Collin McDonald
Collin1 McDonald was born about 1740 in Scotland. He died before Aug 1800. He married (1) Catherine McDonald, daughter of Neil McDonald and Anna McDuffie, on 28 Feb 1763 in Linlithgo, Columbia, New York, USA. Catherine was born about 1737 in Islay, Argyll, Scotland. She died after Aug 1790 in the USA. He married (2) Gertjen Blass, daughter of Johann Michael Blass and Anna Elisabeth Rockefeller, on 05 Dec 1769 in Montgomery, Orange, New York, USA. Gertjen was born about 1745 in New York, USA. She died between Aug 1800 and Aug 1810.
With Catherine McDonald, he had the following children:
i. Simon McDonald (bap. 17 Apr 1764 in Linlithgo, Columbia, New York, USA)
With Gertjen Blass, he had the following children:
ii. Jacob McDonald (bap. 08 Jul 1770 in North Branch, Somerset, New Jersey, USA)
iii. Elisabeth McDonald (bap. 20 Sep 1772 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA
iv. Elias McDonald (b. 28 Jun 1774 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
v. William McDonald (bap. 30 Jun 1776 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
vi. John McDonald (bap. 16 Jan 1780 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
vii. James McDonald (bap. 12 May 1782 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
viii. Simon McDonald (bap. 05 Oct 1788 in Germantown, Columbia, New York USA)
Collin McDonald of Scotland was the progenitor of our McDonald family in America. Of course, there were numerous other McDonalds settling in the United States and Canada during the eighteenth century as well, so not all McDonalds in America, New York, or even Columbia County, NY can claim descent from Collin. Collin's exact year of birth remains unknown, but he was probably born around 1740.
His route from Scotland to Livingston Manor (now Columbia County) in the colony of New York is not known. Did Collin pay his own way? Did he come as an indentured servant? If so, whom did he serve and for how long? If Collin paid his own way, he was free to disembark from the wooden ship after the six to eight weeks at sea. Collin would have paid approximately £10 upon arrival (that's approximately £2000 or $2600 today). Journals from this era all describe how miserable the voyage was. (For comparison, the steam liners of the late 19th and early 20th century could make the same journey in two to three weeks.) If he was unable to pay his own way, he would remain on the ship until his master arrived to collect him or until someone bought him. Collin would then have gone into indentured servitude for a period of three to six years or until he turned twenty-one years of age at which time he would become free. Parents could sell their children into servitude as well, avoiding indentured servitude themselves, but often splitting up their families.
Map showing key locations for Collin McDonald and family.
Collin eventually became a farmer in Linlithgo, NY (a northwestern hamlet of Livingston, NY) and later in Germantown, NY. He grew wheat primarily, but also rye, oats and Indian corn. Dairy farming did not become popular until the 1870s, so Collin probably only had two or three milch cows and a pair of oxen. In addition to the grains, Collin probably also dedicated some of his acreage to growing hay as well as fruit. Pears, plums, cherries, grapes and strawberries were all grown by local farmers in this era. Collin was listed as working in agriculture in the 1790 US Federal Census. The family did not own any slaves (probably being too poor to afford any). Collin was not a land owner, so he most likely rented land to farm. He married his first wife, Catherine McDonald on 28 Feb 1763 in the Dutch Reformed Church in Linlithgo, NY.
His First Wife: Catherine McDonald
Collin's first wife, Catherine McDonald, daughter of Neil McDonald and his wife Anna McDuffie, was also a Scottish immigrant, having been born in or near Islay, Scotland (an old seat of the McDonald clan). Catherine had two older brothers, Donald and Archibald. The family arrived in July 1738 in at the Port of New York aboard the Happy Return captained by Capt. Lauchlin Campbell of Islay, Argyll, Scotland. Campbell brought 472 Scottish settlers to New York between 1738 and 1740 with a promise from Governor George Clarke that one thousand acres of land would be given to every adult and 500 acres to every child who paid their own passage. Their new home was in Wood Creek on the Hudson. However it wasn't until 1764 that any lands were granted and not in the amounts originally promised. Catherine's father was granted 400 acres of land. At the time of the granting on 12 May 1764, he and his wife were both living along with six of their eight children, one of whom was noted as married [Catherine]. At this point Neil and Anna may have removed to the Argyle Patent in Washington County, New York, USA. However, many of the land grantees never took possession of their lands. Instead they sold their land rights to neighbors in exchange for property in their current home towns (in Columbia County, NY).
