Map of a Portion of the Lower Rhineland

MAP OF A PORTION OF /ALEVE • .CLEVES) THE LOWER RHINELAND J•etiL. Del. Nigh • GOCI1 4- 4- 79 GERNAPNY HOLLAND bACERSO ?t° ;AKEIVI No KhEFELD• KRCHEN• r. Eick er,, Da.rpfn 11 / ,,A , /./WAyailti al toilsgi3 trikein - A‘ I ilirric • . „k , %"'z)0, 1 a BAC ri'ir lioHaraterbroich riaSEL DORF AHLEN • •FitiEYDT WICliR.ATMscl CKItisiTH • c' 'f4 cA(3 .0b SiTTARD Auc Kai L (coLoGney to e0 MILE ID 5 0 • AACHEN (Aix LA CHAPELLE)) ZO 30 11.0111ETM BON Ns---vw•mo The Ancestry of the Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants of 1683 Wilhelm Niepoth translated by John Brockie Lukens T HE GERMAN PUBLICATION DIE HIEMAT has carried numerous valuable writings about the background of the founders of Germantown who emigrated in 1683. 1 The same subject has been treated by Friedrich Nieper in his book, The First German Emigrants from Krefeld to Pennsylvania, and by Professor Dr. Rembert in the work, "On the History of the Emigration of Krefeld Mennonites to North America" in Contributions to the History of Rhenish Mennonites. Over and over again attempts have been made to establish the ancestry and relationships of these settlers. Almost exclusively American sources have been used for this and contradictory results achieved. 2 This is partly due to the fact that American writers have taken literally forms of address in letters and accounts such as "brother" and "cousin", and not recognized them as expressions of friendship or of common membership in a religious community. Especially the expression "brother-in-law," which does not always mean an "in-law" in today's sense but more often it indicates a more distant connection by marriage which is not clear without further explanation. It must be remembered that the emigrants did lead a life in the homeland before their journey to America in 1683. It was there that their parents and forebears lived. It is remarkable that, with a few lArtikei in der Zeitschrift Me ifeimai: Burnett, Buckenham, "Leonhard Arets Find Wilhelm Strepers," 17/316. Cattepoel, Dirk, "Deutsche Afennoniten oder Hollandische Quaker," 16/122. Croon, Helmut, "fir Geschichte der Krefeider Auswanderer 1683," 5/36. Cunrad, Laura, "Samuel Cunard, Der Pioneer der Postdampfer," 1714. Davis, L. K., "Die Erik Architektur von Germantown," 11/16. Hubben, Wilhelm, "L4badisten, Mennoiten und Quaker am Niederrhein," 5/268. Meynen, Emil, "Germantown, Pennsylvanien, 1683-1933," 1 3/ 1 05. Nieper, F., "Die ersten deutschen Auswanderer von Krefeld nadi Pennsyivanien" (Buchbesprechung), 19/160. Pennypacker, Samuel W., "Abraham und Dirk op den Graeff," 6/21. Rembert, Karl, "Die ersten deutschen Einwanderer in Amerika," 4/131. "Heine Reise u den Deutschen Nord-Amnikas 1936," 16/43. "Die Grundung Griinctung und die Grander von Germantown," 17/314. "Zia Geschidite Germantown s," 18/44. " Vermischte Nachrichten" (Kunders), 9/119. 2 Pennypacker, Seidensticker, Richards, Smith, Hull, Cassel Ica. Siehe Literaturangaben bei Nieper, "Die ersten deutsche?! Auswanderer," S. 381 191 192 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine limited exceptions, nobody had bothered to search through the existing German sources to try to establish where the emigrants came from and what their parents' names were. That shall be done in this work. We shall consciously avoid dragging in the previous publications about the backgrounds and interrelationships of the emigrants any more than is absolutely necessary. The lower Rhenish sources should speak for themselves. The primary ones are: (1) The church records of the Reformed congregation of Krefeld (proclamations from 1677-, baptisms from 1647-, also accounts since 1620). The engaged couples of all denominations had to have their bans published in the Reformed Church of Krefeld. (2) The oldest church book, apparently lost through the effects of.war, of the Mennonite congregation of Goch from 1658-. (3) The church records of the Reformed congregation of Kaldenkirchen from 1663-. (4) The Mennonite records and lists in the State archives of Diisseldorf, Julich-Berg II. (5) Records of wills and testaments of the jury court of Gladbach. (6) Records of wills and testaments of the jury court of Rheyd t. The most important set of records for this research (1670-1694) apparently was confiscated at the time of the expulsion of the Mennonites from Rhydt by the julich administration and up to now never found again. Three known facts are important for our research. (1) In large portions of the Lower Rhineland, especially in the Mennonite areas, it was customary to give to the eldest children their grandparents' first names. Thus certain first names became the principal names of these families. With the method of the principal name custom we have the possibility of determining relationships when church records and other sources are lacking, relationships which would have to remain unknown were it not for our knowledge of this custom. (2) Last names formed from first names at the end of the 17th century are not truly family names in the modern sense, but rather nothing more than the first name of the father placed