Jacob Rorer

M, #721, b. between 1780 and 1790, d. between 1840 and 1850
FatherJacob Rorer b. c 1758, d. 13 May 1828
ChartsDescendant Chart (Box)
Descendant Chart (Indented)
Ancestral Line of Laurence Frank Rorer
Ancestral Line of Jack H.Rorer
Last Edited6 May 2018
Possible Father* Who was Jacob Rorer's father? The compiler of this family tree has not found any written evidence naming the parents of Jacob Rorer (c.1785 – aft.1840).

Here is what is known:
     BIRTH DATE:
1820 census, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. age 25 - 44, birth year 1776 – 1795.1
1830 census, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. age 40 - 50, birth year 1780-1790.2
1840 census, Cheltenham, Montgomery, PA. age 50 - 60, birth year 1780 - 1790.3
Best guess: he was born between 1780 and 1790.     

     DEATH DATE: Appeared in the 1840 census3; does not appear in the 1850 census. His wife is listed as single and is living with son Edward in 1850.4
Best guess: he died between 1840 and 1850.

          
     MARRIAGE: On 23 Mar 1809 he was married to Sarah Stried/Street at St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA.5

     CHILDREN: On 26 Dec 1828, these children were baptized at St. Michael's Evangelical Church, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA:
     William born 1816
     Sarah born 1818
     Emily born 1820
     Edward born 1822     
     Lewis born 1825
     Jacob Isaiah born1827
They were the children of Jacob and Sarah Rohrer[sic]. The sponsor was their mother, Sarah.6

It seems strange that the couple were married seven years before having children. Perhaps there were children who did not survive long enough to be baptized or were baptized in a different church. It is possible that Sarah Stried/Street died and this was a second marriage to another woman named Sarah, although no other marriage records have been found for this Jacob Rorer.

The compiler has reviewed 1125 sources in the search for Rorer family information. Fellow researcher Paul Rorer, who lives in the Philadelphia area, has researched the Rorer family for approximately forty years. Neither of us has found deeds or a probate file in either Philadelphia or Montgomery Counties for this Jacob Rorer. In the search of 101 church records in Philadelphia County and 15 churches in Montgomery County and Paul's untold searches of church records, no baptismal record has been found for Jacob Rorer born between 1780 and 1790.

Both Paul and the compiler have discovered that everyone that we have found who spelled the surname without the "h", i.e, Rorer, and who lived in the Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks County vicinity during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are descended from one man: Heinrich, aka Henry, Rorer. Henry emigrated from Switzerland and arrived in Philadelphia in 1740.7 He was the father of five sons and three daughters.8 The only Rorer we have found in our research who we can not place on his descendant list is this Jacob Rorer.

Without a paper trail to explain his parentage, the compiler turned to Y-DNA testing. The compiler's father, L. Frank "Mickey" Rorer, is the second great grandson of the Jacob Rorer who is the subject of this memo. This has been proven through a paper trail. Paul Rorer is a fifth great grandson of the immigrant through Henry's son, John. This, too, has been proven through a paper trail. In order to see if DNA would support a connection of Jacob Rorer to the immigrant, Henry, the compiler had Y-DNA testing done on L. Frank Rorer. Paul Rorer graciously consented to having his Y-DNA tested to see if he matched Frank's DNA. A 67 marker test showed there was a match on 65 markers. Of the two which were a mismatch, one was on the fast moving marker CDY: Paul was 36-37 and Frank was 37-37. The other DNA difference was on DYS 534: Paul was 16; Frank was 17. Using the table at www.moseswalker.com/mrca/calculator.asp?q=2, the probability that these two men share a common ancestor at 6.8 generations is 75% and at 7.4 generations is 80%. Thus, it is highly probably that Frank and Paul share an ancestor within the past six or seven generations. If this Jacob Rorer was the son of one of the immigrant's sons, then the immigrant Henry would be a sixth generation ancestor of Frank and a seventh generation of Paul.

The immigrant Henry was born in 1718 and died in 1780.9 It is unlikely that he was the father of Jacob b. 1780-1790 as Henry already had a son named Jacob who was born c. 1758 and died 1828.10 A research report the compiler commissioned to check records in Switzerland did not reveal any brothers for the immigrant. Paul Rorer and the compiler have not found any other Rorers in the three county area who are not descendants of the immigrant. Thus, it is unlikely that Jacob was a nephew or grandnephew of the immigrant Henry. The DNA and the paper trail lead the compiler to believe that Jacob b. c. 1785 is most likely a grandson of Henry Rorer.

Henry had five sons, one of whom is probably the father of Jacob. Henry's oldest son was George who was born 174511 and died 183412. In the 179013 and 180014 censuses all tick marks in the various male age groups correlate with the known children of George. There are no unknown males in either the 1790 and 1800 censuses. The names of his surviving children were listed in Philadelphia County Deed JTO page. 22115 If Jacob was George's son, he should have been listed in this deed along with George's surviving children. So George was not likely to be Jacob's father.

The next son, John was born 1755 and died 1824.10. In the 179016 and 180017 census, the names of his known sons correlate with the number of males in each age category. John left a will in which he named all of his known children.18 There are no unknown males in the censuses or sons named Jacob in the will. John is not likely to be the father of Jacob.

Henry Rorer, Jr.'s household in 1790 included one male over the age of 16, but no young males.19 The 1800 census contained no males other than one the appropriate age of Henry.20 He died intestate in 1817. The widow and her son-in-law, George Benner, were appointed administrators.21 If Jacob was Henry's son, presumably he would have been co-administrator along with the widow. On 21 Aug 1840, Henry's eldest daughter petitioned the Orphan's Court to partition the property of her deceased mother, widow of Henry. According to the petition, the only other surviving child of Henry was a younger sister.22 It is unlikely that Henry was the father of Jacob.

Joseph Rorer was born in 175823 and died 1854.24 In the 1790 census, he was the only one in the household.25 In the 1800 census, the household did not contain a male who would have been between the ages of 10 and 20 as Jacob would have been.26 Joseph did not leave a will. The administration of the estate, however, divided the property among the six surviving children. There was no mention of the presumably deceased Jacob or Jacob's children as one of the heirs of Joseph.27 It is unlikely that Joseph was the father of Jacob.

The last son of Henry Rorer to be considered as a father of Jacob Rorer is Jacob Rorer, born c. 1758 and died 182810, hereafter called Jacob, Sr. He was alone in the 1790 census with no other males or females in his household.28 In the 1800 census, the only male in the household was the age of Jacob, Sr.29 The only known marriage was c. 1793 when Jacob was about 35 years old. He married the widow Mary Keyser 30with whom he had one child, Dorothy, in 1794. Daughter Dorothy was the only heir named in his will written 18 May 1828. Dorothy and nephew Henry Rorer were named as executors of the estate.31 This man, however, is the most likely suspect for being Jacob's father. First is the name of the child, Jacob, who would be named for his father. Second, Jacob, Sr. would have been 35 years old at the time of his first known marriage. It is quite possible Jacob, Sr. could have been married previously during the time period when Jacob, Jr. was born. Since Jacob, Sr. was living alone when the 1790 census was taken, it is possible that his wife died in childbirth or during the early years of the younger Jacob. Perhaps a family member or neighbor took in the child to care for him so that Jacob, Sr. could work. The fact that Jacob, Jr. was not named as heir and executor in Jacob, Senior's will could be the result of several situations. The two Jacobs could have been estranged; perhaps those raising the boy were not on good terms with the father and so the two Jacob's never developed a bond. Or, Jacob, Jr. could have been born out of wedlock and Jacob, Sr. never acknowledged paternity. The other possibility is that Jacob, Sr. gave Jacob, Jr. his inheritance in the form of land in Germantown. According to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Tax Lists Collection, a Jacob Rorer paid tax on land in Germantown in 1819 and 1822.32 Jacob, Jr. was living in Germantown during the 1820 and 1830 census. Whether it was Jacob, Sr. or Jacob, Jr. who paid the tax has not been determined. No deed for land in Germantown owned by a Jacob Rorer has been found. The fact that Jacob, Jr, was not an executor of Jacob, Sr.'s will may reflect the fact that Jacob, Jr. had no interest in the estate. All the property that was owned by Jacob at his death may have been purchased with the proceeds of the sale of the property that Dorothy's mother, the widow Mary Keyser, brought with her when she married Jacob, Sr. Also, Henry, who was named executor with Dorothy, was Dorothy's brother-in-law through her first marriage to Isaac Rorer, so he may have been her preference over a half-brother, Jacob, Jr. Two items to note, which may or may not be coincidences.1. the son of Jacob, Jr., Edward, married the granddaughter of Barbara Rorer Peeky, Jacob, Sr.'s sister. If not a coincidence, there is an implication that the family of Jacob, Jr. interacted with the descendants of Henry Rorer, the immigrant. The second item is that the six children of Jacob, Jr. were baptized in December, 1828, the same year in which Jacob, Sr. died.

The Y-DNA test results prove there is a genetic connection between Jacob Rorer, Jr. and Henry Rorer, the immigrant. Paul Rorer and the compiler believe the most likely connection is through Jacob Rorer, Sr. In order to include this branch of Henry Rorer's descendants on his family tree, the compiler has attached this branch of the family to Jacob Rorer, Sr. while awaiting the discovery of written evidence to prove Jacob, Jr.'s paternity. 
 Jacob Rorer was the son of Jacob Rorer. 
Tax Lists*1819 He or his probable father was on the Tax Lists in 1819 at Germantown, Philadelphia, PA.33 
1820 census*1820 He was listed in 1820 in the U.S. census at Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. Jacob's census listing was adjacent to that of Thomas Street, a possible relative of Sarah Street Rorer. The name was spelled Roarer by the census taker which is a phonetic spelling of the way the name is pronounced. The household consisted of eight persons; one was engaged in agriculture. There were three males under the age of ten, probably William and possibly two brothers who died before becoming adults. That would explain why, although the couple married in 1809, the oldest child surviving for the group baptism of the six known children of this couple, held in 1828, was born in 1816, seven years after their marriage. Two earlier sons may have died before the baptism. One male between the ages of 25 and 44 was likely to be Jacob. If this is Jacob, it would put his birth date between 1776 and 1795. The females under the age of 10 were probably Sarah and Emily. The female between 10 and 15 may have been a servant or a daughter who died before the 1828 baptism. The female between the ages of 25 and 44 was probably Sarah Street Rorer who was born c. 1787.1 
Tax Lists1822 He or his presumed father was on the Tax Lists in 1822 at Germantown, Philadelphia, PA.34 
1830 census*1830 He appeared on the 1830 Federal census of Germantown Township, Philadelphia, PA. There were ten people in the household. One male under five years, probably Jacob Isaiah; two males between five and ten years age, probably Lewis and Edward; two males between fifteen and twenty, William and an unknown son or a hired laborer; one male between forty and fifty who is most likely Jacob. This would put his birth date between 1780 and 1790. The females in the home included two between ten and fifteen, probably Sarah and Emily; one between fifteen and twenty, possibly a servant; a female between forty and fifty, most likely Sarah with a birth date between 1780 and 1790. The census taker spelled the name Rohrer.2 
1840 census*1840 He appeared on the 1840 Federal census of Cheltenham Township, Montgomery, PA. There were seven in the household: one male between ten and fifteen, probably Jacob Isaiah; two males between 15 and 20, likely to be Edward and Lewis; one male between twenty and thirty, either William or a hired laborer; one male between fifty and sixty, Jacob; one female between twenty and thirty, probably Sarah,the daughter; and one female between fifty and sixty, likely Sarah Rorer. Note that William Rorer was the fourth name after Jacob on the census rolls.3 
Death*between 1840 and 1850 He may have died between 1840 and 1850. Although he appeared in the 1840 census, he has not been found in the 1850 census. He may have died between those dates or he may have deserted his family.The compiler is still searching for more information. 

