Get your own Free Home Page
Nestled in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, on the northern edge of Westmoreland County, lies the small village of Brenizer. Although approximately 175 families live here at the present time, this was not always a village. In the 1800's, this area was owned by the Breniser family and used as a farmland, but hidden under this land was a rich treasure of coal. When the mining days began, the town was slowly built up to be one of the nicest mining towns in this area.
We have traced some of the ancestors of the original Breniser family to Germany, where some descendants still live. The name Breniser comes from the name Brennelsen, which means: Bren (Burn) Eisen (Iron). Through the years, the Breniser name has been spelled many different ways.
Hans Veltin (John Valentine) and Gorge Michel (George Michael) Brenneisen arrived in Philadelphia in September of 1730 on the ship named Alexander and Ann. Their records, including taking the Oath of Allegiance to King George III, are documented in the Pennsylvania Archives and also in Daniel Rupp's list of German passengers, which is considered to be a classic in the documentation of German immigrants. The two immigrants came from the Palatinate; that region of the Neckar Valley, southeast of Heidelberg, is now in the state of Baden-Wurrtenberg. This particular branch of the family, according to Wilhelm Brenneisen, the present day family historian in Germany, came from Lohrbach. Before immigrating, they worked on a large farm as day laborers. The name of the farm and village, still existing today, is called the Damnhof.
John Valentine Brenneisen had several children when he arrived in the United States in 1730, and he had more children after he settled here. George Michael seems to have disappeared from sight soon after he arrived, since nothing more has been discovered about him. John Valentine's children grew up in Lancaster County. At the same time, however, the names Jacob and Christian were appearing on tax records in Bedford and Somerset Counties, and family members think they are George Michael's descendants.
At Hill Church (Berg Kirche, Church on the Quitapohila) a record exists that shows the marriage of Jacob Brenneisen and Anna Veronica Wampfler in 1747. Later that year, a son, Michael, was born, followed by a son Jacob and a daughter Anna Barbara. We believe that Michael, born in 1747, is the father of Peter Breniser, who came to Westmoreland County. There is no documentation to prove this, but the family believes this. Jacob, the father of Michael, and his family left the Lutheran Church, according to the church record, and became Tunkers. Michael's wife, Barbara Myers Movers, was a Mennonite. Apparently, they did not keep records as the Lutherans did, therefore we cannot obtain any information on their church life.
Michael is listed in the Pennsylvania Archives on the Revolutionary War lists, but he is also listed as a conscientious objector who did not want to fight because of his religious beliefs. In the State Archives in Harrisburg, Michael was continually being fined for not showing up to church, and so forth.
Michael is listed as a head of household in the 1790 census. The family probably moved around quite a bit, and Michael is found in Elk Lick and Brothers Valley Townships in Lebanon and Somerset Counties prior to 1800. He is located in the south of Westmoreland County by 1802. A copy of a land transaction between Michael Breniser and John McCabe, dated October 1, 1802, was found. Both parties are said to be of Unity Township, Westmoreland County. It was the sale of twenty acres, "a piece of ground whereon he now lives situated on the waters of the Nine Mile Run."
On April 4, 1805, Michael Breniser bought 225 acres. In 1812, Michael bought from Jacob Inistman 152 aeres in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County. On July 2, 1816, Michael and Barbara Breniser of East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, sold 152 acres to Peter Lucks for $4.258. In 1820, Michael is found in West Huntingdon Township on the Federal Census records, but has never been found on any record afterward.
Although there are many descendants of George Michael Brenneisen and John Valentine Brenneisen, the descendants who are of great importance to this history were born in the 1800's. Down through the years, some of the same names were used repeatedly and, as a result, it can become very confusing to the reader. Whenever possible, we have used middle initials to distinguish between various family members. Although the original descendants settled in various places in Pennsylvania, moving often and buying other pieces of property, they eventually settled in Derry Township.
Courtesy of Wilhelm Brenneisen
From Introduction to family history
Get your own Free Home Page