Mary Ann was born on October 1, 1977 and died on January 7, 1904. Her obituary reads: HUNSBERGER – Died, on Thursday morning, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Josiah HUNSBERGER, of Pennsburg, Mary Ann, at the age of 25 years. She was an invalid all her life. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, at the Bethesda church, near Clayton. (Pennsburg Town and Country, Saturday, January 9, 1904)“
Oswin was born on May 28, 1881 and died on May 7, 1893, at age 11. He is buried at the Bethesda Cemetery in Upper Hanover.
Sallie was born on February 21, 1883 and died on September 11, 1906, at the age of 23. She is buried at the Bethesda Cemetery in Upper Hanover.
Jessie was born on Feb 21, 1883 and died on March 19, 1883.
Lizzie was born on August 29, 1887 and died on June 21, 1961. She married Oswin Pflieger (1878-1968). They are buried at the St Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Red Hill.
Horace was born on March 15, 1889 and died in 1955. He married Hannah Snyder (1892-1936) in 1910. They are buried at the Pennsburg UCC Cemetery.
Spouse: Magdalena Schultz (daughter of Caspar Schultz & Christina Yeakel)
Born: March 9, 1819
Died: December 23, 1911
Married: November 1, 1842
Children:
Enos (1844-?)
Edward (1845-1915)
Sarah (1846-1846)
Benjamin (1848-1917)
Oswin (1850-?)
Joel (1852-1871)
Jonathan (1855-?)
Maria (1856-?)
Allen (1859-1877)
Daniel (1863-?)
Jonathan and his family are yet another example of ancestors about whom I wish I had more to write; my hope is always to be able to include stories about these individuals, rather than mere names and dates.
The Children of Jonathan & Magdalena (Schultz) Krauss
Enos (11-160) was born on July 3, 1844 and died on July 23, 1924. He married Hannah Elizabeth Nuss (Sept 13, 1847 – April 23, 1928). They had 14 children; the location of graves of a stillborn son and Daniel, who died young, are unknown. Enos and Hannah are buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in Allentown.
Edward (11-161) was born on October 17, 1945 and died on October 1, 1915. He married Sarah Heebner (Oct 14, 1849 – Feb 11, 1931) and the couple had at least seven children. Edward’s death certificate states that he was a farmer and died of a “septic infection of the scrotum,” with a “mowing machine” as a contributory cause. However, another user on Ancestry cites a black widow spider bite for his demise. Either way, we can only hope Edward did not suffer too gravely. His funeral invitation, shown below, quite charmingly provides directions to the Towamencin Schwenkfelder church, complete with carriage and trolley instructions. Edward and Sarah are buried at the Towamencin Schwenkfelder Cemetery.
Benjamin (11-163) was born on March 29, 1848 and died on September 3, 1917. He married Hannah Anders (July 17, 1852 – February 6, 1913). The couple had at least one child, Alvin, and are buried at the Towamencin Schwenkfelder Church.
Oswin (11-164) was born on January 25, 1850 and died on April 23, 1929. He married Ida Kulp (December 5, 1861 – April 14, 1938). They are buried at New Goshenhoppen UCC Cemetery.
Joel was born on June 3, 1852 and died in 1871. He is buried at the Kraussdale Schwenkfelder Cemetery.
Jonathan (11-165) was born on March 23, 1855 and died on July 20, 1926. He married Mary Miller (Oct 29, 1854 – Aug 1, 1920). The couple had at least one child, Clara, and are buried at the Hosensack Evangelical Cemetery.
Maria (Mary) was born on September 25, 1856 and died on November 2, 1940. She remained unmarried and is buried at the Kraussdale Schwenkfelder Cemetery.
Allen was born on November 26, 1859 and died in 1877, at the age of 17 or 18. He is buried at the Kraussdale Schwenkfelder Cemetery.
Daniel (11-166) was born on June 8, 1863 and died on Feb 2, 1928. He married Mahala Miller (Sept 7, 1862 – Feb 22, 1926) and they are buried at the St Mark’s Lutheran Cemetery in Pennsburg.
