1. Hans¹ Wolfhart/Wolfhardt

Notes for Hans Wolfhart/Wolfhardt:

info on the Wolfhardt family from "The Swope Family Book of Remembrance" by Emily Swope Morse & Winifred Morse McLachlin, 1973; also from Brigitte Gastel Lloyd's web site at Worldroots.com, etc.

Notes for Hans Wolfhart/Wolfhardt:

 from "The Swope Family Book of Remembrance" by Emily Swope Morse & Winifred Morse McLachlin, 1973:
     'The Wolfhardt ancestry can be traced into the Middle Ages on both the Wolfhardt line and the lines of the women they married. They were a learned family for the period in which they lived and would still be considered so in the modern day. They studied at the universities in Heidelberg, Tuebingen, and Wuerzburg, and the men were professionals holding positions as mayors, bailiffs, judges, pastors, abbots, and even one chief captain in the imperial army.'

The map at right features the Baden-Wurttemburg area which contains the Black Forest, the Neckar River and its tributaries, and Germany's wine country.  The city of Waiblingen is several miles northeast of Stuttgart.  The Black Forest is the area between Pforzheim and Freiburg.  Duehren is next to Sinsheim.  The families of Wolfhardt, Hunn, Demmler, Renz, Moegenhardt, etc., lived between Ulm in the southeast and Heidelberg in the northwest.

Child of Hans Wolfhart/Wolfhardt is:

2. Thomas² Wolfhart/Wolfhardt (Hans¹) was born 1493 in Waiblingen, Neckar, Wurttemberg, Germany, and died 1560. He married Barbara Schoenwalter, daughter of R. Schoenwalter and Anna Roemer. She was born 1497 in Waiblingen, Neckar, Wurttemberg, Germany, and died 1563.

Notes for Thomas Wolfhart/Wolfhardt:

from the "The Swope Family Book...":
     'Thomas Wolfhart lived in Waiblingen in the Rems valley, 1493-1560. He probably was a brother of Simon Wolfhardt, who was pastor in 1525 at Korb, a town near Waiblingen. Thomas Wolfhardt married Barbara Schoenwalter, daughter of Jacob Schoenwalter and Anna Roemer. Anna Roemer was one of three sister of Johannes Roemer, pastor at Affalterbach, who left a legacy to the descendants of his three sisters. The documents involved in the distribution of this estate have been valuable in tracing the descendants in the early generations of the family.'

Below is the ancient city of Waiblingen, northeast of Stuttgart.  At left is the watch tower built by the Romans; at right the city hall in the old section.  Thomas and Barbara Schoenwalter Wolfhardt  were born here in the later 1400s and lived and died here in the 1500s.

Children of Thomas Wolfhart/Wolfhardt and Barbara Scheonwalter are:

3. Michael³ Wolfhardt (Thomas² Wolfhart/Wolfhardt, Hans¹) was born 1523 in Waiblingen, Neckar, Wurttemberg, Germany, and died 1586. He married Agnes Hunn, daughter of Michael Hunn and Anna Demler. She was born Abt. 1537 in Marbach, Neckar, Wurttemberg, Germany, and died Bet. March 1564 - January 1568.

**For more Hunn, Demler, Maerklin genealogy, go to the bottom of the page, Section 1.**

Notes for Michael Wolfhardt:

from Ray Knull's data at http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com:
     "Michael Wolfhardt, eldest son of Thomas Wolfhart and Barbara Schoenwalter, was born in 1523 in Waiblingen and died in 1586. He was an adnimistrator of justice (Gerichts-Verwalter) in Waiblingen. This Michael was the second great-grandfather of Anna Katharina Wolfhardt Schwab, through his first marriage to Agnes Hunn, daughter of Michael Hunn, mayor and justiciary of Marbach. Her brother, Johann Castolus Hunn, was administrator of the Lutheran monastery at Maulbronn, and Nicolaus Hunnius and Agidius Hunnius, the sons of her nephew, Agidius Hunnius (latinized form of Hunn), were leading theologians of the Lutheran church. (See page 1325 in 'The Swope Family Book of Remembrance.") Michael Wolfhardt had five children by his first wife and five by his second."

