The Germanna Connection
Beginning in 1714 a group of immigrants from the Nassau Siegen region of Germany began arriving in Virginia. The first group of twelve families started what is today called the "first Germanna Colony". In 1717 and later other groups of German
immigrants from the Kraichgau and Palatinate areas began arriving; these families are today designated as the "second Germanna Colony". Our Brattons are linked to both colonies.
The intersection of the Bratton family with those of the "first" Germanna colony came about with the marriage of John Bratton to Nancy Hitt on February 7, 1818 in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky. Nancy's parents were Aaron Hitt and Catherine Holtzclaw, both of whom were descendants of immigrants from the Nassau-Siegen region of Germany. The immigrants were Peter Hitt, who married another immigrant Elizabeth Utterback/Otterbach, and Johann (John) Holtzclaw who married the widow Mrs. Catherine Russell Thomas. A pedigree chart of Nancy Hitt showing the Germanna connection is shown below.
immigrants from the Kraichgau and Palatinate areas began arriving; these families are today designated as the "second Germanna Colony". Our Brattons are linked to both colonies.
The intersection of the Bratton family with those of the "first" Germanna colony came about with the marriage of John Bratton to Nancy Hitt on February 7, 1818 in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky. Nancy's parents were Aaron Hitt and Catherine Holtzclaw, both of whom were descendants of immigrants from the Nassau-Siegen region of Germany. The immigrants were Peter Hitt, who married another immigrant Elizabeth Utterback/Otterbach, and Johann (John) Holtzclaw who married the widow Mrs. Catherine Russell Thomas. A pedigree chart of Nancy Hitt showing the Germanna connection is shown below.
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Much research has been done on the immigrants from the Nassau-Siegen region of Germany. A wealth of information can be found by contacting The Germanna Foundation (http://germanna.org/). The foundation's publication Germanna Record No. 5 is particularly valuable: Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714-1750, by B. C. Holtzclaw, published 1964. In addition, much more research has been done since then and is available through the foundation.
The Bratton family also intersects with the "second" Germanna colony through the marriage of Aaron Hitt Bratton, son of John Bratton and Nancy Hitt, to Ann Kabler, daughter of Elijah Kabler and Catherine Vaughan. This marriage occurred in Bracken County, Kentucky on November 24, 1842. Elijah Kabler was a descendant of immigrant Frederick Kabler/Kapler/Cobler and his wife Barbara. A pedigree chart for Ann Kabler follows.
The Bratton family also intersects with the "second" Germanna colony through the marriage of Aaron Hitt Bratton, son of John Bratton and Nancy Hitt, to Ann Kabler, daughter of Elijah Kabler and Catherine Vaughan. This marriage occurred in Bracken County, Kentucky on November 24, 1842. Elijah Kabler was a descendant of immigrant Frederick Kabler/Kapler/Cobler and his wife Barbara. A pedigree chart for Ann Kabler follows.
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The Germanna Foundation (http://germanna.org/) published a comprehensive study of the "second" Germanna colony. It is Germanna Recond No. 18: The Second Germanna Colony and Other Pioneers by John Blankenbaker, 2008.