Revised 8/16/2017. Copyright @2017; The following Documentary Timeline has been compiled and created by Paul Rhetts. It may be copied for research purposes; but it may not be reproduced for inclusion in any printed or electronic distribution of any kind without the express written permission of the author. Any requests to use this information should be sent to Paul Rhetts, LPDPress@q.com.
Joseph Jost CUNTZE (1673-1730) and (1) Anna Catherine Gertrud REINSCHMIDT (1674-1714); (2) Catherine WEAVER (1697-1730)
s/o Johannes CUNTZE (1640-1675) and Elizabeth Else SCHUSTER (1645-1675)
1-d/o Johannes Martin REINSCHMIDT (1655-1742) and Elsa Marie WELLERS (1659-1759)
2-d/o Johann Henrich WEAVER/WEBBER (1667-1714) and Anna Margaretha HUTTMAN (1670-1724)
p/o John Michael KOONTZ (1706-1777)
(1) Children:
1. John Michael (1706-1777) m. Anna Elizabetha Catherine Stoever, 1728
2. Georg Heinrich (1706-1800) m. Anna Gertraut Falckenberg, 1734
3. Ann Elizabeth (1708-1780) m. Tilman Weaver, 1725
4. Christian (1712-1712)
5. Catherina Elizabeth (1714-1775) m. Harman Kemper, 1740
(2) Children:
6. Mary Polly (1720-1790) m. Joseph Hitt, 1740
7. Henry (1726-1798) m. Dorothy Webber, 1745
8. Tilman (1728-1762) m. unk
9. Anna Catherine (1730-1761)
22 Mar 1673 Joseph Jost CUNTZE born at Siegen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
1674 Anna Catherine Gertrud REINSCHMIDT born at Siegen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany (one source says born 1686 at Nassau-Siegen, Lower Wilden, Westphalen, Prussia, Germany)
24 Dec 1693 Anna Catherine Gertrud REINSCHMIDT baptism at Evangelisch,Neunkirchen,Westfalen,Prussia; lists parents Johannes and Elsa, FHL#594899)
29 Dec 1697 Catherine WEAVER born at Siegen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany {FHL#598242 lists her parents as Johann Heinrich and Anna Margareta]
1 Jan 1699 Joseph Jost CUNTZE listed as Ironworker, Steelsmith and Toolmaker in Ferndorf, Freunlinberg, Germany
1703 In 1703, the Rev. Henry Haeger, and his wife, Anna Catharine Friesenhagen, came to Oberfischbach where he was the parson, or minister. The Kuntze family attended church in Oberfischbach and would have been very familiar with the Rev. Henry Haeger and the schoolteacher, Hans Jakob Holzklau. Were they an influence on Jost/Joseph Cuntze, and his family, to emigrate to America when Johann Justus Albrecht was recruiting miners for the George Ritter Company in Siegen? The village of Niederndorf, and home of the Cuntze family, is well known in the mining industry with an iron works dating back to at least 1417. The owner of the iron works at that time was Tyl van Fispe, the ancestor of the Fischbach/Fishback families. The Kuntze/Cuntz family was also involved in the mining industry. Joseph Jost CUNTZE and his two older sons were all members of the Steelsmiths and Toolmakers Guild
7 Feb 1703 Joseph Jost CUNTZE and Anna Catherine Gertrud REINSCHMIDT married at Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany (one source says 4 Feb 1704) [FHL#598237; 2:MLFXC0 shows her parents Martinus and Anna Gertrud and his father Johannes]
18 Apr 1706 son John Michael KOONTZ born at Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany [Lowell l. Koontz, History of the Descendants of John Koontz, new edition (West Virginia 26287: McClain Printing Company, 1979), p1. [Niederndorf, Oberfishbach, about halfway between Frankfurt and Dortmund, GERMANY approx. forty miles east of Cologne] [Holtzolaw (Ref. 202, p. 93) lists John born 18 Apr. 1706 in Niederndorf, Germany as the son of Jost Kuntze (Joseph Koontz) and first wife, Anna Gertrud Reinschmidt, the daughter of Martin Reinschmidt of Lower Wilden] [Immigrant Joseph Cuntz is listed with his second wife, Katherina, and his son John Annalis (sic) and Kathrina his daughter (Ref. 209, p. 370) and also a daughter Elizabeth (Ref. 202, p. 93) This establishes the fact Joseph had a son, John, he brought to America. The (sic) indicates that Annalis was not a part of his name at all but was part of his sister's name, Anna Elizabeth, and that the original record was in German and this mistake has been made in translation. (Ref. 17, p. 282)] (some evidence that John Michael and brothers lived relatively near each: John Michael in so. Pa; Henry CUNTZE, in northern Virginia and Tillman CUNTZE in western Maryland, all about 30 miles apart. [Holtzolaw (Ref. 202, p. 93)]
18 Apr 1706 son Georg Heinrich CUNTZE born at Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died 30 May 1800 at Frederick, Frederick, MD; married Anna Gertraut Falckenberg in 1734 at Clermont, Columbia, New York
23 Dec 1708 dau Ann Elizabeth CUNTZE born at Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died abt 1780; married Tilman WEAVER in 1725 at Fauquier, Virginia [Peter Hitt, John Joseph Martin and Tillman Weaver of the 1714 colony and their descendants by B.C. Holtzclaw, 1961]
30 Aug 1712 son Christian CUNTZE born at Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; died 4 Oct 1712 at Siegen, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
31 Jul 1713 Joseph Jost CUNTZE received permission to leave Germany; the same day that Philip Fischbach and Hans Jacob Richter obtained their permission to leave