More About Michael Wolfhardt:

Fact 1: administrator of justice in Waiblingen;

Children of Michael Wolfhardt and Agnes Hunn are:

8. Alexander⁴ Wolfhardt (Michael³, Thomas² Wolfhart/Wolfhardt, Hans¹) was born 1556 in Waiblingen, Neckar, Wurttemberg, Germany, and died August 22, 1622 in Alpirsbach, Schwarzwald (Black Forest), Baden, Germany. He married Eleanore Renz December 07, 1579 in St. Georgen, Neckar, Wurttemberg, daughter of Heinrich Renz and Maria Graeter. She was born 1556 in Waiblingen, Neckar, Wurttemberg, Germany, and died 1637 in Nuertingen, Neckar, Wurttemberg.

**For more Rentz/Renz genealogy, go to the bottom of the page Section 2.**

 The area around St Georgen, Schwartswald (Black Forest), Wurttemberg, Germany, above, is where Alexander Wolfhardt and Eleanore Renz married in 1579.

Notes for Alexander Wolfhardt:

from Ray Knull's data at worldconnect.rootsweb.com:
     "Alexander Wolfhardt, the great-grandfather of Anna Katharina Wolfhardt Schwab, was born about 1556, the eldest son of Michael Wolfhardt and Agnes Hunn. He was deacon in Cannstatt in 1579, pastor in Struempfelbach 1583, deacon in Nuertingen 1585, prelate and abbot in Alpirsbach (at left) in the Black Forest in 1609, where he died the 22 August 1622. He married at St. Georgen, 7 December 1579, Eleanore Renz, the daughter of Heinrich Renz (Renz family, page 1318 and Maria Graeter. In 1599 Heinrich Renz and his wife retired from his work as abbot of the monastery of St. Georgen to the home of their daughter Eleanore and son-in-law, Alexander Wolfhardt in Nuertingen, where Heinrich Renz died in 1601. His wife was living with the Wolfhardts in the monastery at Alpirsbach when she died in 1620."

The Alpirsbach Monastery (Lutheran cloister), as it looks today, in the Black Forest, Germany--this is where Alexander Wolfhardt was prelate and abbot in the early 1600s.  His mother-in-law Maria Graeter died here.

from Brigitte Gastel Lloyd:

        "(Alexander) was the Lutheran abbot of the Alpirsbach cloister in the Black Forest and Councilor to the Duke of Wurttemberg (around the year 1600). In our oldest church record book there is a hand written diary of thirteen pages by the Pastor Wolfhart covering the year 1664!"

More About Alexander Wolfhardt:

Fact 1: Pastor and abbot at Lutheran cloister at Alpirsbach in Black Forest; deacon in Cannstatt 1579;

Children of Alexander Wolfhardt and Eleanore Renz are:

13. Georg Johann⁵ Wolfhardt/Wolfhart (Alexander⁴ Wolfhardt, Michael³, Thomas² Wolfahrt/Wolfhardt, Hans¹) was born December 15, 1601 in Nuertingen, Neckar, Wurttemberg, and died November 04, 1670 in Duehren bei Sinsheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. He married Anna Burckhardt February 22, 1638 in Kochendorf am Neckar, Neckar, Wurttemberg, daughter of Veit Burckhardt. She was born Abt. 1617 in Kochendorf am Neckar, Neckar, Wurttemberg, and died January 08, 1678 in Duehren bei Sinsheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

From the university at Tuebingen, above, Pastor Georg Johann Wolfhardt graduated 1619.

Notes for Georg Johann Wolfhardt/Wolfhart:

from Brigitte Gastel Lloyd's web site at Worldroots.com, excerpts from 'Duehren Soulbook'--

"The Itinerant Pastor," from 'Duehren Soulbook':

     'Pastor Georg Johann Wolfhardt, born 15 December 1601 in Nuertingen, died April 11, 1670 in Duehren, was the son of Alexander Wolfhardt, pastor and senior minister of Nuertingen and later the Abbot and ducal advisor at the Alpirsbach Monastery, and Eleanora, daughter of Heinrich Renz, the princely advisor and Abbot of St. Georgen. In 1616, he received a scholarship or grant from the Ficklerschen Foundation to the University of Tuebingen, where he graduated in 1619, and in 1621, became schoolmaster. In 1625, the ruling von Vennigen family hired him as tutor, and a year later as pastor to Eichtersheim. From 1633 to 1637, he had to look at Neidenstein along with Eschelbronn, Duehren, and Dassbach.

The present-day church in Duehren, south of Heidelberg, which Pastor George Johann Wolfhardt looked after, along with nine others, during the Thirty Years War is pictured right.

