The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization), also known as Historic Germanna, was chartered in 1956 to preserve the heritage of the earliest organized settlements of Germans in colonial Virginia in 1714 and 1717. We publish the Germanna Records, which focus on Germanna genealogy and history.
GERMANNA RECORD #23:
Germanna Studies: Essays Honoring Dr. Katharine L. Brown
Edited by William H. Johnson, Jr.
$25.00 176 pages
Contributors: Dr. Madison Brown, Dr. Horst Schmidt-Böcking, Wayne Diehl, Karsten Porezag, Pat Mingee, Barbara Gregory Price, William H. Johnson, Jr.
Collected essays include:
- Well-Traveled Reverend Johann Caspar Stoever
- “Bergmeister” Johann Justus Albrecht
- Tannenberg, Marvelous Moravian Oragan Builder
- Germantown, ‘Close to Florida
- The Real Peter Heide/Hitt/Heyd/Hayd/Heydte
- In Search of the Glebhaus of 1734
- A New Look at an Old Tragedy
To purchase, contact the Germanna Visitor Center by phone at 540.423.1700 or by email at [email protected]
GERMANNA RECORD #22:
The Broyles Family: The First Four Generations
By Cathi Clore Frost
$65 720 pages
The latest in the Germanna Record series, this genealogy chronicles the first four generations of descendants of 1717 immigrants John Broyles and his wife Ursula Ruop. This in-depth, thoroughly researched volume updates information available in Keith’s circa 1940 manuscript and is well documented with over 12,000 source notes, a 31-page bibliography, and is indexed.
Family members intermarried with other Germanna Second Colony families such as Blankenbaker, Garr, Crisler, Wayland, Carpenter, Finks, Yager, Utz, Wilhoit, Fleshman, etc., making this book an invaluable addition to research of that interconnected group.
GERMANNA RECORD #21:
The Willheit Family: The First Four Generations
By Cathi Clore Frost
$54 (+$6 shipping) 660 pages
This fully documented and annotated book with 660 pages of rich, in-depth Willheit genealogy research is invaluable for Germanna Second Colony research as it includes not only the Willheits many of the 1717 and later families that came to the Robinson River Valley and intermarried with Willheits. With index.
GERMANNA RECORD #20:
Germanna Studies: Essays Honoring John V. Blankenbaker
Edited by Katharine L. Brown
A collection of shorter works related to the wide-ranging heritage that is Germany being published as a Festschrift in honor of Germanna Foundation member John Blankenbaker. Essays include:
- Emigration Permissions
- The First Roads to Germanna
- In Transit in London: Pass-Through German Settlers
- The Little Fork Colony
- The Legacy of Hebron Church
- Zimmerman Tavern
- Big Mike Clore
- Germanna During the Civil War.
Each of the contributors have benefited from John Blankenbaker’s research and teaching, and each as developed his or her own area of specialization in Germanna-related research, whether genealogical, historical, geographical, or architectural. They share a true fascination with the Germanna story and the desire to see that it is well told to a wider audience.
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GERMANNA RECORD #19:
The Yager Family: The First Five Generations
By Cathi Clore Frost
$35
This is a very large volume, more than 600 pages chocked full of information! Cathi Clore Frost has been working on this volume for years with help from a lot of Yagers. This is the ultimate publication on Yager family history. Chapters include:
- Generation 1: Nicholas Yager, 1717 Immigrant to Virginia
- Generation 2: Adam Yager, son of Nicholas Yager
- Generation 3: Children of Adam Yager, Grandchildren of Nicholas Yager
- Generation 4: Great-Grandchildren of Nicholas Yager
- Generation 5: Great-Great-Grandchildren of Nicholas Yager
- John Yager “of the Piney Woods”
- History of the Yeager Family by William Henry Harrison Yeager
GERMANNA RECORD #18:
The Second Germanna Colony and Other Pioneers
By John Blankenbaker
This superb study is the culmination of decades of research by John Blankenbaker, the foremost authority on the families that came to Germanna in 1717 and others that joined them later. Every descendant of these families needs this book. It includes background on Governor Spotswood, the Germans’ sojourn in England, Hebron Church, land grants in Madison County, and much more. Every family surname has a section devoted to its background in Germany and early years in Virginia. Descriptive photographs from the Blankenbakers’ travels to the villages from which these families emigrated are a bonus. 8.5″ x 11″ format, softcover, 198 pages, maps, photographs, index.
