Anna Catharina (Gro) Lauer (1739 - aft. 1790)

Born 5 May 1739 in Langenbach, Fürstentum Nassau-Oranien, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Ancestors

Wife of Matthias Lauer — married about 1762 in York, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Descendants

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Biography

Anna Catharina Gro was born 5 May 1739 to Johann Conrad Gro and his wife Anna Elisabeth, née Hofmann of Langenbach, parish of Marienberg in the district of Beilstein, Principality of Nassau-Oranien (now Bad Marienberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany). The entry reads:

[1739] Den 15. Maii, Langenbach: Joh. Conrad Gro, Anna Elisabeth, Ehel. Tochter Anna Catharina, gebohren den 5. Maii. Gevattern: Theiß Zimmermann zu Stockhausen; Anna Catharina, Joh. Christ Buchners Ehefr. zu Langenbach. ^[1]

Translation: "On May 15th 1739 was baptized Anna Catharina, daughter of Johann Conrad Gro and his wife Anna Elisabeth of Langenbach, who was born on May 5th. Godparents were: Theiß Zimmermann of Stockhausen; and Anna Catharina, the wife of Johann Christ Buchner of Langenbach."

Emigration to America

Catharina (Gro) Lauer migrated from Holy Roman Empire to Colonial Pennsylvania.

Anna Catharina Gro was part of the family of six of Conrad Gro (spelled "Graa" in Gerber) who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1753. They left their home village of Langenbach and made their way to Rotterdam, Holland, together with a group of like-minded friends and relatives. They departed on board the Snow "Rowand" under the command of Capt. Arthur Tran, and after a stop at the port of Cowes on the Isle of Wight, England, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 29th 1753. ^{[2] [3][4]}

For more detailed information about the voyage and her ship mates, including some information about the reasons of taking such a challenging trip, see the research project about the "Rowand".

Life in the new world

Hank Z. Jones and Annette Burgert, in "Westerwald to America", believed that Anna Catharine "very likely married Matthias Lauer".^[5] Support for this is, however, circumstantial:

On 31 Mar 1764, the twin children of Matthias and Anna Catharina Lauer, Anna Maria Lauer^[6] and John Conrad Lauer^[7] were baptised at St. David's (Sherman's) Reformed and Lutheran Church, West Manheim Township, York County. Both children were born 20 Mar 1764. Assuming Catharina is indeed Anna Catharina Gro, then her daughter was probably named for her younger sister Anna Maria Gro, who died at age 2, and their son was probably named for her father. Indeed, the sponsors for John Conrad Lauer were her parents, Conrad and Anna Elisabeth Kroh.

Furthermore, on 15 May 1769, Johannes [Gerhard] Kroh and Elisabeth Dubs were sponsors at the baptism of Johannes Lauer, the son of Matheus and Catharina Lauer, also at Sherman's (St. David's) Union Church, York County.^[8] Again assuming this is Catharina Gro, then her younger brother is sponsoring her son who is either his namesake or named for their older brother Johannes Gro who died young. Given these name similarities and the location of York County, it is reasonable to believe that Matthias' wife is Anna Catharina Gro.

Given establishment of this identity, Anna Catharina Gro married Matthias Lauer and their children included:^[9]

• John Conrad (twin), b. 20 Mar 1764, bp. 31 Mar 1764, York County, Pennsylvania^[10]
• Anna Mary (Anna Maria) (twin), b. 20 Mar 1764, bp. 31 Mar 1764, York County, Pennsylvania^[11]
• John Matthias
• John
• Henry (Johann Heinrich), bp. 5 Sep 1767^[12]
• Abraham
• Jacob
• Lodowick
• Margaret (Maria Margaretha), b. 10 Jan 1771, bp. 3 Mar 1771^[13]
• Elizabeth
• Catherine
• Christina