Jan 1714 [Joseph] "Jost" CUNTZE and Anna Catherine Gertrud REINSCHMIDT emigrated from London. Arrived in VA in April 1714. First records at Germanna: Jost (Joseph) Cuntze (Coons, Koontz, Kuntze), 40, b. 1674, and his wife Anna Gertrud Reinschmidt, son, John, b.1706; daughter, Ann Elizabeth, b. 1708; daughter, Catherine, b. ca 1713/14. There is a possibility that Catherine should not be counted in the 42 people. [BREITBARD, GAIL. Some Early Virginia Immigrants. In The Lost Palatine, no. 5 (1982), pp. 4-5: Son John; daughters] [MYERS, RAYMOND E. "The Story of Germanna." In The Filson Club History Quarterly, vol. 48:1 (Jan. 1974), pp. 27-42: Wife Anna G. Reinschmidt; Daughter Ann Elizabeth; Father-in-law] [DAVIS, VIRGINIA LEE HUTCHESON. Tidewater Virginia Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1989, p.629 lists Catherine Weaver as immigrant in 1714]
Bef 28 Apr 1714 Family was part of the First (1714) Germanna Colony in Virginia Germantown or the German settlement, located on the Rapidan branch of the Rappahannock Rover about thirty miles above the falls at Fredericksburg). This first group of 42 immigrants, from the Nassau-Siegen area of Germany, were miners, and were brought in to work in a proposed silver mine, which was partially owned by Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood of Virginia. They were German Reformed by religion. Although silver was never found in the mine that Lt. Gov. Spotswood was part-owner, the German miners did find iron ores in the seven years that they worked for him. The spelling of the Cuntze family name in both Germany and America has been varied. The earliest records indicate a spelling as Cuntze which became Kuntze. In Virginia, the use of both the "C" and the "K" was common. Spellings of the name here gravitated toward Coons, while some branches of the family spelled the name as Koontz or Kuntz. Uncertainties remain as to how closely the different branches are related. When the First Colony was settled in Fort Germanna, their first task was to clear land and ready it for farming. They had to support themselves by their own efforts. They probably received assistance in limited ways. Virginia Lt. Governor Spotswood had a practice of loaning cattle to people who raised them and bred more. At the conclusion of the contract, the equivalent of the original cattle plus one-half of the increase were returned to Spotswood. The second way assistance was provided was by the ban on hunting in their neighborhood by everyone except the Germans. Some flour was probably granted them in the initial setup. Though the Germans wanted to dig in the ground to assay the silver potential, Spotswood said no to this. (He never resolved the precious metal question as far as the Crown was concerned.) Until this was settled, development of the silver mine was verboten. So, for about two and one-half years, the Germans were engaged in farming but no mining. This must have been frustrating for them; they had a very bad year in getting to America. Once here, they were denied the opportunity to perform the functions for which they had been hired. So far we have looked at who emigrated from a series of small villages, not very far apart, just to the west of the modern town of Siegen. The three villages were Trupbach, Seelbach, and Oberfischbach. Just a short walk to the southwest from Oberfischbach, perhaps a stroll before breakfast, is Niederndorf. This was the home of the Kuntze family. Jost Kuntze, the 1714 emigrant, was christened at Oberfischbach. His godfather was the mother's brother from Niederndorf. Jost married Anna Gertrud Reinschmidt of Wilden, which is about six miles southeast of Siegen. Two of their children had godparents from Niederndorf and Wilden. A number of Germans had grants in their own name. John Button had 100 acres in 1747. Joseph Coants (Kuntz) had a 127-acre grant in 1747. John Crim (Grimm) had a 127-acre grant also (on the day following Kuntz). The Moravian missionaries visited the Little Fork area on their trips through Virginia. Brother Gottschalk, on his trip in 1748 said: "[Little Fork] is situated about twenty-two miles from the Great Fork toward the Potomac. Twelve families of the Siegen district, being of the Reformed religion, live there close together. They are fine, neighborly and friendly people, who love each other in their manner, and live together very peacefully. The brother of our Matthew Hoffman, John Henry Hoffman, also lives there and I lodged with him. "They built a small, neat and suitable church, and engaged one of their number, John Jung [Young] to be the 'Reader' in the church. He conducts services for them every Sunday. They cannot get a minister because they are so few in number. Hence they cannot raise enough money sufficient to pay a minister's salary. I preached for them, which they accepted with thanks. They expect more visits. They asked me to visit them again. John Jung and Hoffman's brother seemed to understand me when I spoke to them of the savior." Children were: John KOONTZ, Ann Elizabeth COONS, Catherine COONS.
