Paulus Van Haren Kuster

• Paulus Kuster is believed to have been born about 1644 in Kaldenkirchen, Germany, the son of Arnold Kuster and Catharine Von Haren Kuster. [1] [2] [3]
• Paulus passed away in 1707/8, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. [5] [3] He is buried in Germantown, Pennsylvania. [6]
• Paulus Van Haren Kuster Find A Grave Memorial

wills

• Paulus Kuster Will, Endorsed 23 Feb 1707/08 by Witnesses Dennis Kunders and Cornelius Dewees. PA Will #58, Bk C pg 72.
• 23 February 1707/8: Letters of administration were granted to Arnolt Kuster, Harmanus Custers and Johannes Kosters, the widow Gertrude being now dead. PA Will #58, Bk C pg 73

The Philadelphia Register of Wills, shows the estate of Paul Küster and Gertrude, his wife. He left a nuncupative will, said to have been reduced to writing by Francis Daniel Pastorius, one of the prominent citizens of Germantown, It is dated January 28, 1707-8, and is signed by his sons and by and sons-in-law Dennis Cunders and Cornellis Dewees. His will, which was copied from the original record in Will Book C, Page 72, - No 58, is printed in Milo Custer’s 1944 updated book, Custer Genealogies, and reads as follows:

“Germantown in the Co. of Phila. the 28th day of the 11th Month called January, Anno Dom. 1707-8. Paul Kuster, Mason,* being sick in Body, but of perfect Memory and disposing Mind, declares before us, the hereto Subscribers, Witnesses, that his last Will and Testament was as follows.-Viz. That all his just debts shall be paid and that after his decease his loving wife, Gertrud Kuster, shall have all and Singular his Estate, real and personal, during the Term of her Life, and yt after ye Death of ye sd. wife, the sd. his Estate, real and Personal, shall, nothing at all Excepted, be devided and shared among his children Equally, share and share alike. In Witnesses whereof we have hereunto set our hands and Marks, Arnold Gustur, Dennis Cunders, Harmanus Kusters, Johannes Kusters, the mark of K, Cornelis Dewees.”Endorsed, “Philad. Feb. 23rd, 1707-8.”

The will was proved February 23, 1707-8, by Dennis Cunders and Cornelius Dewees. The inventory of the estate is signed by Dennis Cunders and Peiter Keyser. On the same day on which this will was proved, letters of administration were granted by Lieutenant Governor John Evans, to Arnold Kusturs, Hermanus Kusturs and Johannes Kosters (named also in the letters as Arnolt Kustur, Hermanus Custers and Johannes Kosters, and as Arnolt Custurs, Hermanus Custurs and Johannes Custurs), all of Germantown, yeomen, on the estate of “Paul Kiister, and Gertrude, his wife,” wherein it is stated that Gertrude Kiister died soon after her husband.

Married

• Married: (2) Gertrude Doors, on 16 October 1668 in the Reformed Congregation Church in Kaldenkirchen, Germany. Gertrude Doors was the daughter of Theis (Matthias) and Agnes Doors.
• 2nd Marriage Record for Paulus Kusters & Geertruijd Doors

Paulus Van Haren Kuster & Gertrude Doors had 9 Children:

