| Part Three |
| Philippus the Chimney Sweep |
The Schaitberger Haus in Ansbach is later refered to as the Herberge zur Heimat. In the 19th
century, a movement sprang up across Germany similar to the Salvation Army. Many large
rooming houses were open for working men in transit. They were usually large, clean and
inexpensive. Eventually the Schaitberger compound was willed to the city by Augusta Zinck, the
widow of Philipp's great grandson, at the end of the 19th century.
century, a movement sprang up across Germany similar to the Salvation Army. Many large
rooming houses were open for working men in transit. They were usually large, clean and
inexpensive. Eventually the Schaitberger compound was willed to the city by Augusta Zinck, the
widow of Philipp's great grandson, at the end of the 19th century.
or take a side trip below
There is also a Schaitberger Strasse in Ansbach, this one is named not for Joseph but for chimney
sweep Phillip Schaitberger. This clue, sent in a friendly e-mail response from a high school girl in
Ansbach, provided a missing link that at last brought together the whole lost Schaitberger genealogy.
sweep Phillip Schaitberger. This clue, sent in a friendly e-mail response from a high school girl in
Ansbach, provided a missing link that at last brought together the whole lost Schaitberger genealogy.
Friedrich der Große His Majesty >
Fred's Sister Anna Amalie, Friedrich von Trenck >
Fred's other Sister Friederike Sophie Wilhelmine, Bayreuth >
Other Refugees The Pfalzers >
Portrait of the King as a Boy >
Fred's Letters Family Tree>
And Fred's other Sister The Wild Margrave of Ansbach and his Wife .
In the Old World:
Refugees in the New World:
| Philippus Schaitberger "Hochfürstlich Bayreuthischer Unterländischer Caminfegermeister." Das erste Kind aus dieser Ehe war der Leonhard, getauft 29. März 1712 in Zirndorf |
Middle Franconia, or Mittelfranken, is a hilly, fertile region
located in the Franconian Jura mountains. It is drained by the
Altmühl, Rednitz, and Pegnitz rivers. Its Important cultural
centers include Ansbach, Nürnberg, Fürth and Erlangen.
Home to many displaced Salzburgers and their descendents,
Mittelfranken belonged to Nürnberg and to two Frankonian
Margraveships: Brandenburg-Ansbach, one line of the
Franconian Hohenzollerns, and Brandenburg-Bayreuth which
sprang from the former Burgraves of Nürnberg who in 1415
became Electors of Brandenburg-Ansbach. For over 500
years Frankonians fell under their Protestant rule.
located in the Franconian Jura mountains. It is drained by the
Altmühl, Rednitz, and Pegnitz rivers. Its Important cultural
centers include Ansbach, Nürnberg, Fürth and Erlangen.
Home to many displaced Salzburgers and their descendents,
Mittelfranken belonged to Nürnberg and to two Frankonian
Margraveships: Brandenburg-Ansbach, one line of the
Franconian Hohenzollerns, and Brandenburg-Bayreuth which
sprang from the former Burgraves of Nürnberg who in 1415
became Electors of Brandenburg-Ansbach. For over 500
years Frankonians fell under their Protestant rule.
Philippus Schaitberger, Joseph's first born and only surviving son with Catharina Brochenberger,
was born in Mittelfranken in 1692. After only six years of marriage and the deaths of three other
infant boys, Catharina died, and Joseph never again remarried. Little is known of Philipp's
childhood, or how it came about that he became the first in a long line of Schaitberger chimney
sweep masters. 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 was only maybe 20 percent and education was infrequent. Phillip
may have learned the sweep trade on his own or from a family friend but, in any case, he ended up
becoming a master sweep in the Margraveship of Ansbach.
was born in Mittelfranken in 1692. After only six years of marriage and the deaths of three other
infant boys, Catharina died, and Joseph never again remarried. Little is known of Philipp's
childhood, or how it came about that he became the first in a long line of Schaitberger chimney
sweep masters. 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 was only maybe 20 percent and education was infrequent. Phillip
may have learned the sweep trade on his own or from a family friend but, in any case, he ended up
becoming a master sweep in the Margraveship of Ansbach.
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. 7 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. 7 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. Alas, a mere century later, they returned and blew it up.
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. Alas, a mere century later, they returned and blew it up.
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.
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.
Around the time when Philippus was born, women were almost steadily pregnant and infant
mortality rates were very high, as was the death rate in later childhood. The average life span was
only 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 the artisans
were the most numerous and powerful element politically and financially.
mortality rates were very high, as was the death rate in later childhood. The average life span was
only 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 the artisans
were the most numerous and powerful element politically and financially.
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, a 1720 outbreak in Europe being largely the end of it.
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, a 1720 outbreak in Europe being largely the end of it.