Among many others, family names include Amberger, Aylor, Bach, Ballenger, Banks, Barger, Barlow, Battern, Baumgardner, Beemon, Bender (Painter, Pander), Berry, Blankenbaker, Broyles, Bunger, Carpenter (Zimmermann), Chelf, Christler, Christopher, Clements, Cline, Clore, Cofer, Cook, Cooper, Crecelius (Cretselious, Krekel), Crees, Crigler, Finks, Fisher (Fischer), Fleshman, Flincham, Frady (Vorete, Vrede, Wrede), Fray, Frost, Gabbard (Gabbert, Gybert), Garr (Care, Carr, Gaar, Gahr, Gar), Gut (Good), Haeger, Harnsberger (Burgud, Hansbarger, Hansberger, Hansborgow, Harrensparder, Heerensparger), Hendricks, Hirsch (Deer), Hitt, Hoffman (Huffman, Hofman, Huphman), Holt, Holtzclaw (Holsklau), House (Haus, Hauss), Hume, Hupp (Hoop), Hurt (Hart), Isenhauer, Jacobi (Jacobus, Jacoby), Kabler (Cobler, Kapler), Kaefer (Kaffer, Kaifer, Kefer, Keiffer), Kahl (Call, Caul, Cawl), Kerker (Kirker), Kinslow (Censley, Genessle, Gensle, Kensel, Kenselow, Kenszle, Kuntzly, Kunzle), Klug, Kuntz, Kuester (Kiester), Letherer (Leathers, Lederer), Leyerle (Leyrle, Lyerly, Lyrle), Liner (Lyner), Lipp (Lip), Little, Long (Lang, Lung), Lotspeich, Lutz, Majors, Manspile, Martin (Merdten), Mauck, Michlekler (Micher), Mielke, Miller, Mossbarger, Motz (Mutz, Mutts), Moyer (Maier, Moyers, Mayer, Mires, Moir, Myers), Muhlenberg, Nugent, Nonnenmacher (Nunenmacher, Noonemacher), Oberg, Ockert, Ohlscheitt, Paulitz, Pinnegar (Pinegar, Benningger, Pinnegar), Pulliam, Raueser (Racer, Rasor, Razor, Reiser), Railsback (Ralsbach, Reesbach, Rehlsbach), Reichert, Reiner (Riner, Ryner), Rinehart (Reinhart, Rynehard), Rodeheaver (Rothoefer), Rookstool (Rueckstuhl), Rootes, Rossel, Rouse (Rausch, Raussen, Rousch), Schad (Schade), Schlatter (Slaughter), Shearer, Sheible (Chively, Schaible, Scheible, Shively), Sluchter (Schluchter), Smith (Schmidt), Snyder (Schneider, Snider), Souther (Sauder, Sauther), Spilman, Spotswood, Steinbok, Steinseifer (Stansifer, Stinecyfer), Stigler, Stoever, Stoltz (Stolts), Strother, Swindle (Swindell, Schwindel), Taliaferro, Tanner (Damur, Damus, Gerber, Tenner, Turner), Teter (Dieter), Thomas (Thoma), Threlkeld, Towles, Trout, Trumbo, Utz (Otes, Oots, Ouds, Woods), Vogt (Bellfaut, Faut, Focht, Full, Vaught, Vaut, Wacht), Volck (Folg, Volk), Walk (Valk, Vallick, Walke, Wallick, Wollos, Wollox), Wayland (Wieland), Wayman (Weidmann), Weaver (Weber, Wever), Weingart (Vinyard, Weingard, Winyard), Willheit (Wilhite, Wilhoit, Willhide), Yager (Eager, Jaeger, Yaeger, Yeager), Yelton, Yowell (Atwell, Awel, Ouell, Owell, Uhl, Uhle, Yewell), Ziegler (Ziglar), Zollicoffer.
Read the Introduction and see the Table of Contents
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GERMANNA RECORD #17:
The First Fifty Years
By Dr. Katharine L. Brown
$10 (+$4 shipping)
Dr. Katharine L. Brown’s definitive history of The Germanna Foundation for the Golden Anniversary in 2006 relies on original records beginning in 1927 with the first stirrings of inquiry into the Germanna Colonies. Brown traces the chain of events that led to the Memorial Foundation’s 1956 incorporation and its accomplishments since then. 200 pages, fully documented, annotated, indexed and illustrated with rare photos from the 1920s through 2006.
GERMANNA RECORD #16:
The First Four Generations of the Michael Clore Family
Edited by Cathi Clore Frost
$25 (+$6 shipping)
The first four generations of the Michael Clore Family in America. This fully documented and annotated book is invaluable for Second Colony Research as it includes not only the Clores many of the 1717 and later families that came to the Robinson River Valley and intermarried with Clores. 8.5″x 11″ format, 436 pages. Surname index.
GERMANNA RECORD #15:
Germanna Heritage Book 1714-1999
Articles written by Germanna members updating their family histories and including historic and contemporary family photographs. Hardcover. 8.5″ x 11″ format. 1999
OUT OF PRINT.
GERMANNA RECORD #14:
The Holtzclaw Genealogy 1540-1935
By Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw
Reprint of original work of 1936. Background on Jacob Holtzclaw’s German origins and those of his wife Margaret Otterbach and their descendants to the eighth generation with index. Complete name index by Robert Hodge in the second printing of 1990. Illustrated 288 pages.
OUT OF PRINT
GERMANNA RECORD #13:
Blankenbaker, Weaver and Wilhoit Descendants
By Claude L. Yowell
$10 (+$4 shipping)
This record includes the three Blankenbaker brothers, John/Nicholas, Matthias and Balthaser by Yowell, 19 pages; B.C. Holtzclaw on Peter Weaver and early descendants, 24 pages, and John Connie Wilhite, Jr. on Michael Willheit, Wilhoit/Wilhite and his descendants,57 pages. 112 pages total. 1971. Third printing in 2006 has the new four-color cover but content is unrevised.
GERMANNA RECORD #12:
Aylor, Snyder and Tanner Descendants
By Sarah Aylor Lewis, Claude L. Yowell, Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw
$10 (+$4 shipping)
Sarah Aylor Lewis presents the genealogy of the Aylor family to the seventh generation; Claude L. Yowell on the descendants of John Snyder, and Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw on the early descendants of Robert Tanner. 116 pages. 1970, reprinted 1978.
GERMANNA RECORD #11:
Carpenter and Wayland Descendants
By Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw
$10 (+$4 shipping)
John Carpenter (Zimmerman) and his descendants to the 1850 census of Madison County, pages 1-62 and Thomas Wayland (Wieland), pages 63-106, with documentary references. 106 pages. 1968, reprinted 1982.
GERMANNA RECORD #10
The First Four Generations of the Clore-Glore Family in America
OUT OF PRINT. This book will not be reprinted because #10 has been replaced by a separate, much larger, documented volume for each family. The Clore volume is currently available as Germanna Record #16 (see above). The Yager book is currently available as Germanna Record #19 (see above) and the Utz book is in preparation.
GERMANNA RECORD #9
The Germanna Foundation: The First Decade, 1956-1966
By Dr. Charles Herbert Huffman
$10 (+$4 shipping)
This volume discusses the founding and objectives of the Germanna Foundation, its work in its first decade, and also highlights three events that were background to the formation of the foundation: the 1927 Muesen Tri-centennial, the 1934 Orange County, Virginia Bicentennial, and the 1953 dedication of the first Granite Shaft Memorial. Illustrated. 116 pages. 1966. Reprinted 1978.
Click here for free PDF. Also see our 60th Anniversary page for more information and photos
GERMANNA RECORD #7
Germanna: Outpost of Adventure, 1714-1956
By Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw and Dr. John W. Wayland
The two Germanna Colonies of 1714 and 1717, Gov. Spotswood’s ironworks, the visit of John Fontaine, the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe, and background material about Siegen and early efforts to commemorate the Germanna settlers.. Illustrated, bibliography, and index. Originally printed in 1957, reprinted 1989.
OUT OF PRINT. We are working on getting this reprinted.
GERMANNA RECORD #6
The Second Germanna Colony of 1717
By Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw
The first study of this group of settlers, with a section on each family head and references to will, deed, and land grant books. Index by Robert Hodges. 112 pages. 1965. Fourth printing 1996.
OUT OF PRINT. We are working on getting this reprinted.
