Hittle Genealogy Symposium

[Joe Hittle]

When a piece by a recognized genealogist is published, oftentimes it is taken as accurate in all aspects because of the reputation and credentials of the author.

Hannah Benner Roach was one of those of that caliber of regard.

An contributing author to Pennsylvania Genealogy Magazine for many years in the early to mid 1900's, Roach's pieces were examples of solid study and helped her earn her reputation.

However, as is the case in nearly every genealogical study I've found yet, there are matters of record in her pieces that need to be upgraded or corrected. Such is the case in her presentation (her piece was published in the 1930's) of the family of Hans Jacob and Barbel (Ritter) Hertzel.

It is from Roach that the note that their daughter Christina was confirmed at Tohickon in 1766 comes. By 1766 Dryland records show that Jacob and Barbel were part of that congregation, thus leaving the conclusion that the Christina who was confirmed at Tohickon was not their daughter, but rather one of the daughters of Melchior Hertzel/Hartzell, whose family are on record at Tohickon for many years each direction from 1766.

There is actually very little reason to believe that Jacob and Barbel's family were ever part of the Tohickon congregation. Lower Saucom and possibly Williams Township records indicate that Jacob's family were participants there until their move to Lower Nazareth township and participation in the Dryland congregation from the early 1760's.

Benner's work, while not perfect, is still an excellent place to begin one's journey into Hertzel/Hartzell study. It also is now available online via Googlebooks, and is presented there in downloadable .pdf format.

It does not answer the question of the identities of any of Jacob and Barbel's sons-in-law, but further study into the matter indicates that the Hertzel's and George Michael Hittle Jr. knew and associated with many of the same people in the community.

The migration of the Hartzell family from Lower Saucom to Lower Nazareth township in the same time frame that land records indicate that GMH Jr. made that migration may be one more clue in substantiating that Jacob and Barbel were indeed Michael's wife's parents.

Another clue to this is that John Hartzell and his wife Barbara (Hittel) made the migration, or at least participated in various rites that occured at Dryland from the early 1760's up until the time of John's death by 1779.

The clues continue to mount up. The circumstances do not seem to belie the possibility. Roach's work does not preclude the likelihood.

And yet, even with all of that, it also must still be noted that we do not have a clear documentation that establishes that Christena Hittle, wife of George Michael Hittle Jr, was indeed the granddaughter of Hans George Hertzel Sr. via his son Hans Jacob.

I believe it, and the more I study, the more convinced I am that this is the most reasonable and workable conclusion to the circumstances. I'll find it somewhere, somehow.

If not, then I hope someone finds something that will put the matter to rest conclusively one way or another.

Joe