Forscht Family History and Genealogy
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      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.Wertheim Crest 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 Newspaper Ad 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.

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      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.