SCHAEFFERSTOWN FAMILIES This is a document designed to bring together all known data relating to or possibly relating to the family of Casper Schweitzer who lived in the township of Heidelberg, PA (in his time it was in Lancaster county).
This page is less a dogmatic genealogy and more of a forum for presenting ideas. Feel free to submit comments or criticisms.
Families related by marriage: [Alexander Schaeffer family], possibly [Zieger Family]
Table of Contents:
1) Dr. Casper Schweitzer Family
2) Comments
3) Further Research
4) Purchases At The King George Inn - Casper Schweitzer's purchases at the King George Inn
5) Schweitzer Data
6) Other Near-By Schweitzer Genealogies
6a) John & Gertrude Schweitzer family
6b) Henry Schweitzer family
7) Bibliography
8) Links
DR. CASPER SCHWEITZER FAMILY
An interesting person, Dr. Schweitzer, came in 1735. He was the first known doctor of the Heidelberg To. area (bre2, egl1). Oddly, nobody seems to have written much on him.
There is alot about records relating to the name Casper Schweitzer which raises questions, if it is hypothesized that there was only one Casper Schweitzer. Perhaps the biggest confuser is that the immigrant Casper Schweitzer is well-documented (at least in bre2) as being a physician, but at least two entries appearing in the records of the King George Inn of Schaefferstown list transactions with a Casper Schweitzer who was a nail maker.
Additionally, the immigrant Casper Schweitzer was born apparently around 1715. The only marriage of a Casper Schweitzer inferrable from extant records is a Casper Schweitzer and Anna Maria - implied by baptismal records. However, this marriage might not have happened until c1760, based on the baptismal years (Extant baptismal records point to children born in the 1760s and in the 1780s to Casper & Anna Maria Schweitzer. Interestingly, the 1770s are devoid of baptisms. A reasonable idea is that some or even all of these baptisms could be due to a son of the immigrant named Casper.
Additional circumstantial evidence indicating there may be more than one Casper Schweitzer is that tax lists show a Casper Schweitzer in Mount Joy Township in 1759. Land records indicate a Casper Schweitzer held land in Fredricksburg around 1765. And yet a Casper Schweitzer with wife Anna Maria was in or near to Schaefferstown from around 1760 to 1790 judging from purchases at the King George Inn and the baptisms at the Schaefferstown Reformed Church.
Evidence seems to be mounting that Casper Schweitzer the nailsmith was a son of Casper Schweitzer the M.D.. Determining when this son was born would be helpful in determining just which births are attributable to him.
This family contrasts with a Heinrich Schweitzer family of Lancaster which had strong ties with the Schaeffer family. Capt. Heinrich Schaeffer married Anna Eva Schweitzer of this family. Also, Henry / Heinrich Schweitzer of this family married Catharine Schaeffer, a descendant of Alexander Schaeffer's.
There is also a lone baptism - Anton, bp 1745 Mar 1 to Casper & Hanna Fredrick Schweitzer at the Bern Reformed Church, Bern Township, Berks County (hum5 p322) - is this related to the 1735 immigrant or not? Note that the only other baptisms for Schweitzer-related names at Bern Reformed during this time appear to be Michel, baptized 1754 to Jacob & wife Schweitzer (hum5 p322) and Marialisa, baptized 1756 to Marthin & wife Schwey:tzer (hum5 p323). Jacob & not give Schweitzer have two other baptisms recorded at the Altalaha Lutheran Church, Tulpehocken Township, Berks County. At this church, in the same timeframe are multiple baptisms by Johannes & Maria Anna Schweitzer (who also have four baptisms as Johannes & Maria Anne Schwiezer at Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading (hum5 p322)). This couple also once baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Stouchsburg. A Henrich & Anna Maria Schwietzer appear (2 baptisms, hum5 p322) at two other churches.
name variations in records: Schweitzer, Schweyber, Shwitzer, Sweitzer, Switzer, among others.
