Biberach Lineage

Updated: 06 Jun 02

BIBERACH LINEAGE(S)

The earliest Rothenhöfers in Biberach (near present-day Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg) first appear in the Evangelisch parish registers on 10 November 1665. Although they may have have settled here earlier, records from 1652 to 1665 that might document their arrival in this village are missing. Some Biberach residents appear in the Wimpfen parish registers before 1650, but no Rothenhöfers are listed. We have concluded therefore, that Johannes (Hans) Rothenhöfer moved to the community between 1652 and 1665. Whether he came alone or brought a wife is unknown. Further, a Barbara Rottenhöffer marries in Biberach in 1672. Her marriage record notes that she is the daughter of one Hans Rottenhöffer, deceased, of the village of Steinbach in the Markgrafschaft of Baden. The relationship between Barbara and Johannes (Hans) is not known at this time, but we suspect that they are brother and sister.
The information included below has been collected from the Evangelisch parish registers of Biberach, Rappenau (present-day Bad Rappenau, Baden-Württemberg), Stuttgart, and Wimpfen (present-day Bad Wimpfen, Baden-Württemberg) and marriage contracts and probate records from Biberach and Rappenau. Documentation of the immigration Andreas and Hans David Rothenhöfer and their New World residences are derived from published sources and public records.

I. Johannes (Hans) Rothenhöfer was born in 1640, place unknown. He married Maria Elisabetha Claudia (--?--) before 10 November 1665, place unknown. He was a linenweaver during his residence in Biberach and a member of the local law court. He died on 8 March 1710 at Biberach.

A. Hans Martin Rothenhöfer was born on 10 November 1665 at Biberach. He first married Christina Magdalena Bentz, daughter of Martin Bentz and Margreth Mager, on 27 November 1688 at Biberach. He wed his second wife, Maria Agatha Stuprauch, daughter of Johann Andreas Stuprauch and Anna Maria (--?--) on 24 January 1699 in Wimpfen. He followed his father's trade as a linenweaver. Hans Martin died on 10 September 1732 at Biberach at age 64.

1. Hans Matthäus Rothenhöfer was born on 3 April 1690 at Biberach. He married Maria Elisabetha Herrlinger around 30 March 1714 when the couple signed their marriage contract. He was the father of eight children. He died on 31 July 1741 at Biberach, at age 51.

2. Hans Jakob Rothenhöfer was born on 14 April 1693 at Biberach and died there on 29 July 1693.

3. Hans (Johann)Adam Rothenhöfer was born on 11 August 1694 at Biberach. He married Maria Dorothea, parents unknown, probably before 1723 when the family first appears in the Wimpfen church records. Johann Adam married his second wife, Maria Magdalena Hirsch, daughter of Johann Schenickard Hirsch, on 24 November 1739 in Wimpfen. He was a non-citizen, protected resident (Schutzverwandter) in Wimpfen and worked as a vine dresser in the vineyards. He died before 1772. Seven known children.

4. Hans David Rothenhöfer was born on 8 September 1698 at Biberach and died there on 10 July 1699.

5. Hans Jakob Rothenhöfer was born on 14 December 1699 at Biberach. He married Maria Magdalena Brand, daughter of Johann Georg Brand and Maria Barbara (--?--), on 29 November 1723 at Biberach. After her death he wed Agnes Margreth Volckert, daughter of Hans Michael Volckert and Margreth Susanna Jost, on 24 May 1735 at Biberach. He married his third wife, Maria Jakobine Pfantzler, daughter of Georg Ludwig Pfantzler and Anna Maria Katharina (--?--), on 22 January 1737 at Biberach. Hans Jakob had ten children, one daughter from his first wife, one son from his second wife, and other eight children as a result of his marriage to Maria Jakobine. He died on 1 March 1775 at Biberach at age 75.

6. Hans (Johann)Martin Rothenhöfer was born on 6 December 1701 at Biberach. He married Anna Maria Weiss, daughter of Jacob Weiss, on 29 April 1727 at the Steiftskirche in Stuttgart. He wed his second wife, Anna Barbara Hobbhahn, daughter of Leonhard Hobbhahn, on 22 July 1755 at Stuttgart. He died on 8 July 1786 at Stuttgart and was buried there. Six children.

