountains to Kentucky about 1800 when his wife, Peggy ann Dehaven (En DeHoffen) Riherd, according to family legend, ruled that the family would thereafter converse only in English. He served in the military between 1775 and 1777 in Captain Henrich Huhler's Company, Lower Milford, of Bucks County, of the Pennsylvania State Militia. ⁽¹²⁾ He Migrated about 1786 in Berkeley County, Virginia.⁽¹³⁾ Adam and Elizabeth reichert moved with their family containing probably eight of their ten children to the area of Frederick and Berkeley county, Va. near then smithfield, Va., and now Middleway, west Virginia.

Adam had located at the northern mostt part of the Shenandoah Valley just across the Potomac river near the Pennsylvania and Viginia state boundary. He remained there for at least five years. He Purchased LandP on 24 Mar 1796 in Opechon River area.⁽¹⁴⁾ Paid 120 pounds current money of Virginia.
The Opechon River is a tributary of the Potomac river and was an area populated by numerous Palatine families and Lutheran churches.
This land was purchased from Caleb Seal who was clerk of the local court responsible for recording deeds. The land was located in Fredrick county, Va., near Smithfeild, Va. (now Middleway, W. Va.).
Adam owned this land only for about two years, as he and his wife Elizabeth deeded it December 22, 1798, to George Bruce for the sum of 140 pounds (a profit of 20 pounds).
Adam was moving to the south across the state from near the Pennsylvania-Viginia line down the Shenandoah Valley to make his final settlement in Franklin County, Va., on the Foul Ground Branch of the blackwater River north of the Virginia-North Carolina Boundary. This is very near Standifer Creek where the Dehavens and future in-laws lived. He Purchased LandP on 30 Jan 1799 in Franklin County, Virginia.⁽¹⁵⁾ He purchased 640 acres of land for 135 pounds, leaving 5 pounds difference in the purchase price of the Berkeley County and franklin County Land. Adam purchased in two separate deeds land in Franklin County, Virginia. One tract was a conveyance from Isham Blankenship of 50 acres on Foul Ground Branch. The other tract was from Zachariah Blankenship and his wife, edy, for 590 acres on the Foul Ground Branch. These are ajacent tracts of land; and when totaled, the result is 640 acres which would be a square mile or section of land. The purchase price was 35 pounds for the 50 acres and 100 pounds for the 590 acres. (Deed Book 3, pp. 661, 662, Office of Clerk of Franklin County, Virginia.) Both deeds bear the same date.

The Sky-Line Drive of the Blue Ridge Parkway traverses very near where Adam purchased this property. Foul Grund Branch and Adam's homesite are four miles east of Rocky Mount off Highway 40 (North on County Road 671 and 655 about two miles from Standifer Creek). He signed a will on 15 Jun 1819 in Franklin County, Virginia. ⁽¹⁶⁾ WILL OF ADAM RIHERD
In the name of God Amen, I, Adam Riherd, of the County of Franklin and the State of Virginia being old and infirm though of sound memory calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life do make this my last will and testament. In the first place I do commit my Soul to God who gave it me and my body to the dust from whence it came desiring my body be buried in a christian like manner.
Secondly as to my worldly goods which God has blest me with after paying all my just debts and burial expenses I do leave with my Wife for her benefit during her natural life the whole of my Estate both real and personal and after he death the remaining part to be sold for the best price it will bring and equally divided between all my children except my daughter Barbara Ryherd late Barbara Arthur (viz) to my son Peter Ryherd Lewis Ryherd Jacob Ryherd Mary Ryherd late Katherine Houseman Eve Ryherd late Eve Houseman Peggy Ryherd late Peggy Webster Madlenar Ryherd late Madlenar Dillion Elizabeth Bowman.
Thirdly I do give to my daughter Barbara Ryherd late Barbara Arthur one dollar as her part for reasons best known to my self also I do appoint my good friend Peter Houseman my Executor to act and transact all my business in witness hereof I set my hand and affix my seal this 15th day of June 1819.
His
Adam Ryherd (seal)
Mark
Attest
John W. Lumsden A.L.
Davis Houseman
Charles Lumsden I. July 11th day of May1823.

