Johanna Sophia (Walter) Brüstle (1815 - 1888)

Born 9 May 1815 in Leonbronn, Brackenheim, Württemberg

Wife of Johann Gottlieb Brüstle — married about 1833 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 15 Apr 1888 at age 72 in Rochester, Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Johanna Sophia Walter was born on 9 May 1815 in Leonbronn, deanery of Mühlacker. She was the daughter of the weaver Johann Jacob Walter and his wife, Elisabet(h)a Dorot(h)ea Graf^[1].

In 1817 the family relocated to Schützingen, ten kilometers (six miles) from Leonbronn, also in the deanery of Mühlacker^[2]. In July 1829 Sophia applied, together with her parents and other members of her family, for an exit permit to emigrate to North America^[4][5][6][7]. The family register of Schützingen states that the emigration took place in the summer of 1829^[3]. Sophia settled in Philadelphia, PA, and married Johann Gottlieb Brüstle sometime before Jan 1836, when her daughter Elisabeth Maria was baptised in Philadelphia^[9]. Other children followed:

• Louisa Carolina, born 30 Nov 1836, baptised 2 Apr 1837^[10],
• Anton Karl (Charles), born 19 Sep 1839, baptised 3 Nov 1839^[11],
• Johann Wilhelm (William), born 8 Jan 1845, baptised 29 Oct 1848^[12],
• Maria Anna (Mary), born 8 Jul 1848, also baptised 29 Oct 1848^[12].

After her husband died in 1859^[13], Sophia was working for a time as a private nurse^[14][16], and until at least 1878 she lived in Philadelphia^[17]. She is not listed in the 1880 census and just prior to her death she resided in Rochester, PA, in the western part of the state, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Pittsburgh^[18]. (The reason for the move is unknown.)

Sophia died in Rochester on 15 Apr 1888^[18] and was buried in Fernwood Cemetery, Yeadon, PA, just outside of the city limits of Philadelphia^[19]. The death certificate gives her age at death as 72 years, 11 months^[18], which is in agreement with the baptismal record^[1]. (See also the Find-A-Grave memorial^[20] maintained by Dottie Colleen K.)

Research notes

The date of Sophia's arrival in North America is uncertain. No arrival has been found in 1829, but there is a passenger list of the ship Adler, sailing from Bremen to Philadelphia, arriving in Philadelphia on 5 Sep 1832^[8]. Among the passengers is a J.J. Walter, aged 43 years, his wife (no first name given), aged 40 years, and five children, a female aged 18 years (born ca. 1814), a female aged 12 years, and three children of ages 10, 6 and 3 years for whom the sex is not stated^[8]. The ages correspond roughly with those of the Walter family, as stated in the family register of Schützingen^[3], but there are some omissions and discrepancies. More research is needed. Remark added 1 April 2023 by Gus Gassmann.

Sophia was married to Johann Gottlieb Brüstle, but her husband's identity has not been conclusively established. There are different possibilities:

1. Johann Gottlieb Brüstle (1803-) is a possibility. It is known that Johann Gottlieb emigrated to the United States in 1829, where he arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on 21 Aug 1829. He was married, and the passenger list suggests that he was accompanied by his wife and young child. His wife's death record has not been found, and it is not clear whether he traveled from Norfolk to Philadelphia.
2. The most probable is Johann Gottlieb Brüstle (1788-1859). He grew up less than five miles from Sophia's birthplace, he is known to have emigrated as a bachelor in 1832 ("ledig ausgewandert 1832")^[21] -- probably to the United States, although this is not stated, and he died in Philadelphia in 1859^[22]. In the 1860 US Census Sophia is not living with her husband^[14], and in the 1861 city directory, she is described as a widow^[15]. (Her husband's name is given as "John".) However, born in 1788, he would have been in his mid-forties when he married the eighteen- or nineteen-year-old Sophia in 1833 or 1834.

Remark added 2 April 2023 by Gus Gassmann.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Church register of Sternenfels, Dekanat Mühlacker, Württemberg, Germany, Vol.4, Births (Leonbronn), 1808-1848, available online at Ancestry.com in collection Württemberg, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1985, Sternenfels, Taufen, Heiraten u Tote 1657-1928, FHL microfilm 1184760, frame 187, left page, last record at the bottom, numbered '7'. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/61023/images/1184760-00186. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Church register of Sternenfels, Dekanat Mühlacker, Württemberg, family register Leonbronn, 1808, available online at Ancestry.com in collection Württemberg, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1985 Sternenfels, Heiraten, Tote, Konfirmationen, Familienbuch u Index 1697-1897, FHL microfilm 1184761, image 675, right page. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/61023/images/1184761-00674. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Church register of Schützingen, Dekanat Mühlacker, Württemberg, family register, 1808, available online at Ancestry.com in collection Württemberg, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1985, Schützingen, Tote, Konfirmationen u Familienbuch 1723-1912, FHL microfilm 1184997, image 600, left page. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/61023/images/1184997-00599. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index, extracted from the Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index by Ancestry.com. Available online in collection Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index, published 1997-12-30; last updated 2007-06-15. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/discoveryui-content/view/84203:3141. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index, extracted from the Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index by Ancestry.com. Available online in collection Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index, published 1997-12-30; last updated 2007-06-15. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/discoveryui-content/view/84198:3141. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index, extracted from the Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index by Ancestry.com. Available online in collection Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index, published 1997-12-30; last updated 2007-06-15. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/discoveryui-content/view/84200:3141. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index, extracted from the Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index by Ancestry.com. Available online in collection Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index, published 1997-12-30; last updated 2007-06-15. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/discoveryui-content/view/84217:3141. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Arrival record of ship Adler, sailing from Bremen to Philadelphia, arriving 5 Sep 1832, available online at Ancestry.com in collection Pennsylvania, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1798-1962, M425 - Philadelphia, 1800-1882, 47. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/discoveryui-content/view/10469413:8769. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann. (Names of the passengers are on image 548, lines 11-17 from the bottom; see images 546-550 for additional information.)
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Church records of St. Michael's and Zion Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Available online at Ancestry.com in collection Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, PA - Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Lutheran, Saint Michaels and Zion Church. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/2451/images/40355_267193-00020, left page, record #264. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Church records of St. Michael's and Zion Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Available online at Ancestry.com in collection Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, PA - Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Lutheran, Saint Michaels and Zion Church. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/2451/images/40355_267193-00028, right page, record #420. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Church records of St. Michael's and Zion Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Available online at Ancestry.com in collection Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, PA - Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Lutheran, Saint Michaels and Zion Church. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/2451/images/40355_267193-00043, left page, second record from top. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Church records of German Reformed Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Available online at Ancestry.com in collection Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, PA - Philadelphia, Philadelphia, German Reformed, German Reformed Church. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/2451/images/40355_267356-00326, third record from top. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Church records of St. Michael's and Zion Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Available online at Ancestry.com in collection Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, PA - Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Lutheran, Saint Michaels and Zion Church. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/2451/images/42154_331452-00303, right page, sixth record from the bottom. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Available online at Ancestry.com in database 1860 United States Federal Census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Ward 16 West Division. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4293534_00328, line 24. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} City Directory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1861. Available online at Ancestry.com in database U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 for V V- York Manufactory, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1861, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1861. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/2890766, image 81, first column on the left. (The last name is spelled 'Bristley' in this edition.) Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Available online at Ancestry.com in database 1870 United States Federal Census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Ward 07 District 21. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/discoveryui-content/view/2893456:7163, line 7. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} City Directory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1878. Available online at Ancestry.com in database U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1878, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1878. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/2861729, image 135, p.245, right column, bottom half. (In this edition, the last name is spelled 'Bruestle'.) Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3} Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915, in FamilySearch collection: Registration of deaths, 1803-1903; arranged by year and cemetery, 1888: weeks ending 21 Apr (Old Cathedral-Z) - 28 Apr (A-Out of city), FHL microfilm 004010367, frame 98. URL: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6729-M4Y. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} Fernwood Cemetery Funeral Records. Available online at Ancestry.com in collection Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, PA - Delaware, Yeadon, Cemetery or Funeral, Fernwood Cemetery. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/discoveryui-content/view/6145427:2451, row 23, middle of the page. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114323072/sophia-joanna-bristley: accessed 23 July 2022), memorial page for Sophia Joanna Walter Bristley (May 1815–15 Apr 1888), Find A Grave: Memorial #114323072, citing Fernwood Cemetery and Mausoleum, Lansdowne, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Dottie Colleen K. (contributor 46831435).
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} Church register of Diefenbach, Dekanat Mühlacker, Württemberg, Vol. 14, Family register, 1808, available online at Ancestry.com in collection Württemberg, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1985, Diefenbach, Tote, Konfirmationen, Familienbücher u Index 1780-1909, FHL microfilm 1187161, image 321, right page, third child. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/61023/images/1187161-00320. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1} Church records of St. Michael's and Zion Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Available online at Ancestry.com in collection Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, PA - Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Lutheran, Saint Michaels and Zion Church. URL: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/2451/images/42154_331452-00303, right page, sixth record from the bottom. Accessed 31 Mar 2023 by Gus Gassmann.