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The 20 Children of Johann Sebastian Bach

We often hear of "Bach's 20 children" but the reality of his family life
was often not a merry one. Only 10 of the 20 children lived to be adults.

The numbers indicate the chronological order of the births

Died as Children

With Maria Barbara Bach
 
b. October 20, 1684
 m. October 17, 1707
 d. July 7, 1720
 died of unknown causes

Twins:
3. Maria Sophia
 
Feb 23-March 15, 1713
4. Johann Christoph
 
Died at birth Feb 23, 1713

7. Leopold Augustus
 
1718-1719

With Anna Magdalena Wilcke
 
b September 22, 1701 
 m. December 3, 1721
 d.February 22, 1760
 died in poverty ten years
after her husband's death

8. Christiana Sophia Henrietta
 
1723-1726

10. Christian Gottlieb
 
1725-1728 

12. Ernestus Andreas
 
Oct 30 - Nov 1, 1727

13. Regina Johanna
 
1728-1733

14. Christiana Benedicta
 
Jan 1 - Jan 4, 1730

15. Christiana Dorothea
 
1731-1732

17. Johann August Abraham
 
Nov 5 - Nov 6, 1733

Lived to adulthood

With Maria Barbara Bach

1. Catharina Dorothea
 
1708-1774
 unmarried

2. Wilhelm Friedemann
 
1710-1784
 organist/composer

5. Johann Gottfried Bernhard
 
1715-1739
 organist
 died under mysterious
 and unknown circumstances

6. Carl Philipp Emanuel
 
1714-1788
 composer / kappelmeister

With Anna Magdalena Wilcke

9. Gottfried Heinrich
 
1724-1763
 mentally handicapped

11. Elisabeth Juliana Friderica
 
“Lieschen” 1726-1781
 married Bach’s pupil,
 Johann Christoph Altnikol

16. Johann Christoph Friedrich
 
1732-1795
 composer / kappelmeister

18. Johann Christian
 
1735-1782
 composer / teacher of Mozart

19. Johanna Carolina
 
1737-1781
 unmarried

20. Regina Susanna
 
1742-1809
 unmarried


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