JOHAN MICHAEL KNAPPENBERGER FAMILY
IMMIGRANT
Johan Michael
(1709-1751)
V
with Anna Magdalene [Knoepfer] (?-1738): Johan George Sebastian (1733-1738)
with Anna Magdalene [Knoepfer] (?-1738): Maria Dorothea (1735-1738)
with Anna Magdalene [Knoepfer] (?-1738): Maria Luise (1736-1738)
with Catherine [Heilig] (c1719-c1766): Susanna Margaretha (1740-1756)
with Catherine [Heilig] (c1719-c1766): Maria Anna Barbara (1742-1801) > 11 Children
with Catherine [Heilig] (c1719-c1766): Johan Henrich (1744-1818) > 12 Children
with Catherine [Heilig] (c1719-c1766): Johan George (1745-1819) > 1 Child
with Catherine [Heilig] (c1719-c1766): Conrad (1747-1818) > 10 Children
with Catherine [Heilig] (c1719-c1766): Catherine Margaret (1750-?)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Johan Michael Knappenberger was born 27 August 1709 in Widdern, Jagstkreis, Wuerttemberg, the son of Johan Albrecht and Anna Katherine Knappenberger. He first married Anna Magdalena KNOEPFER in Wuerttemburg and had three children. It seems that his wife and three small children perished during the trip to Pennsylvania.
When Johan Michael arrived in Philadelphia in 1738, he was a widower. There he met and married Catherine HEILIG (her uncle was the famous clockmaker, Henry Heilig, in Philadelphia) and purchased land in Macungie Township, then part of Northampton County and later part of Lehigh County, PA. Johan Michael and Catherine Heilig, daughter of J. George Heilig, were married on 15 May 1739 in Six Corner Church of Red Hill, Montgomery County, PA. Catherine was born about 1720 in Montgomery County, PA and she died about 1766 in Northampton County, PA. Johan Michael and Catherine had six children. Johan Michael died at the age of 42 on 13 June 1751 in Macungie Township, Northampton County, PA, and is buried at Lehigh Church. Catherine then married Jacob Tanner/Danner.
Johan Michael was instrumental in the founding of the Lehigh Church of Lower Macungie in the 1740s. When settlers arrived there, they set aside a tract of land as a place for the establishment of a church, and all new arrivals were prevented from settling there. In 1749, it was decided to get a title to the land that had been set aside for the church. From the research of Rev Melville Schmoyer we learn that, “a committee consisting of Matthias Eigner and Michael Knappenberger who represented the Lutheran side and John Butz and Jacob Long as representatives for the Reformed were selected, who were to journey to Philadelphia and secure title from the Penns to the hitherto pre-empted tract. Said committee arranged among themselves that in the evening of a fixed date they would set out on their mission from a determined place. However, the Reformed portion of the Committee had determined to secure the property solely for themselves, and instead of waiting for the appointed time to come, set out on the quest at noon of the day. It was not until nightfall that the Lutheran Committee-men got wind of the trickery, and naturally wroth at the duplicity of their colleagues, they saddled their best horses and rode all night. The Reformed members at eventide, feeling secure that it would be safe to put up at some hotel and still be able to obtain their object. Thus while Butz and Long lay wrapped in slumber, certain of securing their prize, it was that Eigner and Knappenberger rode swiftly past the hotel, reaching Philadelphia early in the morning and stabling their horses, denied themselves breakfast and, as soon as the State House was opened were on hand with their request, which was acceded to. Gratified with their achievement the two left the State House having in their possession perpetual title to the land for the Lutheran Congregation on the Little Lehigh. On the street they met the Reformed members of the Committee and twitted them with ‘TOO LATE! TOO LATE! The bird which you expected to catch we have already caged.’ The sore vexation of the Reformed may readily be imagined; nevertheless they had sought to entrap others and were caught in their own snare. As a sort of salve to their wounded pride, we find that the church established at Long Swamp for a long time had been solely given to the conducting of Reformed services.”
