Raub

Variations - Raup, Raupp, Rapp, Rope, Rupe, Rausch, Rabb, Rape, Raab

Written by Rich Henninger
Copyright 2004

The story of the Raub family in America begins with the arrival of the ship "Loyal Judith" in Philadelphia on September 25, 1732. They would have left Germany many months prior to their arrival, leaving behind nearly everything in search of a better life. Their likely path was a journey on the Rhine to Rotterdam where they would embark on the Loyal Judith of London, Captained by Robert Turpin. On board that day were 115 Palatine families among whom we find the names of:

          Name                             Age

Christian Rape                          24
Peter Rauch                              35
Philip Raupp                             51
Michael Raub                           22
Hans Jerg (George) Raup          27     

Their exact relationship has not been determined. Some researchers have concluded that Philip was the father of Jerg (George), Michael, and Peter. Researcher Robert Raup believes that George, Peter, and Michael were brothers and Philip was a cousin or Uncle. The true nature of the relationship of these pioneer immigrants may never be known. Philip was from Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany. Presumably the others were from very near the same area. Wives and children were not listed on the ships manifest though surely their families accompanied them. It is believed that Philip brought his wife Maria along with a 2-year-old child Andreas (Andrew). Andrew would eventually settle in Sussex County, New Jersey and is the forefather of the New Jersey Raub's. George did not marry until after his arrival in America, were he encountered and married Maria Barbara Eckert.

George, Peter, and Philip settled in northern Bucks County, Pennsylvania. George settled in a part of Bucks County that in 1750 became Williams Township, also known in that era as Williamstown. In 1752 Williams Township became part of Northampton County when that county was erected from the upper part of Bucks County. Eventually the town of Raubsville was founded, its name being derived from George Raub, who settled on 200 acres along the Delaware River between Easton and Durham Furnace. George Raub was among the first settlers of Williams Township along with John Williams (from which the township is named), Melchior Hay, Nicholas and George Best, Michael Shoemaker, and Martin Lahr. Later generations of Raub's would move across the Delaware River into areas of New Jersey, some would go west into Northumberland and other Counties of Pennsylvania.

Many of the Raub's and their descendants served bravely in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars (More details on military service can be found at my Military page). There is some lore associated with the family having provided some of the boats used by George Washington in his crossing of the Delaware River. There are some facts that lend credence to this story. Jacob Abel, who was an Easton ferry operator and son of Maria Sophia Raub and Jacob Abel, is said to have gathered boats for the crossing. Reportedly Raub descendants had receipts for the boats in their possession as late as 1926. The whereabouts of those receipts today or if they truly ever existed is not known. Secondly, George's son Andrew Raub was appointed to the Northampton County General Committee of Observation representing Williams Township on November 11, 1776. The committee had oversight of county efforts in the Revolutionary War. Additional sources have stated that the Raub's themselves operated a ferry across the Delaware. The location of the ferry was at Raubsville [see Raubsville Ferry]. There were no other significant settlements between Easton and Riegelsville other than Raubsville. It would have been a profitable and logical location for a ferry operation and of course many of the Raub's already lived there.

Like most of our eighteenth and nineteenth century ancestors many of the Raub's were farmers. Farming was a big part of life in Williams Township. In fact in 1752 William Parsons one of the founding fathers of Easton stated that most of the provisions for the infant city came from Williams and Saucon Townships. Other occupations we find the Raub's involved with were boatman on the Delaware Canal and working in some of the many Iron Mines in Williams. Henry Raub (b. 1762) and his second wife Margareth Elisabeth Raub (also his second cousin) owned and operated the Raubsville Hotel from 1811 to 1820. Jacob G. Raub (b. 1792) is listed as a Tavern Keeper in 1850 and an Inn Keeper in 1860. It is not known for certain if this was the Raubsville Hotel, but I would speculate it was. Henry was Jacob's Uncle.

