Johann Ludwig Knauss

EMIGRATION: ABT 1723 Settled in Whitemarsh, Philadelphia Co.,PA

EMIGRATION: He emigrated in March 29, 1685 - Dudelsheim, Oberhessen, Hesse, Germany

BAPTISM: 29 MAR 1685 Düdelsheim,Germany

Ludwig was baptized 29 MAR 1685, as Johann Ludwig Knauss.

RESIDENCE: In the year 1723, Ludwig came to America with his family and settled in Whitemarsh, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) Co., PA. There he became a land owner, being mentioned among 47 landholders in 1734 in a history of Montgomery Co., at which time he was the owner of 100 acres of land.

RELIGION: In July 1728, he was deacon in the Whitemarsh Reformed Church, his signature being attached to an appeal of the New York Classis of the Dutch Reformed Church to have the Rev. John Philip Boehm licensed and ordained. This appeal was forwarded to the Classis at Amsterdam, in Holland, which returned a favorable reply. Ludwig was apparently a deacon of the High Reformed Church at Whitemarsh from at least 1728 to 1739. This church dispersed in 1746 on account if the dwindling membership

INFO: Ludwig is included in a list of Germans who were naturalized 1738-39 at Philadelphia

It is probable that Ludwig's wife died in Whitemarsh township, and that after her death he took up his residence with either his son Gottfried or John George along the Jordan Creek, Lehigh Co., where he married Anna Eva (his second wife) as we find that on 28 July 1741 a child (no name given) of Ludwig and Anna Eva was baptized and recorded in the Reformed Church records at Egype, Pa. The sponsers at this baptism were Nicholas and Maria Margaret Kern. Ludwig Knauss died in 1746 and letters of administration were granted in Bucks Co., PA, to his son Gottfried, 26 MAR 1746. His widow married Albrecht Miller, a widower, 8 Mar. 1748.

INFO: LUDWIG KNAUSS by Chas. R. Roberts, Allentown, Pa.

(as printed in: History and Genealogy of the Knauss Family in America; compiled by James Owen Knauss (1915), Pages-20-23)

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In July, 1728, Ludwig Knauss was a deacon of White Marse Reformed church, as his name appears signed to an appeal to the New York Classis of the Dutch Refoemed Church to have Rev. John Philip Boehm licensed and ordained. This appeal was forwarded to the Classis of Amsterdam in Holland, and a favorable answer was returned.

INFO: In Rev. Boehm's report to the Synod in 1734, is included a report signed by the consistory of White Marsh, October 28, 1734, composed of two elders and two deacons, one of which was Ludwig Knauss.

INFO: Again in Rev, Boehm's report in 1739, which is signed by each consistory, is the following:----"Of the congregation at White Marsh, attest February 18, 1739:

William DeWees, Elder.

Christopher Ottinger, Elder.

Lewis Knauss, Deacon. (Lewis being the English equivalent for Ludwig.)

Phillip Sherrer, Deacon.

INFO: On page 1141, in the history of Montgomery County, is found, among forty-seven names of land owners in White Marsh Township, Ludwig Knauss, 100 acres.

INFO: Remark.---By order of Thomas Penn, one of the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, the constables of the several townships of Philadelphia County, were required to make return of the names of all the land owners, with the number of acres respectively held by them. This list was made out in 1734 by John Hyatt, and credits Ludwig Knauss with 100 acres in White Marsh Township.

INFO: In Rupp's "Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants," page 470, Ludwig Knoss (Knauss) is credited with 100 acres in White Marsh Yownship, etc.

INFO: Other Knauss records which at present time can not be placed are as follows:

From the Jordan Lutheran church records:

"Married, Aug. 24, 1742, George Regea and Anna Margaret Knauss."

"Married, March 8, 1748, Albrecht Miller, widower, and Anna Eva, widow of the late Ludwig Knauss."

INFO: From the Upper Saucon Lutheran or "Blue Church" records:

"Married, June 14, 1753, George Michael, son of Henry Michael, of Philadelphia, and Anna Margaretha Knauss, Ludwig Knauss' daughter."

INFO: From the Egypt Reformed church records:

"A child (no name given) of Ludwig and Anna Eva Knauss, was baptized July 28, 1741. Sponsers, Nicholas and Maria Margaret Kern."

INFO: From Moravian church records at Emmaus, Pa.:

"Married, August 28, 1758, George Frederick Koehler and Anna Maria Knauss."

