The Bender family in Europe   The Zimmerman family in Europe

      Johann Jacob Bender and Maria Elisabetha Zimmerman

      Leonard Painter and Catharine Haug

      George Painter and Eve Tanner

      Barbara Painter and John Freeman

      Wilkerson Bell Freeman and Lucilla Margaret Wallace

      George Romulus Freeman and Susanna Carpenter

      Aretus Erastus Freeman and Minnie Elsie Morey

      Iva Melvina Freeman and Donald VanHoosier Lawson

      Stephen Martin Lawson

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The primary sources of information on European origins are articles by Miles S. Philbeck in the May 1988 and Nov. 1998 BULLETIN of the Genealogical Society of Old Tryon County, supplemented by material from the internet and email contacts.

Wendel BENDER - Most church records in Europe were destroyed during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). In the village of Eschelback, southeast of Heidelberg, Germany, the register (or Kirchenbuch) of the Evangelical Lutheran parish church begins in 1653 with a recording of the prior marriages and birth of children of the current members. Of the 25 marriages included in the new Kirchenbuch is the record that Wendel and Margretha were married in 1637. The dates recorded for their children are either the birth or baptism dates.

Margaretha - b. Germany.

1. Peter - b. Jan. 6, 1638, prob. Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
2. Hans - b. March 1640, prob. Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
3. Anna - b. 1645, prob. Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
4. Margretha - b. 1647, prob. Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
5. Agnes - b. Feb. 1, 1649, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
6. Anna Maria - b. Jan. 1652, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
7. Michel - b. Dec. 1, 1653, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; bur. there Oct. 10, 1735.
8. Jacob - b. Feb. 9, 1656, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
9. Hans Christoph - b. Jan. 17, 1658, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany. Married Jan. 14, 1685, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany to Anna Ursula ZIMMERMANN (b. Oct. 1, 1664, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany), daughter of Ulrich ZIMMERMANN and Magdalena FRANK. Children: Anna Maria married Johann Jacob EICHELBERGER; Anna Margaretha; Johann Jacob married Eva BENDER (daughter of Hans Georg BENDER and Anna Maria BECKER); Johann Christoph; Susanna Maria; and Johann Georg.

Michel BENDER - b. Dec. 1, 1653, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; bur. there Oct. 10, 1735. Son of Wendel BENDER and Margaretha. The Kirchenbuch records his birth, marriage and burial. Repeatedly referred to as Schaf Michel, his age at death is given as 82 years less 7 weeks. Married Feb. 6, 1677, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.

Margaretha EMMERICH - b. March 22, 1657, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Sep. 9, 1719. Daughter of Hans EMMERICH and Elisabetha.

1. Eva - b. Mar. 14, 1678, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Feb. 19, 1679.
2. Anna Margaretha - b. Sep. 24, 1679, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
3. Anna Catharina - b. Dec. 5, 1680, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
4. Johann Jacob - b. Dec. 27, 1682, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. young.
5. Johann Georg - b. Feb. 1, 1684, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Sep. 9, 1759.
6. Johann Michel - b. Jan. 26, 1688, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. as infant.
7. Johann Michel - b. Mar. 2, 1690, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Jun. 28, 1766. Married on Nov. 18, 1716 at Eschelbarch, Baden, Germany to Maria Elisabetha KRAUSS (b. Dec. 14, 1695, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Dec. 5, 1763), daughter of Hans Ulrich KRAUSS and Maria Eva BENDER. Children: Maria Eva died young; Anna Appolonia died as infant; Jorg Michel married Maria Barbara RUCKER (ancestors of Markus BENDER, immigrant to Ontario, Canada with wife Maria Katharina BENDER); Anna Magdalena; Johann Georg died as infant; Maria Eva died as infant; Anna Maria married Johann Georg BENDER (son of Johann George BENDER and Anna Margaretha RUCKER); Johann Michel married Maria Magdalena BENDER (daughter of Johann Caspar BENDER and Maria Sabina BENDER); Johann Caspar; Johann Georg married Maria Elisabetha IGEL.
8. Johann Jacob - b. Oct. 17, 1693, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. presumably in PA.
9. Johann Caspar - b. Apr. 10, 1697, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Apr. 8, 1698.
10. Johann Martin - b. Nov. 4, 1700, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.

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Hans EMMERICH - b. about 1620. Married Jan. 20, 1646 at Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.

Elisabetha BENDER - b. about 1624.

