New books share history of German ancestors

Those of us with Pennsylvania German ancestors who settled in the Moncton area of what is now New Brunswick are fortunate that two fine authors have published works that greatly illuminate our families.

The German-born Rainer L. Hempel, a professor at Mount Allison University in Sackville, is not descended from these settlers, but he does them proud in “New Voices on the Shores: Early Pennsylvania German Settlements in New Brunswick.”

The Stief or Stieff and Lutz families – ancestors of an estimated 150,000-plus Steeves descendants, including many in Maine – left Germany in the 18th century, Hempel explained, hoping to acquire land in this country.

Other families discussed include Wortmann, Sommer, Ricker, Coppel, Treitz and Jones.

The immigrants found that land in Pennsylvania was scarce, as well, and many of the settlers moved on to the Petitcodiac River area in New Brunswick – Moncton, Hopewell, Hillsborough, the latter a small town where even today there are numerous residents named Steeves.

“New Voices,” published by the German-Canadian Historical Association, is a scholarly work based on research in both Canada and Germany, but there is far more here than genealogy and dates and places.

I was hooked from the introductory pages of the 477-page volume, where Hempel translates Ferdinand Freiligrath’s “Die Auswanderer” – “The Emigrants.”

My growing up in New England enables me to identify easily with my Pilgrims and Revolutionary War ancestors, and with my Civil War era relatives. Now, Hempel draws me closer to my German ancestors, their history and their roots, and I am grateful.

“New Voices on the Shores” is available for $28 in U.S. funds, from Rainer L. Hempel, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada E4L 1C7.

Hempel acknowledges the work of Les Bowser in nailing down the origins of Heinrich Stief and wife Rachel, parents of Jacob, John, Christian, Frederick, Henry, Lewis or Luttrick, and Matthias. John is my ancestor. Also, two daughters and a son died young.

It was Bowser, a Steeves descendant, who took a fascinating train ride to Munsingen, a little town in Wurtemburg in southern Germany. I was mesmerized with Bowser’s story, and certainly could identify with his excitement as each clue drew him closer to Stief origins.

Bowser tells of opening the marriage register at Martinskirche – the Church of Saint Martin – in Munsingen.

When he reached the year 1745, he writes, “Suddenly, at February 25, I saw the name I had come thousands of kilometres to find: Heinrich Stieff! I practically shouted the name Heinrich into the room. By now, I was sitting bolt upright in my chair. I tried to read the rest of the entry, most of which was incomprehensible. Then came another name I recognised at once: Regina! I shouted again.”

Heinrich, it turns out, was the son of Augustinus Stieff and Anna Barbara Worner. Augustinus was the son of Johan Heinrich Stieff, who married about 1681, Anna Barbara Hess.

And Rachel, Heinrich’s wife, was actually Regina Stahlecker or Stalegger, born 1719 in Honau to David Stahlecker and Agnes Werner.

The first Steeves reunion on this continent was held in 1867, the year of Canada’s confederation. Four hundred people attended, Bowser explains.

“The Search for Heinrich Stief,” 268 pages, is available through Global Genealogy and History Books in Milton, Ontario.

The price is $19.95 in Canadian dollars, much less in U.S. funds. The best way to order is to call (800) 361-5168, and get the exact price in U.S. money. Or, check http://globalgenealogy.com/books/261035.htm.

In September, by husband and I visited the cemetery in Hillsborough, New Brunswick, where Heinrich and “Rachel” are buried.

That very day, there was a funeral for the Hillsborough mayor – yes, he was a Steeves, too.

We had dinner at the Ship’s Lantern Inn, a home originally owned by Matthias Steeves, one of the seven sons. Then we spent the night at the Victorian Steeves Homestead, owned by Jerome and Calva Steeves.

Both of these books list a wealth of references. Both contain photos, including pictures of the Articles of Confederation involving the settlers who left Pennsylvania for what was then part of Nova Scotia in 1766. The document is on display at the Moncton Museum, as is the 1747 Lutheran Bible Heinrich brought with him from Pennsylvania to Canada.

The list of signatures on the document includes both Heinrich Stief and Michael Lutz. It was amazing to see this document in Moncton, and it is thrilling for me to see these signatures printed in not one, but two books.

Many Steeves cousins are familiar with Esther Clark Wright’s “The Steeves Descendants,” printed in the mid-1960s. The Maine State Library in Augusta has that book.

With lots of names, a few dates and not many places, the book was a skeleton of the Steeves family.

Rainer Hempel and Les Bowser have added flesh to the bones.

Send queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or send e-mail to familyti@bangordailynews.net.