Reinholt (Abendschon) Obenchain (1725 - bef. 1783)

Born 24 Oct 1725 in Schwaigern, Heilbronn, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Duchy of Württemberg, Holy Roman Empire

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Wilson) Schlorp — married 1753 in Douglas Twp., Berks County, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died before 24 May 1783 before age 57 in Berks, Pennsylvania, United States

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This profile is Genealogically Defined.

Biography

Reinholt (Abendschon) Obenchain performed Patriotic Service in Pennsylvania in the American Revolution.

Reinholt (Abendschon) Obenchain is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A000226.

Reinholt was born in Schwaigern, Heilbronn, Baden-Wuerttemberg, in the Duchy of Württemberg, Holy Roman Empire, on 24 October 1725.^[1] Reinholt migrated to Berks County and was married to Hanna Wilson and had at least 15 children. He remained there and eventually acquired a plantation. Reinholt died in Douglas Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1783.

Migration

Reinholt (Abendschon) Obenchain migrated from the Duchy of Württemberg to British Pennsylvania.

Reinholt migrated to Colonial America with his father Samuel Abendschoen and his brother Christian on board the ship Fane. The Fane sailed from Rotterdam, Netherlands and was commanded by Captain William Hyndman. Including Samuel and his sons there were 138 men listed on the ship's manifest (women and children were not tallied). They arrived to the port of Philladelphia, Pennsylvania on 17 October 1749.^[2][3][4][5] Male passengers age sixteen and over were required to swear an oath of allegiance to the Province of Pennsylvania upon arrival, and by extension, allegiance to the Crown of England. The men later settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Reinhold's father Samuel lived there until his death in 1757. Christian settled in North Carolina and served in the Revolution.^[6]

Residence

Reinhold appears on the Pennsylvania census index residing in Philadelphia County in 1749.^[7] He then settled in Douglas Township , Berks County, Pennsylvania,^[8][9] and maintained residence there until his death.^[10] An unsourced Rootsweb biography says that while living in Berks County, Reinhold "accumulated much wealth."^[8]

Reinhold Abandshein appeared on a List of Taxables for Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. in 1759.^[8]

His four oldest sons moved to Botetourt, Virginia in 1780 and established a paper mill there in 1783.^[6]

Naturalization

Reinhold was naturalized as a subject of the British Crown on 31 August 1755.^[11] He was able to qualify to become a British Colonial subject through the Plantation Act of 1740. This act allowed Protestant aliens to become British subjects after seven years of residence and by taking an oath of allegiance to the crown.^[12]

Family

Reinhold and Hanna were married in Douglas Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1753.[unsourced] Together, they had at least 15 children:

i. Cattrine^[10] b. 1752 [year of birth estimated]

Ii. Samuel Obenchain^[10] (Ovenshine)^[13] b. 1754, m. Phoebe Taylor 12 March 1776 at the West Hanover Lutheran Church, d. 1824^[13][14][15] (alternate birth date 1749)^[16]

iii. Dorrity^[10] b.1757 [year of birth estimated]

iv. Elisabeth^[10] b. 1759 [year of birth estimated]

v. Margret b. 20 April 1760^[9][10]

vi. Modlin "Madeline"^[10] b. 1763 [year of birth estimated]

vii. Philip^[6][10] b. 1765 [year of birth estimated]

viii. Barbary (Barbara) ^[10] b. 5 April 1768, baptized 15 May 1768, sponsors (God-parents) Henry and Margaret Eokel [Eagle]^[17] (Note: Henry appears as a witness on Reinhold's will.)

ix. George^[6][10] b. 1771 [year of birth estimated]

x. Rineholt^[6][10] b. 1772 [year of birth estimated]

xi. Nelly^[10] b. 1774 [year of birth estimated]

xii. Phebe^[10] b. 1775 [year of birth estimated]

xiii. Hannah^[10] b. 1776 [year of birth estimated]

xiv. Nancy^[10] b. 1780 [year of birth estimated]

xv. Jacob^[10] b. 1782 [year of birth estimated]

Revolutionary War service

Reinhold is recognized by the National Society Sons of the Revolution (NSSAR) as a war patriot ancestor. His descendants are entitled to membership in the organization. In his descendant's applications,^[13][14][15]Reinhold is recognized:

Reinhold Obenchain (Abenschon) (Reinhold Abendschon) took Oath Allegiance July 29, 1777. (See Page 10, record of Oath of Allegiance Book D, Volume 1, Libert of the Historical Society of Berks County, Pennsylvania.) [Roland Obenchain's] information derived from copy of certificate issued by Mary Ellen Frescola, secretary of said Historical Society, under date of February 4, 1927.

Also in the applications, Reinhold's son, Samuel is recognized as having served as a Private in Captain Samuel Sand's Company from 1777 to 1790.

Occupation

In his will, Reinhold leaves his plantation to his sons. The description of his occupation would be that he was a planter.^[10]

Death

Reinhold's gave his last will, orally, to three neighbors in Douglas Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, on 18 April 1783. The will was nuncupative (oral), heard and witnessed by his neighbors who then delivered the will verbally to the register (proved) on 24 May 1783. At the time that the register is recording (writing) the will, it is mentioned that the details of the will were transmitted by the three neighbors who all testified to its validity. In his will, Reinhold admits that he is weak in body but clear of mind.^[10] Because of the dates of the recording of the will and the date of the will's proving (registration), we know that he died sometime between the 18th of April 1783 and 24 May 1783.

The executors were listed as his wife Anna & his son Samuel. The index of the will reads:

AVENSHEIN, REINHOLD, Douglas.

April 18, 1783 -- May 24, 1783. Not recorded.

Wife, not named, to live on the plantation while a widow. To raise the minor children.

To son, Samuel, a French crown.

Sons, Samuel, Philip, George, Rineholt, & Jacob to have plantation, in equal shares.

To my 10 daus, viz, Cattrine, Dorrity, Elisabeth, Margret, Modlin, Barbary, Nelly, Phebe, Hannah, and Nancy, £10 each, as they come of age.

Exrs: Son, Samuel & wife, Anna.Wit: Henry EAGLE, John BECKER, & Samuel SANDS.^[10][18]

(Note: Henry Eagle [Eokel] was Godfather to Reinhold's daughter Barbara and Captain Samuel Sands was the Revolutionary War commander of the company that Reinhold's son Samuel served in.)

Reinhold's widow Anna, appeared in 1790 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Census, p. 160. She married again, to Johann Simon Schlorp.^[8]

On 17 Feb 1789, Samuel Abenshine (son of Reinhold) of Douglass Twp., Berks Co., and Ann Slorp (Reinhold's widow) of Montgomery Co., as Executors of the Last Will and Testament of Rineholt Abenshine, executed Articles for the sale of tracts of land situated in the Township of Douglass, Berks County, the property of said Rineholt Abenshine, to John Baker.^[8]

Name variations

There are several variations in the spelling of Reinholt's given name and surname:

Given name:

Reinhold^[13]

Reinholdt^[15]

Reinholt^[10]

Rheinhold^[14]

Surname:

Abendschon^[13]

Abendschoen^[6]

Abendschön^[19]

Abendschöne^[2]

Abenschon^[14]

Auvenshine^[10]

Obenchain^[13][15]

Sources

1. ↑ "Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NC73-ZLY : 10 February 2018, SJ Baty), Maria Barbara in entry for Reinhold Abendschön, 25 Oct 1725; citing ; FHL microfilm 1,184,789. Previously, this entry had "Germany" (not yet in existence) as the country of birth. The source was an Ancestry.com citation for SAR Membership Number: 99855. This SAR membership is no longer accessible; three SAR applications are still accessible for Reinholt: 54568, 76176, & 96479.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Pennsylvania Archives. "Vol XVII - Foreigners Who Took Oath of Allegiance to the Province, 1727 - 1775 and Foreign Arrivals 1786 - 1808." Harrisburgh, PA: C.E. Aughinbaugh, 1852-1935. Second Series, Volume XVII, p. 305. Accessed 11 August 2019 SJ Baty at Archive.org.
3. ↑ Austin gives an arrival date of 1747 as cited in: Austin & Austin, p. 138.
4. ↑ Strassburger shows as an arrival date of 1749 but Reinhold was naturalized in 1755 as cited in: Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740-73.
5. ↑ Strassburger shows an arrival date of 1749 as cited in: Strassburger, Ralph Beaver. Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808. Edited by William John Hinke. Norristown [PA]: Pennsylvania German Society, 1934. 3 vols. Vols. 1 and 3 reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1964. Repr. 1983. Vol. 1. 1727-1775. 776p. Accessed 29 July 2018 SJ Baty at Ancestry.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} Austin & Austin, p. 138.
7. ↑ Pennsylvania, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index. Original data: Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. Pennsylvania Census, 1772-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Accessed 29 July 2018 SJ Baty at Ancestry.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} Trinkle, J., Rootsweb.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Christening records for daughter Anna Marga (Margaret) Abendschoen on 20 April 1760 in Rockland Township, Berks, Pennsylvania.: Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2NB-J53 : 11 February 2018 SJ Baty), Anna Marga Abendschoen, 20 Apr 1760; Christening, citing MERTZ CHURCH,ROCKLAND TWP,BERKS,PENNSYLVANIA; FHL microfilm 387,841.
10. ↑ ^{10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20} The Will of Reinholt Auvenshine, 1783.
11. ↑ Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740-73.
12. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. "Nationality law in the American Colonies". Wikipedia. Accessed 29 July 2018 SJ Baty.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5} NSSAR application 54568.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3} NSSAR application 76176.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3} NSSAR application 96479.
16. ↑ Austin gives Samuel a birth year of 1749. Based on the marriage date of Reinhold and Hanna, 1754 is the most likely birth year. Austin & Austin, p. 138.
17. ↑ Birth and christening index for Barbara Abendschon: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 569. Accessed 29 July 2018 SJ Baty at Ancestry.
18. ↑ A portion of the will is transcribed in the Ancestry family tree of Nina Reauveau. Reinholt Obenchain Will. Accessed 29 July 2018 SJ Baty. While the tree sources a website that is no longer in operation, the partial transcript is correct when checked against the source document.
19. ↑ The index of Reinholt's will uses this spelling, The Will of Reinholt Auvenshine, 1783.

• Austin, J. William III, and Austin, Rebecca H. R. Related Families of Botetourt County Virginia. Roanoke, VA: Clearfield, 1977. p. 138. Accessed 28 July 2018 SJ Baty at Google Books.
• NSSAR application #54568 for Roland Obenchain, descendant of Samuel Obenchain (Ovenshine) and Reinhold Obenchain (Abendschon), approved 12 April 1938: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Accessed 30 July 2018 SJ Baty at Ancestry.
  Local file copy.
• NSSAR application #76176 for Robert Nagel Van Natta, descendant of Rheinhold Abenschon, approved 13 February 1953: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Accessed 30 July 2018 SJ Baty at Ancestry.
• NSSAR application #96479 for Benjamin Franklin Moomaw, descendant of Rheinholdt Obenchain, approved 25 January 1968: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Accessed 30 July 2018 SJ Baty at Ancestry.
• Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740-73: Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Persons Naturalized in the Province of Pennsylvania [1740-1773]. Harrisburg, PA, USA: 1876. Accessed 29 July 2018 SJ Baty at Ancestry.
• The will of Reinholt Auvenshine: Estate Files, 1752-1915; Author: Berks County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Berks, Pennsylvania. Accessed 29 July 2018 SJ Baty at Ancestry.
  Local file copy.
• Trinkle, J. "Jones & Trinkle Families of Virginia". Rootsweb. Last accessed 1 Aug 2018.

Acknowledgments

Abendschon-9 was created by Suzanne King through the import of Robbins Family Tree.ged on Nov 5, 2014.