Die Herkunft der in Amerika beruehmt gewordenen Huesters

The Origin of the Famous Huesters

A revised corrected history to the version presented by Isaak Hiester.

The above noted well regarded critic’s views to the statements of Isaak Hiester in regards to the Huester home in Germany, at this point, we can restore the data that can be obtained only from the source.

Isaak Hiester assumed, from a recorded notation in Daniel Hiester’s prayer book (a baptism record for Johann in 8 Jan. 1708), that the three wandering Huesters from Elsoff were first brothers (John, Joseph and Daniel as they were known) and second sons of Johann Jost and Katherine Closs Huester.

To clarify this initial misunderstanding, it must first be explained that the first names – as translated into American words – became John for Johannes or Johann and the misleading distortion of Jost became Joseph.  Take care to note that the Pennsylvania Governor was not this Joseph, but is the son of Johann (John) and the nephew of Jost and Daniel.

Essentially the contradiction in Isaak Hiester’s ascertains: is to assume that the parents of Johann, Jost, and Daniel are Johannes Huester and wife Anna Katharina as a result of the notation in the prayer book belonging to Daniel.  However, they were then listed as Johann Jost Huester and wife Anna Katharina according to the baptismal record of a “Johann” for 1708.  This is the root of the problem for the books list five further baptism records: three times for Johannes Huester and wife Anna Katharina, and two times for Johann Jost Huester and his wife Anna Katharina.

The American Isaak Hiester had a great deal of joy in 1907 when he traveled to Germany.  Because he was unfamiliar with German script and the church books were difficult to read, he was unaware of the difference in the names Johann and Johann Jost.  He assumed they were one and the same for both had wives named Anna Katharina.  A result of this caused this great error to arise.

At the same time in Elsoff lived two couples: Johannes Huester, wife Anna Katharina [Marburger] and Johann Jost (called Jost) Huester and wife Anna Katharina [Closs], also called Anna Kaetta.  There was also at this time a Johannes Huester “hic zu Elsoff” with wife Anna Gertraun Chun, but they are not to be here included.

1.        First to Johann Jost Huester and Anna Katharina Closs, whom the American researcher [Isaak Hiester] assumes as the parents of the three brothers.  This Johann Jost Huester is the son of Theiss Huester from Beddelhausen, where he (Johann Jost) was baptized on 5 December 1672.  In Elsoff at the “Bruecke-Haus” (bridge house) on 19 May 1697, Johann Jost Huester of Beddelhausen married Katharina Cloos, born 28 January 1673, the daughter of Bernhard Closs of the “Bruecke-Haus”. Johann Jost Huester died in Elsoff at the “Bruecke” on 6 August 1722, as recorded in the death register.  His wife died as Widow Huester on 19 January 1747.

2.        Now to Johannes Huester and wife Anna Catharina.  About this Johannes Huester, the death register states that at the age of 52, on 9 November 1714, he was buried.  According to this entry, “On the 5^th of November 1714 at the age of 52 is Johannes Huester returned to the earth”.  By this documentation of his age at death, we therefore know he was born in 1662.  Unfortunately, there is a gap in the pages in the baptismal records between 15 October 1654 and the end of December 1667 in which his birth would have been recorded; therefore we are unable to trace his parentage.  His marriage record, severely damaged and at the edge of the page, records a marriage on “4 December 1701of Johannes Hoester (or Hoechster the name Huester was also often listed “Hoechster”) to Anna Catharina [some words are missing here, presumably ‘daughter of’] Hans Wilhelms Marburger, high count (portion cut out) to the old K”.  There is a possibility that the city from which Johannes Huester (or someone else) came was Allendorf.  It is possible that this marriage record is not 100% certain, but it is the only one in the complete book of records which “fit the bill”. 

3.        The only other one would come into question would be for an Anna Katharina Becker from Wemlighausen who, on 12 January 1701, married a Johann Jakob Huester, or also called “Hoese”.

In any case, Johannes Huester (#2) died on 9 November 1714 and his widow was remarried on 17 January 1716 to Johannes Althauss who was baptized on 4 January 1680, the son of Johannes Althauss, now to help the accumulation of this history, are the two sources from archives of the Schloss Wittgenstein.  In the Salbuch-Register (Wittgensteiner Archive W58), is the ‘breakdown record’ of the families in Elsoff for 1736-1743, with ages given for the family of Johannes Althauss and wife Anna Kaetta, Johannes Huester’s widow.

Here we find the whole family is listed as one as pays for the complete household.  Although Johannes Huester had left in 1736, he is still counted.  Johann Jost was in Holland in 1736, and Daniel was at home working as a tanner, a profession he also had in America.  A notation is given by Jost’s and Daniel’s entry as to their having emigrated in 1737. 

The other Huester family is also listed in the archive, although Johann Jost Huester had died in 1722 in the “Bruecke-Haus”, the family was listed in the “breakdown record” as residing at the “Bruecke” house between 1736 through 1743.

Therefore to further refine the identity of these families with more certainty is no longer possible.  The widow of this Jost Huester lived in 1736 and the records show no sons named Jost and Daniel.

Out of these arguments, using the reference from the Archive (page 97 and page 35) and the notation in Daniel’s prayer book that the American emigrated Hiesters were from the house of Johannes Huester and Anna Catharina Marburger (page 35), and not as recorded by the American researcher to be from the house of Jost Huester and Anna Katharina Closs of “Bruecke-Haus” (page 97).

Unfortunately, I can not specify the actual home from which the Huester brothers came (page 35).  Assumedly, it is the home, which previously was called the “Scheid”  (version of the name of the first owners).  It is the only house in which many generations of Huester (1610: Mannus Huester), 1721 the home of Johannes Althauss, and in 1790, it belonged to Johann Zacharias (junior).  The first owners were Endres Scheidt in 1567, and thereafter and Eberhardt Breusing,

Only for the necessary clarification on Isaak Hiester’s story, then must we follow this story from the office of the village Mayor’s blotter for the 23^rd of April 1737, in which the two younger Huesters, stepsons of Johannes Althauss are mentioned.

As Johannes Huester had gone to America as the family vanguard, the two brothers followed in 1737.  Over their departure, the school “official” [superintendent or truant officer], J.C. Fischer reported about how nothing was known until 12 hours later.  After making a spirited and secret event occur that would assist them, ran away from home in the evening of Easter Sunday, the 22^nd of April 1737 as they made their first and headlong steps to a new and uncertain future.  It reads under abolishment of the [schwulstigen]’s initially and complimentary closing phrases according to the school official J.C. Fischer:

 “Late yesterday evening some young men and women noisily left the house of Peter Hegers at Christianseck near Diedenshausen and headed into an experience that, after inquires, implicates some additional young men and girls who would be captured [pinsulfanige].  Immediately this morning, they were specified as follows: the stepsons of Johannes Althauss – Jost Huester and Daniel Huester, Jacob Koehler’s son Johannes, Johannes Gelbachs’ son Christ, Johan Zacharias’ son Daniel, George Benner’s two daughters Christina and Maria, Jacob Gernand’s son George, all who left after the lecture [Bredige] and headed to Hallenberg on Easter Monday [to sell items].   Since Johannes Gelbach has a large sheep trade, there were most probably some single sheep still to be seen under the [missing text].  While I have made inquires in these three municipalities and no one has made a confession or plead guilty, when I inquire of the brothers Johann Jacob Gelbach and Johannes Gelbach as to who the real debaucher or seducer is who has made promises to George Benner’s daughters, the brother of Johan Jacob [Johannes, the father of Christ] has some knowledge of these affairs and knew about the efforts to carry away some of Johann Jacob Gelbach’s sheep, and who had made a local pole.  When asked in front of the most gracious landowners and before his brother as to who secretly had cut down an ash tree [bieret (echappiert)] and was involved in these crimes, after hearing the proceedings these most gracious gentleman determined to discharge the things in prohibition which had occurred, which hereby [no further text].”