Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Johann Adam Schimmel (Shimmel, Shimel) revised 4/20/07

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Descendants of Johann Adam Schimmel (Shimmel, Shimel) revised 4/20/07

Generation No. 2

2. Johann Ludwig² Schimmel (Johann Adam¹) was born 06 Jul 1755 in Heuchelheim, Hessen, West Germany, and died 16 Feb 1795 in Heuchelheim, Hessen, West Germany. He married Anna Elizabeth Sack in Heuchelheim, Hessen, West Germany. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown.

More About Johann Schimmel and Anna Sack:
Marriage: Heuchelheim, Hessen, West Germany

Child of Johann Schimmel and Anna Sack is:

child³ Schimmel, born Unknown; died Unknown.

3. Johann Georg² Schimmel (Johann Adam¹)^1,² was born 05 Dec 1758 in Heuchelheim, Hessen, West Germany, and died Abt. 1843 in Morris Twp, Clearfield Co, PA². He married Catherine ? in MD². She was born 1753, and died 12 May 1826.

Notes for Johann Georg Schimmel:
Last name later found as Shimmel, Shimmell, and Shimel.
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Pennsylvania Foreign Oaths of Allegiance
IMMIGRANTS INTO PENNSYLVANIA: Volume 1

Name: Jurg Shimmel,
Ship: BEDLAH
Place: ROTTERDAM
Date: SEPT. 10, 1773
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1810 census, Clearfield Co, PA, George Shimmell, one male over age 45, one female age 27-45, one female age 11-16 , one female under age 10, 3 males 17-26, 3 males age 11-16, 3 males under age 10.

During the American Revolution War about 20,000 German soldiers were hired by the British to fight the colonists. Johann Georg Schimmel was one of these Hessian soldiers who chose to remain in America. After leaving the German Army, George Shimmel as he was later called, proceeded to Maryland where he married Catherine and eventually moved to Huntingdon and Centre Counties in PA. By 1806 he and his family were living in Bradford Twp, Clearfield Co, PA. He died about 1844-1847.

Address of the parish in Heuchelheim with pastor's name as of 1987 :
Pfarramt Der Ev. Martinsgemeinde
6301 Heuchelheim 1
Schulgasse 4
West Germany

Notes for JOHANN GEORG SCHIMMEL:
Sketch from Beers 1898 Biographical Record of Central PA.

George W. Shimel. Among the German-born citizens who did so much to develop this section in the pioneer days was George Shimel He was born in 1758, and came from the Fatherland to America in early manhood. Not long after his arrival he was married in Maryland and moved to the wilds of Huntingdon, County, PA, and later to Centre County, PA, where he remained for some time. About the year 1800 (1802 according to "History of Clearfield Co. Pennsylvania" edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich- 1887) he settled near Philipsburg and cleared a farm and built a distillery, which he operated for many years. In his later life he devoted his entire attention to agriculture. An enterprising and able man, he was a prominent figure in his locality. In politics he was a Democrat. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-five, his death occurred in 1843, and his large estate was disposed of in accordance with the provisions of his will. He had twelve children; John, Adam, Lewis, Henry, Philip, George, William, Catherine, Julia A., Susan A., Betsey and Christina.

George Shimmel was listed as a taxable inhabitant of Bradford township in 1809.

In 1810 George Shimmel was assessed as having a "still house" in Bradford township.

In 1812 George Shimmel's "still house" acquired the more dignified title of distillery.

The 1830 census lists a George Shimmel as the head of a household in Bradford Township, Clearfield County, PA.

On 17 October 1831 George 'Shemmel' sold 427 acres of land in Bradford township to Richard Durbin.

In 1839 he was taxed for 100 acres in Bradford township.

The 1840 census lists a George Shimmel as the head of a household in Bradford Township, Clearfield County, PA. With 1 male between 80 and 90, 1 female between 20 and 30 and 1 female between 70 and 80.

