Husband's Parents:
Margaretha Frydag
Wife's Parents:
Christen Gilmann: Catharina Von Kaenel
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family line Jacob F. Eaker | Joseph C. Eaker | Peter Eaker | John Peter Eaker | Hans Peter Eaker, Jr. | Hans Peter Egger, Sr. | Peter Egger
The Eaker Family Journal | Title Page
Hans Peter Egger, Sr. and
Verena Gilmann
Hans Peter Egger Sr. was born in Adelboden, Canton Bern, Switzerland 16 May 1689. Peter Eaker, Sr. died after Aug 1773 in Lincoln Co., NC. The spelling of the name has caused some confusion in tracing the family. In Switzerland the name was Egger; the German signature of the early immigrants was Ecker and the English signature was Eaker.
He married twice. He married Verena Gilmann in Reichenbach, Canton Bern, Switzerland, 12 Jan 1713/14. (Note: The English of Verena is Veronica) Verena was born in Reichenbach, Canton Bern, Switzerland 17 Feb 1688/89. Verena died before 1742 either in Alsace, on board the Lydia or just after arriving in PA. He married Margaret Mary Stutter in Lancaster Co., PA, 26 Nov 1742. She was the widow of Jacob Holshauser.
Peter, Verena, and their daughters left Bern about 1719 on their journey to America. They worked their way down the Rhine River through Alsace and on to Holland - a journey of more than 20 years! Along the way their family grew to include two sons (and possibly a third). Peter worked at various jobs including swineherd and shoe cobbler to support his family.
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A. Area of Switzerland where Peter and Verena were born and lived until they began their journey.
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B. Area of Alsace where the Eakers lived from 1719 to 1741. Sons Peter, Jr. and Christian were born here.
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The map at left shows the 22 year journey of the Peter Eaker family from their home in Switzerland (A) through Alsace (B) to Rotterdam (C) where they boarded the Lydia for America.
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Upon reaching Keskastel in Alsace the Eaker family befriended the Manni (Mauney) family. Daughter Catharina married Jacob Manni and the Manni family continued with the Eakers on their journey to America. They all arrived in Philadelphia on board the Lydia 29 Sep 1741, lived in Pennsylvania for a few years and then settled west of the Catawba in North Carolina.
From 1742 to 1752 Peter and family resided in Lancaster Co., PA when he practiced his trade as a shoe cobbler. Most researchers feel he then moved to the Carolinas with his sons, though there is some confusion about this.
Hans Peter Egger Sr. and Verena Gilmann had the following children:
i. Barbara Egger was born in Frutigen, Canton Bern, Switzerland about 1715. Barbara was confirmed at 12 years of age in Diedendorf, Alsace, 1727.
Barbara Egger was born in Frutigen, Canton Bern, Switzerland about 1715. Barbara was confirmed at 12 years of age in Diedendorf, Alsace, 1727. ii. Catharina Egger was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland 1717. Catharina was confirmed at 15 years of age in Alsace, 1732. She married Jacob Manni about 1739. Jacob was born in Alsace 20 February 1717. Jacob died before July 1785 in Rutherford Co., NC.
Jacob Manni about 1739. Jacob was born in Alsace 20 February 1717. Jacob died before July 1785 in Rutherford Co., NC. iv. Christian Eaker was born in Ratzweiler, Alsace 14 Feb 1723/24. Christian died 1777 in Lincoln Co., NC, at 53 years of age. His land grants in Lincoln County were all located on the branches of Beaver Dam Creek. He married Eve Whisenhunt in Lincoln Co., NC, 1762. Eve was born in Lanchaster Co., PA 30 Nov 1742. Eve was the daughter of Johann Adam Whisenhunt and Anna Barbara. She married John Huffstetler before 1783. Eve died 5 Mar 1820 in Lincoln Co., NC, at 77 years of age.
John Huffstetler before 1783. Eve died 5 Mar 1820 in Lincoln Co., NC, at 77 years of age. Elsewhere on the Web
Eaker Family Genealogy Forum GenForum
Lancaster County (PA) Genealogy Project The Lancaster County GenWeb site archives contains an interesting article on Swiss immigrants to Lancaster County. While the Eaker family is not mentioned, other families from the villages of Frutigen and Reichenbach are discussed.