S1 DR. CASPER SCHWEITZER, MD
b. 1714/5 (based on immigration in 1735 at age 20) (bre2 p193)
d. >1784 (bre2 p150), likely died prior to 1794, when it appears his
wife sponsored in a baptism alone.
mentioned as M.D. in 1777 oath of allegience
bd.
res:
church: Schaefferstown Reformed Church, Schaefferstown, present-day Lebanon
County (bre2 p15-16). Bre2 states "From fragmentary records preserved of the
early membership of the congregation, as well as from other reliable sources, we
have been able to compile the following list of names, comprising all members, as far
as they could be ascertained, prior to the year 1800 ..." (bre2 p15). He lists "Casper
Schweitzer, M.D., and Anna Maria, his wife" (bre2 p16). His name does not appear
on the copy of "Declaration" translated by bre2 beginning on page 17. Judging loosely
by what names do and do not appear, the compiler has guessed the "Declaration"
to date from around 1770.
children baptized at Reformed Lutheran Church, Schaefferstown, present-day Lebanon County, PA
(bre2 p147-150)
religion: German Reformed (see church entry, above)
immigration: a Casper Schweitzer came in 1735, age 20, on the Mercury (bre2
p193) (s-h1 I p147, 149, 150), in list C signed name with a "K"
(s-h1 I p150) - this was one of the rare lists to have all
passengers listed - no women or children Schweitzers were on
board.
occ: physician, 1st in Schaefferstown (bre2 p46). A Casper Schweitzer,
M.D. is listed as taking the oath of allegence in 1777-8 (bre2 p40). Additionally, a Casper
Schweitzer is referred to in the 1762-1773 records of purchases from
the King George Inn as a nail smith in one entry, another entry
mentions nails from Schweitzer.
Oath of allegiance: 1777, one of first before Henry Schaeffer, Esq.
(bre2 p46), full date is 1777 Jul. 3 - name spelled Casper Shweyber
M.D. (hol p43)
land: a Casper Switzer owned lots in Fredericksburg, neighboring at least
Henry Myers - c1764 or prior. (may1 p106)
taxlists:
1759, Switzer, Casper - Mount Joy township (haw)
m.
ANNA MARIA ? (bre2 p149-150)
b est 1744 (birth of first and last known children)
d >=1796 (apparently served as sponsor in 1796 for child of
Johannes & Catharine Zieger)
Johannes Zieger seems to have sister Anna Maria, b 1744
a Maria Sweitzer sp for Johannes & Catharine Zieger in 1796 (bre2
p110 or so)
known children:
1 Anna Barbara, b 1763 Feb 7 (bre2 page 147)
m Peter Kolb (bre2 p201)
2 Alexander, b 1766 Jan 8, (bre2 page 148)
3 CATHERINE
born: 1769 Apr 1 (bre2 page 149)
baptized: Apr 9 Heidelberg (wri3 p50)
4 John Henry, b. 1783 Jan 4 (bre2 page 150)
5 Maria Margaret, b 1784 Feb 12 (bre2 page 150)
children's sponsorings:
Note that this couple appeared to stricktly have children
sponsored by their namesake (with the possible exception of Anna Barbara).
1763, Anna Barbara - there are differences of opionion in secondary references:
John & wife Schaefer sponsored Anna Barbara (wri2 p48) (John's wife was Barbara
Miller - wei2 pvi)
John & wife Hoffer sp Anna Barbara (bre2 )
Note: a Johannes & not given Hoffer had childs bp by Rev John
Waldschmidt (hum3 p?)
1766, Alexander - sponsored by Alexander & wife Schaeffer
1769, Catharine - sponsored by Henry & Catharine Peffer
Note: a Heinrich Pfeiffer came 1751 Edinburgh and was father of the above
(bre2 ?) (thus the senior must have brought children)
1783, John Henry (he appears to be a
John Henry) - sponsored by John & Anna Maria Krum
1784, Maria Margaret - sponsored by Frederick & Mary Speyer
sponsorings for others:
1779 for Anna Marie to George & Elizabeth McCanden at the
Schaefferstown Lutheran Church (bre2 p96)
1782 for John to Peter & Barbara Kolb at the Schaefferstown Lutheran Church (bre2 p98)
Related notes: In 1781, a Peter Kolb & Barbara
Schweitzer sponsored a child for Christopher & Barbara Ried,
also, in 1787, a Catharine Sweizer sponsored a child for Christopher
& Barbara Ried (bre2 p103).
Also, two different Moore/Mohr brothers also sponsor for Christopher
& Barbara Ried.
1786 - a Anna Mary Sweitzer with Henry Weber sponsored John Henry to John &
Margaret Izenheuer at the Schaefferstown Lutheran Church (bre2 p102).
1787 - a Catharine Schweitzer sponsored for Peter & Barbara Kolb
1790 for Catharine to John & Catharine Zieger (Luth bre2 p106)
Note: John & Catharine Zieger had babies from 1786 till at least 1800 (hum6 p?)
1796 - a Maria Schwietzer (possibly Anna Maria, the mother) Sweitzer sp
Anna Maria to John & Catharine Zeiger at the Schaefferstown Lutheran Church
(bre2 p111), a late birth of the Zeigers - can Catharine be a Schweitzer?
or is Anna Maria a Zeiger?
Jacob Zieger - one came 1746 Ann Galley
Johannes Zieger seems to have sister Anna Maria, b 1744
interestingly, Jacob & wife Zieger have an Anna Maria Elisab. b
1765 (name of wife of George McCanden)
Notes:
Heinrich Schaeffer had as first wife Anna Eva Schweitzer - born
1753 Apr 27, died 1790 Jan 2 (bre2 p?). She is daughter of Heinrich Sweitzer
of Lancaster bourough.
A Gertrude Schweitzer signed the agreement of the Reformed
church, Schaefferstown, date not given (bre2 p28?)
S11 Casper Schweitzer
occ: nailer
c1786 Casper Switzer - nayler (Lebanon Township Triennial records 01-0315 p49)
married ?
Anna Maria Kolp? (John D. Switzer)
An Anna Maria Kolb, b 1748 to Philip & Anna Dorothy Kolb
Without proof of her identity as Anna Maria Kolp, there is circumstantial
evidence that she could also be a Zeiger - see Johannes Zieger Family,
note sponsors for children.
S11 Anna Barbara Schweitzer
born: 1763 Feb. 7 (bre2 page 147)
sponsorings: 1781 Apr. 22 Barbara Schweitzer and Peter Kolb sponsored
Peter to Christopher & Barbara Ried (bre2 p97)
married 1781 Aug. 11 by Rev. John Waldschmidt (kel1 p254) (the record
lists her as Barbara Schweitzer, daughter of Casper)
Peter Kolb, son of Krafft (kel1 p254)
Notes: bre2 index, Peter Kolb - 20, 25, 41, 97, 98, 99, 101, 103,
107, 109, 111, 119, 121, 123, 125, 131, 137, 201(2)
known children
1 John - b 1782 Jan 12 (bre2 p98)
2 Catharine - b 1783 Sep 6 (p99)
3 Maria Elizabeth - b 1785 Nov 28 (p101)
4 Anna Maria - b 1787 Nov 20 (p103)
5 Sarah - b 1792 May 5
some more ...
sponsors:
1782 by Casper & Anna Maria Schweitzer (bre2 p98)
1783 by Kraft & Eva Kolb (bre2 p99)
1785 by Michael & Elizabeth Moyer (p101)
1787 by Catharine Sweizer (p103)
1792 by Peter & Catharine Moore (p107)
sponsorings for others:
1781 Apr. 22 Peter Kolb & Barbara Schweitzer sponsored Peter to Christopher & Barbara Ried (bre2 p97)
S13 CATHERINE SCHWEITZER
b. 1769 Apr 1 (bre2 p184)
d. 1843 Dec (bre2 p184)
bd. Reformed Cemetary, Schaefferstown (bre2 p184)
res:
rel: Reformed (buried in Ref. cem - bre2 p184), Catharine
(Sweitzer) Dissinger listed as early Ref. member (bre2 p16)
chu:
m.
GEORGE DISSINGER (his 2nd marriage)
children:
1 Daniel Dissinger - b 1797 Oct 5 (bre p197)
2 ELIZABETH DISSINGER - b 1802 Nov 20
COMMENTS
1) a) Casper Schweitzer, the immigrant, is said to have been the first doctor in
the Schaefferstown area. Records need to be found to corrobarate this.
b) Later, in the King George Inn account book, circa 1760s, a Casper Schweitzer,
nailsmith, is having commerce at the inn.
c) it just seems odd that a doctor would become a nailsmith, unless he was
perhaps just a lay doctor who's services were not needed with the arrival of
Dr. Michael Trion and others.
d) In any event, the immigrant Casper Schweitzer, b est 1715, would have been
c50 years old in the 1760s - not really too old to be a nailsmith, but seemingly
old to have married and beginning to have kids. Baptismal records for Casper
Schweitzer and Anna Maria last into the 1780s - which would be when Casper Schweitzer the
immigrant would have been approaching 70 years old.
- Is it possible that Casper Schweitzer, who married Anna Maria ?, was the
nailsmith and son of the immigrant Casper Schweitzer? Is it possible that
there were two generations of Caspers (father and son) both who married Annas
- thus explaining the 1770s gap in the baptismal record?
2) at Bern Ref, Bern to, Berks co, Anton - b 1745 Mar 1 to Casper & Hanna Fredrik
Schweitzer.
FURTHER RESEARCH:
1) check Zeiger wills, Casper & Anna Maria Schweitzer wills in dau or
Leb
2) check churches in Heidelberg to. - try to get more info. to help in finding
Anna Maria's maiden name.
