Second Generation


2. Matthias "Tice" BRANDENBURG was born in 1738 in Of Berlin, Brandenburg Province, Preussen (Prussia).1,3,4,5 Matthias Brandenburgh was born in the Palace in Berlin, Brandenburg, Prussia about 1738. His brother Solomon witnessed his birth.

Matthias (Tice) and his brothers were members of the Hohenzollerns, the ruling family of Prussia and Germany, his grandfather Alfred being a half-first cousin to Friedrich the Great of Prussia (1712-1786). Matthias’ great grandfather was "The Great Elector," Friedrich William of Brandenburg (1620-1688). In 1752, Matthias sailed with his brothers Wilhelm Heinrich and probably Solomon for America aboard the vessel "Two Brothers," settling at first in Middlesex, New Jersey and then moving near Hagerstown, Frederick County, Maryland.

Matthias Brandenburgh’s brothers, Solomon and Wilhelm Henrich, settled in the Middletown Valley, Frederick County, Maryland (Ref: W.J. Moore of Richmond, Kentucky - Mr. Moore died April 1980). Fourteen years later, their brother Jacob and probably Johannes (John Martin) sailed aboard the vessel "Sally" in 1766, landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jacob settled on a farm in the New Market district called "Chance" in the wilderness of Frederick county, Maryland. Johannes John Martin settled on Oaklands Plantation in Orangeburg Co, SC. All the brothers were well educated (Witness: They all signed the Oath of Allegiance and various Deeds.)

Matthias Brandenburgh probably first met his future bride, Hester Walgamot (whose family lived near Hagerstown, Maryland Colony, Frederick County [might have been Prince George’s County at that time]) about 1756 when the people who lived in her area were evacuated to the newly erected fort at Frederick, during the French and Indian War (1755-1763).

Matthias Brandenburgh and Hester Walgamot were married about 1764 and settled in Frederick County, Maryland. Here their first five children, Henry, Joseph, Elizabeth, David and Nancy, were born. In 1767, two to three years after they married, Matthias leased a ½ acre lot in Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland, located between Hagerstown and Frederick; the lease was sold 5-1/2 years later.

A trickle of German and Scotch-Irish settlers had been defying government regulations and braving Indian attacks for nearly fifty years to settle the fertile Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region in the back country of Virginia Colony. The region had been a joint hunting ground for several groups of Indians, none of whom actually lived there (the same was said of the region now known as Kentucky). When these Indians signed treaties in 1768 "giving up" their rights to the land, settlers rushed in to take possession. Two years (1774) after selling the lease on the Middletown lot Matthias leased 210-1/2 acres of previously leased land in Patterson’s Creek Manor in Virginia Colony, Hampshire County (now West Virginia, Mineral County) about 50 miles southwest and across the Potomac River from Hagerstown.

Matthias and Hester’s son Samuel was born after their move to the land in Patterson’s Creek Manor (1774). The remainder of their children, Jonathan, Solomon, John, Sarah, Catherine, Absolom, Hester and Ruth, were all born in Hampshire County, Virginia. The land had probably already been cleared of native trees such as pine, white oak, walnut and elm. Matthias’ lease required that he build a house at least 20’X16’ with a stone or brick fireplace and plant and raise 100 apple trees, at least 30’ apart.

At the same time Matthias, Hester and their six children were starting the orchard in Hampshire County there were Brandenburghs in the first permanent settlements of the part of Virginia that was to become the state of Kentucky. (Note: Christopher Stoffel Brandenburgh lived at Quicks Run, Lewis Co, Kentucky and died there in 1802. His daughter Catherine married Charles Shepherd and Susanna married William Carr, both marrying in 1802 in Mason County, Kentucky. A deed was made to Catherine Brandenburgh in 1832. (Note: B. A. Deatrick stated in his research "There is a painting in the Washington University Gallery of Art in St. Louis, Missouri, painted in 1851-1852 (76 years after the fact) by Caleb Bingham. It shows Daniel Boone and his wife, the first white woman to settle in Kentucky, his daughter and several other people on the Warrior's Path (which became the Wilderness Road) as they were passing through the Cumberland Gap in 1775. To Boone's left (or right when the picture is printed in reverse) is David Brandenburgh- - I failed to document where I got that last information. Daniel Boone doesn't look much like contemporary drawings of him and David Brandenburgh may or may not have been painted from first hand descriptions."

It has been said that this was Matthias' son and that Absalom, another son of Matthias, was also one of Boone's scouts. Matthias' son David was about four years old in 1775 and Absalom hadn't been born."Matthias never served any military service during the Revolutionary War, but he did make leather saddles for the Continental Army forces, which could be considered a service to his country", per 1970 correspondences from a Ms. Agnes Beasley of Versailles, KY. to Mr. Earl Bowman (descendants of David>Solomon>Hannah Elizabeth who married Strother Bowman) .

During the Revolutionary War, Matthias contributed to the cause of Liberty. No doubt there were many more contributions than the simple one found in the records of Hampshire, Virginia: "At the Court held for Hampshire County, Virginia the 12th day of August, 1783, Matthias Brandenburgh for 1 Blanket - 4.1 pound payment." This Service was marked for Contructal [Continental] soldiers. It looks as though Matthias contributed his blanket (nicer than the others) to the militia rather than to the United States Continental Army. This blanket was one of many contributions made to the militia in September, 1778. (B. A. Deatrick wrote in his research notes: "That blanket has been sufficient for several Brandenburg women to join the Daughters of the American Revolution and at least one man to join the Sons of the American Revolution.) On this record Matthias Brandenburgh was made a DAR Patriot. ....Brandenburgh data from research by F. Nelson. The reference for this is given as "Deed 4, pg. 141 Hampshire Co. Va." and "Virginia State Library claims for services.""Matthias, on October 16, 1787, was the lessor of 48-1/2 acres on Patterson Creek in Hampshire Co, VA. It is also noted that on November 24 1789, Matthias Brandenburgh (wife Hester) of Hampshire County authorized Issac Good with the Power of Attorney of collect in lawful manner anything due the said Brandenburgh. It appears that Matthias stayed there through the 1780's. Matthias’ oldest son Henry was taxed for years 1784 thru 1787, but did not appear on the 1788 Tax List and it is believed that Henry Brandenburgh was exploring the land to the west, Kentucky and the Boonesborough area in particular. Henry may have sent word for his family to join him or he may have returned to guide them and help in the move.

Matthias’ home in Hampshire Co, Virginia was about six miles from Cumberland, Maryland; and Matthias’ family and Henry no doubt followed the trail that later became the Cumberland Road, America’s first National Turnpike. (The Cumberland Gap was between Virginia and Tennessee.) "The route through western Pennsylvania was long and tedious requiring up to three months." The Maryland State Road ran from Baltimore, through Frederick and Hagerstown to Cumberland, from there a trail ran south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and on to the Ohio River where people with their wagons, belongings and animals could be rafted or carried on flatboats to Kentucky. (Steamboats were introduced to the Ohio river about 1810 and flatboats continued to be used. "In 1846 more than 2,000 flatboats sailed down the river to New Orleans. But by the 1860 they had all but disappeared.") The Cumberland Road followed the trail in the early 1800s and was macadamized all the way to the Ohio River by 1811. From there it continued across Indiana into Illinois where it was finished about 1850. It is now U.S. Highway 40."

