George Unruh (abt. 1702 - abt. 1748)

Born about 1702 in Niederhochstadt, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Died about 1748 at about age 46 in Pennsylvania

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Biography

George was born about 1702, in Niederhochstadt, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He was a son of Hans Adam Unrhu and Maria Catharine.

One source lists him as Felty (Onroo) Unrhth^[1] He married Anna Barbara Unknown.

23 Sept 1732. Arrival at Philadelphia aboard ship Adventurer. George was 30 years old; his wife Anna Barbara was 26. He is listed in I. Daniel Rupp's famous book. ^[2]

8 Sept 1734. George Unruh and his wife Anna Barbara sponsored the baptism of Johann George Schäffer, first son of Johannes Schäffer and Maria Elizabeth, at Reed's Church in Tulpehocken.^[3]

1738. "George Unruh and others signed a petition to create a new county out of Philadelphia and Lancaster counties, "by reason of their distance from the Courts, held at Philadelphia and Lancaster."^[4]

2 Dec 1739. Sponsor, along with his wife Anna Barbara, of christening of Anna Barbara Fisher, daughter of David Fisher.

3 Mar (or May?) 1741. John Georg Peruh was a signer of a letter, representing the Reformed Congregation at Tulphehocken, concerning money collection for a reverend's salary. Signers were John George Peruh (Unruh), Martin Schel, and John Fohrer.^[5]

Feb/March 1742. Signer of a letter of protest against Count Zinzendorf (Moravian), during the Tulpehocken Confusion. The letter was signed by all elders and deacons of the High German Reformed Church in Pennsylvania, led by Johann Philip Boehm. For the congregation at Tulpehocken, signers were Henry Meyer (elder), Henry Zeller (elder), George Unruh (elder), Martin Schell (elder), John Foehrer (deacon), and Peter Schell (deacon).

He was among those who in 1743 each donated 5 acres of land for the erection of the Christ Lutheran Tulpehocken Church, west of Stouchsburg. Sebastian Fisher, Christian Lauer, and George Unruh each donated 5 acres. Church cornerstone laid 12 May 1743^[6]

The church was the result and outgrowth of the long controversy and resultant “Tulpehocken confusion” at Rieth Church between the Lutheran pastor, John Casper Stoever and the Moravian interlopers. Accordingly, in the year 1743, 166 male members and adherents united to erect a new church where their worship might be untrammeled and they could follow their tenets of the unaltered Augsburg Confession in peace and loyalty. Hence George Unruh gave five acres of his land as the site of this church and it was located about a mile west of the Rieth (Reed) church or about half a mile to the west of the present village of Stouchsberg. A commodious log or frame church was at one erected, with careful guarding and the definitions of Lutheran orthodoxy as to who should occupy its pulpit.^[7]

He had a will recorded in Philadelphia Wills, Book H: 493, abstract in Palatine Origins of Some Pennsylvania Pioneers:

Will of Georg Unruh, dated 4 Jan. 1748; probated 8 Mar. 1747/48: My brother Valentine Unruh and brother-in-law Jacob Wilhelm "shall be Curators over all my goods." Wife Anna Barbara to have £ 50. Sister Anna Catrina Wilhelm. To Frederick Rutes (?) £ 10 (does not mention any relationship). Brother Johannes Unruh to have £ 100 if he comes to live in this country. If he does not come to live here, because he has no child, he shall have an English crown. Valentine Unruh and Anna Catrina Wilhelm to have what is left. Witnessed by Johannes Heberling and John Trautman, who appeared 8 Mar. 1747/48 at Tulpehocken in Lancaster County ("German will freely translated by Conrad Weiser."^[8]

His sister has a profile at Anna Margaretha (Unruh) Wilhelm (1709-aft.1752), but her first name needs to be changed.

He died about 1748.

Research Notes

Arrived at Philadelphia but interacted extensively with Palatines who migrated from New York.

Sources

1. ↑ History of Berks and Lebanon Counties, by Daniel Rupp, page 246.
2. ↑ I. Daniel Rupp. A collection of upwards of 30 thousand names of German, Swiss, Dutch, and French immigrants in Pennsylvania, 1727-1776
3. ↑ Baptismal registers of Reed's Church
4. ↑ Blue Book of Schuylkill County: Who was who and why... by Ella Zerbey Elliott; Pottsville, Pa. "Republican", Joseph Zerbey, proprietor, 1916
5. ↑ Letters and Reports of Rev. John Phillip Boehm, Part IV 1740-1741. Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society (1901-1930), Vol. 7, No. 7 (SEPTEMBER, 1914), pp. 305-333
6. ↑ History of Berks County, by Morton L. Montgomery, 1846
7. ↑ Annals of Womelsdorf PA and the Tulpehocken Community., p. 32. Compiled by Rev. P.C. Croll, 1922
8. ↑ Burgert, Annette Kunselman. Palatine Origins of Some Pennsylvania Pioneers. AKB Publications. Myersteown, Pennsylvania. 2000. Page 360 (Entry for Georg Unruh).

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