Katherine Schaffner Gelzenlichter (Goelzenleuchter)
Good Afternoon,
I'm searching for the birthplace of my 2x great grandmother, Katherine/Catherine Schaffner.She was born in Hesse-Darmstadt (exact place unknown and is sought after). She was born 5 December 1825 according to her obituary.She emigrated in 1851 and married Wilhelm(William) Gelzenlichter 10 April 1853 in Zion Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA. They had many children, 11 in all, with 7 surviving to adulthood. Among them, George, Bartram, John, Catherine, (married into the Duttenhofer family), William, Charles (my great grandfather) and Louis.
She died in Lancaster, PA 5 May 1892.At the time she was a member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church.Her husband, William was a shoemaker by trade and died in March, 1905.
Her obit says she was born in Hesse-Darmstadt. I'm looking for information as to WHERE in HD she was born.The obit was very specific with a birth date, however I was surprized that her place of birth was omitted particularly when William died his obit indicated he was born in Dornheim HD.This information was confirmed via church records from Germany. Katherine remains a mystery.Even the Zion Lutheran Church records don't indicate where in HD she was from...neither marriage record or the childrens' baptismal records. Did she have any siblings??? This too is unknown.Did any family emigrate? Was she related to some of the Dauphin Co. PA Schaffner's. The name was Americanized to Shafner, Shaffner, Shoffner so there are many possible scenarios. There are still Gelzenlichter descendants in the York/Lancaster/Dauphin and Alleghany county areas. I would love to hear from any of these folks too. My grandmother was Marie Elizabeth Gelzenlichter, daughter of Charles and Mary C. Pretzman(Protzman) Gelzenlichter. Any help or direction much appreciated.Thank you !Greg BurnsNJ