Ancestry and Children of Johann Jacob Lenz and His Wife Anna Maria Loffler of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ancestry and Children of Johann Jacob Lenz and His Wife Anna Maria Loffler of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WALTER LEE SHEPPARD, JR., F.G.S.P., F.A.S.G. OHANN JACOB LENZ (variously Lentz and Lens), son of Hans Jacob, was born in Beutelsbach, Wiirttemberg, 7 January 1727. In the local records he is referred to as "bachbecken" (baker on the brook) through the year 1758 (the year of the baptism of his eldest surviving son). After this date he appears either as "weingartner" ( vinedresser), or with both descriptions. He married four times, his first three wives each dying at or shortly after the birth of a child. His fourth wife, whom he married at Gross Hepach on 14 June 1757, was Anna Maria Loftier, daughter of Johann Melchior Loffler, born 17 May 1735 in Gross Hepach. She was the mother of his three surviving sons.' In the autumn of 1769, the family obtained permission to emigrate to the New World, and an entry accordingly appears in the records of the parish of Mutelsbach, Deaconry of Schorndorf, in Wurttemberg, indicating that Jacob went "in the spring of 1769," and that his wife and children went to stay with his parents, then followed him in the fall. There is an entry showing that one Johann Jacob Lentz took the Oath of Allegiance at Philadelphia on 13 October 1769, as one of the immigrants who had arrived on the Minerva. We have no positive evidence as to whether his wife and children actually came with him, or followed later, but they were certainly in Philadelphia in April of 1770, when his son Georg was born and baptized. There is a record of the death on 20 December 1777 of one Jacob Lenz, born 6 April 1724 at Kirchweiler, "married about 27 years, had one child who died, aged 53 years, 8 months and 2 days.", in the records of St. Michael's and Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Philadelphia. 3 This is the only death record of a Jacob Lenz noted in the records of this church, where the couple were members, but he cannot be our man. Our Johann Jacob Lenz was certainly dead by 15 July 1778, when his widow Anna J 243 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 244 Maria married as her second husband a man much younger than herself, Johann Christopher Keppler (also Kepler, Kepner), born about 1755/6, died about 1783, son of Bernhardt 3 (Andreas, 2 Johann Bernhardt I) Keppier and his wife Eva (Meyer), by whom she had a son who died in infancy, and a daughter Maria Elisabetha, who married Johann Adam Schoenneck, leaving descendants. Anna Maria appears in the census records as head of household, and in the city directories as a widow. She died 21 September 1818 and was buried the following day, aged "about 80 years, 4 months." The Board of Health death record is more exact: "about 80 years, 4 months and 6 days," placing her birth at 15 May 1738, close enough to that in the Beutelsbach registers. She left a will signed "Mary Kebler," dated 5 April 1810, proved 14 October 1818, bequeathing her estate to her "daughter Maria Elizabeth Shinnick, except $100 which my son Jacob Lentz owes me from which my funeral expenses are to be paid, and the remainder to my children." The executor was her daughter; the witnesses. Gottlieb Klett and John Reachert.° Children of Anna Maria Liiffier and Johann Jacob Lenz: , i. JOHANN JACOB LENZ, bapt. 23 July 1758; sponsors, paniel Koch, citizen and farmer, absent, represented by — Mayer; Mrs. Juliana Catherma Kaufman, widow, absent; Catharina, wife of Judge Johann Georg Mayer. A baker, bed. 10 May 1827, "aged 68 years, 9 months, 12 days." He m. 1) 15 July 1788 LIELIA (actually, Lydia), widow of Dielman Kolb of Perkiomen, by whom he apparently had no surviving Issue, and 2) 30 January 1800 SOPHIA SCHOENNECK,4 daughter of Michael, by whom he had two daughters! ELISASELMA, b. Cu. 1805, who m, William M. Taylor and left issue, and SOPHIA, b. ca. 1810, who d. unmarried.. ii. GOTTLIEB LENZ, b. 1 April, bapt. 2 April 1761; sponsors, Daniel Koch, citizen and vinedresser; Mrs. Anna Maria, wife of Mr. Caspar Hammer; and Anna Catharina, wife of Johann Jacob Koch, vinedresser; d. 19 September 1761. t. Gorronn (again) LENZ, bapt. 28 February 1763 or 1764 (both dates appear in the records); sponsors, same