Coming to America

The following was part of a letter I wrote to a distant cousin. I have made a few corrections to the data since I wrote the original and added some comments.

We are 8th cousins... this means that your 6 x great-grandfather was my 7 x great uncle. Or another way is that your 7 x great-grandfather was my 7 x great-grandfather. This man (our "Common Progenitor") was Jakob Trachsel b. 5 March 1652, Lenk, Canton Bern, Switzerland. d. 24 December 1721, Wolfersheim, Saarpfalz-Kreis, Saarland Germany. 

I am right in the middle of a serious genealogical study of the family tree. I am fascinated by the twists and turns and not to mention villains and heroes in the family. I have uncovered a pirate officer under Jean Lafitte and a half American-Indian soldier and hero of the American Revolution and a Field Marshall (highest rank of general) in Switzerland's army. (Note: I have done extensive research on the Field Marshall claim as it seemed highly unlikely that a person from a small village would even be an officer. Officers were always taken from the upper class in a very class conscious Europe. Secondly, at that time there was no country of Switzerland nor Swiss Army. Third, there has never been a Field Marshall rank in the Swiss Defense Force. Although the rank of Weibel "vi-bel" is a regimental grade non-commissioned officer (sergeant) it is also the title for a lay officer in the Swiss Reformed Church, which is a much more likely event.) The claim of "Field Marshall" was most likely a confusion about the "Weibel" notation for this ancestor lead to research on the term where "Feld Weibel" was found. From that, I surmise, a leap was made to "Field" Marshall since the term Feld translates to Field. Although having a "Field Marshall" among our ancestors sparks awe and imagination, the reality is more down to earth, as were our ancestors.

There is much to learn and there are many unanswered questions, not the least is our Jewish heritage. Records of the Trachsel family in Switzerland suggest they were Jewish immigrants from Turkey. Early Trachsel immigrants to America were mixed, some Christians and some retained or, in some cases returned to, their Jewish identity. (Note: Since writing this original letter I have yet to find any Jewish link in the family. I am not ready to rule it out, one source seemed certain of it, but I am beginning to doubt the claim.)

The story of the Trachsel family is much more than faceless names, meaningless dates and remote spots on a map. It truly is the stories of people, our family, living life in the fullest sense of the word. Many endured unimaginable difficulties, others triumphed while most simply lived everyday lives. The story of the Trachsel family is the story of America. 

Jakob Trachsel, our progenitor, was the son of Hans and Elsbeth Trachsel. When Jakob was a young man of twenty-three years his mother died giving birth to Jakob's youngest brother Ulrich in 1675. Sometime in this same year Hans died under circumstances not known to me. Jakob adopted his infant brother and raised him as his own child. When young Ulrich was almost nine years of age, Jakob, age 31, took Margaretha Brengel, age 29 on 18 January 1684, to be his bride making her an immediate mother to a young boy. The couple had five other sons and one daughter. 

The journey to America began with a move of the entire family to Wolfersheim, Germany. I am currently researching the the date and reasons for making such a move. Historically it is known that Jews in Switzerland, all of Europe for that matter, were subject to the whims of the times. Often being expelled from a city and only allowed to re-enter at a later date after paying a repatriation fee. Many of the Jews had adopted Christianity either as a matter of conscience or of expediency. These "conversions" were, obviously, made by each individual for his/her own motives. Furthermore, in the late 18th Century there was also much religious strife between the various elements of Christianity often accompanied by violence and death. Many of the Trachsels who came to America were of the "Brethren", a pious, independent and often abused and maligned group of believers. Any combination of these factors could have played a significant role in Jakob's decision to move his family and we may never really know what drove them. Jakob and Margaretha both later died in Wolfersheim in 1721, Margaretha on 21 June and Jakob on Christmas Eve. 

Following the death of their parents, two of Jakob and Margaretha's sons made the Journey from Wolfersheim, Germany to Colonial America. First came the younger (of the two) brothers Peter Trachsel (Troxell) with his wife Juliana. They traveled on the English vessel "Samuel" and arrived in Philadelphia, Pa, on 17 August, 1733. Whereupon they moved to Bucks County, Pa. (now Lehigh County). Peter and Juliana were your 6 x great-grandparents. 

Four years after Peter Troxell arrived in America his older brother, Johannes Nicholas Trachsel (Troxell), along with his wife Anna Maria and their children arrived in Philadelphia, Pa., on 30 August, 1737 on the ship "Samuel", the same ship which had borne Peter and his family. Johannes continued on to Buck, County, Pa. to settle on a farm secured for him by his brother Peter. Johannes and Anna Maria were my 6 x great-grandparents.

A house built by Johannes "Peter" Trachsel (Troxell) still stands in Bucks/Lehigh County as an historical site. The houses he built were sturdy, lasting structures. In the early days they served as forts against Indian raids, religious meeting houses and family homes.