The Johan Wilhelm Barth Family

The Johan Wilhelm Barth Family

Early Renaissance patriarch and grandfather of the dynasty founder

Johan Wilhelm Barth lived during the early Renaissance period in the German states, representing the earliest documented ancestor of the Beard family lineage. Born in 1525 in Timmel, Lower Saxony, his life spanned over five decades during a time of religious reformation and cultural transformation. His marriage to Anna Catharina Elisabeth Claas would produce the son who would continue the family line through generations of European upheaval.

Johan Wilhelm Barth & Anna Catharina Elisabeth Claas

(March 14, 1525 – 1576) & (1528 – 1585)
Early Renaissance founders of the Barth family dynasty

Married circa 1547 in Lower Saxony, Germany
Dynasty Foundation: Johan Wilhelm Barth's marriage to Anna Catharina Elisabeth Claas in the 1540s established the earliest documented generation of the Beard family lineage. Their son Hanß Philips Barth would continue the line through the challenging periods of religious reformation, creating the foundation for centuries of German heritage that would eventually reach America.

Their Child

One son who would establish the continuing lineage

Click to read Hanß Philips's story

Hanß Philips Barth

(May 12, 1548 – October 6, 1620)
Only Child

👑 Father of eight children

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Lived 72 years • Two marriages • Renaissance patriarch

Direct ancestor of American dynasty

Additional Children

(Unknown)
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No other documented children

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Family records incomplete

Historical record gaps

Unknown Lineage

(Records Lost)
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Early Renaissance documentation

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Limited archival records

Pre-modern record keeping

Johan Wilhelm & Anna Catharina's Legacy

1 Documented Child
51 Johan's Age
72 Son's Lifespan
1000s Descendants Today

From Early Renaissance to Modern Times

Johan Wilhelm Barth and Anna Catharina Elisabeth Claas established the earliest documented foundation of the Beard family lineage during the early Renaissance period. Though they had only one documented child, Hanß Philips Barth, this single continuation would prove sufficient to carry the family through centuries of European upheaval and eventually establish the American dynasty that thrives today.

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Johan Wilhelm Barth: A Life Through History

Johan Wilhelm Barth: A Life Through History

1525 – 1576: Early Renaissance Patriarch & Dynasty Founder

Born in Timmel, Lower Saxony, Germany during the early Renaissance period, Johan Wilhelm Barth lived through the Protestant Reformation and the religious upheavals that transformed 16th-century Europe. His marriage to Anna Catharina Elisabeth Claas would establish the foundation of the Barth family lineage that would endure through centuries of European conflict.

🇩🇪 Johan Wilhelm Barth

(March 14, 1525 – 1576)

Early Renaissance patriarch who lived during the Protestant Reformation and the religious wars that reshaped Europe. Father of Hanß Philips Barth, great-grandfather of Johann Wendell Barth, and ancestor of the American Beard dynasty that would emerge through emigration to colonial Pennsylvania.

Birth and Youth During Protestant Reformation

1525 – 1550 • Johan Wilhelm's Formative Years
1525
Johan Wilhelm Barth is Born
Born March 14, 1525 in Timmel, Aurich, Lower Saxony, Germany, during the early Protestant Reformation and just eight years after Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses.
Birth Year
1529
Diet of Speyer
The Second Diet of Speyer leads to the formal "Protestation," giving birth to the term "Protestant." Religious divisions deepen across the Holy Roman Empire where Johan Wilhelm grows up.
Johan Wilhelm is 4 years old
1530
Augsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confession establishes the foundations of Lutheran doctrine, affecting the religious landscape of Lower Saxony where the Barth family lives.
Johan Wilhelm is 5 years old
1540s
Coming of Age in Religious Turmoil
Johan Wilhelm reaches adolescence during the Schmalkaldic League conflicts, experiencing the religious and political upheavals that characterize the German Reformation period.
Johan Wilhelm is in his teens

Marriage and Dynasty Foundation

1547 – 1570 • Johan Wilhelm Establishes His Legacy
1547
Schmalkaldic War Ends
The defeat of the Schmalkaldic League by Charles V temporarily restores Catholic dominance, creating uncertainty for Protestant families like the Barths in Lower Saxony.
Johan Wilhelm is 22 years old
circa 1547
Marriage to Anna Catharina Elisabeth Claas
Johan Wilhelm marries Anna Catharina Elisabeth Claas around 1547, establishing the family union that will produce the next generation and continue the Barth lineage through the turbulent 16th century.
Johan Wilhelm is approximately 22 years old
1548
Birth of Son Hanß Philips Barth
Johan Wilhelm and Anna Catharina welcome their son Hanß Philips Barth on May 12, 1548, ensuring the continuation of the family line. This child will live 72 years and father eight children of his own.
Johan Wilhelm is 23 years old
1555
Peace of Augsburg
The Peace of Augsburg establishes "cuius regio, eius religio" (whose realm, his religion), bringing temporary religious stability to the German territories where Johan Wilhelm raises his family.
Johan Wilhelm is 30 years old
1556-1570
Raising Family in Relative Peace
Johan Wilhelm spends his middle years raising his son Hanß Philips during a period of relative religious stability following the Peace of Augsburg, establishing family traditions and values.
Johan Wilhelm is 31-45 years old

Final Years and Enduring Legacy

1570 – 1576 • Johan Wilhelm's Final Chapter
1570s
Seeing Son Reach Adulthood
Johan Wilhelm witnesses his son Hanß Philips reach his twenties and begin establishing his own place in German society during the late Renaissance period.
Johan Wilhelm is in his mid-40s
1572
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
The massacre of Huguenots in France sends shockwaves through Protestant Europe, reminding German families like the Barths of the ongoing religious dangers across the continent.
Johan Wilhelm is 47 years old
1576
Johan Wilhelm Barth Dies
Johan Wilhelm dies in 1576 in Timmel, Lower Saxony, at age 51, having successfully established the family lineage through his son Hanß Philips, who will continue the dynasty for another 44 years.
Johan Wilhelm is 51 years old
2025
Johan Wilhelm's Dynasty Spans Five Centuries
Nearly 500 years later, Johan Wilhelm's marriage and family foundation during the Protestant Reformation created a legacy that survived the Thirty Years' War, religious persecution, and ocean crossings to establish the American Beard dynasty through thousands of descendants worldwide.
His legacy lives through 1 son 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