Notes from Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy Gateway, 2009/10/04
1730 The Koffroth family settled in Lancaster County, PA shortly after its
formation in 1730. (Koffroth Family, p 28).
1734 Gerhard Cafferoth (X) was one of several signers of a letter to Reverend
Boehm of Philadelphia describing their attempts to raise money to build a
church by sending representatives Weiss and Reiff to Holland where they did
get money, but could not account for it upon their return to America. (Life
and letters of the Rev. John Philip Boehm, founder of the Reformed church in
Pennsylvania, 1683-1749. By John Philip Boehm, William John Hinke, 1916, page
232-33).
1738-1740 Son Henry was baptised 7 Dec 1738 and daughter Mary Elizabeth was
baptised 4 Oct 1740, the first entries in the register of the Reformirte
Gemeinde Cocallico in Conestoken Church (The German Sectarians of
Pennsylvania: 1708-1742 by Julius Friedrich Sasche, page 235).
1754 Gerhard Kaffroth was the father at the baptism of son John Jacob on 22
Dec 1754 in Lancaster Co, PA. (not seen)
1759 Eleven of the Koffroth children had been confirmed (records of Rev.
Waldschmidt cited in Kauffroth-Sensenig Family, original not seen).
1761 Gerhard Kafroth was naturalized on 24 March in Lancaster Co, PA. "At a
Supreme Court held at Philadelphia before William Allen and William Coleman,
Esq., judges of the said court, on the 10th and 11th days of April in the year
of our Lord 1761, between the hours of 9 and 12 o'clock of the forenoon of the
same day, the following persons being foreigners, were naturalized in the
Province of Pennsylvania: Gerhart Kafroth, Lancaster County, Sacrament 24
March, 1761". (PA Archives Series 2, Vol 2, page 408).
1761 Maria Barbara died and was buried at Cocalico Church. (not seen).
1771 Gerhart Kofroad was taxed for 50 acres, 2 horses, and 3 cattle in
Cocolico Twp, Lancaster Co, PA (PA Archives Ser 3, Vol 17, p 245). Henry
Kaffrode, perhaps Gerhard's son, was also taxed.
1772 Gerhart Koffrot was taxed for 50 acres, 2 horses, and 3 cattle in
Cocolico Twp, Lancaster Co, PA (PA Archives Ser 3, Vol 17, p 266). Henry
Koffrot, perhaps Gerhard's son, was also taxed.
1772 John Kofrott, perhaps Gerhard's son, was taxed in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster
Co as a freeman. (PA Archives Ser 3, Vol 17, p 272).
1773 Gerhard Kofrat was taxed for 50 acres, 2 horses, and 2 cattle in Cocalico
Twp, Lancaster Co, PA (PA Archives Ser 3, Vol 17, p 481). Henry Kafras,
perhaps Gerhard's son, was also taxed.
1773 John Kaffrath, perhaps Gerhard's son, was taxed in Cocalico Twp,
Lancaster Co as a freeman. (PA Archives Ser 3, Vol 17, p 486).
c 1776 Several of the Kafroth family fought in the Revolutionary War. (not
seen)
1779 and 1783 Sons Jacob and Henry were taxed in Cocalico Twp.
1790 Jacob Kaffrode lived in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster Co, PA (census).
1796 The will of Gerhart Coffroth was dated 10 Dec 1785 and was proved 28
March 1796. Children: Elizabeth, Barbara, Catharine, Dorothea, Christiana,
Henry and Jacob. Executors Henry and Jacob. Cocalico Twp, Lancaster Co, PA.
Beverly J. Schonewolf at Genealogy.com (with research by Angela Smith,
Harrisburg, PA) provided the following transcriptions:
WILL of Gerhard Koffroth of Cocalico Twp, Lancaster Co. [I] bequeath to my
beloved daughters Elizabeth, Barbara, Catharine, Dorothy & Christina two
certain bonds or obligations bearing equally date[?] with this presents. One
of them is conditioned for the payment ...of 134 pounds 4 pence 15 shillings
payable from my eldest son Henry Koffroth to me on ...yearly payments after my
decease ... the other is conditioned for the payment ... of 533 pounds 1
shilling 11 pence ... payable from my youngest son Jacob Koffroth to me on ...
yearly payments after my decease .... the first yearly payment of each ...
after my decease to be paid to my Daughter Elizabeth ...the second yearly
payment.., to my daughter Barbara ... the third yearly payment ...to my
daughter Catharina ... and the fourth yearly payment ... to my daughter
Dorothy ... and the fifth yearly payment ... to ...youngest daughter Christina
... and then the sixth payment .. to my daughter Elizabeth ... and so on from
my eldest daughter to my youngest .... My sons Henry and Jacob shall have no
share of the money of the aforesaid Bonds ... as they have instead ...
received heretofore full satisfaction in purchasing all my Land or plantation
in Cocalico Township ... All the remainder of my personal estate ...shall be
equally divided among all my children... I do hereby appoint my said live sons
Henry & Jacob Caffroth to be my Executors... In witness whereof I set my hand
and seal this 10th day of December 1785 ... in the presence of Henry Ream,
Adam Ness. Proved 28th day of March 1796.
RELEASE, made May 2 1796. Adam Hoffman and Barbara, his wife, John Ernst and
Catharine, his wife, George Michael Olland and Dorothea, his wife, Jacob
Gerber and Christina, his wife, (the said Barbara, Catharina, Dorothea and
Christina being four daughters of Gerhard Koffroth, late of Cocalico Twp,
Lancaster County, Penna, Yeoman deceased) have,., received of Henry Koffroth
and Jacob Koffroth, Executors of... Gerhard Koffroth .. for each the ... sum
of ... £136 .,. payment in full for their share ...
of the estate of Gerhard Koffroth. In consideration whereof [they] ... release
Henry Koffroth & Jacob Koffroth. Recorded Jan 28 1797 Deed Book UU page 809.
RELEASE, made Feb 25 1797 by "Conrad Myer, Mathias Myer, Henry Noll and Regina
his wife, Frederick Myer, David Myer, Peter Myer and Elizabeth Myer all of
York County, Penna" ... Gerhard Koffroth, late of Cocalico Twp, Lancaster
County, Penna, bequeathed to his daughter Elizabeth, late the wife of Peter
Meyer deceased, a legacy ... of £136. And... Peter Meyer and Elizabeth his
wife died in the lifetime of Gerhard Caffroth and left issue, 10 children, the
above named Conrad ... Mathias ... Regina... Frederick ...David ... Peter...
and Henry Myer (who being an idiot non compos mentis) and Adam Meyer who being
under lawful age and one other daughter to .. whom said legacy ... to
Elizabeth ... is to be paid. Recorded Jul 22 1797 Deed Book AAA, page 461.
A description of Gerhard Koffroth is given here.
Transcription Website for Gerhard Koffroth.
Research to document:
1707 Kaffroth was born in Flammersfeld, Germany. Parish churchbooks report he
went to America in 1731. (German genealogical digest, Published by Jensen
Publications, 1997, Item notes: v. 13-15, page 91).
1718 Maria Barbara was born in Europe.
Gerhart Kafroth was the father of 13 children, 8 of them born in Europe. He
came from Friesland, now a northern province of Holland, abutting Germany.
(Kauffroth Sensenig Family, page9, no source given).