What sort of world was Phillip born into? In 1692, Francis Daniel Pastorius, German-born lawyer,
theologian, historian and poet provided a description of Pennsylvania and advise on its suitability for
settlement. Also in 1692, Leibniz introduced the terms coordinate, abscissa and ordinate to describe
the numbers (x, y) used to identify points in analytic geometry. Seven year old Georg Friedrich
Handel played the organ at the court of Saxony at Weissenfels in 1692, and the Duke was so
impressed that he advised his father to let him study music. Over in Scotland, the clan MacDonald
was slaughtered for not swearing allegiance to the English king quickly enough.
theologian, historian and poet provided a description of Pennsylvania and advise on its suitability for
settlement. Also in 1692, Leibniz introduced the terms coordinate, abscissa and ordinate to describe
the numbers (x, y) used to identify points in analytic geometry. Seven year old Georg Friedrich
Handel played the organ at the court of Saxony at Weissenfels in 1692, and the Duke was so
impressed that he advised his father to let him study music. Over in Scotland, the clan MacDonald
was slaughtered for not swearing allegiance to the English king quickly enough.
Rheinfels Castle, which was built in 1245 and was at the time the largest structure along the Rhine,
held off 18,000 French troops with its 10,000 back-ups with a small garrison of only 3,000 men.
The French failed to conquer the castle, the only Rhine castle still standing after the destructive siege
by King Louis XIV's armies. After 10 days of futile bombardments, the French had to retreat with
4,000 dead and 6,500 wounded. The constant threat of French invasion, with the tales of horror and
devastation, was enough to have made Pachelbel, who was working in Stuttgart, and others flee their
homes and travel to eastern regions. The French armies had devastated the land, destroying
everything in their path.
held off 18,000 French troops with its 10,000 back-ups with a small garrison of only 3,000 men.
The French failed to conquer the castle, the only Rhine castle still standing after the destructive siege
by King Louis XIV's armies. After 10 days of futile bombardments, the French had to retreat with
4,000 dead and 6,500 wounded. The constant threat of French invasion, with the tales of horror and
devastation, was enough to have made Pachelbel, who was working in Stuttgart, and others flee their
homes and travel to eastern regions. The French armies had devastated the land, destroying
everything in their path.
At this time, women were almost steadily pregnant and infant and child mortality
rates were very high. The average life span was about 25 years, taking into
account war, famine and disease. By 1700, about 80% of the people lived on the
land, but in the cities there were new possibilities for success, and artisans were
the most numerous and powerful element in society. Weather conditions were
much colder than today, and growing seasons short with limited varieties of food.
The population, which had grown rapidly in the 16th century due to recovery
from late Middle Age plagues, had leveled out by the 17th Century, partly as a
result of the Thirty Years War. By the time of Philipp's death, it began to increase
again in the German regions, due to better nutrition and the demise of the great
plagues.
rates were very high. The average life span was about 25 years, taking into
account war, famine and disease. By 1700, about 80% of the people lived on the
land, but in the cities there were new possibilities for success, and artisans were
the most numerous and powerful element in society. Weather conditions were
much colder than today, and growing seasons short with limited varieties of food.
The population, which had grown rapidly in the 16th century due to recovery
from late Middle Age plagues, had leveled out by the 17th Century, partly as a
result of the Thirty Years War. By the time of Philipp's death, it began to increase
again in the German regions, due to better nutrition and the demise of the great
plagues.
Philippus Schaitberger, Joseph Schaitberger's first born and only surviving
son with Catharina Brochenberger, was born in Mittelfranken in 1692.
Lovely, young Catharina, typical of women of the time, had children in rapid
succession, and she died after only six years of marriage and the deaths of
three other infant boys. Joseph never again remarried. Philip's life is probably
similar to many first generation immigrants in Franconia. Children at the time
didn't have much of a childhood and often had to go to work at an early age.
The literacy rate of the general public was only about 20 percent and
education was infrequent. Mining was no longer an option as a hereditary
occupation, and Philip learned a new trade from an uncle, hence ushering in
a long family line of chimney sweep masters in Mittelfranken.
son with Catharina Brochenberger, was born in Mittelfranken in 1692.
Lovely, young Catharina, typical of women of the time, had children in rapid
succession, and she died after only six years of marriage and the deaths of
three other infant boys. Joseph never again remarried. Philip's life is probably
similar to many first generation immigrants in Franconia. Children at the time
didn't have much of a childhood and often had to go to work at an early age.