as immediately above", d. 25 July 1799. He m. 10 August 1787 ANNA Kocri (parents not identified) and had issue: ANNA MARIA, b. 10 January, bapt. 13 August 1788; sponsors, Jacob Lentz and Lielia (Lydia); GOTTLIEB, b. 4 October 1796, bapt• — August 1797 JOHANN JACOB, buried 12 May 1790, aged 2 months 16 days; JOHANN, b. 11 February, bapt. 2 July 1793; MARGARETHA, b. 4 November 1794, bapt. 2 August 1795. iv. MARIA. CATHARINA LENZ, bapt. 10 January 1767, sponsors: Mr. Christopher Friedrich Weinhardt, clerk of the court; Daniel Koch, vinsdresser; Mrs. Anna Maria Hammer, schoolmaster's wife; and Anna Catharma, wife of Jacob Koch, vmedresser; d. 26 June 1768. V. GEORG ADAM LENZ, b. 13 April, bapt. 28 April 1770; sponsors, Georg Adam Bub and wife Catharina. He was probably the George Lentz,l 3 butcher, who Johann Jacob Lenz 245 in 1794 lived on Coates Street between St. John and 3rd, and from 1800 to 1813 at Coates and 4th. Administration was granted 30 August 1849 to widow HENRIETTA of George Lentz of Kensington, and this could well be the butcher, since in the inventory is a chopping block. If this indeed is the above Georg, then he would have to have been married three times. St. Michael's and Zion records the marriage 26 May 1792 of George Lentz to MARIA ANDRA, each living in Philadelphia, and the birth 11 March, baptism 8 April 1798, of GEORG, SOO of Georg Lentz and wife Anna Margaretha. The child here baptised could be the George Lentz, dealer, who died 24 October 1841, aged 43, and left a will dated May 1841, wife CHRISTIANN, and four minor children: JOHN, ELIZABETH, CATHARINE and WILLIAM. Children of Anna Maria Leffler and Johann Christopher Kappler: vi. MARIA ELISABETHA KEPPLER, b. ca. 1799, M. JOHANN ADAM SCHOENNECK. 0 vii. JOHANN KEPPLER, b. 7 June, bapt. 7 Oct. 1782, St. John's Lutheran Church, Easton, Pa.; 13 sponsors, Christopher Bittenbender and Anna Elisabetha (Johann Christopher Keppler's brother in law and sister) and Johann Kepner (his brother). This child probably d. soon, since no further record is known. The following ancestor table has been constructed from data supplied by Mr. Karl Friedrich von Frank, Schloss Senftenegg, Post Ferschnitz, Nieder.Osterreich, Austria, who also supplied the parish records for the first four children named above. The number 1. is applied to any child of Jacob and Anna Maria (Loftier) Lenz. The father's number is always twice that of the child, and the mother's number is twice that plus one. 2- JOHANN JACOB LENZ, b. Beutelsbach 7 Jan. 1727, d. Philadelphia by 1778; to Pennsylvania 1769; m. 1) 6 Feb. 1753 Maria Magdalena b. 13 Mar. 1728, d. 18 Dec. 1753, dau. Johann and Anna Maria (Heckler) Koch, had a son Joh: Daniel, d.y.; m. 2) 16 July 1754 Maria Magdalena b. 4 May 1732, d. 23 June 1755, dau. Job; Geo: and Anna Magdalena (Sieg) Danckwort, had a son Joh: Geo: prob. d.y.; m. 3) 27 Jan. 1756 Elisabetha b. 27 Dec. 1732, 27 Nov. 1756, dau. Bernhardt and Anna Magdalena Schmid, had a duo. Christina Magdalena, d.y.; m. 4) 14 June 1757 at Gross Heppach 3. ANNA MARIA LOFFLER, b. Gross Heppach 17 May 1735, d. Phila. Pa. 21 Sept. 1818, to Pennsylvania 1769, no 2) 15 July 1778, at Philadelphia, Johann Christopher Keppler, b. ca. 1755/6, d. Co. 1783; children: Maria Elisabetha, m. Job. Adam Schoenneck; Johann, d.y. 4. HANS JACOB LENZ, "baker at the brook," b. Beutelsbach 5 Feb. 1690, d. m. 1) Beutelsbach 14 Feb. 1719 5. ANNA CHRISTINA JETZLE (Or JESSEL), b. Gross Heppach 20 May 1684, d. Beutelsbach 23 Nov. 1757. 6. JOHANN MELCHIOR Li5FFLER, .vinedresser," b. Gross Heppach 6 Jan. 1707, d. Gross Heppach 21 June 1778, m. 2) at Korb 13 Sept. 1757 Anna Catharina Heinrich, b. aft. 13 May 1729; m. 1) at Gross Heppach 26 Apr. 1729, as her 2nd husband, Z. ANNA CATHARINA MAHLER, b. Gross Heppach 12 Jan. 1696, d. 17 Mar. 1757.She had no 1) 24 Aug. 1723 JOh: Ulrich Eihninger. d. 12 Sept. 1726. The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 246 25. Jon: GEORG LENZ, "baker by the brook," b. 7, d. ?, m. Beutelsbach 28 Oct. 1686 ANNA MARIA VET-BERLIN, b. ?, d. Beutelsbach 8 June 1729. JOSEPH JETZLE, ropemaker, b. Gross Heppach 8 Feb' 1633, d. Gross Heppach 1 May 1698, m. Gross Heppach 29 Apr. 1662 ANNA MARIA FRANK, b. ?, 4. Gross Heppach 10 Mar. 1718, "aged 76 years." THEODORUS FRIEDRICH LA5FFLER, citizen and vinedresser, b. Hohenasperg 15 May 