Michael NEHS

Michael was born 11 July 1730 and christened on 12 July 1730. HIs christening name was Michel Naess (or maybe Naass). At this time I am unable to read the parish records as to the exact location but it was the Mitschdorf area. Michael was the second of four children born to Michel Nehs and Anna Dorothea Pfeiffer. Michael arrived in Philadelphia with his parents, Michael and Anna Dorothea, his grandfather, Mathias; and who are believed to be his 5 uncles, Johan, Dewald, Georg, Mathias and Jacob. Mathias Jr arrived with his wife, Anna Katherina and their 3 children - Magdalena, Jacob and Katherina. Maria Barbara Nehs traveled with the group and is believed by some to be the wife of Mathias Sr. The family's surname was recorded as "Nehs" on the ship records and when they took their oaths of allegiance. Michael's family settled in Bucks county Pennsylvania. Michael was married to Margred (Margaret) Maria Zirkle on 6 Mar 1753 by Rev. Frederick Schultz of Indian Field Lutheran Church in Franconia Township (now in Montgomery county). Shortly after his marriage he relocated to a 360 acre tract of land on the north fork of the Shenandoah River in Virginia. The church records at Pine Church in the Shenandoah valley Virigina lists Michael and Margaret as the parents of 5 children; Johannes, Dorothea, Adam and the twins, Eva and Elisabeth. Michael again relocated in 1801 after the death of his wife to Greene county Tennessee with two of his children. I have been asked to change the spelling of the last name to Neese because there was a marker added to the grave at a much later date that has that spelling. I have decided to retain the spelling of Nehs as it is spelled that way in his will and all other records. I believe that whoever had the later marker made used the Neese spelling incorrectly. If someone has a picture of the original marker which shows the name spelled "Neese" then I will consider changing the spelling.

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