Beeks line: The family of Johann Wilhelm Berkheimer 1706-1745

 I don't know as much about this family as I would like, and am hoping that since he is an ancestor of Barack Obama, at some point someone will dig deeper into the roots and branches for Johann Wilhelm Berkheimer, born in 1706 in Klein-Neidersham, Frankenthal, Germany.  His parents are Balthaser and Anna Margaretha (maiden name not yet found) Berkheimer, and he marred Maria Salome Hallman, daughter of Anthony and Maria Salome (maiden name unknown) Hallman in 1721 at the same location. Wilhelm died in 1745 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. 

We may not know all the children for this couple.  There appears to be a four year gap between the first and second child, and there are only four known children.  Good German families of this time period were usually large, but perhaps the last birth was difficult and the couple was unable to have more children.  As far as we known, all the children were born in Klein-Neidersham, Frankenthal, Germany (not really Germany at the time, but this at least gives us a place name to start with). The family came to Pennsylvania in 1732.

Johann Leonard was the first born, in 1722  He married Maria Catherine Kerger, the daughter of Johann Philip and Anna Margaretha Reeb.  Their children are Johann Michael, Maria Salome, Johann George, Philip, Johann Heinrich, Andrews, Magdalena William, and Johan Jacob.  Leonard died in 1804 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  I will follow this family in my next post.  

Valentine (also seen as Veltin) was born in 1726, and died in 1812 in York, Pennsylvania.  He married Maria Jacobina, parents not known.  Their children are Johann Wilhelm, Martin, Valentine, Johann Heinrich, Margaretha, Catherine, Magdalena, and Andrew.  

Magdalena Louisa was born in 1727 and died in 1731 still in Germany.  It must have been hard for this couple to leave their daughter's final resting place when they emigrated the next year, and I'm sure they cherished her memory all their days.  

The last child we know of is George, born in 1729 and died in 1790, probably in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  He seems to have married twice, first to Catharina Margaretha Mautz, parents unknown.  They may be the parents of Johann Wilhelm.  His second wife is Susanna Hawke or Hanke.  Their children are Catherine, Michael, George, Jacob, Mary, and William.  

I have seen several other names listed as children of this couple-Catherine, Salome, Frederick, and Maria.  I have not seen documentation for any of these, so I am merely mentioning them as possibilities. 

The three known sons were of the right age to be fighting in the French and Indian War, although I've not yet found any records of them in that conflict.  And many of the grandsons would have been the right age to fight in the Revolutionary War.  Surely there are stories to be found and told. The Berkheimer name was spelled several different ways, and that always makes it more difficult to trace a family.   

As always, I'd be very glad to hear from anyone who knows more about the Berkheimers.