Elias Redcay III ^{1 2}

   FamilySearch ID: LCM6-RMG.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence: in 1810 in Exeter Twp., Berks, PA. ¹

2. Book: Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, 1909. ³

Elias Redcay, son of Elias, was born Dec. 28, 1782, in Robeson township, Berks county, and died at Adamstown, Jan. 28, 1867. He assisted his father with the farm work until his marriage. On Jan. 29, 1809, he married Sarah Harner, a daughter of Heinrich and Catharine Harner of Exeter. The year after his marriage he farmed for himself, and in 1810 he moved to Exeter, where he carried on farming operations until 1821. On March 31st of the last named year he bought the hotel stand of Jacob Swartz in Adamstown, Lancaster county, on the Lancaster pike, between Reading and Lancaster. The Lancaster pike was a much used highway and of all the old hostelries in the town "Redcay's" was the most patronized by the travelers between the two points. This hotel was operated by Mr. Redcay until 1846, in which year he sold out and purchased a tract of land in the lower end of the town, where he erected a hotel which he owned until the time of his death. Mr. Redcay was twice married. He m. (first) Sarah Harner, by whom he had the following children: (1) Henry, born Aug. 9, 1809, died June 9, 1890. He m. Lidia Bicher, who was born Feb. 22, 1811, and died Aug. 6, 1898. (2) Charles, born Jan. 1, 1811, and died Nov. 29, 1887. He m. Mary Pennebecker, who died Feb. 8, 1888. (3) Lidia, born Dec. 13, 1812, m. John Young. (4) Harriet, born Dec. 21, 1814, died March 19, 1875. She m. Isaac Fichthorn. (5) A daughter, born Oct. 21, 1816, died young. (6) Nicholas, born Aug. 21, 1818, died May 25, 1895. He m. Ann Kegerise, born Dec. 19, 1824, and died March 21, 1891. (7) Benneville, born ----- 29, 1820, died Feb. 3, 1873. He m. Polly Bulman, born April 5, 1820, died ----- ----- -----. (8) William, born Oct. 15, 1822, is still living; he m. his cousin, Susan Redcay, who is also living. On July 16, 1826, Mr. Redcay m. (second) Elizabeth Strauss, and by her he became the father of Elias Redcay.

3. Book: Family Story by BevLinsky on Ancestry.com, 29 Jun 2011. ⁴
Elias Redcay, Jr., only son of Elias and Elizabeth, lived in Robeson township, where he carried on farming and conducted a sawmill. He carried on operations on the two tracts which he had purchased from his father in 1773, up to 1804, when he decided to sell out. He was an extensive dealer in land and a large property owner, owning several good farms and a few timber tracts on which he operated sawmills. On April 29, 1791, he and his wife deeded to Valentine Geiger and Herman Umstead in trust for the inhabitants of this section a tract of land containing one acre, ten perches, it being part of the land he had purchased from his father. This land contained the private burying ground of the Redcays, who in later years allowed the people of their section to bury their dead there. It was the intention to have a church there, but this was not built until 1809, and it is known as St. John's Lutheran and Reformed Church. It is said that a log church was on the property before the present church was built. All Christian congregations which contributed to its support were allowed to worship in the building, and they were also to maintain and keep the graveyard. Late in life Elias Redcay lost most of his competency through disastrous financial investments. He was a member of the General Assembly from Exeter in 1805-1806, and during the Revolutionary war he served as a lieutenant of militia from Pennsylvania in Capt. Adam Beard's Company, 3d Battalion, Lieut. Col. Jonathan Jones. He was a great reader and delighted to tell stories of the war. He passed away Jan. 3, 1829, and is buried in the old Redcay burial ground.

On April 6, 1773, Elias Redcay married Elizabeth Hunter, who was born in 1752, and died Jan. 11, 1816, and to them were born the following children: (1) Henry, born Aug. 13, 1775, m. Mary Catharine Neykirk, of Exeter, who was born Jan. 25, 1779. He died May 22, 1848, and she Sept. 3, 1842, and both are buried in the Muddy Creek cemetery in Lancaster county. (2) John is mentioned below. (3) Elias, born Dec. 28, 1782, m. (first) Jan. 29, 1809, Sarah Harner, of Exeter. She died and was buried in Muddy Creek cemetery, and he m. (second) July 16, 1826, Elizabeth Strauss, of Bern, who was born Feb. 12, 1790. He passed away Jan. 28, 1867, and she died Aug. 19, 1875, and both are buried at Adamstown, Lancaster county. (4) Elizabeth m. Samuel Ludwig, of Cumru. They moved to Missouri in 1832. (5) Maria m. June 9, 1805, Jacob Ludwig.

Elias married Sarah Harner, daughter of Heinrich Harner and Catherine, on 29 Jan 1809.¹ (Sarah Harner was born in 1785 in Exeter Twp., Berks, PA, died in 1825 and was buried in East Cocalico Twp.: Muddy Creek Church Cemetery, Lancaster, PA.)

Elias next married Elizabeth Strauss on 16 Jul 1826 in , Berks, PA. (Elizabeth Strauss was born on 12 Feb 1790 in Bern Twp., Berks, PA,⁵ died on 19 Aug 1875 in Adamstown, Lancaster, PA ⁵ and was buried in Adamstown: Cedar Grove Cemetery, Lancaster, PA ⁵.)