Evening journal., 1912-09-12
HISTORY OF
The CONRADS
Delaware JuriSt Delivers His
tOriCaI Address at Old
Friends Meeting
FAMILY WORSHIPPED
THERE 200 YEARS AGO
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.

special TO 4 lhE EN fslNilNAI jOOtN4NAl4s
NORRISTOWN, Pa, Sept. l2,-The
two hundredth anniversary Of the found
ing OF the Plymouth Friends Meeting
House was held at two o'clock this after
noon in the historical ediice. IL is lo-
Gated on the Germantown turnpike, three
miles east of Norristown The celebra-
tion was attended by large number OF
representatives of prominent families
whose ancestors we're among the found
ers. Several noteworthy papers along
genealogical lines were read.
Among the attendants was Judge
Henry c. Conrad of Georgetown, Del. The
Judge, who is author of "Conrads His
tory Of Delaware is an authority on
historical matters He represented the
Conrad family and read paper thereon.
This family. in the early days, contribut-
ed more members of the meeting than
probably any other clan. The judge is
direct descendant.
Other prominent families represented
at the anniversary were the Corsons,
Davis. Ellis, Harrys, Jones, Livezeys, Lu'
kens, Meredith. pugh and Wiliams
The meeting house is regularly utilized
as a place of worship.
Judge Conrad read a paper on the his
tory of the Kunders tConrad) family. In
part. Judge Conrad said:
sThe first American progenitor Of the
the Conrad family was Thomas kuuders,
Hollander, who lived at Crefeld, on the
Rhine. and who becoming interested IN
the teaching OF William Penn, came to
America in 1858, as one of the thirteen
heads of families who became the found
ers Of Germantown, now "A part OF the
great city Of Philadelphia. Proud, the
historian, says the first religious meeting
of the Quskers, in that place, German
town. was held al Kunders house and
speaks OF him as an hospitable, well dis
posed man Of an. inoffensive life and GOOD
character In his will he directed that
the bed and furniture in the new room
to be for the use of friends There are
evidences that he was a member Of the
Abingdon meeting. as the record Of the
births Of his seven children appear there.
"The descendants of Thomas Kunders
have adopted various ways of spelling
their last nance. marriage certificate
OF his Youngest son. dated in l7l0, dis
closes that no two of his sons spelt the
name IN the same way. Conrad. Conardi
Cunard, Clnnsrd. have all been in use
for generations and still continue.
Henry Cunreds, the youngest son Of
Thones Kunders. was married under the
direction Of the Abingdon Friends Meet
ing on 9th mo 2s, l7l0, TO Catherine
Stapers A wear later he bought a tract
of land in Whitpain township not far
distant from the Five Points school
house. called The Cloot and there he
settled and raised a family Of seven
ssons. 7 have seen a letter dated 4th mo
4th l7l7, still in existence, given TO this
original Henry Cunreds and his wife
aCatherine, by the Friends at Abingdon
recommending them TO the Friends oi
the monthly meeting at Gynedd, which
meant q transfer of membership from
The Arlington to the Plymouth meeting
This letter was found among the e/scts
Of Henry at his death, which would leave
a doubt existing as to whether Henry
and his wife were ever formally received
as members Of Plymouth meeting.
IL am satisfied that this original
Henry CInrsds was the first Conrad
identified with Plymouth meeting and
that he attended there for period Of
more than forty years prior to his death
in 1858 It is difficult to 60 back for al
most two hundred years and from The
stray scraps of information that have
been preserved establish positive facts
hut feel I am justified in saying thai
from l7l7 possibly earlier, until th'
present there has been no time wher
there was not at Plymouth meeting
either as member or attendant, a de
soendant of this same Henry Cunredi
of Whitpain.
After telling Of the family history
Judge Conrad said
1T has been my privilege from year t
wear, from boyhood up to worship il
this building. more often in younge
davs than now Here the gospel of thl
living God has been preached for TIVE
hundred years; | recall gentle words o
admonition that have fallen from th'
lips of the preacher in this place; th'
otiiet hour of service, and the friendl.
greeting at its close But time is re
lentless. the wears go on, the generation
mass. the familiar faces disappear. AM
they who live out the longest spans o
life find themselves strangers in tn
midst Of the multitude.
1.-TWO hundred years-'not stone Il
the building but It's memories has got
and not a nail in the old floor bu
touches a tender spot Three Of my an
cestors in the older generations hav
been resting in the graveyard yor
der for century or more. Many time
in my life have been called here 10 sc
those laid away who were close to m
in blood and friendship; one in who's
lap my limbs we're nursed. The past
very tender at my heart am glad
have mingled with the friends today. an
20 have given Of my little store Of know.
edge in honor of these who sOwed tbs
we might reap, and building better tba
they knew, left us so goodly a heritag