Catherine and her family belonged to the Scotch Presbyterian Church. Once settled in Linlithgo, Columbia, New York, USA, the family joined the Reformed Dutch Church where her five younger siblings were baptized: Theunis bap. 17 Aug 1740, Mary bap. 01 Oct 1743, Annatje bap. 20 May 1746, John bap. 06 Jun 1749, and George bap. 26 Aug 1752; all of them were baptized in Linlithgo, NY except George who was baptized in Albany, NY. Catherine made her Confession on 12 Nov 1762 at the Reformed Church in Linlithgo, NY and was admitted as a member of the Church where she would later marry Collin.
After Collin and Catherine married in 1763 they remained in Linlithgo, NY where their only son Simon was baptized on 17 Apr 1764. His sponsors/god parents were Angus McDonald and Mary McDonald. Angus McDonald was of some relation to Catherine most likely (cousin?). Angus was named the executor of Catherine's sister Mary's late first husband John Hoff's Last Will & Testament dated 1787. Mary was Catherine's sister, who was not yet married.
Collin and Catherine's life together remains largely obscure. Their time together was short and certainly unhappy in the end. According to the Gazette-Mercury article from 04 Jul 1768, "M'Donald, Catherine, wife of Collin M'Donald, of the Manor of Livingston, Albany Co., NY – has eloped from her husband." Shortly thereafter, the marriage would have been dissolved on grounds of abandonment or the two may have obtained a divorce or annulment, and Collin would have been free to re-marry. What became of Catherine McDonald after she abandoned her husband is unknown. She may be the "Caty McDonald" attested in Livingston, Columbia, New York, USA in 1790. If so, she was the only member of her household in addition to one slave. Or she may have remarried to either John Thomas in 1772 or William Fraser in 1778 as both men applied and were granted marriage banns from the Secretary of the Colony of New York to a Catherine McDonald.
The fate of their only known son Simon is unknown, but he was certainly dead by 1788. He may have died prior to his mother's leaving (perhaps his death ultimately caused her departure?) or perhaps he went with Catherine in 1768. The name "Simon" probably held significant importance for Collin as he bestowed the name upon his eldest son, and then again on a later son, perhaps after the first Simon had died. Simon was most likely the name of Collin's father or paternal grandfather.
His Second Wife: Gertjen Blass
Collin and his second wife, Kaert Plass [sic. Gertjen Blass] were granted marriage banns on 23 Nov 1769 (see image to the right). Typically, after the granting the couple would announce in the church and the public forums of their town(s) their intention to wed. According to Roman-Dutch laws of the time, they would make their announcement of intention to marry and for three Sundays people in the town would have a chance to object to the validity of the proposed marriage (e.g. one party was already married, etc.). So long as no one objected, the man and woman would be free to wed. If a couple obtained the Marriage Bond without executing it, they would owe the government £500 (or over $90,000 today). Gertjen was listed as a spinster, implying she had not been married previously. Looking at the 1769 calendar, Collin and Gertjen only allowed two Sundays to pass before they wed at the Good Will Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Orange, New York, USA on 05 Dec 1769. Collin was presumably working near Montgomery, NY or further south in North Branch, NJ where their oldest child, Jacob, was baptized on 08 Jul 1770. Montgomery may have been a halfway point chosen for their marriage location so that Gertjen's family could make the journey to see their daughter/sister marry.
Gertjen, sometimes given as Geertje, was likely the eldest daughter and second child of Johannes Michael Blass and his wife Anna Elisabeth Rockefeller, born between 29 Nov 1744 and 31 May 1746 in New York, USA, probably in East Kamp (now Germantown), NY. No record of her baptism there or the surrounding areas has turned up. Her older brother Peter M. Blass was born 31 Jan 1744 and her next sibling, Jacob was bap. on 24 May 1747 in Germantown, NY. August 1745 would be the midway point between the two extreme possibly dates, so Gertjen was likely born in the late summer or early fall of 1745. Two other possibilities for her parents exist as well; she may have been the daughter of Johann Hendrick Blass (J. Michel's oldest half-brother) and his wife Liese Catharina Blies as there is a gap between daughters Agnissa Flora Blass (1744) and Lisabeth Blass (1748) or she may have been the daughter of Johann Wilhelm Blass (another oldest half-brother of J. Michel's) and his wife Helena Muller whose oldest known child (Henrich) was born in 1748. However, the name Gertje/n was also used by five of Anna Elisabeth's siblings with our Gertjen being the first to bear the name amongst Anna Elisabeth's family.
