Christian J. (probably Johann Christian originally) Rietesel was born April 10, 1856 in Sommerfeld, Nordvorpommern, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. I have little information on his family background, though the Riedesel/Rietesel name was at one time common in western Pomerania. His death certificate says that his father was also named Christian. Sommerfeld is part of the community of Prohn … Continue reading Christian J. Rietesel (1856) →

Georg Ludwig Riedesel was born January 12, 1825 in the small Wunderthausen house known then as Haase. He was the fourth child and third son of Ludwig and Florentine (Althaus) Riedesel. His father had inherited the tenancy through marriage. When he was 20, his entire extended family left Wunderthausen for a new life in Crawford County, … Continue reading Georg Ludwig (George) Riedesel (1825) →

Johann Ludwig Riedesel was born March 9, 1775 in Berleburg to Johann Georg Riedesel and Elisabeth Belz. He was a great-grandson of the famous builder, Mannus Riedesel and I believe that this particular line of Riedesels had a somewhat more-favored position. His father had “married in” to the town of Berleburg which in itself was … Continue reading Johann Ludwig Riedesel (1775) →

Johann Jost Riedesel was born April 23, 1825 in Wunderthausen as the eighth and last child of Georg Gabriel Riedesel and Florentine Riedesel (her maiden name). His father was the tenant in the house known as Försters am Lotzenberg. His prospects as a young man were limited, and going to America was increasingly an option. … Continue reading Johann Jost Riedesel (1825) →

According to family records, Ann Margaret Riedesel was born July 31, 1912 in Munkbarup, Germany. Her parents were Johann Friedrich Heinrich Riedesel and Emma Margaret Jacobsen who moved around Europe with some frequency. Most of the family had come to the U.S. in the pre-war years, but for what were said to be health reasons, … Continue reading Ann Margaret (Riedesel) Morehouse (1912) →

Philipp Riedesel [note the standard German spelling of his first name] was born December 22, 1860 in Wunderthausen, the fourth and last child of Georg Gabriel (aka Ludwig) Riedesel and his second wife, Elisabeth Amalia Knoche. His parents lived in the new house known as Schreiners or Großeludwigs. Philipp’s father had two wives by the … Continue reading Philipp John Riedesel (1860) →

Georg Ludwig Riedesel was born September 17, 1847 in Wunderthausen, the sixth child of Georg Gabriel (aka Ludwig) Riedesel and his first wife, Elisabeth Amalia Knoche. His parents lived in the new house known as Schreiners or Großeludwigs. His older brother, Johannes/John H., had come to America in 1854 and was established as a farmer … Continue reading Georg Ludwig (Louis D.) Riedesel (1847) →

Johann Georg Riedesel was born November 27, 1844 in Wunderthausen as the sixth child of Georg Gabriel (aka Ludwig) Riedesel and his first wife, Elisabeth Amalia Knoche. His parents lived in the new house known as Schreiners or Großeludwigs. We know nothing of his early life until  he arrived in New York on the ship Hansa … Continue reading Johann Georg (George D.) Riedesel (1844) →

Johann Heinrich Riedesel was born June 22, 1841 in Wunderthausen as the fourth child of Georg Gabriel (aka Ludwig) Riedesel and his first wife, Elisabeth Amalia Knoche. His parents lived in the new house known as Schreiners or Großeludwigs. He was almost certainly known by his middle name of Heinrich. It is said that he … Continue reading Johann Heinrich (Henry D.) Riedesel (1841) →

Johannes Riedesel was born November 11, 1833 in Wunderthausen as the first child of Georg Gabriel Riedesel (known as Ludwig) and Elisabeth Amalia Knoche. He was actually born in his mother’s house, known as Kellers. Within a few years, his father had established a new house known as Großeludwigs. Seven children were born to the … Continue reading Johannes (John H.) Riedesel (1833) →

Georg Gabriel Riedesel was born September 20, 1809 in Wunderthausen. For whatever reasons, he was known as “Ludwig” in Germany and Louis/Lewis in America. His next-older brother was just “Gabriel” so would have had claim on that Rufname (most-often one’s middle name). His father was a Ludwig Riedesel and his mother was born Maria Gertraud … Continue reading Georg Gabriel (Ludwig) Riedesel (1809) →

Georg Friedrich Riedesel was born August 19, 1852 in Wunderthausen. His was the youngest of six known children of Ludwig Heinrich and Anna Elisabeth (Kroh) Riedesel. The family lived in the Wunderthausen home known as Weymers. As was customary, he was known by his middle name. He came to the U.S. on the ship Holsatia … Continue reading Georg Friedrich (Fred) Riedesel (1852) →

Johannes Riedesel was born March 30, 1829 in Wunderthausen as the sixth (and youngest surviving) child of Ludwig and Florentine (Althaus) Riedesel. They were tenants in the small house known at the time as Haase. It was a full house by the time Johannes was a young man with three generations and other collateral kin. … Continue reading Johannes (John) Riedesel (1829) →

Heinrich Friedrich Riedesel was born January 11, 1856 in Wunderthausen. He was the youngest of eleven known children of Georg Ludwig and Maria Catherine (Homrghausen) Riedesel who lived in what was known as Seimes or Weißkopfs house. It is likely that he was the “H Riedesel” who came to New York on October 4, 1881, … Continue reading Heinrich Friedrich Riedesel (1856) →

Florentine Riedesel was born December 23, 1843 in Wunderthausen. She was one of eleven known children of Georg Ludwig and Maria Catherine (Homrghausen) Riedesel who lived in what was known as Seime. or Weißkopfs house. Florentine appears to have arrived in New York on the ship S. S. Donau out of Bremen on November 25, … Continue reading Florentine (Riedesel) Baumgartner/Strable (1843) →

Members of this family are known from the 1200s on. Their first known base was the town of Melsungen and they had possessions in various places, but are most closely associated with the area around Lauterbach (Hessen). Outside the town is the imposing fortress called Eisenbach from which came their title. The men of the … Continue reading Pictures: Riedesel Freiherren (Barons) zu Eisenbach →

Catherine Riedesel was born April 28, 1871 in Wunderthausen in the house Kirchstumpfs/Am Kloster which lies outside the main village. Its name comes from the cloister for nuns that existed nearby in the Middle Ages. She was the fifth of seven children of Georg Herman and Elisabeth (Homrighausen) Riedesel. Another Catherine born three years earlier … Continue reading Catherine (Riedesel) Mitchell (1871) →

Riedesels zu Josbach, Vers, Camberg and Bellersheim Clicking on the thumbnails below will open full-size images. Several other lines of knightly Riedesels are known from the 1300s onward, but all were extinct as members of the lower nobility before 1700. Not every member had the status of a Ritter (knight) and their lives were far … Continue reading Pictures: Other Noble Families →

In the church of the small village of Neumark is a grave and plaque for “Johann Riedesel zu Neumark.” He was an official in the court of Electoral Saxony and an associate of Martin Luther. His identity has long been a matter of disagreement. Some historic sources treat him as a member of the Riedesel … Continue reading Pictures: Neumark/Weimar →

Albert Peter Riedesel was born in Berlin on November 1, 1910 to Johann Friedrich Heinrich and Emma (Jacobsen) Riedesel. While the family had roots two centuries earlier in Wittgensten, members of this branch moved around a great deal. Albert’s father was born in Paris and eventually brought most of his family to America after he … Continue reading Albert Peter Riedesel (1910) →