FREDERICK and CATHARINE KNOEPP
Friedrich Knoepp was born in Escholderbach in the Grand Duchy of Hesse on Nov. 30, 1800. (1)
Married a Catherine Oeffnehert or Oeffnechirt, who was born May 10, 1810 in Ollershausen in Hesse-Darmstadt. (2)
Children: (3)
Henry.
Elizabeth, born in Aug. 9, 1833. Married Abraham Moyer.
The German hometowns of Friedrich and Catherine are listed in their death records at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Zelienople, Pa. They are probably phonetic spellings because they don’t appear in a detailed road atlas of Germany. The Grand Duchy of Hesse was another name for Hesse-Darmstadt so they probably came from neighboring villages.
The family immigrated to the United States in August 1833. Family tradition says Elizabeth Moyer was born at sea and this is substantiated by the 1910 Census of Beaver County, Pa.
Frederick Knepp – as his name usually appears in English-language records – appears to have immigrated with a close relative – probably a brother – named Conrad. The men combined their assets to purchase 130 acres in North Sewickley Township on Sept. 2, 1837. (4)
Frederick appears in records for other townships but that probably reflects more the creation of new townships rather than migration because his name doesn’t appear in many land records in Beaver County. Frederick Knapp Sr. is listed as paying taxes in Marion Township, Beaver County, in 1846 to 1848. The 1860 Census lists him as a farmer in Franklin Township. (5)
Frederick died May 4 or 9, 1874. (6) Catherine died July 23, 1888. The Knepps are buried at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Jackson Township, Butler County. (7)
(1) From death record in "St. Paul’s German Lutheran and Reformed Church, Zelienople, Butler County, Pennsylvania," transcribed by Gertrude Mohlin Ziegler, Page 180. (2) St. Paul’s death records, page 180. (3) Elizabeth is listed in St. Paul’s baptismal records, page 35. Both Elizabeth Moyer and Henry Knepp received land at Frederick’s death, according to Beaver County Will Book 82, page 489. A Frederick Jr. is listed as living beside our Frederick in the 1860 Census of Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pa. However, this is almost certainly the son of Conrad, who was born Aug. 18, 1826, according to St. Paul’s confirmation records, page 12. At the time, it was common for people of the same name in the same community to be nicknamed "Jr." and "Sr." even though they were not father and son. Also, it must be remember that Conrad and Frederick Sr. divided a property and Frederick Jr. obviously inherited Conrad’s portion upon his death in 1848. (4) Beaver County Deed Book R, page 50. Conrad was born in November 1795 and was the husband of Catharine Zehner, according to his death record at St. Paul’s, Page 161. (5) "Tax Records 1841-1850, Beaver County, Pennsylvania," by Helen G. Clear and Mae H. Winne, page 2. (6) May 4 comes from the Beaver County Register’s Docket 3, page 26. However, the St. Paul’s death record lists May 9. (7) "Butler County Cemetery Inventory Vol. (not provided)," page 10.