General Notes

Occ: Inspector of Lichtenberg County and Church and School Supervisor, Protestant Minister
Ed: Attended High Latin School in Zweibruecken and studied in Switzerland
Rel: Protestant
Note: History of the Roush [Rausch] Family in America, Vol. III, Chapter I.
Born in Meisenheim, Germany in exile. Johann Abraham's father died during the thirty years war when Johann Abraham was only four years old. After his father's death, Johann Abraham, his two sisters and his mother Anna went to Hornback where he attended Meisenheim School. Friends and his god-father paid Johann's room and board at the school for two years. Anna had taken a position as Lady in Waiting to the Countess of the Royal House of Pfalz-Zweibruecken. Because of the fondness the countess felt for both Anna and Johann, she arranged for an eight year scholarship to be granted him, and paid for the rest of his schooling herself. In May of 1652 he attended the High Latin School at Zweibruecken and after that he continued his studies in Switzerland. Upon returning home, his step-father Barthel Goering tutored him in "Preaching" and by June 1660 he delivered a powerful trial sermon in Baumholder and was ordained minister on July 02, 1660. He married Maria sometime in 1660.
In 1687, he became Inspector of Lichtenberg County and was the Church and School Supervisor. There is also preserved for posterity, as in the parish Church in Baumholder, an early literary work by Johann Abraham Rausch entitled " A Christian Sermon, The Outlaw of War". It is dated 1672, and is very long and scholarly. (From Roush Family in America).

From History of the Roush [Rausch] Family in America, Vol. III, Chapter I: Autobiography of the Late Inspector Johann Abraham Rausch of Baumholder.
"I, Johann Abraham Rausch, Preacher here and Inspector of the County of Lichtenberg was born in Meisenheim in exile, March 9, 1640. My father was Johann Wilhelm Rausch also a paster at Muenchbach, County of Zweybruecken, afterwards at Ober-Moschel, County of Landsberg. My mother Anna Hammerin; my grandfather Bernhard Rausch, innkeeper at Hornbach in the valley. My grandfather on mother's side Johannes Hammerin, mayor of Bergzabern.
My father died anno 1644, and was buried in the church at Ober-Moschel, and I was orphaned at the age of 4 years and 4 months, this being during theThirty Years war. After the death of my father, my mother lived for a short time at Meisenheim and later, with two of her daughters moved to Hornbach. When my mother announced her intention to move, several of my good friends, especially my godfathers, agreed to keep me at Meisenheim school and paid my board and expenses for two years. In 1649 my mother moved from Hornbach to Zweybruecken and served as maid to a Countess who granted me an 8 year scholarship, part at Meisenheim and part at Zweybruecken. In May, 1652, the Gymnasium or Latin High School was transferred from Meisenheim to Zseybruecken. I was also transferred and attended classes there till Spring 1657, and in the same year the University at Basel wher I continued my Studia. After returning from Basel I stayed with my stepfather Barthel Goering who tutored me in preaching and other studies.
When Pastor Herman Kirchner resigned his church post, in June 1660, I journeyed to Zweybruecken to take the examination and deliver a trial sermon. I was immediately called and ordained on the 2nd day of July and from this time on served the Congregation according to the strength and gifts that God bestowed uon me. After the above mentioned, my stepfather, Mr. Goering, died. In 1673 I received a call to serve the Congregation at Cassel but for certain reasons declined it.
When Philips Culman resigned as Inspector and Pastor at Ulmeth, on account of old age, I was entrusted with this Inspection int he year 1687. Officiating as Inspector I have, up to the present time, ordained 12 pastors and installed part of them."
The following is a report of his household.
After living here for about four months he was united in holy matrimony, late in 1660 with Maria Margaretha Faberin,the daughter of Johann Nicolai Faber, innkeeper at Birkenfeld. To this union were born 9 children . At the present time two sons and one daughter are living, as well as 20 grandchildren, out of a total of 32. After 43 years of happy married life with his first wife who departed in 1703, due to old age and longing for home life he married Mrs. Anna Magdalena, the widow of Johann Albert, who was a mayor, and with her lived happily for eleven years. And now we shall tell his life's conduct, sickness and death. God endowed him with fine gifts, healthy understanding, sagacious judgment and excellent memory. These gifts he used and employed so as to be humble before God; discreet, gentle, compatible and conciliatory towards his neighbors. Especially to the poor was he kind and helpful, sober and careful in executing his charge, diligent, and so inclined that his work in the Lord was not in vain but that it would accomplish much for the youth in cathechising, and edifying and consoling to the sick and assailed.
He was a man with a healthy complexion, hence he never was sick. His greatest burden was obesity accompanied with asthma which proved to be his last sickness. Ten weeks after he delivered a sermon based on the gospel of the young man of Nain, which he delivered under a great strain only a few days after his son, who was Pastor at Sobernheim, had been buried (1698) he delivered his last sermon simultaneously touching upon his own funeral sermon. His condition grew worse after this and when dropsy developed, he prepared for the end; singing hymns of praise was his extraordinary pleasure and every evening he would invite his family or visitors to sing several Psalms and spiritual hymns. This he did until the last week of his sickness and always spoke consoling words and prayed often and thereby edified others who visited him. When he felt particular pains he would say: "Hic ute, hic seca, modo ibi parce," and while with passionate desire he was waiting for his hour he remarked, as a light was lit: "Vespera nunc venit, nobiscum Christi Maneto, Extingul Lucem ne patiare tuam."
When someone would ask him about his severe suffering he would reply "Mane in me dulcissime esu, ut ego in te maneaum." He was fully conscious until the end, his memory was not affected and although his speech was affected somewhat, he continued in prayer and often prayed:
O du groszer Gott erhoere,
Was dien Kind gebeten hat
Jesu! den ich stets verebre
Bleibe ja mein Schutz und Rath!
(Translation:)
Oh thou great God
Hear thou the prayer of the child
Jesus, whom evr I revere
Be thou ever my protection and guide.

During the last night he rested quietly and when asked whether Jesus was in his heart he said yes; and when consoled withthe wish of Simeon he spoke these last words: "Yes, mine eyes have seen your Savior" . . . . .After this he remained in continued prayer and devotion, and though as he were sleeping, passed away, gently and blessed, night before last at the age of 74 years and a little over 8 months; in the ministry 54 years, as Inspector 33 years.