Militia Service
Collin and Gertjen had at least seven children with at least six surviving into adulthood. After their first three children were born, the American Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775. Collin was called to service on three separate occasions. He served in the 10th Regiment of the New York Militia based out of Livingston, NY. There were forty-one officers (including Collin) and 337 enlisted men in the regiment. Militia duty was expected out of all males ages sixteen to fifty (Collin was in his 30s). Queen Anne had amended this in 1702 to include all males fifty to sixty years of age in times of war. Every year, several days of training were held and during the training, the men would be shown how to maintain and use various arms and they practiced various military maneuvers.
The Militia was not the same as the Continental Army, the latter of which was made up of professional soldiers. Militia men were expected to provide their own equipment; therefore, they carried equipment that looked a little different from that of the Continental Army soldier but which served similar functions. Militia soldiers were told what equipment they had to bring with them. A militia rifleman was expected to provide his own gun which he was to keep in good, working order, a good sword (in Albany Co. during this period all officers were required to wear their swords), a knife, a powderhorn, a wormer, a scourer, a priming wire, a shot bag, a charger (used to measure out the gunpowder), one pound of good quality (gun)powder, four pounds of pistol bullets, twenty-four bullets fitted for his gun, and either four good quality flints (for a flint lock gun) or four fathoms of matches (for a match lock gun).
Collin also carried a knapsack made from either linen or canvas which may or may not have been painted. In it, he kept a variety of items depending on how long he may have been expecting to be away from home, and based on what he told he would need to bring. Those items included extra clothing and other personal items such as a razor for shaving, a tinderbox with flint and steel for starting a fire, candle holders, a comb, and a mirror. Collin would have also carried a haversack (used to carry his food and eating utensils) and canteen (made of wood, tin, or glass). The utensils usually included a wrought iron fork, a pewter or horn spoon, a knife, a plate, and a cup. He also had a small ax and a blanket. Regiments of militia were called up for service by the governor or the commanding general when needed. Sometimes, a regiment or a portion of a regiment would be called to duty several times during the year, for a handful of days at a time, while other regiments might not be called the entire year.
Collin's service records (right) indicate he served as a Sergeant from 05 May 1777 to 09 May 1777, as a Private from 10 May 1777 to 18 May 1777, and as an Ensign from 14 Oct 1780 to 30 Oct 1780. He and his regiment worked to quell disturbances in the area. The rank of "Ensign" in the Army was abolished in 1815 via the Army Organization Act. Its modern equivalent would be Second Lieutenant. According to Thomas Venn's Military and Maritime Discipline in Three Books (1672), the ensign's duties were to carry the color, assist the captain and lieutenant in their duties; and, in their absence, carry out their duties. The ensign was the lowest ranking commissioned officer. Unless he was actively called, a militia man was not paid.
What Happened to Them?
The last time Collin or Gertjen were attested by name was on 12 May 1793 where they witnessed the Baptism of their granddaughter Gertje Sophronia Barringer at the Reformed Church in Germantown, NY. In the 1800 US Federal Census conducted in August of that year, Collin was not attested as a head of household, nor can he be assigned to any of his children's households, so he likely died before Aug 1800. Although his son Jacob paid taxes in Livingston, NY that year, he was not a head of household; he and his young and growing family probably lived with his in-laws. In the same census, there were extra members in the household of Zacharias Barringer (their daughter's husband) in Schodack, Rensselear, New York, USA. In addition to Zacharias, Elisabeth and their three children, there were two other males (one between the ages of 10 and 15, the other between the ages of 18 and 25) and one female aged 45 or older. Gertjen (about 55), William (24) or John (20-21) or James (18), and Simon (11-12) would certainly fit into these three extra family members. Additionally, Elias had an extra male between the ages of 18 and 25 living in his household in Livingston, NY, possibly with a wife (between 26-44 years old).
Gertjen and Simon are the most likely candidates for having been two of the three additional household members living with the Barringers in Schodack. Not only do their ages fit, Simon McDonald and his wife Margaret Cooper lived in Greenbush, NY (about 10 miles north of Schodack) in 1810. This leaves one spot open in the Barringer household for William, John or James; with another spot open in Elias’s household. Did all three brothers survive to adulthood or did one (or more) of them die in childhood?
In August 1790, only four males lived in Collin’s household. Two of the men were 16 years of age or older (Collin [50] and Elias [16]), and two of the males were under the age of 16 (William/John/James [13/11/8] and Simon [2]). Jacob (20) has not been accounted for in 1790. Could he be the male over 16? Although Elias was 16 by August, was he counted as being under 16? In which case, William, John and James are all likely to have died in infancy or childhood. Or had 20-year-old Jacob moved out of his father’s house (or at least in the summertime when perhaps he was living elsewhere working as a farmhand)? In which case, only one of the three brothers was still living by 1790, but which one? I propose that John is the most likely candidate to have survived to adulthood, having moved to Schodack with his mother and youngest brother in 1799 along with his sister and her family.
Confession records at the Reformed Church in Germantown, NY attest the names of Jacob (06 Oct 1792), Elisabeth (08 Oct 1791), Elias (06 Oct 1792), Johannes [John] (07 Oct 1797), and James (25 Oct 1800). No Confession entry exists for William, perhaps indicating he died before Aug 1790. Another James McDonald, a son of Nathaniel McDonald and his wife Sarah Kraffort [Crawford], was baptized on 12 Feb 1781 in Germantown, NY, so the Confession record entry may belong to this James McDonald rather than Collin and Gertjen's son. However, in October 1800, if James was alive, he would have been living in Schodack, not Germantown and would have made his confession at the Reformed Church there instead. Or had he too died before Aug 1790, leaving John and Simon the two males under 16 in Collin’s household? So who are the two additional people in Elias’s household in 1800, if only his brothers John and Simon survived childhood and were living in Schodack? So far there is no good explanation of who these individuals are.
Gertjen most likely died between Aug 1800 and Aug 1810 as she was no longer counted in her daughter's household, nor was an older woman counted in the households of Elias or Simon, Jacob having died in 1806 in Canada. However, since the lines of William, John, and James have not been traced out definitively, it is possible she was still living in 1810, just in one of their houses. However, the average life expectancy in this era in the United States was only 37 years, so it seems reasonable to assume that Gertjen probably died prior to Aug 1810 when she was in her late 50s or early 60s.
Collin and Gertjen's burial locations are both unknown as no Church burial records from this time period survive for Columbia or Rensselaer counties. Collin and Gertjen were probably buried in either Germantown, NY or Schodack, NY (or perhaps he in the former and she in the latter).
Gertjen's Ancestors: Parents
Johannes Michael Blass, son of Johannes Plass and Anna Catharina Hagedorn, was born about 1722 in New York, USA. He died unknown in New York, USA. He married Anna Elizabeth Rockefeller, daughter of Diel Rockefeller and Anna Gertrud Alsdorf, about 1743 in New York, USA. Anna Elizabeth was born about 1723 in Bonefeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. She died unknown in New York, USA.
With Anna Elizabeth Rockefeller, he had the following children:
i. Peter M. Blass (b. 31 Jan 1744 in Columbia County, New York, USA)
ii. Gertjen Blass (b. about 1745 in Columbia County, New York, USA)
iii. Jacob Blass (bap. 24 May 1747 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
iv. Elsjen Blass (bap. 03 Jan 1749 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
v. Maritjen "Maria" Blass (bap. 02 Dec 1750 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
vi. Eva Blass (bap. 26 Sep 1752 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
vii. Johannes Blass (bap. 16 Apr 1754 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
viii. Elisabetha Blass (bap. 07 Mar 1756 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
ix. Philipus Blass (bap. 04 May 1758 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
x. Willem Blass (bap. 13 Apr 1760 in Linlithgo, Columbia, New York, USA)
xi. Michael Blass (b. 13 Nov 1762 in Linlithgo, Columbia, New York, USA)
BIO OF MICHAEL AND ANNA ELIZABETH. Jacob Blass’s grandson Zachariah M. Blass married Gertjen’s granddaughter, Polly McDonald.
Gertjen's Ancestors: Paternal Grandparents
Johannes Plass was born in Jul 1695 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He died before Apr 1750 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA. He married (1) Elisabetha about 1718 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Elisabetha was born about 1695 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. She died between Jul 1714 and 1720 in New York, USA. He married (2) Anna Catharina Hagedorn about 1720 in New York, USA. Anna Catharina was born unknown. She died unknown in New York, USA.
With Elisabetha, he had the following children:
i. Johann Hendrick Plass (b. about 1704 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
ii. Child Plass (b. about 1706 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iii. Child Plass (b. about 1708 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iv. Peter Philipp Plass (b. about 1710 in Netherlands? England? Ireland?)
v. Johann Wilhelm Plass (b. 17 Jul 1714 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
With Anna Catharina Hagedorn, he had the following children:
vi. Maria Gertrud Plass (b. Nov 1720 in Queensbury, Warren, New York, USA)
vii. Johannes Michael Plass (b. about 1722 in New York, USA)
viii. Liese Catharina Plass (b. 18 Mar 1728 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
ix. Anna Maria Plass (bap. 20 Dec 1732 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
x. Johann Christobel Plass (b. 12 May 1734 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
xi. Johann Jacob Plass (b. 01 Apr 1736 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
Johannes, his wife Elisabetha and their four children arrived in 1710 at New York, New York, USA. They later gravitate towards the Blass spelling. Son, J. Hendrick’s wife Liese Catharina Blees, was the daughter of Johann Emmerich Plees, but named Blass in his Will. Not sure how they are related. It’s possible they are the parents of Gertjen Blass, rather than Michael and Anna Elizabeth.
Gertjen's Ancestors: Maternal Grandparents
Johann Thiel "Diel" Rockenfeller, son of Tönges Rockenfeller and Elisabetha Gertrud Pauli, was born in Jul 1695 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He died in 1770 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA. He married Anna Gertrud Alsdorf, daughter of Henrich Alsdorf and Lotzia Britzen, about 1722 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Anna Gertrud was born in 1705 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. She died unknown in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA.
With Anna Gertrud Alsdorf, he had the following children:
i. Anna Elizabeth Rockefeller (b. about 1723 in Bonefeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
ii. Anna Catharina Rockefeller (bap. 07 May 1724 in Bonefeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iii. Eva Catharina Rockefeller (bap. 21 Oct 1725 in Bonefeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iv. Johann Christian Rockefeller (bap. 12 Nov 1727 in Bonefeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
v. Johann Simon Rockefeller (b. 15 Jan 1730 in Bonefeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
vi. Johann Peter Rockefeller (b. 06 Apr 1732 in Bonefeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
vii. Anna Gertrude Rockefeller (b. 20 Oct 1735 in Unknown)
viii. Anna Maria Rockefeller (b. 20 Oct 1735 in Unknown)
ix. Willem Rockefeller (b. 06 Oct 1737 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
x. Diel Rockefeller (bap. 27 Aug 1739 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
xi. Eva Rockefeller (b. about 1741 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
xii. Margaretha Rockefeller (bap. 02 Dec 1743 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
xiii. Johann Philip Rockefeller (bap. 27 May 1746 in Germantown, Columbia, New York, USA)
BIO HERE.
Gertjen's Ancestors: The Rocke(n)fellers
Tönges Rockenfeller, son of Johann Wilhelm Rockenfeller, was born about 1658 in Rockenfeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He married Elisabetha Gertrud Pauli, daughter of Paulus von Rockenfeld, on 11 Jan 1685 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Gertrud was born about 1660 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
With Elisabetha Gertrud Pauli, he had the following children:
i. Peter Rockenfeller (b. 20 Jan 1687 in Rockenfeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
ii. Maria Rockenfeller (bap. 16 Dec 1688 in Rockenfeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iii. Anthonius Rockenfeller (bap. 02 Oct 1692 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iv. Johann Thiel "Diel" Rockenfeller (b. Jul 1695 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
v. Anna Elisabetha Rockenfeller (bap. 11 Sep 1698 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
vi. Anna Christina Rockenfeller (bap. 29 May 1701 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
vii. Anna Veronika Rockenfeller (bap. 25 Mar 1703 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
viii. Eva Margretha Rockenfeller (bap. 03 Apr 1705 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Gertrud’s father’s name was Paulus; the "von Rockenfeld" means "from Rockenfeld" and doesn’t imply they were closely related. She is always named as Gertrud, but on Thiel/Deil’s baptismal record her name is given as Elisabetha.
Johann Wilhelm Rockenfeller was born about 1628 in Rockenfeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He died on 24 Jul 1702 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He married Lucia, daughter of Johann, about 1655. Lucia was born about 1628 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. She died unknown.
