Descendants of Claus Bruch of Achtelsbach

Claus Bruch was buried in Achtelsbach on 1 June 1618, age 75.[1] If his age at death is correct, and there is no reason to assume that it is not, he was born around 1543.[2] He was a baker and an innkeeper in Achtelsbach. He was a frequent baptismal sponsor and clearly prominent. He was known colloquially as “Baker Claus.” One might assume his surname was Becker except for records that describe him as “Claus Bruch, known as Baker Claus.” Indeed, the 1609 church visitation records list him and his son Theiss as “Becker.”

His relationship to the Bruch families in Feckweiler and Birkenfeld is unknown. In later generations, Claus’s descendants sponsor baptisms of Thomas Bruch of Ellweiler’s family, who descended from Jacob Bruch of Feckweiler. These connections may be coincidental and due to geographic proximity and may not imply a close familial relationship. Nevertheless, they are likely related, if only distantly.

Because the Achtelsbach records do not begin until 1574, there are no baptismal records for most of Claus’s children. We know that Theiss and Hans were his children because they are recorded as such when they sponsor baptisms. We have baptismal records for Anna and Engell.      

Early records give his wife’s name as “Ketter” or “Ketterin” (Katharina). They had the following known and suspected children:

  1. Theiss: b abt. 1563;[3] m(1). Ketter Barth, daughter of Michael of Eisen, 10 May 1585 in Achtelsbach;[4] m(2). Christina Schwenk, daughter of Melchior Schwenk of Achtelsbach, 28 Nov 1611 in Achtelsbach;[5] d. aft. 1631[6]
  2. Hans:[7] b. abt. 1565; d. aft. 1590
  3. Anna: bap. 23 Sep 1576 (sponsors were Anna, wife of Mattheson Reuter; Getz, wife of Matthes Roden of Achtelsbach; the son of Master Casper Schumacher of “der Hütten [Abentheuer]);[8] d. Feb 1591, age 12[9]
  4. Engell: bap. 7 Nov 1580 (sponsors were Engell Cuntz, wife of Claus of Traunen; Getz (?), wife of Hans Schwenk of Achtelsbach; Wendel Bender of Achtelsbach)[10]

Claus Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Margretha, daughter of “Engell Bender” [Johannes Engelbender] of Achtelsbach, on 14 Feb 1575[11]
  2. Son of Thomas Siegelmans of Achtelsbach, on 10 Dec 1575[12]
  3. Claus, son of Hans Hesser, chandler in Achtelsbach, on 30 May 1576[13]
  4. Elsa, daughter of _ Schwenken, on 8 Sep 1576[14]
  5. Nicolaus, son of Eberhart Schmidt of Achtelsbach, on 1 Apr 1577[15]
  6. Ketterin, daughter of Melchior of Meckenbach [sic], on 10 Oct 1579[16]
  7. Katharina, daughter Matthes Roden of Achtelsbach, on 22 Oct 1579[17]
  8. Agnes, daughter of “Claus der Schmidt” of Traunen, on 22 Oct 1581[18]
  9. Matthes, son of Nicolaus Welch [?] of Eisen, on 7 Mar 1583[19]
  10. Barbara, daughter of Thomas Tastisch[?] of Dambach, on 14 May 1583[20]
  11. Nicolaus, son of Hansen Weigandts of Obersötern, on 7 Feb 1586[21]
  12. Margretha, daughter of Michael Schwenk, in Jun 1586[22]
  13. Barbara, daughter of Weigant Suebus [Schwab], the Pfarrer, on 5 Feb 1589[23]
  14. Jacob and/or Katharina Michels (twins), children of Johannes and Elsa, on 7 May 1590 [“Claus Bruch…Becker Claus gennant”][24]
  15. Peter, son of Hengels [?] Hansen and Margretha, on 12 Jun 1590 [“Bruch Claus Backer zu Achtelsbach”][25]
  16. Johannes, son of Hans Schwencken and Anna (?), on 8 Nov 1590 [“Bruch Claus gennant Becker Claus”][26]
  17. Anna Blassius, daughter of Johannes [of Feckweiler], on 15 Jul 1594[27]

Ketter Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Son of Nicolaus Ganghoffs (?), the shepherd of Eisen, on 28 Apr 1575[28]
  2. Sinna, daughter of Lorentz _ of Meckenbach, on 29 Apr 1575[29]
  3. Michael, son of Mattheson [Ereissen?), on 4 Oct 1577[30]
  4. Philippa, daughter of “Palmanns Melchior” of Achtelsbach, on 19 Mar 1578[31]
  5. Ketter, daughter of Joergen the Hoffmann of Eisen, on 21 Aug 1578[32]
  6. Wigand, son of Caspar Pfeiffer of Achtelsbach, on 29 Apr 1581[33]
  7. Ketter, daughter of Wendel Barten of Eisen, on 5 Nov 1584[34]
  8. Gertraut, daughter of Johannes Müller of Achtelsbach, on 12 Feb 1585[35]
  9. Daughter of Hans Kuhirtens of Achtelsbach, on 25 Dec 1588[36]
  10. Matthes, son of Thomas Ereissen [? Same as 3 above], on 13 Mar 1589[37]
  11. Katharina, daughter of Matthes Melchior, [the] Meyer and Maria of Achtelsbach, on 17 Dec 1609[38]

Second Generation

Theiss Bruch (Claus), like his father, was a baker. He first married Ketter Barth, daughter of Michael of Eisen, on 10 May 1585 in Achtelsbach.[39] She was dead by 1609 when the visitation records show Theiss is a widow, with no children living with him.[40] Theiss then married Christina Schwenk, daughter of Melchior of Achtelsbach, on 28 Nov 1611.[41] Thiess was dead by the time of his son Johannes’s marriage in 1646. He likely died in the gap in records during the Thirty Years War.

