HISTORY OF THE FRITCH-FRITSCH FAMILY

[NOTE: These documents were given to me years ago by Ralph Fritsch ]

Johannes(1) FRIETSCH was born in Hesse Darmstadt on June 14, 1744[1]. He was the only son of Johanaten FRIETSCH and Anna Margareta (DAMION?) FRIETSCH. He left home on May 15, 1764, and was one of the five- hundred passengers on the ship "Hero," Ralph Forster, Captain, from Rotterdam last from Cowes. They landed in America on October 27, 1764[2], and on this same day he qualified for citizenship as recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives [3], the Pennsylvania German Pioneers [4], and Thirty Thousand Names [5], a book which lists early pioneer settlers of Swiss, Dutch, and German descent. "At the State House of Philadelphia, Saturday, 27th October, 1764-- present: Thomas Willing, Esq.,--The foreigners whose names are underwritten imported in the ship "Hero," Ralph Forster, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, did this day take and subscribe the usual qualifications. Five-hundred whole freights, two-hundred in the list, 21st November, paid 15 pounds [6]. His signature, as recorded in the Pennsylvania German Pioneers [7], is exceptionally good. On June 30, 1769 he was married to Anna Maria PFALZGRAFF[8], born July 2, 1751, daughter of Johann Georg and Barbara PFALZGRAFF of Goshenhoppen, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania [9]. He settled in Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania [10], and built the first grist mill which remained in the possession of the Fritsch family throughout the succeeding generations, and which was, and is now known as "Fritch's Mill" or Fritsch's Mill" [11]. He died on September 13, 1823, aged 79 years, 2 months, and 29 days [12].

His children were:
John (2), b. January 20, 1771 in Longswamp; m. August 6, 1799 to Anna Maria DIENER; settled at "Fritch's Lake," near Akron, Ohio in 1805; d. September 3, 1852 [13]. [A hand written footnote inserted here says the marriage record was by Rev. Wm. Boos]
John Henry (2), b. October 1, 1771; d. March 12, 1779 [14].

========================================================================= [NOTE: In a dissertation supplied to me by Ralph G. Fritch, a direct descendant of Mary (Palsgrove) and John Fritch, I am informed that, whereas George-1 and wife Barbara, the Emmert family and the Kamp family were members of the New Goshenhoppen church in the 1730's, the baptisms were recorded and kept by Falkner Swamp church because of the way the ministers were utilized. This article includes the names and tenures of all the ministers of the era in question as well. JEB]

Whitsunday, 1752, Christina (dau) of George Pfaltzgraff age 15
" 1752, Eva Catherine (dau) " " age 13
" 1756, George (son) " " age 15
The father, George, Sr. died in 1757. After that the records show him as George dcsd
" 1766, JACOB (son) " dcsd age 18
" 1773, Jacobina (dau) " dcsd age 16

It would have been better if the church recorder had said, "Whitsunday 1766, Jacob Pfaltzgraf, age 18, son of George Pfaltzgraf, Sr., deceased."

[Notes:
Not included in this list was first child, John George, b.1735, d. 1738; Barbara; Mary; Margaret; Fronica and Henry. My opinion is that they were recorded somewhere, probably in German, and simply have not yet been found.

It is a most regrettable and unfortunate thing that many in this generation have read the abbreviation "dec'd" in this abstract to mean that the baptized were dead instead of their father, George-1, who had died in 1757, the year after son George was baptized, and so have pre-empted JACOB from his rightful place as progenitor of the Kentucky branch of the Polsgrove family. JEB] =========================================================================