second. If somebody in those times was named Lenzen, it would be senseless to search for a forebear who bears this name, or even try to relate all the Lenzens of that time. The question has to be, which Lens living before the Lens (Lorenz) being researched is his father? (3) If the surname is not always important, the form and spelling of the names is even less important. On 6 October 1683, the following emigrants landed in'Pennsylvania with their families: Hermann Isaaks op dem Graef Abraham Isaaks op dem Graeff Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants Dirk Isaaks op dem Graeff Johan Lucken Abraham Tunes Johann Simons Wilhelm Strepers 193 Reiner Theissen Tunis Kunders Johann Lenssen Leonard Arets Johannes Bleickers Peter Kurt's On 20 March 1681, according to a Krefeld document which is now in American possession: "Derijck Isacks, bachelor, a townsman's son born in Kreval, married Nolcken Vijten, spinster, born in Kempen."3 It was an expressly Quaker wedding which is attested by the aforementioned document. There had been a Quaker congregation in Krefeld since 1679 and all who signed the document belonged to it. Derick Isacks Herman Isacks Abraham 'sacks Teunus Keunen Herman Daurss Henderijk Janssen Veit Scherkes Jan Siemes Wolter Seimens Johannes Blijkers Nolken Vijten Greitjen Peters Liesbet hacks Margrit Isacks Trinken Jansen Lijntijen Teisen Judi t Preijerss Mercken Willems Lenart Arents Of the eleven men, seven emigrated in the year 1683, three came along later, and only one, Hendrick Janssen, remained in the old homeland. Of the thirteen emigrants, six bore genuine family names, namely the three op den Graeffs, Lucken, Strepers and Ktirlis. We shall deal with these first. THREE OP DEN GRAEFFS The ancestry of the three op den Graeff brothers who signed the wedding document simply with their father's first name, Isacks, is recorded in the ancestry book of Scheuten, so that, somewhat amplified, it can be simply set out here. I. Hermann op den Graeff is said to be descended from one de Aldekerk. Born 26 November 1585. In 1605 he becomes a townsman in Kempen: "Herman zu Graff who married one of the Pletgens family." He came to Krefeld about 1609. Died in Krefeld 27 November 1642. "The Bishop of the Mennonites," he married Gritgen Pletges on 8 August 1605. She was born in Kempen on 26 November 1588 and died in Krefeld 7 January 1643. She was the daughter of Dries 3 Nieper, apa.O., S. 67 f Beitrage zur Gesch. rhein. Menn. Prof. Dr. Rembert, "Zur Geschichte der Auswanderung Krefelder Mena. nach Nord-Amerika," s. 165. 194 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Pleges and Alet Gaels Syllys. H. Isaak op den Graeff, born in Krefeld, 28 February 1616. He died in Krefeld, 17 January 1669 and was buried Reformed (Church), 19 January. He married Grietgen Peters. She went with the others to Pennsylvania. She died in Philadelphia, 11 November 1683 and was buried there. Ma. Herman Isaaks op den Graeffwas born in Krefeld. He married Liesbet Isaaks (van Bebber). Mb. Derick Isacks op den Graeff was born in Krefeld. He married in Krefeld (Quaker wedding) 20 March 1681, Nolken Vyten who was born in Kempen. Inc. Abraham Isaaks op den Graeff was born in Krefeld. His bans of marriage published (Reformed Church) 23 July 1679 to Trintgen Jansen of Gladbach. Margrit Isaaks op den Graeff emigrated with the others in 1683. The first five female witnesses at the Quaker wedding of Derick Isacks op den Graeff are thus Nalken Vyten, his wife; Grietgen Peters, Isaak's widow, the mother of the four emigrating brothers and sisters; Liesbet Isacks, Hermann Isaaks op den Graeff's wife; Margrit Isacks, the sister of the three brothers; and Tinken Jansen, the wife of Abraham Isaaks op den Graeff. Up till now nobody has succeeded in establishing the family relationship of the wives. Perhaps the following entry of 13 January 1683 in the records of wills and testaments of Mi5nchengladbach will be helpful in this regard. [Translator's note: The quotation is in difficult and obsolete German, I shall attempt to summarize it.] Derick Isacks op den Graeff's wife, Milken, acting as buyer in the absence of Derick hacks and Johan Jansen, Endtgen's husband, happy to represent her since they are respectively brother and sister of the seller. In the year 1683 on the 13th of January appeared before Magistrate Johann Rewen et Kopss for the purpose of buying their portion of property in Winkelen inherited at the death of Jan at the value of fifty-two Reichstalers for forty-three Reichstalers. Who inherited Jan's property in Winkelen, Derick op den Graeff or Nolken Vyten? No Jan or Vit in Winkelen is to be found in the Mennonite registers of Gladbach. How can Johann Janssen and Entgen be brother and sister of the seller? The questions must remain open for the time being. Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants 195 THE FAMILY OF JOHANN LUCKEN On 30 June 1704, there appeared before the magistrate of Monchengladbach the legatees entitled to the Scheurenderb property in the Honschaft Eicken. In last place among these appears "Gerhard Loers in the name of Johan Simes." The latter was an emigrant of 1683. Loers presents a Power of Attorney made out in Rheydt according to which he is authorized to sell in the name of the absent Johann Simons: Whereas we intend to journey away from our parents and father Wilhelm Lucken to Pennsyvania and probably will not come back here in our lifetimes and know how things stand with our parents, that one of them has to do this and the other has to pay for that, and we would also like to have it arranged so that no one of us would be hindered from receiving his or her inheritance, but instead that everything should be done promptly and correctly, and we ourselves shall not keep account of the same, so we desire to assign in each others' presence and in the presence of two witnesses, to our brother-in-law Gerhard Hubertz Loersch and our sister-in-law Liesbeth Lucken, that they are to act in our names after the deaths of our parents according to their best lights and sell and make distributions as agreed between them, fax which we give complete power of attorney and freedom in all things to do and to allow, this is the desire of all of us, as we with our own hands attest, done in the village of Rhee the 15th of June, 1683. Jan Luicken Mercken Gastes Abraham Klinken Boetzen Luecken Neliss Goertz for Nelis' Mercken Luicken wife Giertgen Luicken Jan Simes Johan Kamerlings magistrate Henrich Newenhauss magistrate Our mother subscribed to this power of attorney in the year 1694 on the 14th of May as she herself attests. Ohletgen Lucken From this power of attorney we learn not only what the parents of Johann Lucken were called, but also the names of his sisters and their husbands, who emigrated with him in 1683. The father, Wilhelm Lucken, came from Dahlen [today ManchengladbachRheindahlen], as from the "Specification, how many Anabaptists are located in the jurisdiction of Dahlen and how they are called with The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 196 first names and family names" for 2 July, 16544 shows "6. Wilhelm Lucken was born here, moved around as necessary in order to earn his living, until 3 years ago he came back and married a townsman's daughter of the same religion." Also the mother Adelheid came from Dahlen.5 She confirmed this in an interrogation at Passendorf on the 29th of August 1694. There appeared Alletgen Lucken, aged 71 years, being asked where born, said in Dahlen, but explained that when the Elector expelled the Mennonites from the julich region they had gone to Wickrath but later moved on from Wickrath to Rheidt where the Count took them in kindly and benevolently and they stayed there 15 or 16 years. For defense council and costs she gave 2 Reichstalers. Aelletgen Lucken The parents of Johann Lucken had to bear the entire misery of the (religious) persecution. Wilhelm Lucken was born in Dahlen about 1620, he was a servant of Gotten Kamerichs in Beckrath (of the administration of Wickrath) from 1632 to 1649, he came back to Dahlen in 1649 and was married. In 1652 he was expelled from there and moved to Wickrath. In 1678 his stay there was ended as the lord of Wickrath, upon the urging of the Archbishop of Cologne, made the Mennonites leave his domain, and he betook himself into the protection of the lord of Rheydt. From there he had to go forth again in 1694 when the Elector Johann Wilhelm of the Palatinate, who was Duke of J-Cilich, expelled the Mennonites. Presumably he conciuded his life soon thereafter in Krefeld. Six of his children were still living, when on 15 June 1683, shortly after the emigration, the power of attorney was drawn up in Rheydt, with the names Johann, Boetz (Beatrix), Giertgen (Margarete), Merken (Maria), Elizabeth and the wife of Gerhard Loers. Johann Lucken was married to Merken Gastes. The name Gastes does not appear among the Mennonites. [Translator's note: American writings state that Jan ( Johann) Lucken's wife was Maria Theissen, a sister of Reiner Theissen. I have seen no indication that Jan was married more than once. Also, we note that this author does not mention any Maria or Merken among the sisters of Reiner Theisseni The Lucken sisters and their husbands: Beatrix Lucken was the wife Abraham Klinken. He is the emigrant Abraham Tunes. Tonis is 4 Staaisarchiv Dasseldorf,Plich-Berg II, 252. 5 Wie (4). Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants 197 the first name of his father, who also lived in Dahlen in 1652. About him the "Specification" for this year says: "Thoniss Klincken was born in Gladbach, married in the year 1644 a townsman's daughter at Dahlen of the same religion, has continued to live here since then." The name of Abraham's mother is not known. The Arnt Klinken who emigrated to America in 1684 is probably Abraham's brother as he had a son named Anton. The Klinken line can be traced back in Monchengladbach two more generations; the Lucken ancestry can be established to the middle of the sixteenth century. Nelis Goertz, the husband of Giertgen Lucken, was a member of the Reformed Church from Rheydt. He had a child baptized Reformed there on 28 January 1683. Nothing further is heard of him or his wife. The bans