NICHOLAS BIEBER

Nicholas Bieber was born 1739 March 8 (IMB-53). His descendants, including Rev Beaver himself (IMB-117) are presented on pages 62-203 of Rev Beaver's book.

Rev Beaver claimed that Nicholas is the son of Dietrich and grandson of Georg Bieber (IMB-50), based on a manuscript by David Beaver. This cannot be correct according to my analysis of the Georg Bieber family, however, because Dietrich was only 4 years old when Nicholas was born.

At present, the relationship of Nicholas to Theobald and Georg is not known. It is also not known whether Nicholas was born in Europe or America. Future research will hopefully answer these questions.

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MICHAEL BIEBER

Michael Bieber was born in Hirschland, Alsace 1740 February 11, son of the tailor Hans Michael Bieber and Maria Magdalena Schaefer (GHH-90). The Hirschland data is an exact match with Michael's birthdate as recorded on his tombstone in Shoenersville, Pa (IMB-682). The descendants of Michael Bieber are recorded in Chapter 8 of Rev Beaver's book.

Michael's father Hans Michael was born in Hirschland 1706 August 19, son of Johann Jacob Bieber and Anna Ottilia (surname unknown) (GHH-85). Hans Michael married Maria Magdalena Schaeffer on 1728 January 16 in Hirschland (GHH-90).

According to Rev Beaver (IMB-650), Michael was a brother of Jacob Bieber and a son of "Johann" Bieber of Rev Beaver's Chapter 6. This is incorrect according to my analysis. Rev Beaver based his conclusion largely on a claim (IMB-649) that Conrad Bieber, son of Jacob, is a cousin of Valentine Bieber, son of Michael. I think Rev Beaver may have taken the term "cousin" too literally. Even today, "cousin" is often used to denote relationships more distant than first cousin in the strict sense.

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VALENTINE BIEBER

Valentine Bieber emigrated to America from Hirschland, Alsace. The proof of this is based on excellent correspondence between American and Alsatian records of the birth/baptismal dates of several of his children. Valentine was married three times (at least) and had one or more children with each wife. The evidence is summarized in the table below. Alsatian evidence is according to Dr Gerhard Hein (GHH-23, GHH-94), American evidence according to Rev Beaver (IMB-695, IMB-696, IMB-700).

Valentine's wives:

1. He married Ottilia Schneider 1746 February 21. She died 1747 December 10, age 19.
2. He married Anna Catharina Juncker. She died 1762 January 29, age 33 1/2.
3. He married Catharina Stroh 1763 Februay 15. She may be the "Catron" mentioned in Valentine's will of 1782 (IMB-690).

SUMMARY Additions and Corrections to Rev Beaver's Account

Chapter 3:

• The Georg, Dewalt, and Johannes Bieber who arrived in Philadelphia 1744 November 2 on the ship Friendship were not three brothers. Rather they were a father, Georg, and two of his sons, Dewalt and Johannes. It is likely that Georg was also accompanied by his wife Magdalena and several additional children, who do not appear on the ship lists because they were female or minors.
• The Georg Bieber family of Rev Beaver's Chapter 3 emigrated from Hirschland, Alsace. An Alsatian notarial record of 1744 May 29 shows that they requested and were granted permission to emigrate.
• Nicholas Bieber, whose history and descendants are recorded on pages 62-203 of Rev Beaver's book, is not a son of Dietrich Bieber and grandson of Georg Bieber. From the Hirschland evidence, Dietrich was only 4 years old when Nicholas was born.

Chapter 5:

• The Dewalt Bieber "Junior" recorded in this chapter is a son of Georg Bieber (of Chapter 3), not of Dewalt "Senior." He was baptized 1729 October 22 in Hirschland.

Chapter 6:

• The immigrant ancestors of Rev Beaver's Chapter 6 are Johann Theobald Bieber and wife Sara Ludmann. The baptism of their son Jacob is recorded 1731 December 27 in the Hirschland Kirchenbuch. It is likely that Theobald was indeed a brother of Georg Bieber, but Theobald's family preceded Georg to America, arriving on the ship Lydia in 1741.

Chapter 8:

• The Michael Bieber recorded in this chapter is a son of Michael and Maria Magdalena Bieber. He was baptized 1740 February 11 in Hirschland. Michael is not a brother of Jacob Bieber, as claimed by Rev Beaver on p 650 of his book

Chapter 9:

• Valentine Bieber emigrated to America from Hirschland, Alsace. Valentine's three wives and five children are well documented in the Hirschland records.