Abraham Kurtz

• KURTZ, ABRAHAM, DAR Ancestor #: A208863
• Service: PENNSYLVANIA Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE
• Birth: ANTE 1726 GERMANY
• Death: ANTE 11-18-1782 EARL TWP LANCASTER CO PENNSYLVANIA
• Service Description: 1) PAID SUPPLY TAX, EARL TWP, 1780, 1781

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Birth: 1720 Bavaria (Bayern), Germany Death: 1782 East Earl Lancaster County Pennsylvania, USA

Abraham and Barbara arrived in Philadelphia Sept. 15, 1749 aboard the Phoenix. (There is some speculation that Abraham came on the Robert & Alice in 1740 and returned to Germany for a new wife after first wife Margaret died in 1747. Family tradition says he crossed the Atlantic five times.) He bought 189 acres in Earl Township in 1754; he also owned 106 acres in Salisburty Township, 114 acres in Caernarvon Township and 54 acres in Cumry Township in Berks County. They lived in Earl Township in Lancaster County, PA. Abraham signed his will on April 2, 1782; the estate was inventoried some six months later, on Oct. 17.

Abraham was Amish and although tradition says he was a minister, apparently he was instead a deacon. He was in charge of the Pequea Alms Book until his death. He left an estate worth over 3000 pounds. As Joseph F. Beiler wrote in 1977, "One thing we know is that the first and second generation Kurtzes were extremely progressive in material gains."

Mr. Beiler's observations are borne out by the inventory of Abraham's estate, which included: 10 horses, 23 cattle, 6 sheep, 15 hogs and piglets; wagons, plows, tools, carpentry tools, wheel barrow, boxes, barrels; wheat, rye, oats in sheaf; hay in barn, 100 bu wheat; Indian corn & buckwheat in the ground; kitchen cupboard, chests, beds & bedsteads, 2 walnut tables; brass kettles; 5 spinning wheels; 18 pewter plates, 20 spoons, 8 knives & forks, 2 salt cellars; 30 earthen crocks; 600 feet oak, 150 feet walnut, 800 feet poplar; 60 yards flax linen, 30 yards tow, 60 yards hemp, 11 yards drilling; Bible, 6 Martyr books, 16 books.

Family links:

Children:

 Elizabeth Kurtz (1773 - 1810)*

Created by: Ralph Brown Record added: Dec 28, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 82542411

Amish minister

Abraham and Barbara arrived in Philadelphia Sept. 15, 1749 aboard the Phoenix. (There is some speculation that Abraham came on the Robert & Alice in 1740 and returned to Germany for a new wife after first wife Margaret died in 1747. Family tradition says he crossed the Atlantic five times.) He bought 189 acres in Earl Township in 1754; he also owned 106 acres in Salisburty Township, 114 acres in Caernarvon Township and 54 acres in Cumry Township in Berks County. They lived in Earl Township in Lancaster County, PA. Abraham signed his will on April 2, 1782; the estate was inventoried some six months later, on Oct. 17.

Abraham was Amish and although tradition says he was a minister, apparently he was instead a deacon. He was in charge of the Pequea Alms Book until his death. He left an estate worth over 3000 pounds. As Joseph F. Beiler wrote in 1977, "One thing we know is that the first and second generation Kurtzes were extremely progressive in material gains."

Mr. Beiler's observations are borne out by the inventory of Abraham's estate, which included: 10 horses, 23 cattle, 6 sheep, 15 hogs and piglets; wagons, plows, tools, carpentry tools, wheel barrow, boxes, barrels; wheat, rye, oats in sheaf; hay in barn, 100 bu wheat; Indian corn & buckwheat in the ground; kitchen cupboard, chests, beds & bedsteads, 2 walnut tables; brass kettles; 5 spinning wheels; 18 pewter plates, 20 spoons, 8 knives & forks, 2 salt cellars; 30 earthen crocks; 600 feet oak, 150 feet walnut, 800 feet poplar; 60 yards flax linen, 30 yards tow, 60 yards hemp, 11 yards drilling; Bible, 6 Martyr books, 16 books.