Theiss’s children with Ketter Barth were:

  1. Sünge (Susanna): bap. 16 Jul 1587 (sponsors were Eva, wife of Mattheson Lampert; Elisabetha, the Pfarrin [wife of the pastor]; Gödtman Bender, Censor of Achtelsbach [and a cooper]);[42] m. Peter Mertz, son of the late Reinhardt of Birkenfeld, on 29 Oct 1605 in Birkenfeld;[43] d. bef. 6 Mar 1617[44]
  2. Sebastian: b. abt. 1590;[45] m. Maria _ abt. 1625; d. bef. 19 Mar 1634[46]
  3. Johannes: b. abt. 1603;[47] m. Gertraudt, widow of Schweickhart Mattheson, 6 Oct 1646[48] d. bef 2 Jan 1670;[49] sponsored the baptisms of:
    1. Johannes Michaels, son of Melchior and Maria of Achtelsbach, 27 Sep 1621[50]
    2. Anna Margretha, daughter of Georg Niclauss and Gertraudt of Achtelsbach, 23 Jul 1626[51]
    3. Hans Nickel Britzius, son of Johannes and Anna of Achtelsbach, 6 Jan 1628[52]
    4. Maria Margretha, daughter of Johannes Ruppenthal and Philippina of Meckenbach, 8 Aug 1630[53]
    5. Maria Boley, daughter of Martin and Margreth, 20 Jul 1631[54]
    6. Margretha, daughter of Johann Melchior and Margretha of Achtelsbach, 19 Jun 1642[55]
    7. Eva Anthes, daughter of Hanssen and Philippina, 29 May 1643[56]

Theiss’s children with Christina Schwenk were:

  1. Caspar: bap. 21 Sep 1612 (sponsors were the pastor Caspar Christophori; Caspar, son of Wendel Britzius; Margretha, wife of Nicolaus Sohn of Achtelsbach [a cooper]);[57] bur. 22 Sep 1612, age 1 day[58]
  2. Jacob: bap. 30 Sep 1613 (sponsors were Matthes Melchior, Schultheiss of Achtelsbach; Jacob Schuch; Katharina, daughter of Claus Schwenk of Achtelsbach);[59] bur. 1 Oct 1613, age 1 day[60]
  3. Michael: bap. 28 May 1618 (sponsors were Michael Krauss of Achtelsbach [wool weaver]; Lampert Barth of Eisen, Anna wife of Hans Peters of Achtelsbach);[61] m. Susanna Schmidt, daughter of the late Daniel, 30 May 1648[62]
  4. Margretha: bap. 21 Mar 1624 (sponsors include Margretha, daughter of _Schneider; Barbell, wife of Johannes Linckers of Achtelsbach)[63]

Theiss Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Elsa, daughter of Engel Bender [Johannes Engelbender?] of Achtelsbach, on 18 Dec 1581[64]
  2. Theiss [Boblen?], son of Thomas of Achtelsbach, on 17 Jun 1583[65]
  3. Catharina, daughter of Pauli Bubulei (?) of Obersötern, on 12 Jun 1584[66]
  4. Anna (one of a set of twins), daughter of Matthes Roden on 13 Aug 1584[67]
  5. Anna, daughter of Hans Bruch [his brother], on 21 Jul 1585[68]
  6. Dietrich, son of Claus Schoffer of Achtelsbach, in Mar 1586[69]
  7. Caspar Bartz, son of Niclass of Dienstweiler, on 23 Aug 1586[70]
  8. Nicolaus, son of Heinrich Filmans (Sielmans ?) and Barbara of Achtelsbach, on 10 Jun 1590[71]
  9. Anna, daughter of Wulbert [?] Borchers of Rinzenberg, 4 Nov 1599[72]
  10. Katharina Ludwigs, daughter of Adam of Achtelsbach, on 11 Feb 1610[73]
  11. Margretha Kuhirt, daughter of Nickel and Agnes of Achtelsbach, on 14 Jul 1611[74]
  12. Bernhardt Anthes, son of [?] and Barbel of Achtelsbach, on 2 May 1613[75]
  13. Barbel Melchior, daughter of the Schultheiss Matthes and Maria, on 20 Jun 1614[76]
  14. Barbel Krieger, daughter of Hans and Elsa of Ellweiler, on 26 Dec 1614[77]
  15. Johannes [Gimblers?], son of Matthes [faded], on 24 Feb 1615[78]
  16. Katharina Lang, daughter of Debold and Maria, on 7 May 1615[79]
  17. Johannes Weber, son of Johann and Els of Buhlenberg, on 13 Oct 1616[80]
  18. Michael Schallmanns, son of Johannes and Katharina, on 18 Mar 1617[81]
  19. Anna Maria Kleinsdorffer, daughter of the schoolmaster Johannes and Christina [Mertz, his daughter] of Achtelsbach, on 20 Mar 1631[82]

Christina (Schwenk) Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Christina Koch, daughter of Michael and Anna, 27 Aug 1612[83]
  2. Ulrich Bruch, son of Thomas and Katharina of Ellweiler, 10 Aug 1617[84]

Hans Bruch (Claus) is known only from the baptismal record of his daughter Anna and from serving as a baptismal sponsor for Hans Jacob Schneider in 1590 in which he was described as a son of Claus Bruch.[85] We do not know the name of his wife, and he only had one known child:

