Coming to America
Johan Peter Steigerwald, known as Peter, was born in 1730 in the Hesse region of Germany and grew up in Floersbach, about 35 miles east of Frankfurt. In 1749 Peter is named on a Hesse Lutheran Parish registry with his father, Johannes (John), as one of the emigrants who left for Pennsylvania. Much like the Swiss Anabaptist movement, the early 1700’s saw large numbers of German Lutherans moving to the English Colonies in search of religious freedom.
Johannes and Peter traveled to Rotterdam, likely on the Rhine River, and boarded the ship “Rainier” sailing for Philadelphia. Father and son arrived in the colonies on September 26, 1749, and were immediately herded to the Philadelphia Court House to sign an oath pledging allegiance to England and agreeing to abide by the following dictates:
- Be true and faithful to King George.
- Abhor, detest and renounce as impious and heretical that wicked doctrine and position of the Pope or any authority in Rome.
- Acknowledge King George II as the lawful King of Great Britain and reject “pretenders”.
- Disclose all treasons and traitorous conspiracies made against King George.
the organ Lutheran church of Salisbury
Peter settled down in Berks County, Pennsylvania and married Mary Catherine Riegel in 1758. Sometime before 1774 Peter and Mary relocated to Rowan County, North Carolina. In 1774 Peter is listed with his brother Johan “John” Steigerwald on a list of congregation members who constructed the new Organ Lutheran Church in Salisbury. John also designed and constructed the pipe organ the church was named for, the first of it’s kind in North Carolina.
Church construction began in 1792 and completed about 1795. The pipe organ, constructed by John Steigerwald, remained in use until 1872.
Peter died in 1795, leaving his property to his son Peter Jr. His devotion to God is evidenced clearly by the beautiful sentiment at the beginning of his will.
sources
NCSU Libraries Digital Collections
Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society Preserving PA Dutch Culture
William Stierwalt
September 20, 2019I like your research. My father was from Philly. I am trying to find more info on his family. He didn’t tell me much about his family. His name is Paul W Stietwalt ret.tech.sgt usaf. He’s on Google.
Michelle
September 26, 2019Thank you, William. You may want to check out my blog post about how to begin researching your family tree: http://talesofourpast.com/finding-your-past/
If you need further assistance feel free to email me at info@talesofourpast.com
Stanley Stierwalt
November 28, 2020Very interested in my family history.
Michelle
December 4, 2020Hi Stanley,
Glad you stopped in and said hello. Our family lines probably connect somewhere back in the Stierwalt line.
Patricia Blair
February 18, 2021My mother’s maiden name was Stiarwalt. She was born and raised in Illinois; her father and grandfather were from Ohio, great-grandfather from Pennsylvania, and great-great-grandfather from Germany. I have a book titled Steigerwalt 1767-1979, which was in her library. Mom always felt the Stiarwalt’s and Steigerwalts were related somehow.
Michelle
February 18, 2021Hi Patricia,
Thank you for saying hello! Isn’t it funny how many spelling variations there are from the original Steigerwald? It is definitely possible that they are all related.
Pat Blair
February 18, 2021Yes, it is! I’m looking forward to connecting with the group.
Leslie Pride Boling
April 5, 2021Well done. I’ve been researching the Stierwalts also. My mother was Muriel Stierwalt, daughter of Harry Lee and Mattie Belle (Little) Stierwalt. Harry was one of Hezekiah’s sons and Claude’s brother. I recall my mother speaking of her uncle Claude and aunt Nina. I was happy to find your website.
Michelle
April 17, 2021Hi Leslie,
Thank you for saying hello! I would love to share photos and stories about the Stierwalts if you are interested. I will follow up with an email.
Michelle
Leslie
April 19, 2021I’d love to share. Just wondering if this is the Michelle I emailed with several years back when I first started my research….. (avoiding using your last name since this will be posted…)
Leslie
Michelle
April 25, 2021We definitely may have chatted in the past. I don’t see your email in my archive, but I have been researching the Stierwalt’s for a long time. 🙂