Nicolaus and Catherine (Snapp) Bittmann/Pittman
Nicolaus Bittmann was the second eldest son of Andreas, born about 1727, and emigrated from Germany to America in the mid-1700's on the ship "Edinburgh" that departed Rotterdam, Holland and arrived in Pennsylvania on 15 September 1749. The departure location has been used by some researchers as an indication that the Bittmann's were of Dutch descent, when in fact more authoritative sources place the Bittmann home near or in Framersheim, Germany (Bly, 1993, Vol I).
"The Foreigners whose names are underwritten, imported in the Ship Edinburgh, James Russel, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Portsmouth in England, did this day take the usual Oaths to the Government. By list 163. 360 whole Freights, from the Palatinate." Among the listed passengers is "Nicklas ( X ) Biedman", the ( X ) signifying that he signed by a mark. Others listed included Philipp Peter Becker, Johann Jacob Becker.
[Source: Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Pennsylvania German Pioneers (Pennsylvania German Society. Norristown, PA. 1934.), LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, pg. 402.]
Nicholas married Catherine Snapp, daughter of John & Barbara (Dutt) Snapp, sometime before 1760. They settled on a farm in the northern reaches of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia; near the town of Strasburg. They were communing members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Strasburg. The surname "Bittmann" was first recorded as "Biedman" upon Nicolaus' arrival in Philadelphia, then as "Bietmann" in church records, and later evolved into "Pittman" or "Pitman" depending on the descendant.
Nicolaus and Catherine had four children, two of which later emigrated to southern Indiana.
- Elizabeth, b. before Sep 1760 in Virginia. Little else is known about her. Any information from readers is welcomed.
- John, b. about 1762 in Virginia, married (1) Elizabeth Mauck and moved to Harrison County, Indiana. After Elizabeth's death about 1810, John married (2) Christiana (Pope) Oatman in 1814.
- Catherine, b. about 1765 in Virginia, married John Schneider (Snider) and moved to Harrison County, Indiana. She and her husband lived on a quarter-section of land diagonally adjacent to that of her older brother John.
- Lawrence, b. 17 Aug 1773 in Virginia, married Mary Catherine Will. Lawrence and Mary Catherine remained in Virginia.