INFO: From three of these records we can assume the following to be correct:

Ludwig Knauss died before 1748. A child was born to him and his wife, Anna Eva, being baptized July 28, 1741.

SOURCES: Butner book p. 76 for a biographical sketch.

Maureen WILSON (descendant)

thaeler.ftw

Roy OEHLER (descendant)

John KNOUSE (descendant)

"Knouse Genealogy, Luka Knouse (1633-1713), of Dudelshein, Germany, and his American Descendants"

Keith HINTON (descendant)

Peggy SPENGLER MOSER (descendant)

George SNYDER

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• Note: Ludwig was baptized 29 MAR 1685, as Johann Ludwig Knauss. O n 16 FEB 1707 he married Anna Margaretha, daughter of Joh n Henrich Gerlach. Anna Margaretha was baptized 23 NOV 1687.

• ***** In the year 1723, Ludwig came to America with his family an d settled in Whitemarsh, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) Co. , PA. There he became a land owner, being mentioned among 4 7 landholders in 1734 in a history of Montgomery Co., at wh ich time he was the owner of 100 acres of land.
  • **** In July 1728, he was deacon in the Whitemarsh Reformed Chur ch, his signature being attached to an appeal of the New Yo rk Classis of the Dutch Reformed Church to have the Rev. Jo hn Philip Boehm licensed and ordained. This appeal was forw arded to the Classis at Amsterdam, in Holland, which return ed a favorable reply. Ludwig was apparently a deacon of th e High Reformed Church at Whitemarsh from at least 1728 t o 1739. This church dispersed in 1746 on account if the dw indling membership.
    • *** Ludwig is included in a list of Germans who were naturalize d 1738-39 at Philadelphia.
      • ** It is probable that Ludwig's wife died in Whitemarsh townsh ip, and that after her death he took up his residence wit h either his son Gottfried or John George along the Jorda n Creek, Lehigh Co., where he married Anna Eva (his secon d wife) as we find that on 28 July 1741 a child (no name gi ven) of Ludwig and Anna Eva was baptized and recorded in th e Reformed Church records at Egype, Pa. The sponsers at thi s baptism were Nicholas and Maria Margaret Kern. Ludwig Kna uss died in 1746 and letters of administration were grante d in Bucks Co., PA, to his son Gottfried, 26 MAR 1746. Hi s widow married Albrecht Miller, a widower, 8 Mar. 1748.
        • *

LUDWIG KNAUSS by Chas. R. Roberts, Allentown, Pa. (as printed in: History and Genealogy of the Knauss Famil y in America; compiled by James Owen Knauss (1915), Pages-2 0-23)

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In July, 1728, Ludwig Knauss was a deacon of White Marsh Re formed church, as his name appears signed to an appeal to t he New York Classis of the Dutch Refoemed Church to have Re v. John Philip Boehm licensed and ordained. This appeal wa s forwarded to the Classis of Amsterdam in Holland, and a f avorable answer was returned.

In Rev. Boehm's report to the Synod in 1734, is include d a report signed by the consistory of White Marsh, Octobe r 28, 1734, composed of two elders and two deacons, one o f which was Ludwig Knauss.

Again in Rev, Boehm's report in 1739, which is signed by ea ch consistory, is the following:----"Of the congregation a t White Marsh, attest February 18, 1739: William DeWees, Elder. Christopher Ottinger, Elder. Lewis Knauss, Deacon. (Lewis being the English equiva lent for Ludwig.) Phillip Sherrer, Deacon.

On page 1141, in the history of Montgomery County, is found , among forty-seven names of land owners in White Marsh Tow nship, Ludwig Knauss, 100 acres.

Remark.---By order of Thomas Penn, one of the Proprietarie s of Pennsylvania, the constables of the several township s of Philadelphia County, were required to make return of t he names of all the land owners, with the number of acres r espectively held by them. This list was made out in 1734 b y John Hyatt, and credits Ludwig Knauss with 100 acres in W hite Marsh Township.

In Rupp's "Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants," page 470 , Ludwig Knoss (Knauss) is credited with 100 acres in Whit e Marsh Yownship, etc.

Other Knauss records which at present time can not be place d are as follows: From the Jordan Lutheran church records: "Married, Aug. 24, 1742, George Regea and Anna Margare t Knauss." "Married, March 8, 1748, Albrecht Miller, widower, and A nna Eva, widow of the late Ludwig Knauss."

From the Upper Saucon Lutheran or "Blue Church" records: "Married, June 14, 1753, George Michael, son of Henry Mi chael, of Philadelphia, and Anna Margaretha Knauss, Ludwi g Knauss' daughter."

From the Egypt Reformed church records: "A child (no name given) of Ludwig and Anna Eva Knauss , was baptized July 28, 1741. Sponsers, Nicholas and Mari a Margaret Kern."

From Moravian church records at Emmaus, Pa.: "Married, August 28, 1758, George Frederick Koehler an d Anna Maria Knauss."

From three of these records we can assume the following t o be correct: Ludwig Knauss died before 1748. A child was born to hi m and his wife, Anna Eva, being baptized July 28, 1741.

Anna Eva, widow of Ludwig Knauss married Albrecht Miller.

Anna Margaret Knauss, a daughter of Ludwig Knauss, marri ed June 14, 1753, George Michael.

At Easton lived also a Ludwig Knauss, where on Sept. 28, 17 60, a son, Ludwig, was born to him. This John Ludwig was bo rn Feb. 16, 1730 or 31, and died June 4, 1809. His wife, El izabeth, was born Nov. 3, 1724, and died June 3, 1794. The y were buried in the old Easton cemetery. In 1768 he was a n elder of the Reformed church at Easton.

White Marsh Reformed Church. (Second Vol. Historical Societ y of Montgomery County, Page 185, etc.): On the 4th of June, 1710, Dominie Paulus Van Vlecq organise d the White Marse Reformed church and council. The record b eing in the Dutch language, the preaching and services, wit hout doubt, were in the language of Holland. Yet in one o f the papers the White Marsh church is called "The High Ger man Reformed Church" of White Marsh.

John Phillip Boehm had been a school master and leader of s inging and sacristan in a Reformed church at Worms,,Germany . He cane to Pennsylvania about 1720. At theur request, h e read printed sermons to the congregations, and in 1725 be came the pastor of three congregations, viz; Faulkner Swamp , Skippack and White Marsh. The congregations were small, t heir combined membership at this time was less than sixty.

Objections had been made against permitting Boehm to preac h without being licensed by the proper church authorities , hence the application of July, 1728, making an appeal t o the New York Classis of the Dutch Reformed Church to hav e John Phillip Boehm licensed and ordained. To this appea l the name Ludwig Knauss was signed as a deacon in the Whit e Marsh Church Counvil. This appeal, a lengthy statement o f the case, signed by the councils of three congregations , was forwarded to the Classis at Amsterdam, and a favorabl e reply was received. The other members being William DeWee s, elder; Isaac Dilbeck, elder; Ludwig Knauss, deacon; JohannesRevenstock, deacon.

Another statement was signed Octuber 28, 1734, the followin g representing White Marsh church council: William Diswees , (DeWees) elder; Christofel Ottinger, elder; Ludwig Knauss , deacon; John Michael Glein, deacon.

The White Marsh congregation had no church ediface.

By a communication dated April 20, 1744, by Pastor Boehm t o the Holland authorities, we have: "In the congregation a t White Marsh we have as yet nothing at all in the way o f a church ediface; but during all this long time we have m ade use of the house of Elder William DeWees for holding di vine services without any unwillingness from his honor, o r the least expectation of payment. The worthy man cherishe s a constant and pious hope that God will yet provide the m eans to build a church. The White Marsh congregation, whic h at all times consisted of but few members, has, through t he death, 1745, of the aged and faithful elder, William DeW ees, who has been office bearer for thirty-four years, com e to a standstill, (because his house was at all times ou r church), but since his death it can so no longer, nor i s there opportunity at hand to worship elsewhere, much les s the means to build a church.

The congregation now dispersed, as pastor Boehm informs th e Holland Synods. Some went to Whitpain and became member s of the church now known all the country round as Boehm' s Reformed church; the others joined the Germantown church , which stood on the Market place and is now the Market Squ are Presbyterian church. Thus passed away the White Marsh R eformed church and congregation. In the church annals its n ame is no longer found.

It is sad to relate that most of the early church records o f Boehm and many of those of Schlatter were burned. Those o f the former (Boehm) were kept in a large iron-bound ches t and found their way into a garret of an old house locate d at the corner of Second and Quarry Streets, Philadelphia , and were destroyed at the time the building was burned.

