Michael Righter, son of No.4 Michael and Catharine (Geiger) Righter, was born in 1748, and died July, 1819. He maried Elizabeth Bower, daughter of Charles and Barbara Bower, of Roxborough Township. In his will Charles Bower bequeathed his messuage and its hossehold furniture to his wife Barbara, during her life, and after her death to his daughter Elizabeth Righter, and son-in-law Michael Righter, during their life, "making no waste or destruction thereon." On their deaths the estate was to be divided among the heirs of his daughter, Charles Righter to have 50 pounds, Michael Righter 20 pounds, and Catharine Righter 20 pounds more than an equal share with the rest of the heirs. The remainder of his lands he bequeathed to his son-in-law Michael Righter, who was to pay all his debts. He signed his name to this will in German script. This will was proved 24 January 1807.[Will#10,1807] Tax assesor's lists for Roxborough Township showed that Charles Bower was a cooper, who owned 20 acres of land in addition to his dwelling. Charles and Barbara Bower were buried in Roxborough Burial Ground in the lot next to Michael and Elizabeth Righter, but the inscriptions on their stones are badly worn and illegible. Michael Righter combined the occupations of farmer and cooper, and tax assessors; lists showed that he was a storekeeper as well in 1788,1789,1791. His property in 1808 as given in the list for that year included 2 tracts of land, one of 20 acres with stone dwelling, stone barn, and shop, valued at $650, and one of 39 1/2 acres with stone dwelling, frame stable, valued at $850. He also owned 2 horses and 3 cows. The assessors; list for 1787 credited Michael with 40 acres of land. Since he acquired only 16 acres, 58 1/2 perches in the partition of his father's land in that year, it seems that he acquired his brother peter's lot of 22 acres, 15 perches, immediately after partition was made. This transaction was not recorded, at least not at that time. John Hills' Map of Philadelphia and Environs (1809) showed that Michael owned Peter's lot. He owned no land previous to 1787. When Hermit Lane, the one perch wide cartway of the 1787 partition agreement, was opened as a private road in 1794 Michael received 10 pounds for damage to his land, which the road crossed from the Wissahickon Creek to where it entered Daniel Righter's land.[Jones,Historic Notes 71,72] It became a public road 33 feet wide in 1804. On 4 April 1804 Michael Righter was one of 13 trustees of the Roxborough Burial Ground, when Nathan Levering granted additional land to the already walled in plot of 72 perches for that purpose. This plot, originally the Levering Family burial ground on the Levering Farm, is the oldest burial ground in Roxborough, where many of the early settlers were buried. It was located back of the Roxborough Baptist Church property, the church drive giving access to it. On 4 April 1805, he was named as one of the 28 trustees of the Roxborough School. Michael Righter died July, 1819, and was buried in the Roxborough Burial Ground, where his grave and that of his wife are still marked by gravestones. His will, made 4 April 1812, was proved 28 August 1819. He bequeathed all his estate to his wife for life or as long as she remained a widow. If she remarried the executors were to pay to her interest of one third the estate yearly during her life. On her death or remarriage $400 was to be paid to his son Charles, $20 to his daughter Ann, and the residue to be divided among his 6 children, daughters Catharine and Ann each to receive $100 less than each of the 4 sons. He appointed his sons Charles and Michael executors.

The children of 12.Michael and Elizabeth (Bower) Righter were:

Charles Righter. He maried, 20 August 1821, Hester Albright. He was a cooper by occupation.

Catharine Righter. She married Thomas McCrea of Northern Liberties.

Michael Righter. He was born 1785, and died 1826. He married Catharine Streitzel 29 March 1810. Catharine was norn 30 September 1793, daughter of John and Margaret (Levering) Streitzel, and died 21 June 1877, aged 84.

Samuel B Righter

Ann Righter

Jonathan Righter