Traut / Trout(t) Family

Notes for Jacob Zinch / Zink / Sink

The Zinck family is of German origin, and an account of the founding of the Zinck family is given in Col. Calvin Kephart's book, "Herr Volcnant von Erlach, Minnesinger". Col. Kephart is an authority on German derivations, and lived in Shadyside, Maryland. He is a former officer of the National Genealogical Society.

"A minnesinger was one of a class of lyric poets and musicians who flourished in Deutschland from the 12th to the 14th century; they were mostly nobles and wrote and sang of love and beauty" (pg. 25). The line of Zincke is traced from Harold Klak (circa[abt.] 784_850), las Skioldung king of Denmark (pg. 8) as follows: the son of Harald was Count Godfred (c.814_885), his son was Count Wermund (c.842_885) (pg. 9), his son was Count Godfred of Rael (born ca.879), (pg. 10), his son was Count Warmundus, whose son was Warmund, followed by another Warmund, then by Godfred (born ca. 980, was Duke of Bavaris) (pg. 11). This Godfred, Duke of Bavaria, had a brother, Harald de Raeut (ca.986_1045) (pg.12), who had a son Godfred who married a daughter of Dominus Volcnant de Hoherhart. Their son Hugibert (c.1030_1100) (pg.13) married a daughter of Count Henricus, thereby adding additional Merovingian and Carolingian royal blood to that of the Danish in his family. Hugibert's son Hendeic (ca.1054_1099), married a daughter of Dominus de Randersacke, also a family apparently descended deon(?) Danish Viking leaders. Their son, Henricus II (ca.1076_1147), was the father of Volcanandus III (ca. 1110_1150), a knightly ministerial. His son Volcnant IV (ca. 1140_1175) was the father of Volcnant V (de Erlach), of Rennweg, born about 1168 (pg. 19). He was a famous poet and also skilled in playing the medieval cornet, known as the Zincke.

Volcnant V had several sons, one being Godefridus, who had two sons Nicholas and Volkelinus, perhaps others. Nicholas had a son Nicholas surnamed Zingge, born about 1238, migrated to and established the Zingg line in canton Luzern, Switzerland (pg. 28). Nicholas Sr.'s brother Volkelinus had several sons, surnamed von Herrn_Zincken. One was Frederich von Herrn_Zincken (pg. 24), another was Fritz von Herrn_Zincken (pg. 28).

Going back to the famous minnesinger, Volcnant VI, another of his sons was Henricus, surnamed Cinko (Zincke_Zingge), born about 1202 (pg. 22), who became chief magistrate of Kolitzheim. In 1251, Henrich Zincke moved to Wurtemburg. One of his sons was Conradus, another was Berthold (pg. 27), another was Walther, named in honor of the great poet and friend of his grandfather, Volcnant V. This Walther had a son Walther II, who in turn was father of Walther III, who established a vineyard manor named Zinggenhof at Stetten.

These several Zinckes left many descendants in Germany and Switzerland. "All Deutsch and Swiss families surnamed Zincke or Zingge and their variants from medieval times apparently originated in this Erlach stock, descending from Minnesinger Volcnant through several branches."

The emigrants to America in early days may have been from this German-Swiss stock as well. Several of the name were early arrivals in Pennsylvania ports. The change of the name to Sink for the most part was a change that occurred in Virginia.

Strassburger and Hinke in their "Pennsylvania German Pioneers" list the arrival of several of the names in Pennsylvania.

1728: Men over 16 on ye "James Goodwill", Mr. David Crockatt, Commander, from Rotterdam to Philadelphia, arrived September 11, 1728: Was last from Deal, sailed June 15, 1728, was a Palatine: "Jacob Sinc" (Zenck).

1741: Men over 16 on board the Molley, Thomas Olive, Master (Qualified Oct. 16, 1741): "Daniel Sink", age 24. A Palatine from Rotterdam.

1752: Came in ship "Halifax", Captain Thomas Coatam from Rotterdam, and last from Cowes. Took usual Oaths, Sept. 22, 1752 in Philadelphia: "Anthony Zinck".

____: Men in the ship "Duke of Wirtenburg, Daniel Montpelier, Commander, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes. Qualified. "Gottlieb Zinck".

1754: List of men on board the ship "Richard & Mary", John Moore, master, 1754, from Rotterdam (Qualified Sept. 30, 1754). Last from Cowes, Inhabitants of the Dukedom of Wirtenburg.

"Anderas (Andreas) Zinck"; "Jacob Zinck"; "Christopher Zinck"; "Christian Zinck".

____: On the Duke of Bedford, Richard Jefferys, Master, from Rotterdam and last from Portsmouth. Qualified. (The date may be earlier than the placement in this list would indicate). "Johann Gottlieb Zinck"

1802: On the "Devotion", Captain William Waters, to Philadelphia from Amsterdam, October 6, 1802: "Martin Zink".

A genealogy of the Zink family by Dora. L. Kellogg ("Zink Families of America") deals with some of the descendants of Gottlieb Zinck who moved down into Virginia from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Kellogg states that the Zinck family descends from ancient and distinguished lineage in Germany, noted for the number and prominence of physicians and surgeons. She does not go into any German genealogy.

Her ancestor, Gottlieb Zinck(Zink) arrived in 1752 on the "Duke of Wirtenburg", was listed on the Frederick Township tax list, in Philadelphia Co. in 1779. In 1783 he owned 127 acres there. He served in the Revolution from Pennsylvania. Later he settled in Washington Co., VA, near Abingdon. His will is dated Dec. 28, 1801, probated Dec. 21, 1802.

The family of Zinck (Sink) which came to Franklin Co., VA was originally from Northampton and Chester Co. PA. The Revolutionary pension papers of Abraham Sink state he was born in 1762 in Northampton Co., PA, and enlisted in 1778 in Chester Co., PA. Research in Pennsylvania shows the following:

Abstract of Wills, Northampton Co., PA; Vol. XVI, Easton Public Library; File 347 (1763).

Henry Zinck (Tzinck, Zink, Sink), carpenter, Lehigh Township; Wife, Elizabeth. Only one of his children listed is Michael. 1763.

Lancaster Co., PA, Interstate Records. Henry Sink, Administration Bond dated 1814 (may be secured for $2.50).

Same County_ Will of Elizabeth Sink, 1842. T_1_138.

"Lancaster Countians in the Valley of Virginia" by M. Luther Heisey. (To Augusta Co., VA) Daniel Sink, who removed in 1752.

Peter Sink of Northampton County, PA, served in 1st Batt'n. of County Militia, Co. 7, under Capt. Francis Rhoades. A Peter Sink is also listed in Virginia list of the Revolution. This Peter could be the same one or one of the Shenandoah Co., VA. Sinks.

Henry Sink lived in Chester Co., PA 1758_59_60. A record of a Henry Sink marrying Elizabeth, widow of John Stager is in this county. John Stager died in June 1747. Michael Sink might have been his son (of Henry) by an earlier marriage or he could have been a brother of Michael and named his son after his brother. Graydon Sink says he has never found tax tickets on any other Michael after 1775.

Michael and Mary Sink appear to be the parents of Abraham and Stephen Sink of Franklin Co., VA. The names of Stephen and Abraham appear in Chester Co., PA records from taxable age until their departure for Virginia.

Graydon Sink believes that the following may be older brothers of Stephen and Abraham:

Jacob, who probably settled in Bourbon Co, KY. about 1778;

Paul, who probably settled in Salisbury Co., NC in 1778;

John, either died or came to Franklin Co., VA with his brothers.

Other: Zinch pronounced "Zink"; Sailed for America on June 15, 1728 on the ship "Deal".