I was wondering if there is anyone else on the list interested in the early Holstein family of Montgomery co. PA. There as been a bit of an off list discussion going on and before I delete the information that was compiled I thought I would post it on the list in case it might help other researchers. Basically the Holstein family information as contained in the online book "History of Montgomery Co. PA " edited by Theodore W. Bean http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/montgomery/beantoc.htm was compared to information offered in the book "Swedish Holsteins in America from 1644 to 1892" by Anna M. Holstein. My feelings were that the "History of Montgomery co. PA" book blended together the information on the two earliest Matts/Mathias Holsteins - which was understandable since they both seem to have had wives named Brita. This is the information as offered in the "Swedish Holsteins" book -- (note - I am not saying that one book is superior to the other - simply that they offer different information which should be noted by researchers who should draw their own conclusions) ------------------ first generation - Matts Hollsten - b. 1644 d. 4/9/1708 buried cemetery at Wicaco married first wife - Brita Gostenburg children - Lawrence - b. 9/15/1677 (married Elizabeth___) Andrew - b. 1/19/1679 Matthias - b. 1/13/1681 (married Brita Rambo 10/10/1705) Frederick - b. 1/13/1684 - d. 4/11/1708 Matts Hollsten married second wife, Katherine, 1688 children - Peter - b. 1/16/1691 - d. 11/1/1706 Henry - b. 3/29/1694 Catherine - b. 1/10/1697 given as proof == 1) correspondence from Rev. Dr. Nicholas Collin to Colonel George W. Holstein offering what I imagine were church records. 2) birth listing from "Pennsylvania Births Philadelphia Co. 1644-1765" by John T. Humphrey 3) will of Matts Holstein dated 12/14/1706 abstract as offered by Ancestry.com - prove date - 24/5/1708 book page - C:97 Matthias Holstein of Persyon, Philadelphia co. Yeoman, December 4, 1706, Children: Lawrence, Matthias, Andrew, Frederick, Peter and Henry. Executrix: wife Catherine. Overseers: William Carter & Peter Mounts ------------------------ next generation -- Matthias Holstein (2nd) - s/o Matts Holstein & Brita Gostenburg b. 1681 Philadelphia, PA d. 1737 married - Brita Rambo in 1705 children - Frederick - b. 1/1/1709 - d. in infancy Brita - b. 1710 Debora - b. 9/5/1714 Andrew - . 4/15/1716 (married Mary Jones) d. 1/3/1762 Matthias - b. 12/2/1717 (married Magdelena Hulings) Mary - b. 4/23/1720 John - b. 3/26/1724 (married Elizabeth) Frederick - b. 2/11/1728 (married Magdalena Jones) Catherine - b. ? Elizabeth - b. ? given as proof == 1) will of Matthias Holstein(2nd) dated 3/17/1736 - 5/1737 abstract as offered by Ancestry.com - book page - F:36 Matthias Houlsteen. Upper Merrion, Philadelphia co. PA, March 17, 1736, F:36, Exec: wife Brichard and son Matthias. Children: Matthias, Andrew, Frederick, Catherin, Debra, Mary, Brichard and Elizabeth. 2) correspondence of Rev. Nicholas Collin --------- next generation -- Matthias Holstein (3rd) s/o Matthias Holstein & Brita Rambo b. 12/2/1717 d. 1768 married - Magdalena Hulings abt. 1744 children - Samuel - b. 1/11/1745 (m. Rachel Moore) Hannah - b. 12/15/1748 (m. Isaac Hughes) Rebecca - b. 10/19/1750 (m. Jesse Roberts) Rachel - b. 1/29/1753 (second wife of Lindsay Coates) Sarah - b. 7/31/1755 (m. Hugh DeHaven) Mary Magdalena - b. 7/11/1758 (1st wife of Septimus Coates) given as proof == 1) will of Matthias Holstein (3rd) as offered on Ancestry.com dated 12/1768 book page - O:306 Mathias Holstein, Phila. Co., Yeoman, 10 Dec. 1768, 28 Dec. 1768, wife: Magdaline, children: Samuel, Exec., Hannah, Rebecca, Rachel, Sarah and Mary. Overseers: Jno. Hughes and Peter Holstein. O:306. 2) various records -------------