NOTES: 1,2 See footnote #11 3. William Henry Egle, M.D., "Pennsylvania Archives," (Harrisburg, Edwin K. Meyers, State Printer, 1892, ser. 2, vol. xvii, p. 466. 4. Ralph Beaver Strassburger, L.L.D., "Pennsylvania German Pioneers." (Morristown, Pennsylvania German Society, 1934), vol. I, p. 698. 5. Israel Daniel Rupp, "Thirty Thousand Names," (Philadelphia, Leary, Stuart and Company, 1898), p. 364. 6. Op. Cit., "Pennsylvania German Pioneers." 7. Ibid, vol. ii, p. 795. 10 "Joint Anniversary of the Reformed and Lutheran Congregations," November 4, 1923, Longswamp Union Church. The beginning of it reads in part: [Mr. Fritch did not send me notes 10 through 14, so I can't reproduce them here]. I am at the end of the page, and as notes 8 and 9 pertain to the Pfalzgraff family evidences, I will do those on the next pages.

The Documentary Evidences for the Fritsch-Pfalzgraff Connection, from notes 8 and 9 of the manuscript entitled "Fritch-Fritsch Family"
8. In a letter received from Judge Ervin D. FRITCH of Akron, Ohio, hestates, "In some memoranda received from your father (Samuel J. FRITCH) years ago, I notice that someone undertook to translate the name of the wife of Johannes FRITCH as Maria PALSGROVE. My investigation found her name to be in German, Anna Maria PFALZGRAFIN. Now if you want a translation of that, it is Anna Maria, Countess of Pfalz. Pfalz was a section of western Germany corresponding to a county. It was in Bavaria. The head of the local government was a Graf, or in English, a count. The Pfalz-Graf was the Count of Pfalz. By English writers Pfalz is referred to as the Palatinate. So I deduce from this that we do not know her family name. She was Anna Maria PFALZGRAFIN (Countess of Pfalz). Just like we say Edward, Duke of Windsor. That is his title, not his family name. "When I attended college, I took German instead of Greek, so I believe that I am not guessing about this." (Also see footnote #11).
9. Rev. C. E. Weisser, D.D., "A Monograph of the New Goshenhoppen and Great Swamp Reformed Churches," 1731-1881, Reading, Pennsylvania, Daniel Miller, Printer, 1882), p. 5ff. In the first chapter, the author discusses the Valley of Goshenhoppen, its name, its settlement, and the churches of the valley: "The region known as Goshenhoppen is part of Perkiomen Valley, and comprises two sections---Old and New Goshenhoppen. The division of the territory does not imply an early and a later occupancy, since the whole was settled simultaneously; but, that the southern portion (old) was brought into note somewhat sooner, in consequence of its proximity to Philadelphia, then the northern part (new). "The valley covered by the name extends along Perkiomen Creek, in the upper end of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, perhaps ten miles long and five miles wide. The borough of East Greenville, and the villages of Green Lane, Sumneytown, Red Hill, and Pennsburg are embraced within its scope." "Since the date of the oldest record extant---1728---Goshenhoppen has been variously written, viz., Queschopen, Cossshehoppa, Coshenhoppen, Coshahopin, Cowissahopen,Coshhoppa and Goshenhoppen." "The name Goschenhoppen is not of German derivation---just as little as Tulpehocken, or Conschohocken---but of Indian origin. The truth of this assertion strikes us forcibly when we bear in mind the fact that such chiefs as Enschockhoppa and Shakahoppa once owned and reigned over the valley of Goschenhoppen." [This historical narrative continues on the next page] "The Perkiomen lands passed from Indian control in Penn's hands in 1684. The first occupancy of any part of the territory by white settlers cannot be certainly determined. Oley is fixed in the public records as early as 1712. The Germans are spoken as locating on the "back lands" in 1714. In some few cases deaths are said to have occurred in this latitude as early as 1716-18. In 1728 a petition was sent to the Council at Philadelphia praying for "relief against what they suffered and were likely to suffer from the Indians who had fallen upon the back inhabitants about Falkner's Swamp and Goschenhoppen."" As no oath of allegiance was enacted from emigrants(sp) prior to 1727, it is only through isolated and chance records that we can approach the date of the