From Ancestry and Descendants of the
Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia, 1714-1750 by B. C. Holtzclaw
A horse-thief in the family is the stereotypical
embarrassment in genealogy.
Unfortunately for those related to the Holtzclaw family there is a witch
in the family. In the Stuell line, one
finds Hans Stuell, Sr. Hans married
Hilla first and then after her death married Gertrud.
Geschichte der Gemeinde Klafeld-Geisweid (a history of the Klafeld township) by
Boettger and Busch reports that in 1590, Gertrud was accused of bewitching her
neighbor’s livestock. This is a common
accusation for witchcraft. Gertrud was
convicted and burned at the stake in 1590 in Oberhozklaw, Nassau-Siegen,
Germany.
1.
Hans STUELL Sr. (5026); born
between 1530 and 1535 in of Klafeld, Germany; married Hilla ? (5098) circa 1555; married Gertrud ? (5027) circa 1565 in Oberholzklau
Parish, Nassau-Siegen, Germany; died between 1590 and 1599 in Klafeld,
Nassau-Siegen, Germany.
He lived between 1563 and 1583 in
Klafeld, Nassau-Siegen, Germany. He
bought land from the church in 1563 and is listed as owning a house in Klafeld
in 1566 and 1583.
Hilla ? (5098) was born circa 1535. She died after 1563.
Children of Hans Stuell Sr. (5026) and Hilla ?
(5098) were:
2. i. Jost (5028);
born between 1555 and 1560 in Alchen, Nassau-Siegen, Germany.
He lived between 1583 and 1629 in
Klafeld, Nassau-Siegen, Germany.
Gertrud ? (5027) was born circa 1534 (of Alchen, Nassau-Siegen, Germany).
She died in 1590 in Oberholzklau, Nassau-Siegen, Germany. Gertrud Stuell was
burned as a witch after being accused of bewitching her neighbor's
livestock. The source cited is
"Geschichte der Gemeinde Klafeld-Geisweid" by Boettger and Busch (a
history of the Klafeld township).
Children of Hans Stuell Sr. (5026) and Gertrud ?
(5027) were:
+ 3.
i. Hans Jr. (5025),
born between 1570 and 1575 in Klafeld, Nassau-Siegen, Germany; married Gertrude
Noeh (5065).