The family of Andreas/Andrew Kramer 1712-1786

 It's been fun, but no fun, learning about the family of this Harshbarger ancestor.  He is called Andreas in most of the records I've seen, but many trees show him as Andrew.  He is believed to be the son of Mathias and Elizabeth Catherine Theiss Kramer.  One of the not so fun things is that all names-first, middle, and last, are subject to several different spellings, and some could be in one record by their first name and another record under their middle name.  And of course, some of the names are quite common and seem to have been mixed up, with different parents and slightly different birth dates given in some trees, with documents that appear to support both ideas. One odd thing about this family is that Mathias is not used as a name, as far as I can tell, in any of the children or grandchildren, and I can only hope I've figured this out correctly, and also hope that anyone who spots an error will contact me!  

Andreas was born about 1712 and married Maria Magdalene Birkel/Birckle/Purtle, the daughter of Hans Jacob and Anna Barbara (no maiden name found) Birkle in 1738, 6 years after arriving in Pennsylvania.  It seems that they have at least 10 children, but I am unsure about the first one.  Her birthday is given as December 25, 1737, 10 months before her parents' marriage. 

This daughter, if indeed she belongs to this couple, is Christina.  She married George Gutmann, son of George and Anna Margaretha Jobst Gutmann, and died in 1790 in Upper Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.  Her children are Gerdraut, Simon, Henry, Jacob, George, Sophia, William, and Michael.  

Johann Ludwig, also seen as John and as Ludwig, was born in April of 1739.  He may have married Anna Margaretha Gebhart, and he may or may not be the Johannes Kraemer who did in 1828 in Brush Valley, Centre County, Pennsylvania.   His like is, to me, still a mystery.  

Andrew was born in 1741.  I have seen several death dates and locations for him. and think it's more likely that he was the Andrew who died in 1802 in Mannheim, Berks County, Pennsylvania.  He married Eva Margaretha Hain, the daughter of John Christian and Maria Barbara (unknown maiden name) Hain.  Their children are Maria Magdalena, Anna Maria, Elizabeth, John, Daniel, Christina, Michael, Catherine, Henry, and Andrew. Andrew was a veteran (militia) of the Revolutionary War.

Daniel was born in 1743 and died in 1813 in Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.  He married Anna Maria Geise, who may possibly be the daughter of Friederich and Maria Elisabeth Wielingen Giese.  (There are birth records for a female of this name in Germany, but I've been unable to trace her, or her parents, further.)  Daniel's children, at least the ones who were mentioned when he wrote his will in 1813, are Magdalena, Abraham, John, Rosina, Daniel, Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, and John Jacob. I will follow this family in my next blog post. 

George was born in 1746 (possibly 1745) and died about 1812 in Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He married Anna Sophia Gutman, daughter of George and Anna Margaretha Jobst Gutmann.  Their children are George, Wilhelm, Andreas, Heinrich, Margaret, Daniel, Elizabeth, and Michael.  He was a private in the militia during the Revolutionary War.

John Jacob was born in 1749 and died in 1828 in Brush Valley, Centre County, Pennsylvania.  He married Maria Catherine Minich, the daughter of George and Catherine Margaretha Gutman Minich.  (I don't know how Catherine Margaretha was related to Anna Sophia, above, but I am guessing there was a relationship.) Their children are Elizabeth, Catherine, John, Maria Elizabeth, Henry, Jacob, George, and Peter.  He may or may not have served in the Revolutionary War, but he is recognized as a patriot.

At last a daughter, or a second daughter, was born.  She is Catherine Elizabeth, born in 1752. and died in 1826 in York County, Pennsylvania.  (I wouldn't yet take this to the bank, it may be another case of intermingled names.) She married Johann Wolfhart, the son of Martin and Agatha Zimmerman Wolfhart.  Their children are Maria Margaretha Elizabeth, Philip, John, George, Jacob, and Henry.  

Adam was born in 1753 and died in 1815 in Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio.  He married Christina Dubs, daughter of Oswald and Salome Bauman Dubs.  Their children are Ludwig, Michael, Philip, John, Elizabeth, Margaret, Daniel, Sarah, Christina, Catherine, Jacob, George, and Adam. 

There appears to be a gap of over four years here, so it's possible that we are missing one child who perhaps did not survive.  However, Rosina was born in 1758 and died in 1829 in York, Pennsylvania.  She married Daniel Dubs, son of Oswald and Maria Salome Bauman Dubs. Yes, siblings from one family married siblings from another.  Their children are Catherine, Oswald, Daniel, Elizabeth, David, Goerge, and Johannes.  

Finally, Michael was born in 1759 and died in 1835 in Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.  He married Christina Fischer, daughter of of Heinrich and Chritina Dust Fischer.  Their children are Michael, Magdalena, Jacob, Andrew, David, Catherine, Elizabeth, Henry, Heinrich, and a baby girl who did not survive.   

The Kraemer/Kramer family seems to be one of the salt of the earth type families that built America.  They were Lutherans, and seem to have lived mostly within a society of German Lutherans, at least for the early years of this generation.  Most of the men supported, or fought for, the new country that was formed from the Revolutionary War.  It's possible that at least the older sons also fought or served in the French and Indian War, and perhaps some or most also protected their families during the battles with native tribes that continued when other wars had ceased.  I imagine them as hard working farmers and tradesmen, and that is a fine heritage to leave.