7. Maria Margreth Rothenhöfer was born on 10 May 1703 at Biberach and died there on 4 September 1703.

8. Hans Bernhard Rothenhöfer was born on 10 July 1704 at Biberach. He married Anna Margaretha Christ, daughter of Hans Dietrich Christ and Margreth Weeß, on 8 September 1733 at Biberach. Four known children.

9. Hans David Rothenhöfer was born on 28 August 1706 at Biberach and died there on 21 September 1706.

10. Maria Magdalena Rothenhöfer was born on 6 June 1708 at Biberach. One illegitimate son.

B. Johann Mathaus Rothenhöfer was born on 22 September 1667 at Biberach. He married Anna Maria Huß, daughter of Jacob and Maria Magdalena Huß, on 12 November 1695 in Böblingen (located near Stuttgart). Johann Mathaus was a tailor and the couple resided in Böblingen. No known children.

C. Andreas Rothenhöfer was born on 1 December 1669 at Biberach. He married Maria Elisabetha Bentz, daughter of David Bentz and Maria (--?--), on 23 August 1698 at Biberach. He also was a linenweaver. Andreas moved the family to Rappenau between November 1721 and June 1722 where he continued practicing his trade. He died on 6 March 1755 at Rappenau, at age 85. Andreas' probate records note that sons David and Andreas were entitled to 141 and 18 fl. respectively, but that no reliable information on the life or death of these two "new-landers" was available. Consequently, their portions were distributed among the other heirs.

1. Georg David Rothenhöfer was born on 24 April 1699 at Biberach and died there on 28 August 1699.

2. Johann Georg Rothenhöfer was born on 9 September 1700 at Biberach. He married Anna Barbara Moßheimer, daughter of Matthaus Moßheimer, on 11 June 1726 at Rappenau, Germany. His occupation in Rappenau is listed as a farmer from 1764 until his death there on 5 September 1781. Eleven children.

3. Hans David Rothenhöfer was born on 20 April 1702 at Biberach. He immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America aboard the ship Francis and Elizabeth which arrived 21 September 1742. He was naturalized at the Philadelphia courthouse the same day. Whether he married his wife Catharine (--?--) before or after leaving Germany is not known. He resided on the family farm on Narrow Passage Creek, near Woodstock, Frederick/Dunmore/Shenandoah County, Virginia by at least 1754. Hans David died in the Spring of 1773. His will was dated 20 February 1773 and his estate was probated on 22 June 1773 at Woodstock. He had at least six children, four sons and at least two daughters; some may have been born in Germany.

4. Andreas Rothenhöfer was born on 18 April 1704 at Biberach. He married Margaretha Binder, daughter of Thomas Binder and Anna Elisabetha Schornhauser, on 6 November 1731 at Rappenau. He was identified as a beysitzer (protected resident) between 1733 and 1735 at Rappenau. To prepare for emigration to Pennsylvania he formally inventoried his real property on 19 April 1738 in Rappenau. Andreas and his family arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania aboard the ship Elizabeth, on 30 October 1738. He married his second wife, Margaret Morse before 22 June 1766. He died in 1781 at the age of 77. The number of his children is unclear, but the two eldest--Andreas (b. 26 Apr 1733) and Maria Margaretha (b. 15 Oct 1735)-- were born in Rappenau.

5. Johann Adam Rothenhöfer was born on 18 April 1706 at Biberach. He married Catharina Barbara Körner, daughter of Martin Körner and Sabina (--?--), on 14 February 1725 at Rappenau. Johann Adam served as a corporal in the Herzog-Arenbergischen Kayserlichen Infanterie Regiment at least from 1749-1754. He returned to Rappenau and resided there until his death on 10 September 1793, at age 87. Five known children.

6. Maria Katharina Rothenhöfer was born on 18 February 1709 at Biberach. She married Johann Christoph Korbach, son of Johann Adam Korbach and Maria Barbara Englert, on 5 February 1737 at Rappenau. She died on 11 April 1789 at Rappenau, at age 80, and was buried there. Seven children.