3) track land records for the deeds in Fredericksburg to Casper Schweitzer -
likely there might be some history there or other info on the family.
4) Bern to - taxlists for c1745 - Casper Schweitzer
PURCHASES AT THE KING GEORGE INN OF SCHAEFFERSTOWN
This appendix is intended to detail the purchase records of Casper Schweitzer
at the King George Inn. Data extracted from wei5.
index: Schweitzer, schwey:tzer, Schwitzer, Shwitzer - 15, 19, 73, 107, 109-110,
125, 137, 148, 167, 177, 204
(p73) 1763 April 30
Casper Schweitzer Na: Schmitt (nailsmith)
...
d: 8 Mey: 1763 [entry indicating that everything is settled with Casper Schweitzer]
1763 Juny 12
Caspar Schweitzer
... [seiter & wein]
Vor Trinken Bey handel zwischen Bernt Jacob (dealing with Bernt Jacob)
... [lots of seiter, wein, seiteroil, Tram(?), Weck(?)]
(p125) 1764 Juny 24
Caspar Schweitzer
...
[lent in Lancaster]
paid for Heinrich Kay:ler for making charcoal
5 lb. of nails gelehnt
(148) lots more seiter, some Rom, some Weisen zucker
(167) Michael Hack ows for nails from Schweitzer
(177) No. 290 Casper Shwitzer
lots of seiter
1768 Jan 25
febru: 1 - 1 deer skin for Henrich Dock
Decem: 1 - last entry
(204) 1771 taxlist for Heidelberg township:
Casper Shwitzer - no entries in possessions list
John Shwitzer - 2 house & lots, 2 cattle
SCHWEITZER DATA
CHURCH RECORDS
bre2 (selected records)
p229
"An Agreement" dated 1765 Mar. 8
Agreement for Reformed Church of Schaefferstown to buy
the half of the Church and Schoolhouse owned by the
Lutheran Church and allow the Lutheran Church to use the
Church until 1766.
Signed under the Reformed Church - Casper Schweitzer
iri1 - marriages:
Barbara Schweitzer of Lea(cock To.) m Jacob Neuman on 1784 May 13 at
First Ref Ch., Lanc (iri1 p219)
Henry Schweitzer of Lea(cock To.) m Catharine Schaffer of Heid. on 1787
Apr 30 at First Ref., Lanc (iri1 p222)
Henry Schweitzer m Mrs Schucker of L. on 1799 Aug 25 at First Ref.,
Lanc. (iri1. p232)
Margaretha Schweitzer m Jacob Schelly on 1806 Feb 18 at Tabor First Ref,
Lebanon (iri1 p251)
haw1 v3 - Index to the 1750 Tax Records
p103
Casper Switzer - Moutn Joy 1759 "Shertzer 1769?"
haw1 v1 - Index to the 1780 Tax Records
haw1 v2 - Index to the 1780 Tax Records
p76
Caspar Switzer - Heidelberg Town 1780 "Naylor"
1790 census
Casper Sweitzer - Cocalico Township, Lancaster Co. (p129)
free wt males 16 and up - 1; free wt
males under 16 - 1; free wt females - 3
kel1 - Baptismal and Marriage Records, Rev. John Waldschmidt, Cocalico, Moden Krick, Weisseichen Land and Seltenreich
p194
Christian & not given Schweitzer
d. Margretha - bp 1760 Dec. 27, sp by Martin & wife Keiler
s. Joseph - bp 1770 Sep. 26, sp by Johannes & wife Billman
Ludwig & not give Schweitzer
d. Maria Barbara - bp. 1756 Feb. 11, sp by Peter & wife Bollinger
s Heinrich Ludwig - bp. 1758 Dec. 22, sp by Heinrich & wife Bucher
Peter & Elizabeth Schweitzer
d. Magdalena - b. 1781 Nov. 2, bp. 1782 Mar. 30, sp by Wilhelm & Anna Maria Geickle
Franz Stephanus & Maria Magdalena Schweitzer
Luisa Rahel - b. 1753, sp by Isaac & Rahel Barre
p254
Barbara Schweitzer, dau. of Casper, to Peter Kolb, son of Krafft on 1781 Aug. 11
Maria Elizabeth Schweitzer, dau of Ludwig, to Joh. Heinrigh Schrater, son of Heinrich on 1764 Mar. 27
hum3
selected Schweitzers
p319
Ludwig Schweitzer
Maria Barbara - bp 1756 Feb. 11
sponsorings:
1776 Henry & Elizabeth Schweitzer for Elizabeth to Henry & Anna Eva Schaeffer
at Schaefferstown Luth (bre2)
OTHER NEAR-BY SCHWEITZER GENEALOGIES
FAMILY OF JOHN SWEITZER AND WIFE GERTRAUT OF HEIDELBERG TOWNSHIP (THEN IN LANCASTER COUNTY, PA)
John D. Sweitzer lists this man as a son of Casper Schweitzer. As details of
this man seem scarce, I am not sure we can do this confidently. More research
is necessary.