His will was probated 11 May 1847, the largest part of his estate went to son William
consisting of the farm in Morris township, with the stipulation that he provide for his mother.
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Excerpted from "A Short History Of The Warings" 1898 by R.N. Waring

"Regarding some of the other settlers who came here in the first decade of the nineteenth century, Shultz writes: 'In 1803, Kylers came out here from some part of the old settlements and bought some land from James Philips.~~and after that~..Schmael, Weiser and Schimmel bought land in the same neighborhood. And a man named Coulter cleared some land and built a house along the same state road on the left side of the creek, and at what was afterwards called Weis's bridge...and after that, Benton's bridge...and another man by the name of Anderson settled on some land further down the creek on the same ~side...and on the opposite side of the creek was what was called Curtin's clearing.. Abraham Goss, Valentine Flegel (Flegal). John Crowel, Nickolas Kephart and Winters bought land and cleared farms along and near the road leading from Moshannon Town (Philipsburg) to Indiana."
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A History by Ada Phillips Duquette

During the American Revolutionary War about 20,000 German soldiers were hired by the British to fight the colonists. They were called Hessians because most of them came from the Hessian states of Germany. The Hessians were victims of a European system by which governments sold men into military service. The men were paid about 25 cents a day. They were not particularly interested in war but they were well trained and fought well, and their performance in battle caused the Americans to fear and respect their fighting ability. Some of the Hessians were won over to the American cause and deserted the British. Many of them remained in America after the Revolution.

One of these Hessian soldiers who chose to remain in America was Johann Georg Schimmel. After leaving the German Army, George Shimmel as he was called, proceeded to Maryland where he married a girl named Catherine and eventually came to Huntingdon and Centre Counties in Pennsylvania. By 1806 he and his family were living in Bradford Township, Clearfield County.

One Clearfield County historian states, Among the German-born citizens who did so much to develop this section in the pioneer days was George Shimmel. He came from the Fatherland in early manhood, and about 1800 settled near Philipsburg, cleared a farm and built a distillery which he operated for many years. In his later life he devoted his entire attention to agriculture. An enterprising and able man, he was a prominent figure in his locality. In politics he was a democrat.

On the l7th day of October 1851. George ‘Shemmel’ and Catherine his wife sold 427 acres. of land in Bradford Township, to Richard Durbin. In 1859 he was taxed for 100 acres Bradford Township. His will, probated 11 May l847 provided for his wife and for all of his twelve children except Adam who was deceased but whose children were provided for. The Largest part of the estate went to son William consisting of the farm in Morris Twp. and its messuages, etc. with the stipulation that William provide his mother with every necessary and comfort of life.

Conducting German research concerning George Shimmel was a challenge. One genealogist writes that one of the most difficult feats is to establish the German home of an American settler in colonial times. Eventually, however, a reply was received from one archivist that records of Hessian soldiers were on file at that location but it would be impossible to conduct research without knowing the regiment of a particular soldier. However, regiment lists were being transferred to punch cards and the undertaking was expected to be completed in two or three years when it would be available.

Five years later, in the Spring of 1976 the first two volumes of the project HETRINA were published. The fifth and final volume titled, Waldecker Troops in America during the American Revolution listed under Grundeliste WLD 5: Johann Georg Schimmel, Gemeiner (Private) born in Heuchelheim u Darmstadt, enlisted 1 May 1776, age 17, deserted in 1782.

The records further show that Johann Georg Schimmel was sent to America where he was taken prisoner in September 1779. After three years’ imprisonment he was ransomed in January 1782 and deserted two months later.

An introduction to Volume V of HETRINA project states. At the time of the outbreak of the Americans War of Independence, Waldeck had nearly a century old tradition of hiring mercenary troops. In contrast to the Kassel contract for troops, the Waldeck document contained a paragraph establishing reimbursement of the ruler Waldeck for every soldier killed or wounded in action. A decree of 1755 had ordered conscription procedures in Waldeck which allowed only university students exemption from service, but in 1776 the ruler of Waldeck attached great importance to sending only volunteers to
America...

