NINTH GENERATION

328. Johann Michael BRIGHT ⁽²⁶⁸⁾ was born on 30 May 1706 in Schriesheim-an-der-Bergstrasse, Germany. Name changed from Brecht to Bright in America. He emigrated in Oct 1726 from from Germany to America. The Germans from the Palatinate region of Germany had suffered from decades of war, five years of bitter winters and summer droughts. They were invited to the New World first by William Penn and then by England's Queen Anne in 1709.
Brecht received the oath of naturalization from the Philadelphia Supreme Court. Most of the families who left Schreisheim were of the Reformed (Calvinist) faith because of the religious pressure at home. To go to America by the cheapest route through Antwerp cost 59 Gulden about a half year of pay. He owned land on 30 Jul 1741. Patent for 78 acres from John Thomas and Richard Penn. (Patent Bk, Vol.8, pg.353) On 27 Nov 1749, he purchased two tracts of land from Penn, one for 100 acres and one for 64 acres. (Patent Bk Vol. 14, p. 334.) On May 11, 1762, he sold a farm of 246 acres to Yost Hoffman, and moved to Shaefferstown, PA. He later lived near his sons, Peter and Michael in Reading. He died on 13 Sep 1794 in Reading, Berks Co., PA. He signed a will on 29 Sep 1794. The will was proved before Jacob Bower. He was buried in German Reformed Church, Reading, PA. His body was moved to Charles Evans Cem. in Reading. The places of the grave is unknown. He was buried in Charles Evans Cementery, Reading, PA. When the Reformed Church sold the land, the graves and gravestones were moved to the new town cementery. His grave is just inside the gothic front gates. One of Michael' sons operated a tannery in Reading, another settled in Stuptown and another son perished in an expedition against the Indians. He was married to Margaretta SIMONE in Apr 1728 in Shaefferstown, PA.

329. Margaretta SIMONE was born in 1708 in France. She died in 1778 in Schafferstown, PA. She was buried in Heidelberg Reformed Church Cemetary, Shaefferstown, PA. Children were:

i. Jacob BRIGHT was born on 13 Apr 1729 in Heidelberg Twp., PA. He died in 1802 in PA. Jacob moved to Philadelphia in 1751. In 1770, he went into partnership with his brother in law, Christoper Pechin, shipping goods to the South. During the Am. Rev., he raised a company of 90 men and was given a Captain's commission.
ii. George BRIGHT was born on 9 Feb 1731 in PA. He died in 1769 in KY. Tradition says he was killed by Indians, when he was with Daniel Boone on a trip to Kentucky.
164 iii. Michael BRIGHT.
iv. Katherine BRIGHT was born on 6 Apr 1734 in PA.
v. John BRIGHT was born on 20 Feb 1736 in PA. He died in 1817 in Stumptown-Jonestown, PA.
vi. Peter BRIGHT was born on 13 May 1738 in PA. He died in 1793 in near Reading, PA. Peter was a saddler by trade. He and his brother Michael moved to Reading, PA in 1760. He lived there until 1775, when he purchased as 95 arce farm with Jacob Kern across the Schuykill River from Reading. They also had a tavern.
vii. David BRIGHT was born on 9 Aug 1740 in PA. He was living in 1784 in VA. He died in 1808 in VA. David was a miller. In1765, he moved to a mill in the valley of the Little Swatara Creek, Berks Co., PA. In 1771, he is on the tax rolls of Pinegrove Twp., PA. Tradition says he sold flour to the Continental Army at Valley Forge and went bankrupt when he was paid in Continental currency.
viii. Marie BRIGHT was born on 1 Aug 1743 in PA.
ix. Sarah BRIGHT was born on 19 Jan 1745 in PA. She was living in Pittsburg, PA with her husband..
x. Christina BRIGHT was born on 12 Aug 1747 in PA. She died in 1835 in Philadelphia, PA. Christina and Christopher lived in the Society Hill section of Philadelphia's Front Street. The British commandered their house during the occupation of Philadelphia.