Those of the latter (Michael Schlatter) were taken from th e owner's house on Chestnut Hill, during the time the Briti sh held Philadelphia and were destroyed. In consequence o f this further search for the names of other members of Lud wig Knauss's family in church records is of no avail at thi s place and ends here. --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Notes from: PAGenWeb.org

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Knauss Family From: Anniversary History Of Lehigh County, Vol. II, Copyri ght 1914 Ludwig Knauss, the progenitor of the Knauss family in Lehig h county, emigrated to America in 1723 from Titelsheim, Wet teravia, in the Palatinate, and settled at Whitemarsh, Mont gomery county. He married Anna Margaret Goerlach and ha d a number of children, among whom were: John Henry; Sebast ian Henry; Maria Catharine, born at Whitemarsh, Feb. 16, 17 34 married Andrew Giering; and Sophia, born at Whitemarsh , Nov. 28, 1737 died April 9, 1813- She married, in 1756, L udwig Andres. John George and Gottfried Knauss, of Whitehal l township, were probably also sons of Ludwig, and also Lud wig Knauss, of Easton. John Henry Knauss, eldest son of Lud wig, was born June 15, 1712, and died June 6, 1761. He marr ied, Dec. 31, 1737. Maria Catharine Roeder, born March 24 , 1720. They had four children: John, born 1738, died 1847 ! Adam, born 1741, died the same year; Michael; and Martin , born 17451 died 1747- Michael Knauss was born July 26, 17 431 and died Feb. 3, 1820. He married (first) Sept. io, 176 5, Anna Elizabeth Rohmig, born March 18, 1743, died March 1 6, 1777) and -(second), June 12, 1780, Hanna Margaret Frank , of Schoeneck, born July io, 1740, died March 26,1817. H e had seven children in his first marriage: Catharine, bor n July 4, 1766, died Dec. 19, 1838, married John Adam Rohmi g; Frederick, born 1768; John Henry, born 1769; Anna Elizab eth, born 1771; Michael, born 1773; Magdalena, born 1775; a nd John, born 1776. In his second marriage he had a son, Ab raham, born in 1781. Sebastian Henry Knauss, second son o f Ludwig, was born in Titelsheim, Wetteravia, near Manheim , Germany, on Oct. 6,1714, and was about nine years old whe n he accompanied his parents to America in 1723. On New Yea r's Day, 1741, he was married to Miss Anna C. Transue, wh o had emigrated from the same district in 1730. Soon afte r 1741, when the Moravian missionaries were branching out i n every direction and making converts to their faith in var ious parts of the country, Sebastian Knauss became deeply i mpressed with the teachings of Count Zinzendorf. Later he l eft the Reformed faith and joined what was then known as th e Society of Brethren. He was one of the number who organiz ed a congregation in 1747 and founded a village which was n amed Emmaus, but which name was later corrupted to Emaus. W ith others he had walked to Bethlehem over the Indian pat h and there assisted in the organization of a separate chur ch. He became steward and served in that capacity until hi s death in 1777. His remains were interred in the old cemet ery at Emaus. He and Jacob Ehrenhard jointly donated 102 ac res of land for the building there on of a Moravian hamlet , including a site for the church and school, in adjacent g rounds. The village was surveyed and laid out in 1757 a-n d in 1761 officially received its name. Sebastian Henry Kna uss was a farmer and wheelwright. He learned the trade unde r the direction of Henry Antes, the pioneer layman of Frede rick township, Montgomery county, through whose instrumenta lity he also became acquainted with the Moravian brethren a nd their work. Thirteen children were born to him and hil w ife, five of whom were daughters, and of them it is recorde d that "they were of small stature, beautiful of form and e xceedingly entertaining." His wife was the daughter of Abra ham Trauseau and his wife Elizabeth Munster, of Mutterstadt , where she was born March 6, 1722. She died at Emaus Jun e 26, 1799- Mr. Knauss died Feb. 26,1777- The children of S ebastian H. and Anna Catharine Knauss were: i. Heinrich, bo rn Nov. 22, 1741; married, April 22, 1766, Anna Maria Ehren hard; they had thirteen children, of whom Jacob, born Nov . 20, 1777) and his son, Henry, born July 12, 1812, reside d on the farm of his grandfather. 2. Catharine, born Apri l io, 1743; married Conrad Ernst, who emigrated from Wold A ngelloch, in the Palatinate; in 1769 they were in possessio n of the first farm on the south bank of the Lehigh, lease d by the Moravians; later they moved to Nazareth. 3. Anna M aria, born April 15, 1744; married Tobias Moyer, of Heidelb erg township. 4. Johannes, born Nov. 6, 1748; married Catha rine Rornig, and settled on the home farm, near Emaus, late r owned by Edwin Kline, of Allentown; J. Owen and William H . Knauss are grandsons of Johannes. 5. Joseph, born Oct. ii , 1750; was a wheci-wright by occupation; married Magdalen a Bockel, of Heidelberg, and emigrated to North Carolina. 6 . Elizabeth, born Jan. 29, 1753; married John Frederick Ror nig, who was a miller near Emaus. 7. Abraham, born March 1, 1755; he was a blacksmith, and settled four miles from Beth lehem, on the Drylands. 8. Jacob, born June 26, 1757; he wa s a farmer; married Rosina Corr. 9. John Ludwig, born May 1 9, 1759; he was a blacksmith; settled first at Schoeneck, a nd later emigrated to Ohio; married Maria Magdalena Klein . io., Philip, born in October, 1767, died in 1789. ii. Mag dalena, born Sept. 3, 1761; married Joseph Clewell, who liv ed at Emaus. 12. Anna Johanna, born March 13, 1765; marrie d George Clewell, a shoemaker, who resided at Schoeneck. 13 . Leonard, born Jan. 8, 1745, died May 14, 1823, married, D ec. 15, 1769, Johanna Salome Miller. The descendants of the se children are so numerous that it is impossible to follo w them. It is sufficient to say that in every township an d borough in the county the name is found, and in most case s the line of descent can be traced to this branch. At th e time of the death of Anna Catharine (Transue) Knauss, o n June 26, 1799, besides their thirteen children, there wer e ninety-one grand-children, thirty-six great-grandchildren , seventy-three of the former and thirty-two of the latte r were living at the time of her death. • Reference Number: 590 • Ancestral File #: 2QRD-7S • Event: UCC Cemetery/Egypt,Northampton Co,PA Alt. Burial • Event: Deacon at Whitemarsh Reformed Church Comment 1 • Occupation: Farmer • Religion: Reformed • Event: Village of Titelsheim,District of Wetterau,Germany Alt. Birth 29 Mar 1685 • Emigration: Port of Philadelphia - Settled in Whitemarch,Philadelphia Co,PA Abt 1723 • Event: Egypt,Northampton Co,PA Alt. Death Mar 1745

