First Families of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina
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RAUCH, SMOAK, SMOKE
The Johan Georg Rauch Family
First Generation
1. Johan Georg RAUCH was born in Germany, and died between 16 Oct 1772 and 5 Feb 1773 in Amelia Township, South Carolina. He married Mary UNKNOWN about 1742. His origin in Germany is uncertain [see res. note a.]
The following facts suggest (but don't prove) that this Johan Georg Rauch may be the same person who: appeared as George Rough in Saxe Gotha Township, South Carolina before 1746 [see res. note b.]. The facts suggest that he may have gone back to Germany in the late 1750s or early 1760s, perhaps leaving son Thomas with the Saxe Gotha land grant, and returned to South Carolina with family in 1766 as our Johan Georg Rauch.
A George Rough is shown in possession of land next to a 250 acre plat for Jacob Steel on 20 Feb 1746. The land is on Sixteen Mile Creek in Saxe Gotha and is in the forks of the Saluda and Broad Rivers.1
On 10 Mar 1749, a George Rugh petitioned for 200 acres of land and bounty in the Saxe Gotha Township. The petition stated that he came with his wife and two children to SC after having first arrived in Philadelphia on Capt. Steadman's vessel.2 [see res. note c.] A plat for "200 acres where he now dwelleth" was surveyed for George Rugh n 17 Jun 17493 and the grant was issued on 18 May 1751.4 The land is located on the "Santee otherwise the Saluda or Congaree River". It is south of the Saluda River just north of Lexington, SC.5 The plat shows all boundaries vacant except for the NE boundary that was on land laid out to Christian Kohllar. Some believe that Johann George Rauch's wife Mary was a Kohler (Culler).
On 13 Mar 1750, George Rough petitioned the SC Council. He stated that he intended to return to Germany to bring back relatives and others on the encouragement given to foreign Protestants and asked that a written statement be given him so that his countrymen, who are willing to settle, might know for certain what they could expect on their arrival. He also asked permission to bring back a minister of the gospel to preach to them in their own German language.6 Although his petition was rejected, it shows George Rauch's desire to return to Germany for "relatives and others".
On 23Feb 1753, Mary Rouchin [see res. Note d.] petitioned for a 50-acre land grant on 16 Mile Branch and bounty from the SC Council in Charleston. She stated that she arrived on board the Hereford.7 The plat dated 13 Apr 1753 shows the 50 ac track bounded on the north side by lands laid out for George Rugh. The plat is crossed by 16 Mile Branch and a path to "Rugh".8 The grant for this land was issued on 20 Jun 1754.9 The relationship of Mary Rouchin to George Rough is unknown.
On February 5, 1754, John Gaserd (Gasser), a supposed minister from Switzerland, requested a 50-acre land grant and bounty from the SC Council in Charleston. He stated that he came to this Country (first to PA for a year and then to SC) on hearing that George "Smoak" wanted a minister to come over for the Fork between the Broad and Saludie Rivers. He had agreed with the inhabitants to preach in two churches, one low in the Fork and the other high up. The petition was granted.10 On 2 April Gasser petitioned to make a general collection since the settlers were unable to support him.11 Shortly thereafter Gasser left for England. [See res. note e.]
There are only a few mentions that could pertain to Johan Georg Rauch between 1754 and 1766. For the weeks of 11, 18 and 25 Dec 1762 there was a notice in the South Carolina Gazette for George Rought to report to the treasured to be paid. There was a similar notice for the weeks of 12, 19 and 31 October 1765.12
In October 1766 John George Rauch received 150 pounds sterling bounty for new settlers per the Governor's Order dated October 16, 1766.13
On 17 Oct 1766, Passengers of the ship Britannia petitioned for lands "on the Bounty". Among them was a John Georg Rarick who asked for 100 acres.14 On 7 Apr 1767, a John George Rarish petitioned for 100 acres "on the Bounty".15 [This is the only name on the petitions of this date similar to John Geo. Rouch. -ed] On 20 May 1767 a Plat for 300 acres on Long Branch was created for John Geo. Rouch "Pursuant to a precept ... dated the 7th day of April A.D. 1767".16 The plat was certified on 23 Feb 176817.and on 21 Mar 1768 a Grant was issued to John George Rouch for 300 acres in Amelia Township.18 The center of the grant is about 3 miles NW of Lone Star, SC.
John George "Rouk's" will was written on October 16, 1772 and proved February 5, 1773. It states he was of Amelia Township and he leaves the 300 acres on Bridge-Branch to be divided among his three sons, Andreas Rouk, George Rouk and George Michael Rouk. Thomas Rouk, the oldest son, had already received his land, etc. The 100-acre home site of George and his wife Mary Rouk was to be left to the youngest son, John Bernard Rouk, after Mary dies.19 The signature on the will reads "Johan Georg Rauch".
