Michael SOLLENBERGER was born about 1746 in Pennsylvania.²² He died about 1819 in Virginia.²² Parents: Ulrich SOLLENBERGER and Maria \UNKNOWN\.

Spouse: Sarah \UNKNOWN\. Michael SOLLENBERGER and Sarah \UNKNOWN\ were married. Children were: John SOLLENBERGER.

Ulrich SOLLENBERGER was born about 1716.²² He died about 1776 in Berks Co, PA, USA.²²

Spouse: Maria \UNKNOWN\. Ulrich SOLLENBERGER and Maria \UNKNOWN\ were married. Children were: Michael SOLLENBERGER.

Anna SOUTER.

Spouse: Jacob BARR. Jacob BARR and Anna SOUTER were married.

Catherine SPERA was born on 23 Aug 1776.⁷¹ She died on 6 Feb 1865.^25,136 Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Spouse: Martin SCHWEICKERT. Children were: Johannes B. SWEIGART, Samuel SWEIGART, Elizabeth SWEIGART, Mary SWEIGART, George SWEIGART, Leah SWEIGART, Rachel SWEIGART, Peter SWEIGART, Susan SWEIGART, Martin SWEIGART Jr..

Elizabeth SPERA was born on 17 Dec 1757 in Pennsylvania.³⁰ Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

George SPERA was born on 12 May 1779.⁷¹ He died on 12 Nov 1830.⁷¹ He was buried in Springmills Cem, Berkeley Co., Va.. Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Spouse: Sarah VARNER. George SPERA and Sarah VARNER were married about 1805.⁷¹

George William SPERA^30,384 was born on 25 Feb 1760 in Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.^71,172 He died on 15 Jan 1838 in Elizabeth Twp Lancaster Co, PA.⁷¹ Murray Killman has death date as 6 Jan 1838 at Elizabeth Twp., Lancaster Co., PA He was buried in Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata T. Wilhelm Spira's (William Spera) Revolutionary War Record

At age 16 in July of 1776, he volunteered for militia duty. He served under Capt. Jacob Shitz's Company of militia attached to Capt. Robert Bull's Regiment. General Robert Doe discharged him in September, 1776, and he returned home to his parents in Germantown. In December, 1776 he volunteered in Capt. Matthias Genral's (Gineal?, Geneol?) company of militia. Major James Hazlett took command of the company. In February, 1777 he was discharged by Hazlett and he returned to his parents home in Germantown.

In October, 1777 at age 17, he joined Capt. Jacob Holgate's company of militia which was attached to General Potter's Brigade. By December, 1777 he was discharged from General Potter's Brigade. Shortly thereafter, he moved with father and family from Germantown to Gushenhoppen, Montgomery Co., PA (then known as Berks County).

In the spring of 1778, he moved with father and family to Oley Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1779 the family moved to Reading, PA. After marrying on 23 June 1780, he was drafted on 23 July 1780 into the service of Capt. Charles Goben's company, which was attached to Col. Joseph Heister's Regiment. In September, 1780 he was discharged by Gen. Robert Doe, and returned to his wife and parents in Reading, Pennsylvania.

In the fall of 1780 he moved to Valentine Fisher's place in Douglas Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, and lived there nearly 20 years. In 1800 he moved to Isaac Davies place in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, living there about 14 years. In 1814, he moved to Michael Weber's place in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He lived there about one year. (Was this Michael Weber b. 21 Jan 1772, d. 15 Oct 1841, the son of Heine Weber and Eve Wenger? Jay Weaver thinks it was.)

In 1815 he moved to Henry Romig's place in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster Co., PA. He lived there 2 years. In 1817, he moved to son Henry Spera's home in Earl Township, Lancaster Co., PA. He lived there 3 years. In 1820, he moved to Weidmark's (Weidman's?) Schoolhouse, Elizabeth Township, Lancaster Co., PA, and lived there 8 years. In 1828, he moved to John Meekel's (Meckel?) home in Cocalico Township, Lancaster Co., PA. He lived there seven years, one month, and in 1835 he moved back to Henry Romig's home in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster Co., PA.

In 1837, he applied for his Revolutionary War Pension. Witness for application was his sister Susanna Rau, 74 years of age. She was living in Berks County.
All this information was obtained from his pension application. Some time spans (years lived in a specific place) were deduced from entries in the pension application.

Abstracted by Terry F. Johnson on December 1, 2003

In his elder years he moved in with his son Henry Spera and daughter-in-law Barbara (Garman/German) until they moved up to Upper Canada. George William was a teacher and his son Henry a clerk.

Sent to Jay D. Weaver from Murray Killian via e-mail. Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Spouse: Juliana GOETZ. George William SPERA and Juliana GOETZ were married on 20 Jun 1780 in Reading, Berks Co, PA.^30,172 Children were: Henrich SPERA.

Hannah SPERA was born on 24 Nov 1761.⁷¹ She died on 14 Aug 1854.⁷¹ She was buried in Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata T. Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Spouse: William AMWEG. William AMWEG and Hannah SPERA were married on 19 May 1811 in Reading, Berks Co, PA.³⁰

Henrich SPERA³⁰ was born on 11 May 1788 in Pottstown, Montgomery Co., PA.³⁰ He died on 18 Aug 1833 in Ancaster Twsp., Upper Canada.^30,159 Cause of death was Died in an accident on his farm.³⁰ His daughter Margaret married William Gage Nash in 1835. They are the great-grandparents of Murray Killman who sent me this information. Parents: George William SPERA and Juliana GOETZ.

Jacob SPERA was born on 24 Jul 1774.⁷¹ He died on 24 Sep 1817.⁷¹ He was buried in Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata T. Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Johann Wilhelm SPERA was born in 1729 in Sponheim, Germany.^71,172 Ruby Mossel gives birth date as abt 1737 He died in 1789 in Mohler Cemetery, Ephrata Twp, PA.¹⁷² from Wm. Murray Spera; Wilhelm & his brother John, aged 16 & 18 decided rather
than be subject to their own country, agreed to leave their native land. They
were born from humble parentage in Alsace, then in the hands of the French.
Wilhelm emigrated on the ship Edinburgh, qualified 14 Sept., 1753. He was a
tailor. They lived in Germantown, to Conshohocken, to Reading, to Cocalico
Twp., Lancaster Co, PA.
According to Martin Grove Brumbaugh on pages 189-190 of "A History of the German Baptist Brethren", 1899 William Spyra and his wife were among 57 persons then baptised and in the fellowship of the Germantown congregation.
According to Don Durnbaugh on page 175 of his "The Brethren in Colonial America", 1967 , William Spyra and wife are listed as one of the families living at Beggarstown, 8 miles NW of Germantown, with Alexander Mack, his wife, daughter, Christopher Sower, etc.
According to the source, "History of the Church of the Brethren of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania", Conrad Good, William Spira and Maria Spira were baptized on 2 October, 1767 possibly by Alexander Mack, Jr. Parents: Philipp Jakob SPIRA and Anna Eva ZELLMAN.

Spouse: Anna Maria BOYER. Children were: Polly SPERA, Sarah SPERA, Elizabeth SPERA, George William SPERA, Hannah SPERA, Susanna SPERA, Susanna SPERA, John SPERA, Margaretha SPERA, Jacob SPERA, Catherine SPERA, George SPERA.

John SPERA was born on 9 Nov 1768.⁷¹ Murray Killman has birth date as 13 Nov 1768 in PA. He died on 20 May 1830.⁷¹ Murray Killman has death date as 3 Jun 1830 in Ephrata, PA. He was buried in Mohler Cemetery, Ephrata Twp, PA. Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Spouse: Catharina GENSEMER.

Margaretha SPERA was born on 9 Jun 1771.⁷¹ She died on 4 Oct 1835.⁷¹ She was buried in Bergstrasse Lutheran Cemetery, Ephrata T. Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Spouse: Johan George GARMAN. Johan George GARMAN and Margaretha SPERA were married on 24 Mar 1794 in Trinity Lutheran, New Holland, PA.⁷¹

Polly SPERA. Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Spouse: Henry SLOTE.

Sarah SPERA. Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Susanna SPERA was born in Apr 1762 in Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.³⁰ She died on 2 May 1763 in Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.³⁰ Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Susanna SPERA was born on 28 Feb 1764 in Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.³⁰ Ruby Mossel had birth date abt. 1764. It would seem that because the first Susanna died as a child, they decided to name the next child after her. Parents: Johann Wilhelm SPERA and Anna Maria BOYER.

Spouse: John RAU. John RAU and Susanna SPERA were married on 5 Dec 1784 in German Reformed Church, Reading, PA.⁷¹

/Unknown/ SPIRA. Parents: Jacobus SPIRA and Beatrix /UNKNOWN/.

Adam (Johannes?) SPIRA. Parents: Jacobus SPIRA and Beatrix /UNKNOWN/.

Anna Elizabeth SPIRA was born in 1719.¹⁷² She died in 1730.¹⁷² Parents: Philipp Jakob SPIRA and Anna Katherine \UNKNOWN\.

Anna Margarethe SPIRA. Parents: Johann SPIRA and Margaretha KINDT.

Christian SPIRA was born in Jul 1614 in Sponheim, Germany.³⁸⁵ He died on 7 Oct 1672 in Sponheim, Germany.³⁸⁵ Parents: Johann SPIRA and Margaretha KINDT.

Elisabeth SPIRA was born in 1681 in Sponheim, Germany.^3,172 Parents: Hans Simon SPIRA and /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/.

Engel SPIRA was baptized on 13 Apr 1684 in Sponheim, Germany.³ He was born in 1684 in Sponheim, Germany.^3,172 He died in Sponheim, Germany.³ Parents: Hans Simon SPIRA and Anna Katherina MOLTZ.

Hans Simon SPIRA was born about 1643 in Sponheim, Germany.^3,172 He died on 8 Mar 1713 in Sponheim, Germany.^3,172 Parents: Johann SPIRA and /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/.

Spouse: /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/. Hans Simon SPIRA and /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/ were married. Children were: Maria Barbara SPIRA, Mathaus SPIRA, Elisabeth SPIRA.

Spouse: Anna Katherina MOLTZ. Hans Simon SPIRA and Anna Katherina MOLTZ were married on 20 Jul 1683 in Sponheim, Germany.³ Children were: Engel SPIRA, Philipp Jakob SPIRA, Johann Caspar SPIRA.

Jacobus SPIRA was born about 1530.³ He died on 30 Nov 1603 in Sponheim, Germany.³ He was an Abbot.³ His surname was also spelled Spiera.

Jacobus Spira was the last abbot of the Benediktiner monastery Sponheim, and became the first Reformed minister to Sponheim. In 1564, the cloistered community of Sponheim consisted only of the monastery and a convent under the abbott Jacobus Spira. On 13 February, 1565, abbott Jacobus Spira, as his last official act, transferred the monastery with all goods and property to prince Friedrich III. of the Pfalz. In1565 Jacobus Spira took the office as the first reformed minister to Sponheim. He married Beatrix, after she surrendered the convent and cloister, St. Katharinen bei Braunweiler. Beatrix had been the abbess of the cloister according to information passed on.

During the thirty year war, the abbey in Sponheim was repaired under Spanish occupation. With interruptions, the monastery existed up to the time of the French revolution. The inhabitants of Sponheim, predominantly returned to the Catholic faith before 1700. The largest support found Father Elias Bingel as part of the antireformation efforts especially with a great-grandson of the abbott, Andreas Spira, who justified his efforts for the catholic cause with the behavior of his great-grandfather, Jacobus, during the turmoil of the Reformation.

The original German note is as follows:

Letzter Abt des Benediktiner-Klosters Sponheim, erster protestantischer Pfarrer zu Sponheim. 1564 bestand die klösterliche Gemeinschaft des Klosters Sponheim nur noch aus dem Abt Jacobus Spira und einem Konventualen. Am 13.02.1565 übertrug Abt Jacobus Spira als letzte Amtshandlung das Kloster mit allen Gütern und Gefällen an Kurfürst Friedrich III. von der Pfalz. 1565 trat Jacobus Spira sein Amt als erster reformierter Pfarrer zu Sponheim an. Er vermählte sich mit Beatrix, welche der Überlieferung nach Äbtissin des nahe gelegenen Zisterzienser-Nonnenklosters St. Katharinen bei Braunweiler gewesen war.

Im 30-jährigen Krieg wurde die Abtei Sponheim unter spanischer Besatzung wieder hergestellt. Mit Unterbrechungen bestand das Kloster bis zur Französischen Revolution. Die Bewohner des Ortes Sponheim selbst traten noch vor 1700 überwiegend wieder zum katholischen Glauben zurück. Die größte Unterstützung fand Pater Elias Bingel bei seinen gegenreformatorischen Bemühungen gerade bei einem Urenkel des Abtes, Andreas Spira, der seinen Einsatz für die katholische Sache mit dem Verhalten seines Urgroßvaters, Jacobus Spira, in den Wirren der Reformationszeit begründete.

Spouse: Beatrix /UNKNOWN/. Jacobus SPIRA and Beatrix /UNKNOWN/ were married about 1565 in Sponheim, Germany.³ Children were: Wendel SPIRA, Jakob SPIRA, Adam (Johannes?) SPIRA, Johann SPIRA, /Unknown/ SPIRA.

Jakob SPIRA was born in Sponheim, Germany.³ He died in Sponheim, Germany.³ Parents: Jacobus SPIRA and Beatrix /UNKNOWN/.

Johann SPIRA. Parents: Jacobus SPIRA and Beatrix /UNKNOWN/.

Spouse: Margaretha KINDT. Children were: Johann SPIRA, Anna Margarethe SPIRA, Christian SPIRA.

Johann SPIRA was born before 1652 in Sponheim, Germany.³ He was a Gerichtsmann (Magistrate).³ Parents: Johann SPIRA and Margaretha KINDT.

Spouse: /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/. Johann SPIRA and /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/ were married. Children were: Maria Ottilia SPIRA, Maria SPIRA, Hans Simon SPIRA.

Johann SPIRA was born in 1716.¹⁷² Parents: Philipp Jakob SPIRA and Anna Katherine \UNKNOWN\.

Johann Caspar SPIRA was baptized on 27 Jan 1689 in Sponheim, Germany.³ He was born in 1689 in Sponheim, Germany.³ He died after 1727 in Sponheim, Germany.³ Parents: Hans Simon SPIRA and Anna Katherina MOLTZ.

Johann Casper SPIRA was born in 1727.¹⁷² Parents: Philipp Jakob SPIRA and Anna Eva ZELLMAN.

Maria SPIRA was born about 1640 in Sponheim, Germany.³ Maria SPIRA died in Sponheim, Germany.³ Parents: Johann SPIRA and /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/.

Maria Barbara SPIRA was born about 1675 in Sponheim, Germany.³ She died in Sponheim, Germany.³ Parents: Hans Simon SPIRA and /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/.

Maria Barbara SPIRA was born in 1715.¹⁷² Parents: Philipp Jakob SPIRA and Anna Katherine \UNKNOWN\.

Maria Ottilia SPIRA was born about 1635 in Sponheim, Germany.³ Maria Ottilia SPIRA died after 1664 in Burgsponheim, Germany.³ Parents: Johann SPIRA and /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/.

Mathaus SPIRA was born in 1677 in Sponheim, Germany.³ He was baptized on 16 Dec 1677 in Sponheim, Germany.³ Parents: Hans Simon SPIRA and /Unknown/ /UNKNOWN/.

Philipp Jakob SPIRA was born about 1685 in Sponheim, Germany.^3,172 He died on 30 Jan 1748 in Sponheim, Germany.³ Murray Killman lists Philipp Jacob's ancestors as Hans Simon, Johannes, Christopherus, and Jacobus. I have no idea if this is correct. Parents: Hans Simon SPIRA and Anna Katherina MOLTZ.

Spouse: Anna Eva ZELLMAN. Children were: Johann Casper SPIRA, Johann Wilhelm SPERA.

Spouse: Anna Katherine \UNKNOWN\. Philipp Jakob SPIRA and Anna Katherine \UNKNOWN\ were married. Children were: Maria Barbara SPIRA, Johann SPIRA, Anna Elizabeth SPIRA.

Wendel SPIRA was born before 1595 in Sponheim, Germany.³ He died in Bad Kreuznach, Germany.³ Parents: Jacobus SPIRA and Beatrix /UNKNOWN/.

Anna SPORRI was born about 1616.⁶⁷

Spouse: Jakob GRAF. Jakob GRAF and Anna SPORRI were married on 21 Jun 1636.¹⁹¹ Children were: Hans GRAF, Hans Heinrich GRAF, Hans Heinrich GRAF, Marx GRAF, Elisabeth GRAF, Elisabeth GRAF, Susanna GRAF, Barbel GRAF, Jakob GRAF, Elisabeth GRAF, Peter GRAF.

Peter SPRINGER.

Spouse: Anna WEBER.

Margaret STALEY died before 18 May 1835.¹⁷⁶ dau of George and Magdalena (Stauffer) Staley

Spouse: David HORST.

Diane Kay STAUB.

Spouse: Cedric Linn HORST. Children were: Paul Howard HORST, Shelby Lynn HORST.

Barbara STAUFFER was born in 1756 in W. Hempfield Twp., Lancaster Co., PA.²³ She died on 23 Oct 1845 in Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD.²³

Spouse: Isaac HERSHEY. Isaac HERSHEY and Barbara STAUFFER were married about 1775 in Pennsylvania.²³

Catharine STAUFFER was born on 30 Oct 1771.^4,386 Noah L. Oberholtzer lists the birth date as 9 Mar 1772. She died on 15 May 1834.³⁸⁶ She was buried in Witwer-Hollinger Cem, Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa..

Spouse: Michael WEBER.

Christian STAUFFER was born on 24 Feb 1771.^63,387 He died on 19 Dec 1833.⁶³

Spouse: Feronica HORST.

Jacob STAUFFER.

Spouse: Maria WEBER.

Jacob STAUFFER was born on 14 Mar 1814.²⁵⁵ He died on 7 Oct 1883.²⁵⁶

Spouse: Barbara S. LANDIS. Jacob STAUFFER and Barbara S. LANDIS were married on 28 Jan 1834.²⁵⁵

John STAUFFER was born on 2 Dec 1722.¹⁷⁸ He died on 28 Nov 1798.¹⁷⁸

Spouse: Margaret GOOD.

John STAUFFER was born on 15 Jun 1737.⁸¹ He died on 6 Dec 1811.⁸¹

Spouse: Veronica BUCKWALTER. John STAUFFER and Veronica BUCKWALTER were married.