Family

Sarah Street b. c 1786, d. 16 Mar 1857
Children

Citations

  1. [S506] 1820 U.S. census, Philadelphia, PA, population schedule, Germantown, page 105-B.
  2. [S507] 1830 U.S. census, Philadelphia, PA, population schedule, Germantown Township, page 114.
  3. [S508] 1840 U.S. census, Montgomery, PA, population schedule, Cheltenham Township, page 5.
  4. [S502] 1850 U.S. census, Montgomery, PA, population schedule, Abington Township, page 142, dwelling 229, family 230.
  5. [S563] Records of St. Michael's Lutheran Church The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, page 131.
  6. [S510] Frederick S. Weiser and Debra D. Smith CGRS, St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germantown (now part of Philadelphia) Pennsylvania 1741-1841, 974.811 Weiser.
  7. [S982] William H. Egle M.D., Pennsylvania Archives Second Series, Volume XVII, page 195.
  8. [S1011] Probate File 280.
  9. [S967] Records, Frankford Presbyterian Church The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, page 292.
  10. [S512] German Reformed Church, Records of the German Reformed Congregation in Germantown, Philadelphia, 1753-1856, FHL microfilm 0387867.
  11. [S1052] Pension Application, S22481; George Rorer; R946, National Archives.
  12. [S967] Records, Frankford Presbyterian Church The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, page 291.
  13. [S474] 1790 U.S. census, Philadelphia County, PA, population schedule, Oxford Township, page 327.
  14. [S478] 1800 U.S. census, Philadelphia County, PA, population schedule, Oxford Township, page 465.
  15. [S1325] George and Ann Rorer to Elizabeth Rorer, ADB 50, page 548.
  16. [S468] 1800 U.S. census, Philadelphia County, PA, population schedule, Bristol Township, page 293.
  17. [S1329] 1800 U.S. census, Philadelphia, PA, population schedule, page 146.
  18. [S1007] Probate File File 147, Will Book 8, page 318.
  19. [S472] 1790 U.S. cenus, Philadelphia County, PA, population schedule, Bristol Township, page 294.
  20. [S477] 1800 U.S. census, Philadelphia County, PA, population schedule, Bristol Township, page 146.
  21. [S1005] Administration file 32, Administration Book M, page 2.
  22. [S1029] Petition to partition land Philadelphia Orphan's Court, Book 39, page 144.
  23. [S50] Introduction by Jefferson M. Moak, Tombstone Inscriptions at Milestown (Oaklane), Philadelphia, page 172.
  24. [S959] Milestown, Philadelphia, PA, Tombstone Inscriptions Union Baptist Church; film number 382737.
  25. [S471] 1790 U.S. cenus, Philadelphia County, PA, population schedule, Bristol Township, page 293.
  26. [S1326] 1800 U.S. census, Philadelphia, PA, population schedule, Bristol, page 148.
  27. [S1327] Estate Probate File 27 (Administrations Volume Q, page 313).
  28. [S470] 1790 U.S. census, Philadelphia County, PA, population schedule, Bristol Township, page 293.
  29. [S964] 1800 U.S. census, Montogmery, PA, population schedule, Cheltenham, page 697.
  30. [S1026] Jane Adams Clarke, "Research Report."
  31. [S1004] Will 5424.
  32. [S1328] Tax Roll Southward East & West & Other Townships, Germantown Township, Collection 1001, 1819, 1822.
  33. [S1328] Tax Roll Southward East & West & Other Townships, Germantown Township, Collection 1001, 1819.
  34. [S1328] Tax Roll Southward East & West & Other Townships, Germantown Township, Collection 1001, 1822, Volume 4, TX 297.
  35. [S510] Frederick S. Weiser and Debra D. Smith CGRS, St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germantown (now part of Philadelphia) Pennsylvania 1741-1841.