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• Note: Ludwig was baptized 29 MAR 1685, as Johann Ludwig Knauss. O n 16 FEB 1707 he married Anna Margaretha, daughter of Joh n Henrich Gerlach. Anna Margaretha was baptized 23 NOV 1687.

• ***** In the year 1723, Ludwig came to America with his family an d settled in Whitemarsh, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) Co. , PA. There he became a land owner, being mentioned among 4 7 landholders in 1734 in a history of Montgomery Co., at wh ich time he was the owner of 100 acres of land.
  • **** In July 1728, he was deacon in the Whitemarsh Reformed Chur ch, his signature being attached to an appeal of the New Yo rk Classis of the Dutch Reformed Church to have the Rev. Jo hn Philip Boehm licensed and ordained. This appeal was forw arded to the Classis at Amsterdam, in Holland, which return ed a favorable reply. Ludwig was apparently a deacon of th e High Reformed Church at Whitemarsh from at least 1728 t o 1739. This church dispersed in 1746 on account if the dw indling membership.
    • *** Ludwig is included in a list of Germans who were naturalize d 1738-39 at Philadelphia.
      • ** It is probable that Ludwig's wife died in Whitemarsh townsh ip, and that after her death he took up his residence wit h either his son Gottfried or John George along the Jorda n Creek, Lehigh Co., where he married Anna Eva (his secon d wife) as we find that on 28 July 1741 a child (no name gi ven) of Ludwig and Anna Eva was baptized and recorded in th e Reformed Church records at Egype, Pa. The sponsers at thi s baptism were Nicholas and Maria Margaret Kern. Ludwig Kna uss died in 1746 and letters of administration were grante d in Bucks Co., PA, to his son Gottfried, 26 MAR 1746. Hi s widow married Albrecht Miller, a widower, 8 Mar. 1748.
        • *

LUDWIG KNAUSS by Chas. R. Roberts, Allentown, Pa. (as printed in: History and Genealogy of the Knauss Famil y in America; compiled by James Owen Knauss (1915), Pages-2 0-23)

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In July, 1728, Ludwig Knauss was a deacon of White Marsh Re formed church, as his name appears signed to an appeal to t he New York Classis of the Dutch Refoemed Church to have Re v. John Philip Boehm licensed and ordained. This appeal wa s forwarded to the Classis of Amsterdam in Holland, and a f avorable answer was returned.