  1. Anna: bap. 21 Jul 1585 (sponsors were Anna, daughter of Friedrich Maurer of Brücken; Engell, wife of Michael Schmidt of Achtelsbach; Theiss [Bruch], son of Baker Claus of Achtelsbach)[86]

Third Generation

Sünge (Susanna) Bruch (Theiss, Claus) and Peter Mertz, a cooper known as “Sachsen P_[?], had the following children in Birkenfeld:

  1. Anna Catharina: bap. 21 Oct 1606 (sponsors were Peter Hoffmann; Katharina, wife of Melchior Bur of Birkenfeld; Anna, wife of Peter Eifeld [?] of Sötern)[87]
  2. Christina: bap. 11 Apr 1608 (sponsors were Peter, son of Peter K[?] of Birkenfeld; Gertraudt, wife of Thomas Lauer of Birkenfeld; Christina, daughter of the late Peter [?] of Abentheuer, represented by Hans Fedekemse [?], the cooper in the Herrnhaus [elsewhere he is described as the proprietor]);[88] m. Johannes Kleinsdörfer, 19 Oct 1630[89]
  3. Dorothea: bap. 25 Jan 1610 (sponsors were Nicolaus Kegel; Anna, widow of Melchers Bas[?] of Achtelsbach; Dorothea, daughter of Friedrich Kelner, the scribe of Birkenfeld)[90]
  4. Margretha: bap. 21 Feb 1613 (sponsors were Nicolaus Fickeysen, vulgo Krauts Nicolaus, a wool weaver in Birkenfeld; Margretha, wife of Andreas Rusch, the slaterer in Birkenfeld; Margretha, daughter of _ Barte of Buhlenberg)[91]
  5. Anna: bap. 14 Feb 1616 (sponsors were Thomas Burch, vulgo Bruch Thomas, a baker in Birkenfeld; Anna, wife of Hans Platze of Birkenfeld; Elsa, the wife of Johannes the [?] miller)[92]

Sebastian Bruch (Theiss, Claus) was a baker in Achtelsbach known as “Baker Bastian.” We do not know when he died, except it was before the death of his son Matthes in 1634. He and Maria, surname unknown, had the following children:

  1. Hans Matthes; bap. 13 Jul 1626 (sponsors were Matthes Melchior, Schultheiss of Achtelsbach; Hans Britzius, son of the late Wendel; Maria, wife of Michael Melchior of Achtelsbach)[93]; bur. 19 Mar 1634[94]
  2. Nicolaus: bap. 14 Feb 1628 (sponsors were Peter Christman of Dambach; Georg Niclaussen of Achtelsbach; and [unclear])[95]
  3. Hans Heinrich: bap. 3 Mar 1630 (sponsors were Johannes Brenner of Birkenfeld; Heinrich Beyer of Abentheuer; and Maria, wife of the Pfarrer Johann Valentin Heimbacher of Achtelsbach)[96]
  4. Hans Andreas: bap. 13 Nov 1631 (sponsors were Johannes Bruch, son of Thomas of Ellweiler; Andreas Hoffmann [of Achtelsbach]; Margretha, wife of Johannes Lautgaum [?] of Achtelsbach)[97] d. 18 M[arch?] 1632 or 1633, age 4 months[98]

Sebastian sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Barbara Hess, daughter of Michael and Agnes of Achtelsbach, 8 Jan 1612[99]
  2. Sebastian Engelbender, son of Johannes and Agnes, 30 May 1613[100]
  3. Els, daughter of Georg Lorenz, 12 Oct 1616[101]
  4. Sebastian Helt, son of Nicolaus and Agnes of Achtelsbach, 13 Mar 1617[102]
  5. Bastian Wendals, son of Melchior and Margretha of Meckenbach, 21 Sep 1617[103]
  6. Sebastian Grub, son of Jacob, the schoolmaster, and Barbel of Achtelsbach, 19 Nov 1620[104]
  7. Philippe Lossheimbs, daughter of Johannes and Katharin of Achtelsbach, 29 Mar 1621[105]
  8. Sebastian, son of Claus Müller [unclear if it is his surname or his occupation], 8 Apr 1621[106]
  9. Bastian Cuntz, son of Peter and Maria of Achtelsbach, 4 Feb 1625[107]
  10. [probable] Sebastian Ruppenthal, son of Endres (Andreas) of Brücken, 7 Sep 1625. He was described as “Bastian Baker of Achtelsbach” and one of his fellow sponsors was the wife of Nickel Bruch, son of Michael of Brücken.[108]
  11. Hans Adam Cuntz, son of Jacob and Anna of Traunen, 8 Jan 1626[109]
  12. Nicolaus Wagner, son of Haupricht and Martha, 2 Jun 1628[110]
  13. Margretha, daughter of Gottmann Niclaussen and Philippina of Achtelsbach, 13 Sep 1629[111]

Maria sponsored the following baptism:

  1. Maria, daughter of “Kuh Hans, or Kleinhans” and Christina of Achtelsbach, 4 Jan 1626[112]
  2. Maria Lorentz, daughter of Georg and Anna of Achtelsbach, 19 Aug 1627[113]
  3. Anna Maria, daughter of Johann Valentin Heimbacher, Pfarrer of Achtelsbach, and Maria, 22 Mar 1629[114]
  4. Anna Maria Kleinsdorffer, daughter of the schoolmaster Johannes and Christina [Mertz] of Achtelsbach, on 20 Mar 1631[115]
  5. Maria Boley, daughter of Martin and Margreth, 20 Jul 1631[116]

Michael Bruch (Theiss, Claus) may have been the “Michael Bruch of Achtelsbach” whose daughter married Ernst Popping in Zweibrücken in 1675. If so, he was dead by that date.

Michael married Susanna Schmidt and had the following known children in Achtelsbach:

  1. Frantz: b. abt. Jan 1650; m. Elisabetha _ abt. 1675; bur. 1 Feb 1704, age 54 years, 14 days[117]
  2. Christina: bap. 14 May 1651 (sponsors were Christina, wife of Nickel Britz[ius]; Susanna, wife of Hans Bruch of Nohfelden; Nickel Cuntz, son of Bastian of Achtelsbach);[118] conf. 1667[119]
  3. [possible] Anna Margretha: b. abt. 1654; m. Ernst Popping, 14 Sep 1675, in Zweibrücken;[120] d. 8 Feb 1725[121]
  4. Elisabetha Catharina: bap. 21 Sep 1656 (sponsors were Johann Melchior, Schultheiss of Achtelsbach; Nickel Engel’s wife of Achtelsbach; Christina [Nickel’s?] daughter)[122]

Michael Bruch sponsored the following baptism:

  1. Michael Holden, son of Nicolaus and Anna Maria, on 2 Dec 1632[123]

Susanna (Schmidt) Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Susanna Christina Scherer, daughter of Enders (Andreas) and Maria of Dambach, 30 May 1648[124]
  2. Johannes Engel, son of Nicklass and Elisabetha of Achtelsbach, 31 Jan 1658[125]
  3. Susanna Kuntz, daughter of Carl and Eva of Achtelsbach, on 1 Nov 1673[126]

Fourth Generation

Frantz Bruch (Michael, Theiss, Claus) was born in January 1650 based on his age at death in 1704. Frantz was probably the eldest son of Michael; although there is never an explicit mention made of his paternity, Michael is the most likely candidate. Michael’s wife had connections to the family of Carol Kuntz, just like Frantz would. The gap in the Achtelsbach birth records occurs in the two years after Michael and Susanna were married, during which time Frantz was born. Frantz was likely not a child of Ulrich or Hans Bruch since neither he nor any of his descendants have any documented connection to those families, and Frantz is always described as being from Achtelsbach.

Frantz married Elisabetha, surname unknown, and had the following known children:

  1. Elisabetha Margretha: bap. 9 Oct 1673 (sponsors were Elisabetha Burg of Richweiler; Nickel Matthes of Meckenbach; Margretha Cronn of Achtelsbach);[127] m. Peter Hujet, son of Johannes, a miller in Brücken, 20 Aug 1697[128]
  2. Hans Nickel: bap. 1 Mar 1676 (sponsors were Hans Anthes of Nohfelden; Susanna Hornberger of Nohfelden; Hans Nickel Britzius of Achtelsbach)[129]
  3. Hans Matthäus: b. about 1680; bur. 22 Sep 1705, age 25, in Achtelsbach[130]
  4. Hans Bast(ian) (Sebastian): bap. 28 May 1684 (sponsors were Hans Bastian Matthes of Achtelsbach; Maria Barbara, wife of Johann Schweig of Dambach)[131]; conf. 1699;[132] m. Maria Elisabetha Schuch, daughter of Philip of Dambach, 12 Jan 1717;[133] d. bef. 15 Mar 1739[134]
  5. Anna Barbell: bap. 8 May 1687 (sponsors were Hans Ruppenthal of Achtelsbach; Anna Stumann [?], widow from Mosberg; Anna Barbell, daughter of Johannes Kellner of Dambach);[135] m. Johann Theobald Welcher, son of Peter of Achtelsbach, 10 Apr 1708[136]

Frantz Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Hans Frantz Cuntz, son of Caroll and Eva of Achtelsbach, on 2 Dec 1666 in Achtelsbach[137]
  2. [probably] Hans Frantz Schmeyer, son of Crafft and Barbel of Ellweiler, on 8 Feb 1669[138]
  3. Hans Nickel Melchior, son of Hans Bastian and Anna Sophia of Achtelsbach, on 3 Apr 1684[139]

His wife Elisabetha sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Maria Elisabetha Cuntz, daughter of Frantz of Achtelsbach, on 25 Feb 1703[140]
  2. Johann Peter Alt, son of Peter and Anna Margretha of Meckenbach, on 2 Apr 1709[141]
  3. Johann Jacob Ruppenthal, son of Johannes and Maria Magdalena of Achtelsbach, on 27 Apr 1710[142]
  4. Anna Elisabetha Hujet, daughter of Peter and Elisabetha Margretha (Bruch) of Achtelsbach, on 14 Apr 1713[143]

Frantz was buried 1 Feb 1704, age 54 years, 14 days.[144]

Anna Margretha Bruch (~Michael, Theiss, Claus), the daughter of Michael, is possibly the Anna Margretha Bruch, described as the daughter of Michael of Achtelsbach, who marries Ernst Popping (or Poppinger) in Zweibrücken in 1675. The marriage record is very explicit. However, the death record of Popping’s wife gives her age at death in 1725 as 84, suggesting she was born in 1641. If that is accurate, she would have been married at the age of 34 and, if she were indeed the daughter of Michael, she would not be the daughter of Susanna Schmidt. It is of course possible that her age at death was not recorded correctly.

