Germanna is a Family of Families
Whether you are the first or the tenth generation to have a tie to Germanna, you are part of a decades-long project that has identified more than 100,000 Americans, Canadians, and Australians who trace their family back to Germanna. Are the Germanna colonists below in your family tree?
1714 Colony from the Siegerland:
Johann Jost Albrecht, Melchior Brombach and wife Maria Elisabetha Fischbach, Jost Cuntse/Koontz and wife Anna Gertrud Reinschmidt, Philip Fischbach/Fishback and wife Elizabeth Heimbach, the Rev. Johann Heinrich Hager and wife Anna Catharina Friesenhagen, Peter/Dieter Heide/Hitt and wife Elisabeth Otterbach, Johannes Hoffman, Hans Jacob Holtzklau/Holtzclaw and wife Anna Margaretha Otterbach, Johnannes Kemper/Camper, Johann Jost Merdten/Martin, Hermann Otterbach/Utterback and wife Elisabeth Heimbach, Johann Jacob Richter/Rector and wife Anna Elisabeth Fischbach, Johannes Spielmann, Johann Heinrich Weber/Weaver and wife Anna Margarethe Huttman.
1717 Colony from the Kraichgau and the Palatinate:
Conrad Amburger/Amburgey, Andreas Ballenger, Christopher Barlur/Parlur/ Barlow and wife Barbara, Matthias Beller, Balthazar Blankenbaker/Blanckenbühler and wife Anna Margaretha, Matthias Blanckenbühler /Blankenbaker and wife Anna Maria Merklin, Nicholas Blanckenbühler /Blankenbaker and wife Appollonia Käfer, Johannes/John Breuel/Briles/Broyles and wife Ursula Ruop, Cyriacus Fleischmann/Fleshman and wife Anna Barbara Schöne, Hans/John Herrensparger/Harnsberger and wife Anna Barbara, Hans Michael Holdt/Holt, Wolff Michael Käfer/Kaifer, Andreas Kerker and wife Margaretha, Hans Michael Klaar/Clore and wife Anna Barbara, Johann Michael Koch/Cook and his wife Maria Barbara Reiner, Jacob Crigler, Johannes/John Motz and wife Maria Appollonia Maubars, Hans Georg/George Majer/Moyer and wife Anna Barbara, Hans Michael Mihlekher and wife Sophia Catherina, Johann Philip Paulitz and wife Rosina Margaretha Schneider, Heinrich/Henry Schlucter, Johann Georg Sheible/Sheibley and wife Maria Eleanora Ockert, Matthäus/Matthew Schmidt/Smith and wife Regina Catherine Schlözer, Hans Michael Schmidt/Smith and wife Anna Margaretha Sauter, Hans Heinrich/Henry Schneider/Snyder and wife Anna Dorothea Schilling, Johannes/John Thoma/Thomas and wife Anna Maria Blanckenbühler, Johann George Utz and wife Anna Barbara Majer, Phillip Joseph Weber/Weaver and wife Susannah Klaar, Nicholas Jager/Yager/Yeager and wife Anna Maria Sieber, and Christopher Zimmerman and wife Anna Elisabetha Albrecht.
By 1725, more settlers had joined Germanna:
Hans Jacob Öhler/Aylor and wife Anna Magdalena Schneider, Johann Friedrich/Frederick Baumgärtner/Bumgardner, Johannes/John Becker/Baker, Harman Böhme/Beemon and wife Elizabeth, Johann/John Zimmerman/Carpenter, Wilhelm/William Zimmerman/Carpenter and wife Elizabeth, Mathias Gessler/Castler/Kastler and wife Susana Christina Schnell, Phillip Chelf, Theobald/Dewalt/David Christler/Crisler, Nicholas Christopher, Frederick Kabler/Cobbler and wife Barbara, Lawrence Greys/Crees, Johannes/John and Martin Hirsch/Deer, Conrad Delph, Mark Finks, Ludwig/Lewis Fischer/Fisher, Johannes/John Frey/Fray, Andreas Gaar/Garr and wife Eva Seidelmann, Johannes Gerhard, George Samuel Klug, George Lang/Long and wife Rebecca, Johann Paulus Lederer/Leatherer/Leathers, Francis Michael and wife Mary, John Michael and wife Frances, George Adam Raüser/Rasor/Racer and wife Margaretha Butlinger, Johann/John Rausch/ Rouse and wife Mary, Henry Souther, Johann Caspar Stoever Sr., Timothy Swindle, Urban/Robert Danner/Tanner, Hans Martin Walck/Walk, Thomas Wieland/Wayland and wife Maria Barbara Seppach, Michael Willheit/Wilhoit/Wilhite and wife Anna Maria Hengsteller, Christoph Uhl/Owell/Yowell and wife Eva Gottsaurin, and Nicholas Yowell and wife Catherine, Leonard Ziegler.
In the 1730s, more Germans settled the Little Fork area (Culpeper County):
Harman Back/Bach, Harman Button, Johann Button, Johnann Just Coons/Cuntz/Koontz, Jacob Fischbach, Johann Crim/Grimm, Jacob Heimbach/Hanback, Heinrich Hoffman/Huffman, Johann and Harman Mueller/Miller, Johannes Noeh/Nay, Johann Henrich Otterbach/Utterback, John Rector, Georg Weidmann/Wayman, Tillman Wiessgerber/Whitescarver, Johannes Jung/Young.
Gregory Williamson says
Johannes Broyles; father of Hans Jacob Broyles, grandfather of Jacob Broyles, and great grand father of Keziah Broyles Williamson (wife of Rev Thomas Williamson). Thomas Williamson, born in Greeneville, TN/NC in 1770. Thomas and Keziah Broyles Williamson were my 6 X Great Grand Parents.
Janet spychalski says
Johannes was my 7th great grandfather!
Jimmy Pendleton says
Benjamin Rector who’s son Ludwell Lee Rector is my fourth great grandfather on my paternal great grandmother’s side of the family. Her name was Celia Rector, her family was owned as slaves by Ludwell Rector. All of this learned through DNA testing and family stories passed down to the elders.
Vickie Goodger Schoppe says
Thomas and Keziah Broyles Williamson were my 4th great grandparents! I have not been able to find Thomas’ parents names since they were apparently killed in an Indian raid around 1777 in Tennessee.
Janet….Johannes is also my 7th great grandfather!
Jerry B Ammon says
Hans Michael and Anna Barbara Klaar were my 9th GGF and GGM
Megon Marshall says
Melchior Brombach and Maria Elisabetha Fischbach are my great grandparents ×7 I think.
Pat Kizzia says
I was looking for any information on my 6th Great=Grandfather Jacob Manspile . I have the Germanna Record #6, but I would love to know more about his life.
Thea says
Hello Pat – I believe Jacob Manspile could be my 6th great grandfather as well. would love to get in touch with you and compare notes. You can contact me at mickola123@yahoo.com
Jonathan Owen says
I found this website through ancestry.com…via the Hebron Church. MANY of my ancestors are listed above.
Wolf Michael Kaifer – 7th great uncle
Cyriacus Fleischman and wife – 7th great grandparents
Hans Michael Clore – 7th great uncle
Jacob Crigler 7th great grandparent
Phillip Joseph Weaver 6th great grandparent
Nicholas Yager and wife 7th great grandparents
and then from 1725 list:
Andreas Garr 6th greatgrandfather
Johann Michael Willheit/Anna Maria Hengsteller and related double to me…. 6th great grandparents AND 7th great grandparents
Pretty cool
surgerynurse says
I am also related to the clores and weavers!
Jeremy Edward Fleshman (Fleischmann) says
Direct descendent of Cyriacus Fleischman and wife. Jeremy Fleshman,Father William,his father Lorenza,His father Ladrue,his father William George,His Father Simeon,His Father Moses,His Father Robert F,His Father Hans Peter,his father Cyriacus, his father Veltin….
Pennie fleshman-pulver says
Iam also direct descendant of Cyriacus Fleichmann.. my grand father is Dowel Fleshman wife Matilda Webb and father is Henry Fleshman.
tricia Sluder Cason says
If you are kin to Cyriacus Fleischman and Anna Barbara Schone you should be kin to Heinrich Schlucter and the Blankenbakers. Also Peter Fleischman and Maria Catherine Fleischman who married a Broyles.
