These records, mostly available online as secondary sources, transcriptions, and translations seem to chronicle a single family. Interpreting these records to reconstruct the family has lead researchers to various conclusions.
The Hossloch/Leeheim Reconstruction
Johan Michael Pfeffer married Anna Maria Hoffman in Hossloch, Pfalz, 29 July 1703. Two daughters of this couple may have been baptized in Leeheim in 1707 and 1709. (Lutheran Church Records) Leeheim is roughly 50 miles downstream from Hossloch. Each is in the correct general area for the refugees that moved to England. Johannes, Michael and Anna Maria's first child recorded in the new world, was baptized 1 May 1711 in New York City. (The Kocherthal Records) The witnesses were Johannes Planck and Anna Kunigunda Wannenmacherin. Anna Kunigunda is likely Anna Kunigunda Kornmann, the wife of Johan Deitrich Wannenmacher. Their marriage record from 29 November 1710 lists both from Leeheim. (The Kocherthal Records) This raised the possibility the Peffers and Wannenmachers were neighbors in Europe.
- In this reconstruction John Michael, Anna Maria and their two daughters went to England in 1709. Michael's mother Catherine traveled to England separately, either as a widow or with her husband who died in transit. Catherine did not travel in the ships that have records. Michael and Anna Maria's daughters died in transit.
- Or Michael, Catherine and their son Michael and daughter-in-law Anna Maria are the four people who left for England in 1709. The two daughters died before their parents and grand parents left. Michael, the father, died in transit.
Both of these options appear to be contradicted by the New York Subsistence List as reported by Knittle. In 1710 Catherine, widow of Michael and son, Michael received provisions for two adults. In 1712, they received provisions for two adults and one child under 10.
New York Marriage Reconstruction
Michael and Anna Maria may have married shortly before Johannes birth in New York.
- Anna Maria Hofman and Michael Peffer immigrated to New York separately: Michael with Micheal, Catherine and an unidentified sibling. Anna Maria with one of the Hoffman families.
- Or Anna Maria Hofman is descended from an earlier German immigration and was born in New York or New Jersey.
Michael, the father, would have died in transit; Catherine died sometime in 1710 - the first provision for Catherine and her son Michael, the last provision for Michael, Anna Maria and Johannes; Michael and Anna Maria are listed in the 1710 census. The unidentified sibling may have died in transit or shortly after arriving in the new world, or may show up as one of the witnesses in the baptismal records. For example, Michael Pfester [sic] is listed as a witness for Johannes and Maria Magaretha Planck's son's baptism. The families are clearly connected. We don't know if this is simply being part of the same community, or if they were neighbors in the old world, or if they have a family connection. Michael's unidentified sibling may be among the witnesses and sponsors in Church records.
Two Families Reconstruction
Michael Pfeffer, the son of Catherine and Michael Pfeffer, may not be the person who married Anna Maria Hofman. This might be a way to reconcile the contradictions in the other two models.
- In this reconstruction John Michael, Anna Maria and their two daughters
went to England in 1709. Michael and
Anna Maria's daughters died in transit. Michael and Ann Maria are not listed in the subsistence lists.
- Catherine and her son Michael traveled separately to London and are not in the ships lists. They show up in the subsistence lists. Catherine dies between the first subsistence list and the last. Michael marries and has a child. They are not listed in any other New York records possibly moving out of New York to another colony.
There are no concurrent records indicating two men, for example, the same name listed on census records from two different locations or the same name listed twice.
Notes and Sources
Primary sources are in the provincial records of New York, the records of Rev. Joshua Kocherthal, the records of the British Colonial Office and the records of the Collegiate Church. I have been working with secondary sources that transcribe and/or translate the original Dutch, German, and English records. These sources are:
- Knittle, Walter Allen. Early eighteenth century Palatine emigration; a British government redemptioner project to manufacture naval stores. (Dorrance and Co. : Philadelphia), 1937. (https://archive.org/details/earlyeighteenthc00knit/mode/2up)
- MacWethy, Lou D. The Book of Names, Especially Relating to the Early Palatines and the First Settlers in the Mohawk Valley. (Enterprise and News : St. Johnsonville, NY), 1933. (http://threerivershms.com/names.htm)
- O'Callaghan,Edmund Bailey. "List of the Palatins Remaining at New York, 1710", The Documentary History of the State of New-York. (Secretary of State : Albany), 1850. 563.
- Pelletreau, William H."Abstracts of Unrecorded Wills Prior to 1790 on File in the Surrogate's Office, City [i.e. County] of New York, 1665-1800," Collections of The New-York Historical Society, 35 (1902) 85-6.
- Dutch Reformed Church Records from New York and New Jersey. Holland Society of New York, New York, New York. (available from Ancestry)
