According to baptismal records, emigrant Stephen Hoepffer, was born in the village of Deckenpfronn in the Baden-Wurttemberg province of Germany (then known as Prussia) on October 26, 1744. This was in the region of the Black Forest.
The political conditions in Europe during the mid-century were unsettled: (a) crop failures in vineyards, severe damage to crops by wild game; (b) revocation of former grazing and wood-gathering rights in ducal forests, severe penalties for trespassing; (c) oppressive and annoying compulsory service to the overlords, a hangover from medieval feudalism; (d) mounting taxes. Many sold their land to emigrate. Stephen arrived in America at Philadelphia on September 19, 1765 on the ship Betsey, which was commanded by John Osman. The ship had traveled from Rotterdam via Cowes, England. The records show that one Stephen Hopffer was consigned to Samuel Howell October 31, 1765. That means that Stephen was indentured when he originally came to this country, and no record indicates he was married at that time.
Stephen eventually settled in what is now Berks County, Pennsylvania near the little village of Stouchsburg. He married Gertrude in 1767 (her maiden name is unknown), and they joined the congregation of Christ Lutheran Church. Stephen and Gertrude raised seven children, six sons and one daughter: George, Johannes "John", Jacob, William Michael, Stephen, Johannes and Anna Margreth "Margaret" who married Michael Feagley (in records, his surname is also listed as Vogele and Fagala).
According to Christ Lutheran Church records, Stefahnus Hopfer with an umlat o, died August 16, 1817, and was buried on 18 Aug 1817, aged 70 years, 9 months, and 3 weeks. (According to his birth/baptismal record, he was actually 72 years old.)
Stephen died without leaving a Will, and son, Michael, was granted Letters of Administration on 18 Mar 1822 to settle his estate, according to Lebanon County (PA) Orphans Court Book A-234. The appointment of Michael, the fourth-born son, as administrator of the estate indicates that the first three were not available or that they declined the post. Michael's petition states that George was deceased. There are no letters of renunciation from John or Jacob. We must assume that they had moved away and were, therefore, unavailable. The petition Michael submitted to the court is recorded in Lebanon County Orphans Court Book B, pages 177, 178. It is dated 5 Apr 1822.
The petition establishes that Stephen lived in Heidelberg Township, that he died leaving a widow, and seven children. It states that George had died leaving children, and that Stephen was the owner of a certain undivided half part of a house and three lots of ground in Newmanstown, as well as the undivided half part of a certain tract of land in Heidelberg Twp containing six acres. The petition requested an order to sell the properties "for the payment of debts, and the maintenance and education of the minors of the said intestate". It is signed by Michael Hippert with a parenthetical notation that it was signed in German. The court granted permission, and it ordered the sale to take place on "Saturday the first of June next at 10 o'clock in the forenoon".
In Lebanon County Orphans Court Book B, page 260, there is a report to the court dated 14 Apr 1823 which states that, on 1 Jun 1822, Michael sold the three acres of land for $15.25, and the half part of the house and three lots for $168.00 to John Hippert. The court confirmed the sale on the same date.
Thus, the estate of Stephen Hoepffer was settled. He lies at peace at Christ Lutheran Church cemetery.
The political conditions in Europe during the mid-century were unsettled: (a) crop failures in vineyards, severe damage to crops by wild game; (b) revocation of former grazing and wood-gathering rights in ducal forests, severe penalties for trespassing; (c) oppressive and annoying compulsory service to the overlords, a hangover from medieval feudalism; (d) mounting taxes. Many sold their land to emigrate. Stephen arrived in America at Philadelphia on September 19, 1765 on the ship Betsey, which was commanded by John Osman. The ship had traveled from Rotterdam via Cowes, England. The records show that one Stephen Hopffer was consigned to Samuel Howell October 31, 1765. That means that Stephen was indentured when he originally came to this country, and no record indicates he was married at that time.
