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Martin Bitting was born in Freinsheim probably before the opening of the church records there, which escaped destruction at the hands of invaders. July 27, 1727, he bought one hundred acres of land in Hanover township, bounded by the lands of John Steger, Valentine Geiger and John Renberger. His occupation at this time was that of a miller. March 12, 1738 he purchased forty-one and a half acres adjoining his other land; and March 3, 1752, one hundred and sixty-six acres seventy perches, also adjoining. In 1734 he was naturalized. In 1742 he applied for license to keep a public house at his dwelling place located in Hanover township, on the new road between Yoder's mill and the Great road to Philadelphia by way of Farmer's mill; he was half way between Yoder's mill and and Garret Dehaven's, a distance of twenty-five miles, in which there was no house of entertainment. He died in 1756. His wife's name was Margaret. Their children were: Ludwig; Anna Catharine, born February 10, 1728, married Adam Hillegas, died February 25, 1810; Adam, confirmed at Faulkner Swamp Reformed church, at Witsuntide, 1750, aged 18; Sophia, confirmed at the same place at Easter 1749, aged 15; Anthony, who died July 13, 1818, aged seventy-five years two months four days. Martin Bitting's widow was buried September 18, 1780.
Ludwig Bitting, born 1702; married Levina [Note - should be Sevina or Sabina] Boehm, daughter of Rev. J. Philip Boehm. He was naturalized in 1734. He was taxed in Hanover township in 1734, but owned no land. In 1748, he was a resident of Lower Milford township, Bucks county. He was a member of Great Swamp Reformed church. He represented Northampton county in the Assembly, 1758- '60. He made his will September 25, 1771. His wife's name in this instrument is given as Elizabeth, indicating that his first wife had died and he had married a second time. He had nine children whose names were: Ludwig; Henry; Anthony; Philip; Peter; Anna Maria, wife of Andrew Graeber; Elizabeth Dorothea, wife of Gabriel Kline; Mary Catherina; Christina, wife of Franz Leydich of Frederick township.
Henry Bitting, born December 20, 1705, settled near Saucon ("Sackung".) In the register of the First Presbyterian church of Philadelphia is recorded the marriage, Eleventh month, 14th, 1744, under a licence obtained from the civil authorities, of Henry Bitting and Katharine Riess. On the 3d day of December, 1747, Henry Bitting died. During his illness, namely on the 2d day of December, he declared his will, verbally, to Alexander Dieffenderfer and Nicholas Wolfahrt, and before the same was reduced to writing, he died. Subsequently, the substance of his will was probated before Jacob Reiff, at Salford, and filed with the Register General; and in accordance therewith the three brothers of the deceased, - Martin, Ludwig, and Jost Bitting - were appointed administrators. He left his wife, Catherine, and two children. An inventory of his property was made and appraised by Jacob Wetzel and David Owen, dated Upper Milford, Bucks county, Pa., February 6, 1748. It included: The improvement, £100.0.0; Books of Dininity, £0.15.0; 3 working horses, 2 mares, 2 colts, £16.0.0; 10 sheep, £2.10.0; 4 milch cows, £11; 2 heifers, £4; 10 young cattle, £9. The land was not clear of debt; and therefore payments on this account were made: to Lynford Lardner for ye Proprietaries, £52.0.0; also to the same, in full for ye Land, £12.8.4; for return of ye Land 15s.; William Peters, advice, 10s.; ye Secretary, 5s. 2d.; for ye Patent, £1.6.0; Recording ye Patent, 7s. 6d. Also, the following: paid ye minister for his attendance, 7s. 6d.; for Rum at ye Funeral, &c., £1.6.8; Wm. Atkinson, collector of Excise, £3.0.2; Anna Maria Bitting, 4s,; Philip Compass, ye Indian, £1.15.10. Catherine, widow of Henry Bitting, married Jacob Schaeffer. The children of Henry and Catharine were: Catherine, afterwards the wife of Fredrick Laubach; Magdalena, who married Adam Englehart.
Justus Bitting, born July 2, 1713, was generally known as Jost Bitting in America. He married Agnes Dotterer, daughter of Hieronimus Dotterer, of Faulkner Swamp. In 1743, he united with the Moravians. He lived in New Hanover township. He died December 25, 1801; his wife Agnes, died November 2, 1785; they are buried at Leidig's private burying ground. Their children were: Henry; Joseph; Peter, married Catherine Ickes, widow of Michael Ickes; Sophia, married Isaac Bechtel; Rebecca, married (first) John Mintz, (second) Jacob Liebegut; Rachel, married Peter Acker; Mary, married George Bechtel; Annie, married (first) ---- Allenbach, (second) David Griffith; John, born July 6th, 1754, married Elizabeth Riegner, died May 27, 1812; Ludwig, born October 24, 1759, married Anna Gertrude Scheffy, died April 3, 1829; Philip, married Magdalena Zoller. Mary Bitting, daughter of Jost Bitting, wife of George Bechtel, was born 1741 [Note - this date appears to be in error], and died 1818. George Bechtel was born August 14, 1741, and died July 20, 1816.