The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Christopher Rex was born between 1750 and 1758 in Washington Township, Northampton (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania, the son of Bernhard/Bernard Jacob Rex and Anna Elisabeth Arner/Orner. No baptismal record has been found for him. In German, his name was Christophel/Christoffel, and his calling name was Stophel or Stoffel. During his lifetime, he was a farmer.
He signed the Oath of Allegiance (to the Revolutionary government of Pennsylvania) as Stoffel Rex on 25 August 1777 before Justice of the Peace Peter Meyer in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
He also served as a Private of the Fifth Company of the Third Battalion under Conrad Reader/Reeder, 1778, and sergeant (1781-1783 under Adam Seal/Deal/Diehl) in the Northampton County militia.
In 1785, he was a cobbler as well as a farmer. Around that time had married Hannah Holder, the daughter of John Holder and Rebecca Kuster. According to Christopher’s will (probated in English on 9 May 1823), Hana (his widow) was illiterate. Their marriage occurred between congregations of different denominations. He was a member of the Heidelberg Union Church in Saegersville/Germansville, and she was a member of the Allemengel Moravian congregation. Christopher and Hannah had the following children:
Johannes “John” was a veteran of the War of 1812, was born on 24 July 1786, and married Salome Ferber before 1818.
Georg “George” was born on 8 or 18 January 1789 and married Maria Magdalena Miller.
Elizabeth was born on 4 December 1790 and married Daniel Andrews.
Maria Barbara was born on 19 February 1799 and married John Keenan.
Mary, who married Abraham Serity.
Hannah, who married John Frederick
Christopher and his wife were buried on their property. Their graves were marked with field stones.
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Proof Argument - Christopher Rex was the unnamed brother of William Rex who served actively in the Philadelphia Campaign (1777) - 20 Dec 2022 by Michael R. Gallagher
William Rex, a brother of Christopher Rex (sons of Bernard Jacob Rex[1]), of Heidelberg Township, Northampton (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania enlisted in 1777 under Capt. Shade and served in Germantown under General Lacy, Col. Henry Geiger, Maj. Weygandt, & Capt. John Grum or Krum with his unnamed brother, both in the seventh class of the Northampton County militia[2]
On 18 June 1777, the Pennsylvania Militia was activated, having been organized 17 March of that year with the First Militia Act[3]
William was confined in the gaol [jail] in Philadelphia with Michael Hoppis, John Miller, and John Repsommer and later taken by the British to New York by ship & again confined in an old sugar house for about three months.
Captain Henry Shade was cashiered for being absent from duty for near[ly]two months, on 19 October 1777[4]. Shade’s commander was Col. George Nagel, who served under Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hubley[5].
General Lacy was present at the Battle of Germantown[6].
Col. Henry Geiger served under General Thomas Proctor in the Battles of Brandywine & Germantown[7]
Thomas Proctor commanded the 4th Continental Artillery Regiment, also known as Reign’s Continental Army Regiment, which became part of the Continental Army on 10 June 1777. One company served at Trenton (1776).
Capt. John Krum was in the 7th Company of the Third Battalion, Northampton County Militia 21 May 1777 or June 18th 1777[8]. Immediately following that officer list (according to the published Pennsylvania Archives), 1778 muster rolls for the Third Battalion listed Christopher Reax[Rex] in the 8th Class of the 5th (Conrad Roeder’s) Company, Third Battalion, Northampton County Militia.
Christopher & William were Privates who received certificates of Depreciation Pay[9]
Christopher and William Rex were listed together a Sergeant & Private in the Sixth Battalion, Fifth Company, (Conrad Rader’s), Northampton County Pennsylvania militia in 26 October 1780[10]
In 1782, both Christopher & William were Sergeants[11].
Christopher and William had the following siblings (NGSQ, Dec 1980)[12]:
Georg Jacob, born 17 June 1750, married Anna Maria Yates (age 25-27 in 1776-7)
Anna Margaretha Rex, m. 16 May 1780 to Conrad Meyzler (female, no military service likely)
Abraham, b. 1757-9
Elisabeth Rex- married Samuel Sieger (female, military service not likely)
Barbara Rex (female, military service not likely)
John George Rex (born 23 Aug 1764, d. young) (too young to serve in 1776-7, & may have been deceased
Georg Adam Rex (b.11 Jan 1766) (too young to serve in 1776-7)
Maria Rex (female, military service not likely)
Catherina Rex (female, military service not likely)
Therefore, of the 4 brothers born early enough to have been of age and able to serve in 1776-7, the brother with whom Wilhelm served would have been Christopher, George Jacob (signed the Oath of Allegiance in 1777, so he was aged 21 years or older), or Abraham Rex.
No active, dated service has been confirmed for Abraham. The only Pennsylvania Abraham with service filed with the DAR or SAR is an uncle, in Philadelphia County (who lived in what had been his father’s home between 1720 & 1739[13]). An Aberham[sic] Rex served in the Northampton County Pennsylvania militia with William, Christopher, & John George Rex[14]. An Abraham Rex served on the Pennsylvania Continental Line, receiving depreciation pay for undated service[15] Abraham served on the frontier as a ranger in the Northampton County militia[16].
An Abraham Rex also served from Lancaster County in 1782[17].
Christopher is the most-likely brother to have served with William, being closest in age and birth order and them both having appeared on multiple muster rolls together.
REFERENCES
[1] Doris Rex Schutte, “George Rex of Germantown Pennsylvania 1682-1772” National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 68 No. 4 (December 1980): 243-258.
[2] “Revolutionary War pension files,” database with digital images, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/14003621); William Rex (Rev War pension S.4048, Pennsylvania, p.4); imaged from NARA Microfilm Publication M804, Roll 2025).
[3] Roach, Hannah Benner. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777, pp161-2, 170. Reprinted from The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol. XXIII, No. 3, 1964.
“Revolutionary War Militia Overview,” Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Revolutionary-War-Militia-Overview.aspx : accessed 20 December 2022).
“General Orders, 19 October 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-11-02-0562. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 11, 19 August 1777 – 25 October 1777, ed. Philander D. Chase and Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 2001, pp. 553–555.]
“Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War,” database with images, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/21294986, https://www.fold3.com/image/21294993, https://www.fold3.com/image/21295009, & https://www.fold3.com/image/21295017 : accessed 20 December 2022; imaged from NARA Microfilm Publication M881, Roll 832).
[6] “John Lacey (general),” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lacey_(general).
[7] “Revolutionary War pension files,” database with digital images, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/20453749); Henry Geiger (Rev War pension S29172, Pennsylvania, p.4); imaged from NARA Microfilm Publication M804, Roll 1061).
[8] Published Pennsylvania Archives, database with images, Series 5 Volume 8 pp. 266 & 234, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/3421854 & https://www.fold3.com/image/3421923).
[9] Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 4, p.341, database with images, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/3623408).
[10] Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 8, pp.442, 448-9, database with images, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/3530736, https://www.fold3.com/image/3530742, & https://www.fold3.com/image/3530743).
[11] Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 8, p. 509, database with images, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/3530803).
[12] Doris Rex Schutte, “George Rex of Germantown Pennsylvania 1682-1772” National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 68 No. 4 (December 1980): 243-258.
[13] Doris Rex Schutte, “George Rex of Germantown Pennsylvania 1682-1772” National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 68 No. 4 (December 1980): 243-258.
[14] Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 8, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/3530803).
[15] Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 4, p.341, database with images, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/3623408).
[16]Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 4, p.663, database with images, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/3623732).
[17] Published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 7, p. 607, database with images, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/3620800).