BRANCHES of GERHART CLEMENS' FAMILY
First Generation
1. GERHART CLEMENS was born in 1680/1681 in Dittelshiem, Germany. He died about 1745 in Skippack, Montgomery Co. Pa. U.S.A.. He was buried in Lower Salford Mennonite Cemetery, PA, U.S.A..
GERHART married ANNELI 'ANNA' (HIESTAND) REIFF in Aug 1702 in [Weissenan], [Mainz], Baden, Germeny. ANNELI was born in 1680/1682 in Mettenheim, near Ibersteim, Germany. She died in 1745 in Lower Salford, Pa. U.S.A.. She was buried in 1745 in Lower Salford Mennonite Cemetery, PA, U.S.A..
"Reiff to Riffe Families in America", Pg 26:
In 1709, the Clemens family were part of the Ibersheim Congregation that lived
on Farm 2 at Dittelsheim. The family is listed as Gerhart Clemens, age 29; Anna
Clemens, age 27; Jacob Clemens age 5; and Abraham Clemens, age 2. His parents
lived on Farm 1 and were listed as Jacob Clemens, age 59, and wife.
Accompanied by Anna's step father, Hans Stauffer and family the Clemenses left
their home in November 5, 1709 and after a three day journey embarked at Weissenau
on the Rhine. After about 10 weeks of travel they arrived in London, England
on January 26 1709.
They sailed on the "Marie Hope" and after 67 at sea they reached Pennsylvania".
"A list of all the poor Germans lately come over from the Palatinate to this Kingdom taken in St. Catherine's the sixth May 1709".
Mennonite Arrivals at London 6 May 1709:
Gerhard Clemens, b. 1681, Dittelsheim, Germany.linen weaver, age 28 and wife and two sons, ages 5 and 1½ years.
Ann Reiff, his wife, b. 1682, Mettenheim, Germany;
Jacob Clemens, b. 1704, Niederflörsheim, Germany;
Abraham Clemens, b. 1707, Niederflörsheim, Germany.
Immigrants To The Middle Colonies, A Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists & Associated Data, Genealogical Pub. 1979: Pg 86:
Listed under the occupation "husbandmen and vinedressers":
Clemens, Gerhard, Age: 28; married and wife living; son age 5, son age 1 1/2; the family belonged to the Baptist Church.
A bill of goods was purchased from his brother John and was recorded as settled in New York, March 8. 1709
Circa 10 Oct. 1709, Gerhardt and family moved to Pennsylvania, settling in the Skippach area. Here he remained until Febuary 1718.
Feb 4, 1717 Gerhart bought from David Powel a tract of land consisiting of 300 acres along the northeast side of the Perkiomen Creek. This was part of the 3000 acres warrented to David Powel in Sept 10 1717
1726: Gerhart built a grist mill in Salford Twp. on the Perkiomen Creek, upstream from the present day (1886) Groff mill. The mill stood until 1823 and was situated against a hill, two stories high in the front, and one in the rear.
" Alderfers of America, History and Genealogy " by Helen Alderfer Stanley, Schlecters, 1972. pp. 65:
"Gerhard Clemens left it on record that he contracted with Jacob Souder, on March 26, 1726, to build a mill - "to be well made and to give good satisfaction," - for which he was to be paid 33£ . The mill was located on the Branch creek, (east branch of the Perkiomen), flowing through the upper section of the township of Lower Salford. The Goshenhoppen road was opened in 1728 which added much convenience to the mill. The road crossed the stream which had to be forded until the bridge was built in 1835.
Gerhard Clemens sold the mill and plantation to his son Hans (John) Clemens and his wife Elizabeth (Allebach) September 26, 1738, represented as 1.51 acres of land with a messuage, and improvements.
On May 5, 1764, John Clemens sold the same to Frederick Alderfer, a substantial farmer, then 49 years of age". Further reference to Gerhart (Pg 460 Strass.) "..Hans Wegley seller of a mare and colt to Gerhart Clemens on the 15th day of November 1723..."
A residence for his son John was also built at this site.
A residence was also built on the land for son Jacob.
Names of Early Settlers of Berks and Montgomery Counties, Originally Philadelphia County who were Naturalized 1/9/1729-1730: (Votes of Assembly, III, p 131):
Gerhart Clemens of Montgomery Co.
Mennonite Experience in America, Vol 1, Land, Piety, Peoplehood, Pg
105-106:
"In 1718 Gerhart Clemens, who already owned land in Bebber's Township, bought
300 acres in Lower Salford from David Powell, and in 1726 he erected the first
gristmill in the township. In 1734, by purchase and by warrants on unclaimed
land, Clemens was able to get title to 690 acres. In the two townships he owned
a total of 824 acres. So in 1738 he gave farms of 136 and 151 acres to his sons
Jacob and John, and in 1741, 260 acres to son Abraham. And he did so without
appreciably reducing his own property".
Some Exerts from Gerhart Clemens Notebook/Diary:
( Note: In those days it was a normal practise that when a settlement was made
one party would make a notation in the other's notebook showing the transaction.)
"Anno 1709, March 3, I, John Clemens, have settled with my brother, Gerhard
Clemens, and made everything balance regarding his purchased goods".
"Anno 1709, March 8, I, Jacob Clemens, gave my son Gerhard by my own hand on
account 126 gluden (currency of Holland and Germany)
"Anno 1709, October 20, I bought a horse from Heirich Kassel for 3 £, 7 shillings
and 6 pence, and it is to be paid by me by next May."
"Anno 1713, January 16, I was with Matthew Van Beffer, in Maryland".
"Anno 1723, July 2nd, I settled with Jacob Reiff and still remain in debt to
him for the land 14£18 shilling".
"Anno 1726, March 13: I made a piece of cloth, altogether 30 yards, 9 yards
of tow and 21 yards of flax for Jacob Garman.
"John Lederach's flaxen cloth is 36 yards at 6 pence a yard, the piece of tow
cloth which I made is 15 yards and a half at 5 pence a yard".
"For Paul Friet I made a piece of flaxen cloth. it is 23 yards at 5 pence a
yard."
Tombstone Inscription,
Salford Mennonite Cemetery:
A grave marker, located Salford Mennonite Cemetery, Groff Mill Road, Salford, Montgomery Co., PA. reads:
"Pioneer of the Clemens Family / First Generation / Gerhart Clemens 1680-1745 / Ann Clemens / Emigrated 1709 / Second Generation / John Clemens 1707 / Elizabeth Clemens / Anna (Clemens) Kratz 1793 / Jacob Clemens 1787 / Abraham Clemens 1776 / Valentine Kratz 1793 / Barbara Clemens / Catherine Clemens"
Burial Link: Find-a-Grave
They had the following children:
+ 2 M i Jacob ( Reiff) Clemens + 3 M ii Johannes 'John' (Reiff) Clemens + 4 M iii ABRAHAM (REIFF) CLEMENS + 5 F iv Catherine (Reiff) Clemens + 6 F v Anna ( Reiff) Clemens + 7 F vi Mary (Reiff) Clemens
