Sanfleben, Elizabeth

Abt 1698 - 1760  (~ 62 years)

• Name	Sanfleben, Elizabeth
  Born	Abt 1698	Germany
  Gender	Female
  Died	13 Mar 1760	Liberty County, Georgia, USA
  Person ID	I7447	Coursey-Sansing Tree
  Last Modified	17 Nov 2020

  
  

  Family	Schneider, Johannes Michael (Hans),   b. Abt 1691, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany ,   d. 21 Sep 1757, Effingham County, Georgia, USA  (Age ~ 66 years)
  Last Modified	17 Nov 2020
  Family ID	F3093	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Biography   Elizabeth came with her brother from the Palatine area of the Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) to the Salzburger settlement in Ebenezer, Georgia. She became the second wife of a Palentine, Hans Michael Schneider, the community cowherd, who had signed indentures for himself and his family for passage to the Georgia colony. When their boat docked in Savannah harbor, their indentures were purchased by Gen. James Oglethorpe and presented to the Salzburgers at Ebenezer. Hans Michael's wife died the next year leaving him with two small sons. Elizabeth and Hans Michael were married in the Jerusalem Lutheran Church of Ebenezer by the Rev. Boltzius who described the marriage sermon in his daily records. They lived in a cabin "at the plantations" some distance from Ebenezer where Michael was assigned as community cowherd. (This area is now part of the Fort Stewart Military Reservation.) Later, Pastor Boltzius announced that another cowherd was being assigned to "the plantations" and Hans Michael would be cowherd for the orphanage. "Much good is being done for him, also an opportunity is being given them to establish a household of their own." He was given "a fine piece of land" and he built a cabin, a separate kitchen and pens for his cattle. After the death of Hans Michael on September 27, 1757, Elizabeth continued living "at the plantations" with her youngest stepson. Her older stepson lived next door with his family. The stepsons sent word to town that their stepmother was gravely ill and requested a visit from the pastor. Pastor Boltzius arrived several days later, read scripture, had prayer and "helped her prepare for a good death." He described the visit in his daily records and referred to the good care given her by her stepsons. Several days later, Pastor Boltzius made the notation in his daily record that the elderly widow of Hans Michael Schneider died March 13, 1760. Elizabeth was sixty-two years old. NOTE: Pastor Boltzius' records were written in German and have been translated in recent years giving almost a daily record of activities in the community. In the tradition brought with them from Europe, a village was laid out and town lots assigned families for their main cabin. Plots were assigned around the edge of the village for gardens, milk cows and poultry. They also had fields and a cabin assigned several miles away at "the plantations" where they farmed. They walked back and forth from the village to their fields staying in their cabins there as needed. In time some families remained at "the plantationd" and only walked to Ebenezer for special events at Jerusalem Church. A herd of community cattle was kept at "the plantations" and a cowherd assigned to live in the area and care for them. - Blanche Keating Collie