The Origin of the Famous American Hüsters

by Wilhelm Hartnack, 1957

The above noted well-regarded critic’s views to the statements of Isaak Hiester in regards to the Hüster (or Huester) home in Germany, at this point, we can restore the data that can be obtained only from the source.

Isaak Hiester assumed, from a recorded notation in Daniel Hiester’s prayer book (a baptism record for Johann in 8 Jan. 1708), that the three wandering Hüsters from Elsoff were first brothers (John, Joseph and Daniel as they were known) and second sons of Johann Jost and Katherine Closs Hüster.

To clarify this initial misunderstanding, it must first be explained that the first names – as translated into American words – became John for Johannes or Johann and the misleading distortion of Jost became Joseph. Take care to note that the Pennsylvania Governor was not this Joseph, but is the son of Johann (John) and the nephew of Jost and Daniel.[1]

Essentially the contradiction in Isaak Hiester’s ascertains is to assume that the parents of Johann, Jost, and Daniel are Johannes Hüster and wife Anna Katharina as a result of the notation in the prayer book belonging to Daniel. However, they were then listed as Johann Jost Hüster and wife Anna Katharina according to the baptismal record of a “Johann” for 1708. This is the root of the problem for the books list five further baptism records: three times for Johannes Hüster and wife Anna Katharina, and two times for Johann Jost Hüster and his wife Anna Katharina.

The American Isaak Hiester had a great deal of joy in 1907 when he traveled to Germany. Because he was unfamiliar with German script and the church books were difficult to read, he was unaware of the difference in the names Johann and Johann Jost. He assumed they were one and the same for both had wives named Anna Katharina. A result of this caused this great error to arise.

At the same time in Elsoff lived two couples: Johannes Hüster, wife Anna Katharina [Marburger] and Johann Jost (called Jost) Hüster and wife Anna Katharina [Closs], also called Anna Kätta (or Kaetta). There was also at this time a Johannes Hüster “hic zu Elsoff” with wife Anna Gertraun Chun, but they are not to be here included.

  1. First to Johann Jost Hüster and Anna Katharina Closs, whom the American researcher [Isaak Hiester] assumes as the parents of the three brothers. This Johann Jost Hüster is the son of Theiss Hüster from Beddelhausen, where he (Johann Jost) was baptized on 5 December 1672. In Elsoff at the “Bruecke-Haus” (bridge house) on 19 May 1697, Johann Jost Hüster of Beddelhausen married Katharina Cloos (or Closs or Kloss), born 28 January 1673, the daughter of Bernhard Closs of the “Bruecke-Haus”. Johann Jost Hüster died in Elsoff at the “Bruecke” on 6 August 1722, as recorded in the death register. His wife died as Widow Hüster on 19 January 1747.
  2. Now to Johannes Hüster and wife Anna Catharina. About this Johannes Hüster, the death register states that at the age of 52, on 9 November 1714, he was buried. According to this entry, “On the 5th of November 1714 at the age of 52 is Johannes Hüster returned to the earth”. By this documentation of his age at death, we therefore know he was born in 1662. Unfortunately, there is a gap in the pages in the baptismal records between 15 October 1654 and the end of December 1667 in which his birth would have been recorded; therefore, we are unable to trace his parentage. His marriage record, severely damaged and at the edge of the page, records a marriage on “4 December 1701of Johannes Höster (or Höchster the name Hüster was also often listed “Höchster” (or Hoester, Hoechster)) to Anna Catharina [some words are missing here, presumably ‘daughter of’] Hans Wilhelms Marburger, high count (portion cut out) to the old K”. There is a possibility that the city from which Johannes Hüster (or someone else) came was Allendorf. It is possible that this marriage record is not 100% certain, but it is the only one in the complete book of records that “fit the bill”.
  3. The only other one would come into question would be for an Anna Katharina Becker from Wemlighausen who, on 12 January 1701, married a Johann Jakob Hüster, or also called “Hoese”.

In any case, Johannes Hüster (#2) died on 9 November 1714 and his widow was remarried on 17 January 1716 to Johannes Althauß (or Althauss) who was baptized on 4 January 1680, the son of Johannes Althauß, now to help the accumulation of this history, are the two sources from archives of the Schloss Wittgenstein. In the Salbuch-Register (Wittgensteiner Archive W58), is the ‘breakdown record’ of the families in Elsoff for 1736-1743, with ages given for the family of Johannes Althauß and wife Anna Kätta, Johannes Hüster’s widow.

