Biography of Conrad Seibel

Conrad Seibel was born on November 25, 1747 in Rheindurkheim, Hessen, Germany. He was the son of Johan Conrad Seybel and his wife Anna Eva Kublinger. Johan Conrad, Conrad’s father, was a schoolteacher and son of Matthais and Margaretha. Conrad was baptized in the German Reformed Church in Rheindurkheim on November 30, 1747.

In May, 1749 Conrad, his parents and two sisters Susanna and Margaretha left Rheindurkheim for America. They arrived in Philadelphia on the ship St Andrew on September 9, 1749. The family settled in Franconia Township, Philadelphia County.

Conrad married Maria Catharina Scheib in 1772. Maria Catharina was the daughter of another German immigrant. Both families attended the Christ Reformed Church at Indian Creek. When the Revolutionary War began, Conrad and his brothers joined the Franconia Township militia. In May 1777, Conrad mustered as a First Lieutenant, Second Company of the First Battalion, Philadelphia Militia. He participated as a First Lieutenant in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown when the British threatened and eventually captured Philadelphia. Conrad later served with the Worcester Township militia until the war’s end.

By 1794, Conrad had moved his family to the Easton area. The last two of Conrad and Maria Catharina’s 12 children were baptized at the First Reformed Church in Easton. Conrad continued his work as a shoemaker in Easton until his death on November 1813. On November 18, 1813, he was buried in the Old German Reformed Cemetery in Easton. Maria Catharina Seibel died two years later and was buried near her husband.

Sunday, February 13, 2000 11:10:31 AM