were published for the first time on 12 September 1679 in the Reformed Church in Krefeld for "Johann Sixties of Gladbach" and "Merken Wilhelms of Gladbach." The wife is attested in the Rheydt power of attorney of 1683 under the name of Merken Lucken as the daughter of the married couple Wilhelm Lucken and Adelheid and appears in the record of the Quaker wedding as Merken Willems. It is surprising that she is shown in the record of the proclamation of bans for her marriage as being of Gladbach, as her parents had made for Wickrath after their banishment from Dahlen. But it is possible they had stayed for a short time in MOnchengladbach with Wilhelm's relations on his mother's side, the Ther Mehr family, and then were expelled again with them in 1654. Their daughter Merken could have been born between 1652 and 1654. Johann Simons was still living on 30 June 1704, otherwise certainly his brother-in-law Gerhard Loers could not have sold in his name his share of the Am Scheurend property in Gladbach-Eicken. This he had inherited. In the register of the Mennonite properties in Gladbach which had still not been sold for the year 1669, it shows: "Eicken. Wolter am Scheurendt inhabitant of Creivelt. Wolter am Scheurendt's widow, in whose place Simon Janssen of Sustern, her son-in-law, appeared under oath and made a deposition that his mother-in-law, aged about 75 years, has two children who are also, of course, Anabaptists, has lived in Creivelt from the year 1654. (Real estate) first at the am Scheur end of the district of Eycken a house and farmyard with orchard and garden, now uninhabited and empty, with 51/2 acres of land." Simon Jansen of Siisteren must have been the father 198 The Pennsylvania Gcnealogical Magazine of Johann Simons. Not only the am Scheurend inheritance proves this, since Simon's father was named Jan, he gave his son the christian name of Johann. He was then called Johann Simons after his father's Christian name. But Simon Jansen must have had another son, Wolter, named after his father-in-law, who was a witness at the Quaker wedding with his brother, Johann Simes, as Wolter Seimens. This one went to Pennsylvania in 1684. The wife of Simon Jansen was named Tringen Wolters am Scheurend, for on 5 May 1671 appeared in Siistern (district of Born): "at a hearing of those opposed to the ordinance of April 1 concerning the Anabaptists" was among others "Tringen Wolters," probably representing her husband. Under the Mennonite properties in Siistern in 1694: "Simon Jansen's inheritance" is named.6 On 18 September 1694 at a court session in Sittard there is mention of a barn which "belongs" to the "Mennonite Simon Janssen of Kreivelt as his half share" and was given back to him on 22 June 1696 on the strength of the Elector's decree.' Gerhard Hubuts Loers, the brother-in-law, was born in Dahlen and was a Mennonite. His wife, the sister of Johann Lucken, was buried in Krefeld on 8 August 1714; he was buried 11 November 1711. Thus, they did not emigrate. The first name of the wife has not come to light. Wilhelm Lucken's youngest daughter's bans of marriage were published 16 October 1695 in the Reformed Church in Krefeld: "Johannes Neuwes, widower, Elisabeth Lucken, spinster. Both living here at Creifeld." Johann Neuss and his brother Hans Neuss, the sons of the married couple Nelis Wienands and 011etgen (te) Neuss, emigrated with their wives to America in 1698. Their descendants use the name Nice. Thus there belonged to the group of emigrants in 1683, three families of op den Graeffs and the Luckens, also with three families. THE KALDENKIRCHEN CONTINGENT OF STREPERSES, KURLISES AND DOORSES In March 1682 William Penn sold Jan Strepers from Kaldenkirchen, among others, about MOO acres of land for 100 pounds Sterling. Johann Strepers stayed in Kaldenkirchen and charged his emigrating brother Wilhelm with looking after his interests in the new 6 Edenda Nr. 253. 7 Ebenda Nr. 4145. Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants 199 homeland. It is quite possible that Johann himself was in America between 1691 and 1706. The city archive in Krefeld preserves a copy of a receipt dated 21 June 1726, according to which the heirs of Jan Strepers attest to having reveived 200 pounds Sterling for the 5000 acres of land in Pennsylvania.8 Named in this document under the heirs of Jan Strepers are: "Claw, Anneken, Willem, Agneta, Heinrich and Elizabeth von Aken, all children of Metgen (Mechtild) Kennling, a daughter of Jan Strepers wife." Therefore, Jan Strepers had married the widow of a Kennling (correctly Kiirlis). According to the church record of the Reformed Congregation of Kaldenkirchen a marriage was performed on 12 May 1669 of "Jan Strepers of Kaldenkirchen and Entgen Doors of Kaldenkirchen." Unfortunately the marriage entry is limited to naming only the marriage partners. However, Henrich Giirlis and Encken Doors had two children baptised: Metgen, 9 March 1664 and Jan, 12 December 1666. The latter died at the age of two years. Metgen Midis married Henderijk Jansen van Acken.9 He is the same Hendrick Jans who, with Hermann Isacks op den Graeff was expelled