M. Ressler Genealogical Database

The following information is from the book: History of Berks County, Pennsylvania; Volume 2; Chicago, IL; J.H. Beers and Co., 1909; pages 704-705.

HENRY F. TROSTLE: The Trostle family was founded in America by two brothers, Peter and Hans Bernhardt Trostell, natives of Switzerland, who sailed for the New World from Rotterdam on the ship "Samuel", Hugh Percy, master. They landed at Philadelphia, Aug. 17, 1733. In the records the name of Peter Trostell is variously spelled. The clerk who kept a list of the passengers aboard the ship spelled it Troksell, while elsewhere it appears Trossell. In 1733 his age was given as forty-two, and that of his wife, Anna Maria, as thirty-two. In the same year (1733) Hans Bernhardt Trostell was thirty-eight and his wife, Catharine, thirty. Peter Trostell, aged nine years and Daniel Trostell, aged seven years, possibly the children of the former Peter, were also registered as passengers aboard the same ship.

Brecknock township, Berks county, was largely settled by the Swiss and Welsh. On the same ship on which came the Trostells were many others whose names are still common (1908) in Brecknock. Apparently a whole colony left their native home and came to America, settling in one locality. Parts of Brecknock township were settled soon after 1733, and these emigrants evidently worked their way through the forests from Philadelphia. Whether the two brothers, Peter and Hans Bernhardt, settled in the same district is conjectural, but it is evident that the Trostles were a numerous family in Brecknock township in earlier years, the cemetery at the old Allegheny Church (Union) containing many tombs bearing the name. This church was the place of worship for the settlers for many miles around. Among the tomb-stones in the cemetery there that are yet readable are those of Heinrich and George Trostell. The former was born June 4, 1724 and died Oct. 9, 1759, aged thirty-five years, four months, and five days. The latter, George, was born Feb. 17, 1730, and died Sept. 11, 1804, aged seventy-four years, two months and twenty-four days. It is undetermined who were the parents of Heinrich and George, but there is little doubt that they were the children of one or the other of the emigrant ancestors. The Trostle homestead in Brecknock township is in the western part near "Knauer's Hotel". Tradition says that it has been in the family name for more than one hundred and fifty years. There is a house upon this property, built by a Trostle long before the American Revolution. It is of stone, the masonry of superior workmanship and good appearance, and the walls twenty-two inches thick. This property has never been out of the Trostle name.

George Trostle was the ancestor of Henry F. Trostle of Spring township. He was born in Brecknock township, Feb. 17, 1730, as above stated. There is still in existence an old deed for the Trostle homestead bearing the date 1749. He married Rosina Seidabenner and they became the parents of the following children: Heinrich, John, George, Jacob, William, Abraham, Margaret (wife of Jacob Merkle) and Elizabeth (wife of David Miller). The signatures of the children are to be found on an old deed, dated June 29, 1805, when all signed over the homestead to Heinrich. George Trostle (Trostell) died September 11, 1804.

Possible parents:

Peter Trostell and Hans Bernhardt Trostell
natives of Switzerland, who sailed for the New World from Rotterdam on the ship "Samuel", Hugh Percy, master. They landed at Philadelphia, Aug. 17, 1733.
In 1733 Peter's age was given as forty-two, and that of his wife, Anna Maria, as thirty-two.
Hans Bernhardt Trostell was thirty-eight and his wife, Catharine, thirty.

It is undetermined who were the parents of ... George, but there is little doubt that [he] [was] the [child] of one or the other of the emigrant ancestors.