GENERATION I: EDZARD LUDOLPHI (circa 1560-1600)

Edzard Ludolphi, commonly called Middoch or Middochius (the Latin version of Middoch), was born between 1540 and 1570 (estimate based on son’s date of birth) in Germany to unknown parents.  His place of origin (and probable birth) was likely Middoge (also called Middoch or Muddoch), a small village in the Jever district, East Frisia (today a part of Friesland, Lower Saxony) on the North Sea coast.  Later in life, Middochius was a pastor at Tettens, a small village two miles east of Middoge.  His wife Dorothea (or Margaret) was a daughter of Jodocus von Glan (or Glanaeus – the Latin version of Glan, last name also found as von Glaner or Glan; born 1538, died 1614 in Jever) of Jever.  Middochius was probably a Lutheran pastor since he married the daughter of a Lutheran pastor (Father-in-law Jodocus von Glan was in Bremen as a pastor of St. Alsgar as early as 1569).  Middochius died at Tettens in 1600 as a young man (probably between 30 and 45). 

The ancestors of Middochius are not known but certainly they are, one way or another, connected to Edzard I, Count of East Frisia (1461-1528).  Middochius, whose given name was Edzard, was probably either 1) a descendant of Edzard I or 2) was named in his honor.  If an ancestor, Edzard I would have been approximately a great grandfather of Middochius (Edzard Ludolphi).  However, the descendants of Edzard I are fairly well known and no connection to Middochius is evident.