I note that you have a Bear/Kauffman connection: Jacob KAUFFMAN m. bef. 1792 to Catharine BEAR, dau. of Hans Heinrich BEER of Coventry Twp., Chester Co., PA. Jacob KAUFFMAN died before 1801 when his widow Catharine m. Michael KRAUSS. A famous member of the Pennsylvania BEAR family is Maria Eva BEAR Zirkle Ottinger. I'm wondering if she might be a sister or cousin to your Mary Elizabetha (Marie Elizabeth) BEAR Stickel. Here is some information on Maria Eva BEAR Zirkle Ottinger: In America, the name Zirkle first appears in 1725 when Ludowick ZIRKLE came to Philadelphia from Itlingen, near Heidelberg, Germany where he was born on 9 October 1705. He apparently had been married prior to coming to America, as he mentions a son by his first marriage in his will. It is estimated that he and Maria Eva BEAR were married about 1731 or 1732, as their first child was born in 1733. He wrote his Will on 22 October 1746 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania and it was probated 17 January 1747. "Ludwig" or "Lewis" in America was a farmer and land owner, as well as a saddler. He was naturalized 19 May 1739 in Philadelphia. He gave an acre of land to the Indianfield (Little Sion) Lutheran Church at Telford several years before he died. His note reads: "Be it know that I, Lodowick Zirkle, in Franconia township that long time agoe have given and bequeathed one acre of land for the use of the prober Lutheran church where the congreagation have build upon one church. she is to have and to hold said described so long as soon a moon a shining for no other use then for the said prober Evangilly Lutheran Church and have a Deed, being in Franconia township the 28th day 8bris, 1746." A transcription of his brief will is as follows: "I being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks being given to God. Wife, Maria Eva to have all of my estate, both real and personalties till my youngest child 12 years old. After my decease my loving executors after named is to have full power to sell all of my real estate and personalties if he find necessary. Maria Eva my loving wife is to have the furth of all, the two furths among my children in equal share except my oldest son George Henry is to have for his portion 25 pounds. Weil hewend 4 years before his each to learn a Treath to be paid when he hath set up for him self. If my wife married then all of my estate to be sold by my executors, or trusty friend Peter Snider and well beloved wife Maria Eva, executors. Ludwig died and Maria Eva BEAR Zirkle married Christopher OTTINGER, but he is dead by 1750. Maria Eva moves with her daughters and five sons to a place called "The Forest" now Forestville, VA. Thus began the Family Zirkle in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Please let me know if you see a fit here. Michael Willis Freeland <mailto:[email protected]> M Archer wrote: > > > I'm trying to find out which Coffman/Kauffman family Jacob Kauffman is > > from. He m. bef. 1792 to Catharine Bear, dau. of Hans Heinrich Beer of > > Coventry Twp., Chester Co., PA. Jacob Kauffman died before 1801 when his > > widow Catharine m. Michael Krauss. Jacob and Catharine had child: > > Benjamin b. 1792 in Shenandoah Co., VA, m. Catharine _____, d. bef. 1844 > > when his widow m2. Michael Beaver in Wayne Co., IN; Maria b. 1793, d. > aft. > > 1850 in IL, m. Mathias Beaver, Jr., b. 1786, son of Matthias & Mary > Beaver > > of Rockingham Co., VA; Anna, b. 1795, believed to be "Nancy" that m. > > Michael Beaver, son of Matthias , Sr., and his wife Mary. Anna (Nancy) > > would have died bef. 1844 when her alledged husband m2. Catharine ____, > > widow of Benjamin Coffman/Kaufman. > > Catharine (Bear) (Kauffman) Krauss was living in Shenandoah Co., VA > in > > 1808 in the disposition of her father's estate in PA. > > >