John Christopher Lotspeich

The Pennsylvania Dutch language spoken by the Amish in the United States is derived primarily from the German dialect spoken in the Palatinate, which many Palatine refugees brought to Pennsylvania in the early decades of the 18th century. The only existing Pennsylvania German newspaper, Hiwwe wie Driwwe is published bi-annually in the village Ober-Olm, which is located close to Mainz, the state capital. In the same village, one can find the headquarters of the German-Pennsylvanian Association

   Transport, : Oct 19, 1772. Ship Catharine _ - Sutton, Captain, from Rotterdam, last from London. From ships list Joh. Christoph Lotspeich. Took oaths & qualifications from Mayor of Philadelphia, John Gibson, Esquire

   Newspaper, : The following is taken from the book "Bethesda(Harrison's) United Methodist Church, a Bicentennial History of Church and Community, 1792--1992" by Wayne W. Dobson. There are mistakes in this article but I am sure some accounts are accurate.

The First Generation -- John Christopher

   John Christopher, founder of the family in America, was born in Baden, Germany in

   1751 and died March 1, 1830, being buried in the Harrison Cemetery, five miles south of Greenville, Tennesee. He came to America on the ship Catherine, arriving in Philadelphia on October 19, 1772, at the age of 21. He is recorded in the list of immigrants coming on the Catherine as "Joh. Christopher Lotsp[ei]ch", which raises the question as to whether he might have been christened Johann and anglicized his name after arrival. [Other evidence suggests his name in German was "Johann Christoph Lotspeich". John Christopher's father, Conrad, or Johann Conrad, has been traced independently by Larry Farnsworth and Tim Fichtner. See .]

   John Christopher married Rebecca Barbara Hartley in 1777 when she was twenty-three years of age. Rebecca Barbara bore her fifteenth child in 1801, and then lived another forty-nine years; dying in 1850 at age 95. She was certainly quite a woman!

   Will, 26 APR 1830: LAST WILL OF CHRISTOPHER LOTSPEICH

Monday 26th April 1830, the execution of the last Will and Testament of Christopher Lotspeich dec'd, was duly proven by the oath of James Williams and Caleb Harrison, subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, and is as follows:
"In the name of God I Christopher Lotspeich of County of Greene and State of Tennessee being weak in body but sound in mind memory and recollection believing my stay in this world to be short and precarious wishing to do justice and to keep down discord among my legal hairs do make ordain and declare this instrument to be my last Will and Testament utterly revoking all former wills by me made and all former executors by me appointed I declare this to be my last Will and Testament. First of all I recommend and resign my soul into the hands of the good Lord that first gave it and my body to the earth to be interned in a decent Christian like manner. And as touching my estate that it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose of in the following manner.

   First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife all the household furniture that I may die peased and possessed of also my horse and her saddle and bridle in addition of the obligation that I hold on my son Samuel Lotspeich for her life maintenance. Secondly I give and bequeath unto my oldest daughter Elizabeth Hoover the sum of five hundred dollar to be paid out of my Estate as soon as it can reasonably be collected to her and her children. Third I give and bequeath unto the children of my son Ralph Lotspeitch dec'd the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid as soon as it can be reasonably collected. 4th I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Macken the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid as soon as it can reasonably be collected to go to her and her children. 5th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Whittenburg the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid when my money is collected to go to her and her children. 6th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Barbary Broyles the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid when my money is collected. 7ly I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Susanne Pardue the sum of five hundred to be paid when my money is collected to go to her and her children. 8ly I give and bequeath unto the children of my Daughter Rachel Earnest Dec'd the sum of five hundred dollars to be equally divided amongst them when my money be collected. 9th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca Farnsworth the Sum of four hundred dollar to be paid out of my estate when collected. 10ly I give and bequeath unto my grand Daughters Eliza I Wells and Susanne Wells the sum of One hundred dollars that is to day fifty dollars each. 11th The residue do my estate be it little or much to be equally divided amongst all my children or their legal heirs that is to say the children of Ralph Lopspeich on share and the children of Rachel Earnest on share and John Lotspeich, William Lopseich, Samuel Lopspeitch and James Lotspeich, Elizabeth Hoover, Mary Walker, Sarah Whittenburg, Barbary Broyles, Susanna Pardue and Rebecca Farnsworth except the following item of my will. 12 My Negro man called Isaac and my Negro woman called Betcy and My negrow girl called Berick I will and bequeath to them their freedom at my decease and enjoin as duty on executors to have it recorded in Court as soon as practicable after my decease. 13th I appoint and constitute my trusty friend Stephen Brooks my sole executor of this my last will and testament and do not require that he shall be required to give bond or security for same. Signed sealed and published by the said Christopher Lotspeich as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the following words was underlined before signed in Ralph's childrens legacy and words to be in the children of R. Earnest legno the word divided in the eleventh item the word Estate.

   his

   S/ Christopher X Lotspeich

   mark

his

   James X Williams

   mark

Hoisah Harrison

   Caleb Harrison

Emigrated to the United States from Rotterdam, Holland on board the ship Catherine with Capta in James Sutton. From 'Pennsylvania German Pioneers' by Strassburger-Hinke. List 297c. The ship landed at the port of Philadelpia in 1772. He is listed in the 1772 Colonial censu s of Philadelpia, Philadelpia County, in what is now the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He la ter left Philadelpia and migrated to Virginia where he apparently married. By 1778 the famil y had settled on Chuckee River, 5 miles south of Greeneville, Tennessee, where they started t heir family. From 'Palatine Emigrants of the 18th Century' by Dr. Fredrich Krebs. Orginiall y published in German in 1959. Trnaslated and edited by Don Yoder in 'Rhineland Emigrnats' c hapter, page 61, (c) 1981 Don Yoder, Baltimore, Maryland.

   Kentucky Records, Volume II

   page 166 - Random Court Records

Bourbon Co., Deed Book C, page 317 -

   Lotspeich, J. C. and Jacoby, Fredrica, Settlement.

We, Christopher Lotspeich of Va. in America, Formerly of Frankinthal in Germany, and Frederic a Jacoby, widow of John Francis Lucus Jacoby, late of Bourbon Co., and State of Va., distric t Ky., called formerly Joanna Frederica Lotspeich of Frankinthal aforesaid, which said John C hristopher Lotspeich and Frederica Jacoby are two of six children of Catherine Elizabetha Wil helmina Lotspeich ( in a will after mentioned called Catherine Lotspeich) by Conrad Lotspeich , her husband, and Legatee named in the last will of Ralph Landenberg, formerly of Castto Str eet, parish of St. Martin in Fields within in the Liberty of Westminster in Co. of Middlesex , wine merchant, but lately residing at Salisbury in the Co. of Wilts, deceased, Greetings : Whereas, said Ralph Landenberg in will dated about 7th of April, 1784, did bequeath to si x children of his late deceased sister, Lotspeich, one-fifth of remaining estate and appoint ed John Widder of Norwich, gent., Mary Blydesteyer (Blyderestryn)of Harp Lane in London, wido w, by name and addition of Mrs. Mary Blydesteryn, widow, and Isaac Blydesteryn of Harp Lane n ear Tower Street, London, by name and addition of Mr. Isaac Blydesteryn, executors; Whereas , said Ralph Landenberg departed this life without revoking said will, and said john Widder , Mary Blydesteryn and Isaac Blydesteryn have proved same by Prerogative Court of Archbisho p of Canterbury and taken upon selves execution there of --money to Ann Landenberg, wife of T estator, and accounts approved by John Christopher Lotspeich and Frederica, they paid thei r share as two of six children of CatherineLotspeich, deceased and they relieve said executor s of all claims. November Court 1795.
Pennsylvania Oaths of Allegiance

   Egle 974.8 E31 Page 502

   Oct 19, 1772. Ship Catharine _ - Sutton, Captain, from Rotterdam, last from London. From sh ips list Joh. Christoph Lotspeich. Took oaths & qualifications from Mayor of Philadelphia, J ohn Gibson, Esquire

Culpepper Co. Va.

   Deed book H Pg 349-351 Witness: 12-16-1776 John Christopher Lotspike

   Pg 351-352 Witness: 12-15-1776 John Chrs. Lodspike

LAST WILL OF CHRISTOPHER LOTSPEICH
Monday 26th April 1830, the execution of the last Will and Testament of Christopher Lotspeic h dec'd, was duly proven by the oath of James Williams and Caleb Harrison, subscribing witnes ses thereto and ordered to be recorded, and is as follows:
"In the name of God I Christopher Lotspeich of County of Greene and State of Tennessee bein g weak in body but sound in mind memory and recollection believing my stay in this world to b e short and precarious wishing to do justice and to keep down discord among my legal heirs d o make ordain and declare this instrument to be my last Will and Testament utterly revoking a ll former wills by me made and all former executors by me appointed I declare this to be my l ast Will and Testament. First of all! recommend and resign my soul into the hands of the goo d Lord that firstgave it and my body to the earth to be interned in a decent Christian like m anner. And as touching my estate that it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose of in t he following manner.

