Conrad Kuster (1695 - 1772)

Born 1695 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Adams) Kuster — married before 1716 in Skippack, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 1 Feb 1772 at about age 77 in Augusta County, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Leigh Anne Dear [send private message] and Donald Gibson [send private message]

Conrad Kuster has German Roots.

This profile is part of the Kuster Name Study.

Biography

Surname Spelling
Küster or Küsters as it originated in the Krefeld and Kaldenkirchen area's of the Duchy of Jülich, Holy Roman Empire (Nederland and later Deutchland). After Paulus, Gertrut and their children emigrated, beginning about the third generation, the surname spelling began changing to Custer, Custers, and in one particular male line Custard. During Conrad's lifetime variations on these spellings continued to creep into vital records as the family grew. Due to the sheer variety of spellings found in documents contemporary to Conrad (probably due to phonetics driven by local accents) at some point it is more practical to standardize (somewhat) the surname as it has been found in the most often quoted, most reliable primary and secondary sources.

Birth

Conrad Kuster aka Custer, Sr. (Arnold, Paulus), was the son of Arnold Kuster and Gertrude Conrad. He was born about 1695 probably in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father Arnold was the son of Paulus Kuster (aka Koester) and from Kaldenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia formerly in the Duchy of Jülich, later annexed by Nederland, then by Prussia, andd now situated in contemporary Germany. Krefeld is a bit further west residing today on the borderland between Nederland and Germany.

Conrad's Birth Location
Conrad's birth location is noted as being at Germantown because according to Swarthmore Research Professor William I. Hull:

“Between 1685 and 1690 Krefeld sent to Germantown Jacob Isacks and Matthias Isacks van Bebber ; Willem Hosters ; Arent [or Arnold], Hermannus, Johannes and Paulus Koester [or Kuster]  ; Jan van Lovenight ; Jand and Mattheis Neusz ; Dirck, Hendrick and Martin Sellen (or Seelen) ; Jacob Seimens ; and Jan Streypers. The records (also) refer to wives and children of most of these fifteen later settlers ; so that they probably numbered about sixty, making a total of about 120 from Krefeld and Kaldekerk.” [Hull, 397] ^[1] Paulus Kuster was the father of Arnold (the father of this WikiTree profile), Hermannus and Johannes (Conrad's uncles). Conrad's paternal grandmother was also named Gertrude (who was the wife of Paulus Kuster).

According to compiler John E. Hunt Conrad's grandfather Paulus Kuster and wife Gertrude and their three sones Arnold, Johannes and Hermanus Kuster emigrated about 1685. Paul's name is on a tax list of persons residing in Germantown in 1693. [Hunt, p.301] ^[2]

Conrad's mother Gertrut seems to have disappearred from the records it is assumed she died not long after child-birth. After his father's arrival he married a second time to Rebecca (Unknown LNAB).

The named Heirs of (Conrad's father) Arnold Kuster, son of Paulus, formerly of Kaldenkirchen and of Conewego (Hanover Twp.)
Arnold Kuster passed away in 1739 and his Will was probated in Philadelphia County. Based upon the 1740 deed for property at Conewego [later Hanover township], Philadelphia County [later York], Pennsylvania being sold on behalf of the following heirs of Arnold Kuster (1669-1739) is recorded [Milo Custer, p.111-112, quoting Deed Book 32, p.90, Norristown, PA.] ^[3] : Conrad Custer and wife Susanna  ; Paul Custer and wife Sarah ; George Custer and wife Mary ; Katherine Custer Jenkins and husband John Jenkins ; Nicholas Custer and wife Susanna ; Arnold Custer and wife Barbara ; Hannah Custer ; Dorothy Custer

Youth
Between the years 1706-1708 Arnold Kuster sent his children to the Philadelphia Germantown Friend's School where Francis Daniel Pastorius, founder and educator, taught. ^[4] It is presumed that Conrad was among the students..[White, p.99] ^[5]

According to White Conrad's parents relocated [about thirteen miles] from Germantown to the Manatawny Creek area along the western side of the Schuylkill River watershed. [White, p.99] ^[5]

Marriages and Children

Across the Schuylkill (on the other side) from Arnold Kuster's land was the Vincent Branch of the Great Valley Baptist Church where members of the Richard Adams (aka Addams) family attended. [White, p.99] ^[5] While no marriage record has yet been located Conrad is believed to have married Susanna Adams daughter of Richard Adams (aka Addams). Based upon his Philadelphia County probated Will Richard Adams (Addams) leaves a specific bequeathment to his Custer grandchildren. Richard Adams (aka Addams) was of the Skippack-Perkiomen area close to Germantown. Susanna's mother was Gertien op Den Graeff daughter of Abraham Isaacs op den Graeff who was one of the original "Krefeld Thirteen" the originators of Germantown, Pennsylvania. The known children of Conrad Kuster aka Custer were ^[5] :

