Descendants of Michael Bruch of Rinzenberg

Michael Bruch of Rinzenberg was likely born around 1615.  There is no evidence linking him to any particular Bruch family. One possibility is he is the son of Peter Bruch of Brücken since it is possible that that Michael survived into adulthood. Another possibility, perhaps more likely, is that he was related to Nicolaus Bruch, son of Bernhardt. That Nicolaus sponsored a baptism of someone from Rinzenberg in 1632, perhaps suggesting that he himself had settled there. Rinzenberg seems to be poorly represented in the Birkenfeld church records, so Michael’s origins are likely to remain obscure.

We do not know what Michael did for a living, and we do not know the name of Michael’s wife. They had the following known and possible children, born in Rinzenberg:

  1. Jacob: bap. 7 Jan 1644 (sponsors were Jacob Hoffmann, senior, of Rinzenberg; [?] Wart, senior, of Feckweiler; Anna Lies, wife of Hans Nickel [?]);[1] m. Margretha Roth, daughter of Johannes of Eisenhütten (Abentheuer), 7 May 1672;[2] bur. 19 Apr 1705, age 61[3]
  2. Maria Margretha: bap. 21 Oct 1646 (sponsors were Hans Jacob Schumach[er] of Buhlenberg; Margreth Hammen [of the castle?]; Maria, the daughter of the smith from Brücken);[4] m. Georg Wilhelm Roth of Eisenhütten (Abentheuer), 2 Oct 1666[5]
  3. [possible] Barbel: bap. 18 Apr 1652 (sponsors were Peter Jäg of Ellenberg; the wife of Bernhard Georg of Birkenfeld; [someone else from Rinzenberg]); this record lists the father simply as “Michel zu Rinzenberg.”[6] It may or may not be Michael Bruch.  

Michael Bruch sponsored the following baptism:

  1. Franciscus Hoffmann, son of Jacob, on 11 Oct 1644[7]

Second Generation

Jacob Bruch (Michael) was a forester in Abentheuer (also referred to as Eisenhütten). At one point, he may have been a soldier serving in the castle (see his sponsorship of Johann Bernhardt Burg). He married Margretha Roth, daughter of Johannes of Eisenhütten and had the following children:

  1. Franz Christian: bap. 9 Feb 1682 (sponsors were Johann Frantz Jacoby, court official [“hochfürst Amtskellner”] in Birkenfeld; Christian B[?] of the County of [?]; Hans Frantz Schumacher, from Buhlenberg; Anna Catharina Roth, maiden from Eisenhütten; Anna Eva, the daughter of Johannes Engel of Rinzenberg);[8] m. Anna Margretha Porcher, daughter of Philip, church Censor in Buhlenberg, 5 Jun 1708;[9] d. 11 Mar 1729; bur. 13 Mar 1729[10]
  2. Johann Carl: bap. 5 Mar 1684 (sponsors were Johann Carl Pauli of Brücken; Hans Jacob Hujet of Birkenfeld; Eva Christina, the wife of Hans Melchior Burg; Anna Barbara, daughter of Nickel Schuch of Traunen);[11] m. Maria Elisabetha _, about 1717; d. 29 May 1769; bur. 31 May 1769, age 85[12]
  3. Johann Burckhart: bap. 6 May 1692 (sponsors were Johannes Burckhart…[?]; Heinrich Burckhart Roth of Buhlenberg; Johannes Helm..[?]…[others unclear])[13]

Jacob Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Hans Jacob Roth, son of Georg Wilhelm and Margretha, on 5 Mar 1671[14]
  2. Hans Jacob Hoffmann, son of Jacob and Susanna of Rinzenberg, on 19 Jun 1671[15]
  3. Hans Jacob Ruppenthal, son of Carl and Anna Maria of Buhlenberg, on 7 Aug 1672[16]
  4. Elisabetha Wentz, daughter of Hans Nickel and Anna Barbel, on 18 Dec 1672[17]
  5. [probably] Johann Bernhardt Burg, son of Hans Nickel and Anna Maria of Birkenfeld, on 3 Jul 1675. He is described as a “soldier in the castle [soldat aus dem Schloss].”[18] Unless this is another Jacob Bruch, this record indicates that he was a soldier before serving as a forester.
  6. Anna Sophia Sohns, daughter of Paul and Sophia Dorothea of Rinzenberg, on 18 Jan 1676. He is again described as a soldier in the castle.[19]
  7. Johann Jacob Cuntz, son of Hans Peter, on 29 Aug 1677[20]
  8. Hans Bartel Hoffmann, son of Berndt of Ellenberg, on 4 Dec 1682[21]
  9. Liessen Barbel Schank, daughter of Carl of Brücken, on 28 Mar 1684[22]
  10. Hans Frantz Burg, son of Melchior, on 13 May 1685[23]
  11. Hans Bernhardt Zwetsch, son of Carl Otto, on 21 Sep 1687[24]
  12. Hans Michael Roth, son of Bernhardt, on 28 Nov 1688[25]
  13. Johann Melchior Pauli, son of Carl, on 9 Oct 1689[26]
  14. Anna Ursula Roth, daughter of Hans Nickel and Anna Catharina, on 29 Jun 1691[27]

Margretha Roth sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Gustav Carl Jerusalem, son of Claus, on 8 Feb 1677. She is described as “Margretha Bruch from the castle,” showing that she lived there with her husband while he was a soldier therein.[28]
  2. Johann Jost, son of “Johann Wilhelm der Kohlenbrenner,” on 25 Jul 1683[29]
  3. Hans Peter Sohns, son of Hans Adam, on 1 May 1685[30]
  4. Hans Nickel Eisenschmidt, son of Mattheiss, on 30 Mar 1688[31]

Margretha Roth was buried 6 Jul 1701, age 52.[32] Jacob Bruch was buried 19 Apr 1705, age 61. His death record describes him as a forester in Eisenhütten.[33]

Maria Margretha Bruch (Michael) married Georg Wilhelm Roth and had the following children:

  1. Hans Paul: bap. 24 Jul 1667 (sponsors are unclear)[34]
  2. Hans Jacob: bap. 5 Mar 1671 (sponsors were Matthes Brenner of Brücken; Hans Adam Burg of Birkenfeld; Hans Jacob Bruch, from Rinzenberg)[35]
  3. Gustav Carl: bap. 30 Nov 1673 (sponsors were Gustav [?], secretary; Carl Otto Storr; Anna Maria Meyer; Eva Hoffman of Birkenfeld)[36]
  4. Anna Liess: bap. 2 Mar 1679 (sponsors were Carl Zw[?] of Birkenfeld; Peter Schumach[er];…Anna Barbel Schuch…)[37]
  5. Unnamed Daughter: bap. 11 Apr 1685 (sponsors were Hans Nickel Porcher; Thomas Sohn[?] of Dambach; Anna Maria Ruppenthal of Buhlenberg; Anna Lies Sch[?] of Brücken; Elisabetha… [?])[38]
  6. Susanna: bap. 17 Jul 1689 (sponsors were Hans Jacob Hoffman; Peter Caspar of Ellenberg; Susanna Roth of Birkenfeld; Ursula [?] of Birkenfeld)[39]

Third Generation

Franz Christian Bruch (Jacob, Michael) married Anna Margretha Porcher. He was a forester like his father. He was later recorded as living in Abentheuer and then Buhlenberg, where he was also described as a huntsman.

He had the following children:

  1. Anna Barbara: bap. 17 Apr 1709 (sponsors were Martin Roth of Eisenhutten; Anna, the wife of Johann Friedrich Barth of Birkenfeld; Anna Barbara, daughter of Philip Porcher, Censor in Buhlenberg);[40] m. Carl Tobias Stephan, a journeyman tanner and son of Jacob, tanner in Feckweiler, 3 Mar or May 1729[41]
  2. Maria Christina: bap. 10 Jan 1711 (sponsors were Philip Nickel Sohn; Anna Christina, wife of Burckhart Roth of Buhlenberg; Anna Maria, wife of Jacob Hujet, the innkeeper);[42] m. Thomas Hoffmann, journeyman carpenter and son of Martin, 23 Jul 1731[43]
  3. Anna Catharina: bap. 19 Jul 1712 (sponsors were Johann Carl Bruch [father’s brother], bachelor; Anna Catharina, wife of Franz Sohn; Sarah, wife of Johannes Hojet [Hujet])[44]
  4. Anna Maria: bap. 25 Apr 1715 (sponsors were Michael Hujet from Buhlenberg; Maria Catharina, wife of Wilhelm Heilmann of Brücken; Anna Maria, wife of Otto Porcher of Brücken);[45] m. Johann Carl Krieger, 28 Aug 1736;[46] d. 22 Feb 1749[47]
  5. Johann Frantz: bap. 10 Aug 1717 (sponsors were Johann Franz Pauli of Brücken; Johann Matthes [Roth?] from Eisenhütten; the wife of Michel Roth of Brücken)[48]
  6. Johann Carl: bap. 27 Oct 1720 (sponsors were Johann Jacob Heilmann, the Gerichtsmann of Brücken; Johann Carl, single son of Carl Otto Roth; Anna Sophia, the widow of Johann Adam Porcher of Buhlenberg);[49] d. 16 Feb 1723; bur. 17 Feb 1723[50]
  7. Johann Christian: bap. 13 Jan 1723 (sponsors were Melchior Pauli; Johann Nickel Eisenschmidt; Eva[?] Gertraudt [?]); d. 1742[51] 
  8. Johann Heinrich: bap. 11 Feb 1725 (sponsors were Johann Heinrich Leister of Birkenfeld; Johannes _[?] of Buhlenberg; Anna Catharina, the wife of the hunter Gerhart of [?]);[52] bur. 26 Apr 1727[53]
  9. Johann Jacob: bap. 9 Dec 1727 (sponsors were Thomas Sohns of Ellenberg; Johann Jacob Wolf from Brücken; Maria, daughter of Hans Nickel Engel of Rinzenberg)[54]

Franz Christian sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Franz Nickel Porcher, son of Johann Otto and Anna Maria of Brücken, 20 Mar 1712[55]

Anna Margretha Porcher sponsored the following baptism:

  1. Anna Maria Hujet, daughter of Johannes and Anna Sara, 18 Sep 1717[56]

Franz Christian Bruch died 11 March 1729 and was buried two days later. In his death record, he was described as the forester in Buhlenberg (not Abentheuer as before).[57] Anna Margretha Porcher died 22 May 1736 and was buried the next day, age 49[58]

Johann Carl Bruch (Jacob, Michael) was also a forester in Abentheuer per his death record. He is also recorded as such when he sponsors the baptism of a son of the Oberförster Johann Michel Wagner in Wolfersweiler in 1735.[59] He married Maria Elisabetha, surname unknown, and had the following children:

  1. Anna Catharina: bap. 22 Feb 1718 (sponsors were Niclas Trein; Anna Catharina, the wife of Carl Otto Roth; Anna Margretha, the wife of Frantz Christian Bruch);[60] m. Philip Jacob Heilmann, son of Jacob of Brücken, 25 Nov 1738[61]
  2. Johann Carl: bap. 1 Aug 1719 (sponsors were Johannes Treim, Pfarrer in Allenbach; Johann Carl Roth; Anna Catharina, wife of Johann Jacob Laiglers [?] of Birkenfeld);[62] m. Maria Magdalena Näher, daughter of the late Nicolaus, 7 Jun 1746;[63] d. 18 Jan 1779; bur. 20 Jan 1779[64]
  3. Maria Dorothea: bap. 30 Oct 1720 (sponsors were Nicol Trein, bachelor; Anna Dorothea, the wife of Johann Sebastian Nonnweiler, church Censor in Birkenfeld; Maria Christina, the wife of Johann Jacob Sohn);[65] m. Johann Jacob Haas, son of the late Martin of Buhlenberg, 25 Oct 1746[66]

Maria Elisabetha sponsored the following baptism:

  1. Sophia Elisabetha Suns, daughter of Franz and Anna Catharina, 11 Jul 1718[67]

Maria Elisabetha died 9 May 1723 and was buried two days later, age 24.[68] A Catharina Margretha Bruch, “widow of the late Johann Carl, forester in Abentheuer,” died 4 May 1781, age 76.[69]

Fourth Generation

Anna Barbara Bruch (Franz Christian, Jacob, Michael) married Carl Tobias Stephan and had the following children:

  1. Maria Catharina: bap. 2 Nov 1730[70]
  2. Maria Elisabetha: bap. 10 Sep 1732[71]
  3. Johann Mathes: bap. 31 Dec 1733[72]