Enos (11-160) in 1907Obituary for Enos (11-160)Enos (11-160) and Hannah (center) with many of their children.Edward Krauss (11-161) and Sarah HeebnerEdward Krauss (11-161) death certificateEdward Krauss (11-161) funeral infoOswin Krauss (11-164) death certificateOswin Krauss (11-164) obitJonathan Krauss (11-165) obitMaria / Mary Krauss Obit
Spouse 1: Maria Schultz (daughter of Andrew Yeakel Schultz [70-1] & Charlotte Yeakel)
Born: October 4, 1784
Died: May 26, 1807
Married: May 21, 1805
Children:
David Krauss (April 24, 1806 – Feb 10, 1809)
Jacob Krauss (May 9, 1807 – Aug 21, 1880)
Spouse 2: Christina Schultz (daughter of Andrew Yeakel Schultz [70-1] & Charlotte Yeakel)
Born: August 22, 1787
Died: October 15, 1877
Married: November 26, 1807
Children:
Sarah (1808-?)
Henry (1811-1884)
Susanna (1812-1813)
Elizabeth (1814-1900)
Jonathan [11-61] (1817-1887)
Daniel (1819-1898)
Maria (1821-1828)
Regina (1824-1825)
Daughter (1826-1826)
Charles (1830-1881)
The youngest son of Balthasar II and Susanna (Yeakel) Krauss, George was born into the fledgeling United States of America.
George married twice, first to Maria Schultz and, after her death, to her sister Christina. Maria died less than a month after the birth of their second child, on May 26, 1807 – less than a week after the couple’s second wedding anniversary.
Exactly six months to the day later, George married Maria’s younger sister, Christina, who was instantly elevated from aunt to mother of an 18 month old (David) and 6 month old (Jacob). Adding to family tragedy, young David passed before his third birthday, in February of 1809.
The family’s luck did improve somewhat, and six of George and Christina’s children lived to adulthood.
Little otherwise is known of this branch of the Krausses; it is most likely that George was a farmer and the family subsisted off their own land.
The Children of George & Maria (Schultz) Krauss
DAVID was born on April 24, 1806, and died before the age of three on February 10, 1809.
JACOB (11-58) was born on May 9, 1807. It is possible that complications from his birth may have led to his mother’s death less than a month later. Jacob lived to the age of 73, and married Lydia Kriebel.
The Children of George & Christina (Schultz) Krauss
SARAH (149-35) was born on November 3, 1808. Her death date is not known. She married Jonathan Schultz.
HENRY (11-59) was born on February 3, 1811 and died on February 7, 1884. He married Christina Schultz (not to be confused with this own mother).
SUSANNA was born on October 14, 1812 and died on April 13, 1813.
ELIZABETH (11-60) was born on June 13, 1814 and died in 1900, living the longest of all her siblings. She married Joel Wolf.
JONATHAN (11-61) was born on January 8, 1817 and died on October 30, 1887. He married Magdalena Schultz,
DANIEL (11-62) was born on February 27, 1819 and died on January 5, 1898. He married Esther Neuman.
MARIA was born on December 10, 1821 and died on March 20, 1828.
REGINA was born on July 19, 1824 and died on May 5, 1825.
A third girl in a row to live only a short time was born in June 1826, living only two days. She is listed only as “Daughter” in the Schwenkfelder Genealogy.
CHARLES (11-63) was born on December 12, 1830, and died on February 23, 1881. He married Hannah Yeakel.
Balthasar (11-5) was the only son of Balthasar (E10) and Susanna (Hoffman) Krauss. While the Schwenkfelder Genealogy lists his birthdate as November 28, 1743, his headstone reads 1744.
Balthasar and Susanna Yeakel (born February 1, 1744, daughter of Hans Heinrich and Susanna Heydrick Yeakel) were married on June 14, 1769 by Rev Christopher Schultz.
