Due to the prominence of Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood in American history, much was known of his involvement with the establishment of the Germanna Settlement, but little of the German Settlers who were brought to this area with the 1714 Colony, the 1717 Colony, and later groups.
The Germanna Foundation has conducted continuing research regarding these families and their descendants.
Through these efforts, significant historic data has been obtained regarding these families who bravely traveled to a new country leaving many of their friends and family behind.
Research into these families is ongoing, therefore this list represents the best information we have at the present. Further documentary research could lead to additions or deletions from this list.
The Germanna Foundation wishes to especially thank, John V. Blankenbaker, Dr. Katharine L. Brown, Cathi Clore Frost, and Barbara Price for their diligent efforts in amplifying and correcting this list.
The 1714 Colony
The 1714 Colony from the Siegerland, settled first at Fort Germanna then at Germantown in present day Fauquier County. Names are listed with families and town of emigration from the Siegerland.
Switzerland
- Albrecht, Johann Juste
Müsen
- Brombach/Brombach, Melchior/Melcherd
- Kemper/Camper, Johannes
- Merten/Martin, Johann Jost/John Joseph
Niederndorf
- Cuntze/Koontz, Jost and wife Anna Gertrud Reinschmidt, children: Johannes, Anna Elisabeth, Catherina
Trupbach
- Fischbach/Fishback, Philip and wife Elisabeth Heimbach; children: Maria Els (Elisabeth), Johannes, Hermann, Maria Els (Elisabeth)
- Otterbach/Utterback, Hermann and wife Elisabeth Heimbach; children: Johann Philip, Johannes, Ellsbeth, Elisabeth Cathrina, Maria Cathrina, Anna Catharina
- Richter/Rector, Hans Jacob and wife Anna Elisabeth Fischbach; son Johannes
Oberfischbach
- Haeger/Häger, Rev. Johann Henrich wife Anna Catharina Friesenhagen; children: Agnes, Anna Katharina
- Holtzklau/Holtzclaw, Hans Jacob and wife Anna Margarethe Otterbach; children: Johannes, Johann Henrich
Rehbach and Kaan-Marienborn
- Heide/Heite/Hitt, Peter and wife Maria Elisabeth Freudenberg
Oberschelden
- Spielmann/Spilman, Johannes
Eisern
- Hoffmann/Hoffman/Huffman, Johannes
- Weber/Weaver, Johann Henrich and wife Anna Margarethe Huttmann; children: Johannes, Cathrin, Tillman
The 1717 Colony
The 1717 Colony from the Kraichgau of Baden and Württemberg, as well as some from the Rhineland Pfalz (Palatinate) settled first across the Rapidan River from Fort Germanna, then from 1725 to 1727 began to move to the Robinson River Valley in present day Madison County and patent land in their own names.
Bonfeld, Württemberg
- Motz, Johannes & Maria Apollonia (Maubars)
Bönnigheim, Württemberg
- Amberger/Amburgy, Hans Conrad
Botenheim and Cleebronn, Württemberg
- Schneider/Snyder, Hans Heinrich & Anna Dorothea (Schilling)
Bussnang, Thurgau, Switzerland
- Heerensperger/Harnsberger, Hans & Anna Barbara (_____), ch: Stephen
Gemmingen, Baden
- Klaar/Clore, Hans Michael & Anna Maria Barbara (______, ch: Agnes Margaretha, Andreas, Johann Georg
- Mühleckher/Milker, Hans Michael & Sophia Catherina (Wimmer), ch; Anna Margaretha, Anna Catharina, Maria Barbara; wife’s sister (not named)
- Schmidt/Smith, Hans Michael & Anna Margaretha (Sauter), ch: Hans Michael, Christoph; wife’s parents (not named)
- Schmidt/Smith, Matthäus & Regina Catharina (Schlözer), ch: Matthäus
- Weber/Weaver, Philipp Joseph & Susanna (Klaar), ch: Hans Dieterich “Peter”, Maria Sophia, Waldburga “Burga”/“Peggy”
Gross Sachsenheim, Württemberg
