Twelfth Generation

3712. Johann Sebastian KUNKEL was born on 18 Feb 1675 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. He died on 14 Oct 1737 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. Johann Sebastian KUNKEL and Anna Catharina SAMER were married on 29 Jan 1700 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. Sebastian Kunkel, was born, lived and died in Flörsbach, a village so small at that time that it did not even have a church. The Family for several Generations attended the church in Kempfenbrunn which was located about 2 1/2 miles from their village. Here can be found the records of Kunkel births, marriages, and deaths, not only for Sebastian's family, but numerous other Kunkel families who were probably related. It is fortunate that both the church building and the Kempfenbrunn records have survived two World Wars. The Hessen State Archive and the Hessen Society Library were all lost when Darmstadt was destroyed by Bombing. Flörsbach is now part of the community called Flörsbachtal and is located in a farming area approximately 30 miles east of Frankfort and 20 miles north of Wuerzburg, Germany. It is in the northern part of the Spessart Forest at the Hessen / Bavaria border. This principality dates back to the Holy Roman Empire.
The sons of Sebastian Kunkel all had some money. Georg was listed as having considerably more than his brother Johannes. For the people not being wealthy, was advantageous - as the Hessian government did not want to lose tax payers. Charges for approval for emigration of the rich was 10% and raised to 20% in 1751.
Much has been written about the perils of the 4 to 5 months sea journeys to this county. The trips starting at pickup points along the Rhine River were it could take 4 to 5 weeks to reach the sea because of the frequent stops at custom-houses at which the ships were examined. They then had to cross the North Sea, making a last stop at Cowes, on the Isle of Wight in England before making the long trip crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Long waits at the various ports could consume a travelers resources. Departures were in April or May after the winter storms had subsided and most ships arrived in Philadelphia, PA in the month of September.
With the parents of this family - "Sebastian and wife" both being deceased and the prevalent wars and famine that existed in Central Europe, these children had a good reason to seek a better life. The arrival with their families is well documented from both the ship captains list and the listing of those who signed - "....declaring their allegiance and fidelity to this Providence and the Government of PA."
The three brothers did get together after arriving in PA, in succeeding years. This is established by both Church records and legal documents files in the Northampton County Court house after the death of Lawrence Kunkel on 15 Jan. 1756, when he was ambushed by the Indians.

3713. Anna Catharina SAMER was born on 10 Dec 1677 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. She died on 4 Mar 1744 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. Children were:

