John Michael Ranck emigrated to the New World in 1728 and settled in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His brother John Philip arrived and settled on adjacent land in 1729. The area, was originally known as Saue Schwamm or Hog Swamp, later as Earltown, later still as New Design, and today as New Holland.

Also in 1729, John Michael and John Philip's sister Susanna Margaretha Ranck arrived in the New World with her husband Johann Christian Schnaeder and settled nearby in the Ephrata area. (We have only recently discovered the immigration of Susanna Margaretha and just begun to integrate her family into the Ranck story.)

*  A map of the John Michael Ranck Tract
*  A map of the John Philip Ranck Tract 

As was common in that time, family cemeteries were established on these two homesteads.
Photographs, maps and registries of these cemeteries:

*  John Michael Ranck Family Cemetery  [GPS Coordinates: N 40º 06.580'   W 76º 02.118' ]
*  John Philip Ranck Family Cemetery  [GPS Coordinates: N 40º 06.400'   W 76º 00.808' ] 

Map of the Ranck Family Farms and Cemeteries

Finding the John Philip Ranck Family Cemetery -- From US Route 322 east of Blue Ball in the Village of Fetterville, turn south onto Briartown Road. Briartown Road immediately turns left;  DO NOT turn left. Instead, proceed straight into what looks like the entrance to a nursery. This road/lane very shortly turns RIGHT through the fields. 150 or so yards out, the road turns left; INSTEAD, continue straight over a small culvert, and wind between the barn and the house, bear left, and continue along the farm lane another 100 yards or so to the stone-walled cemetery. (Don't worry. If the corn is high, you can't see it until you are there.)

Cemetery caretakers:

Chris and Karen Overly Smith
717-236-0430
CSmith9061@aol.com