Peter Gunnarson Rambo (1612-1698)
Peter Rambo, founder of the Rambo family of Philadelphia, left Sweden at the age of twenty-seven as a laborer for the New World Trading Company, setting sail on the “Kalmar Nyckel” for the colony of New Sweden (Delaware). Gunnarson chose Rambo as his surname in remembrance of his birthplace, Gothenburg, which is dominated by Ramberget or Raven’s Mountain, overlooking Gothenburg’s harbor. He arrived in 1640 and after serving his indenture, became a freeman and married Brita Matsdotter in 1647. Peter Rambo was a prosperous farmer, eventually moving his family to a plantation at Passyunk, on the northeast side of the Schuylkill River. The plantation’s orchards were planted with apple trees grown from seeds he had brought from Sweden and the “Rambo Apple” is still grown today in several northeastern states. Peter Rambo also became a respected member of the community, serving on Governor Rising’s Council (1654-66) and as a justice under both Dutch rule (1655-64) and English rule (1664-80). He was chosen by his peers to greet William Penn, the new Proprietor, on his arrival at Upland, now Chester, Pennsylvania. Rambo also witnessed and signed Penn’s Treaty with the Indians for the purchase of land west of the original city of Philadelphia in 1682.
When Peter Rambo died at the age of eighty-five, he left six surviving children and fifty-one grandchildren. His grave lies beneath the altar of Gloria Dei, Old Swede’s Church at Wicaco. The Rambo family continued the tradition of public service begun by Peter Rambo, serving through the generations in legislative roles and in the Revolution. Today the Rambos are recognized as one of Philadelphia’s Colonial First Families, along with the Cadwaladers, Morrises and Coxes.
Information courtesy of Northeast Auctions