Peake - Stiles - Person Sheet
Peake - Stiles - Person Sheet
NameHenry Rhoads 
Birthca 1706, Germany
DeathApr 7, 1774, Somerset Co., PA
Burial1774, Rhoads Church Cemetery, Black Township, Somerset Co., PA
Misc. Notes
Although little is known for certain of Henry's early life, early records from the American colonies show him settled among a largely Palatine German immigrant community, with his original German name being Heinrich Rhodt or Roth. He likely immigrated with his father and wife Catharine from Germany to Pennsylvania around 1737.
Henry first settled with his father and wife near Trappe, Pennsylvania, where he attended the local Lutheran congregation (what became Old Trappe). However, in the 1740s, he left the church to pursue religious life at the Ephrata Cloister with Conrad Beissel and George Adam Martin, both of whom were leading members of the German Baptist Brethren (Dunkards). His father died there.
He and his wife had a large family. In 1748, they moved to Frederick County, Maryland. There, they joined the local Brethren church under the leadership of Daniel Leatherman, but became disaffected, as Leatherman rejected the Sabbatarian beliefs Henry had picked up from Beissel and Martin and continued to hold.
In the early 1760s, Henry and his family moved with some of George Adam Martin's congregation to modern-day Somerset County, Pennsylvania, after gaining significant amounts of land there. Here, he built a mill. He was elected to be a minister by his local congregation in 1768, and began hosting Seventh-Day German Baptist Brethren services at his mill until, largely due to the efforts of his son, Henry Rhoads, Jr., a meetinghouse was built around 1770 to accommodate the congregation. Known as Stony Creek German Baptist Church, it was ministered by George Adam Martin himself during Henry's final years. Henry was also involved in local affairs, serving as a Supervisor for Brothersvalley Township.
Henry's will is dated January 28, 1774, and his death was announced by Ephrata in 1774. He died in modern-day Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and is thought to have been buried in the Rhoads Cemetery, which is located where he was living at the time, although documentation is lacking and there is no original marker.
Henry first settled with his father and wife near Trappe, Pennsylvania, where he attended the local Lutheran congregation (what became Old Trappe). However, in the 1740s, he left the church to pursue religious life at the Ephrata Cloister with Conrad Beissel and George Adam Martin, both of whom were leading members of the German Baptist Brethren (Dunkards). His father died there.
He and his wife had a large family. In 1748, they moved to Frederick County, Maryland. There, they joined the local Brethren church under the leadership of Daniel Leatherman, but became disaffected, as Leatherman rejected the Sabbatarian beliefs Henry had picked up from Beissel and Martin and continued to hold.
In the early 1760s, Henry and his family moved with some of George Adam Martin's congregation to modern-day Somerset County, Pennsylvania, after gaining significant amounts of land there. Here, he built a mill. He was elected to be a minister by his local congregation in 1768, and began hosting Seventh-Day German Baptist Brethren services at his mill until, largely due to the efforts of his son, Henry Rhoads, Jr., a meetinghouse was built around 1770 to accommodate the congregation. Known as Stony Creek German Baptist Church, it was ministered by George Adam Martin himself during Henry's final years. Henry was also involved in local affairs, serving as a Supervisor for Brothersvalley Township.
Henry's will is dated January 28, 1774, and his death was announced by Ephrata in 1774. He died in modern-day Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and is thought to have been buried in the Rhoads Cemetery, which is located where he was living at the time, although documentation is lacking and there is no original marker.