1. Charity Custer, b. abt 1716.
2. Arnold Custer/Custard, b. abt 1718.
3. Richard Custer, b. 1722/1723.
4. Mary Custer
5. William Custard, b. 1729
6. Paul Kustar, b. abt 1730,
7. Nicholas Custer, b. 1732.
8. Conrad Custard, Jr., b. 1735
9. Isaac Custer
10. Benjamin Custer
11. Catharine Custer

Susanna passed away before her father Richard Adams of Perkiomen Twp. who named (en masse) his Custer grandchildren in his 1747 Philadelphia County (later annexed into Montgomery) probated Will.

Conrad married second Elizabeth _________ who is mentioned in his Will.

Residencies and Other Items

"18 May 1720 Deed transaction between Jacob Taylor of the City of Philadelphia and Conrad 'Kester' of Philadelphia County, yeoman, [the latter] who paid L15 for one-hundred acres of surveyed [13 March 1719] land near a branch of the Perkiomen Creek in Philadelphia County (now Montgomery). The land sold by Jacob Taylor was by virtue of Warrant from commissioners of property dated 8 October 1713 with yearly quit rent. Witnessed by Jos Watson, signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Henry Pennbeckers, jr., recorded by Jacob Taylor before Even Owen 19 january 1726, Philadelphia. [White, p.99-100] ^[5]

7 March 1725/26 Conrad's name ["Conrad Koster"] is in the records of the court of quarter sessions of Philadelphia County as a petition signer of the inhabitants living near and about Skippack on the northeast side of Bebber's Township requesting the formation of a new township due to the increase in families about Skippack, Perkiomen and Bebber's and the strain this presents upon the local Constable. [White, p.100] ^[5]

1728 Conrad's name along with his uncle Hermanus Kuster is on the "Falkner Swamp Petition" seeking protection from the Natives at Skippack. [White, p.100] ^[5]

6 March 1731/32 Conrad's ["Conrad Costard"] name again appears on a petition requesting establishment of a new township (later named Franconia and later annexed into Montgomery County).

At some point Conrad Kuster (Sr.) and family (wife Elizabeth and son Conrad, Jr.) with his brother Paul Custer relocated from Philadelphia to Augusta County, Virginia based upon his probated Will and all three being witnesses and mentioned as heirs in his Augusta County probated will. [Milo Custer, p.XIII] The family probably traveled along the well traveled "Great Wagon Road" from Philadelphia, a primary route for early settlement particularly in "backcountry" in Augusta County, Virginia.^[6]

Death and Will

Conrad (Sr.) died 1 February 1772 at or near Brock's Gap, Augusta County, Virginia. On 17th of March Conrad's nuncupative[sic] Will was proved. [White, 107] ^[5] [Milo Custer, Administrator's Bond, Estate of Conrad Custer (Kuster), dated 17 Mar 1772, Staunton, Augusta County, VA.: p.XI-XII]

Conrad's Will reads in part: "At a Court held for Augusta County, March the 17th, 1772, Paul Custard (sic) with Jacob Miller, his security, acknowledged this their Bond & (which is) Ordered to be Recorded: DEED: Conrad Custer, [son of Arnold] To His Uncle, Paul Kustar,. April 10, 1774. (DEED Book 20, Pg.,317, Staunton, Virginia; Copy Supplied by W.C. Kennamer.) This Indenture made the tenth day of April 1774 between Conrad Custard (sic), the eldest son and heir at law of Arnold Custard, deceased, all of the County of Augusta & Colony of Virginia, and Elizabeth, his wife, of the one part, & Paul Custard (sic) of the same County & Colony, of the other part."

"Whereas Conrad Custard (sic) the elder in his life time & at the time of his death, was seised in his demesne as of fee of and in one certain tract of land situate lying & being on the North Branch of Shenandoe beyond the Gap of the Mountain called Brock's Gap, in the said County of Augusta, & being so thereof seised, died intestate, whereby the inheritance of the sd. land descended to Conrad Custard (sic) the younger, as heir at law to his Grand Father, Conrad Custard the elder, he being eldest son of Arnold Custard, who was the eldest son and heir at law of the said Conrad the elder who also died intestate in the life time of his father, Conrad Custard the elder and the said Conrad Custard the elder having by words expressed a desire on his death bed that his land above mentioned should be sold and the money arising by the sale should be divided among his children or their representatives, and the said Conrad the younger being willing to fulfill the intentions of his said Grand Father but the same was not reduced unto writing or proved by the testimony of witnesses as the law directs for the Establishment of nuncupative wills, hath freely and voluntarily consented to the sale of said land for the purpose aforesaid."