In Rev. Boehm's report to the Synod in 1734, is include d a report signed by the consistory of White Marsh, Octobe r 28, 1734, composed of two elders and two deacons, one o f which was Ludwig Knauss.

Again in Rev, Boehm's report in 1739, which is signed by ea ch consistory, is the following:----"Of the congregation a t White Marsh, attest February 18, 1739: William DeWees, Elder. Christopher Ottinger, Elder. Lewis Knauss, Deacon. (Lewis being the English equiva lent for Ludwig.) Phillip Sherrer, Deacon.

On page 1141, in the history of Montgomery County, is found , among forty-seven names of land owners in White Marsh Tow nship, Ludwig Knauss, 100 acres.

Remark.---By order of Thomas Penn, one of the Proprietarie s of Pennsylvania, the constables of the several township s of Philadelphia County, were required to make return of t he names of all the land owners, with the number of acres r espectively held by them. This list was made out in 1734 b y John Hyatt, and credits Ludwig Knauss with 100 acres in W hite Marsh Township.

In Rupp's "Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants," page 470 , Ludwig Knoss (Knauss) is credited with 100 acres in Whit e Marsh Yownship, etc.

Other Knauss records which at present time can not be place d are as follows: From the Jordan Lutheran church records: "Married, Aug. 24, 1742, George Regea and Anna Margare t Knauss." "Married, March 8, 1748, Albrecht Miller, widower, and A nna Eva, widow of the late Ludwig Knauss."

From the Upper Saucon Lutheran or "Blue Church" records: "Married, June 14, 1753, George Michael, son of Henry Mi chael, of Philadelphia, and Anna Margaretha Knauss, Ludwi g Knauss' daughter."

From the Egypt Reformed church records: "A child (no name given) of Ludwig and Anna Eva Knauss , was baptized July 28, 1741. Sponsers, Nicholas and Mari a Margaret Kern."

From Moravian church records at Emmaus, Pa.: "Married, August 28, 1758, George Frederick Koehler an d Anna Maria Knauss."

From three of these records we can assume the following t o be correct: Ludwig Knauss died before 1748. A child was born to hi m and his wife, Anna Eva, being baptized July 28, 1741.

Anna Eva, widow of Ludwig Knauss married Albrecht Miller.

Anna Margaret Knauss, a daughter of Ludwig Knauss, marri ed June 14, 1753, George Michael.

At Easton lived also a Ludwig Knauss, where on Sept. 28, 17 60, a son, Ludwig, was born to him. This John Ludwig was bo rn Feb. 16, 1730 or 31, and died June 4, 1809. His wife, El izabeth, was born Nov. 3, 1724, and died June 3, 1794. The y were buried in the old Easton cemetery. In 1768 he was a n elder of the Reformed church at Easton.

White Marsh Reformed Church. (Second Vol. Historical Societ y of Montgomery County, Page 185, etc.): On the 4th of June, 1710, Dominie Paulus Van Vlecq organise d the White Marse Reformed church and council. The record b eing in the Dutch language, the preaching and services, wit hout doubt, were in the language of Holland. Yet in one o f the papers the White Marsh church is called "The High Ger man Reformed Church" of White Marsh.

John Phillip Boehm had been a school master and leader of s inging and sacristan in a Reformed church at Worms,,Germany . He cane to Pennsylvania about 1720. At theur request, h e read printed sermons to the congregations, and in 1725 be came the pastor of three congregations, viz; Faulkner Swamp , Skippack and White Marsh. The congregations were small, t heir combined membership at this time was less than sixty.

Objections had been made against permitting Boehm to preac h without being licensed by the proper church authorities , hence the application of July, 1728, making an appeal t o the New York Classis of the Dutch Reformed Church to hav e John Phillip Boehm licensed and ordained. To this appea l the name Ludwig Knauss was signed as a deacon in the Whit e Marsh Church Counvil. This appeal, a lengthy statement o f the case, signed by the councils of three congregations , was forwarded to the Classis at Amsterdam, and a favorabl e reply was received. The other members being William DeWee s, elder; Isaac Dilbeck, elder; Ludwig Knauss, deacon; JohannesRevenstock, deacon.

