Heather's 7th Great Paternal Grandfather
Rev. Johann Wilhelm Kurtz
Rev. John William Kurtz
Rev. John William Kurtz
son of Johann Georg & Anna Katharina (Bender) Kurtz
Born June 3 1732 in Germany
Died May 27 1799 in Pa
Married
Regina Wittman
Daughter of Christian and Rosina Barbara Wittman
Born 1738
Died 1812 in PA
Children:
(Church records indicate they had 10 children - See 1812, Regina's Death)
Susanna Kurtz m. Peter Spyker
1732 - Johann Wilhelm Kurtz was Born
Reverend Johann Wilhelm Kurtz was born on 3 February 1732 at Hessen, Germany. He was the son of Johann Georg Kurtz and Anna Katharina Bender. Reverend Johann Wilhelm Kurtz married Regina Wittman, daughter of Christian Wittman and Rosina Barbara (?), on 1 November 1759 at Jonestown, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Reverend Johann Wilhelm Kurtz died on 27 May 1799 at Jonestown, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at age 67. He was buried after 27 May 1799 at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Jonestown, Lebanon, Pennsylvania; Inscription: Pastor Zion's Lutheran 1787 - 1792.
Bio posted on Ancestry.com -
Sailed from Rotterdam on the ship Neptune in charge of Capt. Ware, and arrived in Philadelphia, Sept. 30, 1754. Taught at a free school in York in 1756. Also supplied the pulpit there and was an assistant of Rev Heinrich Melchoir Muhlenberg. Well versed in Latin and Hebrew. In 1758 was assigned to Tohickon where he seems to have remained until 1760. He married November 1, 1759, Regina Witman. October 20, 1760 he was examined by the Ministerium. He was ordained at Lancaster, PA, in May, 1761, and became the adjunct of his brother, Johann Nicholaus in the Tulpehocken parish at Stouchsberg. In 1761 he accepted a call to Earlington (New Holland) and Conestoga, Lancaster County, where he remained until 1769. From 1763 to 1764 he took charge of the parish at Stouchsberg and Bernville. He was pastor at Strasburg, Lancaster County from 1775 to 1779; in 1762 he was pastor at Nordkiel; in 1780 he seems to have been without a congregation, but in 1781 he settled at Lebanon and served there until 1794.when he took up his residence at Jonestown.
In the book about Johann Wilhelms brother Johann Nicholaus Kurtz, this photo is shown as the birthplace of his brother. I am at this time assuming it would also be the house that Wilhelm was born in as well.
Home In Germany
As shared on Ancestry.com -
Lutzellinden, Germany
Looking at the left side of the street, the last house on the left, with light brown timbers and a car parked in front, was the Kurtz family home at the time Johann Wilhelm Kurtz lived. The house appears to be in two parts with a courtyard between. The picture was sent to me by a gentleman who lives near Lutzellinden and has a hobby of researching the descendants of people who emigrated to America from Lutzellinden. -posted by Laurie Kurtz Visher
1754 - Immigrated to America
Name: John William Kurtz
Arrival Year: 1754
Arrival Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Source Publication Code: 7820
Primary Immigrant: Kurtz, John William
Rupps Page: 333
1759 - Wilhelm Married Regina Wittman
November 1 1759, Jonestown, Lancaster County PA
Regina was also baptized and confirmed on Nov. 1 1759 - see the record under her death in 1812.
The Moravian Connection - by Laurie Kurz Visher
Many years ago, my uncle, Eugene A. Kurtz (1923-2006), told me that the Kurtz family was descended from Moravian followers of Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake in 1415 because he spoke out against the Catholic Church years before Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli. After Hus was martyred, many of his followers, including our Kurtz ancestors, were also burned at the stake and their survivors had their property confiscated and fled for their lives.
For over 40 years I have searched for information to verify this story, and finally I have found it. Regina Witman (1783-1812) who married Johann Wilhelm Kurtz (1732-1799) was the daughter of Christopher Witman, whose ancestors spelled their name variously as Widman, Weidman, and Weidemann. They are said to have fled from persecution in Zurich to the Palatine area of Germany, and thence to Pennsylvania. Johann Hus’ followers were ethnic Germans living in Moravia and Bohemia, and they rallied around Hus at the University of Prague. Some fled to Saxony, some to Zurich or Bern, some to Hungary, and some to Strasbourg. Zurich and Bern later became centers of intense persecution for Moravians, Baptists, Anabaptists and Mennonites, many of whom were the ancestors of the “Pennsylvania Dutch.” Members of these groups fled from Moravia to Zurich and Bern, and then back to Moravia, as the waves of persecution ebbed and flowed in the 1400's.
Much of this information is from Historic Background and Annals of the Swiss and German Settlers of Southeastern Pennsylvania by Henry Frank Eschleman, Parts of it are also referenced in Martyr’s Mirror by Thielemam J. Van Bracht, and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe. There is specific information about Christopher Witman’s father, Mathias Martin Weidman, and his grandfather, Isaak Weideman, who fled from Zurich to Baden, in a book called Markham 1793-1900, by the Markham, Ontario Historical Society. However, one of the descendants doing research on FamilySearch.org disagrees with the name of Isaak Weideman and says this should be Peter Weideman. All of these sources are available on the internet. Since I have not yet been able to trace Christopher Witman’s ancestors with any certainty, I am hopeful that someone later will do this. These ancestors deserve to be named and remembered, to live on in our records, and to be blessed in our memory.
1764 - Residing in his brothers house
Taken from the book Life of Johann Nicolaus Kurtz, with notes on his brother, Johann Wilhelm Kurtz (1925), page 28 -
1766 - Son Wilhelm Kurtz is born
Wilhelm Lebrecht Kurtz was Heather's 6th great grandfather. He married Anna Maria Keller. Read more about them here: http://heathersgen.blogspot.com/2017/06/william-kurtz-1766-1816.html
Christening records prove Wilhelms parents are Wilhelm & Regina.
Revolutionary War Service
According to burial records, he served with Capt. Kerns Co. 1st Bn as a private.
There is no mention of his service in any of the biographies I have read.
There is no mention of his service in any of the biographies I have read.
1786 - Served as Pastor at St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Maytown Pa
The History of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Maytown, Lancaster Co., Pa., 1765-1904
1798 - DaughterSusanna Kurtz Was Born
She married George Peter Spyker
BIRTH 16 Jul 1798 Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA
DEATH 30 Mar 1855 Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, USA
BURIAL Saint Johns Cemetery Windy Hill Stanton, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, USA
1799 - Johann Wilhelm Kurtz Died
Name: John William Kurtz
Birth Date: 3 Feb 1732
Death Date: 27 May 1799
Cemetery: Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Has Bio?: N
Spouse: Regina Kurtz
Children: Susanna Spyker
"Life of Johann Nicolaus Kurtz, with notes on his brother, Johann Wilhelm Kurtz (1925)," p. 47.
1812 - Regina Died
This is the entry on her find a grave site:
Regina was buried at the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery.
My first visit to the church was in February, 1998, to find the graves of Johann (John) and Regina Kurtz. After searching for a cemetery at the church, in vain, I finally met a local historian who explained that the church expanded in 1963 - right on top of the then church cemetery. It was a controversial expansion but the graves there, and I don't know any other than John and Regina, were moved a couple hundred yards away, two blocks, to the main cemetery.
When they went to disinter the remains they were astonished to find no remains other than discolored soil. Still, they moved the soil/remains along with the gravestones to the new site. Apparently by 1963 Regina did not have a stone but from "Life of Johann Nicolaus Kurtz, with notes on his brother, Johann Wilhelm Kurtz (1925)," p. 47. it is noted that on her stone was "Kinder 10." (Margaret A. Cruikshank, edited by Benjamin Kurtz Miller"
The church record reads as follows:
Regina Kurtz geboren im Jahr 1738 den 3 April in Falkner Schwam. Ihr Eltern waren Chr. Witman und dessen Ehefrau, Rosina Barbara, Getauft, Confirmit & 1759 den 1 sten Nov trat Sie in die Ehe mit Ev. J. Wilhelm Kurz. Kinder 10. Wittwen stand, gelebt 13 Jahr und 3 Tage. Krankheit Auszehrung. Gestorben den 30 sten May 1812, alt 74 J. 1 m. w 21 T. Berd. In Jonestown, June 1, 1812.
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REV JOHN WILLIAM KURTZ
Rev John William Kurtz is almost universally known simply as William Kurtz The writer himself did not know that his full name was John William until he accidentally came .across the absolute proof of the fact. Being a younger brother of Nicholas Kurtz he often went by the name of 111 "The younger Kurtz".
He came to America at the request of his older brother and with the approval of Dr Francke Не taught school at York in 1756 and also supplied the pulpit of that congregation In 1757. He was employed by HM Mühlenberg as his assistant. In 1758 he was assigned to Tohickon Here he seems to have remained until 1760. October 20 of that year upon the urgent request of several congregations in Heidelberg Berks and Lebanon most probably who desired him to become their pastor he was examined by the ministerium. No license is mentioned. Presumably however that was granted although possibly it was not as it was resolved to ordain him. The ordination took place at Lancaster in May 1761 and he became the adjunct of his brother in the Tulpehocken parish.
In 1763 Hе accepted a call to Earlingtown New Holland and Conestoga The location of this latter point is uncertain It might be intended for Robeson or Allegheny where there were Lutheran congregations at the time which for many years were connected with New Holland But it might also be Bergstrass or even Morgantown Churchtown or Centre Church where the Lutherans certainly held services if they did not have regularly organized congregations. In this field he remained until 1779. Possibly too as suggested by the Halle Reports Vol l p 232 during the last few years he again assisted Mühlenberg at New Hanover In 1780 he seems to have been without congregations. In 1781 he settled at Lebanon serving it and congregations west of it Hill Church and Bindnagel's most probably until 1794. Rev Snyder pastor at Hummelstown says he also served that congregation 1781 1795 Schierenbeck who is probably nearer correct makes it 1781. 1799 He probably also served the Sand Hill Church about three miles south of Hummelstown during the greater part of this time as well as Jonestown which was the Swatara Church transferred to the town in 1765. Не also was pastor of St Jacob's about two miles west of Pinegrove from the time of its organization until 1795. In 1794 he took up his residence at Jonestown where he died May 27 1799 . Не is buried there.
He was unusually well versed in the ancient languages. It is stated that at his examination he was directed to turn to the third chapter of First Corinthians and render it in Latin which he did without hesitation. He was then directed to read two Psalms in Hebrew. This he did rendering them fluently and correctly in Latin. The Swedish Provost then examined him in regard to some doctrinal points also in Latin. All these he answered clearly and satisfactorily in the same language. It was thereupon agreed that he should be ordained at the next convention of the ministerium.
Notwithstanding all this he does not seem to have been very successful as a pastor and his later years were embittered by the knowledge that he was not wanted by some of his congregations. This may possibly have been owing to the fact that he obtained his early training in the almost cloistered solitude of the orphans home and not among the people in the everyday walks of life.
A History of The Lutheran Church in New Hanover, Montgomery County, Penna Pages 111-113
Research:
According to the Familienbuch, church records, in Lutzellinden, it was the custom in that town for all the boys to be named Johann and all the girls to be named Anna, and everyone was given a middle name to differentiate them. The last name was spelled sometimes Kurz and sometimes Kurtz because people back then were not consistent in how they spelled names.
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Rev John William Kurtz is almost universally known simply as William Kurtz The writer himself did not know that his full name was John William until he accidentally came .across the absolute proof of the fact. Being a younger brother of Nicholas Kurtz he often went by the name of 111 "The younger Kurtz".
He came to America at the request of his older brother and with the approval of Dr Francke Не taught school at York in 1756 and also supplied the pulpit of that congregation In 1757. He was employed by HM Mühlenberg as his assistant. In 1758 he was assigned to Tohickon Here he seems to have remained until 1760. October 20 of that year upon the urgent request of several congregations in Heidelberg Berks and Lebanon most probably who desired him to become their pastor he was examined by the ministerium. No license is mentioned. Presumably however that was granted although possibly it was not as it was resolved to ordain him. The ordination took place at Lancaster in May 1761 and he became the adjunct of his brother in the Tulpehocken parish.
In 1763 Hе accepted a call to Earlingtown New Holland and Conestoga The location of this latter point is uncertain It might be intended for Robeson or Allegheny where there were Lutheran congregations at the time which for many years were connected with New Holland But it might also be Bergstrass or even Morgantown Churchtown or Centre Church where the Lutherans certainly held services if they did not have regularly organized congregations. In this field he remained until 1779. Possibly too as suggested by the Halle Reports Vol l p 232 during the last few years he again assisted Mühlenberg at New Hanover In 1780 he seems to have been without congregations. In 1781 he settled at Lebanon serving it and congregations west of it Hill Church and Bindnagel's most probably until 1794. Rev Snyder pastor at Hummelstown says he also served that congregation 1781 1795 Schierenbeck who is probably nearer correct makes it 1781. 1799 He probably also served the Sand Hill Church about three miles south of Hummelstown during the greater part of this time as well as Jonestown which was the Swatara Church transferred to the town in 1765. Не also was pastor of St Jacob's about two miles west of Pinegrove from the time of its organization until 1795. In 1794 he took up his residence at Jonestown where he died May 27 1799 . Не is buried there.
He was unusually well versed in the ancient languages. It is stated that at his examination he was directed to turn to the third chapter of First Corinthians and render it in Latin which he did without hesitation. He was then directed to read two Psalms in Hebrew. This he did rendering them fluently and correctly in Latin. The Swedish Provost then examined him in regard to some doctrinal points also in Latin. All these he answered clearly and satisfactorily in the same language. It was thereupon agreed that he should be ordained at the next convention of the ministerium.
Notwithstanding all this he does not seem to have been very successful as a pastor and his later years were embittered by the knowledge that he was not wanted by some of his congregations. This may possibly have been owing to the fact that he obtained his early training in the almost cloistered solitude of the orphans home and not among the people in the everyday walks of life.
A History of The Lutheran Church in New Hanover, Montgomery County, Penna Pages 111-113
Research:
According to the Familienbuch, church records, in Lutzellinden, it was the custom in that town for all the boys to be named Johann and all the girls to be named Anna, and everyone was given a middle name to differentiate them. The last name was spelled sometimes Kurz and sometimes Kurtz because people back then were not consistent in how they spelled names.
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