This is the line from Samuel Koch Guldin that I descend from. I have
some information on the other families in this file and will be glad to
share anything I have with others who are interested in this family. Feel
free to let me know of any corrections or additions to this family. I have
placed some of my sources at the end
of this page. E-mail to Ginny Deagan (NEW E-MAIL:[email protected])
I. Samuel Koch Guldin was born 3 June 1664 in Bern, Switzerland. He was the son of Hans Joachim Gueldi/Guldin. and Anna Maria Koch. l married Mary Magdalina Malacrida who was born in Switzerland and was the daughter of Rev. Peter Malacrida and Esther Fischer.
The Guldin family were originally from St. Gall, Switzerland. There has been an interesting naming pattern in this family in the early generations. Each child, male and female, was given their mother's maiden name as a middle name. Samuel K. graduated from Bern University in 1679. He was assistant pastor at Bern Cathedral 1686 - 1699 but was dismissed from there because of his Pietistic views. He served at Boltigen, Switzerland in 1701 and in 1702, he went to northern Germany. From there he came \with his family to Philadelphia, arriving on the ship, “Maria Hope” on 23 September 1710.
Samuel K. Guldin was the first recorded minister of the German Reformed faith to settle permanently in Pennsylvania. He became the chaplain of the Pietist Community at Wissahickon on 1 December 1719. He also preached at Philadelphia, Oley, Roxboro and Germantown. In 1718, he made a brilliant defense of Pietists which has been incorporated into church history.
Samuel died on a farm that he owned in Roxboro on 31 December 1745 at age 79. He is thought to be buried in Warner’s Graveyard at Germantown, PA.
Children of Samuel K. and Maria Magdalina (Malacrida) Guldin:
II. Samuel Malacrida Guldin was born 8 November 1693 at Stettlen, Bern, Switzerland. He was the son of Rev. Samuel Koch Guldin and Mary Magdalena Malacrida. For many generations, the Guldin family used the mother’s maiden name as a middle name for all of their children. Samuel M. emigrated to America with his parents on September 10 1710. He was a blacksmith and about 1718, he moved to the Oley Valley area which became Berks County. He was married 22 May 1722 to Elizabeth Hilsabeck. She was born about 1696, probably in Switzerland to John Hilsabeck. Her mother’s name is unknown.
Samuel’s will was dated 24 September 1773 and probated 25 October 1773 in Berks County, PA. He mentions his “estate in Bern, which is likewise ready to be remitted over in this part of the world”.
Children of Samuel M. and Elizabeth (Hilsabeck) Guldin:
III. Daniel H. Guldin was born 20 April 1735 in Pennsylvania. He was the son of Samuel Malacrida and Elizabeth (Hilsabeck) Guldin. [his middle name was Hilsabeck, following the naming tradition of the Guldin family]. He was married 5 August 1762 to Catharina Elizabeth Gelbach. She was the daughter of John and Christina Gelbach, born 19 January 1742/43 in Berks County. She died 14 February 1786 in Oley, Berks Co. PA.
Daniel H. was a blacksmith. He died 14 August 1817 at age 82 in Oley Township, Berks County, PA.
Children of Daniel H. and Catharina Elizabeth (Gelbach) Guldin:
IV. Daniel Gelbach Guldin was born 23 June 1764 in Oley Township, Berks County, PA. He was the son of Daniel H. and Elizabeth (Gelbach) Guldin. He was married on 26 April 1791 to Anna Margaretha Spang. She was the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Becht[on] Spang, born 21 March 1766 in Oley, Berks County, PA. She died on 6 September 1823.
After Margaretha's death, Daniel G. Guldin was married again to Mrs. Hannah Bertolet Rapp Shoemaker, a widow. He died 13 January 1845 at age 79 and is buried in the Schwartzwald Cemetery, Berks County, PA.
Children of Daniel G. and Anna Margaretha (Spang) Guldin:
V. Elizabeth S. Guldin was born 6 January 1793 in Berks County, PA. She was the daughter of Daniel G and Margaretha (Spang) Guldin. Elizabeth was christened 18 May 1793 in Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading, PA. Her sponsors were grandparents, Michael and Elizabeth Spang. Elizabeth married Jacob Heeter and they moved to Clarion County, PA. She was the mother of twelve children. Elizabeth died 20 June 1865 at age 72 and is buried in Chestnut Ridge Cemetery near Turkey City, Clarion County, PA.
For children of Elizabeth S. Guldin and Jacob Heeter, see the Heeter Family Page.