1736 / 1738 / 1743
Althauß, Johannes / 60
Althauß, Anna Kätta (wife) / 60
Hüster, Johannes / 26
Hüster, Johann Jost / 24 in Holland / 26 / Emigrated 1737
Hüster, Johan Daniel (Löher) / 22 / 23 / Emigrated 1737
Althauß, Christ / 16 / 20
Althauß, Anna Maria / 19 / 22

Here we find the whole family is listed as one as pays for the complete household. Although Johannes Hüster had left in 1736, he is still counted. Johann Jost was in Holland in 1736, and Daniel was at home working as a tanner, a profession he also had in America. A notation is given by Jost’s and Daniel’s entry as to their having emigrated in 1737.

The other Hüster family is also listed in the archive, although Johann Jost Hüster had died in 1722 in the “Brücke-Haus”, the family was listed in the “breakdown record” as residing at the “Brücke” house between 1736 through 1743.

1736 / 1738 / 1743
Baetzel, Jost Jr.
Hüster, Anna Maria (wife)
Baetzel, Johan Jost / 15
Baetzel, Daniel / In between
Baetzel, Johan Georg / In between
Baetzel, Christine / In between
Baetzel, Maria Elizabeth / 1 ½
Hüster, Jost’s widow Katharina, and mother-in-law
Hüster, Johannes / 24
Hüster, Christine / In between
Hüster, Anna Katharina / 30
Kloss, Konrad, brother of the widow

Therefore, to further refine the identity of these families with more certainty is no longer possible. The widow of this Jost Hüster lived in 1736 and the records show no sons named Jost and Daniel.

Out of these arguments, using the reference from the Archive (page 97 and page 35) and the notation in Daniel’s prayer book that the American emigrated Hiesters were from the house of Johannes Hüster and Anna Catharina Marburger (page 35), and not as recorded by the American researcher to be from the house of Jost Hüster and Anna Katharina Closs of “Brücke-Haus” (page 97).

Unfortunately, I cannot specify the actual home from which the Hüster brothers came (page 35). Assumedly, it is the home, which previously was called the “Scheid” (version of the name of the first owners). It is the only house in which many generations of Hüster (1610: Mannus Hüster), 1721 the home of Johannes Althauß, and in 1790, it belonged to Johann Zacharias (junior). The first owners were Endres Scheidt in 1567, and thereafter and Eberhardt Breusing,

Only for the necessary clarification on Isaak Hiester’s story, then must we follow this story from the office of the village Mayor’s blotter for the 23rd of April 1737, in which the two younger Hüsters, stepsons of Johannes Althauß are mentioned.

As Johannes Hüster had gone to America as the family vanguard, the two brothers followed in 1737. Over their departure, the school “official” [superintendent or truant officer], J.C. Fischer reported about how nothing was known until 12 hours later. After making a spirited and secret event occur that would assist them, ran away from home in the evening of Easter Sunday, the 22nd of April 1737 as they made their first and headlong steps to a new and uncertain future. It reads under abolishment of the [schwulstigen]’s initially and complimentary closing phrases according to the school official J.C. Fischer:

“Late yesterday evening some young men and women noisily left the house of Peter Heger(s)[2] at Christianseck near Diedenshausen[3] and headed into an experience that, after inquiries, implicates some additional young men and girls who would be captured [pinsulfanige[4]]. Immediately this morning, they were specified as follows: the stepsons of Johannes Althauß – Jost Hüster and Daniel Hüster, Jacob Köhler’s son Johannes, Johannes Gelbachs’ son Christ, Johan Zacharias’ son Daniel, George Benner’s two daughters Christina and Maria, Jacob Gernand’s son George, all who left after the lecture [Bredige] and headed to Hallenberg [5]on Easter Monday [to sell items]. Since Johannes Gelbach has a large sheep trade, there were most probably some single sheep still to be seen under the [missing text]. While I have made inquires in these three municipalities and no one has made a confession or plead guilty, when I inquire of the brothers Johann Jacob Gelbach and Johannes Gelbach as to who the real debaucher or seducer is who has made promises to George Benner’s daughters, the brother of Johan Jacob[6] has some knowledge of these affairs and knew about the efforts to carry away some of Johann Jacob Gelbach’s sheep, and who had made a local pole. When asked in front of the most gracious landowners and before his brother as to who secretly had cut down an ash tree [bieret (echappiert)] and was involved in these crimes, after hearing the proceedings these most gracious gentleman determined to discharge the things in prohibition which had occurred, which hereby [no further text].”

J.C. Fischer (School Superintendent/Truant Officer)

[1] Name and confusion exists with Anna Catharina [Marburger] and Anna Katharina [Closs], and nickname confusion with both using Anna Kätta. H. Girdley.

[2] Presumably, the brother to Jonathan Hager of Christianseck, who immigrated to America on 1-September-1736. H. Girdley.

[3] North of Christianseck. H. Girdley.

[4] Many words are ‘old German’, and are no longer translatable. H. Girdley.

[5] Northeast of Diedenshausen. H. Girdley.

[6] Johannes, the father of Christ. H. Girdley.