Sa1 John Sweitzer
will: 1776 Jul 23, 1788 Feb 6, Heidelberg To.
w: Gertraut ?
ex: Gertraut Sweitzer
1757 John Switzer in Elizabeth township (haw)
1771 John Shwitzer in HB township (haw)
m Gertraut ?
a Gertrude Schweitzer signed the agreement of the Heidelberg
Reformed church, date not given (bre2 p28?)
an Anna Gertruda Schweizer sp w/Marx Binckly 1767 for Henry & Anna
Maria Binckly at Muddy Creek Ref, Lanc Co.
FAMILY OF HEINRICH SWEITZER OF LEACOCK TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY
John D. Switzer lists this man as a son of Casper Schweitzer, M.D. I cannot
agree with this given that known baptisms of children of this man begin in
1750 - thus he was likely born at least as early as 1730. Casper Schweitzer,
born around 1715, would have only been about 15 in 1730, thus he wouldn't likely
be the father. Also, the ship's list for Casper Schweitzer does list women and
children, and no family was listed for him.
Sb1 Heinrich Sweitzer
d 1800 (will)
will: Henry Sweitzer, 1800 May 10, 1800 Jun 5, Lancaster Borough
w Catharine
ch: Catharine - m Frederick Hess, Eve - m Henry Sheffer,
stepdaughter: Susanna - m Peter Beder
land: apparently he was the Henry Sweitzer in Lancaster deeds D39 (1753) and
E78 (1756) G63 (1761) as owning land in Manheim township (may)
deed F289 (1760) has Henry Sweitzer purchasing 96 acres in Hempfield township
from Christian & Anna Good of Lancaster county. (may)
Oath of Allegiance: took on 1777 Jun12, was between Casper Brunner & Peter Walter (may)
m(1?) Susanna Martin (bp of Catharine from hum3)
children:
1 Catharine - b 1750 Oct 28, bp <7> (hum3), m Frederick Hess (will
father)
2 Anna Eve - b 1753 Apr 7, bp <7> (hum3), m Henry Sheffer (will
father), Heinrich Schaeffer had as first wife Anna Eva
Schweitzer - b 1753 Apr 27, d 1790 Jan 2 (bre2 p?)
note: Elizabeth, b 1776 Oct 29 to Henry & Anna Eve Schaeffer, was
sponsored by Henry & Elizabeth Schweitzer (bre2 p149) (could Elizabeth
as wife be an error - better check this)
For Henry Schaeffer's family - see Alexander Schaeffer's Family.
3 Anna Maria - b 1755 Oct 31, bp <7> (hum3)
<7> Moravian Church, Lancaster (hum3)
m(2) Catharine Schaffer
a Henry Schweitzer of Lea(cock To.) m Catharine Schaffer of Heid.
on 1787 Apr 30 at First Ref., Lanc (iri1 p222)
previous children:
(1) Susanna - m Peter Beder
a Susanna Marg. Kron m Peter Bader 1761 Dec 8 at First Ref,
Lanc. (iri1 p208) - having at least 1 child there (hum3)
Sb11 Catharine
m Frederick Hess
Sb12 Anna Eva Schweitzer
m Heinrich Schaeffer
son of Alexander & Anna Engel Schaeffer of Schaefferstown
For this family see Alexander Schaeffer's Family.
Sb13 Anna Maria
Sb14 stpdtr Susanna ?
m Peter Bader
children:
Elizabeth - b 1767 Sep 1 <8>
BIBLIOGRAPHY
bre2 Brendle; A Brief History Of Schaefferstown; 1901
egl1 Eagle
haw1 Hawbaker, et al.; A New Taxlist For Lancaster; 199?
hol ?
hum3 Humphrey; Lancaster County Births
hum6
iri1 Irish; Pennsylvania German Marriages;
kel1 Baptismal and Marriage Records, Rev. John Waldschmidt, Cocalico,
Moden Krick, Weisseichen Land and Seltenreich
wei? Weiser; Purchases King George Inn, 1762-1773;
LINKS
email the compiler