The Handwerks who immigrated to America in the middle of the eighteenth century came from Hettenhausen, Franken, Germany. Our ancestry can be directly traced to Hans Ludwig Handwerk born circa 1510. The earliest record we have of him was in the year 1541 when he was among the six colonists who through Balthasar of Ebersburg again colonized the abandoned area of Sandberg by Gersfeld. Sandberg is located at the foot of the Schneeberg Mountain.

It is not known who Hans Ludwig Handwerk's wife was or where they lived prior to settling in Sandberg. Among his issue were three sons, Ludwigs Hans (b. 1543); Velten and Heintz (b. circa 1546). Our family are descendants of Ludwigs Hans Handwerk.

Today, Sandberg has a population of about 200/300 persons with about 70/100 houses. Hettenhausen has a population of about 1,300 and about 400 houses and one church. Sandberg and Hettenhausen are located in the Rhon Valley and are in the county of Fulda, and the state of Hessen is located close to that which was the East German Border.

Ludwigs Hans Handwerk had six known children: Hans (The older); Walter (born circa 1576); Margretha; Hans (The Younger); Anna and Ottilie.

The third generation in our ancestral line was Walter Handwerk. Walter was born circa 1576 and was married on May 15, 1604 to Elazabeth Hartmann. They had three known children: Margaretha (b. 22 May 1605); Hans Sr. (b. 12 Sep 1606) and Engel (b. & d. 12 Sep 1606). Hans and Engel were twins.

We know very little about Walter and Elisabeth Handwerk, however, it is reasonable to believe that they lived all of their lives in the Franconia region of Germany.

The fourth generation of our Handwerk lineage was Hans Handwerk Sr. (b. September 12, 1606, died September 19, 1692). He was married first on December 26, 1635 to Amalia Jungert. Hans was married second on April 17, 1649 to Catharina Dietig from Poppenhausen. Cathrina was born in 1629. In 1620, Hans was a full time farmer and owned 15.5 acres of land and by 1635 owned 31.75 acres of land located in Sandberg. Both Poppenhausen and Sandberg are located in the Rhon Valley in the Franconia region of Germany.

Hans and Amalia Handwerk had five children: Hans (The Older); Barbara (b. Nov. 21, 1642); Balzer (b. Jun 18, 1645); Ottilie (b. Sep 19, 1647); Margaretha (b. Feb. 22, 1648).

Hans and Catharina Handwerk had eight children: Barbara (b. Feb 16, 1650); Hans (The Younger); Cathari; Catharina (b. Feb 2, 1653); Elizabeth (b. May 13, 1654); Elizabeth (b. Feb 2, 1656); Cathrina (b. Dec 29, 1658); Marx (b. Mar 2, 1663).

Our lineage comes from Hans and Amelia Handwerk's second child, Balzer Handwerk, born in Sandberg on June 18, 1645 and died in Hettenhausen on June 16, 1703. He was married on September 16, 1673 to Anna Maria Walther. She was born in Gersfeld on February 4, 1656 and died in Hettenhausen on January 15, 1722. Sandberg, Hettenhausen and Gersfeld are located in the Rhon Valley, Germany.

Balzer was the first Handwerk to move to Hettenhausen circa 1675. He was a mayor of Hettenhausen.

The history of the tiny village of Hettenhausen contains the following story: "Our church as three bells cast from bronze with little harmony in the ringing. No wonder, the poor congregation could not afford uniformly ringing bells from one cast. Obeying poverty, the bells were acquired one after another and each bell originated from a different bell foundry. All three bells were ordered for registration for confiscation and only the smallest was to be left with the congregation. Upon application by Pastor Hebicht, the official order was changed to the effect that the church would be allowed to keep at least the biggest and oldest bell for the time being. Its surrender has not happened, however so that we are enjoying it even today (at the time the story was written) if only for its historic value.

The bell called by the people the "Twelve O'Clock Bell" has a lower diameter of 0.75 m and a height of 0.72 m. It hangs on six curved handles and bears the following inscription:
  1. - Adam von Ebersberg called von Weihlers PT Collator
  2. - Johannes Neumann P.T. Pastor
  3. - Only for God's glory
  4. - Johannes Ulrich von Hersfield cast me in the year 1696
  5. - Hans Lamb and Balzer Handwerk".

The bells are no longer in the church. They were all removed during World War II.

Balzer and Anna Maria Handwerk had 12 children:
  1. Lorenz (b. August 22, 1674)
  2. Elisabeth (b. Oct 6, 1676)
  3. Elisabeth (b. Mar 3, 1678)
  4. Gertraud (b. Aug 3, 1679)
  5. Christoph (b. Nov 27, 1681)
  6. Anna Katharina (b. Jan 28, 1683)
  7. Wilhelm Rudolf (b. Jul 2, 1685)
  8. Karl (b. Nov 1, 1687)
  9. Anna Maria (b. Jan 19, 1690)
  10. Heinrich [twin] (b. Feb 6, 1695)
  11. Margretha [twin] (b. Feb 6, 1695)
  12. Johan Heinrich Christian Jacob (b. Oct 17, 1697)

Wilhelm Rudolf, the third son of Balzer and Anna Maria Handwerk is our next ancestor was born in Hettenhausen, Franken (today state of Hessen), Germany on July 2, 1685 and died May 11, 1730. He was married to Kunigunde (maiden name unknown). They lived in Hettenhausen and most likely died there. They were the parents of most of the American Handwerks from Eastern Pennsylvania. Four of their children emigrated to America; however, Wilhelm and Kunigunde did not go with them. They had seven children:
  1. Johannes (b. Jan 29, 1710) - married 1st on August 16, 1731 to Barbara Lamb (b. 1709); 2nd to Anna Maria (maiden name unknown), (d. July 1789), buried Heidelberg Union Church, Lehigh County, Pa. He arrived in Philadelphia on October 19, 1749 on the ship Lydia.
  2. Anna Maria (b. Oct 25, 1711), (d. July 10, 1746). Killed by a falling timber.
  3. Johan Heinrich (b. Dec 27, 1713) at Hettenhausen, married Anna Barbara (maiden name unknown) about 1763 at Heidelberg township. He arrived at Philadelphia on September 3, 1739 on the ship Loyal Judith.
  4. Nicholas (b. Aug 16, 1716) married Albertina Philippina Ohl, (d. March 9, 1795) Buried Fritz Burial Grounds, Douglas Township, Berks County, Pa. He arrived at Philadelphia on September 3, 1739 on the ship Loyal Judith.
  5. Frederic (b. Apr 8, 1718) married Anna (maiden name unknown). He remained in Germany.
  6. Anna Maria (b. Jun 30, 1720) married Conrad Lentz. She lived in America.
  7. Johannes (Hans) (b. 1725). He remained in Germany.

Our lineage can be traced from two members of this family, Johannes and Johan Heinrich, through several generations, to Drusilla Neff who was born March 2, 1840 and married Joel Neff. We will first trace our lineage from Johannes.

Johannes Handwerk had a son, Johannes Jr. , b. April 1, 1742, married Catharine Ohl and died September 13, 1813.

Johannes Handwerk III, son of Johannes Handwerk Jr. was born November 10, 1777, married Catharina Peter and died August 19, 1851.

Susanna Handwerk, a daughter of Johannes Handwerk III was born July 14, 1810, circa 1827 married George Neff , born April 10, 1802, and died March 16, 1877. George Neff had one child from a previous marriage and 9 children with Susanna Handwerk.

One of the sons of George Neff and Susanna Handwerk was Joel Neff, born November 28, 1836 who later married Drusilla Handwerk, a daughter of Martin Handwerk.

We can also trace our lineage from Johan Henrich Handwerk who had a son, Peter Handwerk, born September 18, 1744, was married twice and died February 27, 1826. One of his sons was Peter Handwerk Jr.,b. 1779.

We know little about Peter Handwerk Jr. other than that he was born in 1779 and had a son, Martin Handwerk, born November 29, 1804, who married Catharina Bloss. Catharina was the daughter of Johan Christian Sr. and Elisabeth (Metzger) Bloss. She was born on January 1, 1808, baptized Heidelberg Reformed, and died January 5, 1894. Martin died November 21, 1885. Both are buried in the Heidelberg Church Cemetery.

Martin and Cathrina Handwerk had seven children.
  1. Anna Maria "Polly"
  2. Paul
  3. Mariah (twin)
  4. Feyanna (twin), married Edward B. Neff
  5. Drusilla, married Joel Neff
  6. Peter
  7. Benjamin F.

Joel Neff and Drusilla Handwerk had two sons and one daughter.
  1. Wiliam F., b. circa 1855, d. age 2 years, 2 months, 23 days
  2. Amandus P. Neff who married Clarissa Kern.
  3. Serena J. Neff who married John F. Berkemeyer.

Drusilla Handwerk (Neff) is our most direct connection to the Handwerk family.

Our Handwerk lineage is as follows:

    Ludwig Handwerk, b. circa 1510, m. circa 1540 (wife unknown)
  1. "Ludwigs" Hans Handwerk, b. circa 1543
  2. Walter Handwerk, b. circa 1576, m. May 15, 1604 to Elizabeth Hartman, b. 1581
  3. Hans Handwerk, b. September 12, 1606, m. December 16, 1635 to Amalia Jungert, d. September 19, 1682
  4. Balzer Handwerk, b. June 18, 1645 at Sandberg, m. September 16, 1673 to Anna Marie Walther (b. February 4, 1656 at Gersfeld, d. January 15, 1722 at Hettenhausen), d. June 16, 1703 at Hettenhausen
  5. Wilhelm Rudolph Handwerk, b. July 2, 1685, m. Kunigunde_____, d. May 11, 1730
  6. Johan Heinrich Handwerk, b. December 27, 1713 at Hettenhausen, m. Anna Barbara _____, d. circa 1739 at Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County, Pa. He arrived at Philadelphia on September 3, 1739 on the ship Loyal Judith.
  7. Peter Handwerk, b. September 18, 1744, m. Anna M. Weaver, February 27, 1826.
  8. Peter Handwerk Jr., b. 1779.
  9. Martin Handwerk, b. November 29, 1804, m. Catharina Bloss, d. August 21, 1885.
  10. Drusilla Handwerk, b. March 2, 1840, m. Joel Neff, d. Sept. 11, 1895.

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