The formation of chimney sweep guilds came in the 17th century and by 1703 sweeping was
already ranked in Nürnberg among the free occupations. By now, chimney sweeps not only
cleaned chimneys, they also supervised their construction. As German fire protection laws gained a
foothold in the 18th century, the sweep occupation adapted along with new chimney and furnace
construction and improved fire fighting techniques.
already ranked in Nürnberg among the free occupations. By now, chimney sweeps not only
cleaned chimneys, they also supervised their construction. As German fire protection laws gained a
foothold in the 18th century, the sweep occupation adapted along with new chimney and furnace
construction and improved fire fighting techniques.
| The Chimney Sweep |
Phillip probably apprenticed as a chimney sweep for several years, learning his skill at an early
age. Schlotfegers ( or Schornsteinfegers, Kaminfegers or, in Frankonia, Kaminkehrers ) received
more respect in Germany than, for instance, in Britain, where decades of using orphans and
disadvantaged children as "climbing boys" had created nightmarish conditions for children.
age. Schlotfegers ( or Schornsteinfegers, Kaminfegers or, in Frankonia, Kaminkehrers ) received
more respect in Germany than, for instance, in Britain, where decades of using orphans and
disadvantaged children as "climbing boys" had created nightmarish conditions for children.
The dangers of the old open fireplaces were largely limited to external spark fires and not chimney
fires. With the advent of the popular tiled stove in the 16th century, more danger came from soot
formation and the accompaning chimney fires. Since the closed fire-places came to Germany from
Northern Italy, most of the sweeps at this time were initially Italian, but the occupation soon spread.
fires. With the advent of the popular tiled stove in the 16th century, more danger came from soot
formation and the accompaning chimney fires. Since the closed fire-places came to Germany from
Northern Italy, most of the sweeps at this time were initially Italian, but the occupation soon spread.
A high master might have two to ten workers, and each Master
would have a territory, with a foreman, an under journeyman, a
journeyman and sweeps, the youngest workers were around 11
years old with the average age 13 to 14. A single foreman, and even
others, often lodged with their Master who usually had a large home
and yard where the soot, which was valued as fertilizer, could be
stored and sold for extra income. The sacks which one sees in old
drawings of sweeps held soot which was used on many farms until
the early 20th century. Typical sweep clothing, left
would have a territory, with a foreman, an under journeyman, a
journeyman and sweeps, the youngest workers were around 11
years old with the average age 13 to 14. A single foreman, and even
others, often lodged with their Master who usually had a large home
and yard where the soot, which was valued as fertilizer, could be
stored and sold for extra income. The sacks which one sees in old
drawings of sweeps held soot which was used on many farms until
the early 20th century. Typical sweep clothing, left
Children did not do roof work, but rather the bending and climbing inside with their knees. This
aspect of mounting and cleaning was still part of Berlin's Sweep Examination until 1972. In the
18th and 19th century, a four to six-year training was usually required. The apprentices still lived in
their master's houses into the early 20th century. The sweep as "Glücksbringer" (luck bringer) goes
back to an old tradition where the chimney sweep went from house to house and wished a good
year to all, and having a sweep present at a wedding was thought to guarantee marital bliss. The
cylinder hat came about 1830.
aspect of mounting and cleaning was still part of Berlin's Sweep Examination until 1972. In the
18th and 19th century, a four to six-year training was usually required. The apprentices still lived in
their master's houses into the early 20th century. The sweep as "Glücksbringer" (luck bringer) goes
back to an old tradition where the chimney sweep went from house to house and wished a good
year to all, and having a sweep present at a wedding was thought to guarantee marital bliss. The
cylinder hat came about 1830.
Duties of sweeps also included putting out chimney fires, which often entailed climbing into a
burning chimney from one end or the other. Being a sweep was risky for one's health in other
ways: Some of the historical risks that faced the chimney sweep were carbon monoxide poisonings
from blocked flues, numerous carcinogenic chemicals encountered in their work by both contact
and inhalation, poisoning from various metals, and even exposure to diseased birds. Sweeps also
risked lightening strikes, bee stings, spider bites, cuts from rusty nails and fatal or serious falls.
There were even cases of sweeps choking to death by inhaling soot. Today they face a new threat
from the European Commission: German laws which have shielded chimney sweeps from
competition since the Middle Ages have been under attack by E.U. demands that foreign chimney
sweeps have an equal employment footing in Germany...so that they too can break their necks.
burning chimney from one end or the other. Being a sweep was risky for one's health in other
ways: Some of the historical risks that faced the chimney sweep were carbon monoxide poisonings
from blocked flues, numerous carcinogenic chemicals encountered in their work by both contact
and inhalation, poisoning from various metals, and even exposure to diseased birds. Sweeps also
risked lightening strikes, bee stings, spider bites, cuts from rusty nails and fatal or serious falls.
