The family of Johann Caspar Rieth 1702-1788

 This is another confusing family, with possible multiple marriages, with children attributed to Caspar who are likely not his children at all, given that this seems to be a God fearing family, and also given that there were more than a few men by the last name of Rieth/Reith/Reidt/Reed in Tulpehocken, Berks (Lancaster County, to start with), Pennsylvania during this time period.  And I am quite sure the confusion is going to get worse as the generations continue.  

Caspar was born in 1702 in Westreich, in what is now southwestern Germany.  He emigrated with his family, Hans George and Anna Catherine (or Maria?) Sterf Riedt, in 1710, going first to Schoharie,  New York, and then to what became Berks County, Pennsylvania, where most of his siblings and others who were probably cousins settled.  He married Anna Margaretha Barth or Bart, the daughter of Hans Gerhard and Maria Magdalena Barth.  I am following WikiTree in naming eleven children, although I have the names of others who seem to belong to other Rieth families.  Anna Margaretha died in 1760, and the following year he married Anna Maria Schirmer, widow of Ulrich Steffen.  They had no children together, but she had 10 children so I would think the home place was often full of family.

Johann George was born in 1729, which gives us a possible marriage date for Caspar and Anna Margaretha of 1727-1728.  (All of the children seem to have been born in Tulpehocken, Berks County.) He married Anna Elisabeth Kern, the daughter of Thomas and Maria Margaretha Jopp Kern.  Their children are Christoph, Johannes, Peter, Elizabeth, and Anna Margaret.  He died in 1794 in Berks County, having seen at least two wars, and multiple alarms concerning attacks by indigenous tribes.  It is likely that he served in the militia during the French and Indian war, and perhaps even in the Revolutionary War.  

Johann Michael was born in 1732 and died in 1782 in Stouchsburg, Berks County, Pa.  He married Maria Catherina Haag, daughter of Johann George and Maria Apolonia Dieter Haag.  Their children are Michael, Daniel, Maria Magdalena, Catherine Elisabetha, Maria Elizabeth, Benjamin, George, Adam, and Anna Margaretha.   He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and possibly, due to his age, of the French and Indian War.  I will follow this family in my next post.  

Elisabeth Catherina was born in 1734 and died in 1812, so there would have been three major wars during her lifetime (War of 1812 added to the two above).  She first married Hermanus Batdorf, son of Johann Martin and Maria Elizabeth Walborn Batdorf.  They had seven children, including Catherine, Michael, David, Philip, Christiana, John, and Casper or Gasper.  After the death of her first husband, she married George Gall as his second wife, and they had one son, George.  Elisabeth Catherina died in Pendleton County, West Virginia (Virginia at the time).  

Maria Barbara was born in 1736 and died about 1772 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.  She married John Adam Emerich/Emerick, the son of Johann Michael and Elisabetha (maiden name not yet located Emerich.   Their children are John Caspar, John George, Johannes, John Nicolas, Anna Maria and Margaretha Elisabetha.  (Note: I don't believe this is the Maria Barbara who married Johann Nicholas Swengl, nor is it the one who named George Adam Bortz.  With so many Reith/Reed etc families, and the same names used over and over, it is difficult to keep our eyes on the correct person, but I think I have her figured out.  If I'm incorrect, please let me know!!)

Johann Casper  was born in 1738 and died in 1802 in Northumberland County, Pa.  I believe he was a captain during the Revolutionary War, a service record that is sometimes attributed to his father.  He married Elisabeth Schaeffer, the daughter of Michael and Ann Margaretha Gleb Schaeffer. Their children are John Frederick, Anna Margaretha, Johannes, Johan Philip, Magdalena, Anna Maria Chatherine, Johann Caspar, Johannes Michael, and Maria Barbara.  After Elizabeth's death, Casper married Maria Magdalena Fedler, but it doesn't appear that they had any children.

Johann Fridrich was born in 1741 but died young.  There may or may not have been another son by the same name born in 1745, who also died young.  I'm not clear about that.

Johann Philip was born in 1744 and died in 1819 in Rockbridge County, Virginia. "Philip Reed" married several wives in Berks County, but I think our Philip married only once, to Anna Whisler or Whistler, whose parents are still a mystery.  Their children include Elizabeth, Jane, Rebecca, Philip, Sophia, Christiana, Susannah, and Emanuel.  

Maria Margaretha was born in 1747 and died in either 1817 or 1826 in Berks County, Pa.  (The 1826 date may be when her estate closed, but I have not yet found the records to support either date for sure.) She married George Gebhart, the son of Johann Adam Gebhart and an as yet unidentified mother.  Their children are John, George, Christian, Regina, Eva, Margaret, Elisabeth, Maria Magdalena, Johnnes, Anna Christine, and Margareta.  I have seen Heinrich also attributed to this family, but Maria Margaretha would have been 50 years old at the time, so it seems unlikely (although within the realm of possibility) that Heinrich is her child.

Christina was born in 1749 and died in 1819.  She is the second wife of Johann Adam Emerich, the son of Johann Michael and Elisabetha Emerich.  Her sister Maria Barbara (see above) was Adam's first wife.  Christina and Adam's children are Catherine, Maria Magdalena, Johannes, and Jacob.

Another Fridrich/Frederick was born in 1751 and died in 1827 in Botetourt County, Virginia.  He married Anna Barbara Wurtz, not yet further identified.  Their known children are Catherina Barbara, Jacob, and Johannes.  

And finally, Johann Petrus (Peter) was born and died in 1755, a sad ending to the family of Caspar and Anna Margaretha.  

Several of these men have or may have Revolutionary War service, either in the military or as patriots.  Due to time constraints and the many ways the names are spelled, I will leave that research up to another family historian.