Johannes Valentin Bressler, the founder of the Presley family that came to America, was born in Palatinate, Germany, 1669 in the village of Hochstadt or Neiderhochstadt. The Bressler family was first mentioned in 1494.
The Palatinate, historically also Rhenish Palatinate, is a region in southwestern Germany. It occupies roughly the southernmost quarter of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, covering an area of 5,451 square kilometres with about 1.4 million inhabitants. Its residents are known as Palatines.(Wiki)
Formerly a Celtic region, this area was conquered by the Roman Empire under Emperor Augustus in about 12 BCE, where after it was part of the Germania Superior province. During the decay of the Empire, Alamanni tribes settled here; their territory was conquered by Francia under King Clovis I about 496. From 511 onwards the area belonged to the eastern part of Frankish Austrasia, that—as Rhenish Franconia—became part of East Francia according to the 843 Treaty of Verdun. (Wiki)
Valentine was employed there as a vine dresser or vintner; he married about 1695 in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany Anna Christiana Franse (Frantzel), born Germany 1674. I have seen her name listed as Anna Catharina Franse.
Together they set sail for New York in Nov 1709 and arrived on 14 June 1710, on the ship named "Fame", Captain Walter Houxton, from London. In June 1710, approx. 2,400 Palatinate, Germans arrived in New York and New Jersey from England.
Per the ship's registry; Johann Valentin Bressler, 41, his wife, Anna Christiana, 36, and children; Anna Elisabetha, 14, Anna Gertrud, 12, Andreas, 6, Antoni, 4, and son 1-1/2.
Johannes was shortened to Johann and then John.
In the early generations of the family, in America, the German surnames were often Anglicized. After 1770, many members of the family changed their last name to Pressley or Pressly.
Thus, Presley was Pressley, Pressly, Preslar or Presler, which was derived from Bresslar or Bressler, which was derived from Breslau, which is a city in Poland, a former German city.
For a history read, google "Siege of Breslau".
Also, Google "History of Wroclaw".
There is also a Bressler, PA, which would lead one to think there was a German heritage in this town. This town had a population of 18,155 in 1790.
I do not know if this person was of Jewish German descent.
Johann is listed as head of family and member of the Collegiate Church, Manhattan, New York, as of 1 JAN 1714. (Source: Thomas Mclehaney)
Some of the information stated in this memorial is from Charles Boetsch. On 23 SEP 2017, Charles states "I have researched this family for the past two decades from many sources, including the church records (baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials) in Germany."
Memorial #115572935 JOHANNES VALENTIN BRESSLER PRESSLER PRESLER created 16 AUG 2013 by Suzanne E Presley and maintained by Suzanne E Presley, my great grandfather several times.
Last update 30 JAN 2022
The Palatinate, historically also Rhenish Palatinate, is a region in southwestern Germany. It occupies roughly the southernmost quarter of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, covering an area of 5,451 square kilometres with about 1.4 million inhabitants. Its residents are known as Palatines.(Wiki)
Formerly a Celtic region, this area was conquered by the Roman Empire under Emperor Augustus in about 12 BCE, where after it was part of the Germania Superior province. During the decay of the Empire, Alamanni tribes settled here; their territory was conquered by Francia under King Clovis I about 496. From 511 onwards the area belonged to the eastern part of Frankish Austrasia, that—as Rhenish Franconia—became part of East Francia according to the 843 Treaty of Verdun. (Wiki)
Valentine was employed there as a vine dresser or vintner; he married about 1695 in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany Anna Christiana Franse (Frantzel), born Germany 1674. I have seen her name listed as Anna Catharina Franse.
Together they set sail for New York in Nov 1709 and arrived on 14 June 1710, on the ship named "Fame", Captain Walter Houxton, from London. In June 1710, approx. 2,400 Palatinate, Germans arrived in New York and New Jersey from England.
Per the ship's registry; Johann Valentin Bressler, 41, his wife, Anna Christiana, 36, and children; Anna Elisabetha, 14, Anna Gertrud, 12, Andreas, 6, Antoni, 4, and son 1-1/2.
Johannes was shortened to Johann and then John.
In the early generations of the family, in America, the German surnames were often Anglicized. After 1770, many members of the family changed their last name to Pressley or Pressly.
Thus, Presley was Pressley, Pressly, Preslar or Presler, which was derived from Bresslar or Bressler, which was derived from Breslau, which is a city in Poland, a former German city.
For a history read, google "Siege of Breslau".
Also, Google "History of Wroclaw".
There is also a Bressler, PA, which would lead one to think there was a German heritage in this town. This town had a population of 18,155 in 1790.
I do not know if this person was of Jewish German descent.
Johann is listed as head of family and member of the Collegiate Church, Manhattan, New York, as of 1 JAN 1714. (Source: Thomas Mclehaney)
Some of the information stated in this memorial is from Charles Boetsch. On 23 SEP 2017, Charles states "I have researched this family for the past two decades from many sources, including the church records (baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials) in Germany."
Memorial #115572935 JOHANNES VALENTIN BRESSLER PRESSLER PRESLER created 16 AUG 2013 by Suzanne E Presley and maintained by Suzanne E Presley, my great grandfather several times.
