The origin of the name Rudolph is German. Our first Rudolph to
arrive in Nova Scotia was Johann Peter Rudolf.
During the
years of 1750, 175 1, and 1752 Mr. Dick managed to send approximately 1 1,615
persons to Nova
Scotia. These
families were being brought over to Nova Scotia to settle a new town by the
name of
Lunenburg. Peter
Rudolph and his wife Anna Margaretha (with another female by the name of Elizabeth
Hawke (Hawkin)) were part of this immigration. Peter and Anna Margaretha
Rudolph (along with another female, Elizabeth Hawke (Hawkin))
came to Nova Scotia in 1752 on the ship "Pearl", Thomas Francis,
Master. Peter's
age is listed
as 38 on the passenger list and his occupation as farmer.
The
"Pearl" apparently took 90 days from embarkation to disembarkation ,
although 15 of those days
was for the quarantine time in the Harbour.
Once a surgeon was sent out to give the passengers a clean
bill of health, they were disembarked at what is now the Northwest Arm.
Peter had
drawn town lot Number G-5 in Steinfort's Division The town had been divided
into six divisions. Each
division had seven blocks numbered alphabetically from south to north A-G.
Each block had 14 tiered
lots. The southern lots were
numbered I - 7 from west to east and the northern lots from 8 - 14 from
east to west. Block "D"
in each of the four CENTRAL divisions were kept only for public purposes, such
as, a church, courthouse, parade ground, etc.
The streets were, of course named.
The town lot belonging to
Peter and Anna could be found in
the block found between Hopson (vertical) and
York (horizontal). The lot is in Steinfort's division It would be the fifth town
lot from the comer of Hopson
and York heading east on York Street.
The settlers were in
possession of their town lots by June 19, 1753.
He and his
family moved to Chester from Lunenburg in 1778. He purchased property
from a William Harrison on April 10, 1777.
He sold his 30 acre lot to Philip Herman on Oct 11, 1777.
He was around 64 by this time. There is mention in the Zion Lutheran
Church records of him moving
to Chester in 1778 and no longer paying dues.
On Sept 2, 1779, he bought
another farm lot in Chester from Mary Neal. His daughter Charlotte was born in
1780. In the History of Chester, written by the Women's Institute of Nova
Scotia for Canada's Centennial
Year (1967), Peter is listed in the return of settlers at Chester in 1783 as
having settled in the area
in 1778 and having a family of 2 males and 4 females.
Peter Rudolph died in Chester, 1790. His will, dated April17,
1790, was probated on June 15, 1790. The witnesses to the will were Alexander
Thomson, Seth Bangs and Thomas Embree. The executers were Franklin Germain, sq.
and Anthony Thinkpenny, both of Chester. His will stated "that all
chattels, household goods and moveable effects be sold in order to pay my
beloved wife Catherine the sum of 25 pounds currency for which she has my
obligation and funeral charges with such other expenses occurring in the
selling of my estate as shall be just ad lawful and should there not be
sufficient of the moveable effects as to discharge the above expenses, my
executors shall sell part of my landed property as shall be thought best
determined to the advantage of the estate for that purpose. And that I give to
my beloved wife Catharina 1/3 of my landed estate lying and to my beloved
daughter Anna Mary the sum of 5 shilling currency to be paid out of the estate
inconsequence of her being undutiful to me, the other 2/3 to be equally divided
between the remainder 5 children which are as follows, John George, Charlotte,
Magdalena, Alexander, and Catherine, and that my beloved wife Catharina shall
cause and provide that my beloved daughter Magdalena, shall be brought up in a
German school and the expense thereof to be paid by her mother Catharina, and
that my beloved son John George shall not dispose of his proportion of the land
so divided between them except it is to one of his brothers or sisters. And I
do hereby utterly disallow revoke"
Christopher Kraft, and the Widow Catherine Rudolph were Legally
joined in Marriage on the twelfth day of July, one thousand, Seven hundred and
Ninety one, by Franklin Germanis Etter, Esq., of Chester. Recorded July 18th,
1791. Ebenezer Fitch, Town Clerk.
Alexander Rudolph and Christopher Kraft, and the Widow
Catherine Rudolph/Croft moved to Guysborough County, after they sold their
property to Henry Haupold on April 2 1801 for 250 pounds currency of the
province.
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