• Arnold Kuster; bp 6/9/1669 Kaldenkirchen Reformed Church remained a Mennonite. His wife's last name not authenticated, uncertain if she was Rebecca or Elizabeth Sullen. A bricklayer. On 2/1/1714, he purchased 316 acres of land from John Henrry Sprrogell and his wife on Manatawney Tract. He settled on this land, o the banks of the Schuylkill River in what is now Berks Co but in that time was pt of Philadelphia Co. In the mouth of Sprogell's Run. He d there Dec 1739. Prob buried in old Sprogell Cemetery that can no longer be found. (Kuster) . Ken Reed (prob from White) has him d in Hanover Twp, Philadelphia Co, PA Ken has him m Gertrut Conrads 24 June 1691 in Reformed Church in Krefeld, prob died bef he emigr to PA as no mention of him in the records. He is believed to have married again, Rebecca in America. Her last name variously reptd as Nuysum, Nuzam and Schulzer, but no documentation for her name.wetzel@enter.net has him m Rebecca Nuzom Descendants of Arnold spelled their name "Kustur", Kostard, "Kister", “Kishter", other ways.
• Johannes Kuster; bp 10/12/1670. Kaldenkirchen Reformed Church m Elizabeth Cassell 8/31/1692 in Abington MM, Abington TWP, PA. The only of the three sons who became Quaker. He and Elizabeth lived in Bristol, PA, in 1693. It was Philadelphia Co, now Bucks Co. Returned to Germantown , he served as constable there 1695-7, 1700, 1706. He and Hermanus bought 200 acres of land in Skippack 1704. Johannes a burgess of Germantown 1707. He d Germantown fall 1708. Johannes pretty consistently signed his name "Kosters". His brothers most often used Kusters, Kusteres, Kuster. All his descendants spelled the name "Kester". Ken Reed cites from John Hunt's The Pound and Kester Families", Johannes was a surveyer for Penn. Had a large estate in or near Philadelphia , which was lost because a grandson was raised by others and the property forfeited by the time he learned of it. White thinks this was his son John. He bef 10/23/1708 when his wife was among those appointed to administer his estate.
• Matthias Kuster; bp 12/6/1671 Kaldenkirchen Reformed Church m Margaretha Hupps 1/16/1695 Krefeld,
• Reinhart Kuster; bp 12/2/1674 Kaldenkirchen Reformed Church
• Anna Kuster; bp 12/26/1677 Kaldenkirchen Reformed Church The entry in the church records is the only record that exists of her. Germany (Mark Tunnell) LIved in Krefeld, Germany (White). Had six children there.
• Hermanus Kuster; bp 10/19/1681 or 3/15/1682. This based on baptismal accounts. But in deciding who's father was Eva Kusters' and in stating family relationships between Kesters and Godschalks, White suddenly has Hermanus born in 1677! Then she says he was too old to have been the father of a child who was enrolled in school in 1706, so Paulus (who seemingly enrolled the child) must have been Eva's father! Two Baptismal accounts on the same page of the church records, both in the same handwriting. Not known if there might have been two children of Gertrudes named Hermanus. Two children of Gertrude named Hermanus, one died? He d abt Feb 1760, Skippack. (Custer). His descendants mainly spelled their name "Custer". m Sybylla/Isabella Conrad 1706. (incorrectly listed as Elizabeth) daughter of Peter Conrad, name derived from that of Kunders. Listed as members and receiving Communion in Germantown Mennonite Ch on 5/23/1708. Later settled on land he and Johannes had purchased in Skippack became an active member of Mennonite congregation in that vicinity. He was a farmer and pioneering Mennonite settler of Skippack commuity. A trustee of Van Bebber's twp. He owned a fulling mill, on the National Register of Historic places.
• Catrin Kuster; bp 3/9/1687 Kaldenkirchen, Germany.
• Eva Kuster; d 1748 m Godschalk Godschalk (Ken Reed) wetzel@enter.net has eva, daughter of Paulus and Gertrude, m Godshalk Godshalk, b 1693 d 1748, son of Jacob Gadshalks van der Heggen b 1666/1670 in Goch, District of Cleves,(Holland) d May 1673 buried Toamencin Meetinghouse,Montgomery Co PA immigr 1699 Occupation: Bishop.Will: 26 dec 1760, wp .3 Jun 1763. Lived in Germantown, 1702,Skippack, 1713. Godshall's brother Jan ws first Mennonite Bishop in this country. Source: White cites Agenes W Storer in "Eleanor C. Custer Her family and Connections" who refers to "The Perkiomen Region" Whole Number 37, p 65, mentions Eva as daughter of Paulus.
• Margaret Kuster; b 1690 b 8/13/1694 Germantown m Cornelius DeWees, 1708

History

The name of "Kester" is derived from the German word Kuster or Kuester, which is closely allied to the Holland family name of "Koster". The word "Kuster" is difficult to pronounce in English and probably for this reason has been changed by different American families to the form of "Kester", "Koster", "Custer"," and other similar names.

1- Paul Kuster, his wife Gertrude, and the three sons, Arnold, Johannes and Hermanus Kuster, immigrated to America Probably about 1685. They came from Crefeld, Germany , a city located on the lower Rhine near Holland and were among the first settlers of Germantown Pennsylvania, which has now become a part of the City of Philadelphia.

The name of Paul Kuster is given in a tax list of persons residing in Germantown in 1693, and the records show that he purchased fifty acres of land of Henry Bucholtz, December 4, 1704, and that he was chosen a committeeman of the corporation of Germanntown, December 2, 1700, and was appointed overseer of fences for that municipality, January 5, 1706. Kaldenkirchen is a small village in the forest near the Dutch border, and near Krefeld and Kempden. It escaped two world wars, and the Catholic and Reformed churches that the Kusters and the Doors attended still stand there, across the street from each other. The church has played a significant role in this family's history. The medieval coat of arms for the Custer family is a cross with two crossbars. The family name of Custer is the anglicized from of the German Kuster, which means "one in charge of the sacristy where the sacramental vessels are kept" This suggests that someone in the family held that position. Even today in Germany the custodian or sexton of the church is called the "Kuster". Of Paul's children, Arnold Kuster was probably the oldest. His wife's name was Elizabeth. Johannes was married in 1692 to Elizabeth Cassell. Hermanus was married in 1706 to Isabella Conrad. Paul and his sons, Arnold and Hermanus, were embers of the Mennonite Church, while Johannaes became a member of the Society of Friends or Quakers.

