Although we have no definitive proof, it is thought that Peter Stolts and his wife Elizabeth Minner (or Mynheer) were Palatines who went down the Rhine to sail to American from Rotterdam, a city and port in South Holland in the Netherlands. Elizabeth, by tradition, was from the southern part of France.
They arrived as immigrants in America on the ship Edinburg with James Lyon, Capt. from Rotterdam on the 2nd of October 1753. Peter is listed on the ship's list as Johan Peter Stoltz and on the same ship was a Johan Henrich Stoltz (see Rupp's 30,000 Names, p. 319).
Found on the list of Names of Foreigners who Took the Oath of Allegiance 1727-1775 on p. 420 is: Johan Henrich Stoltz age 49 and Johannes Petter Stoltz age 20. Perhaps Johan Henrich was the father of Johannes Petter.
Peter was born about 1733 if he were 20 years old when he arrived in America, and he d. in 1806 according to the probation of his will. His sons Henry and William Stolts were the executors of this estate and were appointed May 15, 1806.
Reference: New Brunswick, N.J., County of Middlesex, Vol. A-173 Will. An exact copy of the will of Peter Stolts as found in 10119 L in the New Jersey Archives follows:
WILL OF PETER STULTS
In the Name of God Amen this Ninth Day of February in the Year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two I Peter Soltts of South Amboy in the County of Middlesex & State of New Jersey being some what weak in body but of sound mind & memory thanks to God but calling to mind the incertainty of Life do make this my Last Will & Testament...[Names son, Peter Soltts, son Frederick Stoltts, daughter Mary, son John, son Henry, son William, daughter Elizabeth, and son-in-law Henry Cortilyou. In the presence of Ruluf Corteyou, John Kinney, and John Dey.]
There is no wife mentioned in Peter's will so we may assume that she died previously to his making his will 9 Feb. 1802.
Peter and Elizabeth probably lived at Prospect Plains, Middlesex Co., N.J. at least part of their life as their daughter Elizabeth who married Hendrick Cortelyou was b. there 8 July 1766. Also their son Henry who married Ellen Cortelyou was b. there 24 Feb. 1755. In the Cortelyou Genealogy, the parents of both of these children are given as Pieter Stols and Eliesabet in the Six MIle Run, N.J. Church baptismal records. Both Henry and his wife, and Elizabeth and her husband attended the Presbyterian Church at Cranbury, N.J.