     'From 1637 to 1670, he was the pastor in Duehren. After the occupation on the Palatine villages throughout Bavaria, he remained the only Lutheran pastor on the upper course of the Elsenz, and he looked after the small ruined villages of Dassbach, Eichtersheim, Eschelbronn, Eschelbach, Hoffenheim, Ittlingen, Michelfeld, Neidenstein, and Tairnbach. He lived partly in Duehren, partly at Steinberg Castle, or in Sinsheim where he found refuge from the bands of roaming soldiers behind the fortress walls.

     'With the communion utensils in his bag, he made his way to the few groups of parishes which remained in the villages, in constant danger because of the always wild-roving soldiers of the war-leading factions, and the pestilence, which as the sword of the scourge of war, exterminated more of the population. Thus he came by the nickname, "The Traveling Schoolmaster" or the "Itinerant Pastor of Duehren." '

"My Life Story," by George Johann Wolfhardt (translated by Ingeborg Brigitte Gastel) from the 'Duehren Soulbook':

     'I, Schoolmaster Georg Johann Wolfhardt, at present minister to the noble Venningen estate, was born into this world at Nuertingen, in the highly commendable principality of Wurttemberg on 15 December 1601, a little before six o'clock in the morning.

     'My much loved late father was the venerable and well-learned Schoolmaster, Alexander Wolfhardt, born in the little town of Waiblingen, who for 48 years was a truly zealous teacher and minister--four years pastor at Strumffelbach not farm from Schorndorff, 27 years at Nuertingen, 14 years advisor to the principality of Wurttemberg and Abbot at the Alpirsbach Monastery in the Black Forest, dying there in his 73rd years; and the Almighty God, on the day of rejoicing will awaken him with all who believe, to eternal everlasting heavenly joy.

     'My well-beloved mother was the esteemed and virtuous Eleanora Wolffhartin, nee Renzin, legitimate daughter of the venerable and well-learned Heinrich Renz, who for 33 years was advisor to the principality of Wurttemberg and Abbot at St. Georgen Monastery in the Black Forest.

     'My grandmother was the highly virtuous Frau Maria Renzinn, nee Graettersin, daughter of the very esteemed and highly educated Herr Ulrich (Kasper) Graeter. For many years Herr Ulrich and Christoph Hertzogen were court ministers to his highness the Prince of Wurttemberg.

      'Through God's grace, I was born to my worthy Christian parents. Since no human birth in this world, however pure it is, can bring one to Salvation, I was forthwith presented for Holy Baptism in the names of their highnesses, the Prince and Frau Ursula Herzogen of Wurttemberg; since at the time Her Grace was unwell, I was held at Holy Baptism by the very noble young woman Elisabetha von Karpffen, at that time a court maiden to their highnesses, and also by the honorable and most respected Herr Balthasar Muttschelin, at that time in the service to their graces as overseer at Nuertingen. In Holy Baptism, the name Georg Hans was given to me because Her Highness' late Father, the Palatine count of Lautterreckh, as well as her brother, was was staying then in Nuertingen, was so named.

     'From childhood I was kept in school by my aforesaid Christian parents. At Alpirsbach, my beloved late father had a private school for us children. I was sent to Nuertingen in 1612, to Canstatt in 1614, to the elementary school; and then in 1616 to the high school at Tuebingen; that same year I received a scholarship. In 1619, I graduated. In 1621, I became a schoolmaster; that same year I began to study Theology. In 1625, I went to the Kraichgau and accepted a teaching position with Junker Georg Philipp von Venningen of Euchtersheim as a tutor to his son, Friedrich Rheinhart, to inform him in manners and studies. In 1626, I was promoted to the Euchtersheim Parish and on St. Andrew's Day was presented to the Christian Community, and ordained in the presence of the Revered and well-learned Herr M. Johann Schweitzers, pastor at Michelfeld, M. Lazari Zieglers, pastor at Neydenstein, and M. Martini Zimmerman, pastor at Duehren. And after I performed the pastoral duties there for seven and a half years, I was transferred by Junker von Venningen in 1636, to Neydenstein, and from there in 1637 to Duehren. Through the long, ruinous, highly troublesome war (Thirty Years War), since no pastor at hand in the entire neighborhood, except the pastor at Ravensberg, Johan Wolffgang Rabus, my true, highly trusted brother in Christ (who died in 1662 at Sultzfeld), I was sometimes at Steinberg, and sometimes at Sinsheim, in which places I held services; following those villages, I was to Neydenstein, Dassbach, Eschelbronn, Euchtersheim, Eschelbach, Darmbach, Hofen, Michelfeld, Steinsber, and Ittlingen. Many Sundays I had to travel four and five hours to bring the services to them. For many meals I had to partake of a good drink of water because no drop of wine could be brought to the villages. It happened several times that of all priests and Bavarian Clergy who heard confession, I alone remained in the vicinity, and with the consent of the mayor and the honorable advisors, I had to baptize several children at Sinsheim.