Fun fact:
Balthasar Krauss married Susanna Yeakel, daughter of Hans Heinrich Yeakel
Susanna Krauss (Balthasars’ sister) married Balthasar Yeakel, son of Hans Heinrich Yeakel
So, not only did siblings marry siblings, but in both cases the husband was Balthasar and the wife was Susanna. 🤯
Balthasar and Susanna may have lived in the log house built by his father. It is almost certain that they resided in or near the Kraussdale area at the very least. In fact, this may be the log house they lived in; this image was shared on the Schwenkfelter Library’s Facebook page, described as being the house of Balthasar Krauss:
Balthasar served in the Revolution, in the 4th Co. 1st Batt. Northampton Co., Pa. Militia according to one Ancestry user, and according to a legend in the Schwenkfelder Genealogy “was a man of great strength”:
From pages 147 and 149 of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families
Balthasar died on October 14, 1805, and Susanna died on January 8, 1820. Balthasar is buried in the Kraussdale Meetinghouse Cemetery, though Susanna’s burial location is unknown. No listing for her appears on Findagrave.com in the Kraussdale Meetinghouse Cemetery page, but it is entirely possible that she was interred there and her stone lost later.
The Children of Balthasar & Susanna (Yeakel) Krauss
JOHN (11-17) was born on March 1, 1770 and died on February 12, 1819. He married Rosina Yeakel. Whether or not Rosina Yeakel was also a descendant of Caspar Yeakel I have yet to determine. John became a successful and well-known organ builder, and is discussed further here.
ANDREW (11-18) was born June 21, 1771 and died on May 11, 1841. He married Susanna Schultz. Along with his brother, John, he became a successful and well-known organ builder, and is discussed further here.
BALTHASAR, a third generation Balthasar, was born on November 10, 1772 and died on August 26, 1779, aged six.
REGINA (202-3a) was born on February 24, 1775 and died on August 31, 1807. She married Jeremiah Krauss – presumably a different Krauss line.
HELENA (59-5) was born on October 31, 1776 and died on November 19, 1850. She married Jacob Gerhard.
ROSINA (11-19) was born on September 30, 1780, and died in 1812. She married Henry Hunsberger (1781-1849), and their descendants include my mom’s maternal Heimbach side. So while we always knew that my dad was a direct descendant of Anna Krauss the Schwenkfeld immigrant, Rosina is the link that makes my mom also a direct descendant of the same line… fortunately, many generations back and far removed. This full connection is on my “Connections and Questions” page under the header “Everyone marries the Schwenkfelds.”
GEORGE (11-20) was born on February 23, 1783 and died on June 22, 1844. He was married twice, first to Maria Schultz, and second to Christina Schultz. Before you ask, yes: Maria and Christina were sisters. Does that mean their children were both half siblings and half cousins? I digress. George and his descendants are in my direct line and discussed further here.
LYDIA (38-28a) was born on July 31, 1786, and died on January 19, 1812. She married Jeremiah Yeakel also a descendant of Caspar Yeakel (E38).
Born: March 10, 1706 in Harpersdorf, Greiz, Thueringen, Germany
Died: February 25, 1774 in Kraussdale, Pennsylvania
Married: January 16, 1736
Children:
Rosina (1737-1828)
Susanna (1738-1820)
Barbara (1742-1821)
Balthasar (1743-1805)
Maria (1750-1777)
Susanna Hoffman was born May 3, 1708 in Germany. She was the daughter of George (E31) and Barbara (Seipt) Hoffman (E110), both of whom are buried in the Salford Schwenkfelder Cemetery in Harleysville, PA.
George’s mother, Ursula Anders (E106) was also a Schwenkfelder immigrant. Her husband, Christopher Hoffman, died in Saxony, likely before the Hoffman family began their trip towards America. Ursula died shortly after (or perhaps shortly before) arriving in 1734, and is buried in the “Pilgrim Cemetery” in Philadelphia. Her name appears on a stone with four names total, all of whom in fact died in 1734.
