Valentine Ault was born March 22, 1750 [The Pennsylvania German Society Proceedings Vol. 20 1909 pg. 200-1], as noted above on page 1.
After his father's death he became the ward of George Myer and Philipp Zeegler on November 28, 1759 [York County Pa. Orphans Court records Book A pg. 129] O May 26, 1761 his guardian petitioned Orphans Court t approve and the Court did approve the following indenture for Valentine's apprenticeship.
[York County Pa. Orphans Court Book A pg. 175]: Came into court George Nyer and Phillip Zeegler guardians of Valentine Alt a minor Orphan son of Valentine Alt late of York township Yeoman deceased and prayed that the said minor Valentine Alt may be bound an apprentice to Michael Kaiselman of Shrewsbury township shoemaker it is considered by the court and the said minor Valentine Alt is hereby bound an apprentice to the said Michael Kaisleman until he shall be of the age of twenty one years in consideration whereof the said Michael Kaisellman doth covenant and agree to teach or cause to be taught the said apprentice the art or mystery of a shoemaker which he now practiseth to read the bible to write and arithmetick as far as the rule of three direct and to furnish and allow the said apprentice suffiecient meat drink apparel washing & lodging during the said term and at the expiration thereof to pay unto him one set of tools belonging to his trade and two suits of apparel one whereof shall be new and of the value of six pounds or six pounds in money which the said apprentice shall then chose.
On February 18, 1776 [ York County Pa. deeds book 2 A pg. 458] Valentine obtained title to 45 3/4 acres of land in Codorus township from Elias Olster and his wife Anna Maria, one of the daughters of Christain Lau, of Manchester township, deceased.. The tract had been surveyed and laid off from a larger tract on August 16, 1774 for Elias in right of his wife, the land being part of the estate of Christian Lau. One acre of this land Valentine and Catherine Alt deed to George Eister on December 14, 1787 [ York county Pa. Deeds Book 2G pg. 533]. The remainder they deeded to Henry Steinsiffert on March 15, 1788
[York county Pa, deeds Book 2G pg. 515].
Orginal assessment rolls for Codorus township York county carry Valentine Alt's name for the years 1778, 1779, 1781, 1783, 1786. The roll for 1783 carries the following population count: Valentine Alt 6 inhabitants, 1 negro, 1 house, 1 outhouse, 2 cattle and 4 sheep.
Baptismal records for children of Valentine and Catharine Alt in York county are the Following: St. Paul's (Wolf's church West Manchester township York county Pennsylvania:
•Johann Peter b. 2/16/1776 bap 2/25/1776 parents Valentin Alt Catharine Sponsors Peter Lau Eva Lau, single [Records of St. Pauls (Wolf's Reformed Church West Manchester township York county Pa. Collections of th Historical Society of York county pg. 8]
•Joh: Jacob b. 8/1/1778 bap. 8/30/1778 parents Valentin Alt Cath. sponsors Peter Lau and wife [Records of St. Pauls (Wolf's Reformed Church West Manchester township York county Pa. Collections of the Historical Society of York county pg 9]
•Andreas b. 91/19/1781 bap. 10/14/1781 parents Valentine Alt Cath. sponsors Andreas Lau and wife [Records of St. Pauls (Wolf's Reformed Church West Manchester township York county Pa. Collections of the Historical Society of York county pg. 11] Susanna b. 1/15/1784 bap. 4/11/1784 parents Valentine sponsors Christian Noll Catharina Lau [Records of St. Pauls (Wolf's Reformed Church West Manchester township York county Pa. Collections of th Historical Society of York county pg 12 ]. St. Pauls's (Ziegler's) Church North Cordous Township York County, Pennsylvania:
•Michael b. 11/9/1786 bap 2/17/1787 parents Valentin Alt Catharina sponsors Michaell Neumann Susanna Lau [Register of St. Paul's (Zieglers's) Church North Codorus township York county Pa. Collections of the Historical Society of York county pg. 7].
Valentin and Catharine Alt were sponsors at the baptism of Catharine, daughter of Philip and Dorothea Heilman, at Friedensaal chuch Springfield township York county Pennsylvania February 12, 1786 [Records of St. Pauls (Wolf's Reformed Church West Manchester township York county Pa. Collections of the Historical Society of York county pg 7].