earliest settling of the valley. "In 1730, however, light dawns. In this year church records were opened in various places over the region. It was then, too, that public roads were laid out." The congregations that were placed upon this soil at the beginning of its history were those which still stand as the principal and almost exclusive ones. The Roman Catholic, the German Reformed, the Lutheran, the Mennonite, and the Schwenkfeldian churches date from its earliest day, and remain as sole possessors, with the single exception of the Evangelical Society, which came into a weekly existence at a very late period." "A study of the church records were made in January and February, 1954 (and a letter in pursuance to Mrs. Joseph E. Madara dated February 23, 1954) from the "History of the Goshenhoppen Reformed Congregation, Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, vol. i., 1731-1761; vol. ii, 1762-1832, translated by Rev. William John Hinke, Ph.D., D.D., the beginning reads in part: "The church record herewith published has the unique distinction of being the oldest known record book of the Reformed Church in the United States. It is the property of the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Congregation, which worships in the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church, a building standing about one mile west of East Greenville, Montgomery county, close to the east bank of the Perkiomen Creek." "The book measures 7 1/2" in width by 12 3/8" in length. It is bound in heavy, leather-bound, oak covers. The leather was at one time tastefully tooled, but it is now torn and shows the signs of age. It was also provided with iron clasps, but they have mostly disappeared, and only parts of them have survived. The number of leaves still in the book is eighty-one. They are water-stained and yellow with age." "The publication of this record is justified by both historical as well as genealogical considerations. It is on one hand an important source of family history for the Goshenhoppen region, making us acquainted with some of the most prominent families in the Perkiomen Valley. But it is also important as a source for church history, because it contains the record of the ministerial labors of some of the earliest Reformed ministers in Pennsylvania." "The title page is especially interesting and important. It was written by John Henry Goetschius (or Goetschy). Being undated, it was formerly thought to have been written as early as 1731, when the first baptismal entries were made. But this is now known to be an error, because documents both in Switzerland and Pennsylvania prove that Mr. Goetschius did not come to Pennsylvania until 1735." "As the title page of the Great Swamp record was written in 1736, so it is most likely to be the case with this record. At least we cannot be far from right when we say that it was entered about the year 1736." The title page reads verbatim et literatim: Das Buch kost 5 schilling Tauf Buch der Gemeind von Goshenhope. In welchem verzeichnet sind die namen der Kinderen welche durch die H. Tauf nach dem Befehl Jesu under die Gemeine Gottes als Gleider an- genomen werden, im beyseyn Christlicher Tauf Zeugen der (en) Namen samt der Getauften Kinder (en) Eltern von den (en) rechmesigen Lehrern hier eingezeichlet werden Gott wolle Ihre Namen mit dem Blut Jesu aus dem Sunden Buch auslosch (en) und in das Lebens Buch ein Schreiben. Amen. Joh. Henricus Goetschius, V.D.M. [15] Helvetiae Tigurinae Et cet Pronuncians varitatem in Schippach, Alt Coschenhoppen, Neu Coschenhoppen, Schwam, Sacen, Aegiptin, Macedonia, Missillem, Oli, Bern, Dolpenhacen." [English translation] "This book costs 5 shillings Baptismal Book Of the Congregation of Coshenhoppen In which are recorded the names of the children who through H. Baptism, according to the command of Jesus were received into the congregation as members, in the presence of Christian wit- nesses, whose names together with those of the parents of the baptized children have been here- recorded by the regular ministers May God erase their names with the blood of Jesus from the book of sin and enroll them in the book of life. Amen" John Henry Goetschius, V.D.M. Of Zurich, Switzerland, etc. preaching the truth at Skippac, Old Goshenhoppen, New Goshenhoppen, Great Swamp, Saucon, Egypt, Maxatawny, Moselem, Oley, Berne, Tulpehocken.