Jacob Isaiah Rorer

M, #730, b. 19 April 1827, d. 12 November 1890
FatherJacob Rorer1 b. bt 1780 - 1790, d. bt 1840 - 1850
MotherSarah Street1 b. c 1786, d. 16 Mar 1857
ChartsDescendant Chart (Box)
Descendant Chart (Indented)
Last Edited6 May 2018
Birth*19 April 1827 Jacob Isaiah Rorer was born on 19 April 1827 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA.1,2 
 He was the son of Jacob Rorer and Sarah Street.1 
Baptism26 December 1828 He was baptized on 26 December 1828 at St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA.1,2 
Marriage*23 March 1851 He married Rachel M. Larzalere on 23 March 1851 at Eleventh Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, PA. The ceremony was performed by Anthony Atwood. The bride and groom were from Philadelphia.3 
Deed Grantor*18 March 1861 Jacob and Rachel sold 4.5 acres for $175 on 18 March 1861. The land was located in Plumstead Township, Bucks, PA. The deed was recorded 16 Aug 1861. This land had been granted to R.M. Rorer in 1861 in Book112, page 116.4 
1860 Census*June 1860 He and Rachel appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Plumstead Township, Bucks, PA enumerated June 1860. Their children Charles L., Margaret Jane and Mary Ella were listed as living with them. He was a coach driver and owned $300 worth of real property and $100 of personal property. The surname was spelled Roarer by the census taker.5 
Compiler's Comment Perhaps the proceeds from the land sale were used to help the family relocate to New York City. They were there as early as 1868 when son Harry was born. 
Census 1870*1870 By 1870, Jacob and Rachel were living in Ward 3, District 5 (2nd Enum), New York, NY. Their children Charles, Margaret, Mary and Harry were listed as living with them.Jacob was employed as a janitor.6 
Census 1880*2 June 1880 Jacob and Rachel appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of New York, NY, at W 24th Street, enumerated 2 June 1880. Their children Charles, Margaret, Mary, Ida and Harry were listed as living with them. Jacob's occupation was "real estate" and Rachel was keeping house.7 
Census 1880*14 June 1880 He also ppeared on another 1880 Federal Census. This census was of Washington,D.C. Jacob was identified as living at 349 Pennsylvania Avenue.The DC census was enumerated 14 June 1880, 12 days after the NYC census. In the household was a 38 year old woman, Emma, identified as Jacob's wife. He was an herb doctor and she was keeping house.8 
Compiler's Comment* It appears that Jacob was living with two women at the same time. He was in NY on the date of the 1880 census, 02 Jun with his known wife, Rachel, and children.Twelve days later he was on the D.C. census with Emma, who was identified as his wife. Initially, I believed this was a different Jacob Rorer than the one born in Germantown, Apr 1827. The one on the D.C. census claimed to be 47 which would give him a birth date of 1833 not 1827 if he were Jacob Isaiah Rorer. This bigamy, if he did marry Emma, would explain the contradictions between his death certificate and the interment register. Whoever provided the information for the death certificate would have called him a widower because Emma, who he presented as his wife, had died earlier the same year. When Jacob's son, however, gave information to the cemetery, the son provided the birth date and birthplace identifying the deceased as Jacob I. Rorer. He also identified Jacob as married, presumably because he never divorced Rachel. 
Death*12 November 1890 He died on 12 November 1890 at 1114 7th Street NW, Washington, D.C., at age 63. The cause of death was pneumonia. His occupation was herb doctor, same as the occupation on the 14 Jun 1880 census.9 
Burial*14 November 1890 He was buried on 14 November 1890 at Lot O, 101, Grave 8, Glenwood Cemetery, 2219 Lincoln Rd NE, Washington, DC 20002. The death certificate contained many errors: he was born in NY, crossed out to read DC; age at death 67; his parents were from England: he was a widower. The cemetery records were corrected by his son who provided birthplace of Germantown, PA, birth date of Apr, 1827 and that he was married.10 