from Krefeld as Quakers, sounded off in Holland with complaints against the authorities and inhabitants of Krefeld in the well-known writing, "Vertoong" [Translator's note: Vertoong is the Dutch word for protest or remonstrance.] From his name, Hendrick jans must have been the son of the Mennonite Jan Claussen van Acken and his wife, Dreutgen. Henderijk was expelled from Gladbach in 1634, he later lived in Rheydt, and must have endured the 1694 persecution and imprisonment. He would be buried here as a Krefeld townsman on 14 December 1696. Henrich Jans had lived in Krefeld since 1675. He did not emigrate to Pennsylvania. A letter of 30 September 1699 introduces a slight doubt into this determination. The letter, written to William Penn is signed "H. J. W. van Aaken; is the "W." a printing error, or is it a hint of an earlier line in his ancestry?1° Wilhelm Strepers, Jan's brother, married (Reformed) in Kaldenkirchen on 19 April 1663, Beicken Tuffers of Kaldenkirchen. He must have been the eldest of the emigrants of 1683. Wilhelm had five children baptised in Kaldenkirchen between 1664 'and 1674. 1. Peter, baptized 7 December 1664. 2. Dirck, baptized 22 August 1666. Leonard, baptized 8 July 1668. 4. Lysken, baptized 25 January 8Siadtarchiv Krefeld, Sammtung Keussen, A. 98, 10. 9Nieper, a. a. O.S. 63 and 64. wEbenda 5.70. 200 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 1670. 5. jennecken, baptized 16 December 1674. Since Johann Strepers also named his eldest son Leonard, the brothers' father could have been so named. However the custom offianding down the father's first name was not observed as strictly among the Reformed Church people of Kaldenkirchen as in the Mennonite circles of the lower Rhineland, so that here the forebears cannot be definitely determined in this way. The earliest accounts of a Strepers concerns one Dederich Streiper, who was admonished in the council of the Reformed congregation to be more diligent about the supervision and control of his housekeeping [or public house?], and on 12 June 1622 in the matter of a brawl is referred to as "Dederick auf der Strep." [Translator's note: Streep in Dutch means stroke]. Peter Kiirlings, bachelor of Waidniel, one of the thirteen emigrants, married (Reformed) in Kaldenkirehen on 17 March 1675, Elisabeth Doors. The following children of this couple were baptised there: 1. Metje, baptized 27 December 1675; 2. Johannes, baptized 3 February 1677; 3. Metgen, baptized 27 August 1679; 4. Angenes, baptized 5 January 1681. The next child, 5. Metgen, was baptized in Krefeld (Reformed), 22 November 1682. Also a child of theirs was buried in Krefeld, 6 May 1682. Therefore Wilhelm KCirlis apparently moved to Krefeld in 1681 or 1682. Here the emigrants assembled, insofar as they were not already resident there, so that one can correctly speak of an emigration from Krefeld. Peter Kurlis had one more son, Matthias, born in Germantown. Since he and Henrich Kfirlis named their children Johann and Metgan, they were brothers and presumably sons of a married couple, Johann and Metgen Kurlis, of the well-known Kiirlis family in Waldniel. Besides Anna (Entgen) Doors, the widow of Heinrich Kiirlis and wife of Jan Strepers, and Elizabeth Doors, the wife of Peter Ktirlis, another member of this family appears in the church records of the Reformed congregation of Kaldenkirchen. On 16 October 1668, were married there "Paulus Kiisters, bachelor of Kaldenkirchen, and Gertrud Doors, spinstei. of Kaldenkirchen." Children of theirs baptized there were: 1. Arnold, baptized 9 June 1669; 2. Johannes, baptized 12 December 1670; 3. Matthys, baptized 6 December 1671; 4. Reiner, baptized 2 December 1674. Later other children were born, but not baptized at Kaldenkirchen; Elisabeth and Hermann. Going by the first name of the eldest son, the father of Paulus Kusters must have been the Catholic, Arret Kusters, who lived in Kaldenkirchen. The Kiisters family emigrated to Germantown about 1691-93, and joined the Mennonite congregation there. Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants 201 The name Doors appears in the Mennonite records of the village and parish of Kaldenkirchen in 1638 and 1652: 1638: 5. Lyssgen Daers widow whose husband died a few days ago. Their property, after all debts are paid off out of principal, shall be worth about 36 Reichstalers. 6. Reiner Daerrnans possesses undivided 3 acres of orchard and fields against which there are liens of 157 Reichstalers, therefore the said Reiner's property is encumbered for as much as it is worth. 1652 12. Theiss Dorss, a retail merchant, has a building lot with a small house and a quarter of an acre of arable land and alongside it a quarter of an acre of fishery rights, worth altogether about three hundred and fifty Reichstalers. 