Throughout much of the 1970's I, along with my Mother, worked for Gloria Raub selling produce at the "circle" in downtown Easton. Little did we know at the time that we were related to Gloria who lived in Warren Glen, NJ, but had ties to Easton Raub's. As best as I can remember Gloria said the Raub Greenhouse in South Easton was owned by her Uncle. She also was a 1954 graduate of Easton High School. Precisely how we were related is not known at this time but I am convinced Gloria, my Mother, and I had a common ancestor. Coincidently many of our customers would comment that my mother and Gloria looked like sisters. What do you think? Click here to see a photo of the three of us at work. My mother continued to work with Gloria right up to Gloria's passing in 2002.

A bigger surprise relationship I discovered while doing my research is that my maternal grandparents were fourth cousins. George Leonard Raub (b. 1736) was the third great grandfather to both Floyd Kunsman and his wife Mabel (Nicholas) Kunsman. Floyd and Mabel were likely unaware of this relationship. The below chart shows the complete generation/relationship flow:

My brick wall in my Raub research and what someday may prove to be an even bigger surprise relationship is that of Jacob M. Raub, fifth great grandfather of my wife. I do not know who Jacob's father was. I strongly suspect if I could go back one or perhaps two generations more with Jacob I would find a common ancestor to my wife and I. My research has already established my wife and I as seventh cousins once removed with the common ancestor being Jonas Metzger. Jonas is my sixth great grandfather and my wife's seventh great grandfather. My sense is that the Raub relationship if established would be more direct than the Metzger connection though still quite distant.  If anyone reading this has any information on Jacob M. Raub (b. 1771) I urge you to email me. It is also interesting to note that the Raub and Eichlin families not only knew of each other in the late eighteenth century, they likely knew each other very well. Though it does not appear a Raub ever married an Eichlin, George Leonard Raub (b. ABT 1760) and John Eichlin (b. 1764) married sisters Susanne and Sarah Kressler. George Leonard eventually moved his family to Columbia County, Pennsylvania near Elysburg. John Eichlin would move his family to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, though his son John would eventually settle in Williams Township.

Follow-up message 12/14/2004 - Within the past few weeks I have received several clues that are leading me to believe the Jacob M. Raub b.1771 is the son of Michael Raub b.1733. In fact I have made this commitment in my database though this is still somewhat speculative. I want to thank Amy Anderson and Kevin Frankenfield for their help with this. Also, the relationship to Gloria Raub is now clear. Gloria was my 6th cousin, twice removed. This of course makes her relationship to my mother the same only one generation removed. Jacob M. Raub was Gloria's great-great grandfather. - Rich

Sources for this article:
Rich Henninger - Conclusions reached through my own research
http://www.familysearch.org/ - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
http://raub-and-more.com/jhr/14237.htm - Information on Andrew Raub forefather to the New Jersey line
http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/pal_judith1732.shtml - Complete passenger list for the Loyal Judith
http://metzgerclan.tripod.com/jonas.htm - Descendants of Jonas Metzger
davis26.txt on ftp.rootsweb.com - History of Northampton County, Chapter 26. Includes a brief history of Williams Township
http://www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/origins.html - Origins of Some Bucks County Families
ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/bucks/wills/willabstbk7.txt - Bucks County Will Abstracts Book 7, 1804 - 1808
rswayne@compuserve.com Primary source for rswayne work was:
Title: Robert A Raup (bobraup@gte.net) from A Genealogy of Selected Northumberland County Pennsylvania Pioneer Families, From the Arrival of the Immigrant Ancestors to the Present Time. Part II, 2nd Edition, The Philip Raup (Raub, Roup, Raab) Family. Author: Compiled by Joseph A. Meiser, Sarah Roadarmel Meiser, Marjorie A. Kahle and David L. Klees.
Publication: Published by the authors, 1985, 5 West Center Street, Elysburg, PA, 17824.
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/do/digitalbookshelf/28988620/28988620_part_120.pdf#page=1 - A Collection of Papers - read before - The Bucks County Historical Society. Published by Fackenthal Publication Fund - 1932.

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