Johann Henrich Schlösser

On this day, 1 March 1680, a man by the name of Johann Heinrich Schlösser passed away. He was my 9th great-grandfather.

Born in 1642, in Londorf, Gießen, Hesse, Germany, Johann Heinrich Schlösser was the son of Friedrich Schlösser and Christina Schenck.

Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Londorf

Unfortunately, nothing beyond his birth is known of Johann’s childhood, other than the fact that he grew up in the small town of Londorf. Londorf (meaning Lon’s/Lum’s Valley) references the Lumda River that flows through town. Circa 760, the village was first documented as Lundorf or Luntdorfe in the Codex Eberhardi, a book of records kept by the Fulda Monastery. In addition, Londorf was the seat of the Barons of Nordeck zur Rabenau. 

At the time of Johann’s birth, Londorf was part of the Holy Roman Empire. However, two states of the Holy Roman Empire, Hesse-Darmstadt and Hesse-Kassel, both claimed the area in and around Londorf as their own. Consequently, from 1645-1648, the Hessian War, part of the much larger Thirty Years War, was waged. When the Peace of Westphalia was finalized, Hesse-Darmstadt was granted oversight of Londorf and the surrounding area.

Well, enough about the history of this more than 1,250-year-old town. Back to the life of Johann Heinrich Schlösser.

On 23 January 1662, Johann Heinrich Schlösser married Anna Maria Schampar, daughter of Conrad Schampar and Agnes Schraber. The wedding took place in the Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (Evangelical Lutheran Church) of Londorf, Gießen, Hesse, Germany.

On 15 February 1663, the couple welcomed their first child, son Johannes Schlösser.

Three years later, in 1666, daughter Catharina Schlösser was born.

In 1669, the population of Londorf was 328. That population was increased by one when son Johann Joost Schlösser was welcomed to the family in 1670. (He was my 8th great-grandfather.)

Five years after that (1675), son Johann Philipp Schlösser was born.

Then, on 1 March 1680, tragedy struck, when Johann Heinrich Schlösser died. He was only 38 years old.

Six days after Johann’s death (7 March 1680), his daughter Anna Maria Schlösser was born.