There were even cases of sweeps choking to death by inhaling soot. Today they face a new threat
from the European Commission: German laws which have shielded chimney sweeps from
competition since the Middle Ages have been under attack by E.U. demands that foreign chimney
sweeps have an equal employment footing in Germany...so that they too can break their necks.
Philipp lived in Ansbach from 1736 to his death in 1759, during the reign of Karl Wilhelm
Friederich, the "Wild Margrave," who was born 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.
Friederich, the "Wild Margrave," who was born 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.
Philippus is recorded as being a sweep master in Zirndorf, Pappenheim, Weissenburg, Bad
Windsheim, Erlangen and Ansbach. In 1712, at 20 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 baptized in Zirndorf in 1713.
Windsheim, Erlangen and Ansbach. In 1712, at 20 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 baptized in Zirndorf in 1713.
The first settler in Ansbach was named Onold, and he established himself in the Rezat Valley about
700 A.D. Around 748 A.D., the Frankish nobleman Gumbertus founded a Benedictine monastery
and the settlement grew into the city of Onolzbach, which would be later be called Ansbach. The
predecessor to both the margraviates of Ansbach and of Bayreuth was the Burgraviate of
Nürnburg. Ansbach became a possession of the house of Hohenzollern through marriage around
1192 and Hohenzollern Burgraves from Nürnberg took control in 1331 and enlarged their territory,
elevating it to princely status in 1363. The principality of Ansbach was established at the death of
Burgrave Friedrich V of Nürnberg in January, 1398.
700 A.D. Around 748 A.D., the Frankish nobleman Gumbertus founded a Benedictine monastery
and the settlement grew into the city of Onolzbach, which would be later be called Ansbach. The
predecessor to both the margraviates of Ansbach and of Bayreuth was the Burgraviate of
Nürnburg. Ansbach became a possession of the house of Hohenzollern through marriage around
1192 and Hohenzollern Burgraves from Nürnberg took control in 1331 and enlarged their territory,
elevating it to princely status in 1363. The principality of Ansbach was established at the death of
Burgrave Friedrich V of Nürnberg in January, 1398.
| Ansbach |
His lands in the Burgraviate of Nürnberg were partitioned into two margraviates which were split
between his two sons and from then on granted to collateral branches of the house of Hohenzollern
in Brandenburg. The German king Sigismund pledged the Margraviate of Brandenburg to the
younger son, Burgrave Friedrich VI who thence became Elector Friedrich I of Brandenburg in
1415 and received Ansbach, while the elder son, Johann III, received Bayreuth. After Johann III's
death in 1420, the two principalities were reunited under Friedrich VI. Upon his death in 1440, his
territories were divided between his sons; Johann received Bayreuth (Brandenburg-Kulmbach),
Friedrich received Brandenburg, and Albert received Ansbach. Thereafter Ansbach was held by
cadet branches of the House of Hohenzollern, and its rulers were commonly called Margraves of
Brandenburg-Ansbach. They would rule for almost 500 years. Gumbertuskirche, built in 1080,
holds their Crypt. Margrave Georg the Pious supported Luther during the Reformation, and during
his reign the first neoclassic houses were built.
between his two sons and from then on granted to collateral branches of the house of Hohenzollern
in Brandenburg. The German king Sigismund pledged the Margraviate of Brandenburg to the
younger son, Burgrave Friedrich VI who thence became Elector Friedrich I of Brandenburg in
1415 and received Ansbach, while the elder son, Johann III, received Bayreuth. After Johann III's
death in 1420, the two principalities were reunited under Friedrich VI. Upon his death in 1440, his
territories were divided between his sons; Johann received Bayreuth (Brandenburg-Kulmbach),
Friedrich received Brandenburg, and Albert received Ansbach. Thereafter Ansbach was held by
cadet branches of the House of Hohenzollern, and its rulers were commonly called Margraves of
Brandenburg-Ansbach. They would rule for almost 500 years. Gumbertuskirche, built in 1080,
holds their Crypt. Margrave Georg the Pious supported Luther during the Reformation, and during
his reign the first neoclassic houses were built.
Philipp's era was at the beginning of the glorious Age of Enlightenment.
There was tremendous building activity, flourishing art and music, more
universities and theaters being constructed and opera was gaining new
popularity. Philipp acquired a huge baroque compound in the old city of
Ansbach from whence five generations of sweep masters would spring
forth, many with other territories. Schaitberger Haus in Ansbach today, left
There was tremendous building activity, flourishing art and music, more
universities and theaters being constructed and opera was gaining new
popularity. Philipp acquired a huge baroque compound in the old city of
Ansbach from whence five generations of sweep masters would spring
forth, many with other territories. Schaitberger Haus in Ansbach today, left
The large Schaitberger family dispersed. 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.
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.
Part 3: The Chimney Sweep