• Born: March 10, 1706 in Harpersdorf, Greiz, Thueringen, Germany
• Immigrated: 1733 in Philadelphia
• Died: February 25, 1774 in Kraussdale, Pennsylvania
• Spouse: Susanna Hoffman (E111), daughter of George and Barbara (Seipt) Hoffman
  • Born: May 3, 1708
  • Died: April 14, 1791
• Married: January 16, 1736
• Occupation: 
• Children: 
  • Rosina (1737-1828)
  • Susanna (1738-1820)
  • Barbara (1742-1821)
  • Balthasar (1743-1805)
  • Maria (1750-1777)

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Balthasar was the eldest son of Anna (Heydrick) and Melchior Krauss. When he immigrated to Philadelphia with his mother and siblings he was 27 years old.

Less than three years after arriving in Pennsylvania, Balthasar married Susanna Hoffman (E111), also a Schwenkfelder immigrant. They were married on January 16, 1736.

More about Susanna and her ancestry can be found here.

Balthasar was likely one of the first, if not the first Krauss to settle in what has become known as Kraussdale in East Greenville, Pennsylvania. Kraussdale Road is the home of the Kraussdale Meetinghouse and adjoining cemetery, and the twisted country lane remains speckled with active farms and fields of crops.

Thanks to a Facebook post by the Schwenkfelder Heritage Center, we know that Balthasar built a log home in Kraussdale in 1743, the same year of his only son’s birth. It is likely that Balthasar’s mother, Anna (Heydrick) Krauss also lived with Balthasar’s growing family.

Candace, a curator at the Schwenkfelder Heritage Center, describes the log home as follows in a post on October 4, 2021:

The Balthasar Krauss log house, built ca. 1743, in Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County. Known locally as the “Krauss Palace,” the house wasn’t particularly palatial by any means, and was very much in keeping with the size of other local log houses. The house served several generations of Krausses, until some time in the 19th century. It remained standing into the early 20th century and was used as the laundry for Oscar Krauss family. Finally it was razed, probably in the 1920s, and no trace of it remains today, except for the excellent documentary photos in the Heritage Center collection.

The Schwenkfelder Genealogy states that “Balthasar Krauss lived on the farm owned (1919) by his lineal descendant, Levi Krauss, near Kraussdale, Pa.” Levi Krauss may have been one of the last inhabitants of this old family home.

Balthasar died on February 25, 1774. To place his life in context, consider the turmoils in the early American colonies leading up to the Revolution: taxes set forth by the British King and growing unrest among colonists seeking representation and finally, independence.

Susanna died on April 14, 1791. She would have seen the War for Independence and many young men serve, including her only son, Balthasar (Jr).

The Children of Balthasar & Susanna (Hoffman) Krauss

ROSINA (52a-1) was born on April 10, 1737 and died on October 29, 1828. She married George Heydrick (any relation to her grandmother? Unknown) on June 17, 1760 by a Justice of the Peace.

George Heydrick was born September 22, 1737 and died January 29, 1824. He was the son of Balthasar and Rosina (Heebner) Hedrick, and grandson of immigrant Caspar Heydrick (E51), from Harpersdorf. George served in the Revolution.

Rosina and George’s burial location is unknown.

SUSANNA (38-16) was born on August 29, 1738 and died on February 15, 1820. She was married to Balthasar Yeakel (E127) by Rev. Balzer Hoffman on August 25, 1761.

Balthasar was born in December, 1733 and died on October 12, 1797. He was less than a year of age when he immigrated to Pennsylvania in the third migration. Balthasar was the grandson of David Yeakel (originally spelled Jäckel) (E 38), and the son of Hans Heinrich Yeakel (38-5) – the same Hans Heinrich Yeakel who shares a tiny burial plot with Anna (Krauss) Schubert.

Susanna and Balthasar had six children listed in the Schwenkfelder Genealogy. They are buried in the Hosensack Schwenkfelder Cemetery.

Here are accounts of Susanna and her husband, Balthasar Yeakel, from page 471, and of Balthasar’s father, Hans Heinrich Yeakel, from page 468 of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families:

BARBARA (11-4) was born on July 22, 1742 and died on November 24, 1821. She married George Urffer on December 10, 1770. George was born on July 20, 1735 in Alsace, Germany, arriving in America on August 24, 1765. He was a soldier 6th class in the Revolution and died on May 5, 1794. According to the Schwenkfelder Genealogy, George owned land that is now East Greenville and part of Pennsburg. They had nine children listed in the Schwenkfelder Genealogy. Both Barbara and George are buried at the New Goshenhoppen UCC Cemetery.

BALTHASAR (11-5) is in my direct line and is discussed further here.

MARIA (11-6) was born on July 17, 1750 and died on September 10, 1777. She and Matthias Gerhard were married by Rev. Christopher Schultz on November 14, 1776 – less than a year before Maria’s passing. Matthias remarried Anna Yeakel (38-20). At this time it is unknown where Maria or Matthias are buried.