1676, d. Gross Heppach 17 June 1751 m. 2) 24 Jan. 1736 Anna Barbara Werner d. 1752; m. 1) Gross Heppach 2 May 1699 ANNA MARIA JETZEL (or JESSEL) b. Gross Heppach, d. same 9 Feb. 1737 (dau. Joseph, 10 above). JOHANN .Incon MAHLER, tailor 8e asst. judge of Gross Heppach, b. Blochingen 13 Sept. 1667, d. Gross Heppach 4 Dec. 1750, m. 2) Anna Catharina B/Mler, m. 1) Gross Heppach 28 Oct. 1690 VERONICA MULLER, b. ?, d. Gross Heppach 11 Jan. 1708, aged 41 years 6 months. GEORG LENZ, surgeon, m. 30 Nov. 1650 BARBARA KETTLER, dau. surgeon Jacob Kettler. bur. 28 Feb. 1676 aged 75, and wife Anna, bur. 12 Mar. 1665. CASPAR VETTERLIN of Snaith. ? HANS JETZEL (JESSEL), ropemaker, b. ca. 1588 or 10 Apr. 1580, d. 16 Jan. 1667 aged 79. m. 10 Jan. 1636 CHRISTINA -, widow of Friedrich Kiibler. CASPAR FRANK, vinedresser and member of town council, b. ca. 1609, d. Gross Heppach Jan. 1664 aged 54 years, m. 25 July 1640 MARIA ZIEGLER, dau. Leonhard Ziegler. JOHANN GEORG LOFELER, baker and soldier, b. ?, d. in Hungary; served as a soldier in Hohenasperg, m. ANNA Somun SCHMID, dau. Job: Schmid, "burger." 26. JOSEPH JETZEL (JESSEL), (Sane as no. 10); m. 8. 9. 10. //. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 27. ANNA MARIA FRANK (same as no. it)- 28. JOHANN GEORG MAHLER, burger and tailor, d. 1689, in. 29. ANNA RUHL, b. in Blochingen, d. before 1698, dau. Hans Ruhl, vinedresser. 30. JOHANN RUDOLPH MULLER, blacksmith of Gross Heppach, b. Switzerland, d. Gross 31. Heppach 18 July 1692, m. (2nd hush) 1657 MARGARETHA LUTZ (chambermaid), dau. Hans Jerg Lutz, 'Iramer in Gross Heppach," b. ca. 1640, d. Gross Heppach 23 Mar. 1711, aged 71 years; she m. 1) Hans Jerg Knaus. NOTES "Who Was the Widow Anna Maria Lenz?", National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), 49 (1961), 28-34. The evidences for Anna Maria and her husband Johann Jacob Lenz are quoted in this article, with sources cited. For the Kepler ancestry, see "Bernard Kepler (1673)1765) of Philadelphia," NGSQ, 61 (1973), 163 - 7. 2 Ralph B. Strassburger and William J. Hinke, Pennsylvania German Pioneers (Norristown, 1934), List 276 C. Abstracts, photocopies and microfilms of the original records are in the Collections of the Genealogical Society Dif Pennsylvania. 1 247 Johann Jacob Lenz s See note I. a, Records of St. Michael's and Zion Church. It is suggested that Anna Maria deliberately lost three years in order to reduce the age difference between herself and her second husband. Philadelphia Will Book 6, P. 608. Certified transcripts of the parish registers have been supplied to the author by Mr. Karl Friedrich von Frank and are in his possession. See note 5 for this entry and for much of the subsequent information regarding this child and the other six children. See The American Genealogist (TAG), 17 (1940), 79-86; 19 (1942-43), 45, 176; The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, XXII (1961), 133-43 , NGSQ, 49 10 Will of Sophia Lentz, Jr., and probate material on George Lentz cited in (1961), 34. 11 Idem. 12 See "The Family of Johann Adam Schoenneck," TAG, 50 (1974), 31-9. 13 Abstracted for the author by Mrs. F. Spencer Roach from the original records. Notice The Breckinridge County Public Library has developed a RESEARCHERS INDEX of persons studying or willing to share information on topics of historical or genealogical interest in its area. The index covers the Kentucky counties of Breckinridge, Grayson, Hancock, Hardin, Meade, Nelson and Ohio, and the Indiana counties of Crawford, Harrison and Perry. It is intended to help persons locate others working on the same or similar problems. Anyone can be listed by sending name, address, and list of interests (please specify county) to Researchers Index, cio 13. L. Bolin, Breckinridge Co. Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY 40143. If reply is requested, please enclose SASE. Donations of material for permanent family research files are also most welcome. Think not that the nobilities of your Ancestors doth free you to doe all that you list, contrarywise, it bindeth you more to follow virtue. ERRONDELL Our ancestors, though not perfect and infallible in all respects ., were a religious, brave, and virtuous set of men, whose love of liberty, civil and religious, brought them from their native land into the American deserts. Rev. DR. MAYHEW. Election Sermon, 1754