13. Reiner Dorss, a retail merchant, has two acres and about thirty frothen, a smaller unit?' of arable land and adjoining it one acre of fishery rights, so it is worth about two hundred and twenty Reichstalers. Of Reiner Dohrs all that is heard further in Kaldenkirchen is that on 29 October 1663 his daughter Trinken was baptized at the Reformed Church, therefore he had changed denominations. Witnesses at the baptism were Jan Strypers and Neessen (Agnes) Doors. On the other hand we hear a lot more about Theiss Doors. According to the Mennonite documents in the State Archives at Dusseldorf, Johannes Lenders described the persecution and suffering of the Mennonites dwelling in jalichschen Kaldenkirchen in the jiilich-Berg Historical journal.11 Theiss appears here under the names Dahrs, Dahrmans, Peters and Peterschen. His father's Christian name was therefore Peter. His wife, Neess, had sent her children to the Calvinist school in order to escape the persecution. Theiss was forced to take them back to the Catholic school and to have the youngest child baptized as a Catholic. "1655, January 4 the baptism of Margarita daughter of Matthias Doors and Nees was performed. (Witnesses) Arnold Kosters and Elsken Booms," [Translated by JBL from Latin] So it states in the Catholic church records. The bailiff had struck the woman in the face a few days before the birth and treated her badly. The husband was fined 100 gold Guilders for a violation and his goods were confiscated. At this point the government of Cleves (Brandenburg) intervened, The Elector, Philipp Wilhelm, who was at that time Duke of julich, decreed, in order to alleviate the Brandenburg menace, that Theiss Peters could stay and should not be further molested. Thus he continues to live in KalHjulich-bergische Geschichisblatter, 1931., 5. 377 6esondere in den Stadten Duliken und Kaldenkirchen." "Die Widertaufer im Am! Bruggen, in- 202 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine denkirchen. His wife and children remained true to the Reformed Church and school. On 16 September 1663 he had his youngest son, Hermann, baptized Reformed. This is the Hermann Dauerss who was one of the signers of the record of the Quaker wedding-in 1681. He went to Pennsylvania in 1684. We hear nothing more about the Doors aside from the numerous times they appear as godparents at christenings. On the other hand, in the Mennonite congregation at Goch, on 25 May 1670, therefore at the age of about twenty years, was baptized: "Leentien Doormans, spinster, daughter of Thies Doormans." She probably joined this congregation again as a maidservant in the household of a friendly Mennonite family of Goch. In the record of this baptism lies the starting point for the following. At the same time there was a young man in Goch who was baptized there, 9 July 1673: "Theunis Koenders, bachelor, son of Koendert Lensen." Now, is it any wonder that on the first Sunday after Trinity (May 31) Anno Domini 1677 in Krefeld at the Reformed Church, the bans of marriage were published for "Tonis Kuners of Gladbach and Lentgen Mattheisen (spinster) of Kaldenkirchen." She is indeed the daughter, baptized in Goch, of Theis Days or Doormand, who is named "Lijntijen Teisen" in the Quaker wedding document. Then also Reiner Theissen belongs to this family of brothers and sisters and thus is among the children of Theis and Agnes Doors. He also emigrated in 1683. If the children of Theis Doors were of the Reformed Church they have been godparents for one another's.children. The following records for baptisms and sponsors have been found: Metgen, the daughter of Heinrich Kiirlis and Entgen Doors 1664. Sponsors: Peter and Nees Doors [the grandmother]. Children of Jan Strepers and Entgen Doors. Sponsors: Paulus Kusters [husband of Gertrud Doors) 1670. Geerdrut Doors, 1680. Children of Peter Kiirlis and Elizabeth Doors. Sponsors: Anneken Doors [wife of Jan Strepers] 16751/4 Jenneken Doors 1677. Reiner Doors [Reiner Theissen] 1679. Gertraudt Doors [wife of Paulus /Casters] 1681. Children of Paulus musters and Gertrud Doors. Sponsors: Jan Streipers 1669. Agnes Doors 1670. • Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants 203 Matthis Doors [perhaps the father, Theis Doors] 1671. for child Reiner, "Grandmother Nys Doors" 1674. Since the name Elisabeth appears among the children in all of these families, this being such an important name seems to indicate that the widow Lyssgen Dohrs, named in the 1638 record, would have been Theiss Peter's mother. Or could it have been that Neessgen Doors, Peter's wife, was born a Doors and Theiss, the son of a man named Peter, had married into the Dohrs family? The latter idea is supported by the assertions of trial witnesses (20 January 1656) "that Theis Gohrs or Peterschen, born at Kaldenkirchen of Catholic parents, later adhering to the Anabaptist sect (joined the Reformed Church three months ago but did this only to escape the persecution)." In that case he would have become a Mennonite through his marriage to the Mennonite Agnes Doors. In this connection we ask, who is Toenis Kunderss? He is the witness at the Quaker wedding who writes his name as Teunus Keunen. He was named thus as the son of one Coen Lensen. [Keunen, Conders, Kunders is the same name] According to the records of wills and testaments of Gladbach on 20 April 1691, "Coen Lenssen with the assistance of his son-in-law, the married couple Niclass and Tringen Hinxess who were their other