Photo with Grandparents

Posted by Bonnie L. Echard

Approximately 1984 Stone Mtn, GA

Back row:  Gina Weegar,  Front Row:  Darlene Weegar, Clint Rhinehart, Adam Rhinehart

Who is Christian Eckert’s Father?

Posted by J. David Echard

I have been able to prove my relationship through the Echard line back to Christian Eckert using primary records (records generated within the lifetime of the individual). However, when I get to Christian Eckert, I have not been able to prove his relationship to a father. For a long time I thought his father was Jacob Eckert (b. 1766 ) who was the son of Franz Eckert (b. 1736). However I have some new information recently acquired which leads me to believe Christian is the son of Johanes Eckert. This document presents the information justifying this belief.

There are four documents I will refer to in this discussion. They are:

1. “Descendants of Franz (Francis) Eckert”

This document consists of six computer printed pages listing seven generations of some of Franz’s descendants. I do not know the source of this document. I have had some confidence in the document because I know some of the information presented is accurate. For example, I have personally verified many of the references (a will, records of land purchases, etc.) given for Frantz by finding the records in the Augusta County, Virginia Courthouse. I likewise know the information supplied for some of his descendants is correct.

This documents states that Christian Eckert (b. 26 July 1796) is the son of Jacob Eckert (b. abt 1766) who is the son of Franz Eckert. So this has been the basis of my belief concerning Christian and Jacob.

2. “St. Peters Lutheran Church Bible – English Translation from German (this church is located in Churchville, Virginia)”

The first few pages of this bible were originally blank allowing for the recording of births and baptisms of members of the church. This information was written in German script about two hundred years ago – it is almost impossible for most people to read. However, some years ago, someone was located who could translate these pages and an English translation exists. I found the name and phone number of the Church Secretary in the Family History Library Catalog under Churches. I called this lady and she told me about the bible and the English translation; I subsequently visited Churchville, Virginia (located about 5 to 10 miles west of Staunton, Virginia) and made copies of the English translation. A copy of these bible pages in German (without the English translation) can be also being found on microfilm.

The first entry states “1797 – On the 28^th of January a Holy Bible was bought for 18 shillings for the use of this congregation.” Then follows entries concerning births and baptisms. There are several entries concerning Eckert families. Of particular interest are the two following entries (the high lighting is mine):

“Page 6

Johanes Eckert and his wife. A son was born on July 24, 1791. Named Christian and the sponsor was Christian Eckert.”

“Page 13

Christian Eckert and Barbara. A son born on February 8, 1794 and baptized on April 8, 1794 called Johanes. Sponsor Johanes Lautermilch. Single status.

Another daughter was born on March 1, baptized May 20 Catarina.

Another son born on July 26, 1796 baptized on May 20, 1798.

_____ To him another daughter is born 1799. Is baptized on March 29, 1800. Her father (and mother) were sponsors. She was named Eliapaettha (Elisabeth).”

3. “ ‘Here Lyeth’ Tombstone Inscriptions of Most Cemeteries in the Riverheads District of Southern Augusta County Staunton, Virginia”, Author: Dorothy Lee Weaver, Greenville, Virginia, Third Edition, 1999, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, 975.5916 V3w 1999. In this book are listed the inscription of tombstones located in the Old Providence cemetery. The inscriptions on the tombstones of Christian and Margaret Echard , Row 5, are as follows:

Echard, Christian d. Dec 14, 1858 (67-5-11)

Echard, Margaret w/o Christian

d. Jan 4, 1843 (45-10-25)

The book explains how to interpret the numbers in the parentheses; the numbers represent the age at death in years-months-days. So at Christian’s death, he was 67 years, 5 months and 11 days old. This information provides his birthday as July 3, 1791. Margaret was 45 years, 10 months and 25 days old at her death. This provides her birth as Feb 5, 1797.

4. Newspaper announcement of a dual marriage. “Staunton, Spectator”, (Virginia) June 7, 1859.

“At the house of Christian Echard, Dec 18^th, 1858, Emanual F. Moyers to Miss Mary V. Echard, daughter of Christian and Margaret E. Echard.

“At the house of Christian Echard, dec’d., Dec 18^th, 1858, by rev. Wm. Pickerton, Wm. F. Echard, to Miss Frances C. Echard, daughter of Christian and Margaret E. Echard.”

This newspaper shows our Christian’s wife was Margaret E. The two sisters mentioned were sisters of William King Echard (Mary Virginia Echard and Frances Cathrine Echard).

Conclusions

Document A indicates that Christian Eckert ( b. 1796) is the son of Jacob Eckert (b. abt 1766) who is the son of Franz Eckert, and also that Christian’s birthday is July 26, 1796. Document B does not state explicitly that Christian is the son of Jacob but indicates that Jacob had a son born on July 26, 1796. It also states that Johanes Eckert had a son named Christian born on July 24, 1791. Document C shows that the Christian Eckert buried in the Old Providence cemetery was born on July 3, 1791 (based on burial date and age at death). So it appears from document B that the father of the Christian (born 1791) buried in Old Providence cemetery is Johanes Eckert, not Jacob Eckert (however, note there is about a three week difference in birthdays – July 3^rd versus July 24^th). This result seems to contradict the information given in Document A. Since the source of document A is unknown and document B is known to have been generated at about the time of birth, I assume the information in document B is correct.

Both Christians have a wife with same first two names “Margaret E.”. According to mother’s PAF records, Christian (b. 1796) has a wife Margaret E. Piper, born 6 July 1793 while Christian (b. 1791) has a wife born Feb 5, 1797 (see document C).

I have a Will for our Christian Echard. All the children listed in mother’s PAF records are listed in the will. It makes reference to Christian’s wife as having been deceased at the time the Will was written, but does not give her name (this is consistant with Document C which states his wife died in 1843). The Will was written on 9 March 1857 and probated on 3 Jan 1859. This also matches Christian (b. 1791) death date of Dec 14, 1858 (see Document C).

There is an 1850 US Federal Census for our Christian Echard. Everything in it is consistent with the information I have presented. William King Echard is not in this census because he was married in 1849 and was on his own in 1850. Margaret E. is not in this census because she died in 1843.

I do not have additional information concerning Johanes Eckert because I did not know he was a person of interest. Note that Johanes and Jacob (and Frantz) live in the same general area and attended the same church. They may have been related; because of persecution by the English, many German immigrants moved in close vicinity to their relatives for support.

Photo outside Norfolk Ward Building in 1966

Posted by Bonnie L. Echard

Michael, Bonnie, Ann and Jim posed in front of Norfolk Ward Building, Greendale Avenue, Norfolk Virginia, Summer 1966.

School that Emily McDonald Echard attended in 1800s

Posted by Bonnie L. Echard

Andrew Christian Echard

Posted by Bonnie L. Echard