An inventory of the estate of John George "Rouk" was made in Amelia Township on 17 Apr 1773. It stated he had: 27 hogs, 1 mare colt, 2 horses, 9 head of cattle, sundries and ? stuff, a grind stone, saddle and bridle. It was signed by: George Irick, John Michael Snyder and John Mix(?).20 All were likely neighbors.
Children Of Johan George RAUCH and Mary UNKNOWN were:
2. i. Thomas RAUCH was probably born in either Germany or Pennsylvania and died between 1800 and 1810 in South Carolina. He married Barbara Inglemon.
Thomas lived in the immediate vicinity of the original "Georg Rough" land grant on the Saluda River. It's believed that Thomas was given the original grant land when his father returned to Germany. Thomas and his family used the names Rauch, Rouck, Rough and Smoke at times but finally reverted to Rauch.21
3.ii.Andreas "Andrew" RAUCH was born in 1753 in either South Carolina or Germany and died 15 Aug 1834 in Colleton County, South Carolina and is buried in Smoak's Cemetery, Snyders Crossroads, Colleton County, SC. He married (1) Catherine Stroman on 3 Nov 1780. She was born 17 Jun 1760 in Amelia Township, SC and died 14 Oct 1784 in Amelia Township. He married (2)Widow Stroman, said to be the widow of his first wife's brother. She died 14 Oct 1795. He married (3) Harriet Gilbert Abt. 1812 in Colleton County, SC. He married (4)Mrs. Alma Rice Abt. 1833.
4.iii.George RAUCH was born 16 Jul 1760 in either South Carolina or Germany, died Aft. 1828 in South Carolina and is possibly buried in the George S. Smoke [his son] family cemetery located about 4 miles north of St. Matthews. He married (1) Ann Norton Abt. 1785. She was born: Abt. 1766 and died: Bef. 1803 in South Carolina.. He married (2) Warbuck Krulien Abt. 1803. She was born: 11 Dec 1761 and died: Bef. 1850 in South Carolina.
5.iv.George Michael "Michael" RAUCH was born Aft. 1760 and died Bef. 1820. He is reported to have married (1)Elizabeth UNKNOWN sometime after 1784. Michael Smoke was located in Barnwell District in the 1810 census.
6.v.John Bernard RAUCH is listed in the 1790 census located near St. Matthews with one female in his household. He seems to disappear from the records by 1800.22
Names appearing in the records for this family include: Rauch, Rouch, Rouchin, Rough, Rugh, Smoak, Smoakes and Smoke. Present day descendants use Rauch, Smoak or Smoke.23
Research Notes
a. Joh. Georg Rauch shows up in various pedigree resource and ancestral files. His birth is usually given as 8 Jun 1717 or 1720 in either Odernheim or Desloch, Meisenheim. His parents are given as Hans David/Daniel Rauch and Anna Ottilia Weber. He supposedly married Maria Kohler 17 May 1745 in the "Reformed Lutheran Church", Obermoschel. A Johan Jöerg Rauch was born 8 Jun 1717 in Odernheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany to Daniel Rauch und Anna Otilia Weber. His god parents were "Joh. Jöerg Rauch, Anna Eva N?. von Abtweiler". Daniel Rauch's family is well documented through the birth of son Joh. Phillip, 7 Sep 1719 but disappears from the records thereafter.24 I could find no marriage record for Joh. Georg Rauch in either the Reformed Church or the Lutheran Church records in Obermoschel.25
Hacker mentions a Georg Rauch, who with wife and 3 children, left Neuburg, Ger[mersheim] in 1739 for America.26 There is only a single Rauch family mentioned in the Neuburg church book between 1707 and 1740 and it contains no Georg.27 - ed.
b. In German, the word Rauch has two meanings: as a noun it means smoke but as an adjective it means coarse or rough as in, "Esau ist rauch" (Esau is rough.).28 Both Smoke and Rough would be literal translations of the surname Rauch. - ed
c. Settlers were supposed to have come directly to South Carolina in order to qualify for a bounty grant. It appears that George Rough may have been in Saxe Gotha for more than three years and perhaps even longer in Pennsylvania before he finally applied for a grant. Captain John Steadman founded a well known immigration brokerage firm after retiring from the sea in 1738. His firm arranged passage for immigrants on many vessels. "Captain Steadman's vessel" was likely a convenient, non-specific reference to what were probably several recently arrived ships in Philadelphia. - ed.
d. It was German custom to add "in" to the surname of females so this is Mary Rouch.
e. John Gasser, a thorough rascal, showed up in Philadelphia in 1752 posing as a reformed minister and tried unsuccessfully to join the German Reformed Synod of Pennsylvania. When his past and questionable character became known he left for South Carolina leaving behind the woman with whom he was living. Gasser left South Carolina in late 1754 or early 1755 and showed up in London, Holland and Switzerland, collecting money and books in each location until his true identity and questionable morals became apparent. Returning to Philadelphia he was promptly disavowed by the Synod. The secretary pro tempore of the Synod reported to Holland in 1757 that "this ingeniously dishonest imposter" had "most deceitfully imposed ... upon many in Europe."29 - ed.
