This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: BudGoodnight Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.goodnight/470/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Christian Gutknecht was born in Bischweiler Germany on 25 Jun 1722. He was baptized at the Reformed Church in Bischweiler on 28 June 1722. His date of birth was calculated from the records of the Germantown Reformed Church records, which state he was buried on 27 December 1795, having died the previous day, at the age of 73 years, 6 months and 2 days. The church records of Bischweiler and the Bischweiler Stammtafeln yield the following information. Johann Gutknecht, carpenter, was born 18 January 1691 and died 18 July 1762. He married first, Anna Barbara Kieffer, born 25 Mar 1688 and was buried on 4 Mar 1726 at Bischweiler, age 38 years. To them were born four children; Johan Adam born 1719 buried 17 Jan 1719; Maria Eva baptized 10 Mar 1720, married to Jean Fischer, son of Jean Paul Fischer, on 25 Feb 1740, at the French Reformed Church; Christian born 25 Jun 1722, married 25 Apr 1746 at Bischweiler to Maria Magdalena Grunholtz; Maria Magdalena (Gutknecht) baptized 3 Jun 172! 5, buried 23 Aug 1725 at Bischweiler, age 11 Weeks. After the death of his first wife, Johann married second, 10 Feb 1727, to Mary Magdalena Grob, born ca 1695, buried 20 Sep 1741 at Bischweiler. Johann and Mary Magdalena had six children; Anna Barbara, baptized 11 Jul 1728, buried 9 Apr 1730 age 2 years; Maria Esther, baptized 6 May 1731, buried 19 Jul 1731; Johann Peter, baptized 5 May 1734, buried 24 May 1734, age 3 weeks one day; Johannes, baptized 3 Apr 1735, buried 2 Sep 1736 age 1 year, 5 months 2 days; Anna Maria Elisabetha, baptized 4 Dec 1737, died at 2 years of dysentery, buried 28 Jul 1739; Johann Jacob, baptized 29 May 1740, could find no death for him in either church records or stammtafel. After the death of Maria Magdalena, Johann Gutknecht, carpenter, married third, 9 Apr 1742 to Anna Maria Sutter, widow of Jacob Sutter. She was born 1684 died 3 Feb 1744. Christian Gutknecht, tobacco preparer, married Maria Magdalena Grunholtz, daughter of the late Johan Mi! chael Grunholtz on 25 Apr 1746. She was born 25 Apr 1723 at Bischweile r. Seven children of Christian and Maria Magdalena; Maria Magdalena, born 6 Feb 1747, baptized 8 Feb 1747; Maria Elisabetha, born 17 nov 1748, baptized 20 Nov 1748 and married 24 Apr 1770 at Germantown Reformed to Christopher Henrici; Elisabeth, born around 1753, confirmed 1768 Germantown; Christian, born around 1756, confirmed 7 Apr 1772 age 16, married by 1789 to Elizabeth Rittenhouse, and their children were Deborah, born 16 Jun 1790, baptized at Germantown; Susanna, born 24 Nov 1795 and baptized at Germantown, John, born 6 Aug 1798, died 10 Jan 1823 in Philadelphia, buried First Dutch Reformed: Samuel, born around 1762 confirmed Easter 1779; Catherine, born 14 Jan 1764 baptized 19 Feb 1764; John Christopher, born 2 Oct 1769 baptized 16 Nov 1769. There is further information on the Grunholtz line in the Church Records and the Bischweiler Stammtafeln. I believe the evidence indicates that Christian Gutknecht of Germantown and Christian Gutknecht of Bischweiler Germany are one and the same. From the church records that I examined, there was no evidence to indicate that Johan Michael Gutknecht and Johan Georg Gutknecht, more commonly known as Michael and George Goodnight, were siblings of Christian Gutknecht of Germantown. Perhaps a link can be found further back to indicate they are related, but not as siblings. I believe the Gutknechts originated in Switzerland and migrated into Germany during the many wars in that area. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.