The Philadelphia Register of Wills, Book C, page 72, shows the estate of Paul Kuster and Gertrude, his wife. He left a nuncupative will, said to have been reduced to writing by Francis Daniel Pastorius, one of the prominent citizens of Germantown. It is dated January 28, 1707-8, and is signed by his sons " Arnolt Custer," "Hermanus Kuster" and Johannes Kosters," and by Dennis Cunders, John Cadwalader, Rynier vandersluys, Chr. Sprogal and Cornellis Dewees by his mark. The will was proved February 23, 1707-8 by Dennis Cunders and Cornelius Dewees, and it is therein stated that the testator "a mason", sick of body , but of perfect memory and disposing "mind",after the payment of his debts, gives all his property to his wife, Gertrude, for her life, and after her death is to be divided among his children. The inventory of the estate is signed by Dennis Cunders and Peiter Keyser. On the same day on which this will was proved, letters of administration were granted by Lieutenant Governor, John Evans, to "Arnold Kusturs", "Hermanus Kisturs", and Johannes Kosters" (named also in the letters as "Arnold Kustur," "Hermanus Custers" and "Johannes Kosters," and as "Arnolt Custurs," and "Hermanus Custurs" and "Johannes Custers" ) all of Germantown yeoman, on the estate of "Paul Kuster and Gertrude, his wife," wherein it is stated that Gertrude Kuster died soon after her husband. (See a copy of the Actual Wills listed above.)

• Source - The Pound and Kester families : containing an account of the ancestry of John Pound
• Source: The Pound and Kester families: containing an account of the ancestry of John Pound
• Source- William Kester's Ancestors

Sources

Source: SON OF THE MORNING STAR by Evan S Connell, He was a mason according to the 1693 tax list WILL: Paul Kuster of Germantown. 11/28/1707/8. Noncupative will. Wife Gertrude. Children names not given.
Letters of administration were granted to Arnold Kusters, Hermanus Kusters and Johannes Kusters, the widow Gertrude being dead

Descendants of Paulus Kuster

Generation No. 1

1. PAULUS4 KUSTER (ARNOLD3, JOHANNES2, REINER1) was born Abt. 1644 in Kaldenkirchen, Germany, and died Aft. 28 Jan 1707/08 in German Town, Philiadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He married GERTRUDE DOORS 16 Oct 1668 in Kaldenkirchen, Germany, daughter of THEIS DOORS and AGNES. She was born Abt. 1645 in Kaldenkirchen, Germany, and died Aft. 28 Jan 1707/08 in German Town, Philiadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Notes for PAULUS KUSTER:

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. ALL CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION APPRECIATED

The basis for identifying Arnold as the father of Paulus seems to be taken from "The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine" Volume XXXI 1980 Number 3 in the article "The Ancestry of the Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants of 1683" by Wilhelm Niepoth, translated by John Brockie Lukens page 505:

"Going by the first name of the eldest son, the father of Paulus Kuesters, must have been the Catholic, Arret Kuesters, who lived in Kaldenkirchen."

From "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage" Volume IX, Number 3 July 1986 p.28 in an article titled "The Kusters and Doors of Kaldenkirchen, Germany and Germantown, Pennsylvania" by Chester E. Custer: "Within the civil records in the archives at Düsseldorf the Kuster family can be traced to Reiner Kuster, who was born about 1542 and died on July 3, 1616. The name of Reiner's wife in unknown. Reiner was the father of Johannes Kuster, born in 1576. Johannes married ____Walburgis in 1598 and died April 8, 1650. They were the parents of Arnold, born about 1606. Arnold married Catherine von Haeren on October 13, 1629, and died November 24, 1679. Arnold and Catharine were mentioned earlier in connection with the baptism of Margarita Doors. Each of Arnold's sons named his first-born son after him. Emigrant. Paulus Kuster was the son of Arnold and Catharine. The birth date for Paulus cannot be determined because the baptismal records of the Catholic church at Kaldenkirchen between 1640 and 1646 are missing. .Paulus Kuster, reared as a Roman Catholic, married Gertrude Doors on October 16, 1668, in the Reformed church at Kaldenkirchen......Paulus apparently left the Catholic church prior to or at the time of his marriage. Gertrude and her parents had been in the Reformed church since 1655."
-

From "The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine" Volume XXXI Number 3 1980 in an article

titled "The Ancestry of the Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants of 1683" by Wilhelm Niepoth, translated by John Brockie Lukens page 505:

"...in the church records of the Reformed congregation of Kaldenkirchen. On 16 October 1668 were married there Paulus Kusters, bachelor of Kaldenkirchen and Gertrud Doors, spinster of Kaldenkirchen. Children of theirs baptized there were: 1. Arnold, baptized 9 June 1669; 2. Johannes, baptized 12 December 1670; 3. Matthys, baptized 6 December 1671; 4. Reiner, baptized 2 December 1674. Later other children were born, but not baptized at Kaldenkirchen; Elizabeth and Hermann"

This is a direct quote from the above source.

From "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage" Vol IX, Number 3 July 1986 in the article "The Kusters and Doors of Kaldenkirchen, Germany and Germantown, Pennsylvania" by Chester E. Custer on page 28 this account of the children is given:

"Paulus and Gertrude had seven known children, all of whom were baptized in the Reformed church at Kaldenkirchen." (cites baptismal information from the Kaldenkirchen Reformed Church Records).

