Family lore holds that Hanna Long was the name of John Bitler's first wife. To date, this researcher has found no factual evidence to support that claim.

1762 Birth of son John:1419 Birth date of 'Long John' Bitler on 28 September 1762 calculated from 'Long John's' age at death (75 years, 2 months, 4 days on 2 December 1837) given in death notice appearing in Die Stimme des Volks. Identified as "my eldest son John Bitler" by father John Bitler (1713-1790) in his will95 dated 21 September 1790. Brothers Daniel and Michael also mentioned in the will.

1766 Birth of son Daniel:1395 Birth of Daniel Bitler in 1766 calculated from his age at death (56 years in 1822) appearing on tombstone in St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church, Geigertown, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

1767 Birth of son Michael:122, Baptisms, p. 39.,1603, p. 1, p. 56. Estimate based on Michael's assumed age of 21 at the time of the birth of his son Samuel on 16 November 1788.

Research Conclusions: On 28 April 1783 John Bitler and wife Elisabetha served as sponsors at the baptism of their grandson Daniel, son of 'Long John' Bitler. At the time of her death fifteen years later in 1798, Elisabetha Bitler was a widow. The Letters of Administration for her estate indicate she had been previously married to Paul Wolff. Paul Wolff's will, written in 1775, states that Paul and Elisabeth had five children by 1775. It is implausible, then, to believe that Elisabetha Wolff Bitler was the mother of children by both Paul Wolff and John Bitler. Therefore, I conclude that John Bitler was married and widowed prior to his marriage to Elisabetha Wolff. The evidence below supports this conclusion.

Death Prior to 1783:122, Baptisms, p. 6.,1603, pt. 1, p. 10. Johannes Bittler and wife Elisabetha served as sponsors at the baptism of their grandchild Daniel on 28 April 1783, according to Boos Pastoral Acts.

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Evidence that Elisabeth was not the mother of John Daniel, and Michael:1331 The will of Paul Wolff, written 25 February 1775, identified his wife Anna Elisabetha along with children Jacob, Dorotea, Elisabeth, Marcks, and Anna. These five children were born prior to 1775 and therefore their mother could not also have been the mother of John Bitler's sons 'Long John', Daniel, and Michael.

Evidence that Elisabeth was not the mother of John, Daniel, and Michael:721 Upon Elisabeth's death in 1798, the letters of administration issued to Jacob Wolf, state that Elisabeth was married to the Paul Wolff prior to her marriage to John Bittler. "To Jacob Wolf, eldest son of Elizabeth Bittler, late of Robeson Twp in Berks Co, widow of John Bittler dec’d. Which Elizabeth, prior to her intermarriage with said John Bittler dec’d, had been the widow of Paul Wolff, father of said Jacob Wolf, 13 Aug 1798."