Hans Jakob Suter wird am 18.05.1719 in Affoltern als Sohn von
Hans Rudolf Suter und Catharina Suter getauft, 1743 wandert er aus. James Suter schreibt dazu auf
https://groups.io/g/Switzerland-gen/message/187:
Hans Jacob Suter arrived in Philadelphia PA in 1743 on the "Francis and Elizabeth", where he was marked as “sick” on the ship’s passenger list. He did not appear among those who took the oath at the courthouse, which may suggest he was recovering (or even quarantined) at the time. Nevertheless, the subsequent appearance of a Jacob Suter in Berks County suggests he survived and settled inland.
We know that by 1772, a Jacob Suter (also spelled Suder and Sutter in different records) appears in Greenwich Township, Berks County, which at the time was part of a heavily German-speaking area with many Swiss and Palatine settlers. The 1772 tax list suggests modest property, but by 1779, he holds 140 acres, indicating he had become an established landholder. That year, he appears adjacent to Friedrich Suter (also spelled Frederick in other lists) and Yost (Jost) Suter, who were likely his sons or nephews. In 1780, Jacob disappears from the record - perhaps due to death - while Friedrich and Yost both increase in land holdings, further suggesting inheritance or transfer of property. Sources: Pennsylvania Tax Lists and Census Records.
Jacob also appears as a baptism sponsor in 1772 at the Greenwich Union Church (a shared Lutheran and Reformed congregation), alongside his wife Maria Catharina, for the child of another local family. Then, in 1780, he is listed again as a baptism sponsor - this time alongside Mrs. Anna Maria Hahn - for Johannes, the son of Friedrich Suter, who is my direct ancestor. This not only strengthens the case for a familial link between Jacob and Friedrich, but also connects the Hahn family, from whom Frederick would later purchase land in 1785 from a Jacob Hahn. It's possible there was a broader web of intermarriage or social ties among these families.
There is no known gravestone or probate record for Jacob Suter, but his disappearance from the tax rolls after 1780, coupled with land gains by Friedrich and Yost, suggests he passed away around this time. While we lack direct documentation of his earlier life in Pennsylvania (especially between 1743 and 1772), the continuity of names, land, and church involvement paints a picture of a man who survived immigration hardship, established a family, and participated actively in the civic and religious life of Berks County’s German-speaking community.
What’s particularly interesting is that his presumed sons, Friedrich and Yost, remained in Pennsylvania. Friedrich Suter, born 10 Nov 1755, eventually moved westward and died in Somerset County in 1829. Yost Suter, likely born in 1750, appears alongside him in earlier Berks records. The family appears to have integrated deeply into German-speaking Pennsylvania society, maintaining Lutheran or Reformed church affiliations.
So while Jacob’s life in Pennsylvania is partially obscured, we could surmise that he survived his illness in 1743, acquired and worked land, raised a family, participated in religious life, and laid the foundations for descendants who continued westward expansion in the following generation.
Disclaimer:
While the evidence currently points to Hans Jacob Suter (bapt. 18 May 1719 in Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland; emigrated in 1743) as the most likely candidate for the Jacob Suter/Suder/Sutter who later appears in Berks County, Pennsylvania, this connection is not yet proven. It remains possible that these are two different individuals. Ongoing research into land records, tax rolls, church documents, and immigration sources may provide additional clarity in the future.
Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass der 1743 ausgewanderte Hans Jacob Suter ein direkter Vorfahr von James Suter ist, ist also gross - der sichere Nachweis fehlt aufgrund der Quellenlage in den USA jedoch bisher. James Suter wäre deswegen sehr an Kontakten zu lebenden Suter von Affoltern, bestenfalls Nachkommen von
Hans Rudolf Suter interessiert, die bereit wären, an einem DNA-Vergleich teilzunehmen.
Wenn Sie zu dieser Personengruppe gehören - oder eine solche Person kennen - bitte ich um Kontaktaufnahme: dies kann auch gerne per direkter Mail -
https://www.ghgo.ch/ueber-uns / Wolf Seelentag - geschehen.