I am looking for information on Benjamin Geiger, son of Valentine Geiger. Benjamin Geiger, Sr. was born 9 March 1748 and bapt. at New Hanover Lutheran Church in Phila. Co. (now Montgomery Co.) PA. He was the 10th of Valentine Geiger's 11 children. He married Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) before 1772 and had 2 sons named Carl/Charles (1772) and Benjamin, Jr. (1777). Benjamin, Sr. is NOT anywhere in Pennsylvania in 1790 or 1800 on the census. His sons Charles and Benjamin, Jr. were born in Rockland Twp. Berks Co., and bapt. at Mertz Church in Rockland Twp., and at New Hanover Lutheran respectively. My guess is that Benjamin. Sr. died before the 1790 census. There is an Elizabeth Geiger living in Windsor Twp., Berks County, on page 44 on the 1790 PA census. Could she be the widow of Benjamin Geiger, Sr.? I think so--although this is some distance from Rockland Twp. where they had been living. We do know Benjamin's wife was Elizabeth and I can't otherwise account for this Elizabeth. I think I need to look at that census record to determine the family makeup and ages. Benjamin, Jr. had obviously married before 1798. He and his wife Catharine had a son Johannes bapt. in North Annville, now in Lebanon Co. at Quitopahilla Church in 1798--so they had already left Berks by that time. Now for 1800: I am aware of all of the Geigers listed on that census--and there is NO Benjamin and no Geiger family which I think could include him. He is also not in Maryland--which could be a step toward Westmoreland County where we know he eventually ended up. In 1810 the only Benjamin with any possible variation of this surname is a Benjamin Geyer living in Philadelphia. Not a likely suspect to be this Benjamin. Finally in 1820 Benjamin Gigar appears on the scene in Westmoreland County, Unity Township on page 176. A Benjamin Keiger appears in Westmoreland Co., Salem Twp., in 1830 on page 256. In 1840 he is gone again from the census in Westmoreland. The big question is--even if this Benjamin is with his mother in 1790 and in Westmoreland in 1820 and 1830--where is he in 1800 and 1810? I have records showing a family register listing 4 children of Benjamin and Catharine from the records of Rev. J.M. Steck of the First Lutheran Church, Westmoreland County, Greensburg, PA (but I don't know the date this information was entered in the church records or WHERE these children were born and bapt.) as follows: Benjamin born 1806 Henry born 1808 Maria Catherine born 1811--(born Youngstown, PA according to the Geiger webpage of Peggy Loos) Solomon born 1818 Peggy Loos' Geiger Webpage also lists for this couple: a child born about 1801 (could refer to Johannes born in 1798 in North Annville (now in Lebanon County). Jonas Benjamin born 1815 I don't know the sources for the last two children. Any help on any of the above would be greatly appreciated. Joan