With Lucia, he had the following children:
i. Johann Wilhelm Rockenfeller (d. before 25 Jan 1695 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
ii. Tönges Rockenfeller (m. Elisabetha Gertrude Pauli on 11 Jan 1685 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iii. Peter Rockenfeller (d. before 25 Jan 1695 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iv. Maria Rockenfeller (b. about 1662 in Rockenfeld, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
He is possibly the son of Gotthart Rockenfeller (d. 02 Aug 1684 in Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) and his wife Magdalena.
Gertjen's Ancestors: The Alsdorfs/Altzdorffs & The Britzens
Henrich Alsdorf, son of Johann Wilhelm Altzdorff, was born about 1666 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He died after 1713. He married Lotzia "Lucia" Britzen, daughter of Christ Britz, on 17 Sep 1693 in Rengsdorf, Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Lotzia was born about 1665 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. She died unknown.
With Lotzia Britzen, he had the following children:
i. Eva Christina Alsdorf (bap. 22 Jul 1694 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
ii. Anna Ottilia Alsdorf (bap. 12 Apr 1696 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iii. Johannes Anthonius Alsdorf (bap. 10 Apr 1698 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iv. Johann Wilhelm Alsdorf (bap. 06 Mar 1701 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
v. Johann Simon Alsdorf (bap. 12 Feb 1702 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
vi. Maria Christina Alsdorf (bap. 25 Mar 1703 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
vii. Anna Gertrud Alsdorf (bap. 05 Apr 1705 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
viii. Eulalia Maria Alsdorf (bap. 28 May 1708 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
ix. Johann Jacob Alsdorf (bap. 17 May 1711 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
x. Georg Wilhelm Alsdorf (bap. 26 Feb 1713 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
BIO OF HENRICH ALSDORF AND LOTZIA BRITZEN HERE.
Johann Wilhelm Altzdorff was born about 1630 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He died unknown. He married (1) Unknown. He married (2) Agnes Unknown.
With Unknown, he had the following children:
i. Maria Juliana Alsdorf (m. Johannes von Nidersteinbach on 28 Sep 1686 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
ii. Henrich Alsdorf (m. Lotzia Britzen on 17 Sep 1693 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
With Agnes Unknown, he had the following children:
iii. Johann Simon Alsdorf (m. Anna Elisabetha Stein on 25 Nov 1709 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iv. Ludwig Ernst Alsdorf (m. Anna Margretha Hof on 10 Nov 1712 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Very little known about Johann Wilhelm Altzdorff. His children Maria Juliana and Henrich may have the same mother as his younger sons Simon and Ludwig, but no records have been found. The large gap in ages (Maria was probably born about 1660, Henrich about 1666, Simon about 1682 and Ludwig about 1685) could be explained by Wilhelm becoming a widower and re-marrying about 1680 to Agnes.
Christ Britz was born about 1622 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He died unknown. He married Unknown about 1649.
With Unknown, he had the following children:
i. Odilia Britzen (m. Henrich Anheuser on 10 Nov 1678 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
ii. Anna Elisabeth Britz (m. Johannes Remagen on 24 Apr 1681 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iii. Anna Catharina Britz (m. Christian Kleinmann on 24 Oct 1686 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
iv. Lotzia "Lucia" Britzen (m. Henrich Alsdorf on 17 Sep 1693 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
v. Eva Britz (m. Wilhelm Heuller on 14 Oct 1694 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
vi. Peter Britz (m. Agnes Melsbach on 25 Aug 1695 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
vii. Anna Britz (m. Georg Mant on 18 Jun 1699 in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Not much is known about Christ. I have assumed that Britzen is a feminine version of Britz with the -en or -in suffix (as is common practice at the time). Only Odilia and Lotzia have Britzen written in their marriage entry, all the rest have Britz. The above is the likely birth order of his children, assuming all married at age 27, though it would not be unusual for a woman to marry at 26, nor would it be unusual for either sex to wait passed the age of 27 to marry. This would indicate Odilia was born about 1651, and the youngest Anna about 1672. Perhaps Peter should be made older, so as to fill in some of the gap between Anna Catharina (about 1659) and Lucia (about 1665). No Baptismal records of any other children have been found, but all marry in the Protestant Church (Evangelisch in German).
Sources
1790 United States Federal Census, Germantown, Columbia, New York; p. 264, line 16; August 02, 1790, National Archives Microfilm Film M637 Roll 6.
Ancestry.com. Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
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