Here we explore the family background of Gertraud Steinkopf, the wife of Niclaus Rau. They were married in Oppenheim in 1696 and migrated to England and then on to New York in 1709. Her paternal family included butchers, city councilmen, and a church elder. Her maternal relatives managed two different inns and were also on the city council. A great-uncle was mayor of Oppenheim. So her family on both sides were well-established citizens, tradesmen and leaders in the city.
The following numbered sections give the known information on Gertraud Steinkopf and her ancestors in Ahnentafel order. Unknown ancestors cause gaps in the numbering scheme.
1. Gertraud Steinkopf was baptized at St. Katharinen on 8 March 1674. She and Niclaus Rau were married at St. Sebastian's Lutheran Church on Tuesday, 3 January 1696. The marriage record terms him a son of the late Johannes Rau of Hohen-Silsen in the Earldom of Falckenstein.
The births of their first three children are recorded at St. Sebastian. He is first called a day worker and an inhabitant (not citizen) of Oppenheim. On the second child's birth record he is called a citizen. But on the third child's birth record he is again an inhabitant. They left the city after 1702, as the next two children do not appear in the records of either Protestant church there. Their subsequent history has been given in The Palatine Families cited before and will not be repeated here.
Children (surname Rau):
2. Johann Wilhelm Steinkopf was born 24 November 1638 as calculated from his death record. He was not baptized in Oppenheim though his parents were married there. In the church records he is initially called Johann Wilhelm, but later he used only the middle name Wilhelm. He died 31 January 1700, aged 61 years, 2 months, and 6 days and was buried at St. Katharinen.
3. Anna Maria Quintin was baptized at St. Katharinen on 27 June 1641. She died Monday night, between 10 and 11 o'clock, 23 January 1713, and was buried at St. Katharinen on 26 January 1713.
They were married on 25 August 1661. Johann Wilhelm Steinkopf is termed a worthy apprentice butcher and a citizen of Oppenheim. She is termed a virtuous maiden.
Children (surname Steinkopf):
4. Johann Steinkopf was a butcher, citizen of Oppenheim, and an elder of the St. Katharinen Reformed Church. Neither his birth nor death dates have been found. He took communion on Easter 1635. He died after 1659 but before the 1670 marriage of his son Johann Jacob.
5. Maria Magdalena was born about 1622. She married firstly Hans Trager, butcher at Worms. She was buried at St. Katharinen 29 May 1682, aged 60. If this age is correct, she married, was widowed, and remarried by the age of 16!
This couple had their banns published on 14 January 1638 at St. Katharinen. In this record the German word for maiden is crossed out and her status as a widow is noted.
Children (surname Steinkopf):
7. He married firstly Anna Maria Fauth on 3 June 1633. She was the daughter of Balthasar Fauth, former host of The Rose. She was baptized on 17 May 1612 at St. Katharinen. She died, between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning, on 22 May 1644.
He married secondly, on 17 September 1644 Martha, a daughter of the late Johann Webe (illegible).
Children by first wife (surname Quintin):
On 15 October 1678 he married Maria Christina Steinmetzer, daughter of the late surgeon and city councilman of Zweibrücken, Anthonii Steinmetzer. This marriage lasted only three months as he was buried 31 January 1679. In both of these records he is termed host of The Rose. In the next year his sister’s brother-in-law, Walther Steinkopf, is mentioned as the host at The Rose. [top]
8. Hans Steinkopf was a citizen of Oppenheim and butcher. He died before 1638 marriage of his son.
12. Jost Quintin and Maria were married in St. Katharinen on 24 October 1609.
13. Maria was a native of Raurfurt and the widow of a David . She died before the second marriage of Jost Quintin in 1622.
Child by first wife (surname Quintin):
He married thirdly, on 11 January 1619, Anna Maria Mogeler, the daughter of the late Bartholomeus Mogeler. Again he is noted as host at The Rose. She was buried 24 October 1620. He married fourthly another Anna, marriage record not found. She married Jacobus Roth from Frankfurt on 16 February 1626. This marriage apparently was annulled and she married David Meurer, the son of Johannes Georgÿ Meurer, on 22 January 1629 in the Franciscan Catholic Church.
15. Anna , the widow of Hans Georg Losmeyer, and Balthasar Fangdt were married at St. Katharinen on 10 August 1601. Her former husband was the church schoolmaster at Schleydel. Anna was buried at St. Katharinen on 22 May 1618.
Children by second wife (surname Fauth):
On 5 January 1644 his wife Catharina was buried at St. Katharinen. He is termed the Bürgermeister on this record. He married a second Catharina since his widow of that name married Christian Borkfeldt. Their first banns were published on 18 April 1658. In this record Hans Burkhart is termed a former city councilman and host of The Rose. His widow was young enough to be termed a Fräulein. [top]
28. Velten Fangdt, a citizen of Koblenz, was the father of Balthasar Fangdt.[top]