Cornerstone of Lehigh Zion Church
in Alburtis, Pennsylvania
of which Johan Michael Knappenberger
was a founding member
[photo graciously provided by
Jay and Nancy Knappenberger)
CHILDREN OF JOHAN MICHAEL KNAPPENBERGER AND ANNA MAGDALENA KNOEPFER
JOHAN GEORGE SEBASTIAN (1733-1738)
Johan George Sebastian was born 16 November 1733 in Widdern and died 1738 en route to America.
MARIA DOROTHEA KNAPPENBERGER (1735-1738)
Maria Dorothea was born 10 January 1735 in Widdern and died 1738 en route to America.
MARIA LUISE KNAPPENBERGER (1736-1738)
Maria Luise was born 25 February 1736 in Widdern and died 1738 en route to America.
CHILDREN OF JOHAN MICHAEL KNAPPENBERGER AND CATHERINE HEILIG
SUSANNA MARGARETHA KNAPPENBERGER (1740-1756)
Susanna Margaretha was born 30 October 1740. She died at the age of 15 on 6 March 1756 in Macungie Township, Northampton County, PA and was buried in Lehigh Zion Church Cemetery.
MARIA ANNA BARBARA KNAPPENBERGER (1742-1801)
Maria Anna Barbara was born 30 October 1742. She died 22 January 1801 in Northampton County, PA. Maria married John Mathias EIGNER who was born 2 June 1735 in Lancaster County, PA and died 20 July 1796 in Upper Saucon Township (now Lehigh County), PA. This couple had eleven children. More information on this couple and their family can be gained by clicking on her name above.
JOHAN HENRICH “HENRY” KNAPPENBERGER (1744-1818)
Johan Henrich was born 10 September 1744 and died 14 August 1818 in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA. He married Anna Margaret /Anna Margaretha [nee BABEL], widow of Henry Heilig, Jr., who had died in 1766. Margaret was born 1743 and died 9 October 1818 in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA. They are buried at Lehigh Zion Church cemetery in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA. This couple had twelve children. More information on this couple and their family can be gained by clicking on his name above.
JOHAN GEORGE KNAPPENBERGER (1745-1819)
Johan George known as “George” was born 20 October 1745 and died 16 February 1819 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA. George’s guardian upon the death of his father was Frederich Shafer. George served as a Captain of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Company, Northampton County Militia in the Revolutionary War. His younger brother, Conrad, was listed as a Sergeant in the same company. It seems George was involved with the ferry business in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA. George married Catharine HITTEL, daughter of Michael Hittel, Sr. and Anna Marie, in 1762 in Northampton County, PA. Catharine was born 1746 in Northampton County, PA and died February 1829 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA. They had one child named Catherine Knappenberger who was born about 1791, married Samuel WATERS, had two sons, and died sometime between 1830 and 1840. More information on this family can be gained by clicking on Johan George Knappenberger’s name above. Special Thanks to Harriett Carmine and Linda Garrison for their invaluable help with the WATERS FAMILY.
CONRAD KNAPPENBERGER (1747-1818)
Conrad was born 21 October 1747 in Macungie Township, Northampton County, PA and died 20 November 1818 in Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, PA. He married Eva “Barbara” BLOSE in 1768 in Macungie Township, Northampton County, PA. Barbara was born about 1750 and died January 1823 in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio. Conrad served as a Sergeant of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Company, Northampton County Militia in the Revolutionary War. Conrad and Barbara moved their family to Westmoreland County, PA about 1789. More information on this family can be gained by clicking on Conrad’s name above.
CATHARINA MARGARETHA KNAPPENBERGER (1750-?)
Catharine Margaret was born 23 October 1750 in Macungie Township, PA. In court papers of 1762, “Katerine” was listed as being under age 14 with the guardian listed as Frederick Romich. No further information has been found on her at this time.