Matthias Gottfried Tshudy

Matthias Gottfried Tshudy b. Aug. 9, 1771 in Lititz - s/o Christian & Eva Barbara (Kiesel) Tschudy d. Oct. 25, 1852 - God's Acre, Avenue 1 right, row 2, lot 15 m. Catharine Blickensderfer - June 10, 1798 - 7 childen: 1. Beata 1799 2. Maria Barbara 1800 -1806 3. Salome 1803 4. Jacob Blickensderfer 1805 5. Mary Ann 1809 (m. James Leibert) 6. Paulina Elizabeth 1813 Orphaned at an early age, he was adopted by Peter Kreiter and treated as a son. In his eighth year he was placed in the Brethren's house under the special quardianship of Benjamin Chitty, superintendent of the weaving department. Besides his trade of weaving, Matthias carried on very extensively, the manufacture of chip hats and bonnets made nowhere else in America. This industry gave employment to many of the sisters in the Sisters' House. He took an active interest in the affairs of the congregation and was a frequent member of the Aufseher Collegium. He sang in the choir and played the trombone. In 1837 he presented a new pulpit to the church. At his own expense, he laid out, planted and enclosed the church square.

Source: Find-A-Grave

• Reference and gravestone: Ancestry Genealogy