Last update 30 JAN 2022
Johannes Valentin Bressler, the founder of the Presley family that came to America, was born in Palatinate, Germany, 1669 in the village of Hochstadt or Neiderhochstadt. The Bressler family was first mentioned in 1494.
The Palatinate, historically also Rhenish Palatinate, is a region in southwestern Germany. It occupies roughly the southernmost quarter of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, covering an area of 5,451 square kilometres with about 1.4 million inhabitants. Its residents are known as Palatines.(Wiki)
Formerly a Celtic region, this area was conquered by the Roman Empire under Emperor Augustus in about 12 BCE, where after it was part of the Germania Superior province. During the decay of the Empire, Alamanni tribes settled here; their territory was conquered by Francia under King Clovis I about 496. From 511 onwards the area belonged to the eastern part of Frankish Austrasia, that—as Rhenish Franconia—became part of East Francia according to the 843 Treaty of Verdun. (Wiki)
Valentine was employed there as a vine dresser or vintner; he married about 1695 in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany Anna Christiana Franse (Frantzel), born Germany 1674. I have seen her name listed as Anna Catharina Franse.
Together they set sail for New York in Nov 1709 and arrived on 14 June 1710, on the ship named "Fame", Captain Walter Houxton, from London. In June 1710, approx. 2,400 Palatinate, Germans arrived in New York and New Jersey from England.
Per the ship's registry; Johann Valentin Bressler, 41, his wife, Anna Christiana, 36, and children; Anna Elisabetha, 14, Anna Gertrud, 12, Andreas, 6, Antoni, 4, and son 1-1/2.
Johannes was shortened to Johann and then John.
In the early generations of the family, in America, the German surnames were often Anglicized. After 1770, many members of the family changed their last name to Pressley or Pressly.
Thus, Presley was Pressley, Pressly, Preslar or Presler, which was derived from Bresslar or Bressler, which was derived from Breslau, which is a city in Poland, a former German city.
For a history read, google "Siege of Breslau".
Also, Google "History of Wroclaw".
There is also a Bressler, PA, which would lead one to think there was a German heritage in this town. This town had a population of 18,155 in 1790.
I do not know if this person was of Jewish German descent.
Johann is listed as head of family and member of the Collegiate Church, Manhattan, New York, as of 1 JAN 1714. (Source: Thomas Mclehaney)
Some of the information stated in this memorial is from Charles Boetsch. On 23 SEP 2017, Charles states "I have researched this family for the past two decades from many sources, including the church records (baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials) in Germany."
Memorial #115572935 JOHANNES VALENTIN BRESSLER PRESSLER PRESLER created 16 AUG 2013 by Suzanne E Presley and maintained by Suzanne E Presley, my great grandfather several times.
Last update 30 JAN 2022
The Palatinate, historically also Rhenish Palatinate, is a region in southwestern Germany. It occupies roughly the southernmost quarter of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, covering an area of 5,451 square kilometres with about 1.4 million inhabitants. Its residents are known as Palatines.(Wiki)
Formerly a Celtic region, this area was conquered by the Roman Empire under Emperor Augustus in about 12 BCE, where after it was part of the Germania Superior province. During the decay of the Empire, Alamanni tribes settled here; their territory was conquered by Francia under King Clovis I about 496. From 511 onwards the area belonged to the eastern part of Frankish Austrasia, that—as Rhenish Franconia—became part of East Francia according to the 843 Treaty of Verdun. (Wiki)
Valentine was employed there as a vine dresser or vintner; he married about 1695 in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany Anna Christiana Franse (Frantzel), born Germany 1674. I have seen her name listed as Anna Catharina Franse.
Together they set sail for New York in Nov 1709 and arrived on 14 June 1710, on the ship named "Fame", Captain Walter Houxton, from London. In June 1710, approx. 2,400 Palatinate, Germans arrived in New York and New Jersey from England.
Per the ship's registry; Johann Valentin Bressler, 41, his wife, Anna Christiana, 36, and children; Anna Elisabetha, 14, Anna Gertrud, 12, Andreas, 6, Antoni, 4, and son 1-1/2.
Johannes was shortened to Johann and then John.
In the early generations of the family, in America, the German surnames were often Anglicized. After 1770, many members of the family changed their last name to Pressley or Pressly.
Thus, Presley was Pressley, Pressly, Preslar or Presler, which was derived from Bresslar or Bressler, which was derived from Breslau, which is a city in Poland, a former German city.
For a history read, google "Siege of Breslau".
Also, Google "History of Wroclaw".
There is also a Bressler, PA, which would lead one to think there was a German heritage in this town. This town had a population of 18,155 in 1790.
I do not know if this person was of Jewish German descent.
Johann is listed as head of family and member of the Collegiate Church, Manhattan, New York, as of 1 JAN 1714. (Source: Thomas Mclehaney)
Some of the information stated in this memorial is from Charles Boetsch. On 23 SEP 2017, Charles states "I have researched this family for the past two decades from many sources, including the church records (baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials) in Germany."
Memorial #115572935 JOHANNES VALENTIN BRESSLER PRESSLER PRESLER created 16 AUG 2013 by Suzanne E Presley and maintained by Suzanne E Presley, my great grandfather several times.
Last update 30 JAN 2022
