Looking at the Lutheran Reformed Church records today. I am beginning to think that our Paul Ackerman who came to America in 1771 may have been married 3 times.
I see a record for Christening 4 June 1786 of Paul Jr where his mother was A Maria, or Anna Maria. John was born prior to Paul so we can assume that Anna Maria was also his mother.
Margaret and Catherine are mentioned in Pauls Will. Grouped together with John and Paul. I don’t have birth or Christening records for them. So may or may not have the same mother as John and Paul.
There is a record for Christening 8 Dec 1789 of Barbara listing her mother as Margaret. (maybe mother of Margaret and Catherine)
Then we have a record for Christening 23 Jun 1791 of Son Ackerman where it does not list a mother. This could mean that his mother was out of the picture possibly died at his birth and he lived a little while longer or that they are no longer together. I think if it was the latter she would still be listed.
Some are putting Paul’s wife as Anna Margaretha, however she was married until her husband Archibald Olewine died in 1789 and we have a marriage record for Paul and Anna Margaretha dated 1800.
With Margaret listed as mother to Barbara in 1789 and Paul listed in 1791 as the only parent of Son Ackerman my theory is that Margaret and son died at child birth or not far apart (again just a theory).
Since Margaretha’s Husband died in 1789. I just don’t think that Margaretha would be the mother of Barbara in 1789 if Barbara is in fact Paul’s daughter. Unless Barbara is Anna Margaretha and Paul is a Stepfather.
Here’s my theory,
Paul’s first wife was Anna Marie to which John and Paul were born. Margaret and Catherine we have no record except Paul’s Will. So it’s likely that Anna Maria is their mother but could be A Margaret. Barbara has A Margaret & Paul listed as parents possibly a second wife of Paul and died at Son Ackerman’s child birth. And since there is no more information on Barbara it’s possible she was already gone as well.
Paul meets Anna Margaretha sometime after 1781 and both of them being widowed have George in 1794, Henry in 1797 and Abraham in 1801 which are also grouped together in Paul’s Will. Barbara is not mentioned in Paul’s Will which also leads me to think she was already gone.
