European Origins:
Bedford County, Pennsylvania Hite Family and Berks County, Pennsylvania Heydt Family

A Y-chromosome DNA test proved in 2003 that the descendants of John Hite of Bedford County shared a common male line ancestor with descendants of Martin Heyd (ca. 1611-1675) of the village of Grötzingen, just east of the city of Karlsruhe in the modern-day state of Baden-Württemburg, Germany.  The initial test subject was a descendant of Johannes Heidt (1831-1904) a native of Grötzingen whose male-line lineage back to Martin Heyd could be documented. This Johannes came to the United States in 1851 and settled in Iowa, where his name became John Heitt. Another descendant of Martin – Ernst Christoph Heidt (1820-1902) also came to the United States in 1845. A test result on a descendant of his also matched the descendants of John Hite of Bedford County.  

The earliest known male-line ancestor of John Hite of Bedford County is Sebastian Heyd (ca. 1592-1667) of Grötzingen. It is not clear how he was related to Martin Heyd (ca. 1611-1675) nut the DNA results make it clear that he was. The Heyd surname (spelled Heidt by the modern-day descendants in Grötzingen) was first recorded in Grötzingen records in 1482.

Sebastian Heyd, born about 1592, Grötzingen, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemburg, Germany, buried 14 November 1667, Grötzingen. Wife named Margarethe (buried 7 March 1638, Grötzingen). They had five children.  After the death of Margaretha, Sebastian remarried to a womn named Barbara and had two more children.

 

Son by Margarethe:

• Hans Martin Heyd, born between 1615 and 1622, Grötzingen, died after 1 January 1680, Berghausen, Pfinztal, Baden-Württemburg, Germany (just east of Grötzingen). Name of wife unknown. He fathered two children. 

• Son: Hanß Georg (Jerg) Heyd, born between 1640 and 1645, Berghausen, died there before 1677 (age 31). Name of wife unknown. 

• He fathered one son: Joachim Heyd, born ca. 1666 in Berghausen and died 16 February 1732 in Grötzingen. Married 13 February 1700 in the village of Linkenheim to Anna Catharina Krauß of Grötzingen (21 January 1678-13 January 1727), daughter of Hans Philipp Krauß and Margarethe Magdalena Ruf. They had lived in Grötzingen and had eight children.  

 

Son: Johannes Heyd, born 16 December 1715 in Grötzingen.  Married there 11 February 1738 to Sabine Leitz, but she was probably not the mother of his children. It is much more likely that she died before he left for the American colonies or perhaps on the voyage but there is no evidence that she and Johannes had any children in the 13 years that passed between their marriage and his departure. Johannes went to America in 1751, arriving in Philadelphia 5 September 1751 on the ship Shirley. Died about 1791, Bedford, Pennsylvania, USA. His name became “John Hite” in America.  

Jacob Heydt (1717-1781) who arrived in Philadelphia 16 September 1751 and settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania was also from this family.  This is his male line lineage –

• Martin Heyd, born about 1611, Grötzingen, died there 26 September 1675.  Wife named Anna (born about 1616, died 14 September 1688).  They had ten children.  

• Son: Hans Martin Heyd christened 24 July 1655, Grötzingen, died 16 February 1692.  Married 3 May 1680 to Anna Kropf (21 August 1657-17 May 1694). They had four children.  

• Son: Christoph Heyd, christened 10 November 1686, Grötzingen, died there 27 September 1742. Married 1 January 1716 to Anna Catharina Heim (1696-1774). They had ten children. 

• Son: JacobHeyd (Heit/Heydt), born 3 May 1717, Grötzingen, died 1781, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Married 1st 19 November 1743 to Maria Catharina Kropf. Married 2nd ca. 1754 to Sophia Barbara Catharina Jauss. He fathered a total of 15 or perhaps 16, children, 11 of whom survived him.