On Thu, 16 Jul 1998, JYoung6180@aol.com wrote: >I am posting the following report which is a work in progress on the two >John Adam Geyer/Geigers of Berks County, Pennsylvania. I would appreciate >any comments, additions or corrections anyone may wish to ad. > > <snip> > >On the ship Phoenix in 1752 along with John Adam Geiger there was a >passenger named Jacob Guyer (whose signature actually appears to read >Geiger) as pointed out above. Are the two connected? If so how? > My only comments at this time relate to the several John Adam Geyer/Geiger's in the Philadelphia ship lists. I am aware of three John Adam's in these lists and each was able to sign his name (thank goodness). By studying the characteristics of the Geyer and Geiger signatures, I find two key factors which help distinguish between the two surnames. The first is the consistent usage of the Y diaeresis (double dots over the Y) in the Geyer name while the middle G in Geiger does not have the diaeresis. The second is that the first E in German script requires "two humps" and the I in Geiger requires another "hump." Using these characteristics and limited knowledge of other family members on the same ship, I conclude the following: On the Aurora arriving 8 Oct 1744, we have Johann Adam GEYER. This ship also had other Geyers, specifically Johann Sebastian (Besigner) Geyer. Johann Sebastian was Johann Adam's father. On the Elliott arriving 24 Aug 1749, we have another Johann Adam GEYER. The characteristics in the Geyer spelling are very clear. On the Phoenix arriving 22 Nov 1752, we have Johann Adam GEIGER. There is no doubt about the spelling. There is no diaeresis. The "three humps" are hard to see since the two humps of the E blend into one wide one, but they are there. There is disagreement on the Jacob also on the Phoenix. His signature has much space between the two humps of the E which makes it look like a German U. This is why his name is listed in the index to the ship's list as Guyer with the note "read Geyer." The diaeresis is clearly present which leaves me with no doubt that this is Jacob GEYER. There is a biographical sketch of one of the Johann Adam Geyer's. I found it last summer when we visited the Lancaster County (PA) Historical Society. Since the copier was on the blink at that time, I didn't get a copy. Now I cannot locate my notes on which book it was in. Perhaps John Kiger can find that sketch again. Hopefully, it would clarify some of the church records you are trying to sort out. I do vaguely recall that the descendants of Johann Adam Geyer of this sketch included Peter Geyer and his son, John the drummer boy, of Westmoreland County, PA, Revolutionary War service. Dave Rankin Geyer mailing list sponsor Home Page: http://home1.gte.net/daverk