The newly formed Third English-Waldeck Mercenary Regiment to which Georg Schimmel was attached consisted of one Infantry Regiment of 750 men. Captain Georg Von Haacke was in charge of Company V.
Volume V of HETRINA continues:

The Waldeckers under the command of Lt. General Baron Wilhelm von Knyphausen arrived at Sandy Hook in New York on 20 October 1776. Their first battle was Fort Washington on 16 November 1776 which was a British victory, with seven Waldeckers killed and 13 wounded. After a short stay in Perth Amboy the regiment was quartered in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. They engaged in battles in and around that area until 1778 when on 20 October, with other regiments, five ships of the line, twelve frigates
and about 110 transports they set sail for Pensacola Florida. The first 53 Waldeckers to be taken prisoner fell into the hands of the Spaniards on Lake Pontchartrain, Louisana. Nearly one-half of the 400-man garrison was taken when Baton Rouge capitulated. The rest of the Waldeckers were sent to New York after the fall of Pennscola in May 1781.

In his book Uniforms of the Armies in the War of the American Revolution 1775-1783, Lt. Charles M. Lefferts states, “The Waldeck Troops 3rd infantry Regiment wore a blue coat, yellow collar and cuffs, yellow lapels’, gilt buttons, plain buttonholes, white vest and breeches, hat edged with yellow scallops.

The most important sources of genealogical information in Germany are the parish registers. These are usually found in the custody of the local clergymen, but many of them have been placed for safe-keeping in state or church archives.

To inject a personal note and put flesh on the bones so to speak, the more I learned about my great-great-grandfather, the more determined I became to try to go to Germany and see the village where he came from and the church in which he was baptized and maybe to get a feel for the circumstances of the times in which he lived there. And so in May 1981 my husband and I went to Europe, not for the Grand Tour but to try to locate the birthplaces of some of our ancestors.

A pleasant train ride from Frankfurt, then a short trip by bus took us to Heucheiheim. The village lies just west of Giessen on the Lahn River and is 65 to 70 kilometers from Frankfurt. It is a very ancient city founded between 650 - 700. It was first mentioned in a document dated 778. The population now is about 6,000. Since the Protestant Reformation it has belonged to the Earl of Hessen-Darmstadt. During the
30-year war the town was burned down except for the church and two houses, and the number of inhabitants sank from about 400 to 212, afterward prospering again. Until the mid-19 century the people were mainly farmers and many were also weavers. With the event of the railroad it became more industrialized. During World War II it was bombed on two occasions but has since been rebuilt.

The oldest part of the old Wehr Church in Heuchelheim is its mighty steeple dating to about 1250. The oldest bell in the tower dates to l452. The church was originally Catholic but since the Reformation in 1529 has been Lutheran Evangelical.

It was a great thrill to see and touch the records of my ancestor Georg Schimmel, and of his brother, Johann Ludwig three years older. Their maternal ancestry was recorded back to the year 1611.

As we walked around this small lovely village we were very impressed with its age and beauty. One could almost imagine seeing a young man, a boy really, in his splendid uniform, walking along marching off to war, leaving parents, friends, all that he had known, realizing that in all likelihood he would never see them again. He may have had a dream of a better life ahead somewhere off in the new America. How sweet the taste of freedom must have been that he would risk his life to remain in this country and become a new American.

My observation into the life and personality of my grandfather created the deepest affection and respect for him and it has been a distinct honor to compile this short history of my Hessian ancestor. I dedicate this work to him and to grandmother, Catherine.

Ada Phillips Duquette 8 July 1987

Address of the parish in Heuchelheim with pastor's name as of 1987:
Pfarrmt Der Ev. Martinsgrmrinde
6301 Heuchelheim 1
Schulgasse 4
West Germany
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In 1801 Jacob Wise Sr. a native of Berks County, but of late a resident of Penn's Valley commenced an improvement on the Moshannon. During the same year Robert Anderson and Irishman and a man named Potter also settled in the vicinity. The place occupied by Anderson was afterwards known as the Hawkins property. Potter settled on the old State road a few miles north of the creek. None of these 3 remained long, but left for Bald Eagle Valley. Potter sold his rights to Nicholas Kline, and it was afterwards disposed of to one Shimmel, a Hessian, who served under the British during the war. Shimmel made a clearing and built a distillery on the land. (History of Clearfield County by Aldrich 1887 page 57)

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Last Will and Testament

In the name of God, Amen, I, George Shimel, of the township of Morris, in the county of Clearfield, in the state of Pennsylvania, farmer, considering the uncertainty of this transitory life and being weak in body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding (blessed be God for the same) do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time made here before. Principally and first of all, I commend my immortal soul into the hands of God who gave it, and my body to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian-like manner, at the discretion of my Executor herein after named, with the consultation of my beloved wife, should she survive me. And as to such worldly estate as it has pleased God to intrust me with in this life, I give and dispose of the same as follows: First, I direct that all my debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as possible, out of the first monies that shall come into the hands of executors, from any portion of my estate, real or personal: Also I direct and bequeath the whole of my household furniture, and all my personal property whatever (excepting such articles hereafter bequeathed) to my beloved wife, to be and remain her absolute property, if she shall be living at the time of my decease, but if she should not survive me, the that the same shall be given absolutely to my daughter Julian for her constant attendance me in my declining years: Also I do direct and bequeath unto my son William all my farm or real estate and all those messuages or tenements with the appurtenances equines and obligations, viz To John, Christina, Betsy, Phillip, Katy, Susannah and Julian, to each of these my children, he will oblige himself for twenty dollars. To my sons Henry and George ten dollars each. To my son Lewis fifteen dollars, and also to my son Adam's three children five dollars each. He my son William will likewise oblige himself to provide, maintain, and supply my beloved wife with every necessary and comfort of life, which she may reasonably desire, allowing her to keep at least one cow, and any other smaller living creature usually kept about a house or barn. I moreover do direct and bequeath unto my daughter Julian, two cows, three ewes, two beds, bedding and bedsteads. Lastly, I direct that as above written, that my personal effects shall be and remain my beloved wife's sole and absolute property and that this shall be in lieu of dower And finally I do constitute and ordain my esteemed neighbors, Samuel Waring and Samuel C Thompson Esq. Executors of this my last will and testament: In witness thereof, I George Shimel, the testator, have to this my Will, written on one sheet of paper, set my hand and seal, this nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four.
George Shimel (his mark)

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared, by George Shimel the testator of this last Will and Testament, in the presence's of us, who in his presence, and at his request, have subscribed as witnesses.
Joseph Showalter (signed
William Gill (signed)
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"As far as the Waldeck Regiment is concerned, there is a book out by Bruce E. Burgoyne, published by Heritage Books, Inc. 1991, "Waldeck Soldiers of the American Revolutionary War" with listing of
each Waldeck soldier and a short bio. of him. It also has a good description of the activities of the Regiment and a timetable of events. Total 182 pages. There are a total of 3 Schimmel soldiers named.
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From John Helmut Mertz:
entries in HETRINA V for Schimmel, Georg:
#6077-6088 (12 entries) none has date of birth, all Heuchelheim D6301
(old postal code), all have GE (Private) and WLD5 (Waldeck 5.Comp.)
6077: 01 4/1779 942/15 /// 01 - on Muster Roll (Rangierliste)
6078: 01 6/1779 942/25
6079: 11 9/1779 942/43 /// 11 - prisoner of war
6080: 11 12/1779 942/43
6081: 01 6/1780 942/55
6082: 11 1/1782 972,2/200
6083: 05 1/1782 972,2/200 /// 5 - ransomed (from POW status) or
returned to unit after desertion
6084: 12 3/1782 942/87 /// 12 - deserted
6085: 12 3/1782 942/101
6086: 12 3/1782 978/23
6087: 12 3/1782 942/61 (listed as deserted in
6088: 12 3/1782 942/77 five files or five different lines?)
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entry in Burgoyne's book:
Schimmel, Johann Georg.
Born 1757 in Heuchelheim, Darmstadt. Evangelical. Sailed to America
with the Regiment in 1776 as private in the 5th Company. Taken prisoner
at Baton Rouge on 21 September 1779, he deserted from prisoner status
at Havana on 25 March 1782.
A John Scimmel is listed in the 1790 census as living in Watervliet,
Albany County, New York, in a household with one adult male, one male
under sixteen years of age, and two females.