7. Johann Martin Rothenhöfer was born on 20 October 1714 at Biberach. He married Maria Agnes Horlach, daughter of George Marcus Horlach, on 17 August 1745 at Rappenau. He was an apprentice tailor in 1745, and was listed as a tailor from 1757-1776 and a master tailor in 1776 at Rappenau. He also was a Burger from at least 1757 until his death. He died on 26 September 1776 at Rappenau, at age 61. No children.

8. Johann Friedrich Rothenhöfer was born on 2 August 1718 at Biberach. He was confirmed on 13 April 1732 at Rappenau. Johann Friedrich married Anna Barbara Hirn, daughter of Johann Georg Hirn and Maria Catharina Künzel, on 25 April 1742 at Rappenau, Germany. He was identified as a farmer in Rappenau at his death on 10 December 1752, at age 34. Five children.

D. Anna Katharina Rothenhöfer was born on 5 September 1671 at Biberach and died there on 20 August 1674, at age 2.

E. Maria Eva Rothenhöfer was born on 9 March 1674 at Biberach. At age 20 she was 'in service' at Berlinger Hof. Maria Eva married Johann Georg Mehlhof, son of Peter Mehlhof, on 26 November 1709 in Wimpfen. Georg was a stocking-knitter, a trade learned from his father. Maria Eva passed away in Wimpfen on 15 November 1733 and was buried there. 1. Johann Georg Adam Mehlhof was born on 13 October 1710 at Wimpfen. He married Maria Sibylla Schwartz, daughter of Johann Friederich Schwartz, on 22 April 1738 in Wimpfen. He continued the family's traditional occupation as a stocking-knitter until his death on 16 May 1785 in Wimpfen. Three children. 2. Praxades Maria Dorothea Mehlhof was born on 23 October 1713 in Wimpfen. She married widower Georg Peter Autenrieth in Wimpfen on 15 November 1757. She passed away around 1796 in Wimpfen. No known descendants.

F. Maria Katharina Rothenhöfer was born on 19 September 1676 at Biberach. She resided in Biberach until at least 1724, when she is named in her mother's will as "the Crooked."

G. Hans Melchoir Rothenhöfer was born on 17 October 1679 at Biberach and died there on 29 February 1680.

H. Maria Margreth Rothenhöfer was born on 29 August 1681 at Biberach. She married Hans Melchior Sattelmaier on 22 November 1706 at Biberach. Two children alive in 1724, names not known.

I. Anna Maria Katharina Rothenhöfer was born on 19 March 1686 at Biberach. She was living in Biberach in 1724.

1. Maria Elisabeth Rothenhöfer She was born on 7 May 1711 at Biberach and never married. She died on 6 December 1781 at Biberach, at age 70.

II. Barbara Rottenhöfer, daughter of the deceased Hans Rottenhöfer of the village of Steinbach, married Christmann Hess on 30 January 1672 at Biberach. She died on 4 April 1714 at Biberach.

A. Hans Martin Hess was born on 7 November 1672 at Biberach. He married Anna Briton, daughter of Melchior Briton, on 10 May 1701 at Biberach. He died on 14 September 1746 at Biberach, at age 73.

1. Maria Margreth Hess was born on 13 July 1702 at Biberach. She married Hans David Raisig on 1 July 1721 at Biberach and after his death wed Johann Martin Gruppenbacher on 22 February 1729 at Biberach. She died on 27 June 1749 at Biberach, at age 46.

2. Hans Dietrich Hess was born on 7 August 1703 at Biberach and died there on 27 August 1703.

3. Hans Michael Hess was born on 5 April 1705 at Biberach.

4. Hans Georg Hess was born on 1 November 1706 at Biberach and died there on 13 November 1706.

5. Maria Elisabeth Hess was born on 20 October 1707 at Biberach. She married Johann Adam Koppenhofer on 20 April 1728 at Biberach.

6. Maria Katharina Hess was born on 2 August 1709 at Biberach.

7. Hans Georg Hess was born on 1 June 1711 at Biberach. He married M. Katharina (--?--). He died on 4 July 1786 at Biberach, at age 75.

8. Hans Martin Hess was born on 27 June 1713 at Biberach. He married Maria Elisabeth Christ on 13 February 1741 at Biberach.

