Person:Reisen Nighswonger (1)

Smoke Ferree CD - November 2004

Brøderbund WFT Vol. 7, Ed. 1, Tree #3118, Date of Import: Jun 8, 1997

According to Asa Nighswonger, Reisen's son (born 1828 testimonial in 1909) the family came from Prussia. However, the original spelling of the name is Neuenschwander, which is Swiss. The first Nighswongers of this line to reach America were probably Christian, along with his cousin (Jessie ?) and were the only survivors of the wreck of the ship which brought them from Europe. The ship contained two related Nighswonger families. At any rate both the cousins were raised by a Scotch woman.

Reisen moved to Illinois after his marriage. He fought in the Blackhawk Indian War under the command of Abraham Lincoln.

From the genealogy provided by Dale Nighswonger, the Nighswongers were in Switzerland in the mid 1600s and left for Germany (Prussia). A contradiction is hand written under Solomon "left Bremen, Germany before 1800 ." Yet Solomon's father John is listed as in Bototest County, Virginia with a marriage to Magdalena Cooper before 1755. His father, Christian is listed as born in Prussia, Germany, so this is the one who came over .

The Nighswongers in Switzerland were probably Anabaptists and thus subject to persecution both by Catholics and Protestants.

Per Dale, Reistaps "Armorial General", U.S. Library of Congress, Schwartzer Berne, describes the coat of arms as follows:

De Sin a un Sign a arg, Nagent sur un fasce ondre d'azur en pelaco on chef de deaux Croisettes d'Or, un Cyne demenere d'arce. Dale translates this as a shield with deep green background having a silver swan afloat on blue waters with a golden cross in each upper corner, surmounted by an open helmet on a wreath on which is a crest, a signet in flight.

The connection to Wolfgang and his son Jacob is not well documented, which is an indication that they either failed to survive or were not on the ship. Comments are under Reisen as we are absolutely certain he is an ancestor. An indication that the lineage is valid is provided by the names of the second and fifth children of Reisen which are Solomon, the name of his father and Magdalena, the name of his paternal grandmother. Reisin named his third child "Peter" and this is the name of the older brother of Reisin's father. So, it all fits very nicely.

1. ↑ Michael Smoke <Msmoke@@msn.com>. Smoke, Michael.

   1002 NE 198 Street Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Washington, 98155, Mikesmoke@@comcast.net, 1-206-362-0504

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Michael Smoke - mikesmoke@@comcast.net. Smoke Ferree CD - November 2004. (about November 2004).

   Date of Import: Apr 7, 2005

3. ↑ Estimated date.
4. ↑ Ferree, Roberta North & Barbara, Data Records. (unpublished).

   "Ferree, Roberta North & Barbara, Data Records," unpublished. adds Country.

5. ↑ Curry, Christine.
6. ↑ Notes. (See Notes Section for this information).
7.   Charles Heisterkamp, III, M.D..

   1949 Pine Drive, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, 17601-5529, [email protected]