Maria Christina Bruch (Franz Christian, Jacob, Michael) married Thomas Hoffmann, a carpenter, and had the following children:

  1. Maria Margretha: bap. 18 May 1732[73]
  2. Maria Sibilla: bap. 20 Feb 1734[74]
  3. Maria Sidonia: bap. 4 Sep 1735[75]
  4. Anna Maria: bap. 26 Nov 1737[76]
  5. Maria Catharina: bap. 28 Nov 1740; d. 1741[77]

Anna Maria Bruch (Franz Christian, Jacob, Michael) married Carl Krieger and had the following children, including a number who were probably stillborn, dying shortly after the birth of Peter:

  1. Unnamed: d. 9 Jul 1738[78]
  2. Unnamed: d. 3 Nov 1739[79]
  3. Johann Jacob: bap. 29 Oct 1740[80]
  4. Unnamed: d. 30 Oct 1743[81]
  5. Maria Dorothea: bap. 30 Nov 1744; d. 1752[82]
  6. Unnamed: d. 7 Nov 1747[83]
  7. Johann Peter: bap. 18 Feb 1749[84]

Anna Catharina Bruch (Johann Carl, Jacob, Michael) married Philip Jacob Heilmann and had the following children:

  1. Johann Jacob: bap. 29 Jan 1747[85]
  2. Johann Christian: bap. 20 Oct 1749[86]
  3. Johann Christian: bap. 28 Jun 1752[87]
  4. Johannes: bap. 4 Apr 1754[88]

Johann Carl Bruch (Johann Carl, Jacob, Michael) was a tanner (Rothgerber) in Birkenfeld. He married Maria Magdalena Näher and had the following children:

  1. Friedrich Carl: bap. 20 Jul 1747 (sponsors were the grandfather Johann Carl Bruch, forester in Abentheuer; Friedrich Karl Näher, the mother’s brother; Magdalena, the surgeon’s wife of Birkenfeld);[89] m. Maria Sophia Leyser, daughter of Johann Georg Otto, 11 Feb 1784[90]
  2. Johann Georg Otto: bap. 28 Jan 1750 (sponsors were Johann Georg Otto Leyser of Birkenfeld; Philip Jacob Heilmann; Maria Catharina, wife of Johann Jacob Nunnweiler of Birkenfeld)[91]
  3. Frantz Jacob: bap. 26 Feb 1753 (sponsors were Frantz Wilhelm Naher, tanner; Johann Jacob Haas[?] of Abentheuer; Anna Catharina, wife of Bernhardt [?], butcher)[92]
  4. Frantz Burkhardt: bap. 26 Oct 1755 (sponsors were Johann Burkhardt Bruch of Zweibrücken [possibly the son of Jacob 1.1?], single; Frantz Nickel Heilmann, linen weaver of Rinzenberg; Sophia Elisabetha, widow of the late Abraham of Gollenberg);[93] m. Maria Charlotta Nunnweiler, daughter of Johann Jacob, innkeeper in Birkenfeld, 22 Apr 1788;[94] d. 24 Apr 1795; bur. 26 Apr 1795[95]
  5. Maria Catharina: bap. 17 Nov 1759 (sponsors were Philip Jacob Näher of Birkenfeld; Anna Catharina Bruch of Abentheuer; Maria Catharina Lengler of Birkenfeld);[96] d. 3 May 1794; bur. 5 May 1794, age 34[97]
  6. Maria Carolina: bap. 31 Jul 1766 (sponsors were Jacob Näher of Feckweiler; Maria Sophia Schneider of Birkenfeld; Carolina Ruppenthal of Birkenfeld);[98] d. 8 Nov 1769; bur. 10 Nov 1769, age 3[99]

Johann Carl died 18 January 1779 and was described as a “citizen and tanner in Birkenfeld.”[100] Maria Magdalena died 6 September 1781, age “56 years, 9 months…”[101] She was one of many victims of an outbreak of dysentery that hit Birkenfeld that August. She was described as the widow of Johann Carl Bruch, the tanner. Remarkably, a letter written to one of her sons informing him of her death survived in the possession of the Hauth family (presumably passed down Friedrich Carl’s son, who married a Hauth). The son was in Gouda, in the Netherlands, on travels as a journeyman.[102]

Another letter in the possession of the Hauth family describes a remarkable incident involving two of Johann Carl’s sons during their journeyman period. Johann Georg became a hatter and Franz (probably Franz Jacob) became a tanner like his father. Both brothers undertook long travels to learn their trade. Over the course of ten years, the two brothers separately “visited all the larger places, such as Paris, Petersburg…Holland and Hungary.” After ten years without seeing each other, they happened to meet one day in Regensburg in Bavaria. Franz allegedly asked “Bist du Bruder Jörgen oder nicht? (are you not brother Georg?)”

During this time, one of the brothers wrote home asking for money, ominously warning that if it did not arrive, he would have to do something he had not done before. Money was sent, and he replied that if it had not arrived, he would have had to do something he did not want to do: work![103]

Maria Dorothea Bruch (Johann Carl, Jacob, Michael) married Johann Jacob Haas and had the following children:

  1. Maria Catharina: bap. 17 Aug 1747[104]
  2. Julianna Catharina: bap. 6 Jan 1750[105]
  3. Maria Margretha: bap. 4 Aug 1752[106]
  4. Johann Carl (twin): bap. 8 Jun 1759[107]
  5. Sophia Elisabetha (twin): bap. 8 Jun 1759[108]

[1] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1644.

[2] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1672.

[3] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1705.

[4] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1646. The surname of the father is left blank, but is described as “Michel _ zu Rinz[en]berg,” so it is clearly Michael Bruch.

[5] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1666.

[6] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1652.

[7] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1644.

[8] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1682.

[9] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1708.

[10] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1729.

[11] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1684.

[12] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1769.

[13] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1692.

[14] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1671. Described as a bachelor from Rinzenberg.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1672.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1675.

[19] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1676.

[20] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1677. Described as Jacob Bruch of Rinzenberg.

[21] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1682.

[22] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1684.

[23] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1685.

[24] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1687.

[25] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1688.

[26] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1689.

[27] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1691.

[28] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1677.

[29] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1683.

[30] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1685.

[31] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1688.

[32] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1701.

[33] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1705.

[34] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1667.

[35] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1671.

[36] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1673.

[37] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1679.

[38] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1685.

[39] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1689.

[40] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1709.

[41] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1729. The month is not quite clear.

[42] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1711.

[43] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1731.

[44] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1712.

[45] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1715. The baptismal record notes that she died in 1749.

[46] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1736.

[47] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1749.

[48] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1717.

[49] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1720.

[50] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1723.

[51] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1723. The baptismal record notes that he died in 1742.

[52] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1725.

[53] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1727.

[54] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1727.

[55] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1712.

[56] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1717.

[57] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1729.

[58] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1749.

[59] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 1735.

[60] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1718.

[61] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1738. Described as daughter of Johann Carl Bruch, forester of Eisenhütten (Abentheuer).

[62] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1719.

[63] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1746.

[64] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1779.

[65] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1720.

[66] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1746.

[67] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1718.

[68] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1723.

[69] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1781.

[70] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1730.

[71] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1732.

[72] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1733.

[73] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1732.

[74] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1734.

[75] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1735.

[76] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1737.

[77] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1740. The baptismal record indicates she died next year.

[78] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1738. The child’s death was recorded in the baptismal records.

[79] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1739. The child’s death was recorded in the baptismal records.

[80] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1740.

[81] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1743. The child’s death was recorded in the baptismal records.

[82] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1744.

[83] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1747. The child’s death was recorded in the baptismal records.

[84] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1749.

[85] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1747.

[86] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1749.

[87] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1752.

[88] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1754.

[89] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1747.

[90] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1784.

[91] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1750.

[92] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1753.

[93] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1755.

[94] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1788.

[95] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1795. He was described as a tanner (Rothgerber).

[96] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1759.

[97] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1794.

[98] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1766.

[99] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1769.

[100] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1779.

[101] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths,s 1781.

[102] See Lohmeyer, K. Bearbeitung von Birkenfelder Kirchenbüchern. (1909), p. 76.

[103] Ibid., 115.

[104] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1747.

[105] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1750.

[106] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1752.

[107] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1759.

[108] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1759.