     'Since through the Almighty God, the God of Peace, Christ Jesus, our dear Fatherland, after many tribulations at great cost, enjoyed peace, and the villages in the area again were restored and grew stronger, I took my leave little by little of one parish and another.

     'First I bid farewell to the parishes of Neydenstein, Eschelbronn, and Dassbach on the 8th Sunday of Trinity, 1650. Since I had overseen the parish at Neydenstein 17 years, at Eschelbronn 16 years, and Dassbach 10 years, I gave up these three parishes, not without great sorrow, pain and anguish to the Reverend and well-learned Herr Petro Ursino of Speyr.

     'I released the Hofen parish after I had likewise overseen the same parish from Steinsberg, Sinsheim, and Duehren for 13 years, and I entrusted it to the Reverend and well-learned Herr M. Johan Christophers Widen, minister at Helmstadt, my true and constant friend until his death.

     'I left Michelfeld on September 15, 1654, and I entrusted the parish to the Reverend and well-educated Herr Adolpho Roselio. Also in the same year I left the parish of Euchtersheim and turned it over to Herr Roselio on October 22.

     'From 1650, with the consent of the ruling family, I also looked after the Angeloch Parish from Duehren, until Jubilate Sunday, 1658, when the community had become strengthened and should have its own minister who would also oversee the school. I took my leave and in my place a pastor was ordained and the Reverend and well-educated Herr Michael Troje was presented to the community.

     'Since the religious services at Eshelbach stopped after the death of Herr M. Johan Caroli, the Monk of Hirschorn fordade all religious services from 1636 until 1647. But finally, after humbly and imploringly beseeching the ruling family many times, through God's grace the church again reopened and public religious services were again permitted; and I was requested by the neighboring community to preach for the first time the fourth Sunday after Trinity in 1647. The Almighty God will still moreover preserve this same Christian community by his rich Word and Holy Sacraments until the coming of the Last Judgment. Amen.

     'As the religious services were forbidden at Eschelbach by the Monk of Hierschorn after the death of Herr Carolus, in 1636, I was requested by the then Mayor of Darmbach, Dietrich Kaltman, in the name of that community, I was sometimes gone from my house in Neidenstein three or four weeks at a time.

     'Concerning my married state:

     'After I was promoted to the Euchtersheim parish by my very gracious Junker von Venningen, I entered into Holy Matrimony, according to God's ordinance, and first I was married to the honorable and virtuous young lady, Anna Allgaierin, legitimate daughter of the late and honorable and respected Hans Allgaier, citizen of Entweihingen on 11 February 1627, and lived a blessed matrimony for 10 years, 5 months, and 1 day, with her through God's blessing begat 6 children.

      'After the death of my beloved wife, I was married again, to the honorable and virtuous young lady Anna Burckhartin from Kochendorff, legitimate daughter of the esteemed late Veit Burckhardt and Margaretha, her beloved mother. The marriage was held at Ravensberg 22 February 1638, and was performed by Johann Wolffgang Rabus, pastor there. And through God's blessing with this my beloved wife I have had 6 children.'

More About Georg Johann Wolfhardt/Wolfhart:

Fact 1: pastor in Duehren, Germany;

Fact 2: in "Duehren Soulbook," 'The Itinerant Pastor, ' and 'My Life Story';

Children of Georg Wolfhardt/Wolfhart and Anna Burckhardt are:

22. Hans/Johann Georg⁶ Wolfhardt (Georg Johann⁵ Wolfhardt/Wolfhart, Alexander⁴ Wolfhardt, Michael³, Thomas² Wolfahrt/Wolfhardt, Hans¹) was born December 31, 1639 in Steinsberg Castle, Nekar, Baden Germany, and died January 17, 1712 in Durhen bei Sinsheim, Heidelberg, Baden- Wurttemburg, Germany. He married Anna Haagen 1657 in Duehren, Kreis Sinsheim, Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, daughter of Conrad Hagi/Haagen and Veronica Stroler/Stroeller. She was born October 1636 in Ertzlingen, Zurich, Switzerland, and died July 14, 1673 in Durhen bei Sinsheim, Heidelberg, Baden, Wurttemburg, Germany.