Frances G Rowell says
As the granddaughter of Jesse Boyd Carpenter, I am related to many of the families who came as part of the first, second and later colonies including Carpenter/Zimmerman, Clore/Klaar, Fishback/Fischbach, Cristler/Christler, Kerker, Weber/Weaver, Otterbach/Utterbach, Fray/Frey, Gaar, Heinbach, Hoffman/Huffman, Haeger, Blankenbaker/Blankenbuhler, Kaifer/Kafer. I am proud of my ancestors who braved coming to America for a better life for themselves and their descendants.
tricia cason says
If you are kin to the Blankenbaker then you are kin to Fleischmanns and Schlucters. They are all half brothers and sisters Mother is Anna Barbara Bankenbaker, Schlucter, Fleischman, wife of Cyriacus Fleishmann.
Debbie Kimbrough says
I am a great….granddaughter of Anna. I’m wondering if you know if Blankenbaker Lane in Louisville KY is named after the family
Daiyu Hurst says
Debbie, yes. It was named for Jacob Blankenbaker. See former astronaut Owen Garriott’s web page here:
http://www.garriott.info/02-jacob-blankenbaker.html
patricia Sluder cason says
Direct desc of Cyriacus and Anna Barbara Schone Fleischmann and Henry Schlucter and Sarah Schlucter. Also kin to Blankenbuhler/blankenbaker, Broyles also. Tricia Sluder Cason
Janet spychalski says
The Broyles are in my direct paternal line. Cyriacus and Anna Barbara Shone- Fleischmann are also my family.
carol j cherich says
Looking for Karns, Hutsenpillar, Vanosdal family names as they lived in and around Madison in the mid 1700-1800’s,
Thanks, Carol Cherich – my cell is 301-956-3185
Frances G Rowell says
I am planning a reunion of the Fishback family at the next Germanna Reunion. It will be help on July 12, 2018 at 3:30 pm at the same time as the Clore family. Details will be sent out next year. If you are descended from the Fischbachs, I hope you will come to the union to meet your many cousins.
Gary Steiner says
I am a direct descendant of the Richter, Heimbach, Fischbach and Hitt immigrants of the first group.
Dave Kuhl says
I have a line to Hitt in the 1714 first Germanna Colony
healingsongs says
I do too! Hitt is my maiden name. I have just started figuring all this out through Ancestry.com. Very wonderful!
Misty says
Me too.They are my 8th Great-Grandparents. (Richter/Fischbach). This is so exciting discovering my ‘roots’
Katherine hoffman says
Do you have a George Hesser
Susan Avery says
I know there is only one reference to my Germanna ancestor Wilhelm Kahl (William Call later) and his wife Catherine (who I have discovered to be Anna Catharine Pfau) in the Germanna records – but I sure would like to see him listed as a Germanna settler somewhere on the “lists”. We know he was there and it is just sad to me to tell my Call cousins about Germanna and have them come to the website and learn the history of how and where our ancestor came to America and have his name left out of everything. Any chance he can be included instead of searching (he is there is you really really search for him) for him? Thanks! Susan Balde Avery – I have my tree on Ancestry and I have had my autosomal DNA done on Ancestry, Gedmatch, My Heritage and Family Tree DNA and I have found DNA matched Call cousins and there is now a “group” of us and I tell each new cousin about Germanna!
Donna Cantrell says
Wow! So many of these are my people!
Miz Vida says
I know! I wish I had known about this branch of the family when I was at Sweet Briar and only knew about the Henrys, Allens, and Gooches!
William Van Horn says
My paternal grandmother’s father (Andrew Herman) was descended from Johann Jost Merten and her mother (Ella Mae Van Meter) from Jacob Holtzclaw.
cathywoodosborn says
i, too, descend from Johann Jost Merten and Maria Kathrina Otterbach thru their son Henry.
tricia cason says
Cyriacus Fleischmann, Anna Barbara Schone Fleischmann, Heinrich Schlucter and wife Sarah 7th great grandfather, and Cyriacus Fleischmann was my 8th great grandfather.
