Christopher Stophel Stump, Sr.

Christopher married Susanna Shutts in 1720(c). Susanna died in 1755. Christopher than married Anna Margaretta in Millback.

• Residence: Philadelphia County, PA - 1741
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jan 13 2017, 17:05:15 UTC

Biography by Arlyne Stump and Allice Burns Reynolds

Christopher Stump came to the Colonies in 1710, landing in New York harbor after coming from England with the Palatine German migration down the Rhine River to Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch could not handle the multitude of people coming from the drastic winter weather conditions of Germany. The groups were held until the next high tide, sometimes 3 or 4 weeks, and placed on ships to London, England. Over 4,000 made the ocean crossing, a little over half arrived in New York harbor.

Christopher, born about 1695, came with his father and mother, arriving at Nutter’s Island in New York harbor. All were ill with Typhus fever and only the healthy were allowed on shore. Living conditions were not good at Livingstone Manor near present day Germantown, New York. The English wanted to use the Germans and Native Americans to hold back the French beyond the St. Lawrence River. The pine trees from which the German settlements made the naval supplies didn’t produce anything. The Palatines were earning little money for their hard work, starving from the little food and being charged by the “Company Town”, Livingston Manor, for any food they did receive. Settlers began migrating northeast to Mohawk lands and were invited to live there by the Mohawk people. By 1715 - 1717 the Stump Family lived in Fouchenburg. Fouchenburg spoken in a certain dialect meant Fox, the town soon became known as Foxtown.

The Mohawks helped the settlers build long huts and the Germans lived in seven dorfs or villages and farmed the outer areas. A young friend of Christopher’s was sent to live with the Mohawk for a few months in order to learn their language and make it easier for the settlers and Mohawk to communicate. This boy was Conrad Weiser, who would later become an ambassador to the Native Americans, helping to resolve land and treaty disputes. Around 1723, after much dispute over the promised Palatine land, Christopher Stump, along with several others including the Schutz/Shutts Family, made their way to the Tulpehocken Valley, Chester County, Pennsylvania. This area later became Lancaster County and eventually Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Christopher most likely married Susanna Shutts in Schorharie Valley, Albany, New York. Together they had at least 10 children. Susanna is deceased about 1755, and in 1757, Christopher married for a second time to Anna Margaretta , maiden name yet undetermined, and together they have additional children. In 1735, Christopher Stump, accompanied by Conrad Weiser, facilitate a meeting between four Colonial governments and the Six Nation at Onandaga. Christopher and Conrad nearly lost their lives due to bad weather and Native American skirmishes.

According to the Pennsylvania – German, a genealogical publication which reprinted Christopher Stump’s will, Christopher was of “remarkable physical strength, being over six feet in stature”. Christopher’s will was written in 1769, and proved ten years later, in October 1779. Sixteen children are named in his will:

Bequeaths are made to Georg Adam Stump, Friedrich Stump, Christopher Stump (deceased), Maria Stump wife of Johanne Schener, Susanna Stump wife of John Lineweber, Margaret Stump wife of Ludwick Maris, Catherine Stump (deceased) wife of Georg Adam Bush, Henry Stump, Magdalene Stump wife of William Frymer and Susanna Stump.

Next Christopher declares: “It is my will that all that I have left to the heirs of my children shall be paid to them in full by my Executors, and that they shall have no further claim on my estate. And what the children of my present wife inherit, to them I bequeath as follows:”

The children of the present wife are listed as Catherine Stump wife of Leonhart Strickler, (we note that the Catherine Stump listed above by the first wife is deceased, not so this Catherine), Julianna Stump, and Margaret Stump (Margaret is not yet of age in 1769).

Christopher’s plantation in Heidelberg Township, consisting of 270 acres, where Christopher resides, is left to his sons Leonhart and Christopher Stump, (neither are of legal age) and to their heirs and assigns forever on the condition that Leonhart with the help of his brother Christopher provide a lifetime home for the widow Margaret as long as she remains a widow. This leads one to believe that Christopher Stump had children named Catherine, Margaret and Christopher by both wives. Lastly, land beyond Blue Mountain in Berks County, Pennsylvania is bequeath to Michael Stump.
Christopher Stump apparently recovered from his illness in 1769 and lives another ten years, passing away on 28 October 1779. Burial places for Christopher Stump, Susanna Shutts/Shutz, and Margaretta Unknown have not been discovered. Perhaps they are buried on the property in Millback Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, which according to Arlyne Stump was plowed under and is now a part of the farm land.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 24 2023, 11:26:21 UTC

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157910633/christopher-stump