Beginning in the 1789 and continuing through 1796 Valentine Ault's name appears on the tax rolls of Somerset township Washington county Pennsylvania. The lists for 1796 give the following items: Valentine Ault Land 76 valuation 20; cleared land valuation 3, dwelling cabin 1 valuation 1, Small cabin barn 1 valuation 0, horses 2 valuation 10, cows 2 vaulation 4].
On May 4, 1792 Valentine obtained title to a tract of land, "Blackwood" 78 acres 58 perches on Pigeon Creek Somerset township Washington county Pennsylvania. The grantors were Philip Black and his wife Catherine deeded this land to John Ogilbee of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania [Washington County Pa. Deeds Book 1 N pg. 334-6] Federal census records for Valentine Ault include the following: 1790 Pennsylvania Washington County Head of household Felty Ault free white males 16 or over = 2 under 16 = 4 age not stated = 0 free white females 16 or over = 0 under 16 = 0 age not stated = 2 all other free white persons 16 or over = 0 under 16 = 0 age not stated = 1. 1820 Ohio Belmont county Richland township head of household Valentine Ault males under 10 = 0 16-26 = 0 over 45 = 1 females under 10 = 1 16-26 = 1 over 45 = 1 (1 ag).
On October 25, 1798 [Belmont county Ohio Deeds Book A pg. 371-2; Jefferson county Ohio Deeds Book 1 pf. 91-2] obtained title to 100 acres in Belmont county, Ohio from Bazalee Wells and wife, Sally of Brooke county Virgnia (now West Virginia). This land is on McMahon's creek, and both men supposed it too be in Jefferson county, Ohio, but later survey showed it to be in Belmont county. It lies in Section 4 town 7 Range 4. Beginning with this tract of land, Valentine bought and sold many pieces of farm land in Belmont county up to and including the year 1824 as shown by deed in the office of the recorder at St. Clairsville.
Valentine died intestate not later than October 11, 1826 [Belmont County Ohio Deeds Probate court Case 647]. There were eight heirs who signed the deeds transferring their interests in Valentine's land to Thomas Genin. They were the following: sons: Frederick Ault of Cinncinnati, Ohio; Andrew Ault (who had a wife, Mary) oof Morgan county, Ohio, Peter Ault (wife, Barbara) of Coshocton county, Ohio, Michael Ault (wife Hannah) of Henry county, Indiana; George (wife Polly) of Belmont county Ohio; Jacob Ault of Belmont county Ohio; daughters Susanna Rose (husband John) of Mercer county, Pennsylvania Catherine Rose (husband Henry), of Mercer county Pennsylvania, also [Belmont county Ohio deeds book M pg. 57]
Valentine Alt served in the American Revolution war, as the following references show: Pennsylvania Archives 6 th series Volume 2 pg. 521: Jun 17, 1779 York County Militia 7th company Captain George Geishelmann Lieutenant Andrew Lau Ensign Valentine Alt; pg. 562 April 5, 1778 York county 6th company Captain George Gisselman Ensign Valentine Alt; pg. 641 October 10 to December 10, 1781 Captain James Edger's Pay roll Ensign Valentine Alt; pg. 674 Class Roll of Captain George Giselman's Company for the year 1782 Lieutenant Andrew Low Ensign Valentin Alt; pg. 686 Arrangement of York County Militia 5th Battalion 7th company Lieutenant Colonel Francis Remer Major Joseph Willon (Willson?) Captain George Geishellman Lieutenant Andrew Rau (Lau?) Ensign Valentine Alt.; pg. 697 Captain Giselman's company Valentine Alt.
Valentine Ault seems to have been married twice, both wives bear the name Catharine. The first one was a daughter of Peter Lau of York county Pennsylvania, as stated in Peter's will, filed at York on March 14, 1806. According to this will Catharine was already deceased [ York County Pa. Wills Book N. pg. 339-42]. She was an aunt of Mrs Phillip Ault of Belmont county Ohio and of Mrs. Valentine Ault of Wayne county ohio [ York County Pa. Wills Book N. pg. 339-42]; [Washington co. Pa. Orphans Court Records Bk. B 1791 - 1816 pg. 22]..
Evidence that there was a second wife also named Catharine is found in several Belmont county deeds a late one bearing the wife's named dated April 19, 1820 [Belmont county Ohio Deeds book H pg. 199]."
