Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

William Rebscher[1]

Male 1814 - 1856  (42 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name William Rebscher 
    Born 1814  , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Occupation 1836  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    beer brewer 
    Business 1842  59 King St. N., Waterloo, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    beer brewery 
    Occupation 1852  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    brewer 
    Died 22 Apr 1856  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Death 29 Apr 1856  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Business Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Brewery 
    • The Spetz family purchased the Rebescher Brewery which was located near the corner of Frederick and Weber Street in Kitchener. Spetz Street was named in their honour where the brewery was located.

      On the 1875 is it mislabelled as J. H. S. Pitz's Brewery and should read J. H. Spetz's Brewery
    Brewery 1875
    Brewery 1875
    Bounded by Weber, Spetz and Frederick Streets.
    Interesting story, misfortune 
    Misfortune Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    • Body was stolen by Dr. Frederick Christ to be used as a medical display.

      A few days after the burial of Eby's child, Dr. Christ came into Schnarr's Tavern in Waterloo Village, and made the remark that the bodies of William Rebscher, John Nahrgang, and Zoeger were not in their graves. Afterwards, Dr. Christ offered to bet with witness that Abram Eby's child was not in his grave. Christ said that he would not go and bring the bodies himself, but that he could get plenty at an outlay of ten dollars.
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-71642 
    Person ID I71642  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Father George Nikolaus "Nicholas" Rebscher,   b. 1786, , Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Nov 1873, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years) 
    Mother Sophia,   b. 12 Mar 1787, , Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Apr 1869, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years) 
    Family ID F670  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elisabeth Nahrgang,   b. 1821, Lebosbach, Hessia, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married 12 Jul 1836  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 7
    Children 
     1. Anna Rebscher,   b. 29 Mar 1837, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Wilhelm "William" Rebscher,   b. CALC 7 May 1838, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Aug 1867, Neustadt, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 29 years)
     3. Sophia Rebscher,   b. 1839, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Mary Rebscher,   b. 1841, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Henry Rebscher,   b. 1843, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. Catharina Rebscher,   b. 13 Sep 1848, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Oct 1920, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years)
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F18806  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • A-1-97 William Rebscher Probate of the will of William Rebscher of the Village of Waterloo, granted the 2nd day of July 1856…on the petition of Moses Springer, Elias Snider and Ludwig Peppler, the Executors named in said will…

      I William Rebscher of the Village of Waterloo, Beer Brewer, (1st) I will and desire that all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses be paid…

      (2nd) I give and devise unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all and as much of my house and kitchen furniture as she requires for her own use, and one cow out of my stock of her own choice which she my beloved wife shall have to herself.

      (3rd) And I give and devise to my beloved wife Elizabeth as long as she remains my widow the three northern rooms in the first story and the two northern rooms in the second story of the house I now occupy and reside in, also as much room in the washhouse cellar and stable as she requires, and a piece of ground for a garden which is not to exceed one tenth of an acre situate and being on lots number nine and ten in the west side of King Streets in the said Village of Waterloo.

      [No 4th clause] My will further is that my hereinafter named Executors shall find and provide for my beloved wife Elizabeth during her natural life, or so as she remains my widow, with firewood, clothes and all other necessaries, such as she requires to make her comfortable, (but they are not to give her anything to excess).

      (5th) I will and devise unto my beloved children as soon as they marry or stand in need of house furniture, that my hereinafter named Executors shall give them to the same amount as I have already given my daughter Sophia.

      (6th) My will is that as soon as conveniently can be after my decease, my executors shall hold an appraisement and have the whole of my Real and Personal property appraised and sell my personal property to the highest bidder at public auction.

      (7th) My will is that my Real Estate shall remain in the hands of my Executors, if nothing occurs that it will be necessary for them to sell sooner, until my youngest child obtains the age of twenty one years, and after youngest child has attained the said ago, and sooner if necessary, my Executors shall sell the same to the best advantage as they see fit and proper.

      (8th) My will is that my beloved children shall have the first chance to lease or purchase my real estate, and if there is any money to let my children are also to have the first chance to borrow it…

      (9th) I will that the rest reside and remainder of my real and personal estate which remains in the hands of my Executors…shall be divided equally between and among all my sons and daughters.

      (10th) I also will that my two youngest children shall remain with my beloved wife, and faithfully sent to school, so that they become a good common education, and after my youngest son becomes a proper age he is to be bound out to trade, that he chooses.

      (11th) This my will (if possible) that my hereinafter named Executors shall not lease the House I now occupy for a Tavern.

      (12th) And I nominate and appoint my trusty and worthy friends Moses Springer of Waterloo, Elias Snider of the same place, and Ludwig Peppler of the same place, to be the Executors of this my last will and testament.

      Witnesses W.A. Schoeman and George Gleizer
      Will dated 21 April 1856
      Proved 2 July 1856
      Died 22 April 1856
      Inventory £789/1/1.

      Surrogate Court Records Copybook Register A 1853-1871 transcript to 1863. Frances Hoffman transcriber.

      __________________

      Queen to Benton Street

      A few feet back of King Street and about 15 feet from South Queen Street was a vaulted cellar built of field stone by Peter Rebscher [William?] in 1838-39. In 1855 Sheriff Davidson [George Davison] bought this cellar from Paul Schmidt [Paul Schmitt 1808-1862]. He erected a frame building extending from the corner, partly using material brought from a former building at New Aberdeen, a village about five and one-half miles southwest of Berlin, where he had also a store business. Jacob Stroh helped to lath the building, receiving 75c as a day's wage. The new building was called The California Block and contained several stores. George Davidson, son of the Sheriff, occupied the corner store as a Grocery and Dry Goods business. Next there was a shed with outside stairway leading to a dance hall above it. The shed was used by the guests of Schmidt's Tavern known as the banners Inn. In the rear of the shed there was a brewery operated William Rebscher, who started to brew about 1830. The process of the Rebscher brewery was to soak the grain for 24 hours, then spread it on the cellar floor and shift it around until it commenced to sprout, after which it was carried upstairs again and put into a dry-kiln about 20 x 20 feet in size, the grain being on screens exposed to the heat coming from below. The dry malt was crushed and ground between iron rollers turned by hand. Later on a steam engine supplied the required power. Mr. Rebscher had this brewery until about 1855, when he moved to Frederick Street on Spetz Street.

      Sheriff Davidson bought the shed and converted it into two stores. One of these was occupied by Conrad Schmidt who sold wines, liquors, groceries and hardware. Yost Kimmel had a meat shop under the stores.

      Next came an open space and a well and next to that a building which was used 1830 to 1835 as a church by a body known as Mifferites whose main article of belief was that the world was coming to an end in 1835. Many of the Millerites, faithful to their belief, sold their properties and household effects. The building was about 1840 occupied by Paul Schmidt, as the Farmer's Inn already spoken of.

      Next came an alleyway and next to that William Moore's general store. Mr. Moore's residence was next to his store. Later on it had a clock factory on the second floor for a short time Next came a three-story building erected in 1860 and next to that no building for a long time until the Boehmer Block was erected. This had a clock factory on the second floor for a short time. Next came a building occupied by Mr. Hymmen, erected between 1850 and 1855. The building was painted a buff color and occupied as a bakery. In 1860, E. R. Hayne had a bakery and confectionery store in the Hymmen building. Next came a two-story frame building located on the site of the westerly half of the present Post Office and occupied by William, David and Frederick Miller as the first general store in Berlin. The location was opposite the end of Frederick Street. J. F. Kannengieser had a tailor shop and was also dealer in fancy goods in this building at one time. In 1860 Mr. and Mrs. John Albright occupied part of the building as a dressmaking and millinery shop. Later on Mr. Rooke had a lock and gunsmith shop on the street floor while his family lived above. There was a high board fence on the Benton Street line with balsam trees planted along the inside.

      REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

      Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

  • Sources 
    1. [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library.
      Anna Rebsher d/o W & Elisabeth b. 29 Mar 1837, bapt. 6 Aug 1837 Berlin sponsors: John Nahrgang and Margareth (his wife)

    2. [S9] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Canada Museum und Allgemeine Zeitung (1835-1840), 21 Jul 1836:40.
      12 Jul 1836 Rev Bindemann, in this city m. Wm. Rebscher, son of Georg Rebscher, beerbrewer in the vicinity of Berlin, to Elisabeth Nahrgang, daughter of Johannes Nahrgang, tailor, from here.

    3. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 3 Pg 30.
      William REIBSCHER Brewer Germany 37 Lutheran
      Elisabeth REIBSCHER wife Germany 30 Lutheran
      Hanna REIBSCHER daughter Canada 15 Lutheran
      William REIBSCHER son Canada 14 Lutheran
      Sophia REIBSCHER daughter Canada 12 Lutheran
      Mary REIBSCHER daughter Canada 10 Lutheran
      Henry REIBSCHER son Canada 8 Lutheran
      Catherine REIBSCHER daughter Canada 6 Lutheran

    4. [S1737] Probate - Wills of Waterloo Register A 1853-1871, Will of William Rebscher - 1856 - A-1-97.

    5. [S14] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Chronicle (1856-1860), 7 May 1856.
      On 29 April, at Waterloo Village, William REBSCHER, aged about 38 years.

    6. [S14] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Chronicle (1856-1860), 20 Sep 1859 - Queen vs. Dr. Christ.

    7. [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library.
      William Rebscher, married 12 Jul 1836 in Berlin by banns to Elisabeth Nahrgang, wit: Peter Knechtel & Carl Israel

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1814 - , Germany Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - beer brewer - 1836 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 12 Jul 1836 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - beer brewery - 1842 - 59 King St. N., Waterloo, Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - brewer - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 22 Apr 1856 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 29 Apr 1856 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Brewery - - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMisfortune - - Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth