Matching family tree profiles for Johann Michael Willheit
view all 35
Immediate Family
-
daughter -
wife
-
daughter
-
-
-
daughter
-
wife -
daughter -
son -
-
-
About Johann Michael Willheit
Biography
Johann Michael Willheit was born on 25 January 1672 in Schwaigern, Württemberg (now Baden-Württemberg, Germany) and was baptized on January 25, 1671 there. His parents were Michael Willheit and Anna Maria Willheit (Ruefflin).
Johann Michael married Anna Dorothea Müller on January 29, 1696 in Schwaigern, Württemberg (now Baden-Württemberg, Germany). Together they had the following children:
- Maria Dorthea Willheit;
- Hans Michael Wilhoit;
- Hans Georg Wilhoit;
- Unnamed daughter Wilhoit (Willheit).
Johann Michael married Anna Maria Willheit (Hengsteler) on February 16, 1706 in Schwaigern, Württemberg (now Baden-Württemberg, Germany). Together they had the following children:
- Anna Catherina Wilhoit;
- Tobias Willheit;
- Hans Michael Willheit, Jr.;
- Johannes Willheit;
- Johann "John" Christian Willheit;
- Adam Wilholt;
- Eva Holt (Wilhoit);
- Matthias Wilhoit;
- Phillip Wilheit.
He died between January 1, 1742 and January 26, 1746 in St. Mark's Parish, Orange County, Province of Virginia.
5. Johann Michael Willheit, b. 25 Jan 1671, Schwaigern, Württemberg (now Baden-Württemberg, Germany), d. Between 1 Jan 1743 and 26 Jun 1746, Orange (now Madison) County, Virginia (Age 71 years)
http://germannafamily.org/getperson.php?personID=I082861&tree=tree1
Burial record:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119032079/johann-michael-willheit
-------------------------------
Arrived in Virginia about 1719.
Johann Michael Willheit went by the name of Michael.
Johann Michael had a twin, Matthias, who died 8 February 1671, about two weeks after birth.
Johann Michael is believed to have been a member of the second Germanna Colony. The first Germanna Colony consisted of Germans recruited from the Nassau-Siegen region of Germany by Governor Alexander Spotswood as skilled laborers for his iron works. These immigrants have been thoroughly researched and documented.
The members of the second Germanna Colony established in 1717 have been more of a mystery. Much of the mystery surrounding the second colony has been resolved by the examination of the records in Württemberg and Baden and documented in Cerny's and Zimmerman's Before Germanna No. 1, The Ancestry of Johann Michael Willheit and Anna Maria Hengsteler as follows:
The immigrants of the second colony, comprised of Lutherans, left Germany on 12 July 1717 for Pennsylvania. Their choice of vessel was unfortunate. The vessel made the customary stop in London, but the colonists were detained for several weeks while the captain of the vessel was imprisoned for debt. Food supplies dwindled while the passengers waited for the captain's release. Starvation claimed the lives of several at sea. There is no details of the crossing, but the captain did not land in Pennsylvania. Instead he took the approximately 100 passengers to Virginia where he sold them as indentured servants to Spotswood to pay for their passage and confiscated their belongings.
Spotswood may have recognized the injustice done these immigrants, but he nonetheless profited from the situation to extract eight years of indentured labor from them. They were not released until 1725, a year longer than the customary seven years for indenture service. Spotswood sued 19 of them in 1723 and 1724 to force them into their extended service. It is now believed that the second colony consisted of more than the 19 being sued by Spotswood. It may be that only those who adamantly refused to continue their indenture were enjoined in the suit. Others may have wanted to avoid conflict with the powerful governor and gave in to his demands.
Few inter-marriages took place between the first and second colony. The first colony was composed of members of the Reformed faith, while the second colony were strict adherents to the Evangelical Lutheran religion.
Even though he was not among the 19 colonists being sued by Spotswood, the belief that Johann Michael was part of the second colony is based on the fact that his name disappears from parish records in Schwaigern after 13 December 1715, the birth of his son Johann Cristian; he was granted land at the same time in 1724 and in the same Robinson River area as other recognized members of the second colony; and his family attended the Hebron Church in Orange County where the German Lutherans of the second colony worshipped. Also, most of his descendants married into other second colony families.