• # Arnold was baptized on June 9, 1669.
• # Johannes was baptized on October 12, 1670. (Month differs from Niepoth's account)
• # Matthys was baptized on December 6, 1671.
• # Reiner was baptized on December 2, 1674.
• # Anna was baptized on December 26, 1677. (Anna is not included in Niepoth's account)
• # Hermanus was baptized on October 19, 1681 or on March 15, 1682 (Niepoth did not find a record for Hermanus whereas the archivist and linguist Leo Peters who translated the confusing combination of German and Dutch language in the records found two). Both were sons of a Gertrude and both had witnesses from the Doors family.
• # Catrin was baptized March 9, 1687. (Also not included in Niepoth's account)
• # Elizabeth also not found in the records by Leo Peters working with Chester Custer.

Since Chester Custer's research examined the original records in the Reformed Church at Kaldenkirchen (written in a combination German/Dutch language), the Catholic Church at Kaldenkirchen (written in Latin and housed in the archives of Kempen), the archives in Duesseldorf, and the Mennonite library in the Weierhof and had the help of the archivist and linguist, Leo Peters, I have used this research as the source for the children of Paulus and Gertrude Doors.

Notes for GERTRUDE DOORS:

From "The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine" Volume XXXI 1980 Number 3 in an article titled "The Ancestry of the Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants of 1683" by Wilhelm Niepoth, translated by John Brockie Lukens page 506:

Niepoth relates a story about Gertrude's parents' experiences with religious persecution which is taken from the "Julich-Berg Historical Journal". A few days before the birth of Gertrude's sister, the bailiff had struck her mother in the face. The father was fined 100 gold Guilders and his goods taken. However the government intervened and declared that Gertrude's father should stay and not be persecuted.

Children of PAULUS KUSTER and GERTRUDE DOORS are:

• 2. i. ARNOLD5 CUSTER, b. Abt. 1669, Kaldenkirchen, Germany; d. 1739, Hanover Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
• ii. JOHANNES CUSTER, b. Abt. 1670, Germany (Source: Chester E. Custer, "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Volume IX, Number 3 July 1986 "The Kusters and Doors of Kaldenkirchen, Germany, and Germantown, Pennsylvania," page 28, Johannes was baptized on October 12, 1670. Jyn Huylkins and Agnes Doors, Gertrude's mother, were the witnesses. Both Arnold and Johannes would have been baptized by Jakob Flodrop.); d. Abt. 1708; m. ELIZABETH CASSEL, 31 Aug 1692, Abington Meeting Of Friends, Pennsylvania; d. Unknown.
• iii. MATTHIAS CUSTER, b. Abt. 1671, Germany (Source: Chester E. Custer, "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Volume IX, Number 3 July 1986 "The Kusters and Doors of Kaldenkirchen, Germany, and Germantorwn, Pennsylvania," page 28, Matthys was baptized on December 6, 1671, by Johann Melchoir with Matthys Doors and Lisbet Doors (Gertrude's father and sister) as witnesses.); d. Unknown.
• iv. REINER CUSTER, b. Abt. 1674 (Source: Chester E. Custer, "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Volume IX, Number 3 July 1986 "The Kusters and Doors of Kaldenkirchen, Germany, and Germantorwn, Pennsylvania," page 28, Reiner was baptized by Johann Melchior on December 2, 1674. The baptismal record states that Reiner's father was Roman Catholic, that his mother had been a member of the Reformed Church, and that she "for a period of time was unable to use her mental faculties." Gertrude's parents, Theiss and Agnes Doors, promised to assume responsibility for the child in her behalf. The witnesses to Reiner's baptism were Wys Doors (Gertrude's father, Matthys), Jochim Huiskens, and Elisabeth Doors (Gertrude's sister).); d. Unknown.
• v. ANNA CUSTER, b. Abt. 1677 (Source: Chester E. Custer, "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Volume IX, Number 3 July 1986 "The Kusters and Doors of Kaldenkirchen, Germany, and Germantorwn, Pennsylvania," page 28, Anna was baptized on December 26, 1677. Peter Keurlings (Gertrude's brother-in-law, the husband of Elizabeth), Wilhelm Betten, Agness Doors (Gertrude's mother), and Jenneken Scremkens were witnesses. Arnold Theodor Scriba was the pastor at the time.); d. Unknown.
• 3. vi. HERMANUS CUSTER, b. Abt. 1681, Germany; d. 1760, Pennsylvania.
• vii. CATRIN CUSTER, b. Abt. 1687 (Source: Chester E. Custer, "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Volume IX, Number 3 July 1986 "The Kusters and Doors of Kaldenkirchen, Germany, and Germantorwn, Pennsylvania," page 28, Catrin was baptized on March 9, 1687. The witnesses at her baptism were Nelis Hueben and Frin (?) Hueskens. This is the only baptism for which a member of Gertrude's immediate family is not listed as a witness. By this date most of the family had migrated to America. Arnold Hamboch was pastor of the church when Catrin was baptized and when Paulus and Gertrude left Kaldenkirchen for Germantown.); d. Unknown.
• viii. EVA CUSTER, b. Aft. 1687; d. Unknown; m. GODSCHALK GODSCHALK; d. Unknown. Notes for EVA CUSTER:Milo Custer in "Custer Genealogies" lists the children of Paulus and then in parentheses has: (Possibly also MARGARET (KOSTER) DEWEES, wife of Cornelius Dewees, and EVA (KUSTER) GODSCHALK, wife of Godschalk. (Godschalk.?) "The Descendants of Paulus and Gertrude Kusters", published by the Castor Association of America refers to the Agnes W. Storer book, "Eleanor C. Custer, Her Family and Connections" as citing "The Perkiomen Region" Whole Number 37, page 65 as a reference to Eva Kuster who married Godschalk Godschalk as a daughter of Paulus and Gertrude. Would appreciate a copy of "The Perkiomen Region" should anyone find it and would quote that reference for other researchers. July 09, 2003 Dick Sell sent the following in an e-mail:

