My Patriot Ancestors – Marc W. Potteiger
Michel Renstchler and Johannes George Rentschler
Michael Rentschler and his wife Rosine left the town of Stammheim in the province Wuertemberg, Germany for America on 05 Apr 1754 and arrived in Philadelphia on the ship “Barclay” on 14 Sep 1754. The typical journey from Wuerttemburg to Philadelphia began with a trip, 8 days sailing time, down the Rhine River to Rotterdam in Holland.
From there the immigrants sailed across the North Sea to Cowes in England. This leg of the journey took about 6 days. From Cowes they sailed across the Atlantic to Philadelphia, a journey of two more months. The trip typically took up to six months due to layovers in each port and bad weather which could make each leg of the journey longer. The small ships carried hundreds of passengers at a time. There was very little space and no privacy. Many died and many more caught various diseases from their fellow passengers, arriving in America in ill health. Food often spoiled and bad weather could result in shortages of food and drinking water before reaching land. Due to the shortage of space, very few personal possessions could be packed. Possessions and money were often damaged by water, swept overboard during storms or stolen by fellow passengers. (“Journey to Pennsylvania” by Gottlieb Mitleberger c 1754; edited and translated by Oscar Handlin and John Clive, 1960)
Michael Rentschler and his family resided in Upper Bern, Pennsylvania. The township derives its name from Bern, in Switzerland which is not surprising given that its early residents came from central Europe. When the war broke out, he signed up with the local militia as a Private. He took the Oath of Allegiance May 16, 1778. It is recorded that he guarded prisoners as they were being moved from Reading to Lancaster. One of his children, Johannes George Rentschler, served with Michael in the Berne township militia.
Michael Rentschler was one of four trustees of the Lutheran congregation in Bern Township. They applied for a land warrant in 1767 to build a church for their congregation. St. Michael’s Church, a log building, was completed in August 1769. It was named for Reformed minister, Rev. Philip Michael. Over time, Bern Township was broken up into smaller townships. Today, St. Michael’s Union Church is located in Tilden Township.
Johannes George Rentschler was born 11 Oct 1756 in Bern Township and died on 24 Mar 1827. Johannes was a first generation American, born on his father’s farm between Blue Mountain and Hamburg in what is now Tilden Township. He served in Capt. Jacob Shertel’s Company of the Berks Co. Militia in the Revolutionary War. (The Michael Rentschler Family in America by Harvey Driebelbis.). Johannes was at the battle of Brandywine and was encamped at Valley Forge. Rentschler was promoted to an officer in 1777 and served with the Pennsylvania line and local Militia
