One of the names found most often as a sponsor in the German Lutheran Church in the Robinson River Valley is Barbara Carpenter. Many times I am forced to put a question mark after her name to explain why she was chosen as a sponsor. At the most, I seem to be able to find only two Barbara Carpenters around the time of the Revolution. One was born Barbara Carpenter in 1757, and she married Moses Broyles. I suspect she is not the one who appears frequently in the lists of sponsors.
The other one is Barbara Weaver who married, first, George Clore. After George died, she married Andrew Carpenter.
Let's look at a few of the baptisms where Barbara is a sponsor.
One of these is easy to discuss and dismiss. The Francks had no relatives in the church by blood or by marriage. He came down from Philadelphia to be the minister. I think they chose some senior members of the church to be sponsors.
This was hardly the case with John Yager, Sen., and his wife Maria Willheit. There were plenty of Yagers and Willheits around. Didn't these families believe in using relatives? Or was Barbara a relative? The same remarks could be made about Godfrey Yager and his wife Maria Wayland. Were they not speaking to the other members of their families?
The Delphs and the Aylors were no strangers to the church. Why did Adam and Magdalena choose John Yager and Barbara Carpenter?
The Barlows and the Mayers were not as frequent at church. Still, two Mayers served as sponsors. So why was it necessary to get Adam Crisler and Barbara Carpenter as sponsors?
Was Barbara Carpenter "compulsive" when it came to being a sponsor? Was she a "professional sponsor"? Or do relationships exist that we do not know about?
(31 Jul 03)
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