   First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife all the household furniture that I may die pe ased and possessed of also my horse and her saddle and bridle in addition of the obligation t hat I hold on my son Samuel Lotspeitch for her life maintenance. Secondly I give and bequeat h unto my oldest daughter Elizabeth Hoover the sum of five hundred dollar to be paid out of m y Estate as soon as it can reasonably be collected to her and her children. Third I give an d bequeath unto the children of my son Ralph Lotspeitch dec'd the sum of five hundred dollar s to be paid as soon as it can be reasonably collected. 4th I give and bequeath unto my Daugh ter Mary Macken the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid as soon as it can reasonably be c ollected to go to her and her children. 5th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Whitte nburg the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid when my money is collected to go to her an d her children. 6th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Barbary Broyles the sum of five hun dred dollars to be paid when my money is collected. 7ly I give and bequeath unto my Daughte r Susanne Pardue the sum of five hundred to be paid when my money is collected to go to her a nd her children. 8ly I give and bequeath unto the children of my Daughter Rachel Earnest Dec 'd the sum of five hundred dollars to be equally divided amongst them when my money be colle cted. 9th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca Farnsworth the Sum of four hundred do llar to be paid out of my estate when collected. 10ly I give and bequeath unto my grand Dau ghters Eliza I Wells and Susanne Wells the sum of One hundred dollars that is to day fifty do llars each. 11th The residue do my estate be it little or much to be equally divided amongs t all my children or their legal heirs that is to say the children of Ralph Lopspeich on shar e and the children of Rachel Earnest on share and John Lotspeich, William Lopseich, Samuel Lo pspeitch and James Lotspeich,Elizabeth Hoover, Mary Walker, Sarah Whittenburg, Barbary Broyle s, Susanna Pardue and Rebecca Farnsworth except the following item of my will. 12 My Negro m an called Isaac and my Negro woman called Betcy and My negrow girl called Berick I will and b equeath to them their freedom at my decease and enjoin as duty on executors to have it record ed in Court as soon as practicable after my decease. 13th I appoint and constitutemy trust y friend Stephen Brooks my sole executor of this my last will and testament and do not requir e that he shall be required to give bond or security for same. Signed sealed and published b y the said Christopher Lotspeich as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the fol lowing words was underlined before signed in Ralph's childrens legacy and words to be in th e children of R. Earnest legno the word divided in the eleventh item the word Estate.

   his

   S/Christopher X Lotspeich

   mark

his

   James X Williams

   mark

Hoisah Harrison

   Caleb Harrison

NORTH CAROLINA LAND GRANTS RECORDED IN GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE COMPILED BY GOLDENE FILLERS B URGNER
Pg. 33

   No. 721 Page 279

   For 50 shillings per 100 acres - to Christopher Lotspeach 122 acres in Greene County on sout h side of Chuckey River, adjoining Robert Oneal, Benjamin Williams, where Williams now lives . Samuel Johnston, 11 July1788

Pg. 61

   No. 3597 Page 157

   State of Tennessee - to Christopher Lotspeich 50 acres on south side of Nolachucky River - ba sed on Entry No 1318, 4 June 1812 - founded on warrant No 2666 - Issued by Archibald Roane t o Jacob Wilson for 100 acres, 23 March 1811 - 50 acres of which are assigned to Christopher L otspeich the enterer - adjoining Haworth, Hughes, Allens corner, Broyles, Barnharts corner, F ox. Sealed 6 October 1815.

No. 3596 Page 159

   State of Tennessee - to Christopher Lotspeich 28 acres north side of Horse Creek - Entry No . 1675, dated 6 March 1812 - founded on certificate no 33 - issued by a Roane to heirs of Hen ry Earnest for 550 acres, dated18 December 1810 - 28 acres of which are assigned to Christoph erLotspeich the enterer - adjoining Broyles, Sealed 6 October 1815.

GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE MINUTES OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, 1979-1807

   COMPILED BY SANDRA KELTON HOUSTON

   Pg. 140

   One other )Deed of Conveyance) from Thomas Williamson to Christor Lotspeich dated 25th Apri l 1803 for ninety four acres of land, was duly acknowledged by said Thomas and admitted to re cord. Paid 84 Cents, 4 Mills

Pg. 74

   23 Oct 1798 ?

   A Release from John Christopher Lotspeich and Dredereco Jacoby to Mary Blydestign and Isaac B lydestign was duly acknowledged in Court by said John Christopher Lotspeich and admitted to r ecord.

   Greene Co. Tennessee Minutes of the Court of Common Pleas, 1797 - 1807

   976.891

   H843g

Pg 75 A deed of conveyance from George Baker to Christopher Lodspickes for 218 acres was dul y proven by Ralph Lodspike and admitted to record paid.
Pg 104-105 October, 1799

   At a County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions began and held for the County of Greene at th e Court House in Greeneville on the 28th day of October - being the fourth Monday in the sai d month A.D. 1799.

   Chris Lotspeich was called to witt by a Grand Jury. He appeared took the oath and received hi s charge.

Pg 140 A Deed of Conveyance from Thomas Williamson to Christopher Lotspeich dated 25th Apri l 1803 for ninety acres of land, was duly acknowledged by the said Thomas and admitted to rec ord paid 84¢, 4 mills.
Pg 192 Then was the execution of a Bill of Sale from William Davis to Christopher Lotspeic h for a Negro man named Isaac, duly proven by the oath of James Graham, a subscribing wiTenne sseeess thereto, and admitted to record in these words, to wit.

   Know all men by these presents that I, William Davis of the State of Tennesse and County of G reene have bargained and sold and by these presents to bargain sale and confirm unto Christop her Lotspeich of said County and State, one Negro Man, named Isaac jinerly coled Gid eaged tw entyone years fur and in considreshon of five hundred dollars to him in hand paid the recep t whereof he doth hereby ecknoledge, and the William Davis for himself his heires and asine s for ever do warent and defend and title of seaid Nigro man to the onely youse and behuf o f the seaid Christopher Lotspich his heres and asines and frum all and every clame or clame s of evry or persons whatsoever and that fur ever. In wiTennesseeess whereof I heave hereunt o set my hand and Sele this 7th

   day of February 1805. (Signed)

   Sined, Sealed and ecknolege William Davis

   In the presents of us (Seale)

   James Graham

   His

   William X Lotspeich

   Mark

   Pg 222 this 12th day of July 1806

   Signed Jos McCollough, James Moore

   James Cottharp Elijah Willoughby

   George Rinker James Goodin

   James Trim Christopher Kirby

   Upon consideration whereof it is ordered that the said road as viewed and marked by the Jur y aforesaid, be established, and that Anthony Buty be and he is hereby appointed overseer o f the said road from the road (leading form Granville to Rogersville) to Fraziers ford on Lic k Creek, and that Elijah Willoughby be and he is hereby appointed overseer to open said roa d from Fraziers ford on Lick Creek to Clacks Gap in Bays Mountain.

   Whereas on the petition of sundrie Inhabitants of this county, setting forth that a public ro ad from Clacks Gap in Bays Mountain to Allens Cabbin near the county line of Hawkins would b e of public benefit and advantage to the inhabitants living in that direction, and praying th at a jury may be granted to view and mark the same. It is therefore ordered by the Court tha t Joseph McCollough Esquire, Thomas Frazier, John Gaven, James Coltharp, James Moore, Willia m McCollough Junior, William White Senior, Elijah Willoughby, John Willoughby, Benjamin Yeate s, Zadok Moore and Matthias Miers, be and they are hereby appointed a jury (being first sworn ) to view and mark the aforesaid road as petitioned for, and make report of the convenience s and inconveniences of the same to our next court.

   Whereas on the petition of sundries Inhabitants of this County, praying an alteration in tha t part of the public road from Christopher Lotspeich's to the deep ford on Nolichucky River , so as to turn the same on said Lotspeich's land, up Horse Creek by John Kindles Mill, thenc e to the county line in a direct course to the Brownsborough Road. Where upon it was ordere d by the court, that Christopher Lotspeich, John Broyes, Thomas Prathar, John Ryman, John Bir d, Alexander Prethert, John BiTennesseeer, Adam Painter, John Williamson, Francis Hughes, Joh n Hughes, Matthias Broyles Jr., be and they are hereby appointed a jury (being first sworn) t o view and mark the aforesaid road as petitioned for, and make report of the convenience an d inconveniences of the same to our next court.

   Whereas on the petition of sundries Inhabitants of theis county setting forth a public road f rom Hugh

   Neilson's ford on Nolichuckey River to George Gordon's mill on Lick Creek would be of great a dvantage as well as to themselves as to a number of the citizens of Cocke County, and prayin g a jury to be granted to view and mark the same. It is therefore ordered by the court, tha t William Conway, Micaijah Becknal, David White, Joseph, White, John Kesterson, David Proffi t and Richard Scruggs be and they are hereby appointed a jury (being first sworn) to view an d mark the aforesaid road as petitioned for, and make report of the convenience and inconveni ence of the same to our next court.

   Ordered by the court, that the following person be and they hereby appointed overseers of th e following public roads in theis county Viz David Proffit, overseer from Birds Hill by the l owest ford on Lick Creek to the County line of Jefferson, and to open such parts of said roa d as is not yet opened.

   Mashic Hail, overseer form a Branch at Robert Grays to Washington County line.

   Henry Dyke, overseer form Greeneville to William Magills.

   William Stuart, overseer from Plumb Creek to Big Gap Creek.

Pg 247 Whereas a jury of view was granted at the last court to view a road from Christopher L otspeich's

   plantation up Horse Crek by John Kindles mill to the county line of Washington, and it appear ing to the court that it was the intention of the petitioners that the said road should go b y John Rymal's instead of John Kindles mill. And no report as yet being made by that jury. I t is ordered by the court the same jury be and are hereby appointed to view the aforesaid roa d from Christopher Lotspeich's plantation, up Horse Creek by John Rymals mill to the county l ine of Washington in direct course to Brwnsburg, and report the conveniences and inconvenienc es of the same to our next court.

   Order issued 13 November 1806

The following is taken from the book "Bethesda (Harrison's) United Methodist Church, a Bicent ennial History of Church and Community,1792--1992" by Wayne W. Dobson. There are mistakes i n this article but I am sure some accounts are accurate.
The John Christopher Lotspeich Family--

   Christopher Lotspeich, a native of Germany, was born July 10, 1750. He came to America in 17 60 or 1765. He was of large build, reddish complexion, blue eyes, and a member of the Method ist Church. He married Barbara Dean or Hatfield, a native of Holland, born November 8, 1756 . She had dark hair and skin and blue eyes. She was a" Shouting Methodist". At his death, h e freed all slaves at age 23. He settled in Greene County, Tennessee, on the south side of N olachucky (Nollechuckey) River and five miles from Greeneville. The house was built of hew n pinelogs. It had two large rooms with a large fireplace in each room opening into a larg e central chimney. He was buried in a cemetery one and one half miles from the homestead an d south of the Nolachucky River. After his death his wife, Barbara, lived on the old homeste ad with her son, Samuel, until the place was sold by him to a Mr. Wilson and later to a Mr. F ox. Barbara then moved with him to a home in Cocke County near Newport in 1839 or 1840. He r summers were spent with her daughter, Rebecca, who lived nearby. Her burial clothes consis ting of shroud (fine white woolen cloth), cap, and winding sheet were always taken with her o n her trips, and she often expressed herself as being perfectly willing to"cross over when th e Lord called her". She died at the home of her son, Samuel, on May 13,1850 - age 94 years , 6 months and 5 days. She was buried beside her husband where simple moss grown slabs marke d their resting places. (These were later replaced with a monument). page 127

From David Lotspeich Knoxville, Tn.

   Christopher and Barbara move to Greene Co., Tn. in 1777.

Christopher was a Protestant Pietist (Quaker) and was very devout. No work on the Sabbath, n ot even cooking. They had a fine farm on the Nolichucky River and are buried in the old Harr ison Cemetary 8 miles south of Greenville.
Christopher's brother William and his sister Fredrika came to this country about the same ti me as John and settled in Virginia. The Morman Library has a descendency chart of Fredrika . Very little is known about Willaim except that he ended up in Lexinbton, Ky., was marrie d to Magdelena Klug, and he owned a tobacco business.
From Jeffery Bruce Lotspiech
My grandfather Howard Graves Lotspiech's cousin, Bruce K. Brown, Sr.,compiled the following h istory of the Lotspiech name. Bruce has since passed away but I think, if he were still alive , he would be intrigued by the World Wide Web and delighted to share the results of his labor s in this way. I have editted his original slightly as I re-typed it for this HTML file. [M y editorial changes are in brackets like this. Bruce consistently spelled the name "Lotspiech "; as , this spelling was not the orginal one. I have freely corrected that without botherin g with brackets.]

   If you are a Lotspiech, a Lotspeich, or related to one, I would enjoy hearing from you. Sen d e-mail to me at . If you have some historical or genealogical material on the Lotspiech nam e, I would be happy to point to it if it is already on the Web or put it on myself if you sen d me the file. Here is an incomplete list of other .

Concerning the Lotspieches

   Lotspiech Name

   As to the Lotspiech name, the American Historical Society, Inc., of New York has the followin g to say: -

   "Authorities on surnames do not appear to record the origin of the German name Lotspiech, no r do the general life sources lend a clue. No early locality of the name can be found to giv e basis to the though that it was assigned to one dwelling in that place. No occupation seem s to cover the name in its entire meaning. It might appear by deduction that the family in th e earlier days were artisans, but this, too, lies inmerely in the realm of conjecture; bein g deduced from the fact that dividing the two syllables of the same we find the speich signif ies 'spoke of the wheel' and that lot has for one of itsmeanings 'the

   plummet'. These derivations of themselves are of interest but give no absolute clue as to th e reason for their being united and used as a family name."

   One fascinating thing about the name is that, while apparently all Americans carrying it ar e descended from the same John Christopher, his descendants cannot agree on how it should b e spelled. Some persons, including the writer and his direct ancestors spell it "Lotspiech" a nd some other branches spell it "Lotspeich".

   Lest the reader be confused in reviewing the ample records available, let it be said, first o f all, that [Jeffrey Bruce Lotspiech, Marilyn Lotspiech Schaal, and Jan Lotspiech Criss], ar e seventh generation descendants of the orginal John Christopher - the line being as follows:

   . Born in Baden Germany in 1751; died in Greene County, Tennessee, March 1, 1830.

   . Born in Culpeper County, Virginia on February 15, 1781; died in London,Ohio, June

   15, 1813.

   . Born in Tennessee, May 31, 1809; died in London, Ohio, February 26,1875.

   . Born in London, Ohio, September 12, 1837; died in Wilmette, Illinois in1918.

   . Born in London, Ohio, March 25, 1867; died at Macomb, Illinois in 1938or 1939.

   Howard Davidson had two brothers - William and Robert - and one sister, Anna Stapp who was th e grandmother of Janet Brown Edeleanu and Bruce K. Brown, Jr. [the children of the author].

   . Born in McComb, Illinois on November 20, 1894, died in Menlo Park, California on June 17, 1 971.

   . Born in Evanston, Illinois, March 2, 1924; now a resident of Marblehead, Massachusetts.

   . Born in Los Angeles, California, July 7, 1949; now a resident of San Jose, California.

The First Generation -- John Christopher

   John Christopher, founder of the family in America, was born in Baden, Germany in 1751 and di ed March 1, 1830, being buried in the Harrison Cemetery, five miles south of Greenville, Tenn esee. He came to America on the ship Catherine, arriving in Philadelphia on October 19, 1772 , at the age of 21. He is recorded in the list ofimmigrants coming on the Catherine as "Joh . Christopher Lotsp[ei]ch", which raises thequestion as to whether he might have been christe ned Johann and anglicized his name after arrival. [Other evidence suggests his name in Germa n was "Johann Christoph Lotspeich".John Christopher's father, Conrad, or Johann Conrad, has b een traced independently by Larry Farnsworth and Tim Fichtner. See .]

   John Christopher married Rebecca Barbara Hartley in 1777 when she was twenty-three years of a ge. Rebecca Barbara bore her fifteenth child in 1801, and then lived another forty-nine years ; dying in 1850 at age 95. She was certainly quite a woman! The names and birth dates of he r children were as follows:

   Name Born Links to Present-day Descendant

   Elizabeth April 9, 1778 to

   Catherine October 15, 1779

   *Ralph February 15, 1781

   *John November 9, 1782 to ; to

   Mary and Sarah[*] November 19, 1784 from Sarah: to ; to ; to

   *William November 9, 1786

   Susannah May 25, 1788

   *Barbara January 2, 1790

   Christopher ? 1791

   Rachel November 17, 1793

   *Samuel January 9, 1796 to

   *Rebecca October 13, 1797 to

   Grasa July 9, 1799

   *James May 24, 1801

   Those of the children who are known to have lived to maturity are indicated by *asterisks

   next to their names.

   John married Ann and died in 1845. They had six children. William presumably married. He move d to Iowa, where he died. Barbara married Samual[sp?] Broyles and they lived on Cumberland pl ateau in East Tennessee. Rebecca married a Mr. Farnsworth. James was born May 24, 1801, in Gr eene County, Tennessee, and died there April 13, 1886, being buried in Warrensburg, Tennessee . He moved to Henry Clay County, Missouri, and later to Fayetteville, Arkansas, but later ret urned to Greene County, Tennessee. He was a farmer. James was married twice, first to Melind a Farnsworth who was born September 6, 1799, and who died at Fayettesville, Arkansas,May 6, 1 869. [His second wife,] Elizabeth Whittenberg, was born in Greene County, Tennessee, and die d in Warrensburg, Greene County. James had fourteen children, all by his first wife.

   As to John Christopher himself, we do not know whether he was a farmer, a tradesman, or both . We do know that he first settled in Culpepper County, Virginia, but moved to Greene County , Tennessee, in 1782. He lived there until he died in 1830 at seventy-nine years of age. Tw o of his sons--Ralph and Samuel--were Methodist ministers. More about Ralph, our direct ances tor, later. References to the Lotspiech family cited by the American Historical Society inclu de John B. McFerrin, History of Methodism in Tennessee, Vol. II, pp. 65,602 --also - W. H. Be ers & Co., History of Madison County, Ohio, p. 900 -- also "Records inthe Possession of Desce ndants of the Family", I. D. Rupp -- also Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants,

   p. 402.

   Before proceeding further it should be emphasized that John Christopher, his fifteen childre n and their children and grandchildren were healthy, usually long-lived individuals who marri ed early, stayed married, and had numerous. progeny. Since this document does

The Lotspeich Family in Germany

   Larry Farnsworth's genealogy site lists John Christopher Lotspeich's father as Conrad Lotspei ch.

   Tim Fichtner, a Lotspeich descendant and amateur genealogist who has corresponded with many L otspeiches and Lotspieches, including me and my father, states that John Christopher's fathe r and grandfather were both named Johann Conrad Lotspeich. This is consistent with Larry's re search, as it was common for Germans of that time and region (18th century Baden-Baden) to g o by their middle names. Tim gives the date of marriage of the junior Johann Conrad as June 3 , 1739, to Catharina Elisabetha Wilhemina Landenberger (or Ladenberger). He gives the date o f death as September 30, 1778, in Frankenthal. To continue quoting from Tim:

"Although the 2 brothers and sister who came to the U.S. in 1760/70's were born and raised i n Frankenthal, their father, Conrad Lotspeich (Johann Conrad Lotspeich, as the Germans usuall y went by their middle name, the 1st name called their saint name) is said to have been fro m thevillage of Dundenheim in the Kingdom of Baden. Near the current Frenchborder, just eas t of the Rhine River in south Baden. Situated in the parish of Neuried (a nearby larger town) , in the province of Ortenau (German would spell as Ortenaukreis).

   "Many in this town of Dundenheim spelled the name as Lothspeich. So,Lotspeich may be a corrup tion. Some of the same individuals named in birth/death/marriage records were also Lottspeic h and Lothspecht. So many ways to spell a name very common, as most of the population illiter ate.The letters P and B almost interchangeable, as F and V were in early German.

"I have reviewed the New York immigration ship registers index for the years 1902-1943. Fro m 1st names starting with A, and ending in T. There are 70 individuals listed. From Hungary , Yugoslavia, and Germany (many German communities in all of Eastern Europe developed durin g massive migrations in 1700/1800's). Surely related, the spellings ranged from Lothspeich, L otspeich, Lotschpeich, Lotsbaich, Lotschbeich, Lottspeich,Lotschpaich, Lotzpeich, etc, etc. O f these, 23 are spelling Lotspeich. Another 13 are Lottspeich. And only 3 are Lothspeich."

   Information gathered by Deanna Busbee and DeLaurice Busbee in 1985 at the Geneology library i n Albuquerque, NM

   Book: Pennsylvania German Pioneers

   Publisher: Strassburger & Hinke

   929.3748

   S897p

   V. 1

   Pg. 742

[List 297 C]

   At the office of John Gibson, Esquire, Philadelphia the 19th of October, 1772.

   Present: John Gibson, Esquire, Mayor.

   The Foreigners whose names are hereunder written, imported in the ship Catharine, [James] Su lton, master, from Rotterdam but last from London, did this day take the foregoing Oaths an d Qualifications in the usual form. Consigned to Messengers Keppele & Steinmetz. Twenty in th e list. (Received £1.10.0, 28 December 1772.

   John Christopher Lotspeich.

Lotspeich Germany PA/VA/Tenn AF***149

   American Families: New York 1932 published by the American Historical Society, Inc.

Pennsylvania Oaths of Allegiance

   Egle

   974.8

   E31

   Pg 502

   List of Foreigners imported in the ship Catharine

   Sutton, master, from Rotterdam, last from London.

   Qualified October 19, 1772

   John Christopher Lotspeich took the Oath of Allegiance.

Viriginia Spotsylvania Co. Records

   Crozier

   975.536

   C954

   Pg 384

   December 27, 1783 Robert Hutcherson of Spotsylvania Co. to William Lotspietch of Staford Co . £87.75a. in Spotsylvania Co. Mortgage etc., Beverly Winslow, William Winslow. August 13, 17 84.

   April 4, 1788. Robert Beverly Hutcherson and Phoebe, his wife of Caroline Co. to William Lots piech of Stafford Co. £47.78a. [Devised the said R. B. Hutcherson] in Berkeley Parish, Spotsy lvania Co. etc, Edward Thomas, Robert E. Coleman, Asmond x Sorrell, June 3, 1788.

Early East Tennessee Taxpayers

   Creekmore

   976.88

   C913e

   Greenville, TN

   Southern Tennessee

   Christopher Lotspeich

   John Lotspeich

   Enumeration from Greene Co. 1805

   For each 100 acres of land 12 ?

   For each town lot 25?

   On each free poll and male servant 12 ?

   On each slave 25?

   On each stud horse kept for the season of mares, the sum equal to the season of one mare;

   On each Billiard table $ 1000;

   On each retail store $25.00;

   On each peddler or hawker $25.00

   Free Taxable Inhabitants of Greene Co. in the Year 1805, as returned by James Patterson, sher iff of said county.

Lotspeich, Samuel

   408 acres of land

   2 slaves

   Lotspeich & Henry

   11 town lots

   Early Tennessee Tax Lists

   976.804

   S623

   Lotspeich, Christopher Greene County 1805

   Lotspeich, John Greene County 1805

Greene County, Tennessee

   Minutes of the Court of Common Pleas, 1797 ? 1807

   976.891

   H843g

   January, 1798

   A Grand Jury called to witt- Christopher Lotspike

Marriages of Stewart Co., Tennessee 1838-1866

   976.835

   W613m

   Pg 29 Smucker, P. B., July 5, 1851, Elizabeth Lotspeach

Early Tennessee Tax Lists

   976.804

   S623

   Pg 120 Lodspeach, Christian, GE 1812

   John, GE 1812

   William, GE 1812

   Pg 121 Lotspeich, Christopher, GE 1805

   John, GE 1805

Tennessee 1850 Census Index

   976.8

   C396

   1850

   Lottspeech, Ann MONR 017 1st Civi

   Lotspoch, William H. Je ff 395 13th Dis

   Lotspich, Amos Gr EE 295 10th Div

   Lotspeich, Samuel Cook 357 11th Dis

   Lotspeich, Hosea F. Cook 356 11th Dis

   Lotspeich, Benjamin Cook 357 11th Dis

   Lodspiech, James Gree 147 9th Divi

   Lodspiech, Valentine S. Gree 213 9th Divi

Tennesse 1840 Census Index

   976.8

   C396

   1840

   Lottspeich, Samuel Cock 288 No TWP L

   Lotspotch, Ralph Monr 182 NO TWP L

   Lotspetch, John Monr 182 NO TWP L

   Lotspetch, John Monr 182 NO TWP L

   Lotspeeck, William Jeff 303 NO TWP L

   Lotspeach, James Gree 005 NO TWO L

From Deanna Busbee Harwig:

   John Christopher Lotspeich

Christopher Lotspeich, a native of Germany was born July 10, 1750. He came to America in 176 0 or 1765. He married Barbara Hartley or Doan or Hatfield a native of Holland, born Novembe r 8, 1756. She had blue eyes, dark hair and skin. She was a "shouting Methodist."

   Christopher Lotspeich was a tailor by trade and a large slave holder. At his death, he free d all slaves at the age of 23 and their families. One of these negroes yet lives in Henry Co unty, Missouri (1898).

   Christopher Lotspeich settled in Greene County, Tennessee on the south side of the Nollechuck ey River four or five miles from Greeneville. The house was built of hewn pine logs. It had two large rooms with a large fireplace in each room opening into a large central chimney . There remains no picture of him, but a grandson, born May 1, 1829 is his namesake?Christop her Lotspeich Farsworth (cousin "Lot" Farnsworth) of Johnson County, Missouri. Cousin, Lot F arnsworth, has a peculiar metal button cut from a coat which he wore from his native land. H e was of large build, reddish complexion, blue eyes and a member of the Methodist Church. T o this namesake 69 years old, we are indebted for much of the information concerning his gran dfather. He tells us how his grandfather, having been an invalid for years, longed to live t o see he and his twin brother walk, but he died when they were only 6 months old in November , 1829. He was buried in a cemetery 1? miles from the homestead and south of the Nollechucke y River. After his death his wife, Barbara remained and lived on the old homestead with he r son, Samuel, until the place was sold by him to a Mr. Wilson who later sold it to a Mr. To x (Fox?) who still owns it. Barbara then moved with Samuel to a home in Cocke County, Tennes see, near Newport in 1839 or 1840. Her summers were spent with her daughter Rebecca who live d about a quarter of a mile from them and her son James who also lived near by. Her burial c lothes, consisting of shroud, cap and winding sheet. These clothes were always taken with he r on these trips. In a scrap book belonging to Mrs. E. Emma (Lotspeich) Robinson of Holden , Missouri, is a small piece of her shroud?fine white woolen cloth of her winding sheet, fin e white linen, also a lock of her snow white hair. She often expressed herself as being perf ectly willing to "cross over when the Lord called her". She died at the home of her son, Sam uel. May 13, 1850 aged 94 years 6 months and 5 days. She was buried beside her husband an d simple moss grown slabs mark their resting places.

1. From Deanna Harwig email 6 May 04: I remembered something else that Margaret Nan Lotspeich -Hudson said when we met with her in February. She said that John Christopher Lotspeich and B arabara Rebecca (Hartley) were married in Holland or on the ship Christine. She remembered th e story told to her when she was young that they were already married when they came to Ameri ca.Has anyone ever searched Holland records for their marriage?
8 9

My 3rd great grandfather is the son of Johann Conrad Lotspeich and Catherine Elizabeth Wilhemina Landenburg. John Chritopher married Barbara Hartley In Culpeper Co, VA.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15441505