Simon RIEGEL

Name of Patriot: Simon Riegel NSSAR Patriot # P-279147

Submitted by: Larry A. Divins

Simon Riegel/Riegle/Rigle was the first born son of Johannes Riegel Jr. and also the first born of this family in America. Simon was born on 5 November 1738 at Tulpehocken Twp., Berks County, Pennsylvania of German Rhineland-Palatinate immigrants Johannes Riegel Jr. and his wife Catarina Schirmann, who arrived in Philadelphia 18 September 1733 on Ship Pennsylvania Merchant with his father Johannes Sr. and his mother Catherine Echiman. Simon was a farmer and blacksmith in Berks County for his entire life. He married Anna Gertrude Kirschner in 1764 at Host Church in Tulpehocken Twp. and they raised 14 children together. Many of their children were pioneers in mid-western states. Simon died 12 Jan 1829 at the age of 90 and Anna reportedly also died in 1829 at the age of 84. Simon is believed to be buried in a private cemetery one mile west of St. Michael’s Church in Tilden Twp., Berks County.

Simon Riegel’s full service as a private during the Revolutionary War is not known. He received Pennsylvania Depreciation Pay Certificate No. 17575, issued 17 Dec. 1790 in the amount of £9.17.0, which were only given to soldiers who had Continental Line service between 1777 and 1780 and remained in service in 1781. The pay rate for Berks County privates was £2.10 per month; hence, the Depreciation Pay Certificate amount indicates Continental Line service of about four months or more. Records of Berks County militia service on the Continental Line are substantially incomplete. It is known that several companies of Berks County militia had active service generally of 60 days duration on the Continental Line. Simon was confirmed by pay roll to be a member of Lt. Jacob Rehrer’s Detachment of the Second Battalion of Berks County Militia, which guarded Convention prisoners of war near Reading, Pennsylvania with duty of 62 days. Simon’s father, Johannes, also served in the Berks County Militia as a 1st Lieutenant in Captain George Miller’s company in Colonel John Patton’s battalion.