Johann Michael Klein & Maria Barbara Ruhl
From Germany to Berks County Pennsylvania
Johann Michael Klein and his wife, Barbara Ruhl, were part of a great German migration to Pennsylvania in the 18th century. They, and their German compatriots and descendants, would form a significant and substantial ethnicity and subculture in America - - - the "Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch," more commonly referred to as the Pennsylvania Dutch.
Johann Michael Klein was born abt. 1720, most likely in Germany, and emigrated to the Colony of Pennsylvania before 1760. Under the German naming tradition of the time, the first name, or baptismal name, would have had very limited everyday use, and the "middle" name would have been the given name used on a regular basis. Thus, the records commonly refer to Johann Michael Klein as "Michael Klein," and Maria Barbara Ruhl Klein as "Barbara Klein," and will be referenced as such on this website.
For Barbara's birth, we must look to her death record, recorded at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. From that record, we know that she died on 2/19/1768, and that she was just 43 years old at the time of her death. Thus, we know that she was born between 2/20/1724 and 2/19/1725, so we can safely assume a likely birthyear of 1724. We also know from her death record that she was married to Michael for 19 years. Thus, we know that they were married between 2/20/1748 and 2/19/1749 so again, we can safely assume a likely marriage year of 1748. However, we have no documentation showing where they were married, so it is not known if they were married in Germany or in Pennsylvania.
It is possible that Michael and/or Barbara were born in Pennsylvania. However, it is more probable that they were German immigrants, although we are not sure of the year of their arrival from Germany. According to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in their pamphlet titled, "German Settlement in Pennsylvania," the first recorded German settlement in the Colonies was in 1683 at Germantown, Pennsylvania. By 1710, German immigration increased, and between 1727 and 1775, "approximately 65,000 Germans landed in Philadelphia and settled in the region, while some German immigrants landed in other ports and moved to Pennsylvania." Importantly, "the largest wave of German immigration to Pennsylvania occurred during the years 1749-1754 but tapered off during the French and Indian Wars and after the American Revolution." As noted by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, "German immigrants tended to come in family units and were often tradesmen or artisans. One historian described the typical German immigrant as a poor farmer or artisan who arrived around 1750 with a wife and two children." This description almost exactly describes Michael and Barbara Klein. Michael was a tradesman (shoemaker), they were married around 1748, and they would have had at least one child, and possible two children, around 1750.
There were seven Michael Kleins to have entered Pennsylvania Colony through the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 through 1754. The year of arrival and the names of each ship listed below is taken from the book, Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808, Volume I. The Michael Kleins therein are listed as follows:
Year Ship Name Recorded Name & additional notes
1738........Charming Nancy........... (Michael Klein) age is 22 (born 1716)
1741.........St. Andrew.....................(Johans Michael Klein)
1744........Friendship......................(Johann Michael Klein)
1747........Unnamed ship................(Hans Mickel Klein)
1749........Speedwell........................(Michael Klein)
1754........Peggy...............................(Michael Klein)
1754........Halifax.............................(Michel Klein)
An additional "Johannes Klein" arrived around 1732 on the Pink Plaisance, but there is no indication that he used the name "Michael."
The records of German immigration through the Port of Philadelphia sometimes included additional information. For instance, the ship Halifax arrived in Philadelphia on October 2, 1754 under Captain Thomas Coatam. The ship included "370 souls" from Wirtenburg, Hesse, Franconia, and Palatinate, and sailed first from Rotterdam, last Plymouth to Philadelphia.
As noted above, very few ships of German immigrants arrived in the Port of Philadelphia during the French & Indian War. For instance, only one ship with German immigrants arrived in 1756, with no ships from 1757 through 1760. Because we know from tax records that our Michael was already in Reading, Berks County Pennsylvania by 1760, there is no need to review ship arrivals after 1760.
