Johannes was their first-born. He was born in Aach on December 26, 1651 and he lived to see the 18th century unfold, dying on June 9, 1715, in Wittlensweiler. Johannes was the first church caretaker (Kirchenpfleger) in our family, which means that he had broad-based duties to oversee church property, processes, and personnel. Johannes and his wife had three children who are my 1st cousins 8 times removed. They were Hans Martin, who worked as a miller, judge, and mayor in Wittlensweiler; Anna Catharina, who married Johan Caspar Stuhr; and Hans Jakob (1694-1763), who married Christina Zufle.
Michael Schittenhelm was Joh. Michael and Anna Maria's 2nd son. He is also my 7x great-grand-father. Michael was born in Aach on April 22, 1655 and he died in Erzgrube on July 29, 1681. At the time, lumber was an important part of the German economy and Erzgrube was a place where rafters could load their cargo and take it to Amsterdam and other large cities. Indeed, as our family tree shows, several members of our family worked full-time or, in some cases, part-time, as rafters (Flossers) during this time period. Michael Schittenhelm made his living as a Flosser and he and his wife, Maria Agnes Schuefer, had one son, Johann Michael who was born just a few months after his father died in 1681. Johann Michael is the grandfather of the man who immigrated to America and he will be the subject of our next chapter.
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| Freudenstadt and church |
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| Schwarzwald (Black Forest) |
