Christian Dapper

From Leutershausen, Germany in 1748 Christian Topper1 and his family boarded the ship “Judith” for the New World. In many ways Christian could be described as “Stammvater des Amerikaner Stamms,” (Father of the American Family). From his offspring enumerated here in his Will, there sprang the beginnings of the Topper line across this country.

Christian Topper’s Headstone

Christian Topper’s headstone, at Conewago Chapel in Hanover, PA.

From Adams and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania, from Frederick and Carroll Counties in Maryland, the Toppers moved on across Pennsylvania, on to Ohio, then to Indiana, to Illinois, to Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma and onto California, Washington and elsewhere. The Topper line is a microcosm of migration across the breadth of the United States.

Initially, Christian apparently settled in eastern Pennsylvania, in Northampton County, with his religious services administered from the Roman Catholic mission in Goshenhoppen,2 before moving on to York County. Both of Christian’s sons, Andrew and John, fought in the Revolutionary War with the militia from Northampton County, Andrew as a Captain, John as a soldier.3

There is little by way of information to describe the life of this early immigrant farmer who died before the close of the 1700’s in York County, Pennsylvania. His Last Will and Testament confirms the name of his wife and children.

“Sometime in 1780 Christian and his family moved to the Conewago area of York County, where he died on July 13, 1789. He was interred at the Conewago Catholic Chapel Churchyard. His tombstone was one of those early black slate stones, with German inscription, which is weathered and difficult to read. The inscription reads as follows:

IHS HIER RUHER den leib Cristian Dabber Gehohden 11 December 1715 Geftorden 13 july 1789 Alt 73 jahr, 7 Monath 2 Tag.”4
—Steve Gilland Early Families of Frederick County Maryland and South Central Pennsylvania p. 125

The typing herein has tried to duplicate the spelling and capitalization of the original handwritten Will, written on the 29th of June 1789. Christian Dapper died on July 13, 1789. The Will was proven, before the Register of Wills, York County.

Christian Dapper
His Last Will and Testament

In the Name of God, Amen; I Christian Dapper, of Montshigh Township, York County, State of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being very sick and weake in body, but of perfect Mind and Memory. Thanks be unto God, Calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, In Manner Following; I Recommend unto the Hand of the Almighty God that gave, my Body I Recommend to the Earth, to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors. And as Touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give, devise, and Dispose of the Same in the Following Mannor and form:

First, I give And bequeth to Maria Barbara, my dearly beloved Wife, All my personal Estate, Lands and Tenements, together with Household Goods, Debts and Moveable Estates, to Hold to her Natural Life, She making no Waste or Destruction Thereon, Then I give to her my Said wife, five Bonds which are due to me Christian Miller, Living in Northampton County, State of Pennsylvania, as follows, one is payable the 27th of November, 1789, fourty pounds. One with fourty pounds payable the 27th of November 1791. One with fourty pounds payable the 27th of November 1792 and fourty pounds due payable the 27th November1793 and one thirty pounds payable the 27th of November 1794 to her for Said Natural, as long as She Remains a Widow and Carrys my name; and from and after my Decease I give and Devise to my four Children ~

I bequeath to my oldest Son, Andrew, five pounds, for His Right and Title, then the fourth part of my Real and Personal Estate for him, his Heirs and Assigns for Ever, Whom I Likewise Constitute, make and ordain the Sole Executor of this my Last will and Testament;

And I bequeth to my second John, the fourth part of my Real and personal Estate for his Heirs and Assigns for Ever;

And I give and bequeth to my oldest Daughter, Magdalena, the fourth part of my Said Real and personal Estate, for her, her Heirs and Assigns for Ever ~

And I also give and bequeth to my Second Daughter, Elizabeth, the fourth part of my Real and personal Estate, to her Heirs and Assigns for Ever;

Also I give and bequeth to my stepdaughter, Christina, five pounds, Lawful Money of Pennsylvania, to be raised and levied out of my Estate; and I do Hereby utterly Disallow & Revoke all Former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and Executors, Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament,

In Witness whereof I Have Hereunto Set my Hand and Seal; this Twenty Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Nine,

Signed, Sealed and Delivered,
Published, pronounced and
Declared, by the Said
Christian Dapper, as his
Last will and Testament
in the presence of us

his

Christian Dapper X

mark
his

Valentine Shehnor F

mark
Bryan Bigham
Lorentz Gubernator
 

York County, PA Before me Jacob Barnitz, Esqr, Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County of York, in the State of Pennsylvania, personally came Valentine Shehnor and Bryan Bigham, two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing Instrument of writing and on their solemn Oath Do Severally say that they were both personally present and saw and heard the above named Christian Dapper make his mark unto Seal and Publish ~ the foregoing Instrument of Writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the time of doing so, he the said Christian Dapper was of Sound disposing Mind Memory and Understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief and that they subscribed their Names as Witnesses in the presence of the said Testator and at his request and further that they also so Lorentz Gubernator Sign his name thereto as Witness at the same time. ~

also Sworn & Subscribed
at York this Third Day of August,
1789, before me J. Barnitz, Reg’r

his

Valentine Shehnor F

mark
Bryan Bingham
 

The inventory records for the Last Will and Testament of Christian Dapper reveal some relatively typical assets for a colonial farmer, such items as a sorrel horse, a sorrel mare, a plough, three hogs, a cow and calf, two tons of hay, a pitch fork, grubbing hoes, a grind stone, a syth and clevish, a cupboard, a chest, table and chairs, a copper kettle, and a gun.

In addition, there are some far more interesting items, such as, varying amounts or quantities of seven yards of linen, six yards of linen, fifteen yards of linen, twelve yards of linen, and one of the most valuable items in the estate —a house clock, a windmill, a spinning wheel and reel and thirteen bee hives.

Notes

1. Christian Topper was initially known as Dabber or Dapper then Tapper, and finally Topper. It very well may not have made much difference when dealing with a man who could not write . The concern would be that his name was pronounced in a manner clearly recognizable by him. Steve Gilliand, in his work Early Families of Frederick County Maryland and South Central Pennsylvania reported, “The German transformation included various forms of Dabber, Dapper, Tabber, Tapper, Topper and the meaning was those who made and sold untilsils [sic] made of earthenware, or known as a potter.” [Citing Elden C. Smith, New Dictionary of American Names, Harper & Row Publishers, 1956, p.42.]
2. Goshenhoppen, now Bally. in Washington Township, Berks County.
3. The Pennsylvania Archives confirm this record.
4. Here Lies Christian Dabber born 11 December 1715 died 13 July 1789 73 years 7 months 2 days.