Dear Kilts Descendants:

I would like to invite each and everyone of you to this year’s Kilts Family Reunion. It is always held the 3^rd Sunday in August. This year it will be August 20^th. We will again be meeting at the Salem Methodist church picnic grounds in East Stone Arabia at 12 noon. Bring a dish to share for our picnic. Family members are invited to join the worship service at 11 AM at the Methodist church.

Last year, we had 22 members attend. The oldest members were Ron Hillabrant and Shirley Putnam. The youngest were Andrew 5 years old and Macensey 4 years old. Carol Winters traveled the farthest.

Our treasurer was not able to attend but sent his report. The balance as of 15 August 2005 was $688.44. The newsletter expense was $291 for postage and printing. We gave a donation of $50 to the church for use of the picnic grounds. We also gave a donation of $20 to the Stone Church Preservation Society for our afternoon program. The pass the hat donation totaled $75.75

Last year’s newsletter asked for suggestions on making the Reunion better as attendance has fallen. It was even suggested to incorporate our Reunion with another inter-related family group. Replies were emphatic that we remain separate. The Kilts Family Association by-laws state that A.) “Every descendant of Conrad and Susan Margretha Kilts or their ancestors whenever discovered, shall automatically be members of this organization.” B.) ”Every spouse of the above members shall automatically be members” C.) “Any person interested in promoting the purpose of our organization may become a member.”

After our lunch, we will have a short business meeting. Come with ideas on how to make the Reunion better. Please send us your updates – weddings, deaths, marriages, births. Don’t forget to notify us when you move. We lose members each year when mail is returned, undeliverable. Bring your genealogy questions and any Kilts Family stories that you would like to share.

This year we hope to have a tour of the Palatine Church.

Sincerely,

Your Cousin

Nancy Timmerman Cioch

President

Related Family Reunions and Events

June 4 – Annual rhubarb festival at Nellis Tavern

July 4 – Strawberry Festival Fort Klock

July 23 – Nellis Family reunion

August 5 – Klock Reunion – all day – Fort Klock

August 5–6 pm Ice Cream Social, Snells Bush Church

August 6– Snell-Zimmerman-Timmerman Family Reunion – Snells Bush Church

August 6 –dusk – Annual Luminary Memorial – Oriskany Battlefield

Kilts Family Association Officers

Pres. Nancy Cioch

Vice Pres Sarah Israel

Secretary – Barbette Francisco

Treasurer John Empie

Registrar Vivian Hawkins

Genealogist Herman Witthoft

Hospitality – Gordon Francisco

Newsletter – editor Nancy

Last year’s tour was to the Historic Stone Arabia Stone Church. Carol Edwards, President of the Stone Arabia Preservation Society gave us an overview of their goals and the history of the church. The Reformed and Lutheran settlers decided to build a frame church (1733) and since they disagreed on the naming of the church, the Lutherans decided to worship in their old log church across the creek. Therefore the church was named the Dutch Reformed Church of Stone Arabia. During the Revolutionary War almost every building was burned. The present church was built in 1788 with limestone from local quarries at a cost of $3378. The parsonage next to the church was built in 1859 and has been renovated. Earlier parsonages were used as a school. The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is open for visitors on Sunday afternoons in July and August or by appointment. The cemetery behind the church is where Col. John Brown and many of his soldiers are buried. They lost their lives in the Battle of Stone Arabia in October 1780.

Peter Kilts

Peter Kilts was born about 1725, probably in Germany. Peter was the son of Conrad and Susanna Margaretha Kilts. They came to New York about 1735. Peter was naturalized in 1762 along with his brothers – except Phillip who was born in New York in 1739. The Kilts family had land in Stone Arabia by 1743. He married Anna Maria Bellinger about 1749.

Peter bought 50 acres of land in Stone Arabia 22 August 1750 from the heirs of Philip Livingston. This property is on Kilts Road north of the Hamlet of Stone Arabia off route 10. A copy of the deed is on file at Montgomery County Department of History and Archives at Fonda.

Peter served in the Militia during the French and Indian War. He was a private and marched to Fort William Henry by order of Sir William Johnson with the company of Soffrines Deychert.

Peter appears to have been an active part of his community. His name was on a list of Freeholders in 1763 which was probably used for drawing jurors. He was a member of the Stone Arabia Reformed Church and signed a call for a minister in 1772. He was rated a quota of 12 pounds and 12 days work on a list of inhabitants for work on the Highroads.

Peter served as a private under Capt. Peter Suts and Col. Jacob Klock in the Revolutionary War. There is reference to Peter Kilts’ service on the National Archives Revolutionary War Rolls and it lists his pay roll. The dates on these records were 1776 and 1778. This record was before the other Peter Kilts was in the service. The younger Peter Kilts and Peter N. Kilts gave depositions of their service. Peter Kilts fought at the Battle of Oriskany. Nine children were born to Peter and Anna Maria: Susanna, Anna Maria, Catharina, Conrad, Appolonia, Petrus, Adam, Maria Elisabeth, and Anna Eva.

Peter Kilts wrote his own will 25 July 1784. It was never recorded; however, a photocopy is on file at Fonda. He died at Stone Arabia, Montgomery County between 1784 and August 1786, (when his heirs are referred to) He left land to his three sons – Conrad, Adam, and Peter. He left money to his daughters and divided his other farm utensil among his sons. His stock – cows and sheep were to be divided between all of his children as well as his household furnishings.