Yes, Shelly, it's me, Arlene McLennan. The Reinhardt Alspach I'm talking about is the one born about 1702/04, based on his confirmation date, 1718. Confirmation takes place in Germany between 14-16 years of age.

I've always been puzzled by the fact that Reinhardt Alspach was "obliged" to leave the country because of Anna Magdalena Brandstetter's pregnancy. Illegitimacy was a very common occurrence and it didn't seem logical that Reinhardt, a blacksmith and farrier, as was his father, was the only one to be made an example of. After all, why would such an ordinary man have such a penality imposed on him? So on a trip to Salt Lake City, I had the good fortune to meet a Certified Genealogist who specializes in German research, Dr. Roger Minert. Finding the reason for Reinhardt's exile was one thing I really wanted to know.

Here is what Dr. Minert found. First, the baby Anna Magdalena was carrying, Georg, was born in Mühlbach, just to the west, and christened in Nünschweiler, both places in Pirmasens, Bayern, Germany.

The second, most important aspect, was the marriage of Reinhardt Alspach and Anna Magdalena Brandstetter. According to the research, Reinhardt was clearly in military service, otherwise he would not have been required to gain the county's permission in order to marry the girl who was carrying his child. His employer was the county of Hanau-Lichtenberg. The marriage didn't take place in Nunschweiler, but in Buchweiler. A few years before the marriage, Buchweiler belonged to the count of Hanau-Lichtenberg. Buchweiler is about 30 miles south of Nünschweiler, then in the county of Zabern, now in France. So Reinhardt Alspach and Anna Magdalena Brandstetter were married in Buchweiler, Zabern, Elsass-Lorraine, Germany. The information from Dr. Minert says in part, "I wonder if the couple were required to go to a military parish in Buchsweiler because of his duty commitments at the time (then immediately back to Nünschweiler)..."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."

It's true the original marriage paper does not give the bride's maiden name. However, there are several churches who have in their records the marriage information that includes her maiden name, the birth of Georg is in the church book of Nünschweiler and has the full name of both parents, as well as the ships passenger records, and the county records.

The other Reinhardt Alspach was the son of Reinhardt's brother, Johann and Anna Ottilia Stegner. This Reinhardt also married an Anna Magdalena Brandstetter. True!! It's in the Thaleischweiler church book, page 6. This Reinhardt was born Nov 11. 1731, Anna Magdalena was born Oct 15, 1736. They married Nov 24, 1755. They had nine children all born in Oberfroschen. It was this family Dr. Knebs must have assumed to be the Reinhardt who emmigrated in 1738 with his wife Anna Magdalena Brandstetter and son Georg.

Now here's something I wonder about. Anna Magdalena Brandstetter was pregnant by Reinhardt Alspach. Their child, George, was born Nov 30, 1737. Reinhardt and Anna Magdalena married Mar 29, 1737. If you count on your finfers that's eight months. How did she know for certain she was pregnant? I sure didn't when I was young and pregnant. You might not want to post this last bit, but I DO wonder.
Arlene Zoll McLennan