Person Page - 268

     Johannes Hilsenbeck was born on 10 Nov 1722 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Matthaus Hilsenbeck I and Maria Fritz.

     Mattaus Hilsenbeck II was born on 18 Feb 1728 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Matthaus Hilsenbeck I and Maria Fritz.

     Philipp Hilsenbeck II was born on 24 May 1653 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Margarethe Pfister. Philipp Hilsenbeck II married Waldburga Baertele, daughter of Johannes Bartele II and Catharina Worz, on 10 May 1680 at Kuchen, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Philipp Hilsenbeck II married Maria Blathers, daughter of Leonhardt Blathers / Blatser, on 26 Jan 1692 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. Philipp Hilsenbeck II died on 1 Aug 1713 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, at age 60.

      Philipp Hilsenbeck was a shoemaker. The majority of Phillipp's children by both of his wives died before age three.

Other detailed sources for Phillipp Hilsenbeck and his family include:
--Mark Hodges, email from utahodge(at)aaahawk(dot)com), Sep 2006.

     Maria Blathers was born in 1666 at Merklingen ?, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Leonhardt Blathers / Blatser. Maria Blathers married Philipp Hilsenbeck II, son of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Margarethe Pfister, on 26 Jan 1692 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Maria Blathers died on 28 Nov 1733 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

      Maria Blathers and her father Leonhardt are said by some researchers to have the surname Blatser.

     Waldburga Baertele was born on 17 Nov 1652 at Kuchen, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Johannes Bartele II and Catharina Worz. Waldburga Baertele married Philipp Hilsenbeck II, son of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Margarethe Pfister, on 10 May 1680 at Kuchen, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. Waldburga Baertele died on 8 Aug 1691 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany, at age 38.

     Johannes Bartele II was born on 8 Jun 1610 at Kuchen, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Johannes Bartele I and Waldburga Falch. Johannes Bartele II married Catharina Worz on 31 Jan 1638 at Geislingen an der Steige, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Johannes Bartele II died on 7 Nov 1685 at Kuchen, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, at age 75.

     Catharina Worz was born a 1612 at Hofstett am Steig, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She married Johannes Bartele II, son of Johannes Bartele I and Waldburga Falch, on 31 Jan 1638 at Geislingen an der Steige, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Catharina Worz died b 1680.

     Anna Hilsenbeck was born c 1693 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Maria Blathers. Anna Hilsenbeck was christened on 9 Jan 1693 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Margarethe Hilsenbeck was born in 1697 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Maria Blathers. Margarethe Hilsenbeck was christened on 27 Jan 1697 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

      An additional source for Margarethe Hilsenbeck was:
Wittlingen Kirchenbuch 1639-1985, Evangelische Kirche Wittlingen (OA. Urach), Salt Lake City, Utah, Gefilmt durch, The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986; Protestant parish registers of baptisms, marriages, deaths, family registers, for Wittlingen (OA. Urach), Württemberg, Germany. Text in German. Mikrofilme aufgenommen von Manuskripten im Landeskirch lichen Archiv Stuttgart; #1475292; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150.

     Eva Hilsenbeck (2nd dau Eva) was born in 1699 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Maria Blathers. Eva Hilsenbeck (2nd dau Eva) was christened on 28 Nov 1699 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. She died in 1703 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Andreas Hilsenbeck was born in 1705 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Maria Blathers. Andreas Hilsenbeck was christened on 29 Nov 1705 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. He died on 13 Jan 1706 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Caspar Hilsenbeck was born in 1707 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Maria Blathers. Caspar Hilsenbeck was christened on 13 Feb 1707 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. He died on 18 Jul 1710 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Anna Margarethe Hilsenbeck was born in 1681 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Waldburga Baertele. Anna Margarethe Hilsenbeck was christened on 8 Jun 1681 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. She died on 13 Jul 1681 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Johannes Hilsenbeck was born in 1683 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Waldburga Baertele. Johannes Hilsenbeck was christened on 30 Oct 1683 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Philipp Hilsenbeck III was born in 1685 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Waldburga Baertele. Philipp Hilsenbeck III was christened on 1 Oct 1685 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. He died on 14 Dec 1686 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Philipp Hilsenbeck (2nd son Philipp) II was born in 1687 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Waldburga Baertele. Philipp Hilsenbeck (2nd son Philipp) II was christened on 31 Jan 1687 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. He died on 6 May 1687 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Eva Hilsenbeck was born in 1689 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Waldburga Baertele. Eva Hilsenbeck was christened on 1 Aug 1689 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. She died on 3 Oct 1689 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Matthaus Hilsenbeck was born in 1690 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck II and Waldburga Baertele. Matthaus Hilsenbeck was christened on 26 Oct 1690 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. He died on 17 May 1691 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Philipp Hilsenbeck I was born c 1618 at Giengen an der Brenz, Jagst-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Matthaus Hilsenbeck I. Philipp Hilsenbeck I married Margarethe Pfister, daughter of Rev Christian Pfister, in Dec 1645 at Munsingen, Reutlingen, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Philipp Hilsenbeck I married Barbara Dauner on 25 Jan 1665 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Philipp Hilsenbeck I died on 13 Jul 1678 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