Anna Margretha and Ernst Popping (or Poppinger) had the following children:

  1. Philip Heinrich: bap. 28 Jan 1681 (sponsors were Hans Nickel Schmidt of Hornbach; Philip Heinrich Möllenscheiler[?], son of Wilbrant; Julianna Charlotta, daughter of the Zweibrucken Pfarrer Johann Euler)[145]
  2. Daniel: b. 11 Nov 1683; bap. 21 Nov 1683 (sponsors were Johannes Schwarz; Daniel [Dreisbach?]; Anna Catharina, wife of Peter [?])[146]
  3. Niclaus Friedrich: bap. 6 Oct 1686 (sponsors were Niclaus Kleinstge [?], the Schultheiss of Ernstweiler; Friedrich Hilspach, shoemaker in Zweibrucken; Anna Maria, wife of Hans Jacob Cloters)[147]

Ernst died 4 Oct 1687.[148] Anna Margretha died 8 Feb 1725.[149]

Fifth Generation

Elisabetha Margretha Bruch (Frantz, Michael, Theiss, Claus) married Peter Hujet, a miller.  They had the following children, all born in Achtelsbach:

  1. Maria Barbel: bap. 5 Jan 1699 (sponsors were Nickel Hujet; Eva Barbel, wife of Carl Paul of Brücken; Maria Liess, daughter of Hans Bernhardt Scherer of Achtelsbach)[150]
  2. Hans Bastian: bap. 26 Dec 1700 (sponsors were Hans Bast[ian] Schuch; Hans Bast[ian] Bruch, son of Frantz of Achtelsbach; Maria Barbel, wife of Jacob Wentz of Dambach);[151] m. Maria Magdalena Ruppenthal, daughter of Johannes, 3 Apr 1736[152]
  3. *Johann Peter: bap. 13 May 1703 (sponsors were Johannes Scherer and Johannes Ruppenthal, both of Achtelsbach; Anna Maria Hujet, widow from Birkenfeld);[153] m. Anna Maria Schweig, daughter of Johann Nickel, 6 Feb 1731[154]
  4. Anna Barbel: bap. 9 Nov 1704 (sponsors were Heinrich Hujet, potter in Achtelsbach; Anna Sa[rah?], wife of Johannes Hujet; Anna Barbara, daughter of the late Frantz Bruch of Achtelsbach)[155]
  5. Anna Maria: bap. 29 Nov 1708 (sponsors were Bastian Melchior of Achtelsbach; Anna Maria, wife of Peter Welcher of Achtelsbach; Maria Lies, widow of Johannes Scherer of Meckenbach)[156]
  6. Anna Elisabetha: bap. 14 Apr 1713 (sponsors were Matthes Anthes of Achtelsbach; Elisabetha, the widow of the late Frantz Bruch; Anna Elisabetha, daughter of the late Martin Britzius)[157]

Elisabetha Margretha Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Maria Margretha Schuch, daughter of Johann Bastian and Anna Barbara of Traunen, on 1 Jan 1694[158]
  2. Elisabetha Margretha Welcher, daughter of Theobald and Anna Barbara (Bruch) of Achtelsbach, on 10 Apr 1718[159]

Peter Hujet died 8 Apr 1734, age 63.[160]

Sebastian Bruch (Frantz, Michael, Theiss, Claus) married Maria Elisabetha, daughter of Philip Schuch of Dambach. The couple first lived in Achtelsbach, but then moved to Dambach. Their children were:

  1. Anna Maria Elisabetha: bap. 9 Jan 1718 in Achtelsbach (sponsors were Cornelius, son of Matthes Cuntz of Achtelsbach; Anna Maria, wife of Hans Georg Scherer; Maria Elisabetha, widow of Daniel Thomas);[161] d. 24 May 1769; bur. 25 May 1769 in Buhlenberg;[162] sponsored the baptism of Johann Christian Schmeyer, son of Frantz and Maria Barbel of Nohfelden, 15 Mar 1739;[163] probably sponsored the baptism of Maria Elisabetha Bruch, daughter of Peter and Christina Elisabetha of Dambach, on 20 Nov 1759[164]
  2. Anna (Maria) Ursula: bap. 4 Jan 1720 in Achtelsbach (sponsors were Nicolaus Schuster of Meckenbach; Anna Catharina, wife of Michael Friess of Achtelsbach; Anna Ursula, the daughter of the late Johann Scherer of Meckenbach);[165] m. Johann Michael Korn, son of the late Jacob of Birkenfeld, 19 Jun 1764;[166] d. 1 Jul 1795; bur. 3 Jul 1795[167]
  3. Anna Barbara: bap. 25 Mar 1721 in Dambach (sponsors were Peter Hujet of Achtelsbach; Anna Barbel [Bruch], wife of Theobald Welcher of Achtelsbach);[168] m. Johann Bernhardt Schmidt, 23 Apr 1755[169]
  4. Johannes: b. about 1723, probably in Dambach; m. Elisabetha Catharina Schumacher, daughter of the late Bernhardt of Buhlenberg, 22 Apr 1749 in Birkenfeld;[170] m(2). Maria Agnes Platte, daughter of the late Adam, 22 Jul 1760;[171] d. 17 Mar 1789; bur. 19 Mar 1789 in Buhlenberg, age 66 and 4 days[172]
  5. Peter (probable):[173] b. about 1725; m. Christina Elisabetha Alt;[174]
  6. Rosina Gertraudt: b. about 1727; m. Georg Nickel Jörg, Jan 1759;[175] d. after 17 Aug 1755 when she sponsored the baptism of Anna Elisabetha Bruch, daughter of her brother Johannes[176]
  7. Anna Magdalena: b. unknown; d. after 10 Jul 1771 when she sponsored the baptism of Johann Wilhelm Korn, son of Johann Michael and Anna Ursula Bruch, and was described as the mother’s sister[177]

Sebastian sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Bastian Scherer, son of Johannes and Maria Barbel of Achtelsbach, on 18 Mar 1703[178]
  2. Johann Sebastian Scherer, son of Johann Georg and Anna Maria of Achtelsbach, on 29 Sep 1710[179]
  3. Maria Elisabetha Welcher, daughter of Theobald and Anna Barbara (Bruch) of Achtelsbach, on 1 Mar 1711[180]