1714 dau Catherina Elizabeth CUNTZE born at (probably on board ship) Germanna, VA; died 1775 at Botetourt, Virginia; married Harman KEMPER in 1740
15 Apr 1714 Anna Catherine Gertrud REINSCHMIDT died at Fauquier, Virginia (probably on board ship or shortly after arrival)
1717 Appears that Joseph Jost CUNTZE left Germanna before the 2nd shipment of immigrants; near present day Stephens City, Shenandoah County, Virginia.
1720s dau Mary Polly CUNTZE born; died in 1790; married 1740 to Joseph HITT at Fauquier, VA
1724 Joseph Jost CUNTZE married Catherine WEAVER at Germanna, VA [Immigrant Joseph Cuntz is listed with his second wife, Katherina, and his son John Annalis (sic) and Kathrina his daughter (Ref. 209, p. 370) and also a daughter Elizabeth (Ref. 202, p. 93) [daughter’s name was Anna Elizabeth]
1724 Joseph Jost CUNTZE proved his importation to Virginia, along with his wife, Katharin, and children in the Spotsylvania courthouse. Cathrin is not listed in the importation document of her brother, Tillman Weaver, but he does list his mother, indicating that his father is dead, and, as you can see in the document below, Joseph Cuntz lists his wife as being imported in April 1714 and her name is Katharin.
1726 son Henry CUNTZE born; died in 1798 at Washington, VA; married Dorothy WEBBER in 1745
1728 son Tilman CUNTZE born at Fauquier, VA; died 22 May 1762 at Fauquier, VA; married
May 1730 dau Anna Catherine CUNTZE born at Germanna, Fauquier, VA; died 1761
bef 18 Oct 1730 Joseph Jost CUNTZE died (age 56) at Germantown, Fauquier, VA [Germanna Record No 1, pp74-76 says 1731]
18 Oct 1730 will: Joseph Cuntze’s will was dated 18 Oct. 1730 and probated 10 Feb. 1731 Stafford Co. W.B. 1729-48, p. 22 (Ref. 202, p. 93) as Joseph died early in 1731 and was possibly in failing health in 1730. This adds reason to the return of John to America on the ship Joyce; It has not been possible to establish that John did return to Europe but in light of the above evidence it is believed that John is, in fact, the son of Joseph Cuntz the 1714 immigrant. (one source says he died Jan 1731 in Germantown, Fauquier, VA) (listed as a blacksmith) His eldest daughter, Ann Elizabeth, was married by 1730 to Tillman Weaver, the immigrant. Other children, mentioned in the will were sons, Henry and Tillman, and daughters, Mary, Anna Catherine, and Catherine. The son, Henry, was specifically stated to be under 16. The will mentions his "four youngest children" (probably Henry, Tillman, Mary and Anna Catherine). His wife seems to have predeceased him, for no mention is made of her in the will. Tillman Weaver was appointed executor, and the witnesses were Jacob Holtzclaw, John Kemper, Joseph Martin and Peter Hitt.
18 Oct 1730 Catherine WEAVER died (age 32) at Germantown, Fauquier, VA
10 Feb 1731 Joseph Jost CUNTZE’s will probated
1747 Joseph Coants (Kuntz) had a 127-acre grant in 1747. John Crim (Grimm) had a 127-acre grant also (on the day following Kuntz).