It is not know when or where Anna Catharina Lauer died, but as she was an heir in her husband's will, it had to be after 1789.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Zentralarchiv der Evangelischen Kirche Hessen-Nassau, Dekanat Marienberg;
   Kirchenbücher der Gemeinde Marienberg, Mischbuch (1706-1745); image 92.
2. ↑ Strassburger, Ralph Beaver: Pennsylvania German Pioneers; Volume 1;
   Transcripted lists, 1727-1775; List 209 (A), (B) and (C), page 568 seq.
3. ↑ Strassburger, Ralph Beaver: Pennsylvania German Pioneers; Volume 2;
   Facsimile signatures, 1727-1775; List 209 (B) and (C), page 667 seq.
4. ↑ Book: Adolf Gerber: Die Nassau-Dillenburger Auswanderung nach Amerika im 18. Jahrhundert: Das Verhalten der Regierung dazu und die späteren Schicksale der Auswanderer; Glensburg (1930), p. 24; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998C-982X?i=18&cat=190088.
5. ↑ Book: "Palatine German Immigration to Ireland and U.S., Hank Z Jones collection, 1654-1878"
   Hank Z Jones; San Diego, CA, USA; Book Title: Westerwald to America; Page number: 84
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62327 #65395 (accessed 3 March 2024)
   Name: Conrad [Johann Conrad Gra(u)]; Record Type: Residence; Baptism Date: 25 Mar 1711; Author: Annette Kunselman Burgert and Henry Z Jones Jr.
6. ↑ Baptism: "York County, Pennsylvania, 1763-1869: St. David's/Sherman's Reformed and Lutheran Church"
   Original data: Records transcribed from Family History Library microfilm copies of church records for this locality. For more information, see Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) #22193-22194
   Ancestry Record 5346 #7341 (accessed 8 March 2024)
   Anna Catharine Lauer baptism.
7. ↑ Baptism: "York County, Pennsylvania, 1763-1869: St. David's/Sherman's Reformed and Lutheran Church"
   Original data: Records transcribed from Family History Library microfilm copies of church records for this locality. For more information, see Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) #22193-22194
   Ancestry Record 5346 #87 (accessed 9 March 2024)
   Anna Catharine Lauer baptism.
8. ↑ Baptism: "Sherman's (St. David's) Union Church, York County, Pennsylvania, 1751-1800"
   Original data: William J. Hinke. Records of Sherman's ( St. David's) Union Church, York County, Pennsylvania, 1751-1869. 1939. Manuscript by the author
   Ancestry Record 4941 #429 (accessed 8 March 2024)
   Catharina Lauer baptism.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Will: Will Books, 1749-1882 ; General Index to Wills, 1749-1940; Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1949, 1980. Wills 1789-1803 vol H-K, pp. 82-83. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899B-K8LM?i=55; Last Will and Testament of John Matthias Lauer of Manheim Township, York County, Pennsylvania, written 7 Nov 1789, proved 9 Apr 1790
10. ↑ Birth: "York County, Pennsylvania, 1763-1869: St. David's/Sherman's Reformed and Lutheran Church"
    Original data: Records transcribed from Family History Library microfilm copies of church records for this locality. For more information, see Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) #22193-22194
    Ancestry Record 5346 #84 (accessed 9 March 2024)
    John Conrad Lauer born.
11. ↑ Birth: "York County, Pennsylvania, 1763-1869: St. David's/Sherman's Reformed and Lutheran Church"
    Original data: Records transcribed from Family History Library microfilm copies of church records for this locality. For more information, see Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) #22193-22194
    Ancestry Record 5346 #7338 (accessed 9 March 2024)
    Anna Maria Lauer born.
12. ↑ Baptism: "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950"
    citing Digital film/folder number: 007487620; FHL microfilm: 1414855
    FamilySearch Record: V2FC-SYB (accessed 9 March 2024)
    Joh Heinrich Lauer baptism on 5 Sep 1767, son of John Matheus Lauer & Catharina, in Brodbecks, York, Pennsylvania, United States.
13. ↑ Baptism: "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950"
    citing Digital film/folder number: 007487620; FHL microfilm: 1414855
    FamilySearch Record: V2F8-GT6 (accessed 9 March 2024)
    Maria Margaretha Lauer baptism on 3 Mar 1771 (born 10 Jan 1771), daughter of Mattheis Lauer & Catharina, in Brodbecks, York, Pennsylvania, United States.

see also:

• https://hammroots.com/getperson.php?personID=I261443&tree=Main