The Hanß Philips Barth Family

The Hanß Philips Barth Family

16th-century patriarch and ancestor of the American dynasty

Hanß Philips Barth lived during the Renaissance period in the Holy Roman Empire, marrying twice and fathering eight children who would establish the foundation for future generations. His lineage represents the deepest German roots of the Beard family, with his son Johann Wendell Barth continuing the line that would eventually lead to the American dynasty.

Hanß Philips Barth & Appolonia Otilla

(May 12, 1548 – October 6, 1620) & (1559 – 1610)
Renaissance-era founders of the Barth family lineage

Married January 30, 1610 in Bezirksamt Bretten, Baden, Germany
Renaissance Heritage: Hanß Philips Barth lived for 72 years during the Renaissance period, witnessing the transformation of the Holy Roman Empire. His marriage to Appolonia Otilla and their eight children established the lineage that would survive religious wars and political upheaval to eventually produce the American Beard dynasty.

Their Children

Eight children who lived through the transition from Renaissance to Reformation

Click to read Johann Wendell's story

Johann Wendell Barth

(July 9, 1574 – October 8, 1625)
1st Child

👑 Father of ten children including Georg Barth

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Married Ottilia Hermann • Renaissance patriarch

Direct ancestor of American dynasty
Click to read Andreas's story

Andreas Barth

(1576 – ?)
2nd Child

🏃 Possibly relocated during adulthood

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Renaissance-era craftsman or tradesman

Lost to historical records
Click to read Engeldrutha's story

Engeldrutha Barth

(1579 – ?)
3rd Child

👩 Eldest daughter of the family

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Unique name reflecting Germanic traditions

Women's lives often unrecorded
Click to read Marx's story

Marx Barth

(1581 – ?)
4th Child

⚔️ Lived through transition to religious warfare

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Classical Renaissance naming tradition

Generation caught between two worlds
Click to read Catharina's story

Catharina Barth

(1583 – ?)
5th Child

🌸 Second daughter of the family

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Traditional Christian Renaissance name

Women's vulnerability in transition
Click to read Johannes's story

Johannes Barth

(1585 – ?)
6th Child

⛪ Named for Christian tradition

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Renaissance humanism meets religious tradition

Generation of unfulfilled promise
Click to read Bartholomeus's story

Bartholomeus Barth

(1588 – ?)
7th Child

⛪ Named for Saint Bartholomew

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Witnessed collapse of Renaissance stability

Lost to religious upheaval
Click to read Hannss's story

Hannss Barth

(1590 – ?)
8th Child

👶 Youngest child of the family

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End of Renaissance generation

Final child of peaceful era

Hanß Philips & Appolonia's Legacy

8 Children
16 Years Span
72 Hanß's Age
1000s Descendants Today

From Renaissance Prosperity to Religious Upheaval

Hanß Philips Barth lived through the entire Renaissance period, from his birth in 1548 to his death in 1620, just two years after the Thirty Years' War began. His eight children represent the final generation to experience Renaissance stability before religious conflicts transformed European society forever. Through his son Johann Wendell Barth, this family line would survive the coming devastation and eventually flourish in the New World.

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Hanß Philips Barth: A Life Through History

Hanß Philips Barth: A Life Through History

1548 – 1620: Renaissance Patriarch & Father of Eight Children

Born in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany during the height of the Renaissance, Hanß Philips Barth lived through 72 remarkable years spanning the Protestant Reformation, religious wars, and the early stages of the Thirty Years' War. His marriages and eight children established the foundation that would eventually lead to the American Beard dynasty.

🇩🇪 Hanß Philips Barth

(May 12, 1548 – October 6, 1620)

Renaissance patriarch who witnessed the transformation of Europe from medieval to early modern times. Father of Johann Wendell Barth and seven other children, creating the lineage that would survive religious wars and eventually establish the American Beard dynasty through emigration to colonial Pennsylvania.

Birth and Youth in Renaissance Germany

1548 – 1570 • Hanß's Formative Years During Religious Upheaval
1548
Hanß Philips Barth is Born
Born May 12, 1548 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, at the height of Renaissance culture and just one year after the Schmalkaldic War ended.
Birth Year
1555
Peace of Augsburg
The Peace of Augsburg establishes "cuius regio, eius religio" (whose realm, his religion), allowing German princes to choose their territory's religion. This affects Hanß's childhood as religious divisions shape German politics.
Hanß is 7 years old
1556
Charles V Abdicates
Holy Roman Emperor Charles V abdicates, dividing his vast empire. Ferdinand I becomes Holy Roman Emperor, ushering in a new era of Habsburg rule during Hanß's childhood.
Hanß is 8 years old
1560s
Coming of Age During Religious Wars
Hanß reaches adolescence as the French Wars of Religion rage, affecting neighboring territories and creating an atmosphere of religious tension throughout the Holy Roman Empire.
Hanß is in his teens

Adulthood and Early Family Life

1570 – 1600 • Hanß Establishes His First Family
1574
First Son Johann Wendell Born
Hanß becomes a father with the birth of Johann Wendell Barth on July 9, 1574, establishing the family line that will continue through ten generations to the American Beard dynasty.
Hanß is 26 years old
1576-1590
Growing Family During Late Renaissance
Hanß and his first wife welcome more children: Andreas (1576), Engeldrutha (1579), Marx (1581), Catharina (1583), Johannes (1585), Bartholomeus (1588), and Hannss (1590), building their family during the late Renaissance period.
Hanß is 28-42 years old
1588
Spanish Armada Defeated
The defeat of the Spanish Armada by England shifts European power dynamics, affecting Protestant regions of the Holy Roman Empire where Hanß raises his growing family.
Hanß is 40 years old
1598
Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes grants religious tolerance to French Huguenots, offering hope for religious peace in Europe as Hanß continues building his family legacy in the German states.
Hanß is 50 years old

Second Marriage and Final Years

1600 – 1620 • Hanß's Golden Years and Legacy
1609
Twelve Years' Truce Begins
The Twelve Years' Truce between Spain and the Dutch Republic brings temporary peace to parts of Europe, creating a brief respite from religious warfare as Hanß enters his final decade.
Hanß is 61 years old
1610
Marriage to Margaretha Braunen
On January 30, 1610, Hanß marries Margaretha Braunen in Bezirksamt Bretten, Baden, Germany, beginning a new chapter at age 61 and continuing his family legacy through his final decade.
Hanß is 61 years old
1610
Death of First Wife Appolonia Otilla
Appolonia Otilla dies in 1610, ending their long marriage that produced eight children. Hanß's remarriage to Margaretha in the same year shows his resilience and commitment to family continuity.
Hanß is 62 years old
1618
Thirty Years' War Begins
The Defenestration of Prague sparks the Thirty Years' War, beginning the most devastating conflict in European history. Hanß, now 70, witnesses the start of the war that will test his family's survival.
Hanß is 70 years old
1620
Hanß Philips Barth Dies
Hanß dies on October 6, 1620, at the remarkable age of 72, just two years after the Thirty Years' War began. His death marks the end of an era, but his eight children carry forward a legacy that will survive Europe's darkest period.
Hanß is 72 years old
2025
Hanß's Legacy Spans Four Centuries
Four centuries later, Hanß's vision of building a large family during the Renaissance has created a legacy that survived religious wars, political upheaval, and ocean crossings to establish the American Beard dynasty through thousands of descendants worldwide.
His legacy lives through 8 children and countless descendants
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Explore the Beard Generations

Explore the Beard Generations

Johan Wilhem Barth1st Hanß Philips Barth2nd Johann Wendell Barth3rd Georg Barth4th Nichlaus Beard (Bard)5th John P. Beard6th Frederick Beard Sr.7th David Beard8th John Henry Beard Sr.9th John Henry Beard Jr.10th Allen John Beard11th