Reincke (the Remarkable) Rahtert, my 9th great grandfather, was buried when he was 90 years old according to church records from Hahlen, Germany. My assumption, of course, is that he was deceased at the time; or that would have made him Truly Remarkable Reincke. Nonetheless, his longevity makes him remarkable in my book considering the time period in which he existed. Born in the early 17th century, he lived through periods of famine, widespread disease, political upheaval and war. According to the author of The Health of Populations: An Introduction, the lifespan of Europeans living in the 17th century in Europe “ranged between 24 to 34 years”. And yet, Raincke managed to live three lifetimes.

When my grandmother’s sister died at the age of 104 recently, I remember thinking how remarkable it was that her life spanned almost the entire 20th century. Oh, the things she must have seen in her life – wartime, peacetime, depressions, prosperity, loss, joy. I had that same thought about Reincke and the 17th century. But, as my knowledge of 17th century history is non-existent, I really had no context to compare the two.

So I poked around the Internet and learned that Reincke lived during the Thirty Years’ War that ravaged Europe between 1618 and 1648. A series of wars, they left Europe devastated. Reincke was a child when the wars started and an adult when they ended. I have no idea how these wars might have impacted his life. But I thought it was interesting that the wars ended with a series of treaties that were signed very near to where Reincke lived. Known in modern times as the “Peace of Westfalia” – my understanding is that these treaties were significant in ending the wars and shaping the geo-political landscape of Europe for the next few centuries. Unfortunately, the treaties did nothing apparently to stem the famines and outbreaks of disease that continued long after the war. I have a feeling this was simply a way of life back then.

And yet, remarkably, Reincke lived to be 90 years old. Fearing my 9th great grandmother and Reincke’s wife, Anna, might come back to haunt me, I should also mention that she died at the age of 84. Paraphrasing Ginger Rodgers, Anna lived through the same hardships as Reincke, only backwards and in high heels.

Kenfolk: Uthlauts
Relation: 9th great grandather
Common ancestors: Reincke is, in genealogical terms, the end of the line. The identity of his parents is unknown and lost to the ages.

References:
Harper, A. and Lambert, L. J. (1994). The Health of Populations: An Introduction, 2nd edition. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Jarren, V. (2016). Report (von Behren siblings and early Rahtert Family Lines). Freiburg, Germany: German Genealogical Services.