Stephen eventually settled in what is now Berks County, Pennsylvania near the little village of Stouchsburg. He married Gertrude in 1767 (her maiden name is unknown), and they joined the congregation of Christ Lutheran Church. Stephen and Gertrude raised seven children, six sons and one daughter: George, Johannes "John", Jacob, William Michael, Stephen, Johannes and Anna Margreth "Margaret" who married Michael Feagley (in records, his surname is also listed as Vogele and Fagala).
According to Christ Lutheran Church records, Stefahnus Hopfer with an umlat o, died August 16, 1817, and was buried on 18 Aug 1817, aged 70 years, 9 months, and 3 weeks. (According to his birth/baptismal record, he was actually 72 years old.)
Stephen died without leaving a Will, and son, Michael, was granted Letters of Administration on 18 Mar 1822 to settle his estate, according to Lebanon County (PA) Orphans Court Book A-234. The appointment of Michael, the fourth-born son, as administrator of the estate indicates that the first three were not available or that they declined the post. Michael's petition states that George was deceased. There are no letters of renunciation from John or Jacob. We must assume that they had moved away and were, therefore, unavailable. The petition Michael submitted to the court is recorded in Lebanon County Orphans Court Book B, pages 177, 178. It is dated 5 Apr 1822.
The petition establishes that Stephen lived in Heidelberg Township, that he died leaving a widow, and seven children. It states that George had died leaving children, and that Stephen was the owner of a certain undivided half part of a house and three lots of ground in Newmanstown, as well as the undivided half part of a certain tract of land in Heidelberg Twp containing six acres. The petition requested an order to sell the properties "for the payment of debts, and the maintenance and education of the minors of the said intestate". It is signed by Michael Hippert with a parenthetical notation that it was signed in German. The court granted permission, and it ordered the sale to take place on "Saturday the first of June next at 10 o'clock in the forenoon".
In Lebanon County Orphans Court Book B, page 260, there is a report to the court dated 14 Apr 1823 which states that, on 1 Jun 1822, Michael sold the three acres of land for $15.25, and the half part of the house and three lots for $168.00 to John Hippert. The court confirmed the sale on the same date.
Thus, the estate of Stephen Hoepffer was settled. He lies at peace at Christ Lutheran Church cemetery.
According to baptismal records, emigrant Stephen Hoepffer, was born in the village of Deckenpfronn in the Baden-Wurttemberg province of Germany (then known as Prussia) on October 26, 1744. This was in the region of the Black Forest.
The political conditions in Europe during the mid-century were unsettled: (a) crop failures in vineyards, severe damage to crops by wild game; (b) revocation of former grazing and wood-gathering rights in ducal forests, severe penalties for trespassing; (c) oppressive and annoying compulsory service to the overlords, a hangover from medieval feudalism; (d) mounting taxes. Many sold their land to emigrate. Stephen arrived in America at Philadelphia on September 19, 1765 on the ship Betsey, which was commanded by John Osman. The ship had traveled from Rotterdam via Cowes, England. The records show that one Stephen Hopffer was consigned to Samuel Howell October 31, 1765. That means that Stephen was indentured when he originally came to this country, and no record indicates he was married at that time.
Stephen eventually settled in what is now Berks County, Pennsylvania near the little village of Stouchsburg. He married Gertrude in 1767 (her maiden name is unknown), and they joined the congregation of Christ Lutheran Church. Stephen and Gertrude raised seven children, six sons and one daughter: George, Johannes "John", Jacob, William Michael, Stephen, Johannes and Anna Margreth "Margaret" who married Michael Feagley (in records, his surname is also listed as Vogele and Fagala).
According to Christ Lutheran Church records, Stefahnus Hopfer with an umlat o, died August 16, 1817, and was buried on 18 Aug 1817, aged 70 years, 9 months, and 3 weeks. (According to his birth/baptismal record, he was actually 72 years old.)
Stephen died without leaving a Will, and son, Michael, was granted Letters of Administration on 18 Mar 1822 to settle his estate, according to Lebanon County (PA) Orphans Court Book A-234. The appointment of Michael, the fourth-born son, as administrator of the estate indicates that the first three were not available or that they declined the post. Michael's petition states that George was deceased. There are no letters of renunciation from John or Jacob. We must assume that they had moved away and were, therefore, unavailable. The petition Michael submitted to the court is recorded in Lebanon County Orphans Court Book B, pages 177, 178. It is dated 5 Apr 1822.