Michael and Barbara had at least ten children to live to maturity. The information below concerning Peter Klein's siblings is credited to Christine Schultz's hard work, research and website. Because wills of the time commonly listed children by order of birth, the children listed below are based upon the order given in Michael Klein's will. However, Michael listed the boys first, then the girls. Thus, while we know fairly certainly the children's birth order by sex, we do not know the overall birth order. The children of Michael and Barbara are as follows:
i........George Michael Klein, b. Abt. 1749; d. Bet. 1785-1789, Berks Co. PA
ii.......Daniel Klein, b. Abt. 1751
iii......Jacob Klein, b. Abt. 1754. Jacob was baptised on May 18, 1754, at Dunkel's Reform Church, Lenhartsville, Berks Co. PA, sponsors Jacob Schaeffer and Margaret Reigel
iv.......Philip Klein, b. Abt. 1755; d. December 4, 1828, Kutztown, Maxatawny Twp., Berks County, PA
v........Peter Klein, b. Abt. 1756; d. Abt. 1843, Delorme, Logan County, Virginia (W.V.)
vi.......Samuel Klein, b. March 9, 1757; d. March 23, 1836, PA
vii......John Klein, b. Bet. 1757-1768
viii.....Frederick Klein, b. Bet 1760 - 1768
ix.......Esther Klein, b. Bet. 1757 - 1768
x........Effa Klein, b. Bet. 1757 - 1768
Barbara's death record also attests to the birth of an additional child deceased. Thus, we know that Barbara gave birth to eleven children in total, and that these 11 children would have been born between 1749 and 1768, a span of approximately twenty years.
Other records prove that Michael and Barbara lived in Reading for many years, with Michael living in Reading for nearly thirty years, from 1760 to 1789, and Barbara from 1760 until her death in 1768. For instance, in the Reading Lutheran KB records, Alexander Klinger and his wife Anna Elizabeth baptised their son, "Johann Michael Klinger," born 21 Jan. 1765 (died Oct. 6, 1765). The listed sponsors were "Johann Michael Klein & his wife Maria Barbara." This research comes from the following source: Wevodau, Edward N. "Emigrants from Reichelsheim im Odenwald, Hessen, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, to the American Colonies." Pennsylvania Settlers. 14 March 2014. Web. [2018 access] <pennsylvaniasettlers.com>. It is likely that either Michael or Barbara were related to either Alexander Klinger or his wife Anna Elizabeth.
In November, 1767, the property records for Berks County record a sale of property from Michael and Barbara Klein to John Philipey and Adam Reiffel. The lot of land sold was Lot 186 in the General Plan of Reading. Today, Lot 186 is on the north side of Penn Street between 9th and 10th Streets as they are named today (9th Street was formerly "Clement Street" and 10th Street was formerly "Lord Street"). This lot is now a playground for one of the Reading elementary schools. The instrument type recorded in the Berks County property records is a mortgage that was satisfied by the purchasers, and can be found as Instrament No. 1767-00BA0093, Book 00BA, page 93, with a recording date of 11/19/1767. Interestingly, this document lists Michael as "Michael Klein of the Town of Reading in the County of Berks in the Province of Pennsylvania Cordwainner and Barbara his Wife..." A "Cordwainner" or "cordwainer" was a shoemaker who made shoes from new leather, as opposed to a "cobbler" who only repaired shoes. Thus we know that Michael was a skilled tradesman.
We also know that Alexander Klinger, mentioned above, owned lots very near Michael's Lot 186. Alexander Klinger owned Lot 178, also on the north side of Penn St., and only four lots west of Michael's lot, on the corner of Penn St. and 9th Street. Alexander Klinger also owned Lot 176, which was also on Penn Street, on the south side, which was also a corner lot on 9th Street diagonally fronm his Lot 178. At some point, Alexander Klinger owned a tavern or inn in Reading, so one of these lots may have been Klinger's inn.
We also know that Michael and Barbara also attended church in Reading, because Barbara's death record is recorded in the records of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading. Michael must have also had a sideline business selling tobacco "snuff" for a time, as he has an advetisem*nt listed in Sower's newspaper, edition Dec. 18, 1761, which lists his snuff operation as near "Veltin Coerper's" (Valentine Kaerper).
Michael is also listed in the "Pennsylvania Tax & Exoneration" records of 1768 for Reading. That record lists Michael as owning one house, one lot, and also lists his trade, "Shoemaker." He also appears on the 1789 Pennsylvania Tax & Exoneration record for Reading, which again lists his trade as "Shoemaker," with one house and one lot. This record also includes additional information, such as number of horses, cattle, indentured servants, as well as "Negros & Mulatto Slaves." Michael's only additional listing is for one horse and one cow. While we know that Michael continued to live in Reading until 1789-90, we do not know which lot and street.
Move to Maxatawny Township
Based upon the record, we know without question that Michael lived in Reading, Berks County Pennsylvania from at least 1760 to 1789. Based upon son Jacob's baptismal record, it is likely that Michael and Barbara Klein were in Berks County by at least 1754.
We also know that Michael relocated to Maxatawny Township by 1790 based upon the U.S. Census of 1790, which records Michael Klein living in Maxatawny, Berks County Pennsylvania (pg 83). The census lists one "Free White Male of 16 years and up" and one "Free White Female." The census did not list any males under age 16, no other persons and no slaves in Michael's household. We know that Michael remarried in 1781 to Caderina (Catherine) Sohns (b. 1745), so the "Free White Female" listed in the Census residing with Michael is obviously her. We also know that Michael lived in Maxatawny from his Will, which was recorded soon before his death on April 5, 1796. Michael's Will is transcribed below (including the original spellings and grammar where possible):
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF MICHAEL KLEIN
In the Name of God Amen, I Michael Klein of Maxatawny Township in the County of Berks and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania beinig very sick and weake in Body, but of sound mind & memory and understanding Blessed be God for the same, But considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, I Do make and Publish this - my Last will and Testament in manner and form following to wit ----
Principally, and first of all I commend My immortal soul in to the Hands of God who gave it, and My Body to the Earth, to be Buried in a Decent and Christian Like manner,
And as to such worldly Estate, wherewith it Hath Pleased God to Please me in this Live [life] I give and Dispose of the same in the following manor to wit, first, I give and Devise, My Bete [bed], and Chest, and wash Dub, and Peale and one Iron Pott, and one Flat Iron, to My Dear wife Caderina and to Live in my Delling [Dwelling] House for the span of three months after My Decit [decease].
And as tuching all the Rest, Residue and Remainder of My estate Real and Personal of what kind or Nature so ever the same may be, in the county of Berks aforesaid or elsewhere I give & Devise the same unto My, these Children or their heirs Namely George Michaels, share, I bequeath to his to [two] children Namely Elizabeth and George Klein Children of his first wife, and the second My sone Daniel, and third Jacob Klein, and fourth Philip Klein, and fifth Peter Klein, and sixth Samuel Klein, seventh John Klein, Eighth Frederick Klein, and my dauter Ester her share I bequethe to her three children, Hana and Ester and Samuel Klein and thenth my Dauter Effa, or the survivor or survivors Equally to be divided between them, after my Just Debts are Paid and My beloved wife her thenth share of My hole estate I bequit to her for her Live Dime (lifetime) & my House and Lad (Lot) wherein I now live and all my ("musible" or mesible"?) shall be sold by Publik seal three months after my Desist and my Executor shall and is hereby ordered to make to the Payuer a good and Laful Deed for the said house and Lad [lot], and lastly I Nominate, Constitute and appoint my son Philip Klein of Richmont [Richmond] Township in the County afroesaid to be the Executor of this my will, and hereby Revoking all other wills, Legacies and bequests by me heretofore maid and Declaring this and no other to be my Last will and Testament In witness whereof I have sait My hand and seal this thirteenth Day of march in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninty Six.
