[Ancestral Link: Lura Minnie Parker (Stagge) daughter of Minnie May Elmer (Parker), daughter of Mary Ann or Minnie Jost (Elmer), daughter of John Alexander Jost, son of George Henry Jost, son of Susanna Catherine Morash (Jost).]
The Morash Family from Kleinheubach, GermanyPolli Jost Turner, Editor
We owe a debt of gratitude to Winthrop P. Bell, the author of the book, "Foreign Protestants and the Settlement of Nova Scotia" [1961]. It is often difficult to learn about immigrant ancestors, trying to discover when they came to America, what boat they travelled on, and (most important to further research) where they came from in the Old World. In the 1700's, the French presence in Canada was already strong. But the British desired a strategic port on the eastern seaboard, in competition with the French presence, as well as the rich potential of the cod fishing industry there, and began settlement of Halifax and Nova Scotia. England was unwilling to lose more citizens to the westward migration. So the plan was formed to recruit "Foreign Protestants," largely German-speaking Lutherans, to help settle the new land. Between 1751 and 1753, about 1500 immigrants were brought to Halifax, most of them being taken to build the new settlement of Lunenburg in 1754. Bell developed an interest in this group of "Foreign Protestants," and began to compile research for a book on the subject, to clarify misconceptions that had arisen over the intervening years. That research makes available to us detailed information on all the immigrants, gleaned from the records of the day which would be unavailable to the general public.
First Generation—Johann Leonhardt Morasch, born ca. 1706, of Kleinheubach, a small village on the Main River, southeast of the city of Frankfurt. Married Anna Elisabetha, born ca. 1710. Anna Elizabeth married secondly (Feb. 10, 1739, in Kleinheubach), Johann Georg Haun, "Hans", born ca. 1705. His father was Andres Haun, of Wildenstein.
I visited Kleinheubach in 1997, and found that the current pastor of the Lutheran church had sent the church record books to the regional archive in Regensburg (they have not been filmed by the LDS church). There was no information about the family I could learn there, but I was thrilled to see the old church, still standing, that was built shortly before the Morasch family left for Nova Scotia. However, Richard Morash visited Kleinheubach sometime before that. He was able to spend some time with the previous pastor of the church, investigating the old church record books to see what information there was about the Morasch family. He recently shared this with me:"He told me the most amazing tale. Johann Leonhardt Morasch was a grenadier and belonged to the Emperior of Austria. The tale goes that he was thought to have died in battle. His wife, Anna Elizabetha, assumed she had become a widow and on Feb. 10, 1739, married again to a Johann Haun. There was a notice made (in the church records) in June of 1740 that Johann Leonhardt Morasch showed up in the village to discover his wife had remarried. Still belonging to the Emperor, he left the town with a broken heart. There is a record of a Johannes Morasch that died in Hoechst in the year 1808." Together, Johann Georg Haun and Anna Elizabetha brought the family to Halifax, Nova Scotia, among the 2500 "Foreign Protestants" recruited by the British. They were from Kleinheubach, and arrived in Halifax on board the Murdoch in 1751. Most of the immigrants could not afford passage to Halifax, so the British government extended them credit for the voyage. The immigrants could work off their "indebtedness" by working on public works in Halifax at a rate of 1 shilling 6 pence per day for laborers, or 2 shillings per day for a tradesman. It is interesting that the Haun family paid their own fares for the voyage! However, the sons Johannes and Johann Michael both were indebted for one fare each, at a cost of £70, 17, 18. (There were 20 shillings to a British pound.)
Birthdates were from the Kleinheubach church records, given to Richard Morash by the pastor there:
1. John Michael Morasch, "Michael," born 1728, in Germany; died August 4, 1784, in Nova Scotia; 56 years old. Married (March 11, 1752, in Halifax) Maria Elizabeth Haasin (the feminine form of the German surname Haas), died April 17, 1786.
2. Johann Nicolaus Morasch, born April 22, 1730, in Kleinheubach; died August 30, 1734, also in Kleinheubach; four years old.
3. Johannes Georg Morasch, born March 13, 1733, in Kleinheubach; died December 12, 1820, in Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia; 87 years old. Married (July 20, 1756, in Lunenburg) Catherina Christina Finck (acc. to Bell’s notes, although some sources give Zinck).
