Diane Wolford wrote: > I have conflicting birth dates for Nicholas Harper m. Mary Elizabeth > PENINGER. I have one date of 1738 and another date of 26 Mar 1747 in > Germany. Listed children of Nicholas and Mary Elizabeth are Barbara (1773 - > 1818) and George (1799 - 1868). I'm sure there are more children in the > middle. I'm just not aware of them right now. > The 1747 birthdate probably comes from the Harper Family web site by Marsha Harper. I believe that a research trip to Germany uncovered this and other family information. As to the children of Nicholas Harper, his will, signed 17 Feb 1818, proved 7 April 1818, lists: "eldest son Henry" received land in Bath County; "second son Peter" received land on the South Branch; "third son George" received land adjoining Peter; "oldest daughter Barbara (wife of William Michael)" received land in Crabbottom; "second daughter Ann Elizabeth (wife of Peter Lightner)" received land in Bath County; "third daughter Elizabeth (wife of Nicholas Harper)" received land in Kentucky; "daughter Catherine (wife of Conrad Rexroad)" received land in Crabbottom; "fifth daughter Mary (wife of Henry Swadley)" $500 from son Henry and $100 from Peter; "sixth daughter Sarah (wife of Henry Hevner)" received land in Munroe County; "daughter Susanna (wife of Adam Lightner)" received land in Bath County. No mention of a wife. Executors: son Henry, sons-in-law Adam Lightner and Peter Lightner. Witnessed by John Fleisher and Peter Harper. Henry Penninger, Sr. signed his will 23 May 1796, proved 5 September 1820. It lists wife Barbara eldest son Henry second son John eldest daughter Elizabeth second daughter Cathreen third daughter Mary fourth daughter Barbara fifth daughter Anna Elizabeth sixth daughter Susanna Executors: oldest son Henry and son-in-law Nicholas Harper Signed in German "Henrich Banenger" Henry wrote two codicils. The first signed 17 June 1815 states that daughter Susanna has already received "more than her proportionate share." She was to get $5 more. It was witnessed by Henry Hull and Susanna Paulser. The second signed 1 July 1820, mentions daughters Elizabeth, Catherine, Mary, Barbara, and Ann Elizabeth. It doesn't mention his wife. It also states "My son-in-law Nicholas Harper being dead son-in-law Henry Fleisher to be executor in his place." The information on the wills of Nicholas Harper and Henry Penninger, Sr. were extracted from Rick Toothman's "Pendleton County (West) Virginia Probate Records". Frank Cochran Madison, Alabama