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* The Larry G. Orwigs of Glenelg, MD*

Updated July 18, 2001
I am researching the Gottfried Orwig (born in 1719) family from Germany. Gottfried's father, Johann Georg Orwig, was a hog farmer. Gottfried arrived at the Port of Philadelphia from Rotterdam on the ship St. Andrew in 1741. He initially settled at Maiden Creek, near Reading, PA on lands purchased from the Indians and later moved to Sculp Hill, PA. Gottfried and his sons founded the town of Orwigsburg, PA in Schuykill County.
The late Elmer Woodrow Orwig, an Orwig family historian, attempted to locate ancestors in Germany 1987-88 with the assistance of Friedrich R. Wollmershauser, a genealogist in Soutwest Germany. Unfortunately, Elmer passed away in January 1992 and never finished this vital part of his family research work.

In a Lutheran parish register in Kirchheimbolanden, Germany, Wollmershauser found some very signficant information and was convinced that he had located the correct Gottfried Orwig. Gottfried's family lived in Marnheim (Dorf), Germany, a village in Grafschaft county near Nassau-Weilburg. Bolander (Kirchheim) was also mentioned in the description of that location. Wollmershauser summarized his comments by agreeing with Elmer Orwig's theory that the Orwig name in the USA may have evolved from other surnames (such as Urbich, Urbach, Orbe, Orbig and Orbich), but he ultimately concluded that the church records supported his original beliefs about finding "our Gottfried."

Gottfried's father, Johann Georg, was identified as a day laborer, night watchman and hog farmer. He was married twice; (1) Susanne Kohlin Sohnlein and (2) Anna Elisabeth Schultheinb. Wollmershauser cited the surnames Orwig, Orbig and Orbich synonymously with Johann Georg, his two wives and children.

1. Death register for Georg Orbich (junior): The son of Georg Orbich (senior), a swine herdsman, died October 1, 1720; 15 years and 6 months of age.
Buried October 3, 1720.

2. Death register for Johann Michael Orwig: Age 1 year and 5 months, son of Johann Georg Orwig, a night watchman, died September 7, 1709. Buried September 8, 1709. Wollmershauser suggested that Johann Georg Orwig may have named another son Johann Michael Orwig after this son's death.

3. Birth register for Anna Margaretha Orwig: Johnann Georg Orwig, a day laborer, and Susanne Kohlin, both from Marnheim. Daughter born June 2, 1710 and christened June 5, 1710.

4. Birth register for Johann Valentin Orwig: Johann Georg Orwig, a herdsman, and Susannen Sohnlein. Twin sons born June 28, 1712. Christened June 30, 1712.

5. Birth register for Johann Conrad Orwig: Johann Georg Orwig, a pig herdsman, and Susannen Sohnlein. Twin sons born June 28, 1712. Christened June 30, 1712.

6. Birth register for Johann Valentin Orwig: Johann Georg Orwig, a swine herdsman at Kircheim, and Susannen. Son born June 1, 1714 and christened.

7. Birth register for Johann Godfried Orbig: Johann Georg Orbig, a swine herdsman, and Susannen. Son born 4:00 p.m. September 3, 1718 and christened. Godfathers: Johann Peter Bauer from Bobenheim in Wormbs and Henry Godfried Eibfelder.

8. Marriage register for Johannes Orbig: A herdsman at (Kirchheim) Bolander married Anna Elisabeth Schultheinb August 21, 1725. Anna was the daughter of Henrich Schultheib from Polanden.

***

Larry G. Orwig

 4085 Sharp Road
Glenelg, MD 21737
A-United States
lorwig@erols.com


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