Conrad Kuster

Conrad Custer was born about 1695 in Germantown, Pennsylvania, the eldest child of Arnold and Rebecca Kuster. Germantown was just five miles north of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia had just recently been founded in 1682. Conrad's father and grandfather were Mennonites, but nothing is known of Conrad's religious inclinations. His father sent his children to a school called the Friends School taught by the very learned Francis Daniel Pastorius in Germantown, and we presume Conrad was among them. Pastorius was a Quaker, and Conrad may have been the beneficiary of some Quaker influence. About 1714, his family moved to the western part of Philadelphia County "Manatawney tract" (now in Montgomery county). Conrad married Susannah Adams, daughter of Richard and Alse Adams of Providence Township, Montgomery County, PA.

Conrad Custer appears as a signer of the Falkner's Swamp Petition in 1728 seeking protection from the Indians at Skippack (now Montgomery County).Conrad had paid 14th day, 1st month 1732/3 quit rents for 102 acres in the Skippack area, ten years in full. Amounts were 3 shillings and 4 pence, and 5 shillings. Conrad is listed in 1734 as a landholder of 100 acres in Franconia Township of Philadelphia County. All the evidence that is known shows that he was in and around the Philadelphia area up through his late thirties or early forties.

In 1738 we find Conrad living in Bucks County, PA near the Delaware River. It is a matter of record that in 1738 Conrad owned a "hundred and a half" acres along Tinicum Creek in Tinicum Township of Bucks County. Conrad appears on the Rent Rolls of Bucks County under the date of 11 October 1739 for 100½ acres at the rate of ½ pence. Conrad may not have lived in Bucks County until after 1739, as he is referred to as a yeoman of the County of Philadelphia in the renunciation of right to administer his father's estate dated 22 December 1739.

In 1742, the inhabitants of an area north of Tinicum Township of Bucks County were without township government, yet was inhabitated by several settlers. Thirty settlers petitioned for a Township to be organized as Nockamixon. Among these settlers was Connard Custard. That year, the Court ordered the township be organized. We now see Conrad in his late forties definitely living in Bucks County near the Delaware River.

Susannah died prior to 1747, because her father's will (Philadelphia County, PA, Will Book H, page 528), written in 1747, and filed 1748, refers to Susannah as the "late wife of Conrad Kistard" and leaves 10 pounds to her children. Apparently a second marriage took place, because at Conrad's death in 1772, his widow (unnamed) consented to his estate being committed to his son, Paul.

On 17 February 1748/9, Conrad was granted 50 more acres adjoining his earlier grant by the Proprietaries. This 50 acres also adjoined a 100 acre tract first granted to Peter Young on 9 November 1845, but on the 17th of February 1748/9 was granted to William Marks. In 1754, this last 100 acres and another 50 acres was conveyed to Conrad. Conrad then had 300 contiguous acres. This 300 acre farm was located near the present town of Revere, and the Revere school is on the farm.

Conrad and much of his family moved to Brock's Gap, VA, in 1762. He was in his late sixties. Conrad had sold 50 acres in Nockamixon Township to Peter Young 8 March 1762. A few of Conrad's children remained behind to live in Bucks County and other nearby locales. Part of the original 300 acre farm ended up in the ownership of his son Nicholas. In 1762, Conrad bought 160 acres from Joseph and Rachell Dictom for 130 pounds on the North Branch of Shannandore (Shenandoah), near Clover Lick, Augusta County (now in Rockingham County), Virginia. This is near Brock's Gap.

Conrad died 1 February 1772, apparently in his early eighties. He left no will, but had expressed his wish by words that his estate should be sold and the money resulting should be divided among his children or representatives. His estate was inventoried 15 March 1774. The younger Conrad (eldest son of the deceased Arnold) did buy the farm and paid 160 pounds 10 shillings to the Administrator of the estate.

It is widely reported that Conrad was the father of many children --three daughters and from twenty-four to twenty-seven sons. These reports have been published as early as 1877. Some of the reports go on to say that all of the sons served in the Revolutionary War. How much of this is fact or fiction has be debated often with no conclusion, but does appear to be a gross exaggeration. Part of the children are probably his brother's children, as George was killed by Indians in 1756 leaving orphan children. More children could be his son's, Arnold, who died in 1759 leaving more orphans. He is probably not only credited with his own children, but George's and Arnold's also.

News-Caster, vol. 2, No. 1, pages 10 & 11; News-Caster, vol. 2, No. 2, page 2; News-Caster, vol. 4, No. 2, pages 21-23; From the Court File and the Will Book. (From Eric Bosley <ebosley@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us>, Roots Web)