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