The ERLEBACH family
The family in Germany
Family Tree
Johann Erlebach
The earliest known member of the family was Johann Erlebach (1674-1739), a carpenter who lived at Kreuznach, a small town on the Rhine. In 1714 he married Engel Von Raune (b. 1688) and they had at least one child, Christoph.
Christoph Erlebach
Christoph Erlebach (1716-1793) was probably born at Kreuznach, his marriage certificate states that his father was a resident of that place, but he moved to Kirn and became a rope-maker there. In 1747 he married 18 year old Johanetta Philippina Luise Charboug (1729-1791) daughter of Johann George Charboug a treasurer of Büttlingen. On 23rd July 1761, Christoph was elected junior guildmaster and chairman of the Rope-makers Guild. This was an honour only awarded to distinguished people and cost him a barrel of wine. He was also a member of the Reformed Church. Both he and his wife are buried at Kirn.
Christoph and Johanetta had nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Of the others:
- Dorothea Engel Erlebach (1749-1808) lived 59 years but did not marry.
- Susana Juliane Erlebach (1752-1829) married Christian Schous of Offenbach and moved away from Kirn.
- Christian Philipp Erlebach (1754-1786) was ancestor to the family in England (see below).
- Johann Philipp Reichard Erlebach (1760-1838), who was later known as Reichard Philipp, started his working life in the rope-making trade and then changed to making starch and soap. He spent some time around 1800 in England presumably to escape the Napoleonic war (covered in the section on Adolphus Erlebach) but returned to Kirn and was the last of his line to live there, the house he lived in still being known as Erlebach's House in 1898.
-
Franziska Katharina Erlebach (1763-?) did not marry but had a
daughter - Anna Dorothea Philippina (1791-1794) by Johann Adam Stauch Von
Bergen. In the parish records of Kirn are the words
die liederliche genannant
(called the loose one). - Anna Justina Erlebach (1766-1779) lived only 13 years.
Christian Philipp Erlebach
Christian Philipp Erlebach (1754-1786) was born on 12th July and two days later he was baptised, having as God-parents: Christian Krentzer, a master butcher, Heinrich Philipp Köhls, son of Philipp Köhls, a tailor, and Maria Dorothea Simons, wife of Hartmann Simons, the church organist. He grew up to become a linen weaver and married Anna Dorothea Schönfeld (1748-1808) at Kirn, daughter of Sebastian Schönfeld, a master shoemaker and Anna Margaretha. Her Godmother was Anna Dorothea Mösinger daughter of Jakob Mösinger, a glazier. Christian and Anna who were pious folk, had two daughters who died in infancy and one son Johann Adolf. Christian Philipp died when his son, Johann Adolf (later known as Adolphus), was only five but his wife lived on for another 22 years.