- Majer/Moyers, Hans Georg & Anna Barbara (Klaar?), ch: Christoph, Johann Melchior/Michael, Maria Susanna, Catharina Barbara
Hüffenhardt, Baden
- Utz, Johann Georg & Anna Barbara (Majer), ch: Ferdinand; stepch: Maria Sabina Charlotta Volck, Anna Louisa Elisabetha Volck
Marienthal and Falckenstein, Pfalz
- Jäger/Yager, Nicholaus & Anna Maria (Seiber), ch: Adam, Anna Maria
Neuenbürg, Baden
- Blanckenbühler/Blankenbaker, Hans Balthasar & Anna Margaretha (_____)
- Blanckenbühler/Blankenbaker, Hans Mattheus & Anna Maria (Mercklin), ch: Hans Jerg
- Blanckenbühler/Blankenbaker, Hans Nikolaus & Maria Apollonia (Käfer), ch: Zacharias
- Fleischmann/Fleshman, Cyricaus & Anna Barbara (Schön), ch: Maria Catherina, Hans Peter, stepch: Anna Maria Blanckenbühler, Heinrich Schlücter
- Thoma(s), Johannes & Anna Maria (Blanckenbühler), ch: Hans Wendel, Anna Magdalena
Oberöwisheim, Baden
- Scheible, Johann Georg & Maria Eleanora (Ockert), ch: Anna Martha, Anna Elisabetha, Anna Maria
Ötisheim, Württemberg
- Breuel/Broyle(s), Johannes & Ursula (Ruop), ch: Hans Jacob, Conrad, Maria Elisabetha
Ottmarsheim and Kirchheim am Neckar, Württemberg
- Paulitz, Johann Philipp & Rosina Margareta (Schneider), ch: Maria Margaretha, Maria Catharina
Schwaigern, Württemberg
- Koch/Cook, Johanna Michael & Maria Barbara (Reiner)
Stetten am Heuchelberg, Württemberg
- Hold/Holt, Hans Michael
Sulzfeld, Baden and Bietigheim, Württemberg
- Zimmerman, Johann Chrisoph & Anna Elisabetha (Albrecht), ch: Johann Martin, Andrew
Zaberfield, Württemberg
- Käfer/Kaifer, Wolf Michael
- Wegmann, Hans Georg & Anna Maria (Sellgle), ch: Maria Margaretha, Maria Gottlieb
Zazenhausen, Württemberg
- Kercher/Kerker, Andreas & Margaretha (_____), chi: Anna Barbara
Unknown
- Ballenger, Andrew
- Barler/Barlow, Christoph & Barbara (_____), ch: Matthias
- Crigler, Jacob
More German Immigrants to Virginia
Between 1717 and 1725, others arrived from the Kraichgau.
Some were related to the 1717 arrivals. Some were neighbors in Germany of the 1717 arrivals.
Others could have been here since 1717, but were either too young to be listed in 1717, or escaped official notice in the records.
Some who were traveling with the first wave in 1717 were left behind in England to wait for the next ship.
Whatever the reason for not being listed, some went to the Robinson River Valley at the same time as the earlier group and patented land in the same time period, while others stayed on their 1717 land near the village of York, which is now known as Stevensburg.
Enzweihingen
- Zimmermann/Carpenter, Johann Wilhelm/William, and wife Elizabeth Castler/Kastler/Gessler
- Zimmermann/Carpenter, Mathias, and wife Susanna Christina; children: Matthias Friedrich, Anna Magdalena
Sulzfeld
- Kabler/Cobbler, Christopher
- Kabler/Cobbler, Frederick, and wife Barbara
- Kabler/Cobbler, Nicholas
- Wayland/Wieland, Thomas, and wife Mary; children: Jacob and Catherine
- Yowell/Uhl/Owell, Christoph, and wife Eva, children: Georg Frederich, Magdalena, Anna Catharina, Frederich David, Anna Barbara, Hans Jacob
- Yowell/Uhl/Owell, Nicholas, and wife Catharine; son Jacob Michael
Westhofen
- Rouse/Rausch, John, and wife Maria/Mary
- Tanner/Danner, Robert, and wife Mary and five children
The Little Fork Colony
Beginning in 1734 several members of the First Colony purchased land across the River from Germantown in the forks of the Rappahannock and Hazel Rivers.
This land was located in present day Culpeper County and was purchased for speculation purposes and to encourage other Siegerländers to come to Virginia and purchase this land from their kinsmen.
These later settlers became known as the Little Fork Group.
Freudenberg
- Bach/Back, Harman and wife Anna Margaret Hausmann. Harman Bach is the cousin of Georg Weidman/Wayman, their mothers are sisters
- Hoffmann/Huffman, Hans Heinrich and wife, Anna Margaret Huettenhen. Cousin to Johann Hofmann, the 1738 Immigrant
- Mueller/Miller, Johann Friedrich and wife, Anna Maria Arnd; child Matthias. Probably lived at the Little Fork with his brother, Hermann/Harman Miller
- Mueller/Miller, Hermann/Harman, bachelor. Married Elizabeth Holtzclaw, the daughter of Jacob and Anna (Otterbach) Holtzclaw, the 1714 Immigrants
- Noeh/Nay, Johannes and wife, Maria Clara Otterbach; children: Gerderuth, Anna Catherine, Maria Clara and Johann Jacob.
- Maria Clara Otterbach is the niece of Hermann and Elizabeth (Heimbach) Otterbach, the 1714 Immigrants
- Weidmann/Wayman, Georg, bachelor. The cousin of Hermann/Harman Back/Bach
Holland
- Button, Harmon and wife Catherine. Not from Nassau-Siegen, but intermarried with the immigrants
- Button, Johann Holland
Niederndorf
- Cuntz/Coons/Koontz, Johann Jost, bachelor, the nephew of Joseph Cuntze, the 1714 Immigrant
- Weissgerber/Whitescarver, Tillman and wife Anna Margarethe Cuntze; children: Anna Maria, Anna Maria, Hermann, Anna Catharina and Maria Catherina. Anna Margarethe Cuntze is the sister of Joseph Coons, the 1737 Immigrant. Anna Margarethe Cuntze is the niece of Joseph and Anna Gertrud (Reinschmidt) Cuntze, the 1714 Immigrants
Trupbach
- Fischbach, Hans Jacob and wife Anna Catharina Holdinghaus. Jacob is the nephew of Philip and Elizabeth (Heimbach) Fischbach, the 1714 Immigrants. Jacob’s godfather is Hans Jacob Holtzclaw, 1st Colony
- Fischbach, Frederick. The eldest son of Johannes and Agnes (Haeger) Fischbach, the 1714 Immigrants
- Spilman/Speilmann, James. The son of Johannes/John and Mary Elizabeth (Fischbach) Speilman/Spilman, the 1714 Immigrants
- Utterback/Otterbach, Johann Henrich, bachelor. Emigrated with his uncle, Johann Henrich Otterbach (Henry Utterbach of Fauquier Co.) and his aunt, Maria Clara (Otterbach) Noeh, and her family
- Jung/Young, Johannes and wife, Anna Maria Baeumer; children: Maria Gerderuth, Harman, Elizabeth; and Elizabeth Catherine Jung and Anna Cathrin Jung, perhaps cousins. John Jung/Young is the son of Johann and Anna Katherina (Holzklau) Jung, the sister of Jacob Holtzclaw, the 1714 Immigrant
Oberschelden
- Grimm/Crim, Johann and wife Gertrud. Son of Elisabeth Spilman, sister of John Spilman, the 1714 Immigrant
- Grimm/Crim, Johannes Jacob and wife Margaret. Brother of Johannes and son of Elisabeth Spilman, sister of John Spilman, the 1714 Immigrant
Seelbach
- Hanback/Heimbach, Johann Jacob. His father, Johannes Heimbach, is a first cousin of John Jung/Young, the 1734 Immigrant. Johann Jacob is the nephew of Elizabeth (Heimbach) Otterbach/Utterback, the 1714 Immigrant
Research More:
Germanna Records – Germanna genealogy books
Germanna’s Genealogy Database:
Get exclusive access to the Germanna Foundation’s genealogy database, GermannaFamily.org, with over 130,000 records by becoming a member of the Foundation for $50 a year. The database is considered one of the larger German ancestry databases in the world.
As a member, you will also receive an 8 to 12-page full-color newsletter with genealogy information mailed to your home four times a year. Also meet your Germanna cousins who love genealogy too at our annual multi-day Germanna Reunion/Conference held every July.
Become a Member of the Germanna Foundation
Travel to Germany with the Germanna Foundation
joel josey says
my family could possibly be part of this settlement. Joh Marten Joseph (Josis,). I see several family names that are connected to my family in Pa. in 1731. Kuntz, Holtzhouser, and a few more. Would like to know if there is any information on Marten Joseph and family.
Frances Rowell says
If you come to the Visitors’ Center when I am there as a volunteer genealogist, I will be glad to help you research your Germanna family history.
Autumn N Cubbage says
Peter Heite ead a grandfather of mine my grandfather was Leroy Hitt elkton va
Leigh Eitson says
Looking for Edde Lammert Hillman (born circa 1852 in Hanover, Germany) and immigrated as a child before he was eight years old. He came with father/mother and siblings . Supposedly settled in Illinois (possibly Germantown). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Nathan Briles says
Johannes Broyles is my 8x grandfather- very interesting indeed. Any more info available?
SA Tuck says
Hello from Texas distant cousin
Becky (Mooney) Link says
I have several Weavers including Weavers marrying Weavers. Also, Clore and Crisler.
Pamm Thomas says
I am a descendant of Johannes Thomas and noticed that there were also Weavers on the boat to Germanna Colony 1717. Do you have any information as to the Weaver line possibly marrying into the Thomas family? My great grandmother was a Weaver who married into the Thomas family. I would like to see if there was a connection to generations before my great grandparents.
Cathleen Doyle says
Johann “The Immigrant” Kemper was my 5 greats grandfather….he was part of the first settlement.
my mother was a Kemper. Given today’s political sensitivity to immigrants, I have to reflect that my
great + grandfather was referred to as….”The Immigrant”.
Evette Fox says
My maiden name is Aylor and I’m in the Aylor book although my name was wrong it’s Evette not Evitt but hey I made it in it!! I don’t understand genealogy enough to know how many grandfathers a part it was from Henry Aylor to me. My vision is really bad so researching is not so easy for me and I am awaiting more heart surgery soon but it’s neat to look at this and know that it is my history!!!
Sarah says
Hello. I am descended from Ziriakus Fleshman’s son, Hans Peter. I am a bit baffled as to who was Hans Peter’s mother–Anna Barbara Schone as shown here, or Margaret, who shows up as the wife of Ziriakus on a late land record. Perhaps after Anna Barbara’s passing, Peter married Margaret; but without finding a dated death record for Anna Barbara, or a dated marriage record for Ziriakus and Margaret, I cannot be sure. Didn’t find a Germany baptismal record for Hans Peter yet.
Charlotte Wilhite Hulfachor says
Hello I am a descendant if Michael Wilhite hi to all other cousins out there.
Scott Green says
Hey Everyone, I’m a descendant of Johannes Nay from Little Fork group. Hi to all of my Germanna Cousions.
Shelly Herndon says
Hi! Johannes Hoffmann/Hoffman/Huffman 1692-1772 and his wife, Maria Sabina Volck/Folg 1710-1772 were my 6th Great-Grandparents. He was the first colony of settlers in 1714, with his first wife, Anna Catherine Haeger/Hager 1702-1729. Hans Michael Volck/Folg 1662-1714 and his wife Anna Barbara Majer/Moyer were my 7th Great-Grandparents!
Thank you so much for this informative site.
Shelly Herndon, San Diego, California
Sshellz@aol.com
Sam Miller says
I am possibly a decendant of one of the early arrivals. My wife Joanne Tanner’s ancestor was. Some of my ancestors settled in Pennsylvania before moving to the valley of Va. in the 1780’s. I also have relatives from Madison Co.
Shona Naccarati says
I am looking for “Rucker”, specifically “Peter Rucker”. He has been the end of the line for our family. He died in Orange County, Virginia in 1743. His son, John Rucker, died there in 1742.
Virginia Susan Fleming says
Hello, I have a few questions and I am hoping you may have some knowledge on them:
1. my German ancestor was a “Bestandt Miller” (translated to tennant miller?) to the ruling lord – what does a tennant miller do? Also, who was the ruling lord of Neckarmuhlbach, Kirchenbuch parish?
2. My ancestor was sponsored by a man named Johann Adam Winther. What does it mean to be sponsored?
Thank you.
Brenda Pelletier says
I am a descendant of Anna Maria Dorsch Eichorn 1708-1742, she died at sea immigrating to America with her husband Matthew Eichorn 1709-1777. Her parents were Hans Jacob Dorsch and Barbara Hoffses (Hofsaess) 1634-1691 baptized 1634. Forbidden (Neulingen) Baden-Wuerttenberg. She was the daughter of Endris Horses 1663 and Ann NN Haug.