Continuing with the book “Godfrey Hilts and his Canadian
Descendants” complied by Charlotte Hilts Steel and Harry Doner assisted by Many
others © 197? – 1985?, starting on Page 10, the authors are surprised that Rev.
Rosencrantz kept the church records in Latin. He was fond of putting a Latin
ending on names. The parents’ names are spelled Godfried Hiels and Maria.
In the “Compendium of Early Mohawk Valley Families” Volume I by Maryly B. Penrose ©1990 and
Published by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., on page 374, I find a
listing for Hiels, Godfried and Maria as follows:
- Jacobus, b: 10 Sept 1778 bapt: 22 Sept 1778 with Jacob Kesslar & Elizabeth as sponsors. Jacobus birth date in the Compendium matches what is listed in the Hilts book.
- Stophel, b: 17 Jun 1783 bapt: 24 Jul 1783 with Lorentz Hiels & Babara as sponsors. Stophel birth date also matches the Hilts book and they noted that Stophel is German for Christopher.
The Hilts book also listed
- Elizabeth b: 6 Jan 1781
- Frederick b: 16 Dec 1785
- Anna Margreth b: 15 Dec 1787
- Twins: Godfried and Catherina 23 Sept 1790
- George b: 7 Aug 1793 (The author’s noted that this is the last of the family recorded. There is a lapse in the church register from early 1795 to 1811.
- John b: 19 Jan 1795 (Per the author’s: This is from an old Bible owned by Canadians. In his land petition, John declared he was the son of Godfrey).
In the “Early Families of Herkimer County New York;
Descendants of the Burnetsfield Palatines” by William V.H. Barker © 1986 and
Published by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., on page 135
+4439: pr. Godfrid b: say 1744; m: 1777 Maria Miller is the
son of 4424: Christofel Hilts; grandson of 4403: Simon Jacob Hilts (Jacob Sr.);
great grandson of 4401: Stofel or Christopher Hilts our immigrant ancestor.
On page 138:
4439: GODFRID HILTS – pr. Born ca 1744 to 1754; died Markham
(Ontario) Canada 1835; m 1777 MARIA MILLER (d ca 1801) daughter of FREDERICK
MILLER & MARIA EVA (Mr. Hugh Hilts Notes). Descendant traditions are that
Godfrid’s family was captured and massacred abut 1756, and that he was raised
for some time by the Indians. By 1766 Godfrid was a sponsor, with Maria Helmer,
for bp of Maria Riegel and he was again a sponsor for 1768 bp of Godfrid, son
of Christian Riegel & Margaret. In 1778 he and his wife Maria sponsored bp
of Maria, dau of Melchior Thum & Elisabeth. Was on 1790 HK census (1-3-3).
In 1800 Godfrid sold Glens Purchase lot #26, in the Schellsbush area of
Herkimer, and ca 1801-02 he moved to Canada. (In the Compendium, I have Godfried
Hiels & Maria as sponsors for Lorentz, born 28 Jun 1778, son of Hiels,
Lorentz & Catharina who was baptized 12 July 1778.)
+4483: Jacob b 10 Sep 1779 (sp. Jac. Kessler & Elis. <pr.
Miller>
4484: Maria b 6 Jan 1781 (sp. Thomas Bell & Susanna Miller)
4485: Stophel b; 17 Jan 1783 (sp. Lorentz Hilts & Barbara)
4486: Elisabeth Godf. b say 1784; m ca 1801 Christian Stickney
4487: Frederick b 10 Dec 1785 (sp. Fred. Schell & Anna Eva Miller)
4488: Margaret b 15 Dec 1787 (sp. Marcus Schell & Marg. Thum)
4489: Godfried b 23 Sep 1790 (sp. Fred Hilts & Elis. Thum)
4490: Catherine b 23 Sep 1790 (sp. Joh. McKoom & Cath. Drnbrger)
4491: George b 7 Aug 1793 (sp. George Hilts & Maria)
4492: Johannes b 19 Jan 1796 (bible rec.); m Magdalena Heise
Between the Hilts book and Early Families book, there is difference of
one child. The Early Families list the child born in 1781 as Maria and the
Hilts book listed her as Elizabeth. Also, the Early Families has an additional
child born 1784 as Elisabeth.
However, the Hilts book has Elisabeth (1781) marrying Christian
Stickley Jr and they had seven daughters and two sons, while the Early Families
has Elizabeth (1784) also marrying Christian Stickney with no further
information.
Was there two daughters or one daughter? I have a feeling
that in the Early Families, that Maria and Elisabeth are actually one and the
same. There is a footnote on the bottom
of page 10 of the Hilts book that states “Researchers looking at the records at
Fonda, New York, will find that Rev. Rosencrantz in copying interchanged the
mother’s and daughter’s names.” Thus Maria was probably the mother’s name
listed in the wrong spot. Plus you will notice that all the children listed
except Elisabeth have who their sponsors where (Johannes record came from a
bible since per the authors of the Hilts Book “There is a lapse in the church
register from early 1795 to 1811.”) I also am unsure with the 1784 estimated
birth year came from that was listed in the Early Families book.
Final Note: Ancestry.com has both the Compendium of Early Mohawk Valley Families and Early Families of Herkimer County, New York in their database.
Appreciate the clarifications n information comparisons.
ReplyDeleteWho were Godfried Hilts b. 1744 parents and did he have only one sibling, Elizabeth?
ReplyDeleteGodfried Hilts lineage as stated above is the son of 4424: Christofel Hilts; grandson of 4403: Simon Jacob Hilts (Jacob Sr.); great grandson of 4401: Stofel or Christopher Hilts our immigrant ancestor. Also, Godried could had more silbings, as mentioned aboved, Godfrid’s family was captured and massacred abut 1756, and that he was raised for some time by the Indians, only his sister and him lived. I am still looking for more resources for records besides the books I have listed in my post. Thank you.
DeleteThe capture of the Hilts family from the German Flats is mentioned in a couple letters contained in the Sir William Johnson Papers which were written the last days of April, first few days of May 1756. Later on May 10th a newspaper in New York City published a letter dated May 6th from Albany: “Tuesday last we were alarmed by an Express from the Carrying Place, with Advice, that two Indians were come in there and reported, That two Parties of French and Indians were on the March, one designed for the Carrying-Place, and the other for German Flats: Another party of the Militia, and the Troops are going to their Aid; - A Man, with his Wife and six Children, were carried away from the German Flats, by a Party of Indians; who, in their Way, about a Mile from thence killed and scalped another Man.” This report is undoubtedly the capture of the Hilts family and provides indication that Godfrey and Elizabeth were two of the six Hilts children. Both of their parents and four of their siblings were then killed by these Indians while they were taken captive.
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