Notes for Hans/Johann Georg Wolfhardt:

from Ray Knull at worldconnect.rootsweb.com:
     "During the early part of the seventeenth century, Germany was devastated by the horrors of the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). Actually this was a series of wars which began as a civil war between the Protestants and the Roman Catholics in the German states. When it ended, most of Europe [German states, Prague, Bohemia, Denmark, Sweden, France, Spain, etc.] was involved and the war had become a struggle for territory and political power...
     "At the end of the Thirty Years War Germany was in ruins. More than half of the Germany population had been killed... Two-thirds of the property had been destroyed; whole cities, villages, and farms had disappeared.
     "Overpopulation was a problem in Switzerland. Germany had been depopulated in the mass killing during the war. Areas of Germany neighboring Switzerland, such as Baden, the Palatinate, and Alsace were completely desolate. Many Swiss from the areas of Bern, Basel, and Zurich migrated into theses areas of Germany. A large number of those emigrating were Anabaptists (Mennonite groups) who were persecuted severely in Switzerland, but many were Swiss citizens who were members of the Reformed church and sought better economic conditions in Germany..."

More About Hans/Johann Georg Wolfhardt:

Fact 1: buergermeister;

More About Anna Haagen:

Burial: Urtzlikon, Zurich, Switzerland

Children of Hans/Johann Wolfhardt and Anna Haagen are:

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Section 1

1. Johann¹ Hunn was born 1484, and died 1518.

Notes for Johann Hunn:

Hunn info from Brigitte Gastel Lloyd's web site at Worldroots.com, http://worldrootscom/brigitte/swope/swop2.htm, which includes parts of "The Swope Family Book of Remembrance" by Morse & McLachlin, 1973:

      'The ancestor of the Hunn or Hunnius family was Johann Hunn who was born at Marbach in Wuerttemberg [Germany] in 1484. He died in 1518. Many of his descendants were men of high esteem. His son Johann Castolus Hunn was administrator of the monastery at Maulbronn. His great-grandson, Agidius Hunnius, born 1550, died in 1603, was superintendent at Wittenberg, and two of his g-g-grandsons, Nicolaus Hunnius, born 1585, dean of Luebeck, and Agidius Hunnius, born 1594, dean at Altenburg, brought the name Hunnius great respect during the 16th and 17th centuries. Agidius Hunnius (b. 1550) who latinized the Hunn, was adjudged unanimously by his contemporaries third place in theology after Luther. The numerous and important theological works of his son, Nicolaus Hunnius, served for over a century as the foundation of the scriptural teaching and religious knowledge of the Lutheran Church.'

The Maulbronn Monastery, below left, is one of the oldest in Europe; it is a World Heritage site.  Relative Johann Castolus Hunn was administrator there.  Another relative Nicolaus Hunn/Hunnius, right, was a noted Lutheran theologian.

Children of Johann Hunn are:

2. Michael² Hunn (Johann¹) was born Abt. 1505 in Marbach, Neckar, Wurttemberg, Germany. He married Anna Demler, daughter of Michael Demler and Anna Merklin/Maerklin. She was born Abt. 1506 in Marbach, Neckar, Wurttemberg, Germany.

**For more on Anna Demler, go to section 1A below.**

At right, the Neckar River is a major tributary in the Baden-Wurttemberg province of Germany.  Along it are many towns and villages connected to our families from this region.

Notes for Michael Hunn:

from "The Swope Book of Family Remembrance": 'Proprietor of Hundishors near Stuttgart, Mayor and Justiciary of Marbach am Neckar...'

More About Michael Hunn:

Fact 1: mayor of Marbach, justiciary 1539, proprietor of Hundishofs near Stuttgart;

Notes for Anna Demler:  Anna Demler's family can be traced into the 14th century on both her male line and female line--

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Section 1A

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Children of Michael Hunn and Anna Demler are:

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Section 2

1. Ludwig¹ Renz/Rentz was born 1450 in Ulm, Germany, and died 1514 in Wiesensteig, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany. He married Walburga.

