Generation 6

Born: November 23, 1705 in Schmiden, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

Died: Abt. July 1780 in Germantown Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania 

Married:

Maria Magdalena Kauffman on April 26, 1729 in Schmiden, Germany. She was the daughter of Peter Kauffmann and Ursula Pfisterer. She was born August 7, 1706 in Schmiden, Germany and died November 26, 1733 in Schmiden, Germany. She passed away 2 days after her 4th child was born.

​

Regina Magdalena (Fueglin) Figel on February 2, 1736 in Kongen. She was the daughter of Johan Figel and Regina Kimmich. She was born August 26, 1710 in Oberesslingen, Germany and died Aft. November 1767 in Pennsylvania. 

​

Children with Maria Kauffmann: 

20.    Johann David Knittel (5yrs)

b. February 9, 1730 in Schmiden, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. June 6, 1735 Schmiden, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

21.    Ursula Knittel

b. March 4, 1731 in Schmiden, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. Unknown

22.   Margaretha Knittel (2yrs)

b. October 12, 1732 in Schmiden, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. February 26, 1734 in Schmiden, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

23.   Michael Joseph Knittel (56yrs)

b. November 24, 1733 in Schmiden, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. June 13, 1789 in Richmond Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. ​

Children with Regina Figel: 

24.   Regina Catharina Knittel (10yrs)

b. September 8, 1737 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. 14 June, 1747 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

25.   Christiana Friderica Knittel (4 mo.)

b. August 25, 1738 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. December 31, 1738 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

26.   Joseph Knittel (2 weeks)

b. August 27, 1739 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. September 10, 1739 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

27.   Johann Georg Knittel (76yrs)

b. October 9, 1740 in Ludwigsburg, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. October 12, 1816 in Mifflin Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

28.   Christian Friderich Knittel (5mo)

b. December 25, 1741 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. May 24, 1742 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

29.   Christiana Friderica Knittel (24+  yrs)

b. February 4, 1743 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. Aft. November 1767

30.   Joseph Knittel, Jr (40 yrs)

b. March 19, 1744 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. 1784 in Pennsylvania

31.   Benjamin Knittel 

b. March 19, 1745 Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. Bef. November 1767

32.   Maria Dorothea Knittel (7yrs)

b. March 3, 1746 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. January 15, 1753 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

33.   Regina Catharina Knittel (11 mo.)

b. November 20, 1747 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. October 15, 1748 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.. 

34.   Regina Margretha Knittel (17+ yrs)

b. November 19, 1750 in Evangelisch, Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.

d. Aft. November 1767

​

Immigration: 

Josef arrived at the port of Philadelphia, PA, aboard the ship Patience. She was skippered by Capt. Hugh Stele, having sailed from the port of Rotterdam and last from Cowes, England, arriving on Monday, September 17, 1753. He took the Swearing of Allegiance Ceremony (Qualification No. 108) in front of the Philadelphia Court House, present at these ceremonies was Benjamin Franklyn, Esquire. 

​

The Patience was a 200-ton ship, had 8 guns, and a crew of 16. Clipper ships carried passengers, but were built for speed and cargo. In 1748, the 'Patience' carried 122 men over 16 years old; in 1749, 137 min, 270 persons; in 1750, 124 min, 266 persons; in 1751, 255 persons, in 1752, 260 persons, and in 1753, 108 persons. It is said that the ship would have consisted of very tight quarters, due to the ship being smaller than others. 

​

As was the custom, before landing they were examined by a doctor for contagious diseases. If they found to be frail or sick or dying, they might have been excused or other wretched and miserable souls were pushed off the ship and onto the Philadelphia dock. Then they were presented with a bill for their voyage, including their trip down the Rhine, and any other additional advances for provision. The usual price was 14-17 Louis d'ors for the passage. However, if they could not pay, they were sold into what mounted to slavery to pay their debt. 

​

At that point, those men age 16 and over, who were well enough, were herded together and promptly marched a few blocks to the Philadelphia Court House. There, a periwigged representative of the King's government stood dressed in this starched, red jacket and firmly holding a silk handkerchief to his nose to avoid the health-threatening vapors of the filthy, stinking mob before him. In English, he administered the King's oath of loyalty. 

​

A soldier then directed the group to a nearby table where an interpreter explained that everyone must sign his name upon the B and C lists, two of three papers that were part of the 18th century immigration forms. Once all the forms were signed, Josef left the dock area and he probably passed close to the offices of Printer/Publisher Franklin, Esquire. 

​

Will: He signed a Last Will and Testament of Josef Knittel on November 21, 1767. In it, he indicates he was a Germantown labourer, was sick and weak of body. He left everything to his wife Regena, and then to his four children upon her death. The four children names are John George Knittel, Christina Freadrick Knittel, Joseph Knittle, and Regena Margaret Knittel.