Lorentz Guth, I

-Per records of Egypt Reformed Church - Lorentz Guth was a native of Zweibruecken and landed at Philadelphia on 19 Sep 1738 (aboard the ship,"Thistle"). He owned a large tract of land in Whitehall Twp. (Northampton Co.) and had 6 children: Juliana Margaretha (w. of Peter Kohler), Lorentz (II), Peter, Eva Barbara (w. of George Henry Mertz), Margaretha (w. of Adam Dorney) and Adam. - Ship's records state that he was from Kroeppen, Bayern-Pfalz, Germany. His wife and two daughters - Magdalena (8 yr.old) and Eva Susanna (2 yr.old) - were also listed. - Records of Jordan Lutheran Church list an "unnamed" child of Lorentz as being baptized on 20 Apr 1740, by John Jost Jacob Birkenstock.

- He was confirmed 1719 in the Reischweiler Reformed Church, Ransbrunn. Today Ransbrunn is Eppenbrun. He lived in the village of Kroppen, where he was the collector of duties and royal custom fees. The marriage ban or church record dated 14 April 1733 written in old German script was found in Pffalz Pirmasens, Oberteinbach, Germany. They arrived as a married couple in Philadelphia, PA. on the "Thistle" on 19 Sept 1738. He was naturalized on 10 April 1755 in Whitehall Twp., Lehigh Co., PA. They made their way to the present day Lehigh Co. which was then part of Bucks Co., one of the three original counties of PA. They were one of the first settlers in S. Whitehall Twp. along the Jordan River, a branch of the Delaware River. The land was excellent for farming and in 1739 Lorentz bought his first land from Nicholas Kern consisting of 3 tracts totalling 500 acres. Other land was warranted to him by Thomas and Richard Penn and as was required named his various plots, "Guth's Pleasure", "The Spring", "Guth's Delight", "Woocester" and" Warwick". He and his family by 1800 had accumulated 1,000 acres In 1745, Guth built his homestead out of the local limestone. It is still standing today and a descendant still lives in it, the 2nd oldest house in the county. The walls are 2 feet thick and it is two stories high. The oriiginal windows were 4 small panes wtht log shutters. Doors are of heavy riveted planks. On the gables there are loopholes used for defense during Indian attachs. There is a hugh kitchen fireplace, 14 feet long & 7 feet high with a bake oven in the rear and a smokehouse above. The floor is of brick & mortor and the orginal roof was thached. All of his children & grandchildren were born in his homestead. He was naturalized on 10 April 1755 Lorentz Guth, Sr. was a founder of Jordan Reformed Church, 1711 Church Road, Walberts, S. Whitehall Twp., Lehigh Co., PA. He gave 50 acre tract next to his homestead for the church grounds. A 3 acre cemetery is next to it and a large monument for Lorentz was erected in it by his descendants.

Strange things go on here, I find more then several areas (books ect) that show Lorentz Guth died in the spring of 1782. Every time I get near Lorence jr reserch I find documentation stating he must have still been alive because of land transfers past 1800 to his son Lorence Jr., 1781 Lorentz gave the warranted land to the Jordan Reformed Church then he died in the spring of 1782. So how can he have been alive past 1800, it has not made sense until I think he died with no will and the brothers got together and may have changed events, I don't know what do you think..

The Adam Good Family story October 7, 1911. (Spring of 1782 DEATH OF LORENTZ SR) PAGE 81 OF BOOK..Oct 7 1914

The History of the Jordan Reformed Church 1952 Rev William J Rupp, Oct 5, 12, 15, 19, 1952 Pub Anniversary Commit y 1952, Lorentz Guth death 1782.