Hans Caspar Wüster (1671 - 1725)

Born 27 May 1671 in Neunkirchen, Kurfürstentum Pfalz, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Husband of Anna Catharina (Müller) Wüster — married about 18 Aug 1695 in Gaiberg, Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg

Descendants

Died 13 Jan 1725 at age 53 in Waldhilsbach, Neckargemünd, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

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Biography

Hans Caspar Wüster was born in 1671, in the village of Neunkirchen, located in the Rhineland-Pfalz region of what is today Germany, west of the Rhein River. He was the father of Caspar Wistar, the notable immigrant glass and button-maker in Philadelphia.

Quoted from Rosalind J. Beiler, Immigrant and Entrepreneur: The Atlantic World of Caspar Wistar, 1650-1750 (2011):

Hans Caspar Wüster (1671-1726) began his career as an outsider. Born in Neunkirchen in 1671, he moved to Waldhilsbach [about 200 km away, on the east side of the Rhein River] in spring 1695, following the death of Johann Henrich Dillinger, the forester for Gaiberg .... Wuster replaced Dillinger as the forester for Gaiberg early in 1695 and shortly thereafter he married Anna Catharina Müller. ^[1] [Footnote 23 gives marriage details in Gaiberg]. (p. 38)

During his first decade as the forester in Waldhilsbach, Wüster lived peacefully with his neighbors. He and his wife spent several years in the Müller household, which must have eased Wüster's entrance into village relationships. Their oldest son Caspar Wistar, was born a half-year after their marriage and was baptized in the Reformed Church at Bammental [3 km from Gaiberg]. Caspar's baptismal sponsors reflect Wüster's transition to his new home: one was from Neunkirchen and one was Anna Catharina's sister from Waldhilsbach. (p. 39)

"Hans Caspar Wüster, ancestor of the Wistar and Wister families, prominent in the history of colonial Philadelphia, was 'Jäger' or Forester to the Prince Palatine, an office that had been hereditary in the family. Hans Caspar Wüster died at Hilspach, January 13, 1726, at the age of fifty-five years, less three months."^[2]

Hans Caspar Wüster "had two sons, Caspar, born 1696, and John, born 1708. Caspar was intended by his father to be his successor in office, and to this end was presented with a rifle and trained to become a good shot.

"Caspar, however, had other views for himself. He was ambitious and adventurous, listened to the wonderful tales of the New World, and, disregarding the wishes of his father, emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1717, bringing his rifle as a mascot.... John Wister... after his father's death in 1727, there was no reason why he should not, being nineteen years old, follow Caspar to Philadelphia."^[3]

1740: both Caspar and John WISTAR of Philadelphia were naturalized at Philadelphia, “without taking an oath” [Quakers and Mennonites excused].

Children (first one bapt. at Bammental; the others at Neckargemund)^[4]

1. Hans Caspar (1696), to Philadelphia 1717; m. Anna Catharina Jansen.
2. Dorothea (1697), m. Johannes Gansshorn of Bammental in 1720.
3. Maria Barbara (1700), m. (1) Johann Georg Bauer of Meckesheim 1719; m. (2) Johan Georg Hitner of Inlangen 1733. To Philadelphia 1737.
4. Anna Barbara (1702), m. Johannes Epler of nearby Gaiberg. To Philadelphia 1737.
5. Albertina (1703), m. Johannes Ulm of Langerbrucken 1722.
6. Maria Margaretha (1707-1714). Died aged 7.
7. Johannes (1708), m (1) Salome Zimmerman 1731 at Philadelphia; m. (2) Anna Catharina Rubinkam 1737; m. (3) Anna Thoman 1771.
8. Johann Ludwig (1711-1741). Remained in Europe.
9. Georg Bernhard (1713-1726). Died aged 13.

Sources

1. ↑ Baden: Landeskirchliches Archiv Karlsruhe > Neunkirchen > Mischbuch 1656,1651,1666 - Mai 1705, Marriage Record in Neunkirchen Archion.de
2. ↑ John W. Jordan, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania (2004), p. 257.
3. ↑ Jones Wister, Jones Wister's Reminiscenses (1920), pp. 1, 3.
4. ↑ per Beiler p. 180

• Rosalind J. Beiler, Immigrant and Entrepreneur: The Atlantic World of Caspar Wistar, 1650-1750 (2008).
• Source: S22 U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc
• Source: S36: Craig Rice Notes Craig Rice Publication: RootsWeb's World Connect 2001-2004
• Source S637: Colonial Families of the USA, 1607-1775 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Repository: #R3388
• FamilySearch Person: L4J7-1CT