Another statement was signed Octuber 28, 1734, the followin g representing White Marsh church council: William Diswees , (DeWees) elder; Christofel Ottinger, elder; Ludwig Knauss , deacon; John Michael Glein, deacon.

The White Marsh congregation had no church ediface.

By a communication dated April 20, 1744, by Pastor Boehm t o the Holland authorities, we have: "In the congregation a t White Marsh we have as yet nothing at all in the way o f a church ediface; but during all this long time we have m ade use of the house of Elder William DeWees for holding di vine services without any unwillingness from his honor, o r the least expectation of payment. The worthy man cherishe s a constant and pious hope that God will yet provide the m eans to build a church. The White Marsh congregation, whic h at all times consisted of but few members, has, through t he death, 1745, of the aged and faithful elder, William DeW ees, who has been office bearer for thirty-four years, com e to a standstill, (because his house was at all times ou r church), but since his death it can so no longer, nor i s there opportunity at hand to worship elsewhere, much les s the means to build a church.

The congregation now dispersed, as pastor Boehm informs th e Holland Synods. Some went to Whitpain and became member s of the church now known all the country round as Boehm' s Reformed church; the others joined the Germantown church , which stood on the Market place and is now the Market Squ are Presbyterian church. Thus passed away the White Marsh R eformed church and congregation. In the church annals its n ame is no longer found.

It is sad to relate that most of the early church records o f Boehm and many of those of Schlatter were burned. Those o f the former (Boehm) were kept in a large iron-bound ches t and found their way into a garret of an old house locate d at the corner of Second and Quarry Streets, Philadelphia , and were destroyed at the time the building was burned.

Those of the latter (Michael Schlatter) were taken from th e owner's house on Chestnut Hill, during the time the Briti sh held Philadelphia and were destroyed. In consequence o f this further search for the names of other members of Lud wig Knauss's family in church records is of no avail at thi s place and ends here. --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Notes from: PAGenWeb.org

