Dear Charles, At the time of the will, the term "stepdaughter" could have meant "daughter-in-law". Perhaps Adam had a son who had married Mary -----. This son then died before Adam's will and Mary ----- Eckard then married Nicholas Fry. Due to age differences, the Nicholas Fry would not have been the one who married Maria Elizabeth Pabst, but perhaps their son or even grandson. Nicholas did have a son, Nicholas, Jr. who was born in 1746. According to Lorena Eaker's "German Speaking People ....", Nicholas, Jr. married (1) Catherine ----- and (2) Margaret Ansell or Onsell. Did he marry (3) Mary ----- Eckard? Adam Eckard did have a son, Peter, born in 1763 in Frederick County, MD, who is not named in Adam's will. Could Peter have married Mary ----, and then died before Adam's will was made? Best Regards, Ray Yount On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 08:10:31 -0500 "Charles Lail" <crlail41@charter.net> writes: > In his will probated in LC, NC, in 1803, Adam Eckard/Echert Named > his 7 children and his "stepdaughter Mary Fry, wife of Nicholas > Fry." > > N icholas Fry's wife was Maria Elisabetha Pabst, d/o Heinrich Pabst > and Gertrude Kieffer. How did Maria Elisabeth Pabst become the > stepdaughter of Adam Eckard? Any insight into this mystery would be > greatly apprecciated. > > Charles Lail > Catawba County > > > ==== CATAWBA-WEST Mailing List ==== > > > > ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!