Maria Elisabetha Schuch sponsored the following baptism:

  1. Maria Elisabetha Helm (her granddaughter), daughter of Johann Peter and Anna Elisabetha (Bruch), on 22 Nov 1782[181]

Anna Barbara Bruch (Frantz, Michael, Theiss, Claus) married Johann Theobald Welcher of Achtelsbach and had the following children, all born in Achtelsbach:

  1. Johannes: bap. 1 Jan 1709 (sponsors were Johannes Ritter of Meckenbach; Anna Maria, wife of Martin [Gondhirt?])[182]
  2. Maria Elisabetha: bap. 1 Mar 1711 (sponsors were Sebastian Bruch, son of the late Frantz; Elsa Catharina, wife of Johannes Britzius; Maria Engel, wife of Matthes Anthes; all of Achtelsbach)[183]
  3. Philip Jacob: bap. 30 Jan 1713 (sponsors were Philip Ruppenthal, son of Johannes; Hans Jacob Scherer, son of the late Johannes of Meckenbach; Maria Dorothea, the daughter of the schoolmaster Michael Hoffmann)[184]
  4. Johann Peter: bap. 6 Feb 1716 (sponsors were Johannes Welcher of Schwarzenbach; Johann Peter, son of Sebastian Melchior of Achtelsbach; Maria Eva, daughter of Peter Welcher of Achtelsbach)[185]
  5. Elisabetha Margretha: bap. 10 Apr 1718 (sponsors were Johann Michel Friess; Anna Margretha, wife of Nickel Ruppenthal; Elisabetha Margretha [Bruch], wife of Peter Hujet of Achtelsbach)[186]

Anna Barbara Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Anna Barbel Hujet, daughter of Peter and Elisabetha Margretha (Bruch) of Achtelsbach, on 9 Nov 1704[187]
  2. Anna Barbara Gondhert, daughter of Martin (a miller) and Anna Barbara of Traunen, on 3 Jun 1708[188]
  3. Johann Nickel Melchior, son of Hans Peter and Elisabetha Catharina of Achtelsbach, on 26 Dec 1719[189]
  4. Anna Barbara Bruch, daughter of Sebastian and Maria Elisabetha of Dambach, on 25 Mar 1721[190]

Sixth Generation

Anna (Maria) Ursula Bruch (Sebastian, Frantz, Michael, Theiss, Claus) married Johann Michael Korn relatively late in her life and had the following child:

  1.  Johann Wilhelm: bap. 10 Jul 1771 (sponsors were Johannes Bruch, the mother’s brother from Buhlenberg; Melchior Hauth, wool-weaver from Buhlenberg; Anna Magdalena Bruch, the mother’s sister)[191]

Ursula died 1 July 1795 and was buried 3 July.[192] Confusingly, an “Anna Ursula, born Bruch” of Dambach died 23 Jun 1793 and was buried two days later, age 73.[193] She would have been born in the same year as the Ursula who married Michael Korn. Michael Korn’s wife was undoubtedly Sebastian’s daughter, the records are explicit, so it is not known who this other Ursula of Dambach was.

Johannes Bruch (Sebastian, Frantz, Michael, Theiss, Claus) first married Elisabetha Catharina Schumacher, daughter of the late Bernhardt Schumacher of Buhlenberg (she was baptized 19 Sep 1715 and her mother’s name was Anna Ursula Cuntz[194]). He then married Maria Agnes Platt(e), daughter of the late Adam. Per the entries in the Birkenfeld records, Johannes was Reformed and a shoemaker in Buhlenberg. In 1769, he was recorded as owning 2 oxen, 1 cow, 1 (horned) head of cattle (Rinder), 2 sheep, and 1 lamb.[195]

Johannes and Elisabetha Catharina Schumacher had the following children, born in Buhlenberg:

  1. Frantz Nickel: b.10 May 1751; bap. 11 May 1751 (sponsors were Frantz Carl Blassen of Brücken; Johann Engel of Rinzenberg; Catharina, daughter of Georg Jacob [Joschen?] of Buhlenberg);[196] d. 29 May 1751[197]
  2. Johann Jacob: b. 26 Aug 1752; bap. 27 Aug 1752 (sponsors were Johann Michael Cuntz of Buhlenberg; Georg Jacob Bernhardt of Buhlenberg; Anna Barbara Bauss [?] of Dambach);[198] d. 27 Sep 1778; bur. 29 Sep 1778[199]
  3. Anna Elisabetha: b. 16 Aug 1755; bap. 17 Aug 1755 (sponsors were Johann Peter Scheib, single shoemaker of Buhlenberg; Elisabetha Barbara…of Rinzenberg; Gertraudt Bruch, the father’s single sister);[200] m. Johann Peter Helm, son of Jacob of Brücken, 15 Feb 1778[201]  

Elisabetha Catharina died 19 Jan 1759 and was buried two days later.[202] Johannes and Maria Agnes Platte had the following children:

  1. Johann Peter: b. 8 Aug 1761; bap. 9 Aug 1761 (sponsors were Johann Nickel Gotz [?] of Buhlenberg; Johann Peter [?] of Rinzenberg; Maria [?] Bruchin [?] of Dambach);[203] d. 9 Feb 1764; bur. 10 Feb 1764[204]

Maria Agnesa Platte died 1 Jan 1793 and was buried on the 3rd, age 72.[205]

Johannes Bruch sponsored the following baptism:

  1. Johann Wilhelm Korn, son of Johann Michael and Anna Ursula (Bruch, his sister), 10 Jul 1771[206]

Peter Bruch (Sebastian, Frantz, Michael, Theiss, Claus) is almost certainly a son of Sebastian although there is no birth record for him. He was described as being from Dambach, where Sebastian lived, and another known child of Sebastian was a baptismal sponsor for Peter’s daughter Maria Elisabetha. Peter married (Maria) Christina Elisabetha Alt and had the following known children:

  1. Maria Elisabetha: b. 17 Nov 1759; bap. 20 Nov 1759 (sponsors were Johannes Alt of Meckenbach; Maria Elisabetha Bruch of Dambach);[207] m. Friedrich Jäger, son of Reichardt, 1 Apr 1788[208]
  2. Philip Jacob: b. about 1762; m. Maria Elisabetha Geibich, daughter of Philip Carl of Feckweiler, 10 Mar 1789[209]
  3. Peter: b. about 1765; m. Maria Catharina Strumman, daughter of Nickel of Baumholder, 28 Dec 1790[210]
  4. Sophia Catharina: b. 6 Aug 1771; bap. 8 Aug 1771 (sponsors were Johann Jacob Schmeyer of Ellweiler; Sophia Catharina Alt of Meckenbach);[211] m. Wendel Theiss, son of the Gerichtschöffe Nickel, 7 Oct 1778[212]

Christina Elisabetha died 14 Oct 1780, age 46. She was described as the widow of the late Peter Bruch of Dambach, who was described as a shearer.[213]  

Rosina Gertraudt Bruch (Sebastian, Frantz, Michael, Theiss, Claus) married Georg Nickel Jörg, a miller and church elder in Traunen, per the baptismal record of his son Johann Michael.

  1.  Johann Michael: b. 5 Oct 1764; bap. 7 Oct 1764 (sponsors were Johann Michael Korn [mother’s brother in law]; Anna Barbara, the wife of Matthias Bruch of Ellweiler)[214]

Gertraudt evidently died at some point after the birth of Johann Michael and before Georg Nickel Jörg married Maria Magdalena Ruppenthal on  25 Oct 1767.[215]

[1] Achtelsbach Church Book, deaths, 1618.

[2] Many genealogies give his birth year as 1533 in order to make him old enough to be the father of a Thomas Bruch whose descendants settled in Zweibrücken and founded the famous family there. This Thomas was allegedly the son of a baker from Achtelsbach. However, there is no evidence that Claus was his father, and his burial record is very clear about his age. If anything, Claus was his brother, and they could both be sons of a baker of an earlier generation in Achtelsbach.

[3] The earliest mention of Theiss comes in 1581 when he is a baptismal sponsor for a daughter of Johannes Engelbender. Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1581.

[4] Achtelsbach Church Book, marriages, 1585.

[5] Achtelsbach Church Book, marriages, 1611.

[6] He last sponsors a baptism on 20 March 1631.

[7] Achtelsbach Church Book; the baptismal record for “Hans Jacob [son of] Bastian Schneider” from 1590 lists as a sponsor “Hans Bruch Claus Bruchen sohn von Achtelsbach”

[8] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1576. Described as a daughter of “Baker Claus”.

[9] Achtelsbach Church Book, deaths, 1591.

[10] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1580.

[11] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1575.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid., 1576.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid., 1577.

[16] Ibid., 1579.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Ibid., 1581.

[19] Ibid., 1583.

[20] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptism, 1583.

[21] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1586.

[22] Ibid.

[23] Ibid., 1589.

[24] Ibid., 1590.

[25] Ibid.

[26] Ibid.

[27] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1594.

[28] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1575.

[29] Ibid.

[30] Ibid., 1577.

[31] Ibid., 1578.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Ibid., 1581.

[34] Ibid., 1584.

[35] Ibid., 1585.

[36] Ibid., 1588.

[37] Ibid., 1589.

[38] Ibid., 1609.

[39] Achtelsbach Church Book, marriages, 1585. It is implied he is a son of Claus Bruch “Theiss Baker Claussen.”

[40] Visitation.

[41] Achtelsbach Church Book, marriages, 1611.

[42] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1587. Described as “primogenita,” so she was Theiss’s first child.

[43] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1605.

[44] Peter remarries on that date; Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1617.

[45] The first reference to him is as a baptismal sponsor in 1612. Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1616. He was likely born in the gap in records between 1590 and 1609.

[46] The burial record of his son Matthes indicates that Sebastian was dead by that date; see Achtelsbach Church Book, deaths, 1634.

[47] The first reference to him is as a baptismal sponsor in 1621. He was likely born in the gap in records between 1590 and 1609.

[48] Wolfersweiler Church Book, marriages, 1646.

[49] Wolfersweiler Church Book, deaths, 1670. Gertraudt dies on 2 Jan 1670 and was described as a widow.

[50] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1621.

[51] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1626.

[52] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1628.

[53] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1630.

[54] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1631.

[55] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1642.

[56] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1643.

[57] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1612.

[58] Achtelsbach Church Book, deaths, 1612.

[59] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1613.

[60] Achtelsbach Church Book, deaths, 1613.

[61] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1618.

[62] Wolfersweiler Church Book, marriages, 1648.

[63] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1624.

[64] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1581.

[65] Ibid., 1583.

[66] Ibid., 1584.

[67] Ibid.

[68] Ibid., 1585.

[69] Ibid., 1586.

[70] Birkenfeld Church Book, 1586. Described as “Matthis, son of Baker Claus of Achtelsbach.”

[71] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1590.

[72] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1599. Listed as “Bruch Matthes von Achtelsbach.”

[73] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1610.

[74] Ibid., 1611.

[75] Ibid., 1613.