The petition establishes that Stephen lived in Heidelberg Township, that he died leaving a widow, and seven children. It states that George had died leaving children, and that Stephen was the owner of a certain undivided half part of a house and three lots of ground in Newmanstown, as well as the undivided half part of a certain tract of land in Heidelberg Twp containing six acres. The petition requested an order to sell the properties "for the payment of debts, and the maintenance and education of the minors of the said intestate". It is signed by Michael Hippert with a parenthetical notation that it was signed in German. The court granted permission, and it ordered the sale to take place on "Saturday the first of June next at 10 o'clock in the forenoon".
In Lebanon County Orphans Court Book B, page 260, there is a report to the court dated 14 Apr 1823 which states that, on 1 Jun 1822, Michael sold the three acres of land for $15.25, and the half part of the house and three lots for $168.00 to John Hippert. The court confirmed the sale on the same date.
Thus, the estate of Stephen Hoepffer was settled. He lies at peace at Christ Lutheran Church cemetery.
The political conditions in Europe during the mid-century were unsettled: (a) crop failures in vineyards, severe damage to crops by wild game; (b) revocation of former grazing and wood-gathering rights in ducal forests, severe penalties for trespassing; (c) oppressive and annoying compulsory service to the overlords, a hangover from medieval feudalism; (d) mounting taxes. Many sold their land to emigrate. Stephen arrived in America at Philadelphia on September 19, 1765 on the ship Betsey, which was commanded by John Osman. The ship had traveled from Rotterdam via Cowes, England. The records show that one Stephen Hopffer was consigned to Samuel Howell October 31, 1765. That means that Stephen was indentured when he originally came to this country, and no record indicates he was married at that time.
Stephen eventually settled in what is now Berks County, Pennsylvania near the little village of Stouchsburg. He married Gertrude in 1767 (her maiden name is unknown), and they joined the congregation of Christ Lutheran Church. Stephen and Gertrude raised seven children, six sons and one daughter: George, Johannes "John", Jacob, William Michael, Stephen, Johannes and Anna Margreth "Margaret" who married Michael Feagley (in records, his surname is also listed as Vogele and Fagala).
According to Christ Lutheran Church records, Stefahnus Hopfer with an umlat o, died August 16, 1817, and was buried on 18 Aug 1817, aged 70 years, 9 months, and 3 weeks. (According to his birth/baptismal record, he was actually 72 years old.)
Stephen died without leaving a Will, and son, Michael, was granted Letters of Administration on 18 Mar 1822 to settle his estate, according to Lebanon County (PA) Orphans Court Book A-234. The appointment of Michael, the fourth-born son, as administrator of the estate indicates that the first three were not available or that they declined the post. Michael's petition states that George was deceased. There are no letters of renunciation from John or Jacob. We must assume that they had moved away and were, therefore, unavailable. The petition Michael submitted to the court is recorded in Lebanon County Orphans Court Book B, pages 177, 178. It is dated 5 Apr 1822.
The petition establishes that Stephen lived in Heidelberg Township, that he died leaving a widow, and seven children. It states that George had died leaving children, and that Stephen was the owner of a certain undivided half part of a house and three lots of ground in Newmanstown, as well as the undivided half part of a certain tract of land in Heidelberg Twp containing six acres. The petition requested an order to sell the properties "for the payment of debts, and the maintenance and education of the minors of the said intestate". It is signed by Michael Hippert with a parenthetical notation that it was signed in German. The court granted permission, and it ordered the sale to take place on "Saturday the first of June next at 10 o'clock in the forenoon".
In Lebanon County Orphans Court Book B, page 260, there is a report to the court dated 14 Apr 1823 which states that, on 1 Jun 1822, Michael sold the three acres of land for $15.25, and the half part of the house and three lots for $168.00 to John Hippert. The court confirmed the sale on the same date.
Thus, the estate of Stephen Hoepffer was settled. He lies at peace at Christ Lutheran Church cemetery.
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