9. Hans Adam Hess was born on 26 August 1716 at Biberach. He married M. Magdalena (--?--). He died on 13 February 1763 at Biberach, at age 46.

10. Gottfried Hess was born on 31 October 1718 at Biberach and died there on 4 October 1724, at age 5.

B. Maria Margreth Hess was born on 27 February 1674 at Biberach. She married Hans Michael Lindenmaier, son of Hans Lindenmaier, on 10 November 1705 at Biberach.

1. Elisabeth Lindenmaier was born on 19 December 1697 at Biberach.

2. Maria Christina Lindenmaier was born on 10 October 1707 at Biberach. She married Lorenz Brunner on 9 May 1730 at Biberach. She died on 12 August 1786 at Biberach, at age 78.

3. Hans Michael Lindenmaier was born on 12 December 1708 at Biberach.

C. Hans Georg Hess was born on 24 April 1676 at Biberach and died there on 19 July 1676.

D. Sabine Magdalena Hess was born on 1 August 1677 at Biberach. She married Hans Jacob Volckert, son of Hans Samuel Volckert and Maria Elisabeth Gross, on 9 November 1711 at Biberach. She died on 5 April 1749 at Biberach, at age 71.

1. Susanna Margareth Volckert was born on 22 October 1712 at Biberach. She married Ludwig Neuwirth on 27 November 1736 at Biberach and later wed Georg David Grassle on 9 May 1741 at Biberach. She died on 21 May 1743 at Biberach, at age 30.

2. Hans Georg Adam Volckert was born on 2 January 1714 at Biberach and died there on 17 January 1733, at age 19.

3. Maria Margreth Volckert was born on 28 February 1716 at Biberach and died there on 16 November 1718, at age 2.

4. Hans George Volckert was born on 17 December 1718 at Biberach and died there on 18 December 1718.

5. Maria Barbara Volckert was born on 30 June 1720 at Biberach. She married Hans Georg Christ on 24 November 1744 at Biberach. She died on 5 March 1788 at Biberach, at age 67.

E. Maria Sabine Hess was born on 15 February 1680 at Biberach and died there on 18 October 1681, at age 1.

F. Hans Lorenz Hess was born on 19 September 1681 at Biberach. He married Maria Elisabeth Bentz, daughter of Justinus Bentz and Maria Katharina Meiss, on 16 November 1706 at Biberach. He died on 13 December 1762 at Biberach, at age 81.

1. Maria Katharina Hess was born on 3 November 1707 at Biberach. She married Johann Michael Sinn on 11 February 1727 at Biberach. She died on 10 August 1766 at Biberach, at age 58.

2. Maria Margreth Hess was born on 31 January 1709 at Biberach. She married Johann Adam Guntzler on 27 November 1730 at Biberach. She died on 3 September 1783 at Biberach, at age 74.

3. Maria Elisabeth Hess was born on 4 August 1712 at Biberach. She married Johann Georg Wittmann on 3 September 1737 at Biberach.

4. Hans Michael Hess was born on 14 July 1714 at Biberach. He married Maria Eva Sinn on 6 September 1736 at Biberach and after her death wed A. M. Gruner on 7 February 1769 at Biberach. He died on 22 October 1790 at Biberach, at age 76.

5. Hans Adam Hess was born on 23 January 1716 at Biberach and died there on 2 September 1716.

6. Hans Georg Hess was born on 14 October 1718 at Biberach and died there on 1 June 1719.

7. Maria Eva Hess was born on 25 March 1720 at Biberach. She married Johann Jakob Raisig on 31 July 1741 at Biberach. She died on 20 April 1785 at Biberach, at age 65.

8. Georg Michael Hess was born on 24 August 1722 at Biberach and died there on 3 September 1722.

9. Johann Friedrich Hess was born on 29 July 1724 at Biberach and died there on 8 September 1724.

10. Lorenz Hess was born on 27 January 1727 at Biberach. He married Maria Katharina Magdalena Moser on 19 November 1748 at Biberach. He died on 25 November 1773 at Biberach, at age 46.

.Mike and Tef Rodeffer
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