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This family was part of the First (1714) Germanna Colony in Virginia.The spelling of the Cuntze family name in both Germany and America has been varied. The earliest records indicate a spelling as Cuntze which became Kuntze. In Virginia, the use of both the "C" and the "K" was common. Spellings of the name here gravitated toward Coons, while some branches of the family spelled the name as Koontz or Kuntz. Uncertainties remain as to how closely the different branches are related.
When the First Colony was settled in Fort Germanna, their first task was to clear land and ready it for farming. They had to support themselves by their own efforts. They probably received assistance in limited ways. Virginia Lt. Governor Spotswood had a practice of loaning cattle to people who raised them and bred more. At the conclusion of the contract, the equivalent of the original cattle plus one-half of the increase were returned to Spotswood. The second way assistance was provided was by the ban on hunting in their neighborhood by everyone except the Germans. Some flour was probably granted them in the initial setup.
Though the Germans wanted to dig in the ground to assay the silver potential, Spotswood said no to this. (He never resolved the precious metal question as far as the Crown was concerned.) Until this was settled, development of the silver mine was verboten. So, for about two and one-half years, the Germans were engaged in farming but no mining. This must have been frustrating for them; they had a very bad year in getting to America. Once here, they were denied the opportunity to perform the functions for which they had been hired.
So far we have looked at who emigrated from a series of small villages, not very far apart, just to the west of the modern town of Siegen. The three villages were Trupbach, Seelbach, and Oberfischbach. Just a short walk to the southwest from Oberfischbach, perhaps a stroll before breakfast, is Niederndorf. This was the home of the Kuntze family. Jost Kuntze, the 1714 emigrant, was christened at Oberfischbach. His godfather was the mother's brother from Niederndorf. Jost married Anna Gertrud Reinschmidt of Wilden, which is about six miles southeast of Siegen. Two of their children had godparents from Niederndorf and Wilden.
A number of Germans had grants in their own name. John Button had 100 acres in 1747. Joseph Coants (Kuntz) had a 127-acre grant in 1747. John Crim (Grimm) had a 127-acre grant also (on the day following Kuntz).
The Moravian missionaries visited the Little Fork area on their trips through Virginia. Brother Gottschalk, on his trip in 1748 said:
"[Little Fork] is situated about twenty-two miles from the Great Fork toward the Potomac. Twelve families of the Siegen district, being of the Reformed religion, live there close together. They are fine, neighborly and friendly people, who love each other in their manner, and live together very peacefully. The brother of our Matthew Hoffman, John Henry Hoffman, also lives there and I lodged with him.
"They built a small, neat and suitable church, and engaged one of their number, John Jung [Young] to be the 'Reader' in the church. He conducts services for them every Sunday. They cannot get a minister because they are so few in number. Hence they cannot raise enough money sufficient to pay a minister's salary. I preached for them, which they accepted with thanks. They expect more visits. They asked me to visit them again. John Jung and Hoffman's brother seemed to understand me when I spoke to them of the savior."2 _SDATE 22 MAR 1673
Joseph Cuntze died in 1731. The will of Joseph "Cownts," blacksmith, was dated October 18, 1730, and probated in Stafford County February 10, 1731. His eldest son, John Cuntze, seems to have died before his father. His eldest daughter, Ann Elizabeth, was married by 1730 to Tillman Weaver, the immigrant. Other children, mentioned in the will were sons, Henry and Tillman, and daughters, Mary, Anna Catherine, and Catherine. The son, Henry, was specifically stated to be under 16. The will mentions his "four youngest children" (probably Henry, Tillman, Mary and Anna Catherine). His wife seems to have predeceased him, for no mention is made of her in the will. Tillman Weaver was appointed executor, and the witnesses were Jacob Holtzclaw, John Kemper, Joseph Martin and Peter Hitt.
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