Genealogy of Michael A. Barnhart
Notes for Jakob GODSHALK
In 1708 he was listed as Jacob Gaetschalck Vander Heggen and his son of Gaetschalck Vander Heggen, with the family name discontinued after the Dutch custom
Rev. Jacob Gaedschalk, the common ancestor of the numerous Gottshall families in America, was born about 1670. Came from Gog, in the community of Cleeves, near the border of Holland and the Rhine country, came to America, some historians say in 1699, but it is more likely that he came and settled in Germantown, in 1702. Here he united with the Mennonite congregation and was soon elected a deacon of the church and later he was elected a minister. He also served the Skippack and Towamencin congregations. He performed the first baptism and conducted the first communion service in the American church in 1708. The Skippack alms audits were signed by him from 1745-1757.
In 1708 Gottshall wrote to Holland in which he gives the history of the origin of the Germantown Mennonite church, also stating the fact that Rev. William Rittenhouse had died in the month of March, 1708, to the great sorrow of the congregation; and that now he was the only surviving minister. On May 9, 1708 eleven persons were baptized and added to the church, and two weeks later, May 23, 1708, the communion of the Lord's Supper was administered. At these services Rev. Gottshall officiated. These two services, were the first baptismal and communion services conducted by Mennonites in America.
NOTE. The congregation whence Rev. Gottshall came was at Cleeves. This church was established in 1550. The membership of this church has dwindled according to the last report to about 30 members and services are conducted there by Pastor Kreamer of the Crefeld Church. At the instance of Miss Leendertz, of Cleeves, the surviving daughter of the last minister of this congregation, with the co-operation of Henry Miller, deacon of the Crefeld Church, the property of the congregation, including the church buildings, have been transferred to the custody of the Crefeld Church. The articles of agreement to this transfer have been concluded before the Notary, Dr. Lingdens, in Cleeves, bearing date of June 5, 1906.
On October 21, 1702, Gottshall purchased a tract of fifty acres of land from Isaac Shoemaker. On this tract he erected a quaint, low but substantial house and lived here for twelve years when he removed to Towamencin Township. The house fronted on Germantown Avenue. The exact spot is now 5273 Germantown Avenue, a close neighbor to Dennis Conrad one of the original settlers in Germantown, who came in 1683 to America on the good ship Concord.
In 1708 Gottshall joined with four other brethren in a letter to Amsterdam, asking for some catechisms for the children and little testaments for the young, stating that only one Bible was among the membership of the church.
Jacob was a turner (woodworker) by trade. His stone house was on 50 acres in Germantown on the southeast side of Penn St. In 1714 he purchased land in Towamencin between Kulpsville and the Schipbach (Skippack) Creek, part of which became the present Towamencin Mennonite Church and cemetery. A deed on record in Philadelphia recites the fact that Rev. Gottshall purchased 120 acres of land from James Shattuck in Towamencin Township. The consideration of this purchase being 36 pounds. The deed bears date of February 30, 1714 and was acknowledged April 20, 1714. At the same time his son Gottshall Gottshall purchased from the same party 120 acres, adjoining his father's tract. The consideration was the same and the deed bears the same dates as that of his father's.
In 1728 the Mennonite confession of faith was translated into English and printed by Bradford, in Philadelphia, and Gottshall was one of the signers testifying to the correctness of the translation.
He arranged with the Ephrata cloister in 1745 to have them translate (from Dutch into German) and print Thielman J. van Braght's 1660 Blütige Schau-platz oder Martyrer Spiegel(The Bloody Theatre or Martyr's Mirror ), a history of religious persecutions of Christians opposed to infant baptism and war; the work took 15 men 3 years to finish and in 1749, at 1512 pages, was the largest published before 1800. Rev. Gottshall was a literary man and capable to use three languages, Dutch, German and English.
Rev. Gottshall made his Will in 1760, indicating that he was a man of great age and as to occupation he says, "Formerly while I was able a turner. " He died in 1763, age about ninety seven years. While it is not known where his mortal remains are buried, but it is only natural to suppose that he was buried in the grave yard adjoining the Towamencin Mennonite Church, near Kulpsville.
Immigrated in 1702 to GermanTown Pa, on the ship "Concord"
Jacob Godschalck's Will, Dec. 26, 1760 (Phila. #229, M532)
Whereas I Jacob Godshalk senr. of Towamencin Township in the County of Philadelphia (formerly while I was able, Turner, having considered my old age and the certainty of my death and being desirious that my worldly estate may peaceably be shared among my heirs after my decease therefore I do hereby this 26th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty make my Last Will and Testament as follows;
Viz. Imprimis I give and bequeath to my son Herman all that tract of land or plantation wherein I and him now dwell containing one hundred and twenty two acres and one half an acre of land (be it more or less) according to the metes and bounds conveyed to me together with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining to the only use and behoof of him the said my son Herman hisheirs and assigns forever which said my plantation or tract of land he is to pay one hundred and twenty five pounds in manner following that is to say twenty five pounds lawful money unto every aone of my children or their heirs at the expiration of one year and one day after my decease.
Viz; Unto all the children of my deceased son Godshalk twenty five pounds thereof in equal shares. Unto all the children of my deceased son John twenty five pounds thereof in equal shares and unto the children of my deceased daughter Magdalena twenty five pounds thereof in equal shares and unto my daughter Ana maryed to Peter Custard twenty five pounds thereof and the residuary twenty five pounds my son Herman reserves for himself as his portion thereof equal with his brothers and sisters. All the residue of my personal estate shall likewise be equally divided into five shares and every one of my above named children is to have one share thereof but whereas three of my said children are deceased their share or one fifth part of my whole estate as aforesaid shall again be equally divided among them according to their number and paid to them if ye are twenty one years of age or upwards within two months after my decease what is left of my personalities but their share of my real estate at the time of the above mentioned payment to be made by my son Herman. But whereas most of my deceased childrens children are yet minors their proportionable share shall be reserved for them by my hereafter named executors until they attain their lawful age but case of death as minors their share shall equally be divided unto such minors brothers and sisters or their heirs of or from their body and I do hereby constitute and appoint my loving son in law Peter Custard sole executor of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby make void and annull all my former Wills and Testaments and declare these presents to be my only will of force after my decease in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Jacob Godshalk
This letter proves Jacob was still in Goch on this date.
Street Address is now 5273 Germantown Ave.
| HOME | EMAIL | SURNAMES |
This page sponsored by Michael A. Barnhart
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.20 ©2000 on 19 September 2005