Findagrave.com provides the following information about the Pilgrim Cemetery:
Pilgrim Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA: “This cemetery in the early history of Philadelphia was reserved for strangers, most probably for the many immigrants who died soon after landing on this continent. Its exact location has not been determined, having been obliterated many years ago. In all probability the present Washington Square marks its site [possibly under South Schell Street bordered by Spruce Street between Ninth and South Darien]. Hence, the names of those [believed to be] interred in Pilgrim Cemetery have been inscribed on the monument erected on the Chestnut Hill plot [Yeakel Cemetery near Chestnut Hill].” [The Schwenkfeldian, Vol. 31 (10), October 1934, page 135]
Names of those believed to have been interred in the “Pilgrim Cemetery” in Philadelphia. These all appear to be individuals in the third migration of Schwenkfelders aboard the St Andrew. Ursula Hoffman was the paternal grandmother of Susanna Hoffman, wife of Balthasar Krauss.
Also among the four immigrants in the Pilgrim Cemetery is a 2 year old David Schubert, the toddler son of the David Schubert who later married Anna Krauss, daughter of Anna Heydrick.
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.
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).
Large stone at the Kraussdale Meetinghouse cemetery listing the original immigrants buried there, including Balthasar and SusannaSusanna (Hoffman) Krauss’s headstoneBalthasar Krauss’s headstoneFrom page 146 of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families
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.
From page 861 of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families
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:
Headstone of Susanna (Krauss) Yeakel in the Hosensack Schwenkfelder CemeteryLarge monument with Balthasar Yeakel’s name in the Hosensack Schwenkfelder CemeteryHosensack Meetinghouse. Photo from findagrave.com
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.
Barbara’s headstone in the New Goshenhoppen UCC CemeteryGeorge’s headstone in the New Goshenhoppen UCC CemeteryFrom page 148 of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families
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.
Anna Krauss is one of those names in Schwenkfelder history that pricks up ears when heard. She was not one of the famous Reverends, not an inventor, not a scholar or writer to whom we owe so much for the wealth of history that remains centuries later. Rather, Anna is seen as something of a heroine.
To be a Schwenkfelder in Europe was tough; deadly, even. The trek from Silesia to Pennsylvania was a long one and hard. After all, this was the early 1700’s – no running water, no refrigeration, questionable medicine, and things like plagues running around. Add to that being severely persecuted in much of Europe for her religion. Anna was 58 years old when she made this journey. In the early 18th century, this would have been considered most folks’ twilight years, yet on she trekked. And to make matters more challenging, her husband died suddenly a mere month before their ship left Rotterdam for America, leaving her to cross that great sea allein with her five, albeit grown, children.
To me, the fact that the little corner of land the family settled in what is now East Greenville, PA, is still known as Kraussdale is a testament to the persecution and challenges Anna and her family faced and overcame.
Anna was born around 1675, her parents possibly Melchior Heydrick (1655-1733) and Rosina Hubner (1651-1696). Anna’s siblings may have been Susannah (1682-1752), Apollonia (1690-1722), Melchior (1690-1734), Maria (1693-1738), and Eva (1696-1776).
Anna married Melchior Krauss on November 18, 1704 in Harpersdorf, Greiz, Thueringen, Germany.
Arriving in Pennsylvania in the fall of 1733, it is likely that Anna lived with one of her sons, possibly her eldest son, Balthasar. She lived nearly 22 years in the rolling farm fields of Kraussdale, now in East Greenville, Lehigh County, before her death on January 14, 1755. Despite being the oldest, she was outlived by only her youngest sibling. Anna was buried in the Kraussdale Meeting House Cemetery. Her name appears on the large stone that commemorates those first Schwenkfelder immigrants. However, as of this writing in 2022 my family has been unable to locate her individual headstone and E11 marker which was present in the cemetery at least in the late 1990’s.
As is unfortunately the case with women especially so long ago, that is the most we know about her life.
Headstone for Anna’s son, Melchior KraussA large stone in the Kraussdale Meetinghouse Cemetery lists the original immigrants interred there, including Anna (Heydrick) Krauss and her sons Balthasar and Melchior. Anna’s individual stone seems to be lost.Headstone for Anna’s son, Balthasar KraussFrom page 146 of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families
The Children of Melchior & Anna (Heydrick) Krauss
The Schwenkfelter Genealogy lists five children, at least five who lived to adulthood.