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Knauss Family From: Anniversary History Of Lehigh County, Vol. II, Copyri ght 1914 Ludwig Knauss, the progenitor of the Knauss family in Lehig h county, emigrated to America in 1723 from Titelsheim, Wet teravia, in the Palatinate, and settled at Whitemarsh, Mont gomery county. He married Anna Margaret Goerlach and ha d a number of children, among whom were: John Henry; Sebast ian Henry; Maria Catharine, born at Whitemarsh, Feb. 16, 17 34 married Andrew Giering; and Sophia, born at Whitemarsh , Nov. 28, 1737 died April 9, 1813- She married, in 1756, L udwig Andres. John George and Gottfried Knauss, of Whitehal l township, were probably also sons of Ludwig, and also Lud wig Knauss, of Easton. John Henry Knauss, eldest son of Lud wig, was born June 15, 1712, and died June 6, 1761. He marr ied, Dec. 31, 1737. Maria Catharine Roeder, born March 24 , 1720. They had four children: John, born 1738, died 1847 ! Adam, born 1741, died the same year; Michael; and Martin , born 17451 died 1747- Michael Knauss was born July 26, 17 431 and died Feb. 3, 1820. He married (first) Sept. io, 176 5, Anna Elizabeth Rohmig, born March 18, 1743, died March 1 6, 1777) and -(second), June 12, 1780, Hanna Margaret Frank , of Schoeneck, born July io, 1740, died March 26,1817. H e had seven children in his first marriage: Catharine, bor n July 4, 1766, died Dec. 19, 1838, married John Adam Rohmi g; Frederick, born 1768; John Henry, born 1769; Anna Elizab eth, born 1771; Michael, born 1773; Magdalena, born 1775; a nd John, born 1776. In his second marriage he had a son, Ab raham, born in 1781. Sebastian Henry Knauss, second son o f Ludwig, was born in Titelsheim, Wetteravia, near Manheim , Germany, on Oct. 6,1714, and was about nine years old whe n he accompanied his parents to America in 1723. On New Yea r's Day, 1741, he was married to Miss Anna C. Transue, wh o had emigrated from the same district in 1730. Soon afte r 1741, when the Moravian missionaries were branching out i n every direction and making converts to their faith in var ious parts of the country, Sebastian Knauss became deeply i mpressed with the teachings of Count Zinzendorf. Later he l eft the Reformed faith and joined what was then known as th e Society of Brethren. He was one of the number who organiz ed a congregation in 1747 and founded a village which was n amed Emmaus, but which name was later corrupted to Emaus. W ith others he had walked to Bethlehem over the Indian pat h and there assisted in the organization of a separate chur ch. He became steward and served in that capacity until hi s death in 1777. His remains were interred in the old cemet ery at Emaus. He and Jacob Ehrenhard jointly donated 102 ac res of land for the building there on of a Moravian hamlet , including a site for the church and school, in adjacent g rounds. The village was surveyed and laid out in 1757 a-n d in 1761 officially received its name. Sebastian Henry Kna uss was a farmer and wheelwright. He learned the trade unde r the direction of Henry Antes, the pioneer layman of Frede rick township, Montgomery county, through whose instrumenta lity he also became acquainted with the Moravian brethren a nd their work. Thirteen children were born to him and hil w ife, five of whom were daughters, and of them it is recorde d that "they were of small stature, beautiful of form and e xceedingly entertaining." His wife was the daughter of Abra ham Trauseau and his wife Elizabeth Munster, of Mutterstadt , where she was born March 6, 1722. She died at Emaus Jun e 26, 1799- Mr. Knauss died Feb. 26,1777- The children of S ebastian H. and Anna Catharine Knauss were: i. Heinrich, bo rn Nov. 22, 1741; married, April 22, 1766, Anna Maria Ehren hard; they had thirteen children, of whom Jacob, born Nov . 20, 1777) and his son, Henry, born July 12, 1812, reside d on the farm of his grandfather. 2. Catharine, born Apri l io, 1743; married Conrad Ernst, who emigrated from Wold A ngelloch, in the Palatinate; in 1769 they were in possessio n of the first farm on the south bank of the Lehigh, lease d by the Moravians; later they moved to Nazareth. 3. Anna M aria, born April 15, 1744; married Tobias Moyer, of Heidelb erg township. 4. Johannes, born Nov. 6, 1748; married Catha rine Rornig, and settled on the home farm, near Emaus, late r owned by Edwin Kline, of Allentown; J. Owen and William H . Knauss are grandsons of Johannes. 5. Joseph, born Oct. ii , 1750; was a wheci-wright by occupation; married Magdalen a Bockel, of Heidelberg, and emigrated to North Carolina. 6 . Elizabeth, born Jan. 29, 1753; married John Frederick Ror nig, who was a miller near Emaus. 7. Abraham, born March 1, 1755; he was a blacksmith, and settled four miles from Beth lehem, on the Drylands. 8. Jacob, born June 26, 1757; he wa s a farmer; married Rosina Corr. 9. John Ludwig, born May 1 9, 1759; he was a blacksmith; settled first at Schoeneck, a nd later emigrated to Ohio; married Maria Magdalena Klein . io., Philip, born in October, 1767, died in 1789. ii. Mag dalena, born Sept. 3, 1761; married Joseph Clewell, who liv ed at Emaus. 12. Anna Johanna, born March 13, 1765; marrie d George Clewell, a shoemaker, who resided at Schoeneck. 13 . Leonard, born Jan. 8, 1745, died May 14, 1823, married, D ec. 15, 1769, Johanna Salome Miller. The descendants of the se children are so numerous that it is impossible to follo w them. It is sufficient to say that in every township an d borough in the county the name is found, and in most case s the line of descent can be traced to this branch. At th e time of the death of Anna Catharine (Transue) Knauss, o n June 26, 1799, besides their thirteen children, there wer e ninety-one grand-children, thirty-six great-grandchildren , seventy-three of the former and thirty-two of the latte r were living at the time of her death. • Reference Number: 590 • Ancestral File #: 2QRD-7S • Event: UCC Cemetery/Egypt,Northampton Co,PA Alt. Burial • Event: Deacon at Whitemarsh Reformed Church Comment 1 • Occupation: Farmer • Religion: Reformed • Event: Village of Titelsheim,District of Wetterau,Germany Alt. Birth 29 Mar 1685 • Emigration: Port of Philadelphia - Settled in Whitemarch,Philadelphia Co,PA Abt 1723 • Event: Egypt,Northampton Co,PA Alt. Death Mar 1745

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