Notes for Ludwig Renz/Rentz:

Rentz/Renz info from "The Swope Family Book of Remembrance," by Emily Swope Morse & Winifred Morse Mclachlan, vols. 1 & 2, 1972, limited edition of 300; from Ray Knull's data at RootsWeb's Worldconnect, rknull@foryou.net; from http://www.comrade280.tripod.com;

On the map right, Ulm is lower right.  Wiesensteig is the red star.  The towns of Nurtingen, Tubingen, Lichtenstein, and Waiblingen are also of importance of the family.

from "The Swope Family Book of Remembrance" by Morse & McLachlin:

      'The Renz family of Ulm is an old patrician family whose records go back in the middle ages. The first Renz mentioned in the documents of Ulm/Wuerttemberg is Conradus Renz in 1237.

      'The relationship to Conradus, however, is not known at this time although his is likely a direct ancestor. From 1497 to 1513, Ludwig was a judge in Wiesenteig and an administrator and treasurer for Count Helfenstein. When necessary, Ludwig was also a military leader. He was commander at Olmuetz and fell in a battle of the army of the empire in 1514.

      'Our earliest known ancestor of this name was Ludwig Rentz or Renz, who was born in Ulm in 1450 and appeared in Wiesenteig near the end of the 15th century. He retained his citizenship rights in Ulm after he established himself in Wiesensteig. Because of the frugality of the records and documents of this period, the exact relationship of Ludwig Renz to the patrician family of Renz of Ulm cannot be established. In 1497-1513 Ludwig Renz was a citizen and judge in Wiesensteig and an administrator (Vogt) and treasurer (Kastenkeller) for County Helfenstein. His wife, Walburga, who dies in Wiesensteig between January and July 1513, bore him 3 daughter, names unknown, and three sons, Ludwig (II), Johannes (Hans), and Ulrich (I).

      'Two of his sons, Ludwig and Ulrich, were in the imperial service during the time of Emperor Maximilian I, after his first success against Hungary in 1496, when he set up by public call a provincial army. They took the place of the often unreliable and little qualified men of the feudal nobility...They served chiefly in maintaining the public peace in the interior of the empire and in combating the enemies of the empire, especially France in the west and Upper Italy... Because of their loyal and useful service in this army, the Emperor Maximillian I bestowed upon Ludwig and Ulrich by decree, July 13, 1513, an imperial coat-of-arms and patent of nobility to be used by themselves and their descendants.

      'Tradition says that Ludwig was commander of Olmer and fell in battle of the army of the empire in 1514. His brother Johannes (Hans) studied at the University of Heidelberg where he received a bachelor of arts degree on January 14, 1488. In 1505 he was chief magistrate near Rastatt.

A drawing of a classroom at Heidelberg University from around Johannes' time is at right.  Above, the old section Heidelberg is along the Neckar.

      'The Renz Coat of Arms, presented to Ludwig and Ulrich Renz, July 13th, 1513:The Renz coat-of-arms consists of a red shield displaying a golden lily;over the shield is a helmet of red and gold; another golden lily stands between red and gold buffalo horns. The upper half of the buffalo horn on the right side is red, the lower half gold; the one on the left is reversed. The helmet which stands straight on the shield was a blue and red lining showing through the golden bars of the divided visor. The open visor signifies the right of nobility. Around the neck of the helmet hangs a golden chain with a gold medallion, the so-called insignia of royalty (Kleinod). Scalloped leaf-shaped arabesque in red and gold twist tortuously around both sides of the shield.' 

More About Ludwig Renz/Rentz:

Fact 1: citizen and judge of Wiesensteig;

Fact 2: administrator and treasurer for Count Helfenstein;

More About Walburga:

Burial: Bet. January - July 1513

Children of Ludwig Renz/Rentz and Walburga are:

2. Ulrich (I)² Renz (Ludwig¹ Renz/Rentz) was born Bet. 1480 - 1490 in Wurttemberg, Germany, and died Bet. April 03 - 07, 1547 in Wiesensteig, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany. He married Agathe Dorsch/Doersin. She was born in Wiesensteg, Germany, and died 1559 in after Easter.

Notes for Ulrich (I) Renz:

from "The Swope Family Book of Remembrance" by Morse & McLachlin:

      'Two of his [Ludwig I] sons, Ludwig [II] and Ulrich, were in the imperial service during the time of Emperor Maximilian I, after his first success against Hungary in 1496, when he set up by public call a provincial army. They took the place of the often unreliable and little qualified men of the feudal nobility...They served chiefly in maintaining the public peace in the interior of the empire and in combating the enemies of the empire, especially France in the west and Upper Italy... Because of their loyal and useful service in this army, the Emperor Maximillian I (at right) bestowed upon Ludwig [II] and Ulrich by decree, July 13, 1513, an imperial coat-of-arms and patent of nobility to be used by themselves and their descendants.

