Person: Johann Michael Schmitt

Birthday: 1714
Birthplace: Leimen, Palatinate
Mother: Margaretha (?) (married Georg Schmitt)
Father: Georg Schmitt
Sex: male

From the diary of Johann Michael Schmidt:

1714: The 7th of March, I, Johann Michael Schmitt, was born into the world, my father was Georg Schmitt of Neustatten in
the land of Ansbach, where he was a magistrate, my mother was Margaretha Schmitt of Tauberzell.

1738: The last Tuesday before Advent I held my wedding with Maria Barbara Elisabetha, nee Engelhorn, and widow of the
blacksmith (1678: The 9th of June, I, Georg Herttel, was born into he world before midnight between 10 and 11 o'clock in the sign of the
Balance.) of the hunting outfit of the Elector Palatine at Bruchhausen.

1752: The 9th of May be we left Leymen (Leimen) for America, and arrived at Halifax the 6th of September in the same year.
The 4th of May we moved to Lunenburg, and in 1754 the week after Easter to Leehöff where I still live up to the present time.
The names of those who came hither with me and belong to my family are as follows:

I, Johann Michael Schmitt, and my wife Maria Barbara Elisabetha; 6 children: namely (1) Susanna Elisabetha Herttel (2)
Johann Martin Herttel (3) Regina Barbara Herttel (4) Catharina Barbara Schmitt (5) Maria Elisabetha Schmitt (6) Johann
Thomas Schmitt. For this great mercy, that God led us all in health and safety such a long way hither across the wild ocean
into this land, such a think as no family can boast as a matter of course, we praise, bless and than Him, and have resolved to
maintain an annual day of prayer, penitence and thanksgiving to God the Lord, fixed by us for all time on the first Sunday after
the date of our arrival in this land and this day shall be kept so long as a member of our family remains. To which may
almighty God give His mercy and blessing. Amen.

The ship with which we traveled across the great sea bore the name Göhl (Gale), and in Rotterdam 262 souls embarked in her.
On the voyage to America 12 children were born, of which all but one died. Of the above 262 souls embarked, 53 died on the
ocean and the remaining 221 landed safely at Halifax. There were 183 freights and 53 bedplaces. From the 8th of July 1752 to
the 28th of February 1753, 83 persons from the above-mentioned ship died in Halifax. We were 14 days travelling down the
Rhine and 14 weeks on the ocean, not counting the time we were on board the ship in Rotterdam and again in Halifax before
we were put to ashore, all of which amounted to 22 weeks.

1798: The 9th of June Johann Michael passed away, having reached the age of 84 years 3 months and 2 days, and
was buried on the 11th in Oakwood cemetery.

From Stan Card after his visit to Leimen:
I had some info from Leimen, Germany on
Michael Schmitt, Pg 463, "Familien in
Leimen 1677-1900" by Kurt Frei. Schmidt, Michael, Lutheren, Moved to
Leimen
1739 at 23 years old. Was a smith and in 1739 owned pub "Zum Hirsch",
born
c1716 in Neustetten/Ansbach. married Maria Barbara Elisabetha Engelhorn
on
9 Dec 1738 in Leimen. It was her 2nd marriage. Child:(1) Eva Elisabetha
b:
16 Mar 1739 d: 4 May 1739, Godparent: Maria Eva Hilshöfer of Brühl. (2)
Anna
Catharina Barbara b: 13 Apr 1740, Godparent: A.B. Schulth from
Mergenthaler,
Brühl; (3) Stephanus b: 17 Mar 1744, Godparent: S. Heylmann, Hockenheim;
(4)
Maria Elisabetha b: 24 Jun 1745; Godparent: M.E. Heylmann, wife of Stephan
Heylmann, Hockenheim. (5) Johann Thomas b: 15 Oct 1747, Godparent: J.T.
Engelhorn, Lausheim; (6) Eva Margaretha b: 13 Jun 1750, d: 11 Mar 1751,
Godparent: M.Sack from Michelfeld. Maria Barbara Elisabetha Engelhorn's
first husband was Georg Hertel, d: 5 Jul 1737, age 51 yrs 7 weeks 7 days
old. They were married before 1727 and were both Lutheren.I have a couple
of notes on him if anyone is interested. I met a young man in Leimen who
was doing his family history and worked for the town hall. He could read
old German and went with me to the church and went thru the records with
me.
Anna Catharina Barbara was baptised 14 Apr 1740 and her Godmother was Anna
Barbara (Mergenthaler) Schulth, wife of Mayor of Bruchhausen. Stan Card,
Tampa, Florida

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