• Born: May 10, 1724 in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
• Died: September 15, 1801
• Buried: New Hanover Lutheran Church, Pennsylvania
• Spouse 1: Catharina Margaret Metzger
  • Born: Aug 24, 1732 in Niederlinxweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz
  • Died: March 6, 1785
  • Parents: Johann Adam Metzger (1701-1745) and Maria Catherine Scherer (1715-1748)
  • Married: in 1756
  • Children: Johannes Jacob, Eva Barbara, John Heinrich, Jacob*, John/Johannes George, Peter, Margaret/Margretha, Catharina, Sophine Margaret, Johannes
• Spouse 2: Catharina Stissholtz Renheim, widow of George Renheim, married on May 22, 1787

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It is likely that Casper’s forefathers bore the surname “Herb.” According to some trees on Ancestry.com, his parents may have been Johann Michael Haeniger Herb (1670-1756) and Anna Juditha Dan (1699-1737), both also born in Germany and immigrating to Pennsylvania. Without clearer confirmation about the truth of this relationship (especially given the odd prevalence of Casper Erbs) or any generations further back, I’ll begin primarily with Casper.

Casper was born in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany in 1724. At thirty years of age, already well into adulthood, he traveled to America aboard the ship “Edinburg,” arriving in Philadelphia September 10, 1754. We are fortunate to have record of his travels:

Other details of Casper’s life are summed up in the following genealogy:

If you use Google Maps to navigate to where current day Bliem Road and Sanatoga Road nearly intersect, you can see a modern development being built in old farm fields, as well as a farmhouse at the end of the road. This home is listed as having been built in 1800, but could it be possible that this date is an estimate, or refers to the date of later enlargements of the original structure? We may never know.

Casper married Catharina Margaret Metzger, also a German immigrant, in about 1756. The couple had ten children that are known of. After Catharina’s death in 1785, Casper remarried Catharina Stissholtz Renheim, widow of George Renheim on May 22, 1787. I am not certain on dates or burial location for Catharina, Casper’s second wife; there’s a good amount of confusion on Ancestry, likely due to both wives having the same first name.

Casper and his first wife are buried at New Hanover Lutheran Church, the oldest German Lutheran church in North America. Its cemetery boasts dozens of headstones with the name Erb. Casper seems to have been given a greatly upgraded headstone years after his death, including details of his life and military career. However, the genealogy provided above casts doubt upon his purported military involvement, and I have honestly not found any records indicating that this Casper was indeed involved in the War for Independence.

Children of Casper and Catharina

1? Johannes Jacob (1756-1810) is not listed in the genealogy document above, but comes up on Ancestry where he is listed as living in Lancaster, PA. It is possible that he may have been part of a different Erb family.

1 Eva Barbara was born on October 12, 1757 and died on December 2, 1831. She married Andrees Nester on February 11, 1796 and is buried at New Hanover.

2 John Heinrich was born on June 11, 1759 and died on December 29, 1838. Pennsylvania Archives page 791 indicates that he served in the Pennsylvania Militia 4th Company, 3rd class in the Revolution. He married Catharine Greisinger (1765-1822) in 1782.

3 Jacob Erb is discussed here.

4 John / Johannes George was born on March 31, 1763 and died on January 11, 1842. His first wife was Catharina Renninger (March 7, 1763 – April 8, 1807), married on February 15, 1785 at New Hanover. His second wife was also named Catharine, last name possibly Hartman (1779-1817), married in 1807. While children from both marriages are listed on Ancestry, the most accurate information would come from church records; two mothers named Catherine have led to some name, date, and relationship confusion on Ancestry. John and his second wife are buried at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Red Hill, the old cemetery, row CC. Unfortunately no photo exists on Find-a-Grave, so it is likely that the stone is list. His first wife, Catharina Renninger, is buried at New Hanover.

5 Peter Erb was born on April 5, 1765 and died in 1830. He married Maria Christiana Renninger (1769-1830) on 11 April 1786. Their known children were Johann George, Elizabetha, Johannes, Peter, Heinrich, Joseph, Jonas, Jacob, Salome, and Catharina. Peter lived in Hanover in York County, PA, but his burial location is unknown.

6 Margaret / Margaretha was born on February 28, 1767 and died on May 19, 1838. She married George Welcker around 1790, and their sons included George & John. Burial location is unknown

7 Catharina was born on August 2, 1769 and died on May 19, 1839 in either East Greenville or New Hanover. At this time nothing else is known.

8 Sophine Margaret was born on May 24, 1771 and died on January 5, 1835. She married Johann Henrich Leh (1767-1849) in 1787, who may be buried as Heinrich Leh at Fairview Cemetery in Boyertown, perhaps with a 2nd wife named