Was associated with the Quakers or Society of Friends.

Bartholomew (Bartle, Barthol) Righter (Reiter) was probably born shortly after 1700 in Roxborough Township, the son of Peter Righter the emigrant. He learned the trade of cordwainer, and had sufficient education to be able to write his name in German script. On 23 January 1728, he purchased from his father 3 acres of land on the road leading to Holgate's Farm on the Wissahickon Creek, now probably Hermit Lane, a corner of his father's 80 acres farm. On 23 April 1736, he and his wife Elizabeth sold this lot, including a messuage, which he may have built on it, to John George Gager of Roxborough Township. (Both these transactions are recorded in Deed Book I-13, 118.) About two years later, on 4 January 1737/38, he purchased 250 acres of land from the Norris estate. (Deed Book G-1, 205) This tract was located in upper Roxborough, on both sides of the road from Plymouth to Philadelphia, now Ridge Road, extending north from approximately the present Port Royal Avenue to the present Manatawna Ave., and east from the present Hagy's Mill Road to the Township Line Road. He build his new home there, and lived there the rest of his short life.

As in the case of his father, no church records of his marriage, or of the baptism of his children have been found. He was interested in a school in the neighborhood for his growing family, and was appointed to serve as trustee of the first school mentioned in Chestnut Hill, when in 1745, John Johnson granted a lot for school purposes on Paul's Mill Road (now Wise's Mill road), about 800 feet west of the Wissahickon Creek, near the Roxborough Township line. (John F. McFarlane, History of Early Chestnust Hill, Philadephia 1927, 72) In August of 1744, he was appointed adminstrator of his father's estate. On 19 August 1745, 'being weak in body,' he made his will, devising his plantation and personal property to his wife Elizabeth for her use for life or until she remarried. Should she remarry, her share was to be 50 pounds and the estate was to be held in trust till the children became of age. The land was then to be divided among the four sons and the daughter Elizabeth was to receive 100 pounds on reaching age 18. He named his wife executrix, with Daniel Barrindoll, executor. He signed his name to this will in German script. "Barthol Reiter." (Will #30, 1745) The will was proved 20 September 1745.

At the June 1757 term of the Court of Common Please, Sheriff James Coultas was ordered, with the help of a jury of 12 men to partition the land of Bartle Righter among his four sons. The partition was approved September 1757. (Recited in several deeds relating to this land)

The children of Bartholomew and Elizabeth ______ Righter were: John, Jacob, Peter, Bartle, and Elizabeth. These are name in order as listed in Bartholomew's will, which may not have been the order of birth.

Genealogies of Pennsylvania Families Volume II