Leissmann Genealogy

Elisabeth Leissmann married Ulrich Bruch of Ellweiler in 1647. She was the daughter of Matthes Leissmann of Nohfelden, who was a member of the local court.

The Leissmann family was somewhat prominent in the region, but it has proved difficult to reconstruct a genealogy of the family in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Available records from this time period show several Leissmann families living in the region between St. Wendel and Birkenfeld. All of these families are very likely related in some way; however, the historical record is not sufficient to allow us to definitively group them all together into one family group. 

The first possible reference to a Leissmann comes from the Achtelsbach Church Book, when Maria, daughter of Class “Leimann” or “Leismann” sponsors a baptism on 15 March 1574. The place name associated with her is unclear. This may be a reference to Closs of Winkenbach, whose grandchildren sold their inheritance in 1582 and 1583 as documented in the Gerichtsbuch from Freisen. While his heirs all have the surname Leissmann, the records do not explicitly say that Closs was their paternal grandfather, although it seems likely that this was implied. Whether Closs of Winkenbach was their paternal or maternal grandfather, he was clearly prosperous: he had holdings in several jurisdictions that his grandchildren sold for a large sum. “Winkenbach” seems to refer to a place near St. Wendel, where there is a stream of the same name. 

Closs of Winkenbach was likely ancestral to most, if not all, of the Leissmanns who appear in the later 16th and early 17th centuries. His grandson, Nickel Leissmann of Nohfelden, was probably, but not certainly, the father of Jacob Leissmann of Nohfelden who was a baker and innkeeper. He may also be the father of Matthes Leissmann, whose daughter married Ulrich Bruch of Ellweiler. 

The following sections provide family groups reconstructed from a specific record or group of records in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.  

A. References in the Freisen Gerichtsbuch – 1582 and 1583

The Freisen Gerichtsbuch describes a Leissmann family group who sell the inheritance they receive from their grandparents, described as Closs and Margrethen of Winkenbach. It should be noted that the record does not say that these are their paternal grandparents, but it does reveal that there were at least three siblings whose father (or mother), who is unnamed, was presumably dead. Nickel of Nohfelden is an obvious candidate to be the father of Jacob Leissmann (B1) who appears in the Visitation records in 1609 in Nohfelden. He is also the best candidate to be the father of Matthes (C1).

  • (A1) Closs and Margrethen of Winkenbach: d. bef 1583 – note that we are assuming that Clos and Margretha are the paternal grandparents of Nickel and Catharina; the record does not specify.
    • (A1.1) Unnamed Father (or Mother): presumably dead by 1583
      • (A1.1.1) Nickel Leissmann and wife of Nohfelden, Gerichtsschöffe in Wolfersweiler [i.e., in the Wolfersweiler Court]: b. nlt 1560; likely the father of Jacob (B1); possibly the father of Matthes (C1)
      • (A1.1.2) Catharina of Ellweiler: b. nlt 1660
      • (A1.1.3) Unnamed Brother, probably dead
        • (A1.1.3.1) Matthes of Sötern: b. nlt 1565

B. Visitation Records – 1609

From the records of the 1609 church Visitation, we learn that there was a Jacob Leissmann who was a baker and innkeeper in Nohfelden. That he had three children in 1609 suggests he had been married for a while, so he was likely born no later than 1580, probably much earlier. The obvious candidate to be his father is Nickel of Nohfelden (A1.1.1).

  • (B1) Jacob, baker and innkeeper in Nohfelden: b. nlt 1580 = Els
    • (B1.1) Hans 
    • (B1.2) Hans Jörg 
    • (B1.3) Nickel 

C. Matthes Leissmann, Gerichtsschöffe in Nohfelden – from the Achtelsbach Church Book

The first reference to Matthes is in 1627 when he was already a Gerichtsschöffe in Nohfelden. He was likely born no later than 1595. His only known child, Elisabetha, was born about 1625. He is probably too old to be the son of Jacob (B1); he is likely too young to be Matthes of Sotern (A1.1.3.1), unless Elisabetha was a child of a later marriage and was born when he was very old. The best candidate for his father is Nickel of Nohfelden (A1.1.1),  making Matthes a possible brother of Jacob the Baker (B1).

  • (C1) Matthes Leissmann; d. bef 1647
    • (C1.1) Elisabetha: b. abt 1625; m. Ulrich Bruch of Ellweiler, 28 Sep 1647

D. Martin Leissmann of Gonnesweiler – Achtelsbach (A) and Wolfersweiler (W) Church Books

I’ve seen genealogies claiming that Martin Leissmann of Gonnesweiler was the son of Matthes (C1), which is certainly possible. Note the connection to the Foos family that was shared by the Bruch family of Ellweiler. 

  • (D1) Martin Leissmann of Gonnesweiler: b. nlt 1624; m. Ella; sponsors Hans Georg Foos, son of Hans and Maria (with Barb. Bruch), 31 Mar 1644 (A); sponsors Hans Merten Foos, son of Georg and Engel of Nohfelden, 13 May 1655 (W); Ella sponsors Ella Foos, daughter of Jacob and Ella of Nohfelden, 5 July 165(?7) (W)

E. Family of Jacob Leissmann, Gerichtsschöffe of Wolfersweiler – Wolfersweiler Church Book (W)

This Jacob Leissmann  is almost certainly not the baker in Nohfelden (B1), but it could be a son born after the 1609 Visitation. Or, he could be the son of Matthes (C1) since the Gerichtsschöffe role seems to run in families. Jacob’s son Michael  is very likely the father of Nickel (F1).

  • (E1) Jacob Leissmann, Gerichtsschöffe of Wolfersweiler: b. nlt 1610; died before 6 Jan 1658
    • (E1.1) Michel Leissmann of Wolfersweiler: b. abt 1630; m. Margretha Printz, daughter of Valentin, 6 Jan 1658 (W); children:
      • (E1.1.1) Margaretha: b. abt 1663;  sponsors Anna Margretha Nickum, daughter of Hans Leonhard and Barbara of Hirstein, 3 Feb 1684 (W); m. Hans Stophel Clossmann of Gimbweiler, 19 Feb 1685 (W) 
      • (E1.1.2) Jacob Leissmann; baptismal sponsor for Martin Leissmann (F1.1), son of Nickel of Gimbweiler (F1) 

F. Family of Nickel Leissmann of Wolfersweiler – Wolfersweiler Church Book (W)

Nickel is almost certainly the son of Michael (E1.1).

  • (F1) Nickel Leissmann of Wolfersweiler:: b. abt 1660 m. Elisabetha Kuntzer, daughter of Martin of Gimbweiler, 23 May 1685 (W); moves to Gimbweiler; children:
    • (F1.1) Martin: bap. 19 Mar 1686 (sponsors were Hans Martin Britzius, son of Nickel of Achtelsbach; Jacob Leissmann (E1.1.2), son of Michel Leissmann (E1.1) of Wolfersweiler; Maria Barbara, wife of Hans Jacob…of Wolfersweiler) (W)