	i.	Melchior KUNKEL was born on 5 Nov 1700 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. He died on 13 Oct 1734 in Palatinate, Gelnhausen, Hessen, Germany.
1856	ii.	Johann Georg KUNKEL.
	iii.	Eva Elisabeth KUNKEL was born on 29 Sep 1703 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. She died on 29 Aug 1757 in Berks Co, PA. Eva Elisabeth Kunkel, and her husband, Hans Peter Kleinfelter, and their children, arrived in Philadelphia, PA. on the Ship Duke of Bedford on 14 September 1751. Some researchers say they were married on 21 June 1724. The family lived in York Co, PA. Eva's brother Lorentz Kunkel, also arrived on the same ship.
	iv.	Johannes KUNKEL248 was born on 21 Sep 1704 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. He died in 1774 in Northampton Co, PA. Johannes KUNKEL, B. 1704, arrived at the Port of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA on 16 September 1748, on the Ship Patience, along with his wife, and 6 children, from Rotterdam, last from Cowes, listing 122 adult men, plus their families, with Captain John Brown, Master, and about 300 souls on board. On the Captain's list of adult male passengers, Johannes' name appears as "Johannes Kungel," age 44 years. (Born 1704). Johannes and his wife Anna Magdalena Kunckel, and their children are listed in the records of their church at Kempfenbrunn, in the current State of Hessen, Germany, as a Family from Flörsbach, Germany, a neighboring town. These records were compiled at the Archives at Marburg, Hessen, Germany. This family left Flörsbach, with indication they were going to Lithuania (next to the Baltic Sea, on the Northeast edge of Poland, in the Soviet Socialist Republics). The destination was changed, reportedly not an uncommon practice, as Johannes and his oldest son Johannes, were shown as Passengers on the Ship Patience, which arrived in Philadelphia, Colony of Pennsylvania on America on 16 Sept. 1748. Johannes Kunkel, purchased a Land warrant on 07 April 1752 in Northampton Co, PA., and Obtained Land warrant C1 for 50 acres adjoining Frederick Diehl. This was later abandoned. Northampton County had just been created the month before, on 11 March 1752. He was one who fled south with his family because of the Indian raids about November 1755. He had been living in "Contented Valley", the area now known as either Chestnuthill or Hamilton Townships in Monroe Co, PA. On 23 March 1756, Johannes Kungell, was a surety on a bond of administration for the estate of his brother, Lorenz (Lawrence) who had been killed by Indians in January 1756. On 20 June 1758 he filed a petition in Northampton Co, PA orphans Court requesting that a citation be issued to the administrators of Lorenz's estate ordering them to appear in court and account for the distribution. In December of 1761 Johannes appeared on the tax list in Heidelberg Twp, Northampton Co, PA (now Lehigh Co.) He paid a tax of three shillings. In 1763 he appeared on the tax list in Lower Smithfield Twp, Northampton Co, PA (now Monroe Co.) and paid a tax of one shilling. From 1764 to 1769 he appeared in the tax list in Hamilton Twp, Northampton Co, PA (now Monroe Co.). In 1765, he paid tax of 4 shillings on 19 acres cleared land plus 40 acres woodland, with 3 horses, and 2 cattle. In 1767, he paid tax of 6 shillings on 14 acres of cleared land and 100 acres of woodland. In 1768, Assessed tax of 6 shillings on 14 acres of cleared land and 100 acres of woodland and was declared poor. In 1769, Assessed tax for 20 acres of cleared land and woodland. Declared poor. 1770 - 1771, Assessed 6 shillings on 20 acres of cleared land and 100 acres of woodland, and called poor. Johannes Kunkel, was listed on the 1772 tax list in Heidelberg township, (now Lehigh County) PA. 1773, paid tax of 6 shillings. On 24 December 1769, and 02 December 1770, 1771, and 1773, Johannes and his second wife, Catharina, appear on the communicant lists at Hamilton Union Church. In 1769, his daughter, Christina, was also listed. He is shown with wife Catharina taking communion as late as 1773, where he was not listed again. He was not on the list of 1781 (the next one available) and probably died about 1774. He left no will.
	v.	Anna Elisabeth KUNKEL was born on 29 Aug 1705.
	vi.	Johann Peter KUNKEL was born on 28 Apr 1712 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. He died on 5 Aug 1726 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany.
	vii.	Lorenz KUNKEL was born on 10 Dec 1715 in Floersbach, Hessen, Germany. He died on 15 Jan 1756 in Northampton Co, PA. Lorenz, his wife and one child, emigrated to America on the ship "Duke of Bedford". The ship was captained by Richard Jeffreys, Master, and arrived at Philadelphia, PA on 14 September 1751 with 260 "whole freights" on board. Lorenz signed the oath of abjuration as "Lorentz Kunckel". (Source: Strassburger and Hinke, Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Vol. I, page 458-460, List 166C). On 07 April 1752, Lorenz obtained land warrants for 50 acres in Northampton Co, PA. The land was later sold and, by 1755, Lorenz moved to Lower Smithfield Twp, Northampton Co, PA (now Hamilton Twp, Monroe Co,). During the Indian uprisings over the winter of 1755-1756, Lorenz Kunkel and his family fled over the mountains and took refuge in the Moravian settlements south of the Blue Mountains. In January of 1756, a party of refugees, accompanied by several Soldiers from Fort Hamilton in Strousburg, returned to their farms, hoping to gather their cattle. The group was ambushed by Indians and Lawrence Kunkle was among those who were killed. His eldest brother - John Kunkel, petitioned the court on June 20, 1758 for an order to sale his land. Records tell that Lawrence had two children, but had died between 1756 - 1758 when the petition was made. The order was granted in 1764, and the property was purchased at public sale by Lawrence Kunkel - (b. 1738) , the son of John Kunkel. The administers of Estate were Catherine Kungel and Michael Kungel, Northampton Co, PA, proceedings Admr's Bond no. 104, filed 1756. THE PETITION OF - JOHN KUNGEL To the Worshipful, and Justices of the Orphans Court, held at Easton, for the County of Northampton, in the Colony of Pennsylvania, on the 20th day of June 1758. That your Petitioner is the oldest Brother of Lawrence KUNGEL, late of Northampton County, deceased, who died intestate, leaving his wife and two children being possessed of a considerable personal Estate that Katharine, the widow, and the said Nicholas Gower, are admitted to administer all and singular the said Estate and effects, and whom is since intermarried with George HAYFINGER. That the said descendants two Children are since also dead, so that your petitioner is the next of Kin to his said deceased Brother. He therefore Prays that your worships will be pleased to ask the said Administrators to appear here at the next Orphans Court, then and there to account for, and touching the Gods and effects of the said Intestate, and order just and equal distribution of that remaineth clear, after all debts, funeral and just expences are first paid and allowed..... and your Petitioner shall ever Pray - - - Signed - - - John KUNGEL (Seal) 20 June 1758