HEADS of FAMILIES-1736
"On page 274 of the foregoing translation is a list of the heads of families belonging to the congregation of New Goshenhoppen Reformed. These names were listed by the boy preacher John Henry Goetschy in the year 1736 or before the year 1739. There are forty-five (45) in number, of which, number twelve (12) is listed as Joh. Georg PFALZGRAFF." "In the miscellaneous entries of John Henry Goetschy, 1735-1738, page 311, are recorded a list of members who have died during his ministry: "MDCCXXVIII, 2d March--John George PFALZGRAFF, son of George PFALZGRAFF, his age--2 years, 5 months." [THIS DATE IS IN ERROR] "Then on page 14 among the earliest Reformed settlers in the Goshenhoppen Valley is recorded George PALSGRAFF, arrival, September 11, 1732, at Goshenhoppen 1736." [Then follows a long chronological list of ministers who served the local churches which I will place somewhere else for reference] "From the termination of Rev. Mr. Faber's ministry, there was a division of the charge. The thirty-five (35) entries (except for one or two) since 1745 to one in 1750 �'are in the wretched but well-known handwriting of (Rev) Frederick Casimir Miller---. As the entries of (Rev) Mr. Weiss began in 1747, the ministry of Pastor Miller seems to have extended from 1745 to 1747. But the later entries prove that he made occasional visits to Goshenhoppen and baptized children there as late as April 28, 1750.---. Before the church records made their appearance (in 1757), the names of the baptized children were generally taken care of and recorded by the parents themselves.' Thus, I did not see the birth and baptism of Anna Maria PFALZGRAFF recorded, but it may have been recorded by one of the pastors as they traveled from church to church (Falkner Swamp), or perhaps her parents neglected to record it during one of those overlapping years. Anna Maria PFALZGRAFF, then, was born during the second pastorate of Rev. George Michael Weiss, was probably baptized by her parents, the entry of which remained unrecorded, or remained unbaptized. From 1748-1758, Pastor Weiss baptized twenty-seven (27) adults. The date of baptism of the first infant was recorded by him on December 2, 1757." "Another proof that the PFALZGRAFF family (Anna Maria's parents) lived in Goshenhoppen as early as 1736 is an entry which was recorded by Pastor Goetschy in that year and a copy of its translation appearing on page 282: "October 31,-- John Jorg, parents, Johan Philip Eberd [EMERT]and Maria Catrina, witnesses, Johan Jorg PFALZGRAF and wife Anna Barbara�" It is evident, then, that they John Georg PFALZGRAFF and his wife Anna Barbara PFALZGRAFF, to whom this footnote refers, had a large family of children, and in all probability made their advent into Pennsylvania quite early in the 18th century." [All of the above and the next page listing the chronology of ministers was one footnote, #9, from the Fritch-Fritsch Family History] [New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church] "Among the early ministers who served at the church were: [Since all names were preceded by the formal (Rev) I will not repeat the obvious here, myself] George Michael Weiss 1727-1730 John Peter Miller 1730-1734 John Henry Goetschy 1735-1740 Peter Henry Dorsius 1741-1744 Frederick Casimir Miller 1745-1748 George Michael Weiss (2nd time) 1746-1761 John Philip Leydich 1762-1763 Philip Jacob Michael 1763-1764? Jacob Riess 1765-1766 "He preached at Great Swamp from 1762-1764, also preached in Longswamp for seven and a half years after the farewell sermon of the former pastor, Rev. Philip Jacob Michael, about the middle of May, 1754." John Theobald Faber, Sr. 1766-1779 John Wilhelm Ingold 1780-____ Frederick Dalliker 1782-1784 "He also preached at Falkner Swamp." Frederick Wilhelm van der Sleet, Sr. 1784-1786 John Theobald Faber, Sr. 1786-1788 Nicholas Pomp 1789-1792 John Theobald Faber, Jr. 1791-1807 Albert Helffenstein 1808-1811 Frederick Wilhelm van der Sleet, Sr. 1812-1818 John Theobald Faber, Jr. 1819-1833 John Philip Leydich [7] was also pastor in 1762 of Falkner Swamp and and Providence.

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