4 Susanna Catherine Morasch, born August 11, 1735, in Kleinheubach; died April 5, 1811, in Halifax, Nova Scotia; 76 years old. Married Johann Georg Jost. Neither she nor her sister were mentioned on the ship’s passenger list. It may be that, because they were under the age of 20, or because they were not heads of a family, mention was not considered necessary.
5. Susanna Elizabeth Morasch, born February 12, 1737, in Kleinheubach. Married (March 30, 1755, in Lunenburg) Johannes Seeburger, born 1722, from Württemburg. He came on board the Pearl in 1751. His last name was originally Sohburger. Confirmed in St. George’s Church on October 4, 1761. All their children were baptized in Lunenburg. After Johannes’ death, she remarried (June 2, 1782) Johann Peter Zinck, a widower. Peter was the son of Caspar and Anna Maria Zinck of Kleinheubach. He came to Nova Scotia with his parents on board the Murdoch in 1751.
•Children of John George Haun and Anna Elizabeth:
1. Casper Haun, born ca. 1743. Confirmed in St. George’s Church on October 4, 1761. Married (May 23, 1763, in Halifax) Sophia Smith, daughter of Johann Adam and Cathrina Schmidt.
2. Maria Lisse Haun, born ca. 1747; confirmed 1761, in Halifax.
Second Generation—Susanna Catherine Morasch, born August 11, 1735, in Kleinheubach; died April 3, 1811, in Hailfax; 75 years old. Married (December 17, 1754, in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia) Johann Georg Jost, "George" born May 30, 1727, in Strasbourg; died June 7, 1775, in Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; 48 years old. The Betty’s passenger list states that he was an unmarried locksmith from Strasbourg. Kleinheubach is a small village in Germany, on the south side of the Main river in Bavaria, just southeast of Frankfurt. George and Susanna were buried together in the cemetery of the Little Dutch Church in Halifax. After George’s death, Susanna remarried (September 8, 1776) Johann Caspar Drilliot, "Caspar," born ca. 1726, in Switzerland, according to the Speedwell’s passenger list. He arrived in Halifax in 1851. He married first (April 9, 1752) Mary Schuffelburger. They had three children before her death, sometime after 1762. Caspar and Susanna had a daughter of their own, Catherine. Catherine married Nicholas LeCane. The family name has been seen as Drillis, Drillio, Drilliot, and even Trillian and Trilliot! His signature was awkward and uneducated, and looks to be "Drilliot. It is unusual that Susanna was buried with her first husband George, particularly since he died almost 30 years before she did. Presumably Casper preceded her in death, and was buried with his first wife, leaving Susanna to be buried with George.
1. Rachel [or Regina] Elizabeth Jost,"Elizabeth," born 1755, in Lunenburg, died February 3, 1840, in Halifax; 84 years old. She was buried near her parents in the Little Dutch Church cemetery. Married (July 31, 1776, in St. Paul’s Church in Halifax) John David Longard, "David," born March 18, 1755 in Lunenburg. He was a blacksmith, his parents were Ulrich and Marianna Anna Longard (probably originally Lankert). Ulrich Lankert was a farmer from Switzerland, and arrived in Halifax on board the Betty (with George Jost) in 1752. He was apparently single at the time.
2. John Michael Jost,baptized September 18, 1757, in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Died young. Buried in the Little Dutch Church cemetery.
3. George Frederick Jost, baptized April 23, 1760, in Halifax (St. Paul’s Church). Married (August 14, 1785, in Lunenburg) Maria Elizabeth Reichardt (Anna Elizabeth?). Lived in Herring Cove, an area of Halifax, in 1792-3 as a "labourer."
4. Andrew Jost, a twin, baptized July 3, 1761, in Halifax (St. Paul’s). Probably died young.
5. William Jost, a twin, baptized July 3, 1761, in Halifax (St. Paul’s). Probably died young.
6. John Casper Jost, born September 11, 1763, in Halifax; died June 13, 1850, in Guysboro, Nova Scotia; 86 years old. Baptized September 17, 1763, at St. Paul’s. Married (March 29, 1791, in Halifax) Mary Catherina Hirtle, born August 5, 1770, in Halifax (baptized August 26, 1770); died March 14, 1846, in Guysboro; 75 years old.
7. Jacob Jost, baptized January 10, 1765, in Halifax (St. Paul’s). He possibly died young.
8. Catherine Barbara Jost,"Barbara," baptized October 1, 1766, in Halifax (St. Paul’s); died November 9, 1864; about 98 years old. Married (April 3, 1787) Alexander Moir, who was probably born in Scotland. Both were buried in the Camp Hill Cemetery in Halifax. He was a blacksmith. Their sons started the Moir chocolate factory in the early 1800’s. The company was purchased by the Hershey’s company during the 1970’s.
