ORIGINAL KNAPPENBERGER IMMIGRANTS UPDATED June 16, 2008
GENERAL INFORMATION
The journey from Germany to the American colonies was arduous and many died on the passage due to the hardships. For more information about German immigration to the New World, visit Richard Newhouse's website. There you will also find other fascinating information related to early German immigrants to this country. Three Knappenberger siblings (Maria Barbara, J. Michael and J. Erhard) arrived in Pennsylvania and settled west of Philadelphia in what was then Northampton County (and later became Lehigh County in 1812). The Knappenbergers were farmers though they also had great skill in carpentry and building. They were part of the communities that came to be called Pennsylvania "Dutch" which is a corruption of the German language word "Deutsch" which means German. It is likely that the Knappenbergers came to America not only for land but also for religious freedom. William Penn considered his colony, Pennsylvania, a "Holy Experiment" where he established religious toleration, a fairly democratic system of government and sold land on liberal terms both to individuals and to groups. The Knappenbergers were part of the German Reform religious movement. The Protestant Reformation had begun in Germany in the 1500s under the leadership of Martin Luther. Once the siblings arrived in the colony, the two brothers were instrumental in starting churches and remained active in them. Future generations would follow on the same path. As the family moved to new areas of the country, the Knappenbergers would help establish new churches (primarily Lutheran and German Reform which later became United Church of Christ) and remained active in their workings. Through the generations up until present day, many Knappenbergers have been pastors and church leaders. Have questions regarding the Pennsylvania Dutch?
IMMIGRANTS OF THE
1700s MARIA BARBARA KNAPPENBERGER (1699-1772) Maria Barbara Knappenberger was born 30 April 1699 in Widdern, Jagstkreis, Wuerttemberg, the daughter of Johan Albrecht Knappenberger. She died 27 January 1772 in South Whitehall Township of Northampton County, PA (which later became Lehigh County). She was the first of the three siblings to arrive from Wuerttemberg in 1732. She arrived alone which was quite unusual. No records have been found of a marriage in Wuerttemberg for Barbara. Upon arriving in Pennsylvania, she married Conrad Kolb, a widower in 1733. Conrad arrived on the ship "Pleasant" on 11 October 1732 losing his wife and two of his four children on the journey. It was common for people to not survive the journey especially young children. Barbara's husband, Conrad KOLB Sr., was born 31 March 1697 in Meckesheim, Baden and died 15 April1781 in South Whitehall Township, Northampton County, (later Lehigh County), PA. Conrad's oldest son was Conrad, Jr. born 20 May 1723 in Baden with his first wife, Anna Elisabeth Gerichts. His daughter by his first marriage, Anna Elisabeth Kolb, married Johann Michael Maurer. Barbara Knappenberger and Conrad Kolb's children can be located on the Maria Barbara Knappenberger Kolb Family page. Just click on her name above.
J. Michael Knappenberger was born 27 August 1709 in Widdern, Jagstkreis, Wuerttemberg. He died 13 June 1751 in Macungie Township, Northampton County (later Lehigh County), PA. He was a younger son of Johan Albrecht Knappenberger. He married Anna Magdalene KNOEPFER in Wuerttemberg and had three children. No records indicate that his wife and three small children survived the passage to Pennsylvania. J. Michael arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 as a widower and took the loyalty oath on 19 May 1739. He married Catharina HEILIG on 15 May 1739 in Six Corner Church, Red Hill, Montgomery County, PA. Catharina was born about 1719 in Montgomery County, PA and died about 1766 in Northampton County, PA. Information about J. Michael's children with his first wife, Anna Magdalene Knoepfer, and his second wife, Catharina Heilig, can be found by clicking on his name above.
J. Erhard Knappenberger was born 30 June 1704 in
Widdern, Jagstkreis, Wuerttemberg and died August 1776 in Whitehall Township,
Northampton County (later became Lehigh County), PA. He married Sophie
Helene WEISMUELLER on 29 July 1730 in Widdern, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg.
Sophie was born about 1708 in Widdern and died 12 May 1786 in Whitehall
Township, Northampton County, PA. J. Erhard and Sophie's children can be located on the J. Erhard Knappenberger Family page. Just click on the name above.