[76] Ibid., 1614.

[77] Ibid.

[78] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1615.

[79] Ibid., 1615.

[80] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1616, Listed as “Beckers Theiss von Achtelsbach”

[81] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1617.

[82] Ibid., 1631.

[83] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1612.

[84] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1617.

[85] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1590.

[86] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1585

[87] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1606.

[88] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1608.

[89] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1630. In the Birkenfeld records, the name looks more like “Glasdörfer.” The Achtelsbach Church Book contains a record of the marriage proclamation in Achtelsbach on 26 Oct and the name is listed as “Kleinsdörfer.”

[90] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1610.

[91] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1612.

[92] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1616.

[93] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1626

[94] Achtelsbach Church Book, deaths, 1634.

[95] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1628.

[96] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1630.

[97] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1631.

[98] Achtelsbach Church Book, deaths, 1632. The month runs into the book binding, but it is likely March. This record also appears in the list for 1633, but the age indicates it must have been 1632 unless he was 1 year and 4 months old.

[99] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1612. Described as “Baker Bastian of [Achtelsbach].”

[100] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1613.

[101] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1616.

[102] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1617.

[103] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1617.

[104] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1620.

[105] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1621.

[106] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1621.

[107] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1625.

[108] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1625.

[109] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1626.

[110] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1628.

[111] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1629.

[112] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1626.

[113] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1627.

[114] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1629.

[115] Ibid., 1631.

[116] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1631.

[117] Wolfersweiler Church Book, deaths, 1704.

[118] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1651.

[119] Wolfersweiler Church Book, confirmations, 1667.

[120] Zweibrücken Church Book, marriages, 1675 (film 434563). “Anna Margretha, daughter of the late Michel Bruch of Achtelsbach.”

[121] Zweibrücken Church Book, deaths, 1725.

[122] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1656.

[123] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1632.

[124] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1648.

[125] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1658.

[126] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1673.

[127] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1673.

[128] Wolfersweiler Church Book, marriages, 1697. Also recorded in the Birkenfeld Church Book.

[129] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1676.

[130] Wolfersweiler Church Book, deaths, 1705. Described as son of the late Frantz Bruch of Achtelsbach.

[131] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1684.

[132] Wolfersweiler Church Book, confirmations, 1699.

[133] Wolfersweiler Church Book, marriages, 1717.

[134] His daughter sponsors a baptism and is described as the daughter of the late Bastian Bruch of Dambach.

[135] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1687.

[136] Wolfersweiler Church Book, marriages, 1708.

[137] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1666. Entries are out of order.

[138] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1669. The surname runs into the margin, but reads “Hans Frantz Br…zu Achtelsbach.”

[139] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1684.

[140] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1703.

[141] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1709.

[142] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1710.

[143] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1713.

[144] Wolfersweiler Church Book, deaths, 1704.

[145] Zweibrücken Church Book, baptisms, 1681.

[146] Zweibrücken Church Book, baptisms, 1683.

[147] Zweibrücken Church Book, baptisms, 1686.

[148] Zweibrücken Church Book, deaths, 1687.

[149] Zweibrücken Church Book, deaths, 1725.

[150] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1699.

[151] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1700.

[152] Achtelsbach Church Book, marriages, 1736.

[153] Baumholder Church Book, baptisms, 1703.

[154] Achtelsbach Church Book, marriages, 1731.

[155] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1704.

[156] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1708.

[157] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1713.

[158] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1694.

[159] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1718.

[160] Achtelsbach Church Book, deaths, 1734.

[161] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1718.

[162] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1769.

[163] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1739. Described as the daughter of the late Bastian Bruch of Dambach.

[164] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1759.

[165] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1720.

[166] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1764.

[167] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1795.

[168] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1721.

[169] Achtelsbach Church Book, marriages, 1755.

[170] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1749. He is described as the son of Sebastian Bruch of Dambach.

[171] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1760. Described as a widow from Buhlenberg.

[172] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1789.

[173] Peter Bruch was described in various Birkenfeld records as being from Dambach, where Sebastian resided. Peter also turned to a child of Sebastian for a baptismal sponsor, making it likely he was the son of Sebastian.

[174] No marriage record has been found, but her maiden name is given in the baptismal record of her daughter Sophia Catharina in 1771.

[175] Achtelsbach Church Book, marriages, 1739.

[176] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1755. This is the only known record of Gertraudt. She was described as “the father’s single sister.”

[177] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1771.

[178] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1703.

[179] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1710.

[180] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1711.

[181] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1782.

[182] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1709.

[183] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1711.

[184] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1713.

[185] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1716.

[186] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1718.

[187] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1704.

[188] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1708.

[189] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1719.

[190] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1721.

[191] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1771.

[192] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1795.

[193] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1793.

[194] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1715. Her parents were married 8 Jan 1715, see Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1715.

[195] Weber, Rolf. Buhlenberg…(Birkenfeld: Heimatkunde im Landkreis Birkenfeld e.V., 1990), p. 65.

[196] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1751.

[197] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1751.

[198] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1752.

[199] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1778.

[200] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1755.

[201] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1778. Record indicates “peractis peragendis.”

[202] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1759.

[203] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1761.

[204] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1764.

[205] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1793.

[206] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1771.

[207] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1759.

[208] Baumholder Church Book, marriages, 1788. Described as daughter of Peter Bruch of Dambach.

[209] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1789.

[210] Baumholder Church Book, marriages, 1790. Described as son of Peter Bruch of Dambach.

[211] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1771.

[212] Berschweiler Church Book, marriages, 1778.

[213] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1780.

[214] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1764.

[215] Achtelsbach Church Book, marriages, 1767.