Some genealogists have speculated that Johann Michael's second wife was Mary Blankenbaker whom he married in 1710. There is no record of such a marriage in Schwaigern records. On the contrary, the parish register shows that Anna Maria was alive and having Johann Michael's children in 1710. She had two children after that date. There is no mention of her death in Schwaigern records. It is therefore reasonable to assume that she is the wife who accompanied him to Virginia in 1717 and is the wife Mary mentioned in his will. Johann Michael's name was anglicized to Michael Wilhoit and it is not unlikely that Anna Maria's name was changed to Mary in the same way. Additionally, Evangelical Lutheran parish records in Neuenberg, Baden show that Maria Blanckenbuhler (Mary Blankenbaker) was the wife first of John Thomas 18 November 1711 and second of Michael Kaifer (date unknown) in Virginia.1
Johann made a will on 1 January 1742 in Orange Co., Virginia. Will of Michael Willheit:
- In the name of God Amen, I Michael Willheit of the parish of St. Mark and county of Orange being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and perfect memory (thanks be to Almighty God for the same) do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: First I recommend my soul to God that gave it trusting and surely believing that through the merits of my Blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, to receive full remission and forgiveness of all my sins, my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executors hereafter named. I will that after my decease my loving wife Mary Willheit do live and continue upon the plantation where I now live during the term of her natural life and I do herewith most earnestly enjoin and require all my children to love honor and respect her as their dear mother and I do give unto my said loving wife Mary all my personal estate during her natural life and to make sale of either house or cattle so long as the said my wife shall live and after her decease my will and desire is that all my personal estate be equally divided amongst my six children hereafter named. I will that my tract of two hundred and eighty-nine acres of land be equally divided unto two parts of which my son Matthias Willheit is to have one part and my youngest son Phillip Willheit is to have the other part whereon the house and plantation is and whereon I now do live, and it is my desire that after the decease of my loving wife Mary and when the above said my two sons Matthias Willheit and Phillip Willheit are at age 21 years each that then the aforesaid my two younger sons do pay 12 pounds currency to the four following my children as their share of inheritance, that is to say, unto Tobias Willheit 3 pounds currency unto John Willheit 3 pounds currency, unto Adam Willheit 3 pounds currency and unto my daughter Eva (now married to Nicholas Holt) 3 pounds currency.
- I make and ordain my loving friend Michael Holt and my dear eldest son Tobias Willheit to be executors of this my last will and testament revolking all other wills heretofore by me made and in witness that this my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the first day of January 1742/43.
- Witnessed by: Michael Willheit; Balthaser Blankerbaker; John Snieder; Michael Holt (Orange W.B. 2, page 87).2
His will was probated on 26 June 1746. His will was presented into court by Tobias Willheit. It was proven by Michael Holt and Balthaser Blankerbaker, the other witness refused to join. The executor with Ludwick Fisher and Lawrence Garr acknowledge bond. The total valuation of the inventory of Michael Willheit was 20.3.6 returned July 24, 1746 by Ambrose Powell, Stockeley Towles and Francis Mikill. An additional inventory valued at 2.15.6 was returned by the same appraisers February 12, 1746/47 (Orange W.B. 2, page 87).
Citations
- [S1] Cerny, Johni and Gary J. Zimmerman. Genealogical Tables Illusrative of Modern History, Fifth Editon, Revised and Enlarged by J. R. H. Weaver, Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford. Bountiful, Utah: American Genealogical Lending Library Publishers, January 1990).
- [S3] Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia Incorporated. The Germanna Record. Culpeper, VA 22701: The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies, Inc., Publishers, October 1971 2nd Printing).
http://lawrencefamhis.com/ancestors-o/p11.htm#i254
---
Deathplace: St. Mark's, Orange, VA - But Who Was The Michael Wilhoit Who Had A Will 1/1/1742-3, Probated 6/26/1746? He Was M. To
Christening Date: 25 Jan 1671 Christening Place: Schwaigern, Württemberg, Germany
- Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 12 2017, 11:31:23 UTC
Johann Michael Willheit was baptized January 25, 1671 in Schwaigern, the son of Michael Willheit and his wife, Anna Maria (Rufflin) Willheit.∼Michael Wilheit made his will 1 January 1743 and it was probated in 26 June 1746 in what is today Madison County, Virginia. Tradition states that he was buried at Hebron Lutheran Church.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 14 2021, 18:55:57 UTC
- Reference: TNG Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jun 17 2021, 18:36:21 UTC
- Reference: TNG Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jun 20 2021, 0:12:40 UTC
- Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 17 2022, 11:54:06 UTC
view all 25
Johann Michael Willheit's Timeline
| 1671 |
January 25, 1671
|
Schwaigern, Herzogtum Württemberg, Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation
|
|
|
January 25, 1671
|
Schwaigern, Brackenheim, Württemberg, Germany
|
||
|
1671
|
Schwaigern, Herzogtum Württemberg, Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation
|
||
| 1696 |
October 27, 1696
|
Schwaigern, Württemberg (now Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
|
|
| 1698 |
May 19, 1698
|
Schwaigern, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
|
|
| 1700 |
July 4, 1700
|
||
|
July 4, 1700
|
Schwaigern, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
|
||
| 1702 |
August 24, 1702
|
Schwaigern, Württemberg (now Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
|