"Hi, Grace:

I looked at your Paulus Kuster page on your FTM Genealogy Site, and see you requested at the bottom of the list a copy of the page in "The Perkiomen Region" noting that Eve Kuster married Godschalk Godschalk.

I just wrote to the Mennonite Historians of Eastern PA librarian at <www.mhep.org> , Joel Alderfer, and he sent me a fax with that page 65. Would you like me to send it to you? Or I can try to scan it, or U.S. Mail it."

Attached to the e-mail was page 65 with the information that Eve Kuster married Godschalk Godschalk.

July 09, 2003 Dick sent the full citation:

"The Perkiomen Region, Vol.X, No.2, April 1932, Whole No.37, page 65."

Paulus CUSTER (Arnold Arets , Johannes , Reinhart \ Reiner , Ololus ) was born 1, 2, 3, 4 in 1644 in Kaldenkirchen, Rheinland, Germany. He died on 23 Feb 1707 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. He was buried in Germantown Mennonite Cemetery, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. Paulus joined religion Catholic/Reformed Mennonite. He had a will probated on 18 Jan 1708 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. He was employed as Bricklayer And Stonemason.

BIOGRAPHY: He and Gertrude left Krefeld with four of their children in 1684 and settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania.

Source: SON OF THE MORNING STAR by Evan S Connell. He was a mason according to the 1693 tax list WILL: Paul Kuster of Germantown. 11/28/1707/8. Noncupative will. Wife Gertrude. Children names not given. Letters of administration were granted to Arnold Kusters, Hermanus Kusters and Johannes Kusters, the widow Gertrude being dead

Paulus married Gertrude DOORS daughter of Matthais DOORS and Agness OP DEN GRAEFF on 16 Oct 1668 in Reformed Church, Kaldenkirchen, Rheinland, Germany. Gertrude was born 1, 2 in 1645 in Kaldenkirchen, Rheinland, Germany. She died on 23 Feb 1708 in Germantown, Montgomery, PA.

(Note by Grace Ebneter, Custer researcher)

Some of this information was updated in the 1980s when a German scholar researched the people who settled Germantown, Pennsylvania. More recent research is based on translations from church records in Germany which were not available at that time or at least not found until studies by Wilhelm Niepoth of Germany were translated (in the 1980s) and Chester Custer wrote "The Kusters and Doors of Kaldenkirchen, Germany and Germantown, Pennsylvania" in Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage in 1986.He discovered the church records which document many of the CUSTER/KUSTER family births, marriages, etc. The most important discovery made with all this research and translation of it is that the wife of Paulus KUSTER was not Gertrude STREYPERS, but Gertrude DOORS.

When the information lists her last name as STREYPERS, this usually tells that their information comes from an article in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography in 1880 by Samuel W. Pennypacker called "The Settlement of Germantown, and the Causes Which Led to It"

PAULUS b. 1644

Paulus and Gertrude (Doors) Kuster came to America after 1684, and were naturalized May 7, 1691. It is believed that most of the 13 original families to settle Germantown, are brothers and sisters of Gertrude Doors. Gertraudt Doors was baptized in the Reformed Church of Krefeld Germany in 1681. Paulus and Gertrude were sponsors for the baptisms of the children of Jan and Entgen (Doors) Strepers. In 1669, Jan Streipers sponsored a child of Paulus and Gertrude Kuster. In 1670, a child was sponsored by Agnes Doors. Paulus' first four children born in Germany were baptized in the Reformed Church of Kaldenkirchen. Two more children born in Germany, Elisabeth (Anna) and Hermann, were not baptized in Kaldenkirchen. Paulus' father, Arret, was probably Roman Catholic. Paulus who also
was Catholic, later became a member of the Reformed Church of Kaldenkirchen Germany, and Mennonite in Germantown. Paulus' sons, Arnold and Hermanus, came to America with him. They were preceded by Johannes, another son of Paulus. Paulus was a stone mason and farmer. On Dec. 2, 1700, he was chosen as a committeeman of the corporation of Germantown PA. Paulus purchased 50 acres of land from Henry Bucholz Dec. 4, 1704. Paulus was appointed Jan. 5, 1706 as overseer of fences in Germantown. Paulus died in Jan. or Feb. 1708, and Gertrude soon after.

