In a message dated 5/14/05 4:00:41 PM, CARPER-D-request(a)rootsweb.com writes:
<< Date: 13 May 2005 13:49:06 -0600
From: nosub4quality(a)aol.com
To: CARPER-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: last of my sources on this subject
Hiya, just curious if anyone has ever went back further than Nicolaus? I am a
direct descendent (on my mother's side) his son Frederick was my ggg
grandfather. Would like to know if anyone knows anything about this family in Germany?
Thanks! E-mail me at Allred1979(a)aol.com.
>
Alfred
I think the main references for the oldest Carpers is a book "Eighteenth
Century Emigrants from Pfungstadt, Hessen-Darmstadt to Pennsylvania" by Annette K.
Burgert and part of "Chronicles of Carper Family Descendants of Nicholas
Kerper, 1703 Immigrant to Pennsylvania," published August 1998.
Researchers interested in the Carper family are advised to seek out a library
that has the Smith-Riffe Collection on microfilm and read the valuable
correspondence between Aubrey O. Smith and Oliver H. Carper of Richmond, VA. Also,
Peggy A. Grubbs "The Carpers of Roane County, WV." Peggy's book is a
treasure
trove of data on the Carpers and collateral families.
One source claims Nicolaus Kerber (Carper) born 14, February 1703 at
Unterostern, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and father Hans Joerg Kerber, born 6 Dec. 1669
died 6 Dec. 1772 at Unterostern, Hesse-Darmstadt, Parish of Reichelsheim,
Germany. Hans' father was Alexander Kerber (Koerber).
Nicholas Carper ( Niklas Korper) was born in Germany in 1710 and arrived in
Philadelphia, PA August 11, 1732. Like many other immigrants, Nicholas Carpers
correct name is in doubt. In three documents dealing with his arrival in
Philadelphia, his name is variously spelled Nicholas Corber, Niklas Korper and
Niklas Kerper. His signature appears on two documents, but is in German and can
be interpreted to fit many spellings.
There is no mention of a wife or family in any of the documents. Jacob
Carper, a son of Nicholas, is believed to have been born in Germany ca 1730 and his
next son Friederich Carper in PA in 1736. Jacob Carper may have been omitted
from the various lists because of his age or he may have come to America at a
later date.
Nicholas is believed to have lived in PA until about 1750, when he moved to
MD. Three land deeds in Berks County, PA detail the purchase and later resale
of land in that county by a Nicholas Carper between the years 1740 and 1748.
This indicates that Nicholas lived there from 1740 to 1748 before moving.
There was more than one Nicholas Carper in PA in that period.
He and Margaret lived in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, PA by 1753.
County records of him stop in 1758 (the only year he was taxed there). He was
one of the first elders of the First Reformed Church of Coventry, East
Coventry, Chester County, PA on 19 May 1743 when Rev. Jacob Lischy became pastor and
started keeping records. He worked as a blacksmith. In 1740 they were “of
Plymouth in Philadelphia County.”
LaniMacA(a)aol.com (an apparent historian on the Philadelphia Rootsweb Page),
looked up, in Strassburger's Pennsylvania German Pioneers, and found Nicholas...
Reply: On board the ship "Samuel" of London, Hugh Percy commander, from
Rotterdam via Cowes, England, qualified 11 Aug 1732, Nicholas CORBER (umlaut over
the O), age 22. The first version of the list, written by the captain or one
of the ship's officers, includes women and children, non of whom have a
surname similar to Nicholas'. There were 106 men (age 16 and older), 89 women and
84 children on board, for a total of 279 passengers, all of whom are noted to
be Palatines. In the second and third versions of the list for this ship,
which is made up of the adult male passengers' signatures, your ancestor signed
his own name as Niklas KORPER (umlaut over the O) and Niklas KERPER,
respectively.
Note: Cowes was an English port on the Isle of Wight. He was Niklas Korper
on the signature list on the ship, Niklas Kerper on Clerk of Court's list when
passengers took oath of allegiance to King of England and American Colonies
(called 'Declaration of Fidelity and Abjuration'), and he was Nicholas Corber on
the ship captain's list.
Name: Friederich CARPER
Birth: 8 Jul 1736 PA
Death: 7 Nov 1789 Campbelltown, PA
Father: Nicholas CARPER (1710->1790)
Mother: Margaretha Barbara MARSTELLER (1708-)
Other spouses: Susannah SCHARF- She and Friederich had 2 children names and
sex unknown to me.
Marriage: ca 1760
Spouse: Marie Margaret WOLFERSBERGER
Birth: 26 Dec 1739
Death: 8 Sep 1805
Misc. Notes
She had 3 other children, names and sex unknown
Children
1 F: Katherine CARPER
Birth: 1762
Death: 1833
2 M: John CARPER
Birth: 1764
Death: 1805
3 M: Nicholas CARPER
4 F: Magalena CARPER
Birth: 1774
Any additions or corrections to this information would be greatly appreciated.
Karen Kessler Cottrill
WV Kessler/Kesler/Keslar Family Historian
I am making no claims that the above information is correct and should not be
posted as so. This is being given as personal information to be used for
further research and not all has been documented.