       'He [Ulrich] had studied in Tuebingen and was appointed Magister there in 1507. He had only one son Ulrich II. [He Ulrich I] died Easter week 1547.

A portrait of Emperor Maximilian I, who knighted our ancestor Ulrich Renz, is at right.

      'It is not known when Ulrich began his military career. However, it was probably about 1511, when Maximilian I, with Spain, England, and the Pope, formed the Holy League against France. This was a war against France lasting until the french were defeated at the Battle of the Spurs in 1513. George von Frundsberg, a Swabian, was chief of Maximilian's main regiment of German provincials. Under him, Ulrich Renz was Frundsberg's chief captain. From 1511 until the Battle of the spurs, Ulrich led his forces in keeping peace in the interior and in fighting the forces of France. They fought long and hard over this period, and in doing so Ulrich won recognition for his valor and loyalty. In recognition of his services, Maximilian I bestowed upon Ulrich, and his brother Ludwig, by decree on July 13, 1513, an imperial coat-of-arms and patent of nobility to be used by themselves and their descendants. Like Emperor Maximilian I, Ulrich Renz was one of the last true knights. during this transition from the Middle Ages to what is called the Modern Era.

      'Ulrich...moved with his father to Wiesensteig. He was chief captain under Frundsberg and at the end of his military career became judge in Wiesensteig.'

from http://genealogy.com/~brigitte/swope/swop2.htm:

      "The Renz [Rentz/Reints] coat-of arms (modern rendition at left) consists of a red shield displaying a golden lily; over the shield is a helmet of red and gold/ another golden lily stands between red and gold buffalo horns. The upper half of the buffalo horn on the right side is red, the lower half gold/ the one of the left is reversed. The helmet which stands straight on the shield has a blue and red lining showing through the golden bars of the divided visor. The open visor signifies the right of nobility. Around the neck of the helmet hangs a golden chain with a gold medallion, the so-called insignia of royalty 9Keinod). Scalloped leaf-shaped arabesque in red and gold twist tortuously around both sides of the shield."

More About Ulrich (I) Renz:

Fact 1: captain of the Imperial Army;

Fact 2: judge at Wiesensteig;

Fact 3: knighted by Maximilain I July 13, 1513;

Fact 4: 1532 called a hospital master, judge, and citizen;

Child of Ulrich Renz and Agathe Dorsch/Doersin is:

5. Ulrich (II)³ Renz (Ulrich (I)², Ludwig¹ Renz/Rentz) was born 1506 in Wiesensteig, Germany, and died September 19, 1585 in Weinsberg, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany. He married (1) Anna Euphrosine Moegenhardt 1528 in Blaubeuren, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany, daughter of Peter Moegenhardt and Anna Bock. She was born 1509 in Blaubeuren, Germany, and died March 01, 1586 in Weinsberg, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany.

**For more on the Moegenhardt family, go to section 2A below.**

Notes for Ulrich (II) Renz:

from "The Swope Book..." and .genealogy.com/~brigitte/swope/swop2.htm:

      'He married Anna Euphrosine Moegenhardt, who as born in 1509, a daughter of bailiff (vogt) Peter Moegenhardt of Blaubeuren and Anna Bock, born 1485, daughter of Berthold Bock of Wildberg. Ulrich II was reared near Weinsberg and was appointed in 1536 princely bailiff of Wurttemberg and spiritual administrator all in one person.

      'In 1520 Weinsberg was occupied by the Austrains and on May 21, 1525, during the Peasants' War, was captured and burned by the Lord High Steward from Waldburg. After this, Duke Ulrich of Wurttemberg conquered his land and established municipal law again in Weinsberg. Ulrich II Renz was acquired great merit in his hard-pressed home city and in 1542 took over the guardianship of the seminary at Oberstenfeld near Gross Bottwar. He retained this office until 1552; in 1568 he took over the tutorship at the monastery Lichtenstern near Weinsberg which he held until 1585. Two manuscripts of Ulrich Renz [II] from the monastery of Lichtenstern are preserved in the Stuttgart archives.

      'Ulrich II Renz is the ancestor of Swabian poet Hoelderin.

