Great-grandson of Georg Klotz.

Grandson of Wendel Schmidt, and Barbara Klotz Schmidt.

Son of Diebold ( Johann Theobald ), and Margareta Schmidt.

Johann Theobald "Diebold" was born ca. 1633, in the little village of Wingen, Alsace, during the time of the devastating Thirty Year War, during which the population of Alsace suffered unspeakable horrors and hardships.

Johann Theobald's known siblings: Johann Phillip, Anna Rosina, Hans Jacob, and Anna Ursula.

Johann Theobald was around 15 years old when this terrible war finally ended in 1648, and there were very few people left alive in the small community of Wingen.

By 1662 there were only three surviving families recorded in the Wingen church book.

Around 1658/9 Johann Theobald married Anna Maria, with whom he had five children between 1659 and 1667.

Hans Paulus, born 4.9.1659

Hans Jacob, born 1.5.1661

Hans Georg, born 12.3.1663, who married Anna Maria Walter in 1686. Both were the parents of Johann Heinrich Schmidt (John Henry Schmidt, memorial 73864167).

Anna Ursula, born 31.5.1665 (died young)

Hans Peter, born 7.4. 1667, died 1686.

In the Wingen Parish Register Johann Theobald is listed as 'Gemeindsmann und Buerger', also as 'Wuerth', which means that he was a full citizen and independent landowner.

The old German word 'Wuerth' could have two meanings, either referring to a farmer or an innkeeper.

Johann Theobald and Anna Maria's children grew up and those who lived into adulthood, started families of their own.

Johann Theobald's first wife, Anna Maria died in 1694.

On the 11th of January 1695, now aged around 62, Johann Theobald remarried.

His second wife was a young widow, named Anna Maria Deckenberger.

Her maiden name was Schleber, and she was originally from the tiny village of Mattstall, close to Lembach.

Anna Maria was 34 years old when she married Johann Theobald, therefore there was an almost 30 year age difference between them.

Even so, they had three children together.

The first one, Anna Barbara, was born in 1696. ( married Johann Peter Frey in Wingen, in 1716. They emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1733.)

Johann Theobald and Anna Maria's second child , Anna Ursula, was born on March 22, 1699, and christened in the Wingen Church on March 26, 1699. She is found on the passenger list on the 'Samuel' travelling to America with her sister and family.

Johann Theobald and Anna Maria's last child, a son named Johann Peter, was born on March 3, 1701, and christened in the old village church on March 8, 1701.

By this time, Johann Theobald was around 68 years old.

He died the following year, on New Year's Eve 1702, and was laid to rest in the Wingen graveyard on the 2nd of January 1703.

Memorial photos:

1. Marriage record, Johann Theobald and Anna Maria Deckenberger. Text: Johann Theobald Schmidt, local citizen, and Maria Anna Deckenberger: Johannis Bartholomai's widow from Mannheim. Married 11 Jan 1695, Wingen.

2. Death record Johann Theobald Schmidt, Wingen Parish Register, Archives Bas Rhin.

Text: 31 December 1702, Hanss Diebold Schmidt fell asleep gently and peacefully in Christ between 7 and 8 o'clock. After that he was buried on 2 January 1703 at the church.

Note: Birth date is approximate, as entries in the Wingen Church Book do not start until the end of the Thirty Year War, in 1648.

(Bio researched and written © 2020 by Lydia A.)