GERMANNA RECORD #5
Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau Siegen Immigrants to Virginia, 1714-1750 (Special Edition)
By Dr. Benjamin C. Holtzclaw and Editor, Dr. Katharine Brown
$65 (+$6 shipping) 621 pages
This is a special update to the 1964 book which contains an account of the early German ancestry of 12 families from Nassau-Siegen represented at the 1714 Fort Germanna in Virginia, based on research carried out in German archives by Flender. Brumbach, Coons, Fishback, Haeger (including Friesenhagen), Hitt, Holtzclaw, (including Busch, Flender, Sohlbach, Patt, Fick), Hitt, Hoffman of Eisern, Kemper, Martin, Rector, Spilman, Utterback, (including Stuell and Beer), and Weaver. It also contains an account of early generations in Germany and Little Fork of the Back, Button, Coons (Koontz), Crim, Hanback, Hardin, Huffman of Bockseifen (including Huettenhen), Miller, Nay, Wayman, Whitescarver and Young families. The book has a complete index and is considered the Gold Standard for First Colony research and genealogy.
This special edition is in a larger format (8.5×11) to provide more room for notes, contains scanned as-is images of the original text/pages (as such the original text is not edited), numerous additional photographs throughout of people and buildings, photos of original documents, a chart on the interrelatedness of the immigrants, updated map, new preface and introduction, and three additional Germanna Foundation articles referenced by or related to the book including a 1971 additions and corrections to the volume. Read More and see Table of Contents
If you buy on Amazon, please help Germanna by choosing the Germanna Foundation as the seller, thank you!
GERMANNA RECORD #4
John Jacob Rector of Germanna and His Descendants
By Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw
Biographical sketch of John Jacob Rector and his wife Elisabeth Fishback. Their sons John, Harman, Henry and Jacob, and the grandchildren are all traced with deeds and wills; also John Rector of Prince William County. Bibliography. 92 pages. 1963, reprinted 1979.
OUT OF PRINT. We are working on getting this reprinted.
GERMANNA RECORD #3
John Hoffman, 1714 Germanna Colonist, and His Descendants
By Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw
$10 (+$4 shipping)
An account of the 1714 colonist who married a daughter of Pastor Haeger and of their descendants. Appendices also discuss various branches of the Hoffman (Huffman) families in adjacent counties. First published 1963, reprinted 1989 with a detailed index prepared by Robert A. Hodge, and an errata sheet. 99 pages.
GERMANNA RECORD #2
Germantown Revisited
By Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw and Dr. W. B. Hackley
$10 (+$4 shipping)
Separate essays by two early trustee scholars unraveling the details of the Germantown grant boundaries, the twenty individual lots and families to which each was granted, and the change of ownership as the original Germanna families sold them. A valuable book for every 1714 colony descendant to have. Includes a facsimile of the original grant from Lord Fairfax in 1724 and a schematic map of the Germantown lots. Index. 1962, 2nd printing 1980, 3rd printing with modern 4-color cover 2005.
GERMANNA RECORD #1
Peter Hitt, John Joseph Martin and Tillman Weaver of the 1714 Colony and their Descendants
By Dr. B.C. Holtzclaw
A genealogical essay on each of these early settlers, referencing documentary sources. 1961. 91 pages. Reprinted 1982.
OUT OF PRINT. We are working on getting this reprinted.
QUICK LINKS TO GERMANNA RECORDS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:
- Germanna Record #22: The Broyles Family: The First Four Generations
- Germanna Record #21: The Willheit Family: The First Four Generations
- Germanna Record #20: Germanna Studies: Essays Honoring John V. Blankenbaker
: PRINT | KINDLE
- Germanna Record #19: The Yager Family: The First Five Generations
- Germanna Record #18: The Second Germanna Colony and Other Pioneers: PRINT | KINDLE
- Germanna Record #17: The First Fifty Years of the Germanna Foundation
- Germanna Record #16: The First Four Generations of the Michael Clore Family
- Germanna Record #14: The Genealogy of the Holtzclaw Family: 1540-1935
- Germanna Record #13: The Blankenbaker, Weaver and Whilhoit Families
- Germanna Record #5: Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau Siegen Immigrants to Virginia, 1714-1750 (Special Edition)
- Germanna Record #3: John Hoffman, 1714 Germanna Colonist, and His Descendants
- Germanna Record #2: Germantown Revisited