Paul (Paulus) Custer and Gertrude came to America in 1684 and settled with other Mennonites in Germantown. At least the following three sons came from Crefeld, Germany with their parents: Arnold, Johannes, and Hermanus.

According to late 20th century research, Paulus and Gertrude Küster, who followed the first thirteen immigrant German families from Krefeld and surroundings, had emigrated to North America around 1693 from the Rhineland in Germany, probably among thousands of Palatine refugees whose passage was arranged by the English government of Queen Anne to gain settlers. Their surname originally was spelled "Küster". Paulus Küster was from Kaltenkirchen, Duchy of Jülich (today North Rhine-Westphalia state), who settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania.[1][2]

A 1909 history of Germans in the US stated that this immigrant ancestor was a Hessian soldier fighting for the British, who was paroled in 1778 after Burgoyne's surrender. The soldier was said to have changed his name to Custer because it was easier for his English neighbors to pronounce and perhaps also to remove the stigma attaching to a Hessian, so offensive then to American sensibilities.[3]

1. ^ Wert, Jeffry D. (1996). Custer: The Controversial Life of George Armstrong Custer. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-684-81043-3. , p. 15. 2. ^ Connell, Evan S. (1984). Son Of The Morning Star. San Francisco, California: North Point Press. ISBN 0-86547-160-6. , p. 352. 3'. ^ Albert Bernhardt Faust, The German Element in the United States, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1909, vol. 1, p. 517."

http://www.caoa-genes.org/dnaproj/dna-bios/PK0-bio.htm,Paul

My 7th PaternalGreat Grandfather

Created by: Darlene Litzsinger Record added: Jun 30, 2001 Find A Grave Memorial# 5582039

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5582039

Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Collection Name: Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 74

The settlement of Germantown, Pennsylvania, and the beginning of German emigration to Germantown-https://archive.org/stream/settlementofgerm01penn#page/136/mode/1up

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~villandra/OldGeocities/Web...

GEDCOM Note

Category: Pennsylvania Mennonite Pioneers Category: Kester NameStudy Category: Kaldenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen

Category: German Roots Project Category: Pennsylvania Mennonite Pioneers

Category: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
destination-flag =US_State_Flag_Images-42.png

Biography

Paulus Kuster is believed to have been born about 1644 in Kaldenkirchen, Germany, the son of Kuster-1 | Arnold Kuster and Von Haren-4 | Catharine Von Haren Kuster. <ref name="White">White, Jean M., Editor; Space:The_Descendants_Of_Paulus_And_Gertrude_Kusters | The Descendants of Paulus and Gertrude Kusters of Kaldenkirchen, Germany and Germantown, Pennsylvania the first four generations; Castor Association of America, 1991; 303 Pages, Indexed; Page 15.</ref> <ref>Delphine, Dominique Z.; Ancestry.com family tree; "CABLE-BUCHER-HAWBAKER-ULERY-KESTER-PRIEST-STAFFORD-SCANLAND-PRICE-HAPNER"; In 2016, this family tree is no longer found on Ancestry.com. </ref> <ref name="Pound and Kester"> Hunt, John E., Compiled by; Space:Pound_and_Kester_Families | Pound and Kester Families, containing an account of the ancestry of John Pound (Born in 1735) and William Kester (Born in 1733)and a genealogical record of all their descendants and other family historical matter.; Regan Printing House, Chicago, 1904, 628 Pages, Indexed; Pages 301-303 </ref> Paulus Kuster married Doors-3 | Gertrude Doors, 16 October 1668 inthe Reformed Congregation Church in Kaldenkirchen, Germany. <ref> Niepoth, Wilhelm; "The Pennsylvania Genealogyical Magazine" Volume XXXI 1980 Number 3 an article titled "The Ancestry of the Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants of 1683", translated by John Brockie Lukens: page 505. </ref> Gertrude Doors was the daughter of Theis (Matthias) and Agnes Doors. <ref name="Pound and Kester"> Hunt, John E., Compiled by; Space:Pound_and_Kester_Families | Pound and Kester Families, containing an account of the ancestry of John Pound (Born in 1735) and William Kester (Born in 1733) and a genealogical record of all their descendants and other family historical matter.; Regan Printing House, Chicago, 1904, 628 Pages, Indexed; Pages 301-303 </ref> Paulus passed away in 1707/8, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. <ref> Delphine, Dominique Z.; Ancestry.com family tree; "CABLE-BUCHER-HAWBAKER-ULERY-KESTER-PRIEST-STAFFORD-SCANLAND-PRICE-HAPNER"; In 2016, this family tree is no longer found on Ancestry.com. </ref> <ref name="Pound and Kester"> Hunt, John E., Compiled by; Space:Pound_and_Kester_Families | Pound and Kester Families, containing an account of the ancestry of John Pound (Born in 1735) and William Kester (Born in 1733) and a genealogical record of all their descendants and other family historical matter.; Regan Printing House, Chicago, 1904, 628 Pages, Indexed; Pages 305-306 </ref> He is buried in Germantown, Pennsylvania. <ref> Find A Grave Memorial for Paulus Kuster. </ref>

