John Thomas Copenhaver (1739 - 1802)

Born 1739 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine (Mosser) Copenhaver — married 1759 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Husband of Elisabetha (Miese) Copenhaver — married 27 Oct 1778 in Bethel, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA

Husband of Julianna (Six) Copenhaver — married 13 Apr 1784 in Montgomery County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 1 Nov 1802 at about age 63 in Wythe County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Family name AKA: Koppenhefer, Koppenheffer, Poffenheffer, Koppenhaver, Kopenhauer, Koppenhoester

John Thomas Copenhaver, II was born in 1739 in Pennsylvania the son and namesake of his father, Johann Thomas Coppenhaver 1710-1760 and his wife, Anna Maria ZINN 1709-1746.^[1]

Captain Thomas COPENHAVER was a prominent man in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War and was later an important landowner in Montgomery County, Virginia. It is thought that he furnished wood for the Iron Forges owned by the Miess family at Union Forge and for his cousin Colonel Adam Orth at Lebanon.

From the notes of Sandra McBride as posted on Rootsweb, Captain John Thomas Copenhaver was confirmed at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church on Whitsunday, 1754, at the age of fifteen years. July 1764, Thomas KOPPENHEFFER purchased 137 acres of land, one-half of a larger tract in Hanover Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, from the Jacob Moser Estate. On the 16th of November 1767, he paid the Jacob Moser Estate 62 pounds, 17 shillings, and 2 pence to the following persons: (1.) Catharine Koppenheffer, eldest daughter, (2.) Rachel Mosser wife of Adam Gutman, (3.) Eve Werick, (4.) Christiana Mosser, minor, (5.) Elizabeth Moser, minor, (6.) Jacob Moser, Jr., a minor and Peter Hedrick, guardian.

According to Deed Book "O", page 162 In Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on the 31st of May 1769 Thomas Koppenhoffer sold 137 acres of land from the Jacob Mosser Estate, Hanover Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Peter Hedrick for 149 pounds, 8 shillings, 10 pence. This was recorded on the 12th of January 1784. Peter Heydrick had located near Union Forge previous to 1734 about 3/4 miles due north from Fort Smith which was erected on his farm. This can be found on the Miscellaneous Docket, page 339, in 1772-1776 - "On March 5, 1772, at the instance and request of Martin Hess and Peter Hederick, both guardians over the estates of Jacob Moser, Elizabeth Mosser, and Christina Mosser, minor children of Jacob Moser deceased, it is ordered that a citation do issue to Thomas Koppenheffer and Catharine his wife, late Catharine Moser one of the daughters of the said deceased to appear in Orphans Court to be held at Lancaster for the County of Lancaster on the first Tuesday in June next to show cause if any they have why they have not made satisfaction to said children of the said deceased for the respective shares of and in the evaluation or appraisement of the real estate lands and tenements, late of the said deceased agreeable to the order for the purpose made at Orphans Court, held at Lancaster September 1776 and to abide the judgement of the same court."

More is known of Captain Thomas KOPPENHAVER than the other members of the family serving in the Revolution due to the research of descendants of this line and his outstanding military career. Although Captain Thomas lived in East Hanover, he was born along the Tulpehocken and his war career had much to do with former neighbors and relatives and many of the local men along the Tulpehocken fought with him. Captain Thomas' Company fought under Colonel Timothy Green's famous "Hanover Rifle Battalion Militia." These men were known for their accuracy in riflemanship. They carried the long muskets known as "Kentucky Rifles" but, of course, made locally in Lancaster County by Pennsylvania German rifle makers.

Captain John Copenhaver served with 3rd Battalion, Lancaster County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

John Copenhaver is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 231701
Rank: Captain

John Copenhaver is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A025887.

Pennsylvania Military Returns and Operations of the Comptroller General at the Division of Archives & Manuscripts, 2nd Series 1778 confirms:

• (1.) Thomas COPINHAFFER was commissioned July 31, 1777 as Captain Third Company, 6th Battalion, Lancaster County Militia under Colonel John Rogers.
• (2.) Thomas KOPENHAVER served as Captain of the Third Class /Batt, Lancaster County Militia commanded by Colonel Alexander Lawry Lowry-2925 , Aug. 28, 1777.
• (3.) Thomas KOPENHAVER was enrolled as Captain of a Company 6th Battalion, Lancaster County Militia commanded by Colonel John Rogers now serving at Chester under command of Colonel Alexander Lowry, 3rd Battalion, Aug. 30, 1777.

At the time of the surrender of Fort Washington, Nov. 16, 1776, Captain KOPPENHAVER's Company of Lebanon County men were paroled and sent home in exchange. Afterwards, they served three years in the Pennsylvania line. Local names on those rolls were Jacob Musser, Peter Musser, John Pickle (Bickel), John Lymon (Lehman), George Musser. ^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Captain Thomas COPENHAVER was on the committee that drew up the Hanover Resolutions in 1774: The Hanover Resolutions of 1774 (copied from Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania) As early as the spring of 1774, meetings were held in different townships, the resolves of only two of which are preserved to us. The earliest was that of an assembly of the inhabitants of Hanover, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania held on Saturday, the 4th of June 1774, Colonel Timothy Green, chairman, "to express their sentiments on the present critical state of affairs." It was then and there "Unanimously resolved: "

• (1st.) That the recent action of the Parliament of Great Britain is iniquitous and oppressive.
• (2nd.) That it is the bounden duty of the inhabitants of America to oppose every measure which tends to deprive them of their just prerogitive.
• (3rd.) That in a closer union of Colonies lies the safeguard of the people.
• (4th.) That in the event of Great Britain attempting to force unjust laws upon us by the strength of arms, our cause we leave to Heaven and our rifles.
• (5th.) That a Committee of nine be appointed who shall act for us and in our behalf as emergency may require."

Thomas Koppenheffer was one of the original signers of the Hanover Resolutions. On the eve of the Revolution citizens of the county assembled inside the courthouse to adopt the "Hanover Resolutions. The Committee consisted of Colonel Timothy Green, James Caruthers, Josiah Espy, Robert Dixon, Thomas KOPPENHEFFER, William Clark, James Stewart, Joseph Barnett, and John Rogers. Thomas COPENHAVER was a Captain of Militia in Colonel Timothy Green's Battalion, mustered in Hanover Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from the 12th of August 1776 to February 1777. In 1777 he was Captain of the 1st Company of Colonel John Rogers 6th Battalion. On Aug. 30 1777, his company was stationed at Chester, Pennsylvania, under Colonel Alexander Lowrey. In 1779 Captain Thomas COPENHAVER had the 3rd Company of the 6th Battalion of the Lancaster Co. Militia.

Captain Thomas married three times. ^[7] Most of his children were probably from the first marriage.

• Wife 1: Catherine MOSSER, MUSSER prior to 1760. There was a SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC in the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania area in 1777. However, it is unknown if that is what Capt. John Thomas's 1st Wife, Catherine MOSSER, MUSSER Copenhaver died of during that year at the age of 38. CHILDREN of Capt John Thomas Copenhaver and his 1st Wife, Catherine Mosser, Musser:

(1) Maria Catherine Copenhaver born 1760

(2) Christina Copenhaver 1761-1849

(3) Thomas Copenhaver, III born 1763

(4) Frederick Copenhaver 1770-1836

(5) Elizabeth Copenhaver born 1775

• Wife 2: Elisabetha MIESE, MIESS, MEESE, MEASE, MIES, MEIS the daughter of John Meese of Bethel Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, married 27 Oct 1778 in Bethel, Berks County, Pennsylvania at a Lutheran Church.^[8][9] In 1783, 2nd Wife, Elisabetha Copenhaver died in Virginia, at the young age of 35 years old, shortly after the birth of her son, Samuel Copenhaver who was born on the 21st of February 1783. Father, John Thomas Copenhaver was now a widower again having nine children to raise. CHILDREN of Captain John Thomas Copenhaver and his 2nd Wife, Elizabeth Miese: NOTE: Elizabeth Miess could NOT be Mother of the first child, Maria Catherine Koppenhefer, because her father, Capt. John Thomas Koppenhefer did not marry Elizabeth Miess until 1778.

(1) John Copenhaver 1769-1836

(2) Henry Copenhaver 1780-1825

(3) MARY ANN Copenhaver

(4) Samuel Copenhaver 1783-1835

• Wife 3: Julianna SIEG, SIEK, SIX. Late in 1783 or early in 1784, Captain Thomas Copenhaver returned to Hanover Township, Lancaster County, PA & there prior to April 13, 1784 was married to Miss Julianna Siek (Sieg), the daughter of Paul Siek. Children of John Thomas Copenhaver and Wife #3: Julianna SIEG, SIEK,, SIX, SEEK:

(1) Molly Magdalena Copenhaver

It was probably about 1780 that Thomas and his family moved to Montgomery Co., Virginia. In October of 1781 he bought land on which he had already been living. This was located near what is now Rural Retreat, Wythe County, Virginia.

On the 1st of November 1802, Captain John Thomas COPENHAVER died intestate (without a will) in Wythe County, Virginia. The location of his burial is unknown.^[10]

1793 Personal Property Tax List, Wythe Co., VA, 1st section (present day Wythe/Smyth Cos), Cowpenbarger, John 1-4; Cowpenbarger, Jacob 1-2 ^[11]

Research

An interesting tale appeared in an early history for Smyth County, Virginia. The first ancestor of this family was Jacob Copenhagen, "a younger son of a baron" who was a captain in the army lent to England by King Frederick IV of Denmark. (?Mercenary soldier?) Jacob migrated to Philadelphia in 1722 and lived there for a number of years then settled in York Co PA. He raised a large family that included five sons: Thomas, Simon, Jacob, Robert and Daniel. All of these sons were in the American Revolution.^[12]

The connection to Lancaster PA and Kentucky rifles is interesting because the Copenhaver land lies next to the Schell plantation--and this Schell family is likely to be connected to the Martin Shell Sr lineage of famous rifle-makers--firstly in Heidelberg town (Schaefferstown) Lancaster County, and Lebanon, Pennsylvania (during the Revolutionary War). Later, the gun-making family relocated to Paxtang Township, Lancaster (Today, Dauphin County). Here, the son Martin Jr crafted some of the finest and oldest Pennsylvania long rifles still in existence today.

Sources

1. ↑ The Rosenbaum Rosenbalm fam of SW VA Notes on Copenhaver fam 1) John Wolfgang Koppenheffer & w Anna Maria ? Eldest s Thomas arr America 11 Sep 1728 Name also sp Koppenhoester. Child: Thomas born 1739. p 713
2. ↑ US Rev War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant 1776 Virginia #R2311 App Name: Thomas Copenhaver App State: Virginia Archive Publication: M804 Archive Roll: 651 Total Pages in Packet: 17 Svc: VA Copenhavir Thomas Contents Born in PA
3. ↑ Captain in Revolutionary War 12 Aug 1776 Hanover Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Capt of Militia in Col Timothy Green's Battalion mustered in Hanover Twp Lancaster Co PA August 12, 1776 to February 1777 1777-Captain 1st Company in Col John Roger's 6th Battalion.
4. ↑ Captain Koppenheffer's Company 30 Aug 1777 was stationed at Chester, Pennsylvania under Colonel Alexander Lowrey
5. ↑ Revolutionary War Battalions & Militia Index 1775-1783 Pennsylvania Thomas Kopenheffer Volume: 1 Page: 358 Captain
6. ↑ Thomas was a Captain in the Revolutionary war, his SAR Patriot @ P-342179, P-231701, also has a DAR record
7. ↑ The Rosenbaum-Rosenbalm family of southwest Virginia / by Clifford R. Canfield.. Published: Carlsbad, Calif.: C.R. Canfield, 1990. Sketch of Captain John Thomas Copenhaver 1739-1802 Pg 713, 714
8. ↑ Marriage: 27 Oct 1778 Bethel Berks Co PA Church: Pastoral Records of John Casper Stoever Role: Groom Remark: Hanover Household Members: Name Role Thomas Koppenhoefer Groom Elisabetha Miess Bride 1748–1783.
9. ↑ The Copenhaver Family of Smyth County, Virginia, compiled by Mildred (Manton) Copenhaver and Robert Madison Copenhaver, 1981. www.familysearch.org/library/books/idviewer/153088/671
10. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #147347577 John Thomas Copenhaver
11. ↑ Mohn, Viola Kohl. Shadows of the Rhine along the Tulpehocken. [Lebanon, Pa.]: Lebanon County Historical Society, 1986. Lebanon County Historical Society (Series); v. 17, no. 1 (book no. 3)
12. ↑ Wilson, Goodridge. Smyth County History and Traditions, 1932. p 323 Sketch "Copenhaver-Copenhagen-Kjøbenhavn".

• Find A Grave: Memorial #147347577

• The Copenhaver Family in the Revolutionary War, written and compiled by Richard L. Thayer. Published by Heritage Books, 2009.

• Copenhaver family of Wythe County, Virginia. By Canfield, Clifford R. (Clifford Robert), published Pasadena, California. 1958

• Ancestry.com - DNA MATCH: Father, Daughter, & Son. "My Brown Roots" by CaroleAnne269 Father: Roy Theodore Pete Brown, JR is 4th Great Grandson, Carole Anne Brown-44556 Whittemore is 5th Great Granddaughter, Ted Brown is 5th Great Grandson. [1] Paid Members Only - ancestry.com
  

• Gedcoms used for this profile: Rhodes 2011_2011-07-09_01_01.ged on Jul 9, 2011 by Tom Rhodes; Welder Family Tree.ged on Sep 10, 2011 by Deborah Anne Welder; AMYFAMILYTREE_2012-05-17.ged on May 18, 2012 by Amy Bazar; Betty Gray, Compiler: Gray.FTW The alternative spelling Koppenhauver was used on the WikiTree profile Koppenhauver-29 created through the import of Leehawk201202171001146495.ged on Feb 18, 2012 by Chilton Hawk.

• Compiler: Sandra McBride =Markland, Seabolt, Houston, Allen and Related Families, Url: [www. rootsweb.com] Publication: March 27, 2006