1. Maria - b. Oct. 20, 1646, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany. Married Apr. 26, 1670 at Eschelbach, Baden, Germany to Georg IGEL (b. about 1642). Children: Johann; Peter; Maria Eva; Michel; Maria Ursula; Stephan; Appolonia; Catharina; and Anna Catharina.
2. Hans Peter - Aug. 1, 1648, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
3. Anna - b. Jul. 17, 1652, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany. Married first Johannes Christianus KRAUSS, son of Michel KRAUSS and Ursula. Anna married second Caspar BENDER. Children of first marriage, surnamed KRAUSS: Johann Georg married Maria Barbara ZIMMERMAN (daughter of Hans Leonhardt ZIMMERMAN and Anna Margaretha KEMPFF); Johann Michel; Johann Melchoir; Maria; Anna Magdalena; and Anna.
4. Appolonia - b. Feb. 12, 1655, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Feb. 4, 1656.
5. Margaretha - b. March 22, 1657, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Sep. 9, 1719.

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Ulrich ZIMMERMAN - d. by 1672, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany. Linen weaver at Eschelbach.

Magdalena - Married second in 1672 Jacob ZEHNER.

1. Hans Leonhardt - b. Jul. 30, 1659, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. as infant.
2. Hans Leonhardt - b. Oct. 8, 1660, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; bur. there Oct. 26, 1703.
3. Anna Ursula - b. Oct. 1, 1663, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
4. Hans Caspar - b. Jul. 6, 1668, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.
5. Anna Catharina - b. Oct. 12, 1670, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.

Hans Leonhardt ZIMMERMAN - b. Oct. 8, 1660, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; bur. there Oct. 26, 1703. Son of Ulrich ZIMMERMAN and Anna Margaretha KEMPFF. Married Nov. 22, 1685, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.

Anna Margaretha KEMPFF - b. about 1663; bur. Feb. 23, 1736, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany. Daughter of Leonhardt KEMPFF of Sinsheim, east of Eschelbach. She married second in 1714 Hans Georg ZIEGLER.

1. Anna Margaretha - b. Aug. 14, 1686, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. young.
2. Johann Ulrich - b. Mar. 17, 1688, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. young.
3. Johann Heinrich - b. Nov. 18, 1689, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany. Married Nov. 18, 1716, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany, Agatha ERNST, daughter of Conrad ERNST.
4. Veronica Margaretha - b. Oct. 23, 1692, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Sep. 24, 1701.
5. Maria Barbara - b. Jul. 9, 1695, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. as infant.
6. Maria Barbara - b. Mar. 13, 1698, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Dec. 1765. Married Nov. 22, 1717, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany, Johann Georg KRAUSS (b. Sep. 17, 1690, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany), son of Johannes Christianus KRAUSS and Anna EMMERICH. Children: Maria Barbara married Johann Caspar BENDER (son of Johann Martin BENDER and Anna Barbara WEIGEL); Johann Ulrich died as infant; Johann Ulrich died young; Meria Eva; Maria Helena; Maria Elisabetha married Johann Michel BRECHT; Johann Ulrich died as infant; Maria Magdalena died as infant; Maria Magdalena; and Johann Georg married first Maria Catharina BENDER and second Johanna Catharina SCHWEIKERT.
7. Maria Elisabetha - b. Nov. 7, 1700, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Jul. 2, 1748. Married Johann Jacob BENDER.
8. Johann Ulrich - b. Jun. 26, 1703, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. Dec. 17, 1735, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany. Married Jan. 28, 1728, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany, Maria Elisabeth SCHWEITZER (b. Jan. 8, 1706, Thairnbach, Baden, Germany; d. Sep. 9, 1772, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany), daughter of Hans Michel SCHWEITZER and Elisabeth BECKER. Children: Johann George; and Anna Margaretha died young.

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Johann Jacob BENDER - b. Oct. 17, 1693, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. presumably in PA. Baptised at the Eschelbach Lutheran Church, the son of citizen Michel BENDER and Margaretha EMMERICH. "Anno '52 Taufschein ins neuland geben." [1752. Given a certification of baptism, and left for America.] Refer to Eighteenth Century Emigrants from German-Speaking Lands to North America - Volume I:The Northern Kraichgau, by Annette Kunselman Burgert (The Pennsylvania German Society, Breinigsville, PA:1983), pages 49, 51 and 432. Johann Jacob married second Anna Margaretha (RUCKER) HARTLIEB (b. 1707; d. May 23, 1758, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany), the widow of Jorg Nicolaus HARTLIEB and daughter of Hans Michel RUCKER. At Anna Margaretha's death, the record indicates that her husband left for the new land six years earlier. Married first Nov. 22, 1717, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany.

Maria Elisabetha ZIMMERMAN - b. Nov. 7, 1700, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Jul. 2, 1748. Daughter of Johann Leonhardt ZIMMERMAN and Anna Margaretha KEMPFF.

