In the "Register zu den evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchenbuchern der Pfarrei Thaleischweiler 1720-1798" (Evangelical-Lutheran Church records of the church at Thaleischweiler) there is this entry:

"Alspach, Reinhardt, from Froeschen, married at Thaleischweiler, 29.11.1737, Anna Magdalena Brandstaetter, whom he had impregnated. Therefore, they were obliged to leave the country after their marriage and then went to America."

In a book commemorating 300 years of Thaleischweiler history this story appears as part of the village history.

Alspach name means "eel brook". Besides Alspach, alternate spellings include Alspaugh, Allspach, Alschbach, etc.

Reinhardt Alspach (Reynhart Alspach), his wife Anna Magdalena (Brandstetter) Alspach, their son, Georg, Reinhardt's brother Mathews (Matthais), and Anna Magdalena's brother, Jacob Brandstetter (Bransteder) emigrated to America on the ship "Robert and Alice" of Dublin. They were qualified on September 11, 1738. Qualified means they were obligated to swear allegiance to England before they could disembark. There were 95 men aboard the "Robert and Alice". Commander was Walter Goodman. They set sail from Rotterdam, Netherlands.



LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF Reinhardt Alspach

This date the 9th January 1762

I, Reinhardt Alschbach (Alspach) have in my good understanding caused two men to come to me to hear that which shall be required after my death when God the Lord shall demand me from this world.

1. This is my will that my two oldest sons have the plantation together, to wit George and Heinrich together with the appurtenances and all what I have under my hands together with the winter grain, waggon, Horses, Cattle, Sheep, with all the Household goods to wit: the above mentioned two oldest sons shall pay out to the remaining children, each twenty pounds, this money as it is lawful in Pennsylvania. But the above two mentioned sons shall pay the debts which the father yet owes and on the contrary they shall also receive what is due the father in any outstanding loans debts or interest to have and to hold as their own.

And when the debts are paid so shall the payments touching the two sons have four years time to be paid before the payments begin-------.

Afterward the eldest child shall have his 20 pounds and so forth till to the youngest child.

2. This is my will that they to wit the two sons shall give the mother for her maintenance as follows. First they shall give her twenty bushels of rye and ten bushels of wheat, and this every year. More, one fat hog weighing 100 pounds and 50 pounds of beef. And carry the grain to the mill and fetch the meal again. More, they shall sow for the mother one half acre flax where they sow theirs in good land. And when she is old and cannot break the flax, then the two sons shall dress the flax fit for spinning. More, the mother shall have the garden next the house and they shall dung and make it. More, they shall winter a cow for the mother---she shall take the choice every spring. More, they shall give the mother every year two pounds in money and six pounds of good wool, 1 bushel of salt and one half pound of pepper, one half pound of alspice. More, four bushels of buckwheat. More, the mother shall have her right in the house and if they cannot live together they shall build her a new house and an iron stove therein, and they must get firewood free at the house and if she wants to ride at any time they must give her a saddle horse. And if this shall be all truly and rightly held it shall be inviolable and remain which I verify within and seal with my seal.

Reinhardt R.A. Alschbach (seal)
Marvin Vorsch
Bashan Kreischer
Ophitite (his mark) F.H. Hinchel

Dear Arlene;

I was trying to find your message offering to send me a copy of the T-F parish register when I ran across another message from you containing Reinhardt's will, which I found equally interesting. So I'll reply to both of them. I do already have a copy of the pages of the register that apply to the Brandstetters and the Alspachs. They were sent to me some years ago by a gentleman in Germany and I have found them a source of endless fascination ever since. I also have two pages of the Pirmasens Lutheran Church register listing Brandstetters. Do you have them?

I always thought like you that Anna Magdalena was Joh. Jacob's sister but I was never able to find her listed as one of Andreas' children. Were you? If you were, it would clear up something that has been bugging me for quite a while.

Seven or eight years ago I was lucky enough to be able to visit Thaleiscweiler-Froschen and to go to the original Lutheran Church there which dates back to the 1600's and somehow managed to survive the bombing during the War? Would you like me to try to send you a picture?

Anyway, it's nice to be in touch with you. I always thought that the Alspachs had been very close to the Brandstetters and have read up on them whenever I had a chance. Incidentally, come to think of it, I also have a picture of the Red (Smoke) church in Berks County where they were members.

