Handwerk vs. Neff
Research Notes on Anna Maria Handwerk vs. Ann Maria Neff As Wife of Jacob Gressel
For many years there has been a question about which Anna Maria married Jacob Gressel. Researchers have disagreed and I have gone back and forth a few times, but it seems to swing heavily in favor of Handwerk as there is some documentation.
The Handwerk Siblings:
- First, Anna Maria remarried after Jacob died and the marriage record stated: Anna Maria widow of Jacob Gressel, deceased, formerly of Heidelberg, married Heinrich Reinschmidt in October 1774 recorded (Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Northampton County) 1774. A marriage certificate was certified on 10 Mar 1774 by Lewis Gordon, Esq., JP, for Johannes Reinschmidt of Heidelberg Township and Ann Mary Gressel, widow of Jacob Gressel late of Heidelberg Township. This fits as Jacob died in 1774.
- Second, there is a property release document to her brother Peter Handwerk based on her having previously received assets from their father Johann Handwerk. The two documents on page 249 and 250 of this link also list Handwerk siblings, the widow Magdalena “Naafein” (Neff), and Catherine Handwerk married George Herger or Hengen. https://www.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3: 1:3QSQ-G92X-13WW?i=249&cat= 291626. Property rights had to be returned to estate executor/eldest son if widowed women remarried. This document for widow Magdalena Neff was dated Feb 10. 1790.
- Probate documents: March 23, 1769, No. 637 in the files at Easton, PA, September 9, 1771, March 10, 1774. This protate document in 1774 was made by John Eyerman and states: “Jacob Gressel, Heidelberg Township, – Our help is in the Lord, who made the Heavens and Earth, Amen. Executor, wife Anna Mary; children, John Jacob the eldest, Bernhart the youngest, et al, brother-in-law Bernhart Neff of Heidelberg co-executor.
- The only way Bernard could be Jacob’s brother-in-law is if Bernard’s wife was Maria Magdalena Handwerk sister to Anna Mary. (Note: There is a baptism document for Jacob’s youngest son Bernard with sponsors Bernard Neff and wife Maria Magdalena, but it does not state her maiden name.) If Bernard had a sister Anna Mary, there is no documented proof of a marriage to Jacob, only speculation.
- Anna Maria Handwerk had three brothers: Peter, [b. 1744 d. 1826] John [b.1714 d. 1783] and Frederick [b. 1736 d 1772]. The Orphans court document shows Jacob Gressel had six children. This orphan’s court document dated June 17, 1778 lists John Handwerk as the guardian of Jacob Gressel, over age 14, [he would have been 17] son of Jacob Gressel of Heidelberg. Guardians for younger 5 children (Magdalena, John, Adam, Bernard and Catherine) were Peter Handwerk and Henry Hartman.
- If Jacob had been married to Anna Maria Neff, these children would not have been farmed out to the Handwerk family.