1. Maria Elisabetha - b. Oct. 1, 1718, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany. Confirmed there 1731.
2. Johann Jacob - b. Jun. 6, 1721, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; bur. there Jan. 21, 1725.
3. Johann Jacob - b. Jan. 25, 1726, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; bur. there Mar. 23, 1727.
4. Johann Leonhardt - b. Mar. 28, 1728, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. about 1807, Rutherford Co., NC.
5. Jorg Michel - b. Sep. 11, 1730, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany. Confirmed there 1743.
6. Jacob Leonhardt - b. Sep. 3, 1733, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Jul. 25, 1734.
7. Elisabetha Margaretha - b. Apr. 5, 1737, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; bur. there in 1739.
8. Eva Elisabetha - b. Dec. 26, 1739, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. there Jan. 1, 1744.

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Leonard PAINTER - b. Mar. 28, 1728, Eschelbach, Baden, Germany; d. about 1807, Rutherford Co., NC. Son of Johann Jacob BENDER and Maria Elisabetha ZIMMERMAN. He was, as Johann Leonhardt BENDER, confirmed at the Eschelbach Lutheran Church in 1741. Arrived in America aboard the 'Anderson' (prob. with his father) in 1752, settling first in Lancaster Co., PA. Leonard BENDER took the Oath of Allegiance in Lancaster Co., PA, appearing as the 15th on a list of 77 persons taking the Oath between Nov. 1777 and Aug. 1778. Lived in MD for about 12 years, before moving to Rockingham Co., VA, where he is found in 1787 and 1793. The 1787 Rockingham Co., VA personal Property Tax List, List B, page 658 lists Leonard PAINTER with "1 horse, 6 cattle." His will dated May 10, 1805 names children and sons-in law as given here, and names John CARSON and Jacob DECK (son-in-law) as executors. Married Jan. 1, 1756 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster Co., PA.

Catharina HAUG - b. 29 May 1735, Ofterdingen, Württemberg, Germany; d. 1786-1805, VA or NC. Daughter of Hans Jerg HAUG and Christina Burhle.

1. Christiana - b. Oct. 28, 1756, Lancaster Co., PA. Married Henry DECK. Henry appears on the 1787 tax list of Rockingham Co., VA. Daughter Catharina Barbara was baptized Aug. 24, 1786 at Frieden's Lutheran and Reformed Congregations in Rockingham Co., VA.
2. Elizabeth 'Betsey' - b. Mar. 2, 1758, Lancaster Co., PA; bap. Aug. 13, 1758, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Married about 1782 to Jacob DECK, a Revolutionary War pensioner. Living in Rockingham Co., VA in 1790 when twin children Jacob and Elizabeth were baptized, the DECKs subsequently moved to Rutherford Co., NC. Children: Mary 'Polly' married John YELTON; Leonard married Drucilla; Jacob married Eve Mary BENDER/PAINTER, daughter of Pvt. George PAINTER; Elizabeth; and Henry married Mary LONG.
3. Johann Georg - b. Aug. 5, 1759, Lancaster Co., PA; d. May 15, 1839, Rutherford Co., NC.

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George PAINTER - b. Aug. 5, 1759, Lancaster Co., PA; d. May 15, 1841, Rutherford Co., NC; bur. there in Brittain Presbyterian Cemetery [photo]. Son of Leonard PAINTER and Catherine HAUG. His death year is given as 1839, at age 81, on his grave marker, but is given as 1841 in his widow's Revolutionary War Pension application. Also known as Johann Georg BENDER, he moved with his father's family to MD while still young, living there 12 or 13 years before the family moved to Rockingham Co. VA. George served as Pvt. in Revolution (pension file W8507), and after the War he moved to Rutherford Co., NC. At a patriotic ceremony held May 19, 2001, a bronze memorial marker was placed in Brittain Presbyterian Church cemetery in Rutherford Co., NC, at his gravesite. Census of Rutherford Co., NC 1790 shows one male over age 16, two males under age 16 and three females in household. His name is found in the records of Rockingham Co., VA in 1787 and 1791. The 1787 Rockingham Co., VA personal Property Tax List, List B, page 658 lists George PAINTER with "2 horses, 5 cattle." George's will dated Aug. 3, 1828 and proved Feb. 9, 1844 named children in the order given here, second wife Rebecca Harris FREEMAN (daughter of Benjamin and Catharine FREEMAN) whom he married Aug. 8, 1824, and Caty BURNETT. Rebecca died Apr. 28, 1879. George had married first about 1780.

Eve TANNER - b. about 1757, York Co., PA; d. 1824, Rutherford Co., NC; bur. there in Brittain Presbyterian Cemetery. Her gravestone reads simply "E PA 1824." Daughter of Michael TANNER and Miss HUSSONG.

