Schwenkfelder Marriages

SCHWENKFELDER MARRIAGE RECORDS
1766-1805

The following list of marriages was compiled from original records in the 
Schwenkfelder Historical Library. It has been published in the "Genealogical
Record of the Schwenkfelder Families: Seekers of Religious Liberty who
Fled from Silesia to Saxony and thence to Pennsylvania in the Years 1731  to
1737".  Edited by Samuel Kriebel Brecht, A.M.  Printed for The Board of
Publication of the Schwenkfelder Church,
Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.  Rand McNally & Company.  1923.

[NOTE: German female Surnames often added the feminine "in" ending.
e.g., Jaekelin in the masculine form would be Jaekel.]

Married by Rev. Christopher Schultz:

Christoph Meschter Hereford Christina Jaeklin May 6, 1766
George Jaekel  Upper Milford Rosina Schubertin May 5, 1768
Balthaser Schultz Upper Hanover Anna Jaekelin  Nov. 24 1768
Balthaser Krause Upper Milford Susanna Jaekelin Juny* 15 1769
George Dresher  Towamencin Maria Jaekelin  Octob. 23, 1770
Christoph Schultz, Jun. U. Hanover Maria Jaekelin  Apr. 25, 1771
Abraham Schultz  U. Hanover Regina Jaekelin  Octob. 24, 1771
George Kriebel  Salford  Esther Wiegnerin   Octob. 15, 1772
Melchior Kriebel Gwineth  Rosina Huebnerin Octob. 28, 1772
Christopher Meschter Towamencin Rosina Kriebelin Octob. 21, 1773
Melchior Meschter Hereford Anna Maria Zollerin Nov. 24, 1774
Melchior Schubert Chestnut Hill Maria Krausin  May 30, 1775
Caspar Jaekkel  Hereford Anna Jaekkelin  Aug 10, 1775
Matthews Gerhard U. Hanover Maria Krausin  Nov 14, 1776
Gregorius Schultz U. Hanover Rosina Jaekkelin May 1, 1777
Abraham Kriebel  Salford  Rosina Hartranfftin Feb. 12, 1778
Matthews Gerhard U. Milford Anna Jaekkelin  Feb. 11, 1779
Jeremias Kribel  Salford  Anna Rosina Jaekkelin Nov 11, 1779
Melchior Schultz U. Hanover Salome Wagnerin  Nov 29, 1781
Christoph Jaekkel Chestnut Hill Susanna Kriebelin Juny* 6, 1782
George Schneider Gwyneth  Susanna Wiegnerin Apr. 25, 1784
Abraham Kriebel  U. Milford Salome Jaeckelin Apr. 29, 1784
Christoph Neumann U. Hanover Rosina Wiegnerin May 11, 1786
David Jaeckel  U. Hanover Anna Kriebelin  Nov. 29, 1787
Isaac Jaeckel  Hereford Susanna Andersin Apr. 24, 1788
Jacob Kriebel  U. Milford Lydia Jaeckelin  May 29, 1788

Married by Rev. Christoph Kriebel:

Melchior Jaekel  U. Milford Regina Schultzin Nov. 15, 1770
Andreas Kriebel  Salford  Susanna Jaekelin May 31, 1771
George Heebner  Worcester Anna Schubertin  Nov. 21, 1771
David Schultz  U. Hanover Catharine Haerteranfftin  Oct. 6, 1772
Abraham Jaekkel  Chestnut Hill Sarah Wagnerin  Oct. 8, 1776
Andreas Schultz  Hereford Charlotte Jaekkelin Nov. 21, 1776
Jacob Jaekkel  U. Hanover Susanna Schultzin May 7, 1778
Melchior Kribel  Gwineth  Barbara Schubertin Nov. 25, 1779
Abraham Anders  Towamencin Esther Jaeckelin May 27, 1784
Abraham Dresher  Towamencin Susanna Seibtin  May 22, 1787

Married by Rev. Christopher Hoffman:

George Schneider Gwineth  Rosina Andersin  1780
David Schultz  Hereford Anna Kriebelin  May 17, 1781
Christoph Schneider Gwineth  Susanna Heidrichin April 11, 1782
CHristoph Kriebel Gwyneth  Susanna Wiegnerin Aug. 17, 1784
Henrich Schneider Gwyneth  Regina Reinwaldin May 10, 1785
Andreas Anders  Towamencin Sarah Reinwaldin Sept. 6, 1787
Abr. Kriebel  Lower Salford Eva Heydrichen  Apr. 17, 1788
                                         (Worcester)
Christian Schneider Gwyneth  Susanna Reinwaldin Nov. 4, 1788
Abraham Huebner  Worcester Christina Wagnerin May 11, 1790
Edmund Flinn  L. Salford Maria Wiegnerin  Oct. 7, 1790
George Anders  Towamencin Catharina Jaeckelin May 2, 1793
Andreas Kriebel  Towamencin Maria Huebnerin  Oct. 31, 1793
Abraham Wiegner  Worcester Susanna Schneiderin May 1, 1794
Abraham Jaeckel  Towamencin Sarah Heidrichen May 8, 1794
Christoph Kriebel Worcester Rosina Seibtin  Oct. 30, 1794
Johannes Wiegner Worcester Rosina Kriebelin Sept. 10, 1795
Jacob Gerhardt  U. Hanover Helena Krausin  Nov. 21, 1795
Benjamin Anders  Worcester Salome Jaeckelin June 21, 1796
Abraham Seibt  Towamencin Anna Andersin  Nov. 21, 1799
Christoph Dresher Upper Dublin Anna Andersin  Nov. 28, 1799
Johannes Anders  Towamencin Regina Meschterin Oct. 23, 1800
Adam Schultz  Upper Hanover Regina Kriebelin May 21, 1801
Abraham Kriebel  Lower Salford Christina Kriebelin June 4, 1801
Samuel Drescher  Upper Dublin Anna Kriebelin  Oct. 22, 1801
Samuel Kriebel  Lower Salford Christina Schultzin June 3, 1802
Abraham Anders  Worcester Susanna Dresherin Nov. 25, 1802

Married by Rev. George Kriebel:

Balthasar Huebner Worcester Susanna Schultzin May 20, 1794
Jeremias Krauss  Upper Hanover Regina Krausin  June 17, 1794
Johannes Schultz Upper Hanover Regina Hueberin  May 24, 1796
Andreas Krauss  Upper Milford Susanna Schultzin Nov. 30, 1797
Andreas Jaeckel  Upper Milford Maria Jaeckelin  May 1, 1798
Jacob Schultz  Upper Hanover Magdelena Gerhardtin April 11, 1799
George Heidrich  Lower Salford Susanna Jaekelin Nov. 14, 1799 
Jacob Schneider  Gwyneth  Eva Schultzin  Nov. 19, 1799
George Schultz  Upper Hanover Barbara Jaekelin May 29, 1800
Isaac Jaekel  Springfield Regina Schultzin Nov. 4, 1800
Matthews Gerhardt Upper Hanover Esther Jaekelin  May 24, 1803
Matthews Schultz Upper Hanover Christina Jaekelin May 26, 1803
David Jaekel  Upper Milford Susanna Schultzin Oct. 27, 1803
Christoph Schultz Hereford Susanna Jaekelin May 29, 1804
Isaac Schultz  Upper Hanover Susanna Schultzin May 31, 1804
Samuel Schultz  Upper Hanover Rosina Jaekelin  May 9, 1805
George Krauss  Upper Milford Maria Schultzin  May 21, 1805

Married by Rev. Melchior Kriebel:

George Heiderich Lower Salford Susanna Kriebelin May 15, 1804
Isaac Kriebel  Lower Salford Regina Schultzin Nov. 1, 1804

*I presume this means June, but have reproduced it as it appears in the Schwenkfelder 
book.

NOTE:  Jackel, Jakel, Jakkel [with umlaut over the 'a'] became Yeakle; and, Hubner [with umlaut over the 'u'] became Heebner.
  

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Schwenkfelder Marriage Customs

When a young couple had finally decided to sail down life's stream together the next step was to go to some Justice of the Peace or church minister and have the cere- mony performed. 

Considerable intermarrying took place. Thus the present writer can refer to 25 ancestors whocame to Pennsylvania on the ship St. Andrew in 1734- In most cases the bridegroom, however, would go to the minister and declare their intentions in order that the same might be announced in open meeting. This was repeated several times during which period the minister met the groom and bride several times and instructed them on Christian doctrine and particularly on the duties of married life. 

The important day having come, the in- vited guests assembled at the house of the bride and awaited the minister. Regular religious services were conducted including prayer, singing and a sermon, upon which the ceremony followed and the twain were pro- nounced one. At the marriage feast which followed the *' Schwenkfelder cake " was not missing, neither were the poor forgotten. From the table bountifully laden, the baskets were filled and members of the family dispatched to the unfortunate. Drinking, dancing and other doubt- ful doings were not permitted.

 At times the pastor would remember the new couple by sending them a letter rich withsound precepts. At one time a regulation was adopted that if members of the society were not married by the regular ministers, a confession expressive of regret at the irregular step would have to be made in open meeting Then all steps in life were regarded sacred and entrance into the married relation one of the most sacred of all. 

The young bride had — perhaps for years — been mak- ing preparations for her duties as wife and mistress of the future home. She had saved the rags — in recent decades at least — and cut them into strips to be woven into carpetby father or brother. She had made the spinning wheel hum and had prepared her thread and warp and woof for her linen and linsey-woolsey. She had probably worked her samplers to ornament the spare-room, rich in a variety of colors, filled with curious shaped animals, ornamented letters and figures or perhaps even with the reproduction of bits of landscape. She had in readiness several changes of bed linen complete with quilts, comfortables and feather-bed and coverlets displaying all the colors of the rainbow arranged in designs more or less artistic. Perchance she had even started to collect her family treasure of shining pewter or queensware ornamented with letters, figures, etc. She had learned to make her own soap, to cook and bake and, what was a pride of her heart, to make a Schwenkfelder cake. This was a risen cake, spread by rolling pin, flavored by saffron, and crowned by sweetened crumbs, as wide as the oven door or baker's tools would warrant and baked in the old-fashioned bake-oven. Sadto say the fame of the cakes at times went farther than the fame of the bakers themselves. It is probable that these cakes originated in Silesia for there to this day does the busy housewife bake the same cake called Streiiselkuchen. 

Page 169-170
The Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania a historical sketch. 
Prepared at the request of the Pennsylvania-German Society, by Howard Wiegner Kriebel. Illustrated by Julius F. Sachse

Schwenkfelder Cake
Step 1-6 P.M.
1 cup mashed potatoes
1/2 cup sugar
1 pgk. yeast
1/2 cup water in which potatoes have been cooked

Step II 9 P.M.
1/4 cup hot water
1/4 tsp. saffron
1 cup warm milk
1/2 cup lard
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups flour

Step III- next morning
6 cups flour

Crumbs
1 cup flour
1 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup lard
1 tsp. cinnamon

Step I
At supper time make a sponge by dissolving yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm potato
water.....Add to mashed potatoes and sugar that have been mixed
together.......Cover and let set in a warm place for 3 hours.

Step II
After the sponge has set for 3 hours, pour hot water on saffron and let set
a
few minutes........Meanwhile, soften the lard in warm milk........Add it to
egg, beaten with the sugar and salt..........Slowly pour in the saffron
water
without using saffron......Add this and 2 cups flour to potato sponge and
beat
until smooth........Cover and let rise overnight in a 75 degree temperature,
free from draft.

Step III
In the morning, add the 6 cups of flour and more if necessary to
handle.......Knead until smooth......Roll out dough into two sheet cakes,
1/3 inch
thick........Place on cookie sheets and cover with a cloth to rise 1/2
hour........Rub together the four ingredients to make the crumbs.......When
cakes are
risen, heat oven to 350 degrees.Brush top of cake with cream or melted
butter...Cover cakes with crumbs..Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

This recipe is from page 41 of Pennsylvania Folklife, July 1964 issue which covered the Folk Festival in Kutztown. It is from an article written by Edna Eby Heller called "Saffron Cookery."

It says in the article that Schwenkfelder cakes date "back to the first Silesian Schwenkfelders who came to Pennsylvania in 1734. Perhaps its origin is connected with the fact that before their migration a Schwenkfelder family had operated a saffron warehouse in Holland." (p 41) The article goes on to say that Schwenkfelder cake is like a coffee cake.

"These delicious cakes have been traditional wedding cakes of the 
Schwenkfelder people, a religious sect who came from Silesia in 1733 and settled in the 
Perkiomen Valley. We do thank them for sharing with the rest of the 
Pennsylvania Dutch this recipe. You will want to share some of your Schwenkfelder cake, 
too. It makes an excellent coffee cake" Dutch Cookbook Vol. II by Edna Eby Heller

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Colonial period prenuptial agreement written by Schwenkfelder immigrant Christopher Schultz (1718-1789) in 1744

October 6, 1744
God with us in grace.
In the name of the Holy Trinity be our beginning, middle, and end.

The following presents an appropriate notice and attestation of my will, in view of the fact that, namely, I, Christoph Scholtz, in love with and betrothed to the now living youngest daughter of the late Balthasar Yeakel of Ober Harpersdorf, Silesia, by name, Rosina Yeakel, with consent of the nearest relatives on both sides and of the mother, am about to begin a Christian (and as I hope) honourable matrimonial undertaking. And although I purposed (with divine help and support) in the presence of us both to conduct myself as is becoming for a fiance and husband toward his most beloved, namely, to provide for, to protect, and to show her all love and faithfulness, in like manner I also hope and confidently expect such from her.

But we are weak and mortal and do not know how far we may bring our life in our purposed state. Should it happen that God in His wise counsel and will, should in a short time call me from this world, I herewith let it be known and affirm, also by consent of my brothers (because they accept her as a sister-in-law) what they shall give her as my beloved, according to praiseworthy custom and order, as a dowry, namely, twenty pounds lawful Pennsylvania money. It is my irrevocable will that such be established as a dowry.

I beg of you, my highly esteemed Rosina and fiance, that you be content with this small sum, although we wish that it may not happen. And herewith I commend you and myself into the protection of the Most High.

Your in love united and betrothed friend and fiance,

Christoph Scholtz

Done in Upper Hanover
October 6, 1744
Geo. Scholtz
Melchior Scholtz