My Life Story by: George Johann Wolfhardt (From the Duhren Soulbook)

I, schoolmaster Georg Johann Wolfhardt, at present Minister to the noble V
enningen Estate, was born into this world at Nurtingen, in the highly comm
endable principality of Wurttemberg on 15 December 1601, at a little befo
re six O'clock in the morning.
My much loved late father was the venerable and well - learned schoolmast
er Alexander Wolfhardt, born in the little town of Waiblingen, who f
or 48 years was a truly zealous teacher and minister - four years Past
or at Strumpffelbach not far from Schorndorff, 26 years at Nurtingen, 14 y
ears advisor to the principality of Wurttemburg and Abbot at the Apirsba
ch Monastery in the Black Forest, dying there in his 73rd year; and the Al
mighty God, on the day of rejoicing will awaken him with all who believ
e, to eternal everlasting heavenly joy.
My well - beloved mother was the esteemed and virtuous Eleanora Wolfharti
n, nee Renzin, legitimate daughter of the venerable and well - learned Hei
nrich Renz, who for 33 years was advisor to the principality of Wurttembe
rg and Abbot at St. Georgen Monastery in the Black Forest.
My grandmother was the highly virtuous Frau Maria Renzin, nee Graettersi
n, daughter of the very esteemed and highly educated Herr Ulrich {Kaspe
r} Graeter. For many years Herr Ulrich and Christoph Hertzogen were cou
rt minister to his highness the Prince of Wurttemberg.
Through God's grace, I was born to my worthy Christian parents. Since no h
uman birth in this world; however pure it is can bring one to Salvatio
n, I was forthwith presented for Holy Baptism in the names of their highne
sses, the Prince and Frau Ursula Herzogen of Wurtemberg: since at the ti
me Her Grace was unwell, I was held at Holy Baptism by the very noble you
ng woman Elisabetha Von Karpffen, at that time a court maiden to their hig
hnesses, and also by the honorable and most respected Herr Balthasar Mutts
chelin, at that time in the service to their graces as overseer at Nurting
en. In Holy Baptism, the name George Hans was given to me because Her High
ness' late father, the Palatine Count of Lauttereckh, as well as her broth
er, who was staying then in Nurtingen, was so named.
From childhood I was kept in school by my aforesaid Christian parent
s. At Alpirsbach, my beloved late father had a private school for us child
ren. I was sent to Nurtingen in 1612, to Canstatt in 1614, to the elementa
ry school; and then, in 1616, to the high school at Tubingen; that same ye
ar I received a scholarship. In 1619, I graduated. In 1621, I became schoo
lmaster, that same year I began to study Theology. In 1625, I went to t
he Kraichgau and accepted a teaching position with Junker George Philipp v
on Venningen of Euchtersheim as a tutor to his son, Fridrich Rheinhar
t, to inform him in manners and studies. In 1626, I was promoted to the Eu
chtersheim Parish and on St. Andrews Day was presented to the Christian Co
mmunity, and ordained in the presence of the Reverend and well - learned H
err M. Johann Schweitzers, pastor at Michelfeld, M. Lazari Zieglers, past
or at Neydenstein, and M. Martini Zimmerman, pastor at Drehren.
And after I performed the pastoral duties there for seven and a half year
s, I was transferred by Junker Von Venningen in 1636, to Neydenstein, a
nd from there in 1637 to Duhren. Through the long, ruinous, highly trouble
some war (Thirty Years War), since no pastor at hand in the entire neighbo
rhood, except the pastor at Ravensberg, Johann Wolfgang Rabus, my true, hi
ghly trusted brother in Christ (who died in 1662 at Stultzfeld), I was som
etimes at Steinberg, and sometimes at Sinsheim, in which places, I held se
rvices; following these villages. I was to Neydenstein, Dassbach, Eschelbr
onn, Euchersheim, Eschelbach, Darmbach, Hofen, Michelfeld, Steinsberg a
nd Ittlingen. Many Sundays I had to travel four or five hours to bring t
he services to them. For many years meals I had to partake of a good dri
nk of water because no drop of wine could be brought to the villages. It h
appened several times that of all priests and Bavarian Clergy who heard co
nfession, I alone remained in the vicinity, and with the consent of the ma
yor and the honorable advisors, I had to baptize several children at sinsc
heim.
Since through the Almighty God, the God of Peace, Jesus Christ, our dear F
atherland, after many tribulations at great cost, enjoyed peace, and the v
illages in the area were restored and grew stronger, I took my leave litt
le by little of one parish and another.
Since the religious services at Eschelbach stopped after the death of He
rr M. Johan Caroli, the Monk of Hirschorn forbade all religious services f
rom 1636 until 1647. But finally, after humbly and imploringly beseechi
ng the ruling family many times, through God's grace the church again reop
ened and public religious services were again permitted; and I was request
ed by the neighboring community to preach for the first time the fourth Su
nday after Trinity in 1647. The Almighty God will still moreover preser
ve this same Christian Community his rich Word and Holy Sacraments until t
he coming of the Last Judgement. Amen.

First, I bid farewell to the parishes of Neydenstein, Eschelbronn, and Das
sbach on the 8th Sunday of Trinity, 1650. Since I had overseen the pari
sh at Neydenstein 17 years, at Eschelbronn 16 years, and Dassbach ten year
s, I gave up these parishes, not without great sorrow, pain and anguis
h, to the Reverand and well - learned Herr Petro Ursino of Speyr.
I released the Hofen parish after I had likewise overween the same pari
sh from Steinsberg, Sinscheim, and Duehren for 13 years, and I entrust
ed it to the Reverand and well - learned Herr M. Johann Christophors Wide
n, minister at Helmstadt, my true and constant friend until his death.
I left Michelfeld on September 15, 1654 and I entrusted the parish to t
he Reverend and well - educated Herr Adolpho Roselio on October 22.
From 1650, with the consent of the ruling family, I also looked after t
he Angeloch Parish from Duehren, until Jubilate Sunday, 1658, when the com
munity had become strengthened and should have it's own minister who wou
ld also oversee the school. I took my leave and in my place a pastor was o
rdained and the Reverend and well - educated Herr Michael Troje was presen
ted to the community.

Concerning my married state:
After I was promoted to the Euchersheim parish by my very gracious Junk
er von Venningen, I entered into Holy Matrimony, according to God's ordina
nce, and first I was married to the honorable and virtuous young lady, An
na Allgaieren, legitimate daughter of the late and Honorable and respect
ed Hans Allgaier, citizen of Entweihingen on 11 February 1627, and liv
ed in blessed matrimony for ten years five months, and one day, with her t
hrough God's blessing begat six children.

After the death of my beloved wife, I was married again, to the honorab
le and virtuous young lady, Anna Burckhartin from Kochendorff, legitima
te daughter of the esteemed Veit Burckhardt and Margaretha, her beloved mo
ther. The marriage was held at Ravensberg 22 February 1638, and was perfor
med by Johann Wolfgang Rabus, pastor there. And through God's blessing wi
th this my beloved wife, I have had six children.
---------------------------------------------------------------

GEORG JOHANN WOLFHARDT, (No. 8, page 1329), grandfather of Anna Kathari
na Wolfhardt Schwab, was born 15 December 1601 at Nuertingen, the son of A
lexander Wolfhardt and Eleanore Renz. He was pastor in Euchtersheim in 162
6, in Neydenstein in 1633, and in Duehren in 1637. He married first Ann
a, daughter of Johann Allgayer in Enzweihingen. She died in 1637. On t
he 22 February 1638 he married ANNA, daughter of VEIT BURKHARDT in Kocherd
orf. By this marriage he had two sons, Johann Georg and Alexander Rudol
f. These two sons were born in the castle, and Fort of Steinsberg during t
he Thirty Years War. The Romanesque ruin of this castle can still be se
en near the village of Weiler about four miles from Duehren. Alexander Rud
olf Wolfhardt was pastor at Ottsmarshausen in 1664, in the monastery at Su
elzbach in 1667, and was city pastor in Weinsberg in 1693 and Gross Bottw
ar in 1703. Georg Johann Wolfhardt died at Duehren, 4 November 1670. A dia
ry written by Pastor Wolfhardt of Duehren is still preserved in the archiv
es of that town.

----------------------------------------------

STEINSBERG CASTLE

Georg Johann Wolfhardt left his family here during the 30 year War (1618-1
648) when he went out to the surrounding towns to serve as their pastor.
From the history: ,,After the occupation of the Palatine villages, he rema
ined the only Lutheran minister (in the area) and he looked after the sma
ll ruined villages. He lived partly in Duehren, partly at the Steinsberg C
astle, or in Sinsheim where he found refuge from the bands of roaming sold
iers behind the fortress walls. He made his way to the village parish
es in constant danger because of the always wild-roving soldiers and the p
estilence. He became known by the nickname, ,,The Travelling Schoolmaste
r" or the "Itinerant Pastor of Duehren."

------------------------------------------------