Maria Elisabetha Leitner

Baptized at Niederhochstadt Reformed Church [Ref. 1] 14 May 1711 Maria Elisabetha, Sponsors: Maria Elisabetha Presslerin

Marilis (abbreviation, with various spellings, for Maria Elisabetha), age 22, arrived with her family at Philadelphia aboard the Ship Elizabeth on 27 Aug 1733 [Ref. 2]. The Schirmanns joined other families, in the Tulpehocken region of Lancaster County, who immigrated from Niederhochstadt [Ref. 1] a year earlier (23 Sep 1732) aboard the Ship Adventure. [Ref. 2]

Marelis' marriage to Wilhelm Leitner remains an hypothesis based on circumstantial evidence, but is being suggested by growing DNA evidence from among descendants of the Tulpehocken Schirmann (Sherman), Leitner (Lightner), and Riegle families.

(1) Burgert, Annette K., "The Hochstadt Origins of Some of the Early Settlers at Host Church, Berks County, PA.", AKB Publications, Myerstown, PA (1983) (2) Strassberger & Hinke, "Pennsylvania German Pioneers", Vol 1, pp 113, 114, 115 & Appendix pp 765, 766, 767.