9. Margaret (or Mary) Sophia Jost, baptized February 16, 1768, in Halifax (St. Paul’s). She died young.
10. Mary Philipina Jost,"Philipina," born 1769, in Halifax; died May 18, 1832, in Halifax; 63 years old. Married (January 21, 1789, in the Little Dutch Church in Halifax) William Jeremiah Vickers, "Jeremiah," born ca. 1762, in Halifax; died June 13, 1826, in Halifax; 64 years old. A tinsmith. They had at least 8 children.
11. John Philip Jost,born 1771, in Halifax; died February 7, 1854, in Lunenburg; 83 years old (82 years old, according to the Stayner Collection). Married (October 25, 1796, in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia) Anna Gertrude Pentz (or Penn), born 1775, in Lunenburg, died October 10, 1858; 83 years old (85, according to Stayner). Her father was John Martin Penn. All their children were born in Lunenburg, where Philip farmed.
12. George Henry Jost,born or baptized March 28, 1773, in Halifax; died February 1, 1849; 75 years old. He was a carpenter. Married (September 29, 1801, in Halifax) Margery Smith, born 1777; died December 5, 1851, in Halifax; 74 years old. They were buried in the Little Dutch church cemetery, near his parents. Their children were all born in Halifax.
Photos of Polli and Randy Turner and Family's Visit to Kleinheubach, GERMANY, October 1997
The bank of the Main river, overlooking Grossheubach to the north. My daughters Cathi (8 yrs.) and Christi (10 yrs.). They are standing with their backs to the old town wall.
Looking west, the river is to the right. This is the town wall again, and the arch leading into the town. The arch has markings at different levels, showing where the river rose to in flood years, going back into the 1700's, as I remember. One as recent as 1995. The year the river was almost as high as the top of the arch. The church is back to the left a bit.
The view of the rear of the Kleinheubach church seen over the wall (taken from where my daughters were standing on the bank of the river).
The front of the church, as seen from the street. It's kind of tucked back between two buildings.
Me (Polli) in front of the church. Over my head you can see the two plaques in the next photo.
The two plaques: The top one is in Latin --can anyone translate? The lower plaque is in German -- In the year of the Lord 1455 this building was begun under the honorable parish pastor Konrad Scholl. 1706-1710 church added to.
Altar of the church. The church is very small, and humble, compared to the ornate baroque churches we had seen in Bavaria. But it was very warm, felt like there had been love there for many years.
A plaque on the left hand wall of the church. A tricky translation, this is the best I can make of it: "Here rests the Very Reverend Sir Johann Friedrich von Fruhauf, personal council to the ruler of Loewenstein-Wertheim. He died Dec. 10, 1745, age 64 years, 6 months, 15 days. The righteous are comforted in death."
Sources: Richard Morash, Allan G. Jost, Nova Scotia, Norman and Beth Jost, Codys, New Brunswick, Roland and Joyce Jost, Newfoundland, The "Foreign Protestants" and the Settlement of Nova Scotia, by Winthrop P. Bell, 1961. Winthrop Bell’s Notes, available on microfilm #1421430 from Salt Lake City, through local Family History Centers
Morash Links:
Our photos of Kleinheubach, taken Oct. (see above) 1997:http://www.rootsweb.com/~canns/lunenburg/kleinheubach.html
Also on Dave Conrad's site:http://www.downhome.top-ereviews.com/kleinheubachvillage.html
Chris Young's visit to Kleinheubach:http://www.seawhy.com/gvkh.html
Allan Jost's gedcom of our Jost and Morash family:http://jostfamily.tk/
Allan Jost's gedcom of our Jost and Morash family:http://jostfamily.tk/
Halifax County, Nova Scotia GenWeb Project:http://www.rootsweb.com/~nshalifa/
Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia GenWeb Project:http://www.rootsweb.com/~canns/lunenburg/index.html
Lunenburg First Familieshttp://www.seawhy.com/fifamndx.htmllburgndx.htmlhttp://www.seawhy.com/ffmorash.htmlffmorash.html
Antecdotal Histories of Life in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, by Nancy Shaver:http://www.flora.org/nancy/lunenburg/
No comments:
Post a Comment