The other two Schimmel entries in the book are of no importance,
the one Schimmel, Anton, was also a prisoner taken at Pensacola, but
he returned home to Germany in 1783. Schimmel Johann Jost born 1747
in Meineringshausen died in America in March 1777.
http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ifetch2?/u1/textindices/A/AMREV-HESSIANS+1999+14242304543+F

More About Johann Georg Schimmel:
Date born 2: 1748, Commemorative Biol Record, p 840
Burial: Unknown, Bigler Cem, Clearfield Co, PA

More About Johann Schimmel and Catherine ?:
Marriage: MD²

Children of Johann Schimmel and Catherine ? are:

+	5	i.		John³ Shimel, born 13 Oct 1779 in MD; died 31 May 1866.
	6	ii.		Elizabeth "Betsey" Shimmel², born 1784; died Bef. 1885.

Notes for Elizabeth "Betsey" Shimmel:
Some researchers believe that Betsey married Caleb Gates and that in 1850 the Julia Shimmel shown in the census was Betsey's sister, who lived in the Caleb Gates' household. The censuses show that by 1860 Joel Gates was head of household, with wife, Julian.

Cambria Co, White Twp, 1850 census Caleb Gates age 66, Elizabeth Gates 66, Joel Gates 30, William Gates 21, Jeremiah Gates 11, Julia Shimmel 25.

Cambria Co, Chest Twp, 1860 census Joel Gates 40, Julian Gates 45, Catherine Gates 6, Caleb Gates 76, Elizabeth Gates 77.

+	7	iii.	Christina Shimmel, born 18 Oct 1788; died 18 Jul 1858.
+	8	iv.	Philip S Shimel, born 12 Mar 1790 in PA; died 1868.
+	9	v.	Henry D Shimel, born 10 Apr 1792 in Huntingdon Co, PA; died 13 Dec 1870.
+	10	vi.	George W Shimmel, born Abt. 1793 in MD; died 09 Oct 1877.
+	11	vii.	Adam Shimmel, born Abt. 1795 in Germany; died 19 Dec 1832 in Allegheny Co, PA.
+	12	viii.	Lewis Shimel, born 04 Dec 1800 in Huntingdon Co, PA; died Bef. 1880.
+	13	ix.	William George Shimmel, born Abt. 1807 in PA; died 28 Jun 1877 in Clearfield Co, PA.
+	14	x.	Susannah A Shimmel, born Abt. 1810 in PA; died 22 Apr 1879.
	15	xi.	Catherine Schimmel², born 1812; died Bef. 1912.

Notes for Catherine Schimmel:
Did she marry about 1834 George Kyler b Abt 1807, s/o John Kyler and Mary Magdaline Schmehl?

In 1860 census a George Kyler, age 50, and Catherine, his wife, age 45, lived in the household of Elijah Smeal, age 24 and Mary Williams Smeal, his wife. In addition were Mary E Kyler, age 19, Henry Kyler, age 16, George M Kyler, age 14, Emily Kyler, age 13, and Amanda Kyler, age 8.

xii.

Julia A Schimmel², born Abt. 1815; died Bef. 1915. She married Joel Gates; born Unknown; died Unknown.

Notes for Julia A Schimmel:
When George Shimmel made out his will in 1843 he left a substantial legacy to daughter Julian for attending him in his illness. He referred to her only as "Julian". Birth date may be between 1815 and 1825.

In 1850 census of Cambria County, White Twp, there was a Julia Shimmel living in the household of Caleb and Elizabeth Gates (Caleb 66, Elizabeth 66, Joel 30, William 21, Jeremiah 11, and Julia Shimmel 25).

Some researchers believe that the above Elizabeth may have been the "Betsey" Shimmel who was a daughter of George and that her sister Julian came to live in the Gates Household after George's death.

In 1860 census of Chest Twp, Cambria Co, PA a Joel Gates with wife Julian were heads of household (Joel 40, Julian 45, Catherine 6, Caleb Gates 76, Elizabeth Gates 77).

Notes for Joel Gates:
There is a Joel Gates in Chest Twp, Cambria Co, PA in the 1860 census. It is not know if that record fits here.

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