Family

Kuster-30|Paulus Kuster "married Gertrude Doors" <ref name="White">White, Jean M., Editor; Space:The_Descendants_Of_Paulus_And_Gertrude_Kusters | The Descendants of Paulus and Gertrude Kusters of Kaldenkirchen, Germany and Germantown, Pennsylvania the first four generations; Castor Association of America, 1991; 303 Pages, Indexed; Page 15.</ref>and had the following children: Kuster-43|Arnold Kuesters "baptized 9 June 1669, Kaldenkirchen, Germany...died 1739, Hanover Twp., Philadelphia County, PA , buried Manatawney Mennonite Cemetery" Kuster-32|Johannes Kuesters "baptized 12 October 1670, Kaldenkirchen, Germany...died 1708, Germantown, PA." Kuster-35|Matthias Kuesters "baptized 6 December1671, Kaldenkirchen, Germany...lived in Krefeld, Germany" Kuster-33|Reinhart Kuesters "baptized 2 December 1674, Kaldenkirchen, Germany" Kuster-34|Anna Kuesters "baptized 26 December 1677, Kaldenkirchen, Germany"

"Hermanus Kuesters, baptized 19 October 1681, Kaldenkirchen, Germany." Kuster-31|Hermanus Kuesters "baptized early March 1682, Kaldenkirchen, Germany...died about February 1760, Philadelphia County, PA" Kuster-36|Catrin Kuesters "baptized 9 March 1687, Kaldenkirchen,Germany"

Kuster-37|Eva Kuesters "died after 1748" Kuster-38|Margaret Kuesters "born about 1690" <ref name="White">White, Jean M., Editor; Space:The_Descendants_Of_Paulus_And_Gertrude_Kusters | The Descendants of Paulus and Gertrude Kusters of Kaldenkirchen, Germany and Germantown, Pennsylvania the first four generations; Castor Association of America, 1991; 303 Pages, Indexed; Pages 18-19.</ref>

Sources

<references />

• From "The Pennsylvania Genealogyical Magazine" Volume XXXI 1980 Number 3 an article titled "The Ancestry of the Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants of 1683" by Wilhelm Niepoth, translated by John Brockie Lukens: page 505" ... in the church records of the Reformed congregation of Kaldenkirchen. On 16 October 1668 were married there Paulus Kuster, bachelor of Kaldenkirchen, and Gertrud Doors, spinster of Kaldenkirchen."
• FamilySearch
• Elmer Leonard Hauser Genealogy
• William Howard Hauser Genealogy
• This is a link to ProGenealogists, The Palatine Project, The Ship: CONCORD, in 1683.

