| Notes |
- Toego or Tycho Nissen was born in Holstein, Germany, in either 1730 or 1732, and came to Salem directly from Europe in 1770. He narrowly escaped drowning shortly after his arrival in NC, when his wagon overturned in an attempt to ford the flooded Yadkin River near Salisbury. Fortunately, he survived, and in 1775 he married Maria Salome Meurer (1750-1821). They served as leaders and schoolteachers for the Friedland congregation until 1780, when they moved back to Salem. He seems to have had many skills: in 1780 he was reported to be able to make chairs, spinning-wheels, and wheelbarrows, but was inexperienced in making gutters, and he also became both the gravedigger and the carver of gravestones. In 1781 it was suggested that he become the nightwatchman for Salem, and that he also serve as porter and assistant in the store by day (when did he sleep?). In 1783 he began making clay pipes, and the church diaries also mention "it would be well for Br. Tycho Nissen to sing a verse occasionally during his night-watch." (Perhaps this was to help keep him awake?) By 1784 his health seems to have deteriorated, and he was replaced as night-watchman during cold weather. In 1786, however, he was advised to take up repair of wagons, in 1788 he was making posts (presumably fence-posts) and also undertook the position of road-master. He was still making gravestones in this year, and shortly before his death in February 1789 was asked to lay logs on the road from Gottlob Krause's house to the tavern, which was becoming impassable. Less than a week after his death four different men were named to replace him in various roles: gravedigging, roadmaster, forester, and maker of gravestones.
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Children of Toego Nissen and Maria Salome Meurer
Maria Salome Nissen (1777-1858) m. Johann Jacob Schaub (1775-1837)
Christian Nissen (1780-1853) m. 1) Catharina Ried (1779-1808), 2) Salome Vogler (1786-1851)
Johann Phillip Nissen (1783-1792)
Johanna Elisabeth Nissen (1787-1864) m. Johann Christian Wilhelm Fries (1775-1866)
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Abt 1730 - 1789 (~ 59 years)