1. Michael - b. Jul. 18, 1781, Rockingham Co., VA. Married Sep. 4, 1813 (bond date), Rutherford Co., NC, Nancy UPCHURCH (b. 1781, NC), with John FREEMAN as bondsman. Descendants used the surnames PANTHER and BANTHER. Children: George J. married Mary Ann 'Polly' NANNY; Elizabeth C. married James BRADLEY; Eve married William BRADLEY; Barbara Ursilla F. married John HALL; Sherod married Mary QUEEN; and Nancy married Moses HALL.
2. Catharine 'Caty' - b. about 1783. Married 1804 James TRUELOVE, with marriage bond dated Feb. 18, 1804, Rutherford Co., NC, and George PAINTER as bondsman.
3. Leonard - b. about 1785. A Leonard PAINTER served in the War of 1812 in the 9th Co., detached from the 1st Rutherford Regiment of the NC Militia. Married Jun. 22, 1807, Rutherford Co., NC, Lucy SMITH.
4. Barbara - b. about 1788, Rockingham Co., VA; d. after 1860 census of Rutherford Co., NC. Married John FREEMAN.
5. George - b. about 1791; d. 1849. He married Aug. 10, 1813 (bond), Rutherford Co., NC, Sarah PELL (b. about 1795), probably the daughter of William PELL, the bondsman. A photo of their son-in-law Theophilus CHRISTMUS appears in The Heritage of Rutherford County, NC [1985]. All the children and sons-in-law of George and Sarah are named in a Rutherford Co., NC deed dated Sep. 18, 1852, and recorded Nov. 28, 1853 [Deed Book 46, Page 57]. Children: Elvira married Thomas Crayton OWENS (first cousin of Amos Wall OWENS); Bowen ("insane"); Ransom married Sarah GRANT; Calvin married Eliza PADGETT; Anna married Ransom BLANTON (their daughter Anna Matilda married William BUTLER as his second wife); Myra (or Mira) married William BUTLER as his first wife; Nancy Spain married Vincent DOBBINS (daughter married son of Amos Wall OWENS); Cynthia Amanda Elizabeth married Henry Theophilus CHRISTMUS; Hartwell Spain married first S. A., and second M. M.; and Elizabeth 'Missy'.
6. Eve Mary - b. Jun. 17, 1793; d. Jul. 25, 1844. Married 1812 Jacob DECK, Jr., with marriage bond dated Mar. 6, 1812, Rutherford Co., NC, and George PONTER<sic> as bondsman. Jacob was her first cousin, the son of Jacob DECK and Elizabeth BENDER. Children: Andrew William married Rachel WILLIAMS; Elizabeth did not marry; James Terrell married Sarah Jane PULLEN; George Watson married Jane; Leonard J.; and Jacob M. C. died young.
7. Elizabeth - b. about 1795, NC. Living with the ATKINS family in 1880. Married Jan. 5, 1836, Rutherford Co., NC, William SHEMWELL/SHAMWELL (b. 1791, NC&; d. by 1860). Children: Elisha M.; and Nancy Emmaline married William Benjamin Franklin ATKIN(S).

1. Benjamin Freeman - b. May 11, 1825, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Jun. 27, 1859, Rutherford Co., NC; bur. First Broad Baptist cemetery. An abstract of the will of George PAINTER gives this name as Benjamin Franklin. Married about 1846 Jemima 'Miny' SHORT (b. 1828, NC). Children of Benjamin and Miny: Sarah did not marry, but had sons George WHITE and Ben WATERS; George Washington first married Nancy Baxter LONG, and second Josephine MURRAY; and Robert married Susannah POWELL. Benjamin also had a child by Margaret HILL. Miny had two children by Robert BRACKETT: Zachariah; and Mira K.
2. Joel - b. about 1828, NC. Married Nov. 15, 1848, Rutherford Co., NC, Jane STEWART (b. 1827, NC). Children:George Washington married Nancy WATERS; John married first Susan BUFF, and second Martha TOWERY; Aaron married Lou ROSS; and Mary married John O. BIBBY.
3. Sarah - b. about 1830. Married Nov. 8, 1852 in Buncombe Co., NC, William BRACKETT (b. about 1828), son of Thomas BRACKETT and Elizabeth DOWNS. Children: Robert Landrum married Elizabeth HOYLE; William married Mary Ellen LYNN; John C. married Melvina E. BRACKETT; Sarah married William Pinkney TOWERY; Abraham Lincoln married Nancy Rebecca McFARLAND; and Patience married John F. 'Dude' BRACKETT.

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