      Feldstetten is located nearby other ancestral villages for this family -- about two miles west of Laichigen and about twenty-five miles west-southwest of Giengen. The Feldstetten population in early 1634 was reportedly between 525 and 800 inhabitants. Between 1635 and 1650, Feldstetten was nearly deserted. Those who had not died at the hands of the Imperial troops during the 1618-1648 Thirty Years War between catholics and protestants died as a result of starvation or the plague or fled to the protection of the walled cities and did not return. In 1949 the Feldstetten pastor, Dr. Dieter, wrote a brief history entitled Feldstetten During The Centuries. Feldstetten suffered devastation similar to Laichingen during the Thirty Years War but without as total destruction of records. The author stated in 1630 the Feldstetten population numbered "800 inhabitants and 150 horses...in spite of the Pest of the previous years (1626/27). But after the bloody outrages, plunderings, famines and epidemics there were in 1635 only 50 inhabitants present." Further he stated "...in 1652 only 120 and only in the year 1829 was the number of 806 reached again...." These statistics represent the conditions in which our ancestors lived in the first part of the seventeenth century.

When Philipp Hilsenbeck and his bride Margarethe moved to Feldstetten in 1646 or 1647, the village lay in ruin. Philipp and his bride came to fill a vacuum; property was apparently free for the taking. The same thing was occurring in next-door Laichingen. By 1654 the population in Feldstetten stood at 132 and not until 1743 did the population grow to the levels of 1634. Philipp was a brewer in Feldstetten.

According to the Feldstetten marriage register Philipp married Margaretha Pfister in Nov 1646 in nearby Münsingen where her father was the minister. However, this 1646 date is in conflict with a marriage entry dated Dec 1645 in the Giengen church records which is likely correct. Feldstetten had no minister from 1636 until 1653; clergymen from Laichingen and surrounding communities filled this role, thus a substitute may have erred with the date of Nov 1646. Secondly, the first child of this couple was born on 8 Apr 1647. While it certainly was not unheard of that a bride was already several months pregnant when she married, ministers during the seventeenth century often entered very personal comments into the church birth records such as "this child was born six months too early," and no such comment was entered in the birth record of their first-born.

Margaretha died in 1663; either before this time or shortly afterward Philipp hired Barbara Dauner, a maid who had come from Steiermarck, an area of present-day upper Austria. Philip finally married Barbara only a month before their first child arrived. In their early 1665 marriage record the minister recorded the bride was 32 weeks pregnant. When their child was born the minister noted as he entered this birth into the birth register that the child was born only a few weeks after the wedding of its parents.

Philipp's two wives produced seventeen children but few survived to adulthood. In that era many children died from "Gichter" which has a loose interpretation, sometimes meaning diarrhea or a high fever. Frequent epidemics of typhus, measles or other contagious diseases occurred which killed mostly the young and the old. Around 1635 there were epidemics that killed about 2/3 of the population. Life was much more risky for the young in those days.

Philipp and Barbara had seven children and only one survived. Philipp and Margaretha had ten children; only Dorothea and four sons, Mattheus, Christianus, Philipp and Caspar survived. The son Philipp became a shoemaker; the others followed their father's occupation of brewing and innkeeping. Mattheus and Caspar moved to Laichingen, widely renowned for its quality of linen, and set up breweries there. In 1677 Matthaus bought the Krone Inn, and 1684 Matthaus also bought the Ochsen Inn for his brother Caspar. Mattheus is shown in one or more of his children's birth records as being the village attorney from 1683 until 1703. The third brother who learned to brew was Christian, christened Christianus, who remained in Feldstetten.

Philipp died in 1678; his age of 50 at death is clearly written, however is not likely accurate. For a male to marry at age 17 was practically unheard of and a special dispensation had to be obtained before the marriage could take place. In addition, the birth year of 1628 does not seem very likely when looking at the estimated birth years of his three siblings in Giengen. Further a Johannes Hilsenbeck born 1922 in Laichigen stated Philipp was born in 1618 in Giengen.

Philipp Hilsenbeck I and his wives are the first of the Hilsenbecks for whom there are no church records quoted as sources; thus the family data is based in part on research by Don Schwenk.

     Margarethe Pfister was born in 1626 at Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Rev Christian Pfister. Margarethe Pfister married Philipp Hilsenbeck I, son of Matthaus Hilsenbeck I, in Dec 1645 at Munsingen, Reutlingen, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Margarethe Pfister died on 16 Dec 1663 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

     Barbara Dauner was born in 1643 at Demmen, Steinermarck, Austria. She married Philipp Hilsenbeck I, son of Matthaus Hilsenbeck I, on 25 Jan 1665 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Barbara Dauner married Ludwif Frickh in 1679. Barbara Dauner died on 20 Apr 1681 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

      Barbara Dauner may be named Barbara Hanser and may have been born in Damen, Steiermark (Styria), Austria because "Demmen" was not found in Austria.

     Margarethe Hilsenbeck was born on 23 Feb 1665 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Barbara Dauner. Margarethe Hilsenbeck died on 18 Aug 1665 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg.

     Johannes Hilsenbeck was born on 6 Jan 1666 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Barbara Dauner.

     Anna Maria Hilsenbeck was born on 3 Mar 1668 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Barbara Dauner. Anna Maria Hilsenbeck married Bernhard Schwenk on 15 Sep 1695 at Laichingen, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Anna Maria Hilsenbeck died on 17 Apr 1707 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, at age 39.

     Baby Hilsenbeck died on 27 May 1670 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Baby Hilsenbeck was born on 27 May 1670 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. Baby Hilsenbeck was the child of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Barbara Dauner.

     Georg Hilsenbeck was born on 19 Sep 1672 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Barbara Dauner. Georg Hilsenbeck died on 4 Mar 1680 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, at age 7.

     Bernhard Schwenk was born on 8 Sep 1672 at Laichingen, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He married Anna Maria Hilsenbeck, daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Barbara Dauner, on 15 Sep 1695 at Laichingen, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg. Bernhard Schwenk married Anna Durss on 15 Oct 1707 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Bernhard Schwenk died on 16 Apr 1740 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, at age 67.

      Bernhard Schwenk was born in Laichingen where the economy was based on agriculture as was true of the many other villages in this region where our ancestors lived. Because it was strictly agricultural, no bombs from World War II fell on these communities. However, the Thirty Years War between the Protestants and Catholics from 1618 until 1648 was particularly savage in Laichingen and the surrounding area. Because of this war and the wantonness of the Imperial troops around 1634, the church books documenting births, marriages and deaths of the Lutheran Evangelical community of Laichingen were destroyed.

Bernhard was a judge and a weaver; his six surviving sons became weavers and four of them married in Feldstetten. Andreas the first child of Bernhard and his first wife Maria -- she went by her middle name -- died on 28 Jun 1700. About six weeks later, another baby boy was born who was given the same name to honor Bernhard's father. Two years later on 20 Jun 1702, Cunrad was born who became an extraordinary man in the community. In Aug 1704 Andreas died. The following June, Johannes was born. Then in 1707 Maria, while in labor with her fifth child, died. The following words were entered into the death book by the pastor in Feldstetten: "On the 19th of April around 5 in the evening, Anna Maria, wife of Bernhard Schwenck, weaver, died while in childbirth, and the grave was filled with two. She was 39 years of age, and was buried on Tuesday afternoon in the accompaniment of a full church..." The situation did not allow for a long period of mourning before marrying again. Bernhard's new wife was Anna Durss whose father Johann, then deceased, was a member of the court and town council in the village of Nellingen, a community about 7 miles northeast of Feldstetten. Perhaps Bernhard, then at the age of 35, had become interested in the law, though the title of judge did not appear alongside his name in the birth registers until the year 1714 when Anna Barbara was born. During the years from 1708 through 1719 Bernhard and Anna had four girls and four boys.

The following excerpt is from the Feldstetten death book: The 16th of April on Holy Easter Eve, Bernhardt Schwenckh, local first judge and weaver passed on. His age was 67 years and 7 months. His final illness lasted 8 days, but with severe pains ex difficulta te emittendi Urinam natis [likely kidney stones.] He was buried Easter Monday with the accompaniment of a large gathering.

     Christoph Hilsenbeck was born on 11 Apr 1676 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was the son of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Barbara Dauner. Christoph Hilsenbeck died on 14 Sep 1685 at age 9.

     Barbara Hilsenbeck was born on 5 Sep 1677 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Barbara Dauner. Barbara Hilsenbeck died on 7 Sep 1685 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, at age 8.

     Dorothea Hilsenbeck was born on 8 Apr 1647 at Feldstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. She was the daughter of Philipp Hilsenbeck I and Margarethe Pfister. Dorothea Hilsenbeck died on 17 Mar 1690 at Laichingen, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany, at age 42.