Caspar Erner, born possibly 1680s; died probably 1730-1760 at Allendorf, Westphalia, Germany; married before 1716 to Anna Gertrud Rüsche (from children’s baptismal records) who was born possibly 1680s and died probably 1730-1760 at Allendorf.
[NOTES: The baptismal record of their son Johannes Hermann in 1716 is the first “Erner” record in the Allendorf churchbooks, which begin in 1677; and this is the only Erner family to live at Allendorf. It would appear that Caspar must have come to Allendorf from somewhere else. However, at this time, I don’t know whether he and Anna Gertrud were married before or after he came to Allendorf. If she was a member of the Rüsche family that was already established in Allendorf, then, since their marriage record doesn’t appear to be at Allendorf either, it’s possible that Caspar was from a fairly nearby village, and that the ceremony was recorded in the parish there.]
They were members of St. Antonius Einsiedler [St. Anthony the Hermit] Roman Catholic Church at Allendorf.
Known children, born at Allendorf:
+ Johannes Hermann Erner, baptized 01 March 1716 (Godparents: Johannes Herman Hoppenhonek gnt Freyburg and _______?)(1).
Johannes Schotte Erner, baptized 25 February 1717 (Godparents: Johannes Joseph Birrman and Anna Vilthaut)(1).
Johannes Caspar Erner, baptized 14 May 1718 (Godparents: Bernhard Perst? and Appolonia König)(1); died 07 October 1719(1).
Caspar Englebert Erner, baptized 01 September 1720 (Godparents: Caspar Fincke? from Hagen and Anna Barbara Zölner)(1).
Augustin Erner, baptized 26 August 1722 (Godparents: Anton Grimme and Anna Gerdrud Wormbskirchen)(1).
Conrad Erner, born and died 30 October 1725(1).
Maria Catharina Erner, baptized 04 November 1728 (Godparents: Maria Catharina Faut and Georg Silloran?)(1).
[Church records missing from 1730-1760]
Johannes Hermann Erner gnt Niederste Rüsche, baptized 01 March 1716 at Allendorf (Godparents: Johannes Herman Hoppenhonek gnt Freyburg and _______?)(1); died 10 December 1791 at Allendorf(1); married before 1749 at Allendorf to Anna Margaretha Klute (from children’s baptismal records).
He was a citizen of Allendorf and owned the Niederste Rüsche farm, which he presumably inherited through his mother. [But it’s possible that he inherited it through his wife, and that it’s just a coincidence that his mother was named Rüsche. I haven’t had any research done in the early land records yet.] Niederste Rüsche could mean “Lesser Rüsche” or “Lower Rüsche” [NOTE: there was also an Oberste Rüsche farm at Allendorf, which would mean “Greater Rüsche” or “Upper Rüsche”.].
[NOTES: The abbreviation gnt stands for the German word genannt which means “named” or “called”. In Westphalia, when a landless male farmer married a woman who owned or inherited a named farm, it was common for him and his children to take the name of the farm as their new surname. However, in this part of Westphalia, they would also keep their original family surname because the farm surname was theirs only for as long as they owned the farm. In this part of Westphalia, they also practiced primogeniture, which means that just one son would inherit the entire farm (and the farm surname). Further Notes: In the families that I have researched, this was usually the eldest son, until about the mid-1800s when some eldest sons started deciding that they had better opportunities elsewhere (often in America). However, in some parts of Westphalia, the youngest son was normally the heir.]
They were members of St. Antonius Einsiedler Church at Allendorf.
Known children, born at Allendorf:
+ Theodor Erner gnt Niederste Rüsche, born about January 1749 [NOTE: Birth Record missing, but he must have been the eldest surviving son of Johannes Hermann, because he inherited the family farm].
[Church records missing from 1730-1760]
Johannes Heinrich Erner, baptized 09 July 1761 (Godparents: Johannes Rusche and Anna Maria Lütke)(1).
Maria Anna Erner, baptized 12 April 1763 (Godparents: Anna Catharina Schulte and Johannes Fauth)(1).
Stephan Anton Erner, born 31 March 1766 (Godparents: Stephan König and Elisabeth Micheler)(1); died 25 November 1851 at Allendorf(1); unmarried. He was a monk in the Augustinian Order(1).
Theodor Erner gnt Niederste Rüsche, born about January 1749 at Allendorf; died 03 March 1818 at Allendorf(1); married first 30 May 1774 (Witnesses: Anton Schulte and Anton Freyburg)(1) at Allendorf to Anna Clara Schulte gnt Hobein who was born at Allendorf and died 13 July 1787 at Allendorf(1); married second 14 August 1787 (Witnesses: Stephan Erner and Wilhelm Wewer)(1) at Allendorf to Anna Maria Margaretha Hermes who was from Weuspert, Westphalia, Germany and died 16 February 1790 at Allendorf(1); married third 25 April 1790 (Witnesses: Johannes Koch from Amecke and Wilhelm Kleus)(1) at Allendorf to Anna Theresia Koch from Amecke, Kreis Arnsberg, Westphalia, Germany who was born 1756 and died 03 March 1832 at Allendorf(1).
He was a citizen of Allendorf and owned the Niederste Rüsche farm. He was also a linen weaver. Weaving linen at home was the most common cottage industry in Westphalia in the 1700s, especially among the poor and the landless. However, a landowning farmer would not normally also be a linen weaver unless his farm was too small to support his family.
They were members of St. Antonius Einsiedler Church at Allendorf.
Children with first wife, born at Allendorf:
Anna Christina Agatha Erner, baptized 11 May 1775 (Godparents: Christina Freyburg and Johannes Theodor Föerdes)(1); died 13 May 1798 at Amecke, Kreis Arnsberg, Westphalia (recorded at St. Pankratius Church at Stockum); unmarried.
Johannes Heinrich Erner gnt Niederste Rüsche, baptized 30 October 1777 (Godparents: Johannes Heinrich Rurman from Stockum and Anna Catharina Rusche)(1); married 15 February 1803 (Witnesses: Johannes Theodor Fantoman? and Johannes Müer)(1) at Allendorf to MARIA CATHARINA ELISABETH FREIBURG who was born 18 March 1779 at Allendorf. He inherited the Niederste Rüsche farm. Children, born at Allendorf:
Stephan Anton Erner, born 14 October 1803 (Godparents: Stephan Anton Erner and Elisabeth Freiburg)(1).
Johannes Anton Erner, born 21 December 1804 (Godparents: Johannes Drate and Maria Catharina Wormskirchen gnt Spieckers)(1).
Theresia Elisabeth Erner, born 16 February 1806 (Godparents: Theresia Egels gnt Pasen and [uncle] Johannes Erner gnt Niederste Rüsche [later known as Johannes Anton Erner gnt Götter], below)(1).
Johannes Bernard Erner, baptized 07 June 1809(1). Known child, with Antonetta Werdes: Johannes Werdes, baptized 13 January 1827(1).
Maria Anna Erner, born and baptized 18 August 1812(1).
Johannes Erner, born 15 August and baptized 16 August 1815(1).
Heinrich Erner, born 31 May and baptized 01 June 1818(1); emigrated 1842 to the USA on the ship Columbia, final destination not known.
Johannes Franz Erner, born 27 May and baptized 29 May 1820(1); died 01 September 1821(1).
Friedrich Wilhelm Erner, born 25 June and baptized 26 June 1822(1); died 05 June 1823(1).
Anton Franz Erner, baptized 26 September 1779 (Godparents: Anton Schulte and Theresia Sasse)(1).
+ Johannes Anton Erner gnt Götter, born 30 October 1781 (Godparents: Johannes Anton Cramer and Anna Maria Bodde)(1).
Hermann Erner, baptized 17 December 1783 (Godparents: Hermann Lappe and Anna Catharina Schmidman)(1).
Maria Anna Erner, baptized 06 November 1784 (Godparents: Maria Anna Schalbe and “Duvendal from Schwellenhaus” ?)(1); died 26 August 1804 at Allendorf(1); unmarried(1).
Child with second wife, born at Allendorf:
Anna Maria Erner, born 30 January 1790 (Godparents: Stephan Erner and Anna Maria Schulte from Halvey?)(1); died 05 February 1790(1).
Children with third wife, born at Allendorf:
Maria Gerdrud Erner, born 28 January 1792 (Godparents: Gerdrud Leonartz gnt Kochs from Amecke and Johannes Grothoff gnt Auferman)(1); died 29 May 1793(1).
Maria Catharina Agatha Erner, baptized 01 April 1794 (Godparents: Maria Catharina Freyburg and Johannes Auferman from “Eracht prope Einschede”)(1).
Franz Joseph Erner, born 24 November 1797 (Godparents: Franz Joseph Römer gnt Kaiser from Amecke and Gerdrud Severin gnt Lenze from Allendorf)(1).
Maria Theresia Erner, born 26 December 1799 (Godparents: Maria Theresia Schwerman from Stockum and Ferdinand Koch from Amecke)(1); died 03 November 1858 at Allendorf(1); unmarried(1).
Anna Margaretha Erner, born 07 August and baptized 08 August 1807 (Godparents: Anna Margaretha Schmidt from Seidfeld and Stephan Erner)(1).
Johannes Anton1 Erner gnt Götter, born 30 October 1781 at Allendorf (Godparents: Johannes Anton Cramer and Anna Maria Bodde)(1); died 27 March 1837 at Allendorf(1); married first 24 November 1811 at Allendorf (marriage record)(1) to Maria Gerdrud Rüthing (daughter of Johannes Heinrich Rüthing and Anna Elisabeth Baltes) who was born 22 July 1781 and died 29 March 1823 at Allendorf(1); married second 22 July 1823(1) at Allendorf to Maria Francisca Willecke who was born 1784-85 and died 24 May 1857 at Allendorf(1).
He was a citizen of Allendorf and owned the Götter farm. They were members of St. Antonius Einsiedler Church at Allendorf.
He was also a linen weaver. His older brother Johannes Heinrich had inherited the Niederste Rüsche farm, so he had to find a different place to make a living. He apparently married a woman who had inherited a farm of her own.
By 1830, the Industrial Revolution and the new steam powered loom had driven almost all hand linen weavers out of business. There was not much future in the local area for the sons of a poor farm family. Three of his sons emigrated to America.
Children with first wife, born at Allendorf:
+ STEPHAN JOSEPH2 ERNER, born 11 October and baptized 12 October 1812(1); moved to Herdorf, Kreis Altenkirchen, Rheinland, Germany.
(Daughter), born and died 24 October 1814(1).
Franz Anton Erner, born 22 October and baptized 23 October 1815(1); died 21 July 1865 at Allendorf(1); unmarried(1).
+ FREDERICK ALOYSIUS2 ERNER, born 08 September and baptized 09 September 1819(1); emigrated to Galena, Jo Daviess, Illinois, USA.
+ FRANZ XAVER JOSEPH2 ERNER, born and baptized 24 March 1823 (baptismal record(1)); married MARIA CATHERINE AGATHA FREIBURG; emigrated to Galena, Jo Daviess, Illinois, USA.
Children with second wife, born at Allendorf:
+ FRANZ ANTON ERNER gnt GÖTTER, born 30 May and baptized 31 May 1824(1); married first MARIA CATHARINA GERTRUD HELLHAKE.
+ GERHARD BERNARD2 ERNER, born 27 March and baptized 28 March 1826(1); married ANNA MARY FREIBURG; emigrated to Quincy, Adams, Illinois, USA.
Johannes Friedrich Erner, born 12 April and baptized 13 April 1829(1); died 11 December 1837 at Allendorf(1).
[NOTE: It’s interesting that the eldest son of the second
wife inherited the family farm. I wonder if his mother planned it that way, or
if all of his older half-brothers saw better opportunities elsewhere, and he
just got stuck with it. 
]
Caspar Erner of Allendorf, Westphalia, Germany. Last revision: 23 Nov 2007
Allendorf to America: Erner and Related Families in America.
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