1713 Birth:122, Burials, p. 8. Birth date during December 1713 calculated from age at death (76 years, 10 months) in Rev. J. W. Boos burial records. The passenger list103, v. 1, list 41, p. 154-161. from the Ship Harle (a Johannes Bütler, age 30 in 1736) would indicate a birth in 1706.

1729 Formation of Robeson Township:2728 Robeson Township was formed as part of Lancaster County in 1729 and became part of Berks County when that county was formed in 1753.

1736 Possible Immigration:103, v. 1, list 41, p. 154-161. A Johannes Bütler arrived in Philadelphia on the ship Harle (Ralph Harle, Master) from Rotterdam on 1 September 1736 at age 30. Johannes signed both the oath of allegiance and the oath of abjuration. "At the Courthouse of Philadelphia, September 1st, 1736. One hundred fifty one foreigners from the Palatinate and other places, who, with their families, making in all three hundred eighty eight persons, were imported here in the Ship Harle, of London, Ralph Harle, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, as by clearance thence, were this day qualified as usual. From the Minutes of the Provincial Council, printed in Colonial Records, vol. IV, p. 58 ƒ." While this may refer to John Bitler of Berks County, there are many inconsistencies. Immigration at age 30 in 1736 would mean a birth date around 1706, rather than a birth date of 1713 as indicated by the Rev. John Boos burial records in 1790. Berks County John Bitler’s first known child was born in 1762 — 26 years after an arrival in 1736. Is this reasonable? Others have speculated about an arrival in the 1750s. No conclusive evidence to connect this immigrant to the Berks County John Bitler has been established.

1752 Formation of Berks County:118, p. 6.,889 "Berks County was not created until 1752. It was formed from portions of Philadelphia, Chester, and Lancaster counties, and included, in addition to the present area, a large tract extending to the northwest as far as the present Lycoming County."

1767 Tax Lists, Union Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1561, (John Bittler, p. 60) John Bittler listed in as owning 300 acres, 3 horses, 6 cattle, who was levied a tax of 15. Mark Bird, ironmaster, also living in Union Township.

1767 Notice in The Pennsylvania Gazette:896 10 December 1767, "Came to the plantation of John Bitler, living in Union Township, Berks County, near Bird Iron works, last May, a black horse, about 14 and half hands high, about 16 years of age; has no brand mark, paces, and trots; also a bay year old stallion colt, his two hind feet white, paces, has no brand mark. The owner is desired to come, prove his property, pay charges, and take them away. John Bitler."

1768 Tax List, Union Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1562, (John Bitler, p. 153) John Bitler listed as farmer, owning 300 acres, 3 horses, 4 cows, and 5 sheep, who was levied a tax of 14. Mark Bird,1562, (Mark Bird, p. 153) owning 2 forges and 2 mills, also lived in Union Township.

1770/1811 Berks County Pastors:121, v. 1, p. 23. John William Boos served as pastor of these Reformed Congregations: Reading (1770-1781, 1789-1792), Heidelberg or Cacusi (1771-1789, 1792-1805), Schwarzwald (1781-1811), Spies (1783-1790), Bern (1784-1788), and Oley (1787-1789); retired 1811.

1779 Census List, Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:233, p. 5. John Bidler listed in the 1779 septennial census return for Berks County, Robeson Township.

1779 Tax List, Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1563, p. 279. John Bidler listed as owning 195 acres, 2 horses, 3 cows, and who was levied a tax of 752.

1780 Tax List, Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1564, (Jno. Bidler, p. 409) John Bidler listed as owning 195 acres, 2 horses, 4 cows, and who was levied a tax of 30.17.6.

1781 Tax List, Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1565, (John Bitler, p. 518) John Bitler listed as owning 195 acres, 3 horses, 4 cows, and who was levied a tax of 4.15.0.

1783 Baptism of Grandchild Daniel:122, Baptisms, p. 6.,1603, pt. 1, p. 10. Johannes Bittler and wife Elisabetha serve as sponsors at the baptism of their grandchild Daniel on 28 April 1783, according to Boos Pastoral Acts.

1784 Tax List, Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1566, (John Bidler, p. 659) John Bidler listed as owning 190 acres, 3 horses, 4 cattle, and 7 sheep.

1785 Tax List, Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1567, (John Beidler, p. 781) John Beidler listed as owing a tax of 1.11.6

1790 Will:95 Filed 20 November 1790, written 21 September 1790. John Bitler states, "I give and bequeath unto my Beloved wife Elisabeth the sum of Fifty Pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania and one cow, which I promised her at our marriage as will appear by an Instrument of Writing made between us about that time; likewise I give to my said wife Elisabeth my Bed and Bedding; and such goods and effects as she my said wife brought to me when I married her; to hold to her, her Heirs and assignees forever.

I give to my said wife Elizabeth the sum of five pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania yearly and every year during her natural life, or the use of a room or house to live in on my Plantation during her life, with fire wood, apples for house use, pasture in Summer for our [illegible phrase] and liberty of the spring house for keeping her milk & all which said privileges shall be allowed my said wife, or the said sum of Five Pounds yearly during her life, which ever my Executor finds most convenient —

(Item) I give and bequeath to my youngest son Michael Bitler the sum of one hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania over and above what he has already received out of my Estate to be paid to him by my Executor in the following manners. Dit The sum of twenty five pounds in one year after my decease, and the like sum of twenty five pounds in two years after my decease, and so on the sum of twenty five pounds yearly until the aforesaid sum of one hundred pounds is paid.

(Item) I give and bequeath my eldest son John Bitler, one wagon and two horses with their [illegible word] which are now called his wagon & horses, or the order thereof in money over and above an equal share with my son Daniel.

And all the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal whatever, I give, devise, and bequeath unto my two sons the said John and Daniel Bitler, each share & share alike to be equally divided between them the said John & Daniel Bitler either by a valuation, appraisement division or like, which ever my said two sons may think most expedient to make the most correct division of my estate both real & personal. And lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint my said son Daniel Bitler and my Trusty Friend Henry Glevenstine Executors of this my last will and testament . . . "

1790 Burial:122, Burials, p. 8. Johannes Bittler buried October 12, 1790 at age 76 years, 10 months, according to the record of Pastoral Acts of the Rev. J. W. Boos.

1791 John Bitler Estate Inventory:95 24 January 1791 inventory of the estate of John Bitler dec’d includes his wearing apparel, a tin plate stove, a house clock, books, a table, 12 chairs, a walnut table, a teakettle, and numerous other items.