"It has been said that the Brandenburghs first went to Mason County, Kentucky and that probably was where they landed to begin the journey inland, but the records indicate that they went directly to Fayette/Clark County. Although Matthias had been in Fayette County, Kentucky since 1790-91, it wasn’t until the autumn of 1798 that Matthias bought 150 acres on DeWitt’s/Jouett’s Creek. The creek empties into the Kentucky River and is located southeast of Winchester, Kentucky. (Mr. Bell, in his bid for the Brandenburgh estate, said Matthias lived in Winchester, Virginia. This caused some researchers to look at present-day Winchester, Virginia instead of present-day Winchester, Kentucky. Per B. A. Deatrick).""The land was purchased from John Holder, who had a boat yard not far away on the Amsta Grove Road ("Land of Our Fathers"). Holder had been captain of a company of soldiers that had defended the fort at Boonesborough from Indian attacks. He attested to the 1796 marriage of Matthias’ son Joseph to Delilah Vesser; she and her mother had once taken refuge in the fort." "Matthias was about 59 years old when he bought the land, which started "above the Saw Mill dam". Hester was from a sawmill family and several of Hester and Matthias’ children later owned or ran mills. Matthias’ land was never taxed for more than $530.00, which doesn’t suggest much in the way of improvements, but the mill may have been on their land." (B.A. Deatrick) Matthias and Hester moved and settled at the mouth of Duets Creek below Ford Station on the Kentucky River in Clark County, Kentucky about 1790. There were 150 acres in his home place, and the records indicate that this family were later to become large land owners. Some members of the family settled at Heidelberg, now in Lee County. Others migrated farther west, locating in Meade County Kentucky. He was christened on 17 August 1749 in Koln, Nordrhein-Westphalia, Germany.5 He emigrated before 1764 from Preussen (Prussia).1 to the Potomac River, VA area. Tice died on 20 November 1806 at the age of 68 in Clark County, KY.1,3,4,6 (His date of death is reported by FamilySearch to have been 21 March 1806.)

Notes from Find-a-Grave Website: "Sometime before his death, Matthias revealed to his family that he was a member of the Royal Family of Brandenburg, Prussia (The House of Hohenzollern). He told them that he and his brothers had left a vast estate in Prussia, the reason being, "a Catholic procession was passing through the streets of the city of Berlin, this procession headed by a distinguished Loyalist who stood in high favor with the reigning Prince of Brandenburg, who was himself a Catholic. (During the reign of Frederick I (1701-1740) and his son, Frederick II The Great (1740-1763)).

It was expected and commanded that every man whom this procession passed should take off his hat in token of honor to the great personage, who in glittering regalia rode at the head of the procession. Two of his brothers (one being Solomon) stood watching the procession. Even though the brothers were near relatives of the reigning Prince Catholic Elector of Brandenburg (Frederick the Great), they were Protestants and they not only refused to take off their hats to a Catholic dignitary, but they even spoke contemptuously of him. This was reported to their relatives. The King and Elector of Brandenburg (Prussia) was angered by their action and sent forth an edict confiscating their estate. This act was followed by persecution and fear of losing their heads, and the brothers fled to Holland and then sailed to America, never regaining their possessions or estate in the Province of Brandenburg. Murdered by William Hardin." He was buried in 1807 in Heidelberg, Lee County, KY.5,7 in the Heidelberg Baptist Churchyard Cemetery.

Matthias "Tice" BRANDENBURG and Hester WOHLGEMUTH were married in 1762 in Frederick County, Maryland Colony, British Colonial America.3,4,8 Hester WOHLGEMUTH, daughter of Joseph WOHLGEMUTH and Catharina UNKNOWN (WOHLGEMUTH), was born on 2 August 1744 in Prince George's County, MD.4 (Her surname may have been spelled "Wolgamott." Some sources indicate that she was born in Frederick County, MD.)

Find-a-Grave Website Notes: "HESTER WOLGAMOTT, daughter of JOSEPH and CATHARINA (__) WOLGAMOTT, was born 02 Aug 1744 in Prince Georges Co., MD, and died 19 Sep 1821 in Meade Co., KY and is buried in Fontaine Cemetery at Brandenburg.  She married MATHIAS BRANDENBURG 1762 in Frederick Co, Md, son of HEINRICH FRIEDRICH 'SOLOMON' BRANDENBURG. He was born 1739 in Germany, and died 20 Nov 1806 in Clark Co., KY.  

Their 14 children are:  
1. HENRY EMERSON BRANDENBURG, b. ca. 1765, Middletown, Frederick Co., MD; m. SARAH HENRIETTA PRESTON, ca. 1790.
2. JOSEPH BRANDENBURG, b. 1767, Hampshire, VA; d. 20 Mar 1856; m. DELIA/DELILAH VESSOR, 30 Aug 1796, Clark Co., KY; b. 1771, Amelia Co., VA; d. ca. 1866.
3. ELIZABETH BRANDENBURG, b. ca. 1769; d. Bef. May 1808; m. ELIJAH FITZGERALD, 1792, Madison Co., KY.
4. DAVID BRANDENBURG, b. 02 Jan 1772, Middletown, Frederick Co., MD; d. 04 Oct 1842, Clark Co., KY; m. AGNES MORTON, 25 Jul 1795, Clark Co., KY; b. 10 Apr 1776, Virginia; d. Bef. 1842, Clark Co., KY.
5. NANCY BRANDENBURG, b. ca. 1773, Frederick co., VA; d. 05 Oct 1842, Clark Co., KY; m. JOHN WARREN, 1793, Clark Co., KY.
6. SAMUEL BRANDENBURG, b. ca. 1774, Hampshire Co., VA; d. ca. 1846; m. (1) MATILDA BARNES; m. (2) SALLY HENSON, 1797, Madison Co., KY.
7.JOHNATHAN BRANDENBURG, b. ca. 1775, Westchester, VA; d. 16 Jul 1854, Harrison Co., IN; m. AMY ANN JENKINS.
8. SOLOMON BRANDENBURG, b. 12 Apr 1777, Virginia; d. ca. 1845, Probably Meade Co., KY; m. ELIZABETH SWAN, 14 May 1804, Meade Co.,KY; b. 1780; d. 28 Dec 1838, Meade Co., KY and is buried in Fontaine Cemetery at Brandenburg.
9. JOHN BRANDENBURG, b. Mar 1779, Hampshire Co., VA; d. 20 Jun 1843; m. CATHERINE CUMMINGS, 10 Feb 1813, Fayette Co., KY.
10. SARAH BELLE 'SALLY' BRANDENBURG, b. ca. 1781, Hampshire Co., VA; d. 07 Sep 1821; m. WILLIAM VERTREES, 25 Mar 1800, Hardin Co., KY.
11. CATHERINE "CATTY" BRANDENBURG, b. ca. 1785, Hampshire Co., VA; d. Aft. 1850; m. THOMAS C. GREEN, 08 Dec 1808, Clark Co., KY.
12. ABSOLOM 'CHOCTAW' BRANDENBURG, b. 1786, Hampshire Co., VA; d. Oct 1851; m. (1) (__) BIERLEY; m. (2) (__); m. (3) ESTER FRAKES, 15 Aug 1815, Harrison Co., IN; m. (4) NANCY BAKER, 24 Jan 1819, Estill Co., KY; m. (5) SUSANNA WISEMAN, 14 May 1838.
13. HESTER 'HETTY' BRANDENBURG, b. ca. 1788, Hampshire Co., VA; d. 1849; m. DAVID RENE LEFORCE, 30 Sep 1826, Clark Co., KY.
14. RUTHA BRANDENBURG, b. ca. 1790.

Family links:  Spouse:  Matthias Brandenburg (1738 - 1806) * Children:  Henry Emerson Brandenburg (1765 - 1838) * Joseph Brandenburg (1767 - 1864) * Hester Brandenburg LaForce (1788 - ____)

**Calculated relationship  

Burial:  Fontaine Cemetery Meade County Kentucky, USAEdit Virtual Cemetery info [?] Created by: Lonnie HILLARD Wolgamott Record added:  Apr 25, 2006 Find A Grave Memorial #14068465" She died on 19 September 1821 at the age of 77 in Brandenburg, Meade County, KY.4 She was buried at Fontaine Cemetery in Brandenburg, Meade County, KY.6 (Her surname may have been spelled "Wolgamot.")

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Matthias "Tice" BRANDENBURG and Hester WOHLGEMUTH had the following children:

+3

i.

Henry Emerson BRANDENBURG Sr..

+4

ii.

Joseph BRANDENBURG Sr..

+5

iii.

Elizabeth BRANDENBURG.

+6

iv.

David BRANDENBURG.

+7

v.

Nancy BRANDENBURG.

+8

vi.

Samuel BRANDENBURG.

+9

vii.

Jonathan BRANDENBURG.

+10

viii.

Solomon Preston BRANDENBURG.

+11

ix.

John Henry BRANDENBURG.

+12

x.

Sarah Belle "Sally" BRANDENBURG.

+13

xi.

Catherine "Catty" BRANDENBURG.

+14

xii.

Absolom "Choctaw" BRANDENBURG.

+15

xiii.

Hester "Hetty" BRANDENBURG.

+16

xiv.

Ruth BRANDENBURG.