The Forscht
family of south central Pennsylvania is a small family of Germans
from the area of modern Wertheim,Germany. The
original ancestor of this family in the US came to this
country in 1785 and landed at the port of Philadelphia
aboard the ship Favourit. The family consisted of Christopher and
Catharine Fersch and their children
George and Catherine. Their daughter Catherine had her
passage paid for and was bought off the ship the 1st day
after they landed. She worked for a least five and one
half years for a gentleman in Philadelphia.
The rest of the family worked for at least three and one half years
for a Miller in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. They
had a second daughter who was also named Catherine in
1787, she was christened in Lancaster. Eventually they
were reunited in southern York county about 1791.
Many members of the family have
continued to live in the same area for several hundred years.
There have been exceptions but
many of those who left have returned home at some point
in their lives. The total number of descendants must
number in the thousands, however I have only found about
500 through over 10 years of research.
Several years ago I had research performed for me in Germany by a local
historian of the Wertheim area. He was able to push the
family back seven additional generations. Church records
pushed the family line back to 1565 with a reference to
Valentin Fersch who was born about that time.
As with most genealogical projects there is never an end to the research.
The possibility of finding something
new or even overturning conclusions made by research done
at an earlier time is quit real. I hope that anyone who
reads this condensed history and recognizes any part of
it will please get in touch with me. I would be very
interested in hearing about any other research that has
been done on this family weather in Germany or the United
States. If anyone has anything to add or share please
feel free to send me e-mail. I would also be very
interested in sharing my research with others.
All comments about spelling variations are in regard to this
family only. Many of the spellings have been seen in reference
to other families that are distinctly different lines. Spellings of the
name are listed below. Put any vowel in the parenthesis
to make new variations, this will yield many spellings.
Also there are common spellings in the US and those
common in Germany. One spelling is listed as a rare form.
US spellings - F( )rscht, F( )rcht, F( )rsht, F( )rst, F( )rsch, F( )rsch,
F( )rsh, rare - Ph( )rscht. German spellings - Versch, Vers,
Fersch, Fers. Next Page
The Forscht Family
Wertheim and Bestenheid photos courtesy Joe Farcht, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Tower in Wertheim, Germany from photo at Wertheim Web site.
Philadelphia newspaper ad for ship arrival.
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