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DNA
HISTORY OF HEISKELL SIDE OF FAMILY |
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The Netherlands and Germany in the early 1500s were referred to as being Dutch. Both the Netherlands and parts of Germany were part of the Holy Roman Empire. It appears the family of brothers Benjamin, Johann Christof and Johann Michael Heiskell (Heuschel) fled the Rhine Region wars in Germany to a new life across the German/Netherlands border to Rotterdam Netherlands, where the brothers were born and from which they then migrated to Pennsylvania in America. Regardless of which country they resided in, they were "Dutch" at that point in time. DNA Match: 5th GREAT GRANDPARENTS, JOHANN (Joh) CHRISTOF "Christopher" HEISKELL (Heuschkell) married EVA E. FITZGERALD Your 5th GGfather Johann "Christopher", was born in 1727 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. Per findagrave he was born not in 1727 as many sources claim, but instead in the month of Sept. 1724. These three brothers Heiskell (Heuschel) (Heuschkehl) immigrated
to America via Philadelphia PA on August 25, 1750 on the Ship
Johann Christof Heiskell married Eve E. Fitzgerald in 1752 in Virginia. Eve was born in 1730 in Amsterdam and immigrated to America where she married. Eve died on September 2, 1788 several years before her husband died in 1803. She evidently died in Frederick, VA. Her origins may not have been other than the Netherlands.They had several children, including your 4th Great Grandfather, Peter Henry Heiskell, Sr. Christopher Heiskell was one of the founders of the original
evangelical German Lutheran Church in Winchester, VA. There are two plaques on
the restored wall of this church
DNA Match: 4th GREAT GRANDPARENTS, PETER HENRY HEISKELL and SUSANNA WEITZEL Your 4th GGfather Peter Henry Heiskell was born in Winchester, VA when his mom was 30 and dad Johann Christof was 33. He married your 4th GGmother on May 13, 1783. Your 4th GGmother Susanna "Susan" Weitzel was born in 1765 in Winchester VA to Christopher and Mary Bonnet Weitzel. Susanna was 2nd generation American. Her grandparents, Johan Jacob Weitzel and Mary Barbara Geist Weitzel were both born in Germany. Johan Jacob died at age 100. Hoffenheim, Heidelberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
To me, the most fascinating thing about your 4th GGdad occurred when Thomas Jefferson's family found themselves in deep debt following his death. After struggling for several years, they had to sell Monticello due the high debts of Jefferson. The Executor's Sale was held in the winter of 1831. James Barkley purchased the mansion then and owned it for three years before selling to U. S. Navy Officer Uriah Levy who ultimately saved Monticello from further ruin. http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/56500/56526/56526_gig_jefferso.htm When the Barkleys made their purchase, they sold off or gave away many of Jefferson's possessions that came with their purchase, including the carriage, or gig, that Jefferson had ridden to Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. This gig was presented to Peter Heiskell of Staunton. This is an important and famous gift from the Jefferson estate to your 4th Great Granddad!
I found this story on Ancestry, but am uncertain as to its
source.
Peter died on November 4, 1841 in Staunton, VA, having
lived a full life of 82 years.
Susanna died on September l1, 1854, more than a decade after
losing he PS: Here is a portrait of Peter's sister Amelia Heiskell
(Mrs. Lauck).
DNA Match: 3rd GREAT GRANDPARENTS were Sarah Darnall Heiskell and her husband Joseph Benedict Hill, parents of your GGGrandfather John Oswald Hill Sr.
However, I do want to add another family story about Sarah and Joseph and their roving kids...:
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Click for DNA IMAGE ATTRIBUTION kbdoran |
"Phoenix"
arriving on 28 October 1750. The ship was captained by a John Mason and left
Rotterdam and came by way of Cowes, England This is one of the Palatine
German Immigrant Ships that arrived in Philadelphia. 
Johann died on
February 14, 1803 at the age of 76 in Winchester VA and is buried at the German
Lutheran Church Cemetery in Winchester City, VA. ï
In 1779
Peter was commissioned as an Ensign in the Virginia militia. He is an
approved name for SAR and DAR lineages.
r
husband Peter. She was 89 years of age. 
Sarah
and Joseph's grandson,3Gustavo Finotti, Jr.
married Mary Susan Heiskell of Kildare (a home in Oxon Hill), and then
returned with his new family to Yankton, SD. Susan and Gustavo Jr.
were listed in the Yankton 1920 census, where he had established himself as
the postmaster for Mission Hill SD. Also he owned in part a mercantile
named Finotti & Brothers. They lived in Yankton, SD the remainder of
their lives. Mary Susan Heiskell is your first cousin, 3x removed.
It is believed that the marriage period was the only time he returned to
Maryland.
Sarah's
granddaughter Sarah Mary Hill Finotti returned from SD and married James
Alexander Heiskell, the brother of Mary Susan Heiskell (Mrs. Gustave Finotti
Jr. above). They remained in PGC and are both buried at St. Ignatius.
James was also your cousin, 3x removed.
3Sarah's
grandson Frank Mary Finotti was a clerk for the Italian consulate while they
resided in Boston. Then they moved to Yankton too. Eventually
Frank came home and married Paulina Edelen of
Anacostia DC. He remained in DC and worked for 25 years at St.
Elizabeth's Hospital, as did so many of your ancestors. Frank was the chief
clerk at St. Elizabeth's for many of his years of service and even testified
before Congress regarding conditions at St. Elizabeth's. That must
have been interesting! Note: He is buried at Mt. Olivet cemetery in DC.
She is buried at St. Ignatius cemetery.
3Sarah's
grandson John Bernard Fitzpatrick Mary Finotti of PGC married Ella E.
Brooke, moved to Yankton, and then returned to DC. They are both buried at
Congressional Cemetery in DC. Ella was also your cousin, 3x removed.
