A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for George Hepler
Some family trees spell his last name Heabler (it looks like that is the spelling adopted by son George Jr.). His signature, in the probate papers for son-in-law Henry Faus, is written in a type of old German script and looks like Gorg Häbler. Häbler would have basically the same pronunciation as Hepler in German. Note, though, that in German the first “e” (or the “ä”) would have a long-a sound, and not a short-e sound as we would say it.
From Marilyn Riehl:
GEORGE HEPLER was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania between 1755 and 1764. George was a weaver of cloth as was his father-in-law, Peter Kreiling. He is possibly the son of weaver Johann Casper Hepler and Susanna Scheible and brother of Christopher tailor and Casper shoemaker, all of Upper Milford, Northampton County. Others have suggested J. Casper's son died in the Revolutionary War. There are no sources for this and no record of a George from Northampton County serving in the war. A George (born November 17 1743, died August 8 1810) from Montgomery County did serve in the War. Some contend that George moved to Virginia. A George Hepler, nailor, from Hereford Township, Berks County did move to Virginia. Again, no sources proving him a son of J. Casper.
Our George is called a weaver in tax and deed records in Northampton County and also in an 1812 deed in Northumberland County....
. . .
By 1785 he is married to CATHARINE KREILING as their first child, ELIZABETH, was born on May 23, 1785. George is on the 1786 and 1787 Upper Milford Township tax list as are his possible brothers, Casper and Stoffel (Christopher), as is Widow Greiling, Georges' mother-in-law. Casper is a shoemaker and Stoffle a "taylor." George is a weaver with "one horned animal" and he paid a tax of 2 shillings 6 pence. On the 1789 and 1790 he is in Bethlehem Township.
By the 1790 census of Bethlehem George and Catharine have three daughters - ELIZABETH, Salome and Anna Marie. Two males over 16 are listed, one being George, the other unknown, possibly a son, Christian. In 1792 George, weaver, bought two acres 94 perches of land on the public road from Bethlehem to Nazareth. Nazareth was created from Bethlehem about 1788. In 1793 George and Catharine sold part of this land to George Hartzel. In 1800 the family is living in Whitehall Township, Northampton County (now Lehigh County) and four more children have been born: George, Catherine, Hannah and perhaps Christine. The couple are mentioned in the 1804 estate settlement of his wife Catharine's mother, Elizabeth who had died recently, and her father, Peter Kreiling, who had died about 1765.
On December 11, 1805 George, as highest bidder, bought 59 acres in Bloom Township, Northumberland County (later Columbia County) Pennsylvania. By 1812 Catharine must have died as Sarah is mentioned as George's wife in a deed selling part of their land. Three more children were born between 1809 and about 1813 - Diana, Killian and Rachel.
In 1812 George, weaver, and wife Sarah sold parts of the above land. Also in 1812 George was the administrator for the estate of his son-in-law Henry Faus, husband of daughter Elizabeth. He bought two lots in Liberty, later Espy, in Bloom Township (later Scott Township) in May of 1816 and sold them in December of that year.
By the 1820 census the family is living in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, in 1830 they are living in Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County. George died before April 1833 when the agent for his wife Sarah, George Koenig, administered George's estate. His burial location has not been found.
Some notes from Garry Heagy (email dated 14 Jan 2019):
The Lehigh County Hepler’s lived in UpperMilford township, but attended Zion’s Church in Lower Macungie township.
George Hepler born 1755 is the son of CasperSr. This is the George that moved to Virginia.
Concerning, the father of our George, both Casper, Jr. and Christophel were too young to be his father.
I believe that our George was probably the son of Christian Hepler born 1739 of Montgomery County, PA. You’re wondering how that could be:
1) Our George’s father’s name starts with a ‘C’.
2) Somewhere I read that Casper’s son Jacob as a child, played with the Montgomery County Hepler children.
3) Our George named children Christian and Killian, names used by the Montgomery County Hepler’s, but not the Lehigh County Hepler’s.
4) Our George may have gone to live with the Lehigh County Hepler’s to learn the cordwaining trade.
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
Page generated on 31 October 2023; see http://wilsonfamilytree.org/ for further updates