George Rustay (abt. 1811 - 1890)

Born about 29 Aug 1811 in Pond Hill, Conyngham Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 26 Jul 1890 at about age 78 in Shickshinny, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Star Kline [send private message] and Cameron Perry [send private message]

Biography

George Rustay was born in 1811 in Pond Hill, Conyngham Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania. He is the oldest of nine known children of Hannah Doll and Jacob Ruchstein. He married Elizabeth Sorber, likely sometime before 1836. The couple raised eight children^[1][2] and had one other son who died young:^[3]

1. Rachel Rustay
2. Jacob Rustay
3. unknown son Rustay (born between 1835-1840, died between 1840-1850)
4. Angeline Rustay, twin
5. Caroline Rustay, twin
6. John Peter Rustay
7. James Rustay
8. Hannah Rose Rustay
9. George Washington Rustay

At the time of the 1840 census, George and Elizabeth lived in Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, next to Peter Sorber and Daniel Cragle. Their three oldest children lived with them – Rachel, Jacob, and another unknown son. George worked in the agriculture industry.^[3]

In 1850, George and Elizabeth’s family lived in Salem Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The family included six children: Rachel, Jacob, twins Angeline and Caroline, Peter and James. George worked as a miner.^[1]

George and Elizabeth attended a revival meeting in 1859 held by Rev. Joseph Waters in a schoolhouse in Dogtown, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They were converted in this meeting and became members of the Shickshinny Methodist Episcopal Church in Shickshinny, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. George is listed as a trustee of the church in 1870.^[4]

In 1860, George, Elizabeth, and their children Caroline, Peter, James, Hannah, and Washington lived in Salem Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. George worked as a laborer.^[2]

The 1870 census finds George and Elizabeth living in Shickshinny, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. James and Washington lived with them, and Annie Jackson, a housekeeper, also lived with the family. Their daughters Rachel Jackson and Caroline James lived next to them with their families. George worked as a coal miner. His real estate was valued as $1,400, and his personal property was valued at $280. George could not read or write.^[5]

In 1880, George and Elizabeth lived on Blackman Street in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. George worked as a laborer.^[6]

George signed a general affidavit in 1886 in support of the invalid pension claim filed by his son-in-law, John C. James.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4HB-G17 : 12 April 2016), George Roosty, Salem, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States; citing family 1749, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXTZ-PLW : 13 December 2017), George Kersly, 1860.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTV-6TY : 16 August 2017), Geo Rusta, Plymouth Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 278, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 472; FHL microfilm 20,549.
4. ↑ Shickshinny United Methodist Episcopal Church (Shickshinny, Pa.). n.d. Church records, 1869-1924 [Shickshinny Methodist]. [Trenton, New Jersey]: [NMI, Norton Micro-Images]; image 2 and image 65 of 277.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZPY-RL9 : 12 April 2016), George Rustay, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 21, family 162, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,866.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWNH-RPC : 16 July 2017), George Rustag, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district ED 125, sheet 26C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1150; FHL microfilm 1,255,150.

Acknowledgement

This profile was originally created by Star A. Kline, George's third great granddaughter, on 2 July 2014.