European Origins

European Origins Raymond Martin Bell, F.A.S.G., F.G.S.P. F A GENEALOGIST has the good fortune of locating a village in Europe whence his or her German-speaking ancestor came, there are all sorts of possibilities for extending family lines. A few examples are given below. It may take detective work-at this side of the Atlantic to make the connection. The link may be a gravestone inscription, a family Bible, or a scrap of paper. A careful study of the names on a ship list may indicate the neighborhood to be searched in Germany, Switzerland or northern France. Sometimes a German church or civil record will report "gone to Pennsylvania", and the family can be traced through the ship lists. Don Yoder and his associates have done an admirable job with Pennsylvania Immigrants (1980) and .Rhineland Emigrants (1981). An excellent summary of the situation is given in Don Yoder's "Problems and Resources in Pennsylvania German Genealogical Research", Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, XXXI, 1-26 (1979). In the examples given below the connections were made as follows:. SEIBERT—a letter of recommendation brought in 1738 and kept in the family—help by Fritz Braun. This led to material on the Kuntzer, Lauer and Theiss families who intermarried with the Seiberts. WOMMER—accidentally discovered in looking up the Seiberts they came from the same village. ENSMINGER—found by Cleta W. Smith while looking up her Hailer ancestors with a clue from the Muddy Creek Moravian church records in Lancaster County. GEIGER—birthplace listed on tombstone—further search by John P. Dern, who found a family tree in the German church book. WOTRING—birthplace listed on tombstone—further search by James B. Laux. VOLLENWEIDER—found in published Swiss records. EISENHAUER—result of search by Otto Treinen, after seeing the name in a history of the glass industry in Saarland. 204 European Origins 205 The ship lists referred to are in the well-known Pennsylvania German Pioneers so ably put together by William J. Hinke. = Anna; = John; M = Mary; b = born or baptized EISENHAUER J Nicolas Karisbrunn, Saar to Pa Nov 20-1741, ship 90 born c 1695 ?Darmstadt, son of J Frederick Eisenhauer c1659-1729 m c1721 A Margaret Strobel b c1700 ?Grunstadt, Darmstadt daughter of ?J Peter Strobel of Grunstadt to Pa with wife and children: J Peter b 1722, Martin b 1723, J Martin b 1729, A Catharine b 1733, M Magdalena b 1735, Catharine Elizabeth b 1738, A Margaret b 1739 Nicholas Eisenhauer d c1760 Bethel Twp, Lebanon Co his brother-in-law came to Pa, Peter Rosenberger Oct 7-1751, ship 175, wife, M Sarah Eisenhauer Source: Saarlandische Familienkunde, XIV, 151, "Prdsident Eisenbowers Vorfahren Kamen von Saar," Otto Treinen ENSMINGER J Peter—Mattstall, Alsace to Pa Aug 17-1733, ship 29 b Jan 28-1694 Waldhambach, Alsace, son of Philip Ensminger Jr m Nov 21-1719 M Catharine Trautmann of Mattstall, daughter of Christopher Trautmann 1660-1726 and Catharine Emmerich 1673to Pa with wife and wife's mother and children: J Henry b 1723, Susanna Catharine b 1725, J Philip b 1727, J Nicholas b 1732 Peter Ensminger d 1739 Cocalico Twp, Lancaster Co his brothers came to Pa; Nicholas Ensminger, Oct 28-1738, ship 63; J Henry Ensminger, Nov 20-1741, ship 90, see Eisenhauer; J David Ensminger, Aug 28-1750, ship 153 his brother-in-law came to Pa, John Wolfersberger Aug 29-1730, ship 11, wife, A Margaret Ensminger, their marriage at Mattstall Jan 27-1721 lists John as son of Johann Erhard Wolfersberger of Wolschheim GEIGER Paul—Benvangen, Baden-Wurttemberg to Pa Oct 17-1749, ship 144 b Nov 15-1723, son ofJ Paul Geiger 1698-1754 and