Ancestry of Pfungstadt Marsteller’s to America

By George Masteller

revised 2/2/2002

Since 1996 I have spent a considerable amount of research time and travel reviewing the church and civic records in Pfungstadt, Hesse Germany. This information was reviewed and analyzed with the tremendous assistance of Robert Bornschein, a local historian and Marsteller descendant, Valentin Liebig, a Marsteller descendant and the former Pfungstadt town archivist and Stephanie Goatals, the new Pfungstadt town archivist (no relation to the Marsteller family).

Through many discussions with cousins Dr. James Haney, Patti Stafford and several other Marsteller researchers’, I believe the following information represents the ancestry of our Marsteller’s that immigrated to America in the early 1700’s. My sources are the church and civic archives in Pfungstadt, particularly the Pfungstadt Evangelical Lutheran Church Kirchenbuchen and the Gerichtsbuch from the town archives.

In order of their arrival dates in America:

- Hen Marställer b. abt. 1465 d.? m.?

• Quirin Marsteller b. 1/6/1600  (never marrried) Elisabeth Catherina

Johann Georg Marsteller arrived on 10/2/1727 in Philadelphia aboard the vessel "Adventure". He originally settled near Trappe, Montgomery County where he married and had his first four children. By 1735 he had purchased his own land in Upper Saucon Township near Coopersburg, PA where his last six children were born. Johann Georg is believed to be buried in the St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran (Blue Church) Church cemetery where a memorial monument to him exists.

Johann Georg and Anna Margaretha had the following children –

Amelia Elizabetha b. 1729

Johan George b. 1731

Anna Margaretha b. 1733

Catherine b. 1734

Mary Elizabeth b. 1735

Frederick b. 1737

Maria Elizabeth b. 1739

Eva b. 1743

Nicholas b. 1745

Heinrich b. 1747

Johannes b. 1750

The American descendants of Johann Georg used many spelling variations. The most predominant were Marsteller (original spelling), Masteller, Mosteller and Mostoller. They spread throughout America but primarily the North and Mid-west.

Margaretha Barbara is the sister of Johann Georg and therefore shares his ancestry. Margaretha Barbara arrived in America on the vessel "Samuel" on 8/11/1729. Margaretha Barbara married Nicholas Carper in America. They settled near Trappe, PA in Montgomery County.

Margaretha Barbara and Nicholas had the following children –

Frederick b. ?

John b. 1746

John Jacob b. 1748

Nicholas b. 1749

Maria Margaretha b. 1750

Margaret b. 1751

Jacob b. 1755

Frederick is the brother of Johann Georg and therefore has the same ancestry. Frederick married Anna Barbara Stark in Pfungstadt February 12, 1728. They had one child in Pfungstadt, Johann Nicolas, who died as an infant in Germany. Frederick Ludwig and Anna Barbara arrived in Philadelphia on 8/19/1729 aboard the vessel "Mortonhouse". Frederick Ludwig and Anna Barbara settled near Trappe, PA in Montgomery County. Frederick Ludwig is buried behind the Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church in Trappe, PA where a monument has been dedicated to him.

Frederick Ludwig and Anna Barbara had the following children –

Johann Nicolas b. 1728

Johann Heinrich b. 1730

Anna Margaret b. 1732

Johann Daniel b. 1733

Frederick b. 1734

Johann George b. 1736

Valentin b. 1738

Phillippus Balthasar b. 1742

Frederick’s descendant’s spread throughout America but primarily stayed on the East coast. Most of them kept the original spelling but Masteller and Mosteller also appeared in subsequent generations.

- Hen Marställer b. abt. 1465 d.? m.?

Beßeler

• Heinrich Marsteller b. 6/22/1668 d. bef. 1721 m. Margaretha ?

Johann Peter arrived with his family in America aboard the vessel "Harle" with his wife Anna Catharina Dietzel on 9/1/1736.

Johann Peter and Anna Catherina had the following children –

Sophia Catherina b. 1729

Anna Ursula b. 1730

Anna Catherina b. 1732

Johann Wendel b. 1733

Anna Maria b. 1738

Barbara b. 1740

Anna Elisabeth b. 1744

Catherina b. 1747

Johann Michael b. 1749

At this time it appears that no male heirs can be found in the second generation of this family in America.

- Hen Marställer b. abt. 1465 d.? m.?

Beßeler

• Christoph Marsteller b. 12/9/1673 d. 1/24/1726 m. Anna Catherina

Johann Peter Marsteller emigrated from Pfungstadt Germany on 10/5/1737 on the ship "Townsend". Where he initially settled is unclear but by the early 1740’s he was living in Upper Saucon twp. Near Coopersburg, PA. By 1760 he moved his family to York, PA where they stayed for approximately 10 years. In the early 1770’s his family migrated to North Carolina although it is unclear weather Johann Peter made the trip since the date of his death and location of his grave are unknown.

Johann Peter had the following children –

Peter b. 1740

Conrad b. 1742

John b. 1743

George b. 1745

Susanna Elisabeth b. 2/8/1747

Michael b. 12/21/1751

All of the descendant’s of Johann Peter and Eva Elizabeth appear to have changed the spelling of their last name to Mosteller. Numerous spelling variations to the Mosteller name occurred such as Mostiller, Mostella, Mastella and Marstiller. The descendant’s of this family spread primarily through the South and Mid-west.

Elisabetha is the sister to Johann Georg and Frederick Ludwig and therefore shares their ancestry. Elisabetha married Johannes Seidel in Pfungstadt on 4/17/1712. They came to America in 1740 and settled near Trappe, PA in Montgomery County.

Elisabetha and Johannes had the following children –

Maria Elisabetha b. 1713

Anna Felicitas b. 1715

Johann Nicolas b. 1718

Anna Catherina b. 1724

Anna Elisabetha b. 1726

Johann Valentine b. 1730

If anyone has any questions on the above material please feel free to contact me George5M@hotmail.com