Teresa Rains says
Trying to make the connection with my current day Sluder family and the Schlucter here. I think we are the same family.
Matt Hager says
Guess which is my relative :p
Amazing to see ancestors like this. God bless technology .
John F. Negley Jr. says
I’am related to many of the family as well. My 8th Great Grand Parents are Peter Hitt and Elisabeth Outterbech and my 6th Great Grand Father is John Hoffman and my 9th Great Uncle Is Kemper. And we are inner married to the Hartzclaw and Fishbeck family’s too. As for Peter Hitt, I ‘am a direct decent to him and to John Hoffman. Peter’s son John Hitt is my 7th Great Grand Father. It is neat to know that your family came all this way to live here and make a life in the new world.
Diane Hitt Frazier says
I am just now getting interested in pursuing my genealogy. I saw the monument at Germanna over 40 years ago, as a teenager, and asked an elderly first cousin about it. She confirmed that my father’s side of the family were descended from Peter Heide/Hitt and came over to work for Governor Spotswood in the mines. My father was James Edward Hitt, his father Thomas Edward Hitt. He had a brother, Charles Edward Hitt and one sister. As a child I met one of my father’s cousins; I do not recall his name. I do not yet know my grandfather’s parents’ names, but I plan to research and find out. I know my great grandfather was referred to as Ed Hitt. I do know that my grandfather Thomas married Mary Elisabeth Woodard (I think that’s the middle name) whose mother was a Gooch.
Do any of these names sound familiar to you?
There is also visible a signature for a Jacob Heide, next to the one for Peter Heide dated 1707.
Do you know anything about him?
Anita Newsom Nail says
My earliest known HOLT ancestor was LARKIN HOLT. We have been unable to discover Larkin’s father, but Y DNA results have verified that we are descended from MICHAEL HOLT. Larkin was born 1784 in NC, died 22 Jan 1855 in Gilmer County, GA. He married Mahala Holt 23 Apr 1805 in Franklin County, GA.
Jill Holt says
I’m decended from Larkin Holt! Hi, cousin!
Debbie Kimbrough says
My grandmother’s family came over in the 3rd group. Ludwig/Lewis Fisher would have been my great. great……
grandfather.
Cathy Swindell says
My husband is a direct descendant of Timothy Swindle from the 1725 group.
Sharron Leonhirth says
I am descended from Rebecca Crees and Timothy Swindle who married at Hebron (1740) and whose 5th child was Geog Washington Swindle, my 4th great grandfather. Hebron Church is beautiful and within an hour of our home in Richmond Va. Do you know if Timothy was English, descended from the 1620s Va settler or from Germany? Currently researching Lawrence Crees (Greys) father of Rebecca. – Sharron Swindall Leonhirth, The Villages, Fl.
Cathy Swindell says
Hi, Sharron!
Danny (my husband) is descended from Timothy born sometime around 1712 in Farnham Parish, Virginia, and died in 1790 in Culpepper Co. (now Madison Co.), Virginia. His father was John Swindle (b. 1676 in Virginia) , and HIS father was Timothy Swindle, b. 1651 and dying in 1683; it\\\’s assumed that he is the first in America. I\\\’m not sure if he was English but it\\\’s likely he wasn\\\’t German. From little bits and pieces I\\\’ve come across, it\\\’s possible he was an indentured servant and maybe even Irish (the Swindle spelling was found there). It looks like he never was a member of Hebron and that\\\’s kind of telling. Your ancestor, George, appears to be a brother to Danny\\\’s ancestor, John. Over time, the spelling in Danny\\\’s family changed to \\\”Swindell\\\”; in the mid-1800\\\’s, one of Danny\\\’s ancestors attempted to change the name back, but the son went back to the \\\”-dell\\\” spelling.
The Swindles pretty much stayed in Virginia through Timothy but the branch started roaming; John went to Kentucky and helped found Boonesborough and died there in 1839. John was a Revolutionary War veteran. Then his son went to NC, then to Georgia after the death of his first wife. The family continued moving west to Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and finally, Texas where my husband is from.
I\\\’d love to share information with you…my email is clswin57@gmail.com if you want to stay in touch! I hope to make it up to the area of Virginia the Swindles settled in and see that beautiful church, Hebron. I\\\’m sure pictures don\\\’t do it justice.
Have a great evening!
Cathy
Cathy Swindell says
Hey, Sharron, I posted a nice long reply and don\’t see where it went! My email is clwin57@gmail.com. Let\’s communicate about the shared ancestry! It appears your George is brother to my husband\’s ancestor, John. I don\’t know for sure if Timothy was English but it doesn\’t appear he was German, either. But certainly his wife and her family was; John also married into the Germanna community.
Cathy
Ann Swindle Schneider says
Hi Cathy, I must be related to your husband. I just posted a reply to Sharon with
our information and connection to Timothy Swindle.
Ann Swindle Schneider says
Hi Sharon, I just became a member and discovered this thread. Our family are also direct descendents of Timothy Swindle and Rebecca Crees (my dad’s 4th gt grandparents) and his son Michael Swindle and Elizabeth Utz (3rd gt grandparents). Michael’s son (John) “Daniel” Swindle (after the death of his wife Nancy “Dicey” Daily) along with his son, William (my dad’s gt grandfather) who later married Harriet Elizabeth Busby, were the first in our family to move from Laurens County, SC to Walker Co, AL in 1800’s. My dad’s grandparents are “Jim” James Wesley Swindle and Lucinda “Jane” Wood and their son Lewis Cephas Swindle and “janie” Mary Jane Reed are the parents of my dad, George Swindle.
Have you discovered more about Timothy’s heritage prior to moving to Germanna? Our last name is spelled Swindle.
So nice to meet a cousin! I live in Portland, OR but plan to visit Germanna when we can return to normal from the Covid pandemic.
Park Way says
I am a descendant of Thomas Wieland (Wayland) and his wife Maria Barbara Seppach of the 1725 group. Our family moved first to Ohio and then north central Missouri. I appreciate the Germanna org. Henry Parker Wayland Jr.
Frances Rowell says
I am planning a reunion of the various Germanna families who attend the Reunion on July 18, 2019. It will be held at the Best Western Hotel in Culpeper, VA and will take place from 5pm to 7pm. I hope you will join us and get a chance to meet your coursn
cathywoodosborn says
Please post details. I have checked box to be notified of new comments via email. Thank you!
Chuck Crisler says
Yea Crisler!
Virginia to Kentucky to Missouri and then Louisiana and the world.
My Great was Robert Stanton Crisler, a blacksmith at Hebron, Kentucky
My Grampa was Otto Smith Crisler, a Kentucky state veterinarian, and later at the University of Missouri. Due to the anti-German hysteria, he always referred to himself as O.S. or “Doctor.”
Dad was Robert Morris Crisler, 88th Infantry in Italy, geographer, professor, and collector of postage stamps and license plates.
Sue Scheiwe says
I’d love to share information with you…my email is scheiwegp@gmail.com
My 4th great grandparents are Jane Stanton & George Hume of Madison VA . Their son George married Susanna Crigler whose family founded Hebron Church. Susanna Hume and descendants up to and including my parents are buried in Richmond KY.
Carolyn Whaley Vosburg says
Just found this list yesterday and I’ve spotted three couples to add to my tree: 1717 arrival included Bathazar Blakenbaker and wife Anna Margaretha, and Johann George Utz and wife Anna Barbara Majer; the 1725 arrival included Thomas Wieland/Wayland and wife Maria Barbara Seppach. NOW, I’m wondering if Hans George Majer with wife Anna Barbara are the parents of my Anna Barbara Majer! Interesting, yes?
Jessica Busby says
I am a direct ancestor (granddaughter) 10th generation of Johannes Hoffman. I don’t like in Virginia but would love any information or contact with anyone who also has him in their family tree. I’ll include my email:
jesselm@outlook.com
Sue Scheiwe says
Jacob Crigler was my 5th Great Grandfather. AM searching record of his death as well as for birth, baptism, marriage, death record of his son Christopher (Christoff) and granddaughter Susanna or Susan who married George Hume. Also searching for revolutionary War service of Christopher Crigler including whether Christopher and Jacob signed patriotic declarations.