Elizabeth Had m (Germany) 1749 M Eva Kiestlern 1724-1801 to Pa with wife Paul Geiger d Aug 2-1798 Geigertown, Berks Co 206 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine relatives who came to Pa were: brother, John, b 1727, Sept 5-1751, ship 162; and cousins, Paul b 1714, Aug 30-1737, ship 44, Christian, Oct 8-1737, ship 49, Jacob b 1 no, Aug 27-1739, ship 70 and George b 1729, Oct 17-1749, ship 144 KUNTZER J Nickel—Hirstein, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Aug 29-1730, Ship 11 b Apr 29-1696, son ofJ Theobald Kiintzer 1662-1731 and M Margaret Baum 1661-1720 m Oct 15-1715 Christina Britzius of Wolfersweiler, b. May 23-1688, daughter of J Nickel Britzius 1654-1722 and Catharine Luder 1655-1735 to Pa with wife and children: J Jacob b 1721, Elizabeth Margaret b 1723, M Barbara b 1727 Nickel Kuntzer d bef 1761 Berks Co he was brother of Bernhard b 1689 and Michael b 1684; and uncle of Jacob Kantzer b 1714 and Jacob Seibert b 1716 KUNTZER J jacob—Hirstein, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Oct 25-1738, Ship 61 b Oct 22-1714, son of J Michael Kuntzer 1684-1736 and A Margaret Klein 1684-1761 Jacob Kfintzer living 1761 Berks Co KUNTZER J Nickel—Hirstein, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Oct 25-1738, Ship 61 b Nov 15-1715, son of,] Bernhard KCintzer 1689-1746 and A Catharine Seibert 1689-1751 m (Pa) first, Jan 3-1742 Catharine Hoster second, Oct 29-1743 julianna Schneider Nickel Kuntzer d Jan 20-1794 Berks Co his brother came to Pa: J Jacob, b Sep 25-1709, Aug 30-1737, ship 44 LAUER Christian—Hirstein, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Sep 18-1733, ship 32 b Apr 10-1715, son of Peter Lauer and 2nd wife Elizabeth Gisch m (Pa) Jan 29-1739 Catharine Seibert (Stephan) to Pa with sister, Sophia, and her husband, Peter Ruth & their 4 children Christian Lauer d Sep 8-1786 Tulpehocken, Berks Co his brother-in-law, Matthias Theirs came to Pa Aug 29-1730, ship 11 he was 1st cousin of Jacob Lauer, below European Origins 2 07 LAUER jacob—Hirstein, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Aug 301737, ship 44 b c1686, son of J Michael Lauer -1698 & Mary Bruch 1659-1700 m Oct 29-1709 Barbara Stephan b Dec 27-1683 Asweiler, daughter of Jacob Stephan 1655-1724 and Catharine Baum 1664-1730 to Pa with wife and children: Elizabeth Margaret b 1711 with husband, Michael Spengler, A Barbara b 1713, J. Michael b 1715, M Margaret b 1720, J Nickel b 1722 Jacob Lauer d before 1746 ?Lancaster Co SEIBERT J. Bernhard----Eitzweiler, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Oct 25-1738, ship 61 b May 20-1717, son of Nickel Seibert 1679-1766 & Mary Molter 16811769 m (America) c 1745 Elizabeth Bernhard Seibert d June 1801 Shenandoah Co, Va he was 1st cousin of Jacob Seibert b c1717 and 2nd cousin of Jacob Seibert b 1716 SEIBERT ,j JACOB—Eitzweiter, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Oct 25-1738, ship 61 h Mar 2-1716, son of J Jacob Seibert 1678-1726 and A Catharine Kuntzer 1687m (Pa) June 7-1741 widow Susanna Schutz to Pa with brother, J Wendel, b May 15-1721 d 1740 Jacob Seibert d 1761 Tulpehocken, Berks Co SEIBERT J Jacob Sdtent, Saar to Pa Sep 9-1738, ship 53 -1758 b c1717, son of Christopher Seibert 1682-1732 & Johanna na (Pa) Feb 26-1739 M Elizabeth Theiss b Jun 29-1721 Grtinbach, Rheinland to Pa with mother, step-father Henry Lorentz and sisters Jacob Seibert, wife & mother killed by Indians Apr 28-1758 at Fort Seybert, West Virginia SEIBERT Wendel----S5tern, Saar to Pa Oct 25-1738, ship 61 born c 1715, son of Christopher Seibert 1682-1732 & Johanna -1758 m (Pa) c 1742 Catharine ?Reis 1724-1780 to Pa with brother-in-law, Jacob Stephan, wife Catharine Seibert Wendel Seibert d 1802 Martinsburg, West Virginia 208 The Pennsylvania Genaalogical Magazine THEISS MatthiasHirstein, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Aug 29-1730, ship 11 b May 18-1704 Griinbach, Rheinland (baptized Baumholder), son of J Matthias Theiss 1671-1732 and M Margaret m Max 5-1726 Susanna Barbara Lauer b Mar 23-1705, daughter of Peter Lauer & 1st wife, M Barbara Kohl 1670-1709 to Pa with wife and son Michael b 1728 Matthias Theiss d 1748 Lebanon Twp, Lebanon Co his brother, J Nickel Theiss b Jun 27-1718 and sister, M Elizabeth b Jun 29-1721 and possibly mother and other sisters and brothers came to Pa Oct 25-1738, ship 61 VOL LENTWE I DER (Fulenwider) J Jacob—Rossau, Mettmenns tetten Parish, Switzerland to Pa Sep 11-1749, ship 129 b c1712, son of Ulrich Vollenweider m June 7-1737 Esther Walder of Knonau, daughter of Jacob Walder to Pa with wife and children: Catharine b 1741, Verena b 1743, Henry b 1745, Jacob b 1748 Jacob Fulenwider d c1771 Rowan Co, N C VOLLENWEIDER (Fulwider) Ulrich—Hauptikon, Rappel Parish, Switzerland to Pa Aug 30-1743, ship 96 (Hauptikon is about 1 km from Rossau) b Dec 5-1723, son of Henry Vollenweider 1690-1755 & Barbara Frick 1689-1755 m (America) c 1753 Margaret Ulrich Fulwider d 1809 Augusta Co, Va WOMMER J Bernhard—Eitzweiler, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Aug 30-1737, ship 44 b Jan 31-1706, son ofi Jacob Wommer 1680- & M Elizabeth Blasius -1746 m Feb 3-1733 A Mary Hubing of Baumholder, daughter of John Hubing to Pa with wife and son: J Michael b 1733. Bernhard Wommer d 1755 Bern Twp, Berks Co WOMMER Michael—Eitzweiler, Wolfersweiler Parish, Saar to Pa Oct 7-1749, ship 141 b Jan 7-1717, son of Jacob Wommer 1680- & M Elizabeth Blasius -1746 European Origins 209 m Nov 5-1743 A Mary Melchior b Sep 20-1711, daughter of J Bernhard Melchior 1672-1751 & A Eva Leyendecker -1756 to Pa with wife and father, J Jacob and wife's brother, Christian and children: M Barbara b 1744, M Margaret b 1746, J Michael b 1748 Michael Wommer d 1794 Bern Twp, Berks Co WOTRING Abraham—Hirschland, Alsace to Pa Sep 28-1733, ship 33 b Jul 11-1700 Fenetrange, Lorraine, son of Abraham Wotring & Catharine m Mar 19-1723 A Margaret Mertz of Hangviller, Alsace, daughter of Peter to Pa with wife and children: J Peter b 1724, A Margaret b 1725, M Magdalena b 1728, Anna Elizabeth b. 1730 Abraham Wotring d Nov 28-1752 Whitehaill, Lehigh Co WOTRING John Daniel (John in Alsace, John Daniel in Md)—Kirrberg, Alsace to Pa Sep 3-1739, ship 71 b Jun 24-1711, likely son of Jacob Wotring -1764 & Mary Grosjean 1684-1749 m c1733 Eva Kuntz to Pa with wife and children: Mary b 1734, M Elizabeth b 1737, Susanna b 1738 John Daniel Wotring d Apr 15-1786 Graceham, Maryland WOTRING Samuel—Pisdorf, Alsace to Pa Sep 15-1749, ship 133 b Feb 13-1707 Fenetrange, Lorraine, son of Abraham Wotring Catharine Brodt m Jul 18-1736 M Elizabeth Becker of Pisdorf, b Mar 6-1721, daughter of Henry becker and Johanna Buchi to Pa with wife and children: Eva Magdalena b 1738, Philip b 1741, Samuel b c1743, J Nicholas b 1745 Samuel Wotring d 1766 Whitehall, Lehigh Co. Of the above twenty men ship 11 brought Nickel Kiintzer, Matthias Theiss; ship 44 Jacob Lauer, Bernhard Wommer; ship 61 Jacob Kiintzer, Nickel Kuntzer, Bernhard Seibert, Jacob Seibert (b 1716), Wendel Seibert. It is interesting to note this relationship involving three of the twenty: Christian Lauer m Catharine Seibert whose brother Jacob Seibert (b c1717) m Elizabeth Theiss whose brother Matthias Theiss m Susanna Barbara Lauer whose brother was Christian Lauer.