      'Ulrich died September 19, 1585, highly esteemed and honored. His wife died March 1, 1585. Their joint tomb still can be viewed in the choir of the Church at Weinsberg. It bears the Renz lily and the Moergenhardt coat of arms (wolf with a biscuit) with the following inscription: "In 1585, September 19, died the honored and revered Ulrich Renz aged and wise tutor at Lichtenstern, his age 79 years, and on March 1st, 1586 died his faithful wife, the charitable and virtuous, Euphrosine Moegenhardt, her age 77 years. They lived with one another in marriage for 58 years. May God grant us all a joyous resurrection." '

The interior, left, and exterior, right and below, of the Weinsberg Church where Ulrich Renz II and wife Anna Moegenhardt are buried;  Weinsberg is east of Heidelberg.

More About Ulrich (II) Renz:

Fact 1: bailiff and administrator of Wurttemberg;

Fact 2: tutorship at Lichtenstern monastery;

Notes for Anna Moegenhardt:  As others in this ancestry, Anna's male family can be traced into the late Middle Ages--

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Section 2A

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Children of Ulrich Renz and Anna Moegenhardt are:

6. Heinrich⁴ Renz (Ulrich (II)³, Ulrich (I)², Ludwig¹ Renz/Rentz) was born August 10, 1529 in Weinsberg, Neckar, Wurttember, Germany, and died September 02, 1601 in Nuertingen, Schwarzwald, Germany. He married Maria Graeter 1557 in Stuttgart, Germany, daughter of Casper Graeter and Anna Zeh. She was born 1532 in Winnenden, Neckar, Wurttemberg, Germany, and died June 03, 1620 in Alpirsbach, Schwarzwald, Baden, Germany.

Views of the Schwarzwald, Black Forest, in southwest Germany where the members of the Renz and Wolfhardt families lived.

Notes for Heinrich Renz:

from "The Swope Family Book..." and http://www.genealogy.com/~brigitte/swope/swop2.htm:

      'As the first of the family that joined the evangelical church, he [Heinrich] studied theology in Wuerzberg. He had a prospect of an in heritance from the canon Moegenhardt, a relative of his mother's side. But in Wuerzburg, where had had already been presented to the Bishop by his father, he turned to the Lutheran faith, whereupon his father first sent him into the college near Stuttgart and in 1547 to Tuebingen. Because of his faith-changing, his mother was disinherited by the Canon Moegenhardt. George II wrote in the Wuerttembergischen Dienerbuch concerning this, "by reason of this zealous Ulrich Renz and his sons lost several thousand Gulden that was left to an ordinary priest." Heinrich Renz received a scholarship from Duke Ulrich of Wurttemberg, a Bachelor of Arts in Feb. 1548, became a Master of Arts on February 4, 1551, was appointed inspector of scholars at the seminary of United Theological Studies in 1554, deacon in Brackenheim in 1556, pastor in Lustnau in 1559, in Winnenden in 1556-1596, prelate and abbot of the St. Georgen Monastery in the Black Forest with the title "Princely Counselor." As such he corrected much of the abuse and justifications "left from the popish [pope-ish] time and cleansed the monastery of pope-ish leaven" and through his zeal much success. In the year 1599, after 32 years of activity, he retired to Nuertingen to be with his daughter Eleanore Wolfhardt and her husband Alexander Wolfhardt, where he died at age 72.

      'He married in Stuttgart, Maria Graeter, born 1532, daughter of Casper Graeter, (1500-1552), who was court chaplain and a member of the consistorial court. Heinrich Renz died September 2, 1601. His wife died after him in Alpirsbach, June 3, 1620. His daughter, Eleanore, married Alexander Wolfhardt, and was the great-grandmother of Anna Katharina Wolfhardt, wife of Jost Schwab.'

From the galenfrysinger.com site, the photo at left is of the bridge, built in the 16th century, in the old part of Wurzburg.  Here at the university Heinrich Renz studied theology receiving a Bachelor of Arts 1548, Master of Arts 1551, Inspector of Scholars at Seminary of United Theological Studies 1554.  At right from the same site is a photo of Marienberg fortress, begun in the 13th century, which overlooks Wurzburg and its university.

More About Heinrich Renz:

Burial: Lutheran Church, Nuertingen, Schwarzwald, Wurttember, Germany

Fact 1: Bachelor of Arts 1548, Master of Arts 1551, Inspector of Scholars at Seminary of United Theological Studies 1554;

Fact 2: Pastor in Lustnau and Winnenden, Abbot at St. Georgen Monastery in Black Forest;

Children of Heinrich Renz and Maria Graeter are: