Recently, I have recounted some of the frustrations at finding information about families who lived in the Virginia Piedmont, especially those who are suspected of having a German origin. This note summarizes a family, probably of German origin, which has not been reported in the Germanna Foundation literature. The information is taken from two recent issues of Beyond Germanna, in articles written by Cheri Casper.
Peter Casper, the head of the family, first appears in a Culpeper Co. deed in 1778, when he purchased 381 acres from Moses Threlkeld. He paid taxes on this property until his estate started paying taxes on it in 1820. In 1781, his name is found in Culpeper Class 54 of the militia. In this same class are men who were probably neighbors, including Anthony Griffin, Richard Parks, Zachary Griffon, William Brooks, William Baxter, John Kilby, [Peter Casper], Philip Gaines, Thomas Garriott, William Cruser, Michael Wilhoit, John Myrtle, Thomas Barnhysle, and James Cannon. In the 1787 personal property tax list for Culpeper Co., Peter Casper was the owner of two horses and six cows, with no tithes besides himself. The area is the south of the region which later became Rappahannock County.
Five children are given as his progeny.
The three Smith men who married the daughters above were all sons of John and Elizabeth Triplett Smith.
After William and Avarilla were married in Ohio, they returned to Virginia and lived three years with his father. Avarilla made a journal of history at that time, and the journal is extant as microfilm in Salt Lake City, in the Family History Library. She recorded her belief that Father Casper had served in the Revolutionary War, but no record of his service has been found. His service in the militia may have been confused with active duty.
Family tradition says that Peter Casper had married Mary "Huckleberry", and that both of them had been born in Germany. Unfortunately, Avarilla recorded no detailed information. She did say that Peter was the only son of his father.
William and Avarilla committed themselves to the Latter Day Saints, and, in 1837, moved to Missouri, where a large colony of Mormons was gathering. Feeling against them was very strong and Gov. Boggs ordered the Mormons to surrender their property and to leave. William sold his farm to Avarilla's brother and the Caspers then joined other Mormons in Illinois, where William died. Eventually, Avarilla went to Utah to live with her son William, though she died in the east on a visit to other of her children.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.