The literacy rate of the general public was only about 20 percent and
education was infrequent. Mining was no longer an option as a hereditary
occupation, and Philip learned a new trade from an uncle, hence ushering in
a long family line of chimney sweep masters in Mittelfranken.
Philip, the first in his family to be born on foreign soil, would have been forty and his son Leonhardt
twenty years old when the long lines of Salzburg exiles passed through Franken on their trek toward
East Prussia. Even in Mittelfranken, in the company of many other "Salzburgers", the old dialect and
customs quickly gave way to the those of their new Franconian friends and neighbors. Before long,
they would think of themselves not as Salzburgers, but as Franconians. The Schaitberger family
dispersed throughout the region. First born son Leonhard would become a sweep in Ansbach, then
a master in Erlangen. One line remained in Ansbach and would be last mentioned in 1887. Another
went to Coberg where the name was last mentioned in the 18th century.
twenty years old when the long lines of Salzburg exiles passed through Franken on their trek toward
East Prussia. Even in Mittelfranken, in the company of many other "Salzburgers", the old dialect and
customs quickly gave way to the those of their new Franconian friends and neighbors. Before long,
they would think of themselves not as Salzburgers, but as Franconians. The Schaitberger family
dispersed throughout the region. First born son Leonhard would become a sweep in Ansbach, then
a master in Erlangen. One line remained in Ansbach and would be last mentioned in 1887. Another
went to Coberg where the name was last mentioned in the 18th century.
| The Exiled Schaitberger Family Begins Anew |
Philipp acquired a huge baroque compound in the old city of Ansbach
from where five generations of family sweep masters sprang forth. Many
acquired other territories. The house is later referred to as the Herberge
zur Heimat from its later use. In the 19th century, a movement sprang up
across Germany similar to the Salvation Army, and many large rooming
houses were used for working men in transit. They were usually large,
clean and free or inexpensive for two nights or more. Eventually the
Schaitberger compound was willed to the city by the widow of Philipp's
great grandson at the end of the 19th century. There is also a Schaitberger
Strasse in Ansbach, this one named not for Joseph but for chimney sweep
Phillip Schaitberger
from where five generations of family sweep masters sprang forth. Many
acquired other territories. The house is later referred to as the Herberge
zur Heimat from its later use. In the 19th century, a movement sprang up
across Germany similar to the Salvation Army, and many large rooming
houses were used for working men in transit. They were usually large,
clean and free or inexpensive for two nights or more. Eventually the
Schaitberger compound was willed to the city by the widow of Philipp's
great grandson at the end of the 19th century. There is also a Schaitberger
Strasse in Ansbach, this one named not for Joseph but for chimney sweep
Phillip Schaitberger
Philipp lived in Ansbach from 1736 to his death in 1759, during the reign of Karl Wilhelm Friederich,
the "Wild Margrave," who was born in 1712, the same year as both Friedrich the Great and Philipp's
son Leonhardt. The Wild Margrave's exploits were legendary. One story relates that because one of
the Margrave's mistresses wanted to see a chimney sweep fall from a roof, Wild Wilhelm shot one
who was working nearby. The story was a bit vague, but a sweep's brush could be seen protruding
from an old chimney at a nearby home for decades until a nearby Allied bomb blast jarred it loose in
World War Two. The Schaitbergera were the royal chimney sweeps in Ansbach during this time, and
although there is no record of any of them having been shot, Leonhardt Schaitberger, who was the
same age as the Margrave and carried the title of "Hochfürstlich Onolzbachischer Hoff
Caminfeger-meister", lost one of his sons to a "chimney fall" in the late 1750's.
the "Wild Margrave," who was born in 1712, the same year as both Friedrich the Great and Philipp's
son Leonhardt. The Wild Margrave's exploits were legendary. One story relates that because one of
the Margrave's mistresses wanted to see a chimney sweep fall from a roof, Wild Wilhelm shot one
who was working nearby. The story was a bit vague, but a sweep's brush could be seen protruding
from an old chimney at a nearby home for decades until a nearby Allied bomb blast jarred it loose in
World War Two. The Schaitbergera were the royal chimney sweeps in Ansbach during this time, and
although there is no record of any of them having been shot, Leonhardt Schaitberger, who was the
same age as the Margrave and carried the title of "Hochfürstlich Onolzbachischer Hoff
Caminfeger-meister", lost one of his sons to a "chimney fall" in the late 1750's.
Philippus is recorded as being a sweep master in Zirndorf,
Pappenheim, Weissenburg, Bad Windsheim, Erlangen and
Ansbach in the Margraveship of Ansbach, left. In 1712, at
twenty years old, he married Margaretha Beckert in Erlangen,
daughter of soldier Christoph Beckert and wife Dorothea. He
and Margaretha had eight children. The first born, Leonard,
was born around Zirndorf in 1712.
Pappenheim, Weissenburg, Bad Windsheim, Erlangen and
Ansbach in the Margraveship of Ansbach, left. In 1712, at
twenty years old, he married Margaretha Beckert in Erlangen,
daughter of soldier Christoph Beckert and wife Dorothea. He
and Margaretha had eight children. The first born, Leonard,
was born around Zirndorf in 1712.
| Philippus the Chimney Sweep |
In 1683, Joseph married Magdalena Khaembl of Berchtesgaden, and they had two little girls. He and
Magdalena were forced to give up their children went sent into exile, and Magdalena died of a broken
heart. In 1692, Joseph remarried fellow exile Catharina Brochenberger, 1670-1697, of Berchtesgaden
and they quickly had four sons. Three died as infants and only one outlived his father, Philippus,
born in 1692. Catharina died in 1697, after only five years of marriage. Joseph never remarried.
Magdalena were forced to give up their children went sent into exile, and Magdalena died of a broken
heart. In 1692, Joseph remarried fellow exile Catharina Brochenberger, 1670-1697, of Berchtesgaden
and they quickly had four sons. Three died as infants and only one outlived his father, Philippus,
born in 1692. Catharina died in 1697, after only five years of marriage. Joseph never remarried.
The Schaitberger family may have originated in the shadow of the Schaidberg mountain in the cold,
rugged Radstädter Tauern and they may have been miners long before written records mention
Caspar Schaitp(b)erger, born around 1565, almost twenty years after the death of Martin Luther.
Caspar was a woodcutter and mountain worker in the mining village of Dürrnberg, and his work, like
others in the area, was centered around the salt mines where many skills were necessary to the
operation of the mines. In old church records, Caspar married Dorothea Hadl in 1590. Caspar's son
Johann, born in 1591, also devoted his life to "work in the mountain".
rugged Radstädter Tauern and they may have been miners long before written records mention
Caspar Schaitp(b)erger, born around 1565, almost twenty years after the death of Martin Luther.
Caspar was a woodcutter and mountain worker in the mining village of Dürrnberg, and his work, like
others in the area, was centered around the salt mines where many skills were necessary to the
operation of the mines. In old church records, Caspar married Dorothea Hadl in 1590. Caspar's son
Johann, born in 1591, also devoted his life to "work in the mountain".
| The Mining Family Schaitberger: A Summary |
Johann Schaitberger married Margaretha Moser in 1618 and they had at least four children, the
eldest being Hanns, the father of Joseph, who was born in 1620. In 1629, Johann bought a large
Alpine house, and he died when the home burned in 1651. The turbulent Thirty Years War was
entirely encompassed in Johann's lifetime. It might be mentioned here that the mining cultures of
Dürrnberg and neighboring Berchtesgaden were one and the same, in fact, one tunnel deep in the
Dürrnberg mine actually went through the mountain to Berchtesgaden!
eldest being Hanns, the father of Joseph, who was born in 1620. In 1629, Johann bought a large
Alpine house, and he died when the home burned in 1651. The turbulent Thirty Years War was
entirely encompassed in Johann's lifetime. It might be mentioned here that the mining cultures of
Dürrnberg and neighboring Berchtesgaden were one and the same, in fact, one tunnel deep in the
Dürrnberg mine actually went through the mountain to Berchtesgaden!
| The Family Schaitberger through the Ages |
Joseph Schaitberger was born in Dürrnberg in 1658, the middle of twelve children sired by salt miner
Hanns Schaitberger and his wife Magdalena (Thanner) of Berchtesgaden. At age eighteen, Joseph
thus inherited the debt-ridden family home worth 1,000 thalers upon his father's death.
Hanns Schaitberger and his wife Magdalena (Thanner) of Berchtesgaden. At age eighteen, Joseph
thus inherited the debt-ridden family home worth 1,000 thalers upon his father's death.