Michael Klein (signature in German Gothic script)
Signed sealed Published Pronounced and tendered, by the said testator as his Last will and Testament in the Presences of us who, in his Precense, and at his Request have subscribed as witnesses.
It further to be remembered that I bequest moreover to my beloved wife Caderina her spinning wheel and reel for her own use and Bake trough.
Dewalt Bost
John Fink
______________________________
Michael Klein's Residence in Maxatawny Township
We do not know for sure where Michael lived out his last years in Maxatawny Township, nor do we know the location of his final resting place. However, there is a strong possibility that he lived in Kutztown and is buried at St. John UCC cemetery in Kutztown.
In 1779, George Kutz purchased approximately 130 acres along the highway between the two day trip from Allentown to Reading. He did this to create a village and convenient, one-day stop between the two towns to capitalize on trade. Kutz subdivided the 130 acres into over 200 lots, the first of which were sold in 1785 to Adam Dietrich and Henry Schweier. Importantly, while people began to live in Kutztown in 1785 and thereafter, Kutztown was not incorporated into a separate legal entity, a "borough," until 1815. Thus, from 1785 until 1815, anyone living in Kutztown would technically and legally be living in Maxatawny Township, not Kutztown.While both the U.S. Census for 1790 and Michael's Klein's Will of 1796 indicate that he lived in "Maxatawny Township," this does not preclude the possibility that he actually lived in Kutztown.
Second, Michael's Will refers to his residence as a "house" and "lot," and not as a "plantation," "tract of land," or other such rural reference, as would other properties in rural Maxatawny Township. Of note, the original Will uses the term, "lad," which was copied contemporaneously by the court clerk who interpreted this term to be "lot."
Third, Michael lived as a shoemaker in the much more developed town of Reading for nearly 30 years. It is highly unlikely that Michael would have abandoned his long-time trade and town living, and taken up farming, at the age of 70, in Maxatawny. It is far more likely that he would have retired to a small lot in the unincorporated village of Kutztown. Such an arrangement would have permitted him to continue to his shoemaker trade when it befitted him, in a town setting that he was used to.
Fourth, it appears that Michael was close to his son Philip, as Philip is named as the executor of Michael's estate over all of his other children. It is possible that Michael moved to Kutztown to be closer to Philip, who at the time resided in Richmond Township which bordered Maxatawny to the west and in close proximity to Kutztown. In 1815, Philip himself bought a lot in Kutztown, Lot 67, and thereafter resided there with his wife. It is unknown if this lot had a house on it when Philip purchased it, so we do not know if Philip built this house (which still stands today), or whether it was already there. This lot sits diagonally across from St. John UCC, on the corner of Whiteoak and Walnut streets (the house is today divided into two residences: 37 N. Whiteoak and 39 N. Whiteoak). According to his Will, Philip lived in Kutztown at the time of his death in 1828. Philip's wife died in 1834, and this house was inherited by Philip's daughter Susanna and her husband, Jacob Adam. In 1840, Jacob and Susanna Adam sold the house and lot to Benjamin Schneider (Snyder). Interestingly, the prior owner of this lot, and the subsequent purchaser, Benjamin Snyder, were both "cordwainers," so it is possible that Philip purchased this lot that had previously been his father's.
Finally, we know that Philip Klein and his wife are buried at St. John UCC cemetery in Kutztown. We also know that a "Michael Klein" is buried in that cemetery as well based upon an article from the Kutztown Patriot from 1926. However, the tombstone and exact location is unknown, and was a very likely very old. This could very well be our Michael Klein. During a visit to the Kutztown Folk Festival on July 5, 2018, a search of this cemetery by the author, Jerry Cline, and cousins Christine Schultz and Paul Klein and Dita Cline, turned up empty. However, although all evidence points to Michael Klein's burial in this cemetery, more research is needed to confirm whether this theory is correct. It is possible that Michael Klein's burial was involved in the removal an reburial of upwards of 60 graves that were moved to the neighboring Hope Cemetery during the St. John UCC expansion around 1961. Any help is greatly appreciated.