"Now this indenture witnesseth that the said Conrad Custard and wife Elizabeth for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred...pounds current money of Virginia to him in hand paid by the said Paul Custard [Conrad's brother] at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted bargained, sold, aliened and confirmed and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, alien and confirm unto the said Paul Custard all the said tract or parcel of land above mentioned to him his heirs or assigns it being more particularly described and bounded as followeth.. to-wit:...(a lengthy 220 acres land description follows)." ^[7]

Wife Elizabeth is alive at this will proceeding on 16 Aug 1774.

Research Notes

Detached Child Due to a 20 year birth gap between siblings an unlikely child of Conrad Kuster was included in the original uploaded Gedcom's but has been removed from the bio: *Joseph Kester/Custard, b. 14 March 1752, PA.

Common Name issues
Caution: Unrelated like-named Conrad Kuster, who arrived in 1734 at Philadelphia Co., PA. US & Canada Passenger & Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s: Conrad Kuster. ^[8]

Castor Association of America
Based upon an email conversation with web administrator Diane Kuster, and as of early 2023, the "Castor Association of America" has officially shut-down its membership and web site.

Sources

1. ↑ Hull, William Isaac, Ph.D., F.R. Hist. S. [Research Prof. Quaker History, Swarthmore College] “William Penn and the Dutch Quaker Migration to Pennsylvania” Swarthmore, Penn., USA: Swarthmore College, 1935 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.39000004680372&view=1up&seq=11
2. ↑ Hunt, John E., comp. "The Pound and Kester families : containing an account of the ancestry of John Pound (born in 1735) and William Kester (born in 1733) and a genealogical record of all their descendants and other family historical matter" Chicago, Ill., USA: Regan Printing Houst, 1904. https://archive.org/details/poundkesterfamil1904hunt/page/301/mode/1up?view=theater&q=Kuster
3. ↑ Custer, Milo, comp. and editor “Custer Genealogies” Bloomington, Illinois, USA: by the author, 1944. Reprinted ($ online db: Note at this time this is the only shareable image file available for these records from Milo Custer’s history’). Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Accessed 9 Mar 2023.

   p.III https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/2341695?mark=f6d0c4f2cf33414594a9ae5eb9b51f2820bbca0d9759b50605c413662d47b531

   p.IV https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/2341727?mark=adde455f041802b7e447f018df9f221530ea65314c6976863849aa847df3e012

   p.V https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/2341747?mark=335372fcf01e4ded3da887ce3083b928b5f7d27f474b5bd89d6f618bacb0e61d

   p.VI https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/2341759?mark=9b3ed431b219ea40cc0e7a8579da06192eb22cd1b5560e692cef18576c4c9b5d

   VII (finish 1740 deed of Heirs of Arnold Kuster ; begin 1759, Admin., Estate of son Arnold Custer taken from Will Book 2:291, Staunton, Virginia) https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/2342238?mark=e946677ed39b203be4af6c3e3592ff58faf7d85cbc8f8bbdbcef7c3f23948171

   VIII (finish 1759 Admin., Estate Papers of Arnold Custer, Jr. Staunton, Virginia) https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/2342238?mark=e946677ed39b203be4af6c3e3592ff58faf7d85cbc8f8bbdbcef7c3f23948171

4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Daniel_Pastorius
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} White, Jean M., Editor; The Descendants of Paulus and Gertrude Kusters of Kaldenkirchen, Germany and Germantown, Pennsylvania the first four generations; Castor Association of America, Mennonite Press, Newton, Kansas, 1991; 303 Pages, Indexed; Pages 18-21, 99, 107, 117.
6. ↑ "Wikipedia: The Great Wagon Road" Accessed 4 Apr 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Wagon_Road
7. ↑ Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records, 1639-1850; Book: 16-22: Author & Pub.: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Pub.Date: 2004. Pub. Notes: This land record was originally published in "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800. Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County" by Lyman Chalkley.
8. ↑ CAUTION: Research Notes Item Only; Not directly pertinent to this Biography. Author: Rupp, Israel Daniel. "A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776, with a Statement of the Names of Ships, Whence They Sailed, and the Date of Their Arrival at Philadelphia, Chronologically Arranged, Together with the Necessary Historical and Other Notes, also, an Appendix Containing Lists of More Than One Thousand German and French Names in New York prior to 1712." Leipzig [Germany]. Reprinted Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Accessed 15 Apr 2019.

Acknowledgements

• Elmer Leonard and William Howard Hauser Genealogy
• Contributions by direct descendant Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear