My husband Ritchey has some of the most interesting genealogy I’ve found.  All my lines are from England, Ireland and Scotland, with perhaps a dash of French added in.  Ritchey’s ancestry include names like Jungbluth, Becker, Weimer, Klein, Laute, Hertz, Leuenberger, Probst, Heydt, Rupperts, Leser, Streich and Kayser, to name a few. 

Koblenz, Germany, is a city that lies at the junction of the Rhine and Moselle rivers – which is exactly what it name means – confluence.  When Johann Peter Becker and Sophia Catharina Weimer were born in the first year of the 19^th century, this land was German, but in 1815 it passed to Prussia.  On the 6^th of April 1846, a passport was issued to Peter Becker and the family moved to the United States, first arriving at New York and making their way to Washington County, Wisconsin – to the very apt named town of Germantown.

In the 1850 Census Peter, 50, and Catharina, 49, are listed with children Philip, 30; Valentine, 18; Christine (Ritchey’s 2^nd great-grandmother), 15; Jacob, 12; Caroline, 8; Frederick, 16; Peter Becker, Jr., 23 and his wife Caroline, 18.  In the 1860 census Peter, Catharina and their two youngest children, Fredrick and Caroline are listed.  Next door is son Jacob and wife Catharina, with a Richard Becker, 87 – Peter’s father.  I could not find Richard Becker in the 1850 census which leads me to believe he came to the United States after his son made his home here, even though a note was written that said Barbara Becker, an older daughter of Peter and Catharina, came to the United States with her parents and grandparents on board the Louis Phillipe. I cannot verify this information.

August 1, 1849 Peter Becker received 40 acres of public land ‘the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section Eleven, in Township Twelve, north of range eighteen east in the district of lands subject to sale at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, containing forty acres.’

The following is an indenture in which Peter and wife Sophia Catharina sell the same 40 acres of land to their son, Peter Jr.

Washington County, Wisconsin Deeds 1853, Page 126-127

This indenture made this third day of August with year of our Lord one thousand eighty hundred and fifty-three, between Peter Becker and Sophia Catharina, his wife, of Washington County, State of Wisconsin, of the first part, and Philip Becker of the same place of the second part.

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, in consideration of the sum of sixty dollars paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereas hereby acknowledged by the party of the first part have granted, bargained, sold, released, aliened and conformed and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, release, alien and conform unto with the said party of the second part and to his heirs and assigns forever, all that party certain of tract , second piece part or parcel of land situate lying and being in the County of Washington , State of Wisconsin, described as follows to wit: The South County East of quarter of the Wisconsin South West quarter S. Set 17 as Section follows No to wit . Eleven ( 11 ) Township No twelve 12, north 17 of Range No . Eighteen ( 18 ) East Township No twelve containing forty acres more or less agreeable to government survey.

Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof; and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim or demand whatsoever of the said parties of the first part, either in Law or Equity you and to the above bargained premises with the hereditaments parties and of appurtenances.

To have and to hold, the said Premises, as above described , with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part and to his heirs and assigns forever.

And the said Peter Becker Becker and Sophia Catharina his wife, further heirs, executors, administrators and assigns doth covenant, grant, bargain and agree to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, that the said premises, in the quiet and peacable possession of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against the said parties of the first part, their heirs and against all and every person or persons, lawfully claiming to claim the whole in any part thereof, they shall and will forever warrant and defend.

In witness whereof the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

Peter Becker, Sophia Catharina Becker (notice they both signed their names!)

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of George Koehler, Valentine Becker

State of Wisconsin, County of Washington

Be it remembered that on the third day of August 1853, personally came before me the above named Peter Becker and Sophia Catharine, his wife, to me known to be the persons who executed the above deed and acknowledged the same to be their said act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.

George Koehler, Notary Public

Received for record, February 10, 1854, at 1:00 o’clock p.m.  Adam Schuntz, Register, G. E. Neff, Deputy.