Family

Rachel M. Larzalere b. c 1830
Children

Citations

  1. [S510] Frederick S. Weiser and Debra D. Smith CGRS, St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germantown (now part of Philadelphia) Pennsylvania 1741-1841.
  2. [S563] Records of St. Michael's Lutheran Church The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, page 1001.
  3. [S1492] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-1999, online www.ancestry.com, (accessed 20 Jun 2017).
  4. [S1086] Jacob I. Rorer and wife, Rachel to D. Gotwaltz & Co., Book 115, page 432.
  5. [S505] 1860 U.S. census, Bucks, PA, population schedule, Plumstead Township, page, 547, dwelling 321, family 321.
  6. [S1160] 1870 U.S. census, New York, NY, population schedule, New York, Ward 3, District 5 (2nd enum), page 248A. dwelling 5.
  7. [S1480] 1880 U.S. census, New York, NY, population schedule, New York, E.D. 345, page 83A, dwelling 25, family 42.
  8. [S1490] 1880 U.S. census, Washington, D.C., population schedule, E.D. 64, page 48, dwelling 315, family 387.
  9. [S1488] Certificate of Death, Permit No. 74746.
  10. [S1489] Jacob I. Rorer Register of Interments In Glenwood Cemetery, D.C., (http://familysearch.org), Salt Lake City, UT, (accessed 19 Jun 2017).

Sarah Street

F, #731, b. circa 1786, d. 16 March 1857
ChartsDescendant Chart (Box)
Descendant Chart (Indented)
Ancestral Line of Laurence Frank Rorer
Ancestral Line of Jack H.Rorer
Last Edited6 May 2018
Birth*circa 1786 Sarah Street was born circa 1786 in PA.1 
Marriage*23 March 1809 She married Jacob Rorer, presumably the son of Jacob Rorer and unknown spouse, on 23 March 1809 at St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. Sarah's surname was spelled Stried by the German speaking minister.2,3 
Research needed* On 1 Feb 1814, the Frankford Presbyterian Church received $4.00 from George Rorer, Sexton, for the interment of Mrs. Street. Also, on 23 Nov 1823 the same church received $4 for a Street interment. Could these have been relatives of Sarah Street Rorer?4 
Compiler's Comment*1828 St. Michael's Church started using English rather than German in 1828 as per footnote on the Family History Library catalogue for film 1312443. Is that why she waited to have her five youngest children baptised until 1828? (Their marriage certificate from 1809 was written in German.) 
(with son) 1850 Census1850 She appeared on the census of 1850 in the household of her son, Edward, in Abington Township, Montgomery, PA.1 
Death*16 March 1857 She died on 16 March 1857 at Plumstead Township, Bucks, PA. She was 70 years old. Cause of death was paralysis and old age.5 
Burial*21 March 1857 She was buried on 21 March 1857 at M. E. Burial Ground, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA.5 

Family

Jacob Rorer b. bt 1780 - 1790, d. bt 1840 - 1850
Children

Citations

  1. [S502] 1850 U.S. census, Montgomery, PA, population schedule, Abington Township, page 142, dwelling 229, family 230.
  2. [S513] Church records 1741-1922 St. Michael's Lutheran: microfilm 1312443, item 5, Family History Library.
  3. [S563] Records of St. Michael's Lutheran Church The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, page 1000.
  4. [S1127] Church records 1770-1901, Reformed and Presbyterian, Frankford, FHL microfilm 5055308, item 5, Book for Entry of Interments.
  5. [S1123] Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915, microfilm 1976366.
  6. [S510] Frederick S. Weiser and Debra D. Smith CGRS, St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germantown (now part of Philadelphia) Pennsylvania 1741-1841.