brother-in-law and brother respectively, Thoniss and Lenss Lenssen, at the agreed price (sold) their entire share of the Hecker farm in Damm." The second child of Coen Lenssen is the Tonis Kunders or Lenssen, who is living in America in 1691 and cannot be present at the sale. They are selling their share of the Hecker estate in Monchergladbach-Damm. The Mennonite register of 1654 reports: "Damme. Coen Hecker, Entgen, married couple, have a halflodging with 3 acres of land and Bendt, have I child . . (the husband) makes his living as a linen weaver." In the listing of 1669 it says: "Damm. Coentgen Heckers living in Creivelt. (In the report:) Coentgen Heggers, Anabaptist, age about 52 years, has been living in Creivelt since 1654 with his wife and 3 children, likewise Anabaptists." "His property: first a half lodging, the Heggers' in the Damm district. It is occupied by Peter Hegger, a Catholic. It has an orchard and (vegetable) garden. It has three acres of fields and a quarter section and a half of woodland. He had not been able to sell it. Not until 1691 was he able to sell it." So Tonis Kunders' rightful name was 'Fonds Coenen Heckers. He lived in Krefeld before he emigrated in 1683. In 1679 he becomes a The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 204 townsman there: Thonis Conradts. Shortly before the emigration a child of his died, whose burial is entered thus in the charity accounts of the Reformed congregation of Krefeld: "1683 the 2nd of June Taniss Hekker had his child buried (paid for the coffin cloth) 7 (schillings) (heller)." Of his children, of which the four eldest were born in Krefeld, we know among other things the names Konrad, Matthias, Agnes and Entgen, as those of the eldest boys and girls respectively. This confirms the fact that Coen Heckers and Entgen, and Theis Doors and Agnes, were their grandparents. With this the line of our evidence draws to a close, and completes the Kaldenkirchen contingent of the emigrants. The following family tree of Theis Doors represents an attempt which indeed rests upon a line of reasoning supported by sound sources but needs further archival supports. Above all it must now be established whether all the Doors were brothers and sisters. THEIS DOORS, born in Kaldenkirchen, retail merchant in Kalden- kirchen, a Mennonite. Married AGNES, born in Kaidenkirchen. She belonged to the Reformed Church in Kaldenkirchen from 1655 on. Their children born in Kaldenkirchen: ANNA DOORS, married 1st, about 1663, HEINRICH KURLIS. Married 2nd, in Kaldenkirchen (Reformed), 12 May 1669, JOHANN STREPERS of Kaldenkirchen. Bought land in Pennsylvania from William Penn in 1682. PETER DOORS GERTRUD DOORS, married (Reformed) in Kaldenkirchen, 16 Octo- ber 1668, PAULUS KUSTERS. He was born in Kaldenkirchen, the son of ARNOLD KUSTERS (Catholic). Emigrated to Germantown between 1691 and 1693. JOHANNA DOORS HELENE THEISSEN, born about 1650, baptized in Goch (Mennonite), 20 May 1670. Married in Krefeld (Reformed), 31 May 1677 TONIS KUNDERS of Gladbach. He was born about 1650, and baptized at Goch (Mennonite), 9 July 1673. To Pennsylvania in 1683. He is the son of the married couple COEN LENSSEN HECKERS and ENTGEN. ELISABETH DOORS, married in Kaldenkirchen (Reformed), 17 March 1675, to PETER KURLIS of Waidniel. He was born in Waldniel. Came to Pennsylvania in 1683. Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants 205 was baptized in Kaldenkirchen (Catholic), 4 January 1655. Sponsor at baptism ARNOLD KOSTER. MARGARITA DOORS, REINER THEISSEN, came to Pennsylvania in 1683. was baptized in Kaldenkirchen (Reformed), 16 September 1663. Came to Germantown in 1684. HERMANN DOORS, That makes only five emigrants from the Kaldenkirchen contingent, of whom three were among the founders of Germantown. In addition to these, Wilhelm Kiirlis arrived at a later date. THE FAMILIES OF JAN LENSSEN, LEONARD ABETS AND JOHANNES BLEYKERS Now there remain three who, on the basis of the lower Rhine sources, cannot be placed in any of the preceding three groupings; Jan Lenssen, Leonard Arets and Johannes Bleykers. Johann Lenssen "of Creifelt" had the bans of matrimony read on 24 November 1680 in Krefeld (Reformed) to marry "Mercken Schmitz of Gladbach." On 14 June 1683, Johann Lentzen and Mericken Schmitz, married couple, had the following power of attorney registered in the inheritance records of Gladbach for Paulus Linnertz named Priors: Whereas we, Johann Lenssen and Merricken Pieters Schmitz, married couple, intend, God willing, to go on a journey by way of Holland and England further into foreign territory and provide ourselves with a dwelling there, and are considering selling a small estate in the Parish of Gladbach in the part called Bettradt and named Gulden Erbgen which was left to us by our par ent Peter Schmitz, namely to us and to our sister Gierdruth Schmitz with her husband, Cornelis Abrahams, we Johann Lenssen and Mercken, married couple, agree that Paulus Priors with Tonics Gulden can sell it around the month of March for 215 Talers. How Peter Schmitz managed to be in possession of the inheritance is still to be investigated. In the