Kathy D. French says
Johannes Kemper/Camper was my 7th generation grandfather/great-grandfather. My maternal grandfather, John Camper, was named after him and his grandson John Camper. He was born in Northeast Alabama. Johannes’ line was Harmon Kemper, John Camper (name spelling changes here), Simon Camper, Benjamin Camper (who moved from Tennessee to NE Alabama, Blooming Camper to John Camper. There are 19 descendants still living now from Johannes to John Camper in Alabama.
Jamie Kemper says
Johannes Kemper is my 6GGF directly through my paternal Kemper line. His son Tillman was my 5GGF. .here is the rest of the line..
Tilmans son
Charles Weaver Kemper
Jasper Kemper
William Kemper
Byron Kemper
James Kemper
If you have anymore information about this line please share. We all live in Kentucky and surrounding areas.
Thank you,
Jamie Kemper
kemperhealer@gmail.com
Debbie Hadler says
I’m looking for ancestor Baron Ludwig Von Fischer came from Bavaria Germany with son Johnnus Christopher Fischer to Germana Virginia. Baron Ludwig died in 1777 in Madison County Virginia
Debbie Hadler says
There seems to be some conflicting stories on the German heir to the land. Baron Ludwig Von Fischer was sent to America because of killing a deer on Royal property next to his family property? I have my Great Great Great Grandmothers papers she had carried in her wallet for all her years about her ancestor. My cousin and I would like more information if you have any in the records in Germana. We are planing a trip to Germany to go find out exactly where this land was that he inherited. Or the story behind it.
Debbie Hadler says
Also, I just watched the video on Germanna. Very interesting! Are there only two Colonies? The names listed after the first two I didn’t have time to look for my ancestors names. Not sure if they were even listed. This is our starting point back to Germany and would love to know if we should make a trip to Virginia if there is more information we can find before we go to Germany. Thank you for any help we can get on this.
Debbie Kimbrough says
I have been to Virginia and found information there about my grandmother’s family who were early settlers there. We are descendants of Ludwig Fisher. He would be my great…..great grandfather.
Debbie Kimbrough says
Yes they are related
Debbie Kimbrough says
I have a newspaper account about the estate of Ludwig Fisher. The heirs met in at a Louisville, Ky hotel of Feb 6, 1890 to discuss what they knew about a fortune that belonged to each of them from his estate. More than 150 family relations attended the meeting and elected officers (Mattie Fisher as secretary) and agreed to formulate a plan of action to investigate and pursue the so called $61 million estate that was supposed to be available in Germany. The family relations were asked to subscribe in a membership donation to obtain monies for the upcoming search of the fortune. The elected committee and the attending heirs approved and appointed Judge David R. Murry of Cloverport, Ky., to travel to Germany at the heirs expense and in person to make all necessary investigations of the possibility of rescuing the Ludwig Fisher estate. During the following months, Judge Murry made an expensive extended trip to Germany and upon his return, he made his report of his finding during the Sept 10, 1890 meeting of the Fisher heirs executive committee. He told of his trip to Germany where he visited Bremin, Berlin, Hamburg, and other places and stated he employed a competent and reliable agent to engage in the investigation of the Fisher fortune. Judge Murry reported the “Fisher estate” in Germany was indeed not a myth and he verily believed the estate worth as much as $61 million did exist and the descendants of Ludwig Fisher were indeed the heirs. The disappointing fact of his report came when he stated with certainty that the German government would not permit the recovery of the vast Fisher fortune. He stated even though all the records concerning this estate were over 100 years old and the information he was able to gather justified the belief that the estate was as valuable as had been stated. Afterwards interest dwindled.
Debbie Hadler says
Thank you so much! We shall come make a visit to Germanna soon.
Amy Hansen says
I am a descendant of Jost Cuntze and his wife Anna Catherina Reinschmidt (my 8th Great Grandparents). I live not too far from the Germanna Visitor Center and did not know about my 8th great grandparents until a couple years ago thanks to Ancestry.com. I will need to come and visit the center since it is just down the road.
Joan E Allison says
My mother was a Hitt. She is from a line that settled early on in central Mississippi. I have that line well-traced back to Peter Hitt at Germanna if anyone needs it.