Best regards,
Dick Brunstetter
Winston-Salem, NC

P.S. How could I get a copy of the book on 300 years OF T-F history. That must be fascinating.

Hi Richard,

First of all, I don't have a copy of the 300 year of Thaleischweiler. A friend sent me copy but I lost it on my desk, of all places. I'm going to ask her to send it again and I'll send you a copy. I would like the entire book, too. I don't know how big it is.

Secondly, yes, I'd love to have pictures of the churches. You were lucky to see the church at Thaleischweiler up close and personal. Some day I'd like to go there and see the area for myself.

Thanks to a very kind lady in Germany, I have several church records I'd be happy to share with you. I don't think she even realizes how helpful she has been and how much I appreciate her help. If not for people like her, genealogy would be much more difficult. Also, a German man who translated several documents for me has been very generous in sharing some of the history of the area and possible places to look next. People can be wonderful, can't they?

I have nothing on the Brandstetter family, so your Andreas information would be welcome. I do know there was a Jacob Brandstetter on board the "Robert and Alice" along with Reinhardt, Anna Magdalena, Geoge, and Matthais, Reinhardt's brother. This Matthais was a sponsor at the baptism of a child of Jacob Brandstetter. Other than that, I have nothing. I'd appreciate any help you can give me.

I have the Alspach pages from Nunschweiler, Reischweiler, and Sippenbuch. If you don't have these, would you like them? I'd be happy to share them.

Thank you for your offer of the picture and the Brandstetter pages. I look forward to hearing from you.

Arlene

I'll be away for a couple of weeks but as soon as I get back I'll get busy and send you the things that I have that you might be interested in. Probably regular mail would be easier because there is quite a lot of it. Thanks for your reply and I'll be in touch.

Dick Brunstetter

Dear Arlene,
Could you please send me any and all information you have on the Alspach's in Germany? I think my sister (Janis Parkison Rodriguez) has been in touch with you previously, and mentioned we are descendants of Reinhardt Alspach and Anna Magdalena. My husband and I are going to Germany for two weeks starting May 17th, and I would love to know as much as possible about ancestors in the area before going. It would add a whole new dimension to the trip!
Thanks sincerely,
Carol Parkison Koblentz

Sure. I'll be happy to send the records to you. It'll have to be done via email. There will be four emails, one for each record. If I try to combine them with an eye to speed, the files zip and it's hard to open them. So, one file at a time. Please send my your current email. And I'll start as soon as I receive it.
Arlene

Hi Richard,
I am a descendent of Reinhardt Alspach and Anna Magdalena Brandstetter. I have been working on genealogy this summer when I came across your message about having pictures of the churches in Germany. Would you mind e-mailing me the pictures of Thaleiscweiler-Froshen and Red Smoke churches? I would love to add these to my family tree.
You can send e-mail to the address above or a new one at dbstrick49@hotmail.com.
Thank you

Ingrid

By chance I just came across your reply to my much earlier message to Arlene. If you haven't already found it, there is a web site for the Krasner family (I think) that has some very nice pictures of Thaleischweiler Froshen which include the old Lutheran Church. If I'm not spelling the family name right, try Googleing T-F.

Regards Dick Brunstetter

another source, same info;
"Western Pa. Genealogical Society Quarterly, spring 1988, vol. 14 #4. Book Reviews
pg. 44 "The Kamp Papers Vol. II
compiled by Gayle O. Kamp, 1986. 845pp....$48.50 from the compiler at 7741 Lola Court, Indianapolis IN 46219 (1988 info)
...The Alspach family is traced from Reinhardt Alspach (1) (1710-1763), & wife Anna Magdalena;
John Jacob (2) (1748-1815) & wife Anna Maria Rausch;
Henry Sr. (3)(1779-c1831) & wife Christina Fahl/Fall;
Henry Jr. (4)(1805-1903) & wife Mary Ann Wildermuth Klinefelter.
The Alapach's (as sp.) traced from Germany to Berks Co. Pa., Fairfield Co. OH; & Jones Co. IA....
Melchoir Klinefelter (1) arrived in Philadelphia 1750;...John (5) md. Lucinda Alspach...."
not my family