Descendants of Nicolaus Bruch of Birkenfeld

Nicolaus Bruch of Birkenfeld was roughly the same generation as Jacob and Georg Bruch of nearby Feckweiler. He was also a contemporary of Claus Bruch of Achtelsbach. The exact relationship to the other Bruch families is unknown, but Nicolaus knew some of the same people as Jacob Bruch of Feckweiler. Jacob Bruch’s future wife Adelheit’s husband Thielmann was a baptismal sponsor for Nicolaus’s daughter Elsa. Also, on one occasion, Nicolaus Bruch was a baptismal sponsor with Jacob’s son Nicolaus.[1]

It seems that Nicolaus Bruch was also known as Nicolaus Krauss. While Nicolaus was alive, there are no mentions of him ever being known by another name (nor is there a single mention of a Nicolaus Krauss). However, in the next generation, two people are identified as being the children of Nicolaus Krauss, who was known as Nicolaus Bruch. The names of these children, Nicolaus and Clara, match known children of Nicolaus Bruch of Birkenfeld. There are also common connections with the family of Bastian Weyrich and other social connections that suggest that Nicolaus Bruch of Birkenfeld and Nicolaus Krauss were at least connected to each other in some way if they were not, in fact, the same person. Nicolaus Bruch sponsored the baptism of Nicolaus Faust in 1583. Thomas, husband of Clara, sponsored a child of that Nicolaus in the next generation. Jacob Freytag, whose daughter married the younger Nicolaus Krauss, sponsored the baptism of a later child of Bastian Weyrich and Margretha Bruch, daughter of Nicolaus. It should also be noted that the wife of a Johannes Krauss sponsored the baptism of the Barbel Weyrich, daughter of Bastian and Margretha. Later, Clara’s husband Thomas stood in for Barbel Weyrich when she sponsored a baptism in 1617. These connections that persist throughout generations strongly suggest that there was a familial connection between Clara, daughter of “Nicolaus Bruch or Krauss,” the younger Nicolaus Krauss, and the man identified as “Nicolaus Bruch” in the 16th Century.

The evidence is mixed on whether Nicolaus’s actual surname was Bruch or Krauss. While he is alive, he was always referred to as Bruch. Only after he died does the Krauss name appear and when it does it seems to be an alternative to Bruch, with Bruch being the primary moniker. Indeed, Clara’s husband Thomas was known as Bruch, not Krauss (although Thomas’s children adopted Burg, his original surname). However, Nicolaus the younger seems to have adopted Krauss. In almost all the records in which he appears, he is described as “Krauss, vulgo Bruch” suggesting Krauss was his official name, but he was known commonly as Bruch. On balance, I suspect that Nicolaus the Elder was born as Bruch, but may have been commonly known as Krauss, perhaps because he married into a Krauss family and the name had some social clout.     

No one by the name of Nicolaus Bruch (or Krauss) appears in the 1559 or 1563 tax lists for Birkenfeld. Nicolaus does not appear in any of the tax lists for the neighboring villages either. This suggests that he was living elsewhere as late as 1563, perhaps in another region or with his father if his father was one of the Bruch men of Feckweiler.

Nicolaus was first married to Anna, surname unknown. She died 25 Oct 1568.[2] She was probably the mother of Nicolaus’s early children. The following were identified as his children in their marriage records:

  1. Bernhardt: b. about 1560; m. Anna, daughter of the late Bernhardt Schmitt, 27 May 1586;[3] bur. 9 Mar 1591[4] 
  2. Margretha: b. about 1567; m. Bastian Weyrich of Feckweiler, 1 Feb 1592[5]    

Nicolaus then married Margretha, surnamed unknown. No marriage record has been found, but early marriage records in Birkenfeld are sporadic. They had the following children:

  1. Elss(a): bap. 30 Aug 1573 (sponsors were “Thielmann [der] Wirth” of Birkenfeld; Elsa, wife of Frantz ?Holtz of ?Hoppstaten; Margretha, wife of Hansen Lorch of Dambach);[6] baptismal sponsor for Barbara Lorch, daughter of Martin of Dambach, 5 Mar 1600 and described as the daughter of the late Nicolaus.[7]
  2. Clara: bap. 26 Jan 1576 (sponsors were Anders Schumach[er] of Buhlenberg; Clara, “the wife of the old [Elt?] Schultheiss of Hoppstaten;” Margretha, wife of Thomas Walner of Birkenfeld);[8] m. Thomas (blank), 13 May 1602;[9] if so, her father’s name is listed as “Bruch Nicolaus, oder Krauss,” which would indicate that Nicolaus Bruch of Birkenfeld was really Nicolaus Krauss.
  3. Peter: bap. Sep 1578;[10] d. 21 Feb 1583[11]
  4. Johann: bap. 23 Jul 1581 (sponsors were Peter Hartels of Buhlenberg; Johann Weissgerber of Birkenfeld; Gertraut, wife of Bernhardt Schneider)[12]
  5. Nicolaus:  bap. 8 Dec 1583 (sponsors were Ludwig Becker of Birkenfeld; “Hans [Grub] der Schumacher” of Ellweiler; [illegible]);[13] probably m. Maria Freytag, daughter of Jacob of Traunen, 21 Aug 1610; if so, this record includes a note in the margin that the groom’s father, listed as “the late Nicolaus Bruch of here in Birkenfeld…” was also known as Nicolaus Krauss.[14]
  6. Petrus: bap. 30 Jun 1587 (sponsors were Matthes Weber of Eisen; “Peter [der] Waldforster” [Peter Thielmann] of Birkenfeld; Margretha, wife of Adam Birkenfeld [a court official]);[15] d. 13 Mar 1610, age 23[16]

A Nicolaus Bruch, son of Nicolaus, died 7 Mar 1583.[17] No indication of age was given, so we do not know when he was born, and thus we do not know who his mother was.

A Nicolaus Bruch sponsors a baptism in 1581 and is described as “wüw,” which might be an abbreviation for “wüllenweber,” a contemporary spelling.[18] This is the only instance where an occupation is listed for Nicolaus, although it is possible that this record refers to another Nicolaus Bruch.

Nicolaus sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Nicolaus, son of Hanssen “der Hahnmüller,” 18 Apr 1577[19]
  2. Nicolaus, son of Peter Cuntz, the schoolmaster in Birkenfeld, 11 Jan 1579[20]
  3. Nicolaus, son of Hanssen Kochschneider, 1 Aug 1579[21]
  4. Anna, daughter of Bastian Büttels of Schmissberg, late Aug 1579[22]
  5. Nicolaus, son of Johannes “der Tielschneider,” 21 Sep 1580[23]
  6. Veltenn, son of Nicolaus [no surname], 29 Sep 1581[24]
  7. Sara, daughter of the Pfarrer Johannes Conon of Birkenfeld, 21 Nov 1581[25]
  8. Nicolaus Faust, son of Hanssen of Dienstweiler, 2 Oct 1583[26]
  9. Niclass Helman, son of Classen of Brücken, 3 Jan 1585 (with Nicolaus Bruch, Jacob’s son)[27]

Margretha sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Thomas Platz, son of Thomas and Barbara of Birkenfeld, 20 Jan 1572
  2. Peter, son of Hanssen “der Schaufhirt” [shepherd] of Birkenfeld, 19 Mar 1577[28]
  3. Maria, daughter of Paul Eisenschmidt, 7 Apr 1579[29]
  4. Elisabeth, daughter of Claus Balthes of Rinzenberg, 14 Feb 1580[30]
  5. Gertraudt, daughter of Claus Walradt of Birkenfeld, 22 Mar 1580[31]
  6. Margretha, daughter of Johann Weissgerber of Birkenfeld, 1 Sep 1586[32]
  7. Susanna Dill, daughter of Claus and Margretha of Birkenfeld, 15 Dec 1608[33]

Nicolaus died on 31 Dec 1587 in Birkenfeld and was described as “Nicolaus Senior.”[34] Margretha then married Johannes Florius of Hattgenstein on 19 Apr 1591.[35]

Second Generation

Bernhardt Bruch (Nicolaus) married Anna Schmitt. It is not clear if he is the same as the Bernhardt Bruch of nearby Hoppstätten. A Bernhardt Bruch of Birkenfeld died in 1591 and is almost certainly Nicolaus’s son. A Nicolaus Bruch who married in 1618 was described as a son of the late Bernhardt Bruch of Hoppstätten. A Johannes Bruch who married in 1620 was described as the son of the late Bernhardt Bruch of Birkenfeld. In 1624, a Johannes Bruch, described as the son of the late Bernhardt Bruch of Hoppstätten, married. It is possible that there were two Bernhardt Bruchs of the same generation.   

The following could be Bernhardt’s children based on their marriage records:

  1. [possible] Nicolaus: b. about 1588; m. Susanna Schumacher, daughter of Johannes of [?], early 1618;[36] alive as late as 16 Aug 1632 when he sponsored the baptism of Jost Hoffmann, son of Nickel of Rinzenberg (described as “Nickelss Bruchen Bernhard sohn”).[37] This connection to Rinzenberg makes Nicolaus a candidate to be the father of Michael Bruch of Rinzenberg, whose origins are obscure (see Part Six).
  2. Johannes: b. about 1590; m(1) Maria Gerloss, daughter of Bernhard of Birkenfeld, 24 Oct 1620;[38] possibly m(2). Susanna Sohn, daughter of the late Peter of Dambach, Apr 1624;[39] he is possibly the “Johannes Bruch of Hoppstätten” who sponsors the baptism of Johann Carl Clossmann, son of Hans Georg of Gimbweiler, 14 Jun 16_.[40]

Bernhardt Bruch (of Birkenfeld) sponsors the following baptism:

  1. Margretha, daughter of Niclass Born of Dienstweiler, 23 Mar 1589[41]

Anna Schmitt sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Anna Birck, daughter of Hansen of Birkenfeld, 20 Jun 1587[42]
  2. Frantz Blassius, son of Johannes of Feckweiler, 19 Dec 1589[43]

Bernhardt was buried 9 Mar 1591.[44] 

Margretha Bruch (Nicolaus) married Bastian Weyrich, son of Weyrich the Wagoner of Feckweiler. Their children, born in Feckweiler were:

  1. Nicolaus: bap. 9 Sep 1593 (sponsors were Matthes of Eisen; Niclaus the Tanner of Feckweiler; Margretha, wife of Jacob Wart of Feckweiler)[45]
  2. Barbel: bap. 18 Feb 1595 (sponsors were Thomas Platz of Birkenfeld; Barbel, wife of Johannes Krauss; Margretha, wife of Jacob Niclass of Feckweiler);[46] d. after 28 Oct 1617; sponsored the baptism of Barbel Meyer, daughter of Thomas and Maria of Feckweiler, on 28 Oct 1617 (she was represented by Thomas Bruch of Birkenfeld)[47]
  3. Adam: bap. 29 Jun 1599 (sponsors were Thomas Wart…Gortz, wife of Platz Johann of Birkenfeld)[48]
  4. Nicolaus: bap. Jan 1602 (sponsors are unclear)[49] 
  5. Johannes: bap. 9 Apr 1606 (sponsors were Johann Brenner of Feckweiler; Hans Weber, son of Jacob of Buhlenberg; Gretta, wife of Nicolaus Schneider of Feckweiler)[50]
  6. Jacob: bap. 27 Nov 1615 (sponsors were Jacob Freytag of Traunen; Thomas Meyer of Feckweiler; Margretha wife of Peter Fickeysen).[51] There is an ink blot over the first part of the father’s first name, but it ends clearly in “richs.” With the father’s first name of Bastian and the mother’s name given as Margretha, it is likely Weyrich. In Dec 1640, a Jacob Weyrich, son of Bastian, sponsors the baptism of Margretha Krauss, daughter of Caspar.[52] In 1645, Jacob Weyrich, a shoemaker in Feckweiler described as the son of the late Bastian, married Elisabetha Ruppenthal, daughter of the late Johannes[53]

Margretha Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Margretha, daughter of Hanssen Lorch[en], 22 Jun 1587[54]
  2. Conrad Borcher, son of Hans, 18 Nov 1588[55]
  3. Margreth, daughter of Niclass Blassius of Feckweiler, 26 Feb 1592[56]
  4. Thomas, son of “M[eister] Michael dess Schreiner” of Feckweiler, 3 Dec 1592[57]
  5. Margretha Bruch, daughter of Nicolaus Bruch (son of Jacob), 13 Dec 1598[58]
  6. Dünges [?] Hoffmann, son of Jost and Margretha, on 5 Mar 1617[59]
  7. Thomas Wart, son of Johannes of Feckweiler, 21 Dec 1619[60]

Clara Bruch (Nicolaus) married Thomas, a baker in Birkenfeld. The marriage record has a blank space where his surname should be, but subsequent references to the couple make it clear that his original surname was Burch or Burck.[61] Based on when he was married, Thomas was likely born around 1570. In the marriage record, Thomas was described as working for the innkeeper Peter Becker. Clara was described as the daughter of the late “Nicolaus Bruch, or Krauss.”[62] In most subsequent records, Thomas is described as “Thomas Burch, commonly, Thomas Bruch.” Despite some early continued use of “Bruch” in the next generation, the surname of Thomas and Clara’s children eventually evolved into “Burg,” echoing their father’s original name.   

Thomas and Clara had the following children:

  1. Hans Friedrich: bap. 7 Sep 1606 (sponsors were Peter Kussler of Birkenfeld; Hans Franz, son of Ludwig Becker of Birkenfeld; Christina, wife of Friedrich Kelner, the Sponheim scribe)[63]
  2. Bernhardt: bap. 6 Aug 1609 (sponsors were Berndt Müller of Birkenfeld; Claus Enders of Brücken; Margretha, daughter of Peter Kussler of Birkenfeld);[64] m(1). Agnes, daughter of Johann Hautals[?] of [Rohrbach?] in Amt Lichtenberg, 12 Jan 1630;[65] m(2). Catharina Gerloss, daughter of Bernhardt, 12 Jul 1636;[66] m(3). Maria Dorothea Hoffmann, bef. 1647;[67] d. after 1640
  3. Gertraudt: b. about 1611; m. Ulrich Keisers, son of Nickel of Burbach, 29 Jan 1632;[68] no known issue
  4. Clara: bap. 14 Apr 1613 (sponsors were Johannes Perulus[same as Florius?]; Ketter, wife of Melchers Buss of Birkenfeld; Clara, wife of Michel Schneider[?] of Birkenfeld);[69] m. Adam Kussler, son of the late Peter the wool weaver of Birkenfeld, 6 Jun 1637[70]
  5. Conrad [probable]: b. about 1615; m(1). Margretha Anstatt, widow of Nickel and daughter of Peter Franz of Birkenfeld, 6 Mar 1638;[71] m(2). Anna Maria Risch, daughter of Enders (Andreas), 26 May 1640; bur. 19 Jul 1657[72]
  6. Hans Nickel: bap. 23 Feb 1617 (sponsors were Nicolaus Böss, the tanner in Birkenfeld; Johann Wengel[?], a court tailor; [daughter or wife of] Friedrich Kelner, the scribe);[73] m. Maria Felicitas Storn, daughter of the Schultheiss Franz Melchior, 11 May 1641[74]  

Thomas Bruch represented Barbel Weyrich, daughter of Bastian and Margretha (Bruch) of Feckweiler, when she sponsored the baptism of Barbel Meyer, daughter of Thomas and Maria of Feckweiler, on 28 Oct 1617.[75] This connection to a granddaughter of the elder Nicolaus Bruch of Birkenfeld strengthens the case that this Nicolaus was really Nicolaus Krauss.

Thomas sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Christian [Schu], son of Claus, the smith and [step] son-in-law of Nicolaus Bruch of Birkenfeld, and Els, on 15 Feb 1611. Described as “Thomas Burck, vulgo Bruch Thomas, a baker.”[76]
  2. Peter Faust, son of Nicolaus and Maria, 22 Apr 1615. He is described as “Thomas Burch, vulgo Bruch Thomas, a baker.”[77]
  3. Thomas Becker, son of Hans Dietrich and Sünge, on 16 Jun 1615. He is described as “Thomas Burch, vulgo Bruch Thomas.”[78] Nicolaus Krauss also knew Hans Dietrich Becker.
  4. Anna Mertz, daughter of Peter and Sünge (Bruch, daughter of Theiss of Achtelsbach) of Birkenfeld, on 14 Feb 1616. He is described as “Thomas Burch, vulgo Bruch Thomas, a baker.”[79]

Clara sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Christina Platz, daughter of Hanssen, 1 Apr 1602.[80] In that record, she was described as the daughter of the late Nicolaus Bruch.  
  2. Clara, daughter of Johann Paulus, a cooper, and Anna of Birkenfeld, 7 Mar 1616[81]
  3. Nicolaus, son of Michel Schneiderhentz, a tailor and chandler in Birkenfeld, and Clara, on 29 Jun 1618. She is described as “Clara, wife of Thomas Hurchen [sic], vulgo Bruch Thomas.”[82]
  4. Maria Keffer, daughter of Endress of Birkenfeld, 17 Aug 1623[83]
  5. Hans Jacob Meyer, son of Johannes of Feckweiler, 26 May 1632[84]

Thomas was buried 25 May 1635. He was described as “ein Erlebtermann,” which might be translated as “an experienced man” in the sense of having had an eventful life.[85] Hopefully, the epithet was intended in a positive way. Clara died later that year on 28 July. Her burial record seems to describe her as “eine Arbeiten weib,” or “woman who works.”[86]

Nicolaus Bruch or Krauss (Nicolaus) was a baker, an later an innkeeper, in Birkenfeld. He may have started as a baker in the castle since a person with his name was described as such when he sponsored a baptism in 1610. He married Maria Freytag, daughter of Jacob of Traunen (who was a locksmith[87]), on 21 Aug 1610. This record includes a note in the margin that the groom’s father, listed as “the late Nicolaus Bruch of here in Birkenfeld…” was also known as Nicolaus Krauss.[88]

Nicolaus was alternatively referred to as Bruch or Krauss but seems to have settled on Krauss toward the end of his life. He was recorded as “Krauss” when he died in 1636. His son Nicolaus was also known as “Krauss.” When he sponsored a baptism in 1635, he was described as “Nicolaus Krauss, son of Nicolaus Bruch.” Despite the confusion around his name, he was clearly quite prominent, and was associated with other bakers, innkeepers, and court officials. Toward the end of his life, he seems to have become a Gerichtsschöffe.  

Nicolaus and Maria had only one known child:

  1. Hans Nicolaus: bap. 16 Jun 1611 (sponsors were Johann Faber, secretary; Eppe Nicolaus, a wool weaver in Birkenfeld; Margretha, daughter of [Bernd?] Hoffmann);[89]  bur. 23 Dec 1637 and described as “Hans Nickel Krauss, a bachelor [jung gesell] of 24 years, son of Nickel Krauss of Birkenfeld;”[90] sponsored the baptism of Hans Nickel Pick, son of Franz of Birkenfeld, 4 Apr 1635 (described as “Hans Nickel Krauss, Bruch Nickels sohn.”).[91]  Some of the later baptismal sponsorships of his father could actually be the younger Nickel; see below.

In records between 1610 and 1620, he is described as “Nicolaus Krauss, vulgo Nicolaus Bruch.” The minister at the time (Adam Colby) was fond of recording a person’s common name. Later, when a new minister took over, he is simply known as “Nicolaus Bruch” and, finally, as “Nicolaus Krauss.” This lack of consistency in how he is recorded makes some possible references to him uncertain. Sometimes, it is also not clear if a record is referring to him or another Nicolaus Bruch (such as Nickel Bruch of Brücken). It is also possible that some of his later sponsorships were those of his son of the same name. Therefore, I have included how he was described when he sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Nicolaus Ruppenthal, son of Johannes and Maria of Birkenfeld, on 15 Apr 1610.[92] He is described as a baker in the castle.
  2. Johannes Bender, son of Philip and Maria of Dienstweiler, 9 Feb 1612. Described as “Nicolaus Krauss, baker of [Birkenfeld].”[93]
  3. Nickel Anstetter, son of Niclaus and Marg[retha] of Dambach, 21 Nov 1615. Described as “Niclass Krauss, vulgo Bruch Niclass.”[94]
  4. Melchior Kefer, son of Enders and Els of Birkenfeld, 6 Mar 1616. Described as “Niclass Krauss, vulgo Bruch Niclass.”[95]
  5. Unnamed child of Hans Dietrich Becker and Susanna of Birkenfeld, on 25 May 1618. Described as “Niclass Krauss, vulgo Bruch Niclass.”[96]
  6. Hans Niclass, son of Frantz “ein Schneider” and Maria of Birkenfeld, 19 Jul 1618. Described as “Niclass Krauss, vulgo Bruch Niclass.”[97]
  7. Johannes Schu, son of Bastel [?] and Barbel of Brücken, 27 Nov 1618. Described as “Niclass Krauss, vulgo Bruch Niclass.”[98]
  8. Hans Nicolaus, son of Berndt Müller of Birkenfeld, on 8 Aug 1619. He is described as “Niclas Krauss, vulgo Bruch Nicolaus.”[99]
  9. Nickel Helm, son of Nickel of Brücken, early 1626. He is described as “Bruch Nickelss of here [Birkenfeld].”[100]
  10. [Possible] Johannes Nicolaus Melcher of Traunen, on 12 Apr 1627. This sponsor was described as “Bruchen Nicolaus, des Gerichts zu Birkenfeld (Nicolaus Bruch, the Gerichtsschöffe of Birkenfeld).”[101] It is possible that this refers to Nickel Bruch of Brücken, who was also a Gerichtsschöffe.
  11. [possible] Hans Frantz Kussler, son of Hans Fritz of Birkenfeld, 21 Jun 1627. He is described as “Hans Nickel Brug.”[102]
  12. [possible] Hans Jacob Krauss, son of Jacob of Buhlenberg, 24 Jul 1628. He is described as “Nickels Brug of here [Birkenfeld].”[103]
  13. [probable] Hans Nicklass Bruch, son of Bernhardt of Birkenfeld, 25 Trinity Sunday 1630. He is described as “Hans Nicklass Krauss.”[104]
  14. [possible] Elisabetha, daughter of Christian Platz, 27 Jun 1631. He is listed simply as “Bruch Nickel,” so it could be a reference to Nickel Bruch of Brücken.[105]
  15. [probable] Hans Nickel, son of “Herman Johannes”, a smith from Saarbrücken, and Elisabeth, 25 Apr 1634. He was described as “Hans Nickel Krauss” and was one of several prominent baptismal witnesses. The child seems to have been baptized in the house of Hans Dietrich.[106]

Maria Freytag sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Maria Elisabetha Schnede [?], daughter of Samuel, a wool-weaver, and Margretha of Birkenfeld, 12 Mar 1612. She is described as “Maria, wife of Nicolaus Krauss, baker.”[107]
  2. Margretha Scherer, daughter of Bernhardt and Maria of Dambach, 26 Mar 1615. She is described as “Maria, wife of Niclass Krauss, vulgo Bruch Niclass.”[108]
  3. Katharina Stammler, daughter of Heinrich and Maria of Birkenfeld, on 17 May 1618.  She is described as “Maria, wife of Niclass Krauss, vulgo Bruch Niclass, baker.”[109]
  4. Anna Maria Hoffmann, daughter of Niclass and Barbel of Birkenfeld, on 6 Dec 1618. She is described as “Maria, wife of Niclass Krauss, vulgo Bruch Niclass.”[110]
  5. Maria, daughter of Johann Fleriess [Florius], on 29 Jan 1621. Described as “Maria, wife of Nicolaus Bruch the innkeeper.”[111]
  6. Hans Endress Heyd, son of Jost the cowherd of Dambach, Mar 1621[112]
  7. Maria Ruppenthal, daughter of M[eister] Nickel of Birkenfeld, St. Stephen’s Day 1621. Described as “Maria, Bruch Nickels wife.”[113]
  8. [probable] Hans Bernhardt Ludwig, son of Hans Ludwig, 7 Nov 1631. She is described as “Krauss Nickels Eh[frau].”[114]
  9. [probable] Barbara Nohers, daughter of Franz Ludwig the bailiff, 17 Apr 1634. She is described as “Maria Nickels Kraussen Eh[frau]” of Birkenfeld.[115]

One of his tavern servers (“Bruch Niclaussen magt”), named Barbel, served as a baptismal sponsor in 1621.[116]

Nicolaus Krauss, described as a Gerichtsschöffe, was buried 6 Mar 1636.[117]

Third Generation

Bernhardt Bruch or Burg (Thomas/Clara, Nicolaus) became a beer brewer according to the baptismal record of his daughter Anna Margretha. Much of his family was wiped out in the plague in 1635 that was associated with the active campaigning in the region during the Thirty Years War. A servant of his named Jacob was buried 22 May.[118] His wife was buried 29 Oct 1635.[119] There are three burial records for unnamed children of Bernhardt in 1635, which accounts for all three of his known children with his first wife:

  1. Hans Nicklass: bap. 25 Trinity Sunday 1630 (sponsors were Johann Merz, the beer brewer [bierbraüer] from the castle; Hans Niklass Krauss; Anna Margretha…)[120]
  2. Anna Sophia: bap. 10 Jul 1632 (sponsors were Carol Crammer, the innkeeper; Sophia, daughter of Friedrich Kellner; Anna Margretha, wife of Hans Hautzger[?])[121]
  3. Anna Margretha: bap. 27 Jul 1634 (sponsors were Bartel Storm, the Schultheiss; Anna, wife of Johann Langleiss[?]; Margretha, wife of Johann Appel)[122]

In 1636, Bernhardt married Catharina, daughter of Bernhard Gerloss.[123]

  1. Anna Dorothea: bap. early 1642 (sponsors were Christian Platz, Dorothea, the wife of the pastor in [?]; Anna Maria, wife of Heinrich [?]);[124] probably the “little girl” of Bernhardt Bruch who was bur. 16 Jan 1645, age 3[125]
  2. Hans Georg: bap. early 1645 (sponsors were the Pastor Corvinus; Georg Wilhelm Langler; Eva, wife of Nickel Merz)[126]
  3. Bernhardt: bap. 10 Feb 1647 (sponsors were Conrad Pick, the Hoffmann; Bernhard from Brücken; Catharina, the wife of Johann Faber, the proprietor of the Herrnhaus);[127] d. 9 Aug 1724; bur. 10 Aug 1724, age 77;[128] no known issue
  4. Anna Maria: bap. the Sunday after Christmas 1649 (sponsors were Caspar Krauss of Buhlenberg; Johanna, the wife of Master Hans Adam, the smith; Anna Maria, the wife of the son of Hamman Melchers)[129]

Bernhardt Bruch sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Hans Bernhard Koch, son of Peter the wool weaver of Birkenfeld, 12 Aug 1632[130]
  2. Maria Helm, daughter of Nickel of Brücken, 9 Nov 1633[131]
  3. Franz Bernhard Jäg[er?], son of Petgen of Ellenberg, on 1 May 1640[132]

Catharina sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Liesen Kadt [Katharina], daughter of Hans Nickel Wordt of Birkenfeld, 16 Jun 1652[133]

Catharina was buried 9 Nov 1662.[134]

Clara Bruch (Thomas/Clara, Nicolaus)and Adam Kussler, a wool weaver and later Burgermeister, had the following children:

  1. Anna Sophia: bap. 1 Mar 1641[135]
  2. Johann Carol: bap. 1 Jan 1644[136]

Clara sponsored the following baptism:

  1. Anna Clara Glasdörfer [Kleinsdörfer?], daughter of Hans Peter [?], 1 Mar 1635[137]

Conrad Bruch or Burg (Thomas/Clara, Nicolaus)of Birkenfeld was described as a son of Thomas of Birkenfeld in his marriage record. The record does not specify which Thomas was his father, but it was likely the baker, based on the gaps in the births of his documented children and Conrad’s connection to Adam Kussler, who married a known daughter of Thomas the baker.

Conrad first married Margretha Anstatt, widow of Nickel and daughter of Peter Franz of Birkenfeld, on 6 Mar 1638[138] and had the following children:

  1. Albert Otto: bap. 3rd Sunday of Advent 1638 (sponsors were Albert Otto Zeug; “Miller Johannes”; Carl the forester’s widow);[139] prob. bur. 6 Mar 1640[140]

He then married Anna Maria Risch, daughter of Enders (Andreas), on 26 May 1640. They had the following children:

  1. Hans Adam: bap. 24 Mar 1642 (sponsors were Adam [Cusler?]; Hans Nickel…[?]; Anna, daughter of the late Johann Paul, the secretary)[141]
  2. Maria Barbara: bap. 22 Oct 1644 (sponsors were Jacob Weyrich, son of the late Bastian of Feckweiler; Maria Felicitas Burg, wife of Hans Nickel; Barbara, wife of Bernhard [?])[142]
  3. Hans Nickel: bap. 2nd Sunday of Epiphany (Jan) 1647 (sponsors were Hans Nickel Klein [?]; “Kloss Hans;” Elisabeth, wife of [?] of Birkenfeld)[143]
  4. Hans Peter: bap. 16 Oct 1649 (sponsors are unclear, but may be Peter Kloss; Peter Jäg[er]; “Bruch Manni”[?])[144]

Hans Conrad was buried 19 Jul 1657 (surname listed as “Burg”).[145]

Hans Nicolaus Burg (Thomas/Clara, Nicolaus) is always described as “Burg,” unlike his older brothers who were occasionally referred to as “Bruch.” He married Maria Felicitas Storn, the daughter of the Birkenfeld Schultheiss. They had the following known children:

  1. Hans Nickel: bap. St. Peter and Paul Day 1643 (sponsors were Hans Andreas [?]; Nickel Nonnweiler; Greta, wife of Franz [?])[146]
  2. Hans Melcher: bap. New Year’s Sunday Jan 1647 (sponsors were Johann Nickel Faber, the Herrnwirt; Hans Melcher Hauth; Ursula, the wife of the baker from Hoppstätten; “Bruch Marich[?])[147]
  3. Franz Daniel: bap. 17 Mar 1649 (sponsors were Georg Daniel Koll, the son of the court scribe; Franz, son of Nickel Hartel; Elisabetha, daughter of Bernhard Brückner of Birkenfeld);[148] bur. 15 Oct 1649[149]
  4. Anna [Ursula?]: bap. 1652 (sponsors were Pastor Corvinus; [?, wife of a pastor from?]; Ursula, wife of Johannes Weyrich)[150]

Nickel sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Hans Nickel Georg, son of Bernhardt of Birkenfeld, 1 Jan 1646. He is described as “Nickless Burg, the baker.”[151]
  2. Georg Wilhelm Beck, son of Master Sebastian Beck, 26 Sep 1648[152]
  3. Anna Eva Mertz, daughter of Johannes, 16 Nov 1649[153]
  4. Johannes Trein, son of Jacob, 22 Apr 1651[154]

Felicitas sponsored the following baptisms:

  1. Dorothea Maria Wagner, daughter of Johann “der Wagner” of Birkenfeld, 25 Jul 1643[155]
  2. Johann Friedrich Faber, son of Johannes the proprietor of the Herrnhaus, 11 Trinity Sunday 1647[156]
  3. Maria Barbara Koll, daughter of Hans Daniel, 11 Aug 1648[157]

[1] See the baptismal record for Niclass Helman, son of Classen of Brücken; Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1585.

[2] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1568.

[3] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1586.

[4] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1691.

[5] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1592. The record is out of order.

[6] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1573.

[7] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1600.

[8] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1576.

[9] See Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1602. The record clearly indicates that her father was known as both Bruch and Krauss.

[10] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1578. The record is very faded.

[11] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1583.

[12] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1581.

[13] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1583.

[14] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1610.

[15] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1587.

[16] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1610.

[17] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1583.

[18] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1581.

[19] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1577.

[20] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1579.

[21] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1579.

[22] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1579. The date is unclear.

[23] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1580.

[24] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1581. This is the record in which he is described as a “wüw. [wollenweber?].”

[25] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1581.

[26] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1583.

[27] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1585.

[28] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1577.

[29] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1579. Described as “Bruch Nicolaus Greth.”

[30] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1580.

[31] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1580.

[32] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1586.

[33] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1608. Described as “Margretha, uxor Hans Flurius.”

[34] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1587.

[35] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1591.

[36] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1618. The exact date is unclear, but it is the second marriage recorded that year.

[37] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1632.

[38] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1620. Johannes is described as the son of the late Bernhard Bruch of Birkenfeld.

[39] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1624. The exact date is not given. Described as the son of the late Bernhard Bruch of Hoppstätten; it is possible that this refers to a different Bernhard Bruch.

[40] Wolfersweiler Church Book, baptisms, 16_. The year is not labeled on this page, which seems to be missing its surrounding pages. It is later than 1655.

[41] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1589.

[42] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1587.

[43] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1589.

[44] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1691.

[45] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1593.

[46] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1595.

[47] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1617.

[48] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1599.

[49] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1602.

[50] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1606.

[51] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1615.

[52] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1640.

[53] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1645.

[54] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1587. Described as the daughter of Nicolaus Bruch.

[55] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1588. Described as the daughter of the late Nicolaus Bruch.

[56] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1592. Described as “Weyrich’s daughter in law.”

[57] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1592.

[58] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1598.

[59] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1617.

[60] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1619.

[61] The baker Thomas “Bruch” was the only Thomas married to a Clara having children in Birkenfeld.

[62] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1602. Clara is described as “Bruch Niclass, oder Krauss, selig nachlassener tochter.”

[63] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1606. The record keeper originally wrote “Nicolaus” as the name of the father but crossed it out and wrote “Thomas.”

[64] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1609. Thomas was described as “Thomas Burch, vulgo Bruch Thomas, a baker here in Birkenfeld.”

[65] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1630.

[66] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1636.

[67] The death record of Bernhard Bruch the younger lists his mother as Maria Dorothea Hoffmann. No marriage record has been found.

[68] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1632. She is described as daughter of Thomas Bruch of here.”

[69] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1613.

[70] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1637.

[71] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1638. Her maiden name comes from her marriage record to Nickel Anstatt in 1631.

[72] Birkenfeld Church Book, 1657.

[73] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1617.

[74] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1641. Described as “Hans Nickel d[er] hoffbecker.” Felicitas later sponsors a baptism and is described as “Maria Felicitas Bruch, wife of Hans Nickel.”

[75] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1617.

[76] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1611.

[77] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1615.

[78] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1615.

[79] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1616.

[80] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1602.

[81] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1616.

[82] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1618.

[83] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1623.

[84] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1632.

[85] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1635.

[86] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1635.

[87] See the Visitation Records of 1609.

[88] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1610.

[89] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1611.

[90] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1637.

[91] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1635.

[92] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1610.

[93] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1612.

[94] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1615.

[95] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1616.

[96] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1618.

[97] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1618.

[98] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1618.

[99] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1619.

[100] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1626. Date is unspecified, but if comes just after a record from 28 Feb. There is a chance that the record keeper was mistaken and this was meant to be Nicolaus Bruch of Brücken.

[101] Achtelsbach Church Book, baptisms, 1627.

[102] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1627.

[103] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1628.

[104] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1630.

[105] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1631.

[106] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1634.

[107] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1612.

[108] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1615.

[109] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1618.

[110] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1618.

[111] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1621.

[112] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1621. Date unspecified.

[113] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1621.

[114] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1631.

[115] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1634.

[116] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1621.

[117] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1636.

[118] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1635.

[119] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1635.

[120] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1630.

[121] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1632.

[122] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1634.

[123] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1636.

[124] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1642.

[125] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1645.

[126] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1645. Date unspecified.

[127] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1647. Surname is “Bruch.”

[128] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1724.

[129] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1649. Surname is “Bruch.”

[130] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1632.

[131] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1633.

[132] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1640.

[133] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1642. The surname is “Bruch.”

[134] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1662. The surname is “Burg.”

[135] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1641.

[136] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1644.

[137] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1635.

[138] Birkenfeld Church Book, marriages, 1638. Her maiden name comes from her marriage record to Nickel Anstatt in 1631.

[139] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1638.

[140] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1640. The record simply states that a child of “Hans Cunrad Burg” was buried.

[141] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1642.

[142] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1644.

[143] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1647. Surname is “Burg.”

[144] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1649. Surname is a sloppy “Bruch.”

[145] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1657.

[146] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1643.

[147] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1647.

[148] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1649.

[149] Birkenfeld Church Book, deaths, 1649.

[150] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1652.

[151] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1646.

[152] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1648.

[153] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1649.

[154] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1651.

[155] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1643.

[156] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1647.

[157] Birkenfeld Church Book, baptisms, 1648.