Rittenhouse II

RITTENHOUSE: I should note that my line of the family did not inherit Wilhelm's paper mill. I descend from Wilhelm's youngest son, Gerhard/Garret.

Garret established a farm and operated a grist mill on Cresheim Creek. Garret died in 1742, leaving his land in Cresheim to eldest son William. Peter, the youngest, received the grist mill and the family homestead.

William had already removed to Hunterdon Co., New Jersey by the time of Garret's death. He acquired two tracts of 800 and 200 acres near Rosemont. A stone house was constructed on the farm in 1737. "W.C.R.1737" was carved into one of the stones. Rittenhouse also opened a tavern called the "Crosskeys." William married Catherine Howell about 1719, before moving to New Jersey.

William and Catherine are buried in the Old Private Burying Ground east of the Prallsville stone quarry on land that had been part of the Rittenhouse estate. The burial ground is accessible from both the John Prall and Letitia Prall houses. The homes are across the road from the Prallsville Mills complex near Stockton, NJ.

Their graves are marked by well-worn field stones reading "WR 1767" and "CR 1778." Catherine's death was the result of falling into the well on the tavern property.