References

• "Castor Association Of America". Theassociation was founded in 1983. An association of genealogy family members in the surname lines of Caster, Castor, Custard, Custer, Gerster, Kaster, Kastor, Keister, Kester, Kiester, Kistard, Kister, Koester,Koster, Kuester, Kuster, Kustard and Kusterd. The Castor Association of America (CAOA) applies part of its efforts to searching for our foreign origins in order to better understand the earlier cultures abroad. This provides a deeper appreciation of the struggles and accomplishments of our ancestors. The Association publishes the results of its findings so that more people may share in its knowledge. CAOA also encourages informal regional and local gatherings of members to meet one another and learn more about their common history and the CAOA.
• Ebneter, Grace Custer; "Descendants of Paulus Kuster"; graceebneter@yahoo.com; 28 Jan 2009.
• Smith, C. Henry; "THE MENNONITE IMMIGRATION TO PENNSYLVANIA IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY; 1684; Pennsylvania, Norristown Press, 1929 (printed in the Pennsylvania German Soc., 1935); pp 95, 121-2; LDS FHL SCL [974.8, B4pg, V.35]."During these later years others must have arrived also, for in a listof men who applied for naturalization in 1691 there appear these additional names which seem to be Mennonite,... Among those who followed in the years immediately succeeding were, ... ***PAULUS KUSTER from Crefeld, with wife and three sons, Arnold, Johannes and Hermanus, and Heinrich Pannabekker. ... Thus far the Mennonite colonists were nearly all of Dutch descent, and came either from Holland or from the Dutch congregations in lower Germany..."[p95] Many other prominent names in American history can be traced to these early Germantown settlers who were of Mennonite origin. According to Pennypacker, himself an historian of Mennonite affairs as well as a statesman, General Custer of Indian massacre fame, was a descendent of ***PAUL KUSTER, an early Mennonite immigrant; Samuel Cunard, descendent by the fifth generation of Thones Konders, founded the first line of steamers sailing between America and Europe and gave his name to what is now the greatest steamship company in the world. [pp 121-122]
• Roberts, Clarence V.; "EARLY FRIENDS FAMILIES OF UPPER BUCKS COUNTY, PA"; 1683-1708; Philadelphia PA, self-published, 1925; p 95; Seattle [WA] Public Library [R929.2, R541E]. "XII CUSTARD FAMILY, 1. PAUL KUSTER, emigrant ancestor of the Custard family of Upper Bucks County, was a Mennonite who came from Crefeld, Germany and settled in Germantownabout 1683. It is somewhat uncertain whether he came on the "Concord"with the thirteen original settlers of Germantown or soon afterward. He was accompanied by his wife Gertrude who was a sister of Wilhelm Streypers, who came from Kaldkirchen, a village in Germany between Crefeld and the border line of Holland. PAUL KUSTER took a more or less active part in the government of Germantown. He served as a committeeman of the municipality 2, 10 mo.[Dec],1700, and was overseer of fences 5, 11 mo. [Jan], 1706. He was a mason by trade. He died 28, 11 mo. [Jan], 1707-08, leaving a nuncupative will, declared on his deathbed. His widow Gertrude survived him only a few days. Their three sons, Johannes, Arnold and Hermanus came with their parents from Crefeld. 2. Johannes Koster, eldest son of PAUL and Gertrude (Streypers) KUSTER, was born in Crefeld, Germany, on the border of Holland, about 1670. He was constable of Germantown in 1695, 1696 and 1697, and was made one of the burgesses of the town in 1707. He died in 1708. He married atAbington Meeting of Friends Elizabeth Cassell, daughter of Johannes Cassell, the founder of the prominent family of his name in Pennsylvania."
• Taylor, Vivian; "Immigrant Paulus Custers"; 1576-1687; MENNONITE FAMILY HISTORY, Vol IV, No 3, July 1985; p 95; Seattle [WA] Pub Lib.; "Although much has been written about this Kuster/Custer family, I have not as yet seen any published genealogical information beyond Paulus' father's family. So, it was exciting when I discovered the LDS family group sheets based on church records in Kaldenkirchen: :: I. Reinhar/Reiner Custer/Kusters :: A. Johannes Custers (bailiff), 1576-Apr. 8, 1650 :: m 1598 Walburgis _______ :: 4. Arnold Aret Custers, ca1606-Nov. 29, 1679 :: m Catharina von Haren, dau. of Christoph von Haren (surgeon) :: g. ***PAUL CUSTERS, b ca1644/1646 :: m Gertrude Doors, dau. of Theiss and Agness (Nessgen) Doors" :: 1) Arnold Custers, b. 9 Jun 1669 :: 2) Johannes Custers, b 12 Dec 1670 :: 3) Matthys Custers, b 6 Dec 1671 :: 4) Reiner Custers, b 2 Dec 1674 :: 5) Anna Custers, b 26 Dec 1677 :: 6) Hermanus Custers, b 19 Oct 1681 :: 7) Catrin Custers, b 9 Mar 1687 :: 8) Elizabeth Custers, b PA"
• Marcus L. Miller, "Germantown Residents Naturalized in 1691"; 1691; MENNONITE FAMILY HISTORY, Vol II, No 3, July 1983; pp 102-104; Seattle [WA] Public Library.:: "In 1689 a revolution occurred in England which forced James II offthe throne and brought William and Mary to power. The residents of Germantown must have felt somewhat concerned by the political situation and on 7 May 1691, they submitted in open court in Philadelphia, a statement promising 'allegiance to King Wm & Queen Mary, and fidelity to the Proprietors.' The 62 petitioners were then granted 'naturalization' and made freeman by Thomas Lloyd, Deputy Governor of PA on 3 Jul 1691. "Wm. (William) Streipers arrived in Germantown in 1683 on the 'Concord.' He was a younger brother of Jan Streipers and his sister, Gertrude, married ***PAULUS KUSTER, a Mennonite.[f.56] He was renaturalized in1708-9." :: Footnote 56: Samuel W. Pennypacker, SETTLEMENT OF GERMANTOWN, N.Y.,Benjamin Blom, 1970 (1899), pp 69, 136.

References

• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/18435270/person/10...

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Paulus Van Haren Kuster

• BIRTH 1644 = Nettetal, Kreis Viersen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
• DEATH 1707 (aged 62–63) - Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
• BURIAL Germantown Mennonite Cemetery, Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
• MEMORIAL ID 64445865 · View Source

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64445865/paulus-van_haren-kuster

He was one of the first 13 German immigrants to Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1683. Son of Arnold Uster and Catarina von Haren, He married Gertrude Doors, daughter of Mathias Theiss and Agnes Doors.
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Born 1644 in Kaldenkirchen, Germany Died 1706-1708 in Germantown, PA. 5th Generation grandson of Ololus Kuster Kaldenkirchen,Germany