Person:Johann Rieth (4)

Baptismal sponsors: Georg Riedt from Balborn and his wife, Anna Margaretha; the father was called miller at Steinwenden in this entry (Steinwenden Churchbook).

He undoubtedly came to America on the Midfort with his brother Johann Leonhardt, who sp. on that ship in 1710 (West Camp Lutheran Churchbook)

Johann Georg sp. Johann Moor at Scoharie in 1716 (West Camp Lutheran Churchbook).

He was one of the 33 original signers to the petition to allow them to settle in the Tulpehocken. The petition was drawn in 1824 and presented in 1725.

His name appeared on the tax list for Tulpehocken dated Jan 10 1725 and in 1732 he owned a tract of land 1/2 mile n. of the present Tulpehocken Reformed Church west of Stouchsburg (1723-1973 Anniversary Magazine of the Tulpehocken p. 46)

From "The Tulpehocken Reeds" by Herbert P. Reed: listed his name as John George (Johann Jurig Rith) "some histories give Schaeffer or Shaffer as the maiden name of his wife and Anna Margaret or Catharina Margaret as her first name"

"John George may have been the man referred to as Adam Rieth, who with Christopher and Leonhardt are sometimes mentioned as "donating" the land for Reed's Church in 1727. It seems that these early settlers sometimes were referred to by two altogether different names. For instance, there was a John George Casper, a John George Ada, a John George Peter, etc. Perhaps the name, George, was used in rememberance and reverence for the original George 1659-1710, the progenitor of the Tulpehocken Rieths.

It is said that John George Rieth was one of the scouts that came to PA before the first settlers in 1723. Also, being born in 1689, he probably married during the sojourn in New York, and some of the children were born there and remained there when the trip to PA was made, even remaining with their grandmother who seems to have remained in NY.

1. ↑ Steinwenden Churchbook.