References to this surname are found in OGSGS Newsletters: Vol. 1, #4, p. 20.
Information provided by Neil A. Smoak 22 Aug 200930
1 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, "Steel, Jacob, Plat for 250 Acres on Sixteen Mile Creek", 20 Feb 1748.
2 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals, Vol. II:1748-1752, SCMAR, Columbia, SC:1997, p. 24.
3 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, "Rugh, George, Plat for 200 Acres on Congaree River", 17 Jun 1749.
4 SC Archives, Colonial Grants, "Rugh, George, Land Grant for 200 Acres fn Saluda River", 18 May 1749.
5 Neil A. Smoak, The Smoak, Smoke, Rauch Family: Facts & Questions, Privately Published, Dallas, TX:2009.
6 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals, Vol. II:1748-1752, SCMAR, Columbia, SC:1997, p. 180.
7 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals, Vol. III:1752-1753, SCMAR, Columbia, SC:1997, p. 190.
8 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, "Rowchin, Mary, Plat for 50 Acres on Sixteen Mile Branch", 13 Apr 1753.
9 SC Archives, Colonial Grants, "Rouchin, Mary, Land Grant for 50 Acres on Sixteen Mile Branch", 20 Jun 1754.
10 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals, Vol. IV:1754-1756, SCMAR, Columbia, SC:1998, p. 28.
11 Leo Schelbert, ed., America Experienced Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Accounts of Swiss Immigrants to the United States, Picton Press, Camden, Maine:1996, p. 119.
12 Neil A. Smoak, The Smoak, Smoke, Rauch Family: Facts & Questions, Privately Published, Dallas, TX:2009.
13 Jack Moreland Jones, Mary Bondurant Warren, South Carolina Immigrants 1760-1770, Heritage Papers, Danielsville, GA:1988, p. 167.
14 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals, Vol. IV:1766-1770 SCMAR, Columbia, SC:1999, p. 25.
15 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals, Vol. IV:1766-1770 SCMAR, Columbia, SC:1999, p. 73.
16 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, "Rouch, George, Plat for 300 Acres in Amelia Township", 20 May 1767.
17 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals, Vol. IV:1766-1770 SCMAR, Columbia, SC:1999, p. 167.
18 SC Archives, Colonial Grants, "Rouch, John George, Land Grant for 300 Acres in Amelia Township", 21 Mar 1768.
19 SC Archives, "SC Ordinary Will Book 55 (SS?)", Stack location: 161F04, pp. 303, 304.
20 SC Archives Microfilm ST498, vol. 2, p. 339.
21 Neil A. Smoak, The Smoak, Smoke, Rauch Family: Facts & Questions, Privately Published, Dallas, TX:2009.
22 Neil A. Smoak, The Smoak, Smoke, Rauch Family: Facts & Questions, Privately Published, Dallas, TX:2009.
23 Neil A. Smoak, The Smoak, Smoke, Rauch Family: Facts & Questions, Privately Published, Dallas, TX:2009.
24 Evangelische Kirche Odernheim (BA. Rockenhausen). "Kirchenbuch, 1661-1880". FHL INTL Film 193107.
25 Evangelische Kirche Obermoschel (BA. Rockenhausen). "Kirchenbuch, 1639-1879". FHL INTL Film 193096, 193097.
26 Werner Hacker, ed, Eighteenth Century Register of Emigrants from Southwest Germany, Closson Press, Apollo, PA:1994.
27 Evangelische Kirche Neuburg am Rhein (BA. Germersheim). "Kirchenbuch, 1707-1957". FHL INTL Film 193066.
28 Hans Bahlow (Translated by Edda Genrtry), Dictionary of German Names, Max Cade Institute, Madison, WI:1993.
29 Leo Schelbert, ed., America Experienced Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Accounts of Swiss Immigrants to the United States, Picton Press, Camden, Maine:1996, p. 119.
30 Neil A. Smoak, The Smoak, Smoke, Rauch Family: Facts & Questions, Privately Published, Dallas, TX:2009.