#2685 John Jacob "Jacob" Knepper ( Hans Peter Knepper • Hans Peter Knepper • Hans Peter Knepper◊ • Tilmann Knepper◊ )
Jacob was born 20 Aug 1772 in Berks Co., Pennsylvania. He was baptised 20 Sep 1772. He died 18 Jul 1847 in Liberty Twp, Fairfield Co., Ohio. He was buried in Sec 31 Liberty T, Fairfield Co., Ohio, on Coakley Rd.
[Wig] variously gives the birth date as 7 Aug 1772 and 20 Aug 1772.
He was baptized by Rev Conrad Steiner, Jr. and his sponsors were Jacob & Anna Eva Gerhart. In 1790, he chose Michael Hagenbach of Albany Tp as his guardian.
On 31 Oct 1794 Jacob bought 150 acres along with houses, horses and orchards from his brother-in-law, John Shisler, for £61 in Orange Co, Virginia. John Shisler went to Fairfield Co, Ohio and Jacob followed about 1805. He received a land patent in Range 21, Tp 10, Sec 26 on 28 Mar 1806 in Madison Twp., Fairfield Co., Ohio and a secnd land patent in Range 19, Tp 16, Sec 31 in Liberty Twp. on 27 Mar 1807. Jacob had a mill on Little Walnut Creek, two miles from the cabin of Mordicai Fishbaugh in Liberty Twp., Fairfield Co., Ohio near the town of Carroll.
They are buried in a family plot on Jacob Knepper's property located in Section 31 of Liberty Twp., Fairfield Co., Ohio on Coakley Road one half mile from a road in a field along a line of trees. About a dozen tombstones were in this cemetery. All tombstones are broken and laying on the ground. Both Jacob's and Elizabeth's stones were identified.
Jacob's will was written 17 Jul 1847, the day before his death, as follows:
I Jacob Knepper of the County of Fairfield in the State of Ohio, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in the manner and form following, that is to say:First: it is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid.
Second: there being an agreement made and entered into between myself and wife on the eleventh day of July A D 1840 which is to be valued as a good agreement after my death, if it should be that my wife, Mary, should survive me, the above named agreement spoken of to be executed by my Executors after my death.
Third: I give and devise to my children all the several tracts of land for which I have executed deeds to them for the same.
Fourth: I give and bequeath to my daughter Susana an equal share of all my property but not to draw any interest on any of her portion of property until my Executors have settled and paid over her portion to her Guardian.
Fifth: my Daughters to receive no interest on any of their property of which they have received of me, but all to receive an equal share of the balance of my property after my death.
Sixth: my Son Andrew to pay no interest on any of his property that he has received of me or on that property of which he received more than the rest of my heirs. But after my death then to receive an equal share of the balance of my property.
Seventh: the heirs of my Son Peter to pay no interest nor receive no interest but to have an equal share of the remainder of my property after my death.
Eighth: of my personal property that I now own after my death it is my request that my Executors make a sale and sell and then my heirs to receive each an equal share of the proceeds of said sale.
Eighth: I appoint my Son Andrew and my Son Simon to be my Executors of this my last will and testament.
Ninth: I bequeath to the United Brethren Mission Society in Christ the sum of three hundred dollars to be paid by my Executors whenever practicable and I also bequeath to the Evangelical Association or charitable society at Orwicks Burg, Schoolkill County, Pennsylvania, the sum of three hundred dollars to be paid when practicable by my Executors.
Tenth my Son John's heirs to receive an equal share with the balance of my heirs and to receive interest whatever may in the judgement of my Executors seem right.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of July A D 1847.
(Signed) Jacob Knepper
Signed published and declared by the said Jacob Knepper as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request have witnessed the same.
(Signed) R D Sutphen, James S Sollady.
The State of Ohio, Fairfield County, Court of Common Pleas, Special Term July 24, 1847:
Personally appeared in open court on this day R D Sutphen, Samuel Soladay the subscribing witnesses to a paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Jacob Knepper, late of said county, decd, this day produced in court and offered for probate by Simon and Andrew Knepper, the executors therein named, and said subscribing witnesses above named being duly sworn in open court true answers to make to such questions as might be put to them touching the execution of said paper writing, severally dispose and say that at the time said paper writing was executed the testator, Jacob Knepper was of sound and disposing mind, memory, understanding, of full age and not under any restraint, that he fully understood the tenor and purport
thereof and that they attested said paper writing (which is hereto attached) as witnesses in the presence and at the request of said Jacob Knepper the testator who declared the same to be his last will and testament.
(Signed) R D Sutphen, Samuel Sollady.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court, July 24, 1847. I Radebaugh, Clk
∞ Jacob married first #2773 Elizabeth Flick.
Marriage notes |
They married in Berks Co., Ohio (probably). |
Elizabeth was born 1779 in Germany. She died Jun 1831 in Fairfield Co., Ohio.
She is the daughter of Andrew & Magdalena Flick.
Children of this relationship:
| #2774 | F | i | Mary "Polly" Knepper | (1796–Aug 1852) |
| #2775 | M | ii | John Knepper | (4 Jan 1799–1 Jun 1840) |
| #2776 | M | iii | Andrew Knepper | (7 Dec 1800–7 Sep 1862) |
| #2838 | M | iv | Jacob Knepper | (8 Nov 1802–12 Dec 1872) |
| #2777 | M | v | Peter Knepper | (5 Nov 1805–30 Jun 1832) |
| #2778 | M | vi | Emanuel Knepper | (1806–1827) |
| #2779 | M | vii | Isaac Knepper | (1809–1812) |
| #2780 | M | viii | Jonathan Knepper | (2 Nov 1810–21 Jul 1875) |
| #2944 | F | ix | Susannah Knepper | (1812–23 Jul 1866) |
| #2781 | M | x | Simon Knepper | (11 Jun 1813–1 Feb 1879) |
| #2782 | F | xi | Salome Jane Knepper | (5 Apr 1816–8 Jan 1897) |
| #2783 | M | xii | Joseph Knepper | (Abt 1817–22 May 1848) |
∞ Jacob married second #3504 Mary Bowman.
Marriage notes |
They married 15 Oct 1833 in Perry Co., Ohio. There married by William Karr, a Baptist minister. |
Mary died.
Mary was wealthy in her own right and by judicious management, she and her husband were able to give each of their children land or the equivalent in money. The following is the prenuptial agreement they had.
Pickaway County Court House, Deed Book 22, page 485: Prenuptial Agreement:
Whereas prior to the marriage of Jacob Knepper and Mary Knepper they made a marriage contract which, after said marriage and on the eleventh day of July, A.D. 1840 was reduced to writing and signed by each of them by which it is agreed that if the said Mary should die first that all the property that said Mary brought with her to said Knepper and also all the money she received from her Father's estate, her brothers and sisters should have. But if said Knepper should die first it was then agreed that said Mary should have all the property and money above mentioned and also said Knepper's Clock and case, one chest, one spinning wheel, a bread tray, a churn, one iron kettle, three wash tubs, and all his kitchen furniture, his stove and also one hundred fifty dollars in money out of his estate. And whereas said Jacob Knepper has recently departed this life testate leaving the said Mary his survivor and in an by his last will and testament he directed his executors therein named to execute his last will and testament he directed his executors therein named to execute the contract aforesaid with said Mary and whereas the said Mary upon inquiring of the said executors has expressed her desire also to execute said contract on her part and whereas the said Jacob Knepper during the coverture aforesaid was seized in fee of various tracts of land which in his lifetime he conveyed and also devised to his children as follows to wit:
1. To Joseph Knepper 213-1/2 acres, S 26, T 10, R 21. (Madison Tp, Pickaway County, OH)
2. To Salomy Miller SE 1/4 S 11, T 16, R 20. (Refugee Tract in Etna Tp, Licking Co, OH)
3. To Jacob Knepper 213-1/2 acres, S 26, T 10, R 21. (Madison Tp, Pickaway County, OH)
4. To Jonathan Knepper 213-1/2 acres, S 26, T 10, R 21, (Madison Tp, Pickaway Co, OH)
5. To Sarah, Eleanor and Mary Ann, the children of Peter Knepper, Deceased, 138 acres, S 31, T 16, R 19, Fairfield Co, OH.
6. Andrew Knepper 189.36 acres, S 31, T 16, R 19, Fairfield Co, OH.
7. Simon Knepper 159 acres, S 13, T 15, R 20, Fairfield Co, OH.
Now therefore be it known that I, said Mary Knepper, in consideration of the above recited promises, and of Andrew and Simon Knepper as executors of said Jacob Knepper, deceased, I having fully executed the above recited contract on the part of the said Jacob as will appear by reference to my receipt to them for all of the money and property I am entitled to have under said contract and also for one consideration which said executors at my request have added to said list of property which bears even date with this deed have and by these presents do hereby remise, release, and forever quit claim unto the said Simon Knepper, Andrew Knepper, Sarah, Eleanor and Mary Ann Knepper, children and heirs to Peter Knepper, deceased, Jonathan Knepper, Jacob Knepper, Salome Miller and Joseph Knepper severally and to their several heirs, assign all my rights, titles, interest to claim in and to the several tracts of lands above described as conveyed and devised to them severally by the said Jacob Knepper, deceased, my late husband, to have and to hold the aforesaid premises with all the privileges, pertinences, to the same belonging or appertaining unto the said Simon, Andrew, Sarah, Eleanor and Mary, heirs of Peter aforesaid, Jonathan, Jacob, Salome and Joseph severally and to their several Heirs and assigns forever. So that neither the said Mary nor my heirs nor my person or persons claiming under me or them shall at anytime hereafter by my way or means have claim or demand, my right or title to the aforesaid premises or pertinences or to my part or parts thereof forever. In testimony whereof the said Mary Knepper have had unto set my hand and seal this twenty-ninth day of July A.D. 1847. Executed and delivered in our presence. G Martin, Henry Knepper, Mary Knepper. State of Ohio, Fairfield County.
Personally appeared before me the subscriber, one of the acting associate judges in aforesaid county, Mary Knepper, the Grantor in the above and foregoing deed of conveyance who acknowledged that she signed, sealed, and delivered the above and foregoing deed for the purposes therein expressed. Given under my hand the twenty-ninth day of July A.D. 1847. Gideon Martin, Associate Judge. Filed for record Jan 12, 1848."
Bart Brenner, email to Tad Deffler, dated: 13 Mar 2013.
Clifford T. Wig & Dorothy H. Wig, The Knepper Family Tree, (unpublished, Apr 1997). Ref. as [Wig].
Line Generation: 5
Relationship: Second Cousins Six Times Removed through Hans Peter Knepper◊