At a Court held for franklin County at the Courthouse the 5th day of May 1823.

In obedience to a decretal order from the worship County Court of Franklin County to us directed we the unsigned Commissioners first being sworn have this day proceeded to examine & settle the account current of Peter Housman Executor of Adam Ryherd Decd-and find the Executor indebted to the Estate $1013.18 cents as may be seen by acct herewith exhibited and divided the same equally between the legatees as follows To Peter Ryherd $112.57-1/2 to Lewis Ryherd $112.57-1/2 to Jacob Ryherd $112.57-1/2 to Mary Helper $112.57-1/2 to Elizabeth Bowman $112.57-1/2 to Catherine Housman $112.57-1/2 to Eave Housman $112.57-1/2 to Peggy Webster $112.57-1/2 and to madlener Dilon $112.57-1/2 Given from under our hand this 15th day of June 1826

John M Holland
Joseph Smith
Kermell C Gibbert


The will and estate settlement papers of Adam Riherd are on record in the Franklin County clerk's Office at Rocky Mount, Va. The will, inventory and appraisement, report of sale and settlement are set forth at length. The will definitely identifies Adam's ten children. The report of sale of a portion of his personal property shows his children and neighbors who purchased items.
Samuel Dillon, Jesse Dillon, Davis Housman, Henry Kesler, Meredith Dillon, George Webster, Peter Housman, Reese Dillon, Marlin Dillon and Gabriel Mattox--all listed as purchasers at the sale--are son-in-laws or descendants of Adam's daugthers. Charles Lumsden was a neighbor and witness to Adam's will.
He died in 1823 in Franklin County, Virginia.

He was married to Elizabeth SLEIN on 22 May 1759 in St Paul's Lutheran Church at Red Hill, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.⁽¹⁷⁾ Red Hill Lutheran Church records show Adam married Elizabeth Slein on 22 May, 1759. Further, Red Hill Church records set forth eight of the births of their 10 children. All ten children are listed in his will of record in Franklin County, Va., (Will Book 2, p. 535). It is believed the occupation of Bucks County by Revolutionary War armies, bot Continental and British, interfered with the recording of the births of two of Adam's children in church records.
All of Adam's children were born in Bucks county, Pa. while Adam lived on his father Rudolph's farm with his mother' Esther, and his brother, George.

Apparently, allof the remaining children continued to live in Adam's home when about 1792 he moved to Berkeley County, Va. (now West Virginia) located near Shepardstown, Va. (now Middleway, West Virginia). Elizabeth SLEIN⁽²⁾ died in 1823 in Franklin County, Virginia. Abraham (Adam) REICHERT and Elizabeth SLEIN had the following children:

+21 i. Peter REICHERT\RIHERD.
22 ii. Anna Maria REICHERT\RIHERD⁽²⁾ was born on 21 Jun 1761 in Pennsylvania. She was baptized on 5 Jul 1761 in St Paul's Lutheran Church at Red Hill, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Sponsor or Godparent: Anna Maria Brucken (in)
+23 iii. Johan Leonhart (Lewis) REICHERT.
+24 iv. Mary Elizabeth REICHERT\RIHERD.
25 v. Eva Catherine REICHERT\RIHERD was born on 9 Oct 1774 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. ⁽¹⁸⁾ Obviously, this first born child given this name most probably died. Her birth is recorded in the Red Hill Lutheran Church records. She died. Probably died in infancy
+26 vi. Maria Barbara REICHERT\RIHERD.
+27 vii. Catharina REICHERT\RIHERD.
+28 viii. Jacob REICHERT\RIHERD.
+29 ix. Mary Madlenar (Polly) REICHERT\RYHERD.
+30 x. Eva Catharina REICHERT\RIHERD.