Dr. Bernardhus Van Leer was born in Germany to Johann and Mary van Lohr or Van Leer, one of William Penn’s first investors His family was from Birstein in Hesse and he immigrated to the New World at age 11 in 1698. His great-great-grandfather Hans von Leer or sometimes von Lähr fought for the Swiss in the Battle of Grandson After spending seven years back in Europe, where he qualified as a physician, Dr. Van Leer maintained an exclusive office practice, which was unique for the time. Dr. Van Leer's son Captain Samuel Van Leer would later play an important role in American history as a revolutionary war soldier and army supplier with his iron business. His neighbor Isaac Wayne's daughter married Capt Samuel Van Leer in 1770. Dr. Bernardhus's father in law William Branson owned the historical Warrenpoint William Branson House and was a leader in the early iron industry