register of the Gladbach Mennonites of 1654 it is indicated under "Llirrip. Pettey Schmiettges widower has a 5 acre estate, makes his living as a weaver, has 2 children." Of these five acres the married couple Johann and Mercken Lenssen in association with his brother-in-law Cornelius Abrahams had sold one acre in the Lfirrip on 30 December 1681. Johann Lenssen is manifestly the son of a Gladbach Mennonite who had moved to Krefeld in 1654, and who had the Christian name 206 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Lens (Lorenz). But which Lens he is cannot be determined from the register of 1654. The men in question with this Christian name lived in rented dwellings and therefore had no property which they would have to sell, or else they had already sold by 1669% The question about the father of Johann Lenssen must therefore remain unanswered temporarily until the Christian names of his children are discovered. Johann Lenssen is moreover the only one of the thirteen emigrants of 1683 who remained true to his ancestral Mennonite faith and did not become a Quaker. In order to find out who are the parents of one Leonhard Arets, we look for an Aret (Arnold) who had a special reason to name a son Leonhard. He is Arnet Classen von Aaken, who in his first marriage was wedded to Tringen Kuhlen, the daughter of Leonhard Kuhlen and his wife Griedtgen. Leonard Arets named his eldest daughter after his mother Katharina. Arnt Classen von Aaken was expelled from Gladbach in January 1654, like his brother; he lived in Krefeld until 1661, then in Rheydt. He was severely mistreated in the course of his expulsion from there in 1694, and in the same year he was once again a townsman in Krefeld. Thus, Leonhard Arets could have been the cousin of the zealous Quaker, Henrich Jansen von Aaken, stepson-in-law of Jan Strepers. The Rhenish sources report nothing about Leonhard's wife. Johannes Bleickers, who was badly mistreated during the agitation against the Quakers in Krefeld in 1680, because after the Quaker fashion he would not remove his hat, bears the name of an occupation as his surname. There was a branch of the Preyer family from Gladbach which practiced the bleaching trade at the foot of the Abteiberg near Gladbach. Paulus, Leonard and Claes Priors were listed as bleachers. The last appears also with the name Bleikers. [Translator's note: In German a bleacher is ein Bleicher] Whose son Johannes is cannot be determined due to difficulty of separating the various Preyers. The Judith Preyers who witnessed the Quaker wedding is a sister or first cousin of Johannes Bleickers. Their common grandparents are, in view of the Christian name Judith, Peter and Jurgen Priors in Manchengladbach-Hardterbroich. Also Johannes Bieikers' wife is not known. However, he was already married by 1683, since a son, Peter, was born to him on the voyage to America. In conclusion, for the sake of completion, there is still one Veit Scherkes, who was witness at the Quaker wedding. He did not emigrate in 1683 with the others, but came later. There were at that time bearers of this name in Krefeld. One tower of the city wall was even Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants 207 named the Scherkes' Tower. It has not, however, been possible to prove Veit Scherkes' connection with Krefeld. THE THIRTEEN EMIGRANTS Although it is repeated again and again that the thirteen emigrants of 1683 were Mennonites, this is only partly true. The fact of the matter is that all of them except Johann Lenssen had joined the little group of Krefeld Quakers. Previously, to be sure, most of them were Mennonites, but Wilhelm Strepers and Peter Kiirlis had been Reformed Church members. Reiner Theisen occupied a middle position as the son of parents who were at first Mennonites and then with their children were of the Reformed Church. If we ask where the parents of the emigrants lived about 1650 we find that the op den Graeffs were settled in Krefeld; the Luckens and the Klinkens lived in Dahlen; the Kinderses, the Lenssens, the Aretses and the Bleikerses all lived in Monchengladbach; the Kfirlises were of Waidniel. Therefore it is in the territory of the Dukedom of jiilich with Aemtern Brfiggen, Gladbach and Born, besides Krefeld, which belonged to the Earldom of Moers, that the emigrants of 1683 can be placed. There are districts which, with the exception of a few periods of foreign occupation, have always been German. Bringing the American literature about the thirteen emigrants into this line of argumentation was avoided except where absolutely necessary. Whomever it may please to do so may compare the above research with that of the books and articles about the ancestry and relationships of the emigrants. It should not be asserted that all the questions are resolved. The Rhenish sources are too scattered about for such a purpose. Sources, also copies and abstracts of sources which can never be replaced have been lost through war and persecutions. Permission to publish John Brodie Lukens' translation of William Niepoth's article Was granted by the German magazine Die Heimat, the original publishers.