IMMIGRANTS OF THE
1800s The Wuerttemberg, Germany Emigration Index lists a Joh.
Christian Knappenberger (no birth date) as applying to come to North America in
May 1845. His birth place is listed as Olnhausen and he was applying from
the District of Neckarsulm. Nothing further is known of him at
this time. Anyone with
information is urged to email us at jsappleton@alltel.net.
Johan Georg Knappenberger was born 28 February 1820 in Schornbach,
Germany and died 15 August 1859 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio. He
married Rosina BAHLER on 20 June 1843. She was born 3 November 1823 in
Steinach, Germany and died 15 April 1906 in Crawford County, Ohio. This
couple came to Ohio about 1848 with their two oldest children. They had
eight children in all. For more information on this family, please click on
the name
above. CAROLINE KNAPPENBERGER (c1830-?) Carolina Knappenberger, age 24, arrived in New York on the ship " Heidelburg" on 17 May 1854. This ship embarked from the Havre in France. Records indicate that her country of origin was Bavaria. In March of 1854, a Karoline Knappenberger applied to come to North America from the District of Neckarsulm. Karoline was born in Lampoldshausen. Nothing further is known of her at this time.
Christian Knappenberger was born December 1854 in Germany and arrived in the US in 1870. He was a farmer. He married Catharine Kranz, who was born October 1849 in either Austria or Germany. She arrived in the US in 1874 and was the daughter of Joseph Kranz. Christian Knappenberger's mother's name was Christiana, born September 1825 in Germany. In the 1900 census she is living with this couple as a widow with the last name of WHITMAN. Christian Knappenberg(er) is listed in the 1880 census for Upper
Salford Township, Montgomery County, PA, age 27 and born in Wurtemberg, Germany. He is living with his wife, Catherine, who was listed as 33 years
of age and born in Austria. They are living in her father's household,
Joseph Kranz, who was 70 years old and born in the Tyrole. This Knappenberger family was also listed in the 1910 census
for Montgomery County, PA. Christian was listed as age 55 and born in
Germany and his wife Katie was listed as age 64 and born in Germany. No
children were listed in the 1880, 1900 or 1910 census. No further
information on this couple is available at this time. If you have connections to this family, please contact us at
jsappleton@alltel.net.
John Frederick Knappenberger was born 6 November 1846 in Wuertemburg, Germany and died 28 October 1920 in Waldo Twp., Marion County, Ohio. He was married to Catharine Rose LEIS in Germany. One source lists John Frederick Knappenberger's father as Frederick Knappenberger. We know nothing further at this time about his ancestry in Germany. John's sister, Elizabeth with her husband, Frederick John Ruth, also immigrated to Ohio from Wuerttemburg. (see below) Catharine was born 14 May 1852 in Wuerttemburg, Germany and died 31 January 1921 in Waldo, Marion County, Ohio. John Frederick arrived in the United States in 1881, Catharine Rose arrived in the United States in 1882, and both received their citizenship in 1888. The immigration information for Catharine Knappenberger lists her as 30 years of age upon her arrival in the USA and her country of origin was Wuerttemburg. She and her two oldest daughters arrived on the ship "Rhynland" that arrived in New York on 1 June 1882. Catharine and John are buried in Prospect Cemetery in Waldo, Marion County, Ohio. From the 1900 census we learn that John was a farmer and that he had seven children. Are you a member of this family? Please contact us jsappleton@windstream.net. Thank you! For more information on this family including much more information about their children and grandchildren , please click on the name above. ELIZABETH KNAPPENBERGER (1843-after 1930) Elizabeth Knappenberger was born 20 April 1843 in Wuerttemberg, Germany and died after 1930 in Ohio. She came to the US in 1883 and was naturalized in 1888 along with her husband, Frederick John RUTH, whom she married in 1862 in Germany. Frederick was born 24 May 1836 in Wuerttemburg, Germany and died after 1930 census in Ohio. They are listed as father-in-law and mother-in-law in the 1930 census for Marion County, Ohio in the household of their married daughter, Caroline Augenstein. Elizabeth Knappenberger Ruth is the older sister of John Frederick Knappenberger above. This couple is buried in Windfall Cemetery, Morrow County, Ohio along with a number of their children. They had seven children:
We are continuing to research
this family line and would love to learn more.
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