I have examined whether the children and grandchildren of Johann Michael Willheit and his wife Anna Maria Hengsteler had a presence in the German Lutheran Church ("Hebron") Records, particularly the baptismal records, in the period 1750 to 1800. There were six children, Tobias, Johannes, Adam, Matthias, Eva, and Phillip (ordered in increasing date of birth).
Probably, Tobias married Catherine Walke and they had five children, perhaps ten (read later comments). Only two of these five are in the Church Records (i.e., Baptismal Records). They are Conrad, who married Elizabeth Broyles, and Mary, who married Zirikias Broyles. Of the other three, Michael married Mary ____, Jesse married Mildred ____, and William married Elizabeth Shirley. Perhaps these partners were not Lutherans, which might account for their absence.
Johannes Willheit married Walburga Weaver, and, of their eleven children, there is a good representation at church. Mary married John Yager, Nicholas married Mary Margaret Fisher, Susanna married Nicholas Yager, Eve married Barnett Fisher, Daniel married Mary Blankenbaker, Margaret married John Garr, Christena married Andrew Garr, and Rosina married John Wayland. All eight of these appear in the Church Records. The three who do not are John, who married Mary Fishback (Reformed), Elizabeth, who married John Gant, and Joseph (no marriage).
The third son of Michael and Mary, Adam, married Catherine Broyles and all of their five children appear numerous times in the Church Records. These are, Mary, who married William Carpenter (Sr.); John, who married a Smith and a Blankenbaker, Elizabeth; who married Michael Garr; Michael, who married Elizabeth Crisler; and George, who married an Utz and a Harvey.
None of the three youngest children of Michael and Mary appear in the Church Records, and only one of their children appears there. The single appearance is Catherine, d/o Matthias, who married Michael Cook.
We must remember that the Baptismal Records were rewritten ca.1775, and, if a family had left the community before this time, they were omitted from the revised records. This might account for the absence of Eva, who married Nicholas Holt, Jr., and of Phillip, who married Rachel ____. I believe these two had emigrated to North Carolina before the rewrite.
Apparently Matthias, a son of Michael and Mary, who married Mary Ballenger, left Virginia after the baptismal rewrite. Five of his children are disputed. One of these five, Catherine, does have a mention there. This would be very weak evidence that she might have been a daughter of Tobias. This study could be amplified but it is doubtful that it would resolve the parentage of Catherine.
(10 Aug 05)
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