MARIA (E12/11-2) was born on September 29, 1707 in Lower Harpersdorf, and baptized on October 1 of the same year. She was 25 years old when she immigrated to Philadelphia. She married Leonhard Knopf, who died on September 17, 1782. Maria died on April 5, 1790 and is buried at New Goshenhoppen UCC Cemetery, though her headstone appears to have been lost. The Schwenkfelder Genealogy includes a snippet of New Goshenhoppen records indicating that Maria migrated to the Reformed faith after her marriage. Two children are also listed: Maria, and another child whose name has been lost to time.
From page 146 of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families
SUSANNA (E13/11-3) was born on December 1, 1710 in Lower Harpersdorf, and baptized on December 4. She was 22 years old when she immigrated to Philadelphia.
Susanna married Cornelius Neis (or Nice), a distiller, and the couple lived in Germantown (now part of modern Philadelphia, and a town that our Custer ancestors helped found). Cornelius was born in 1697 in Krefeld, Stadtkreis Krefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, and was the son of Johannes/Jan Neuss and Elizabeth Luecken. Cornelius died on October 23, 1754. At the time, legend states, Susanna was still pregnant with their youngest child.
Susanna died on July 24, 1794. According to the Schwenkfelder Genealogy, she and Cornelius are buried in the Mennonite Cemetery in Germantown (interestingly, the same Mennonite Cemetery in Germantown that several of our earliest Custer immigrants are interred in).
The Schwenkfelder Genealogy also includes their known children, many grand- and great-grand children, as well as details of their estate and wills.
Details of Susanna (Krauss) & Cornelius Nice’s family. From pages 146-148 of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder FamiliesHeadstone of Cornelius Nice in the Germantown Mennonite Cemetery. No photo of Susanna’s stone exists.
MELCHIOR was born in October, 1714, and died on September 16, 1779. He was just about to turn 20 when the family immigrated to Philadelphia. According to the Schwenkfelder Genealogy, he was “said to have been of unsound mind.” Melchior did not marry, and is buried in the Kraussdale Meetinghouse Cemetery.
ANNA Krauss’s (E15/75b) birthdate is unknown, though some on ancestry list it as 1700; if this is correct, she would have been the eldest sibling by 5 years and 33 at the time of her immigration.
Anna married David Schubert on April 29,1740, by the Rev. Balthasar Hoffman. David was born around 1693. Previously, David had been married to Maria Teichman. The couple had four children and were part of the “third migration” of Schwenkfelders who came to Philadelphia aboard the Saint Andrew in 1734. However, Maria and their youngest child (born on the ship) both died only about a month before landing in America.
The Oddity of Anna’s Burial Place:
Anna is buried in the tiny Yeakel Cemetery near Palm, Montgomery County, PA with two other original Schwenkfeld immigrants: Hans Heinrich Yeakel and Andreas Warmer. Though the Schwenkfelder Genealogy lists David’s place of burial as unknown, modern records (including a large monument) show he is buried in the larger Yeakel Schwenkfelder Cemetery in Wyndmoor, PA.
Why is David in a large Schwenkfelder cemetery, and Anna in a tiny private family plot with two men not related to her? My best guess is that either (a) the plaque on the family plot is wrong, or (b) perhaps Anna remarried either Hans Yeakel or Andreas Warmer. If the latter is the case, the event has not been recorded or found. The Schwenkfelder Genealogy (page 468) clearly lists Hans Yeakel’s wife as Susanna Heydrick (E126) , and indicates that she is buried with him in this same private plot – yet Susanna is not listed on the plaque, despite herself also being an original immigrant.
Another possibility is that the large monument with David’s name is incorrect, in which case he may also be buried with Anna, or somewhere else we will never know of.
The historic Yeakel cemetery (Anna’s place of burial) is located in a field near the intersection of Treichler and Station roads, several miles east of Palm, Montgomery County, PA.A plaque on the surrounding stone wall honors three “Schwenkfelder immigrants from Silesia whose remains repose in this sacred plot.”
Findagrave.com
Plaque at the burial place of Anna (Krauss) Schubert.The tiny, walled burial ground of Anna (Krauss) Schubert and two other immigrants.Crossroads of the Yeakel CemeteryLarge stone listing Schwenkfelder immigrants, including Anna Krauss’s husband David Schultz, at the Yeakel Schwenkfelder Cemetery. David’s individual headstone is likely lost.Details of David Schubert & Anna Krauss from page 1152 of the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families
Married: November 18, 1704 in Harpersdorf, Greiz, Thueringen, Germany
Occupation: Farmer
Children:
Anna Maria (1700?-1778)
Balthasar (1706-1774)
Maria (1707-1790)
Susanna (1710-1794)
Melchior (1711-1779)
First up, a note about Melchior’s birthdate. The Schwenkfelder Genealogy states on p. 146 that when he died in late May, 1733, Melchior was aged 40 years, 9 months. This would place his birthdate in August of 1692. If this were true, it would make him 18 years his wife’s junior. Okay, that’s not unheard of. However, it would also have meant that Melchior was only 15 years old when his eldest son was born, and that’s pushing the envelope – even for 17th century standards. And, if the birth year of his daughter Anna really is 1700 (which is not confirmed), he would have been only 8 when she was born. My suspicion is that the “40” years written in DAvid Schultz’s journal was actually “49” years. This error could have been made in the visual translation of a 0 vs a 9, or a mistype that has perpetuated an incorrect date across the internet. In my documentation I have left his date of birth as a question mark.
Melchior was part of the “second migration” of Schwenkfelders and would have been one of the first Schwenkfelder settlers in southeastern Pennsylvania. However, he died “suddenly” while he, his family, and a handful of other refugees followers made the long trek across what is now Germany and the Netherlands towards the Atlantic coast.
One of his fellow travelers, David Schultz (1717-1797) recounted their journey and of Melchior’s death in his journal. These entries talk of the generosity the group met from a Herr Heinrich Van Schmissen – notable since the Schwenkfelders were persecuted for their faith, so encountering someone willing to aid them on their travels was a greatly fortunate event.
It is interesting to read the gifts of food and drink the company received along their way: much bread, butter, and alcohol! After all, this was the early 18th century, when clean water did not exactly flow from faucets. We also gain an account of the group’s travels: from Berthelsdorf at the far East of Germany, up the Elbe River to Altona, Denmark (very near Hamburg), around the coast via boat to Amsterdam, and finally from there to Rotterdam, from which they departed to America.
Schultz also writes that on May 14 several of their group became ill on the journey, including Melchior. This day’s entry makes it sound as though Melchior died: “Melchior is no more.” However, the entry on May 28 specifically states that Melchior died that day at 7pm. Assuming that these writings were translated from German, this may explain the vagueness of the May 14th writing.
The following are scans from the Schwenkfelder Genealogy, detailing the journey and with excerpts from David Schultz’s records:
We’ll likely never know any more about how Melchior died or where he is buried. At 40 years of age, walking across town to visit Herr Van Putten, it’s possible he may have suffered a heart attach or stroke. As for where he may have been buried, we may hope that those “Dutch friends” may have found a place for him in a local church cemetery, but whether church laws allowed a Schwenkfelder to be interred there is entirely unknown and somewhat unlikely. And regardless, it is unlikely the location would have been well-marked, if at all.
It is a sad thing that Melchior led his family across hundreds of miles and was so close to the freedom he sought, only to die suddenly.
Below is a map showing the group’s travels based on Schultz’s journal entry: from Berthelsdorf, up the Elbe river (note that my red line does not follow the river) to Altona/Hamburg, via sea to Amsterdam and Haarlem, and to Rotterdam. The star shows an approximation of the town of Haarlem, just west of Amsterdam, where Melchior died and was buried.
Leaves on the Tree 