Beeks line: Andreas Raub 1730-1809

Andreas or Andrew Raub was actually an immigrant ancestor, having arrived with his parents in 1732.  However, since he was two years old at the time, he likely had no memory of the "Old Country" or of the journey to America.  He was the son of Philip and Maria Sarah Schoffel Raub and was born February 13, 1730 at Hagsfeld, Stadt Karlsruhe, Baden-Wuerttemburg, now part of Germany.  He was one of at least six children born to the couple, and Philip was almost 50 when Andreas was born. 

Andreas was about 23 when his father died and he was fortunate enough to inherit the family farm in Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  A few months before his father's death, he married Maria Charlotte Weber, daughter of Johan Jacob and Maria Charlotte Reichard Weber.  Andrew, at the age of 23, had a wife and a farm and responsibilities.  These may have kept him too busy to participate in either the French and Indian War or the Revolutionary War, or his work as a farmer may have made him too valuable to serve.  There is also the slight possibility that he was a Loyalist.  I haven't exhausted all the records I would need to search to determine whether he was a soldier, a farmer, or a Loyalist during the Revolutionary War, so that is on my to do list. 

It appears that Andreas and family were in New Jersey by the time of the Revolution, and he had bought his first farm there, "about halfway between Walnut Valley and Jacksonville".  It was located in Knowlton Township, Sussex (now Warren) County.  This, incidentally, would have been a horrible place to be during the Revolutionary War, as many battles were fought in New Jersey and troops would have been marching, pillaging, and possibly worse at any of several different times during the war.  I haven't yet located specific information regarding this particular area, as to whether there were actual battles here, but skirmishes, at least, seem likely. 

Andreas acquired several other properties over his lifetime, all in the same general area.  He needed land not only to support his family, but because he wanted to pass land along to each of his sons.  In this, he was successful.  The Raubs had at least three sons and seven daughters, living at the time Andreas wrote his will in 1806.  The will was proved May 25, 1809, one day after the inventory was taken.  The estate was modest, about $325, but that wouldn't have included the land and buildings.  Two of his sons were responsible for making the payments he requested to his daughters.  I sure would like to find that inventory!

Maria Charlotte had died in 1791.  There is one reference that says he later married a Katherine, but if so, she must have died also as there is no mention of her in the will.

Andreas is more interesting than I thought he would be, simply because of the times he lived in and the choice he made to move from Bucks County to Sussex County.  I would like to figure out why he made that change.  Also, his children were baptized Lutherans; why is he buried in the Knowlton Presbyterian Cemetery?  And what were his war experiences?  Did any of his sons fight?  There are always more questions than answers.

The line of descent is:

Andreas Raub-Maria Charlotte Weber
Charlotte Raub-Johan Jacob Weis (Wise)
Andrew Wire-Mary Serfass
David Wise-Matilda Martin
Elizabeth Wise-John Beeks
Wilbur Beeks-Cleo Aldridge
Mary Beeks-Cleveland Harshbarger
Their descendants