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Welcome to my Genealogy
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Our story begins with the Reformation
movement in the old world. From the Anabaptist movement descended the Mennonite
Protestant religious group founded by Menno Simons. The Mennonite movement
was strong in the Netherlands and along the lower Rhine and Baltic region.
It is in this area our earliest ancestors came from. |
Johannes
Lantz
1700-Unknown
| In the year of our Lord 1700, Christina Lantz (Born about 1673) gave birth to Johannes Lantz in Palatinate Germany or possibly Speyer Bavaria. We can only speculate what persecution this family endured to convince them to migrate to Pennsylvania. What happened to Christina's husband? Was he martyred, or did he just die of natural caused? Regardless the decision was made and passages were booked on the vessel "Samuel". Johannes (24), Maria (25) his wife, young son Hans(3), and Johannes mother Christina (49) departed Rotterdam, Netherlands and after a successful voyage arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 11, 1732. See Passenger List |  |
Hans
Lantz
1729-1789
Johannes and his family purchased a farm in Caernarvon Township in Berks County Pennsylvania. Here he raised his family on the 150 acre farm. With the passage of Johannes and his wife Maria the farm was passed down to their son Hans and his wife Anna (daughter of Michael Kraybill). Here Hans and Anna raised their family until 1778. At this time Hans assigned the farm to his son Jacob and then he and his wife moved to a farm of 100 acres he had purchased in 1776, in Heidelburg Township in Berk County Pennsylvania.
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Indians & Those Rowdy Rebels There is one interesting story concerning Hans and his family. During the early years of the French and Indian War the Indians were attacking many of the isolated Amish families. Hans's strict religious beliefs prevented him from fighting so the family had no choice but to abandon their home and hide out for several days. The British military in power came to their rescue and drove the Indians away so they could return to their homes. This took place shortly before the colonial rebels began running around causing trouble and demanding the British leave them to their own devices as view by Hans. Hans of course being grateful to the British for the rescue of his family, and his strong Amish beliefs, may have had leaning towards the status quo remaining unchanged. His feelings were so strong that he wrote a letter to King George III denouncing the rebels and hoped the rowdy rebellion of the colonist would soon end and peace would be restored. |
Samuel
Lantz
1758-1781
Samuel was born in 1758 while the family was living in Carnarvon Township. He moved with the family to the new farm in Heidleberg Township and took for his wife Elizabeth King. They were blessed with two small children, John and Samuel. Tragedy struck early for the young Lantz family and Samuel Sr. was taken to be with the Lord on November 29, 1781 at the ripe age of only 23. Elizabeth dealt with her loss with heartbreak and courage and in 1783 she married Christian Stoltfus who raised the Lantz boys as his own.
One of Samuel's brothers was Jacob Lantz (Bef 1755-1816). Terry and Marge Lantz highfold@maxinter.net discovered an interesting water deed signed by Jacob. See Water Deed
John
Lantz
1779-1862
Was John the Last of the Old Order Amish?
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John I believe was the last member of our family to be a member of the old order Amish. Born in Heidleberg Township on January 15, 1779. John purchased a farm located in Delaware Township in Juniata County near Thompsontown Pennsylvania. Here he raised his family, and here he died. On the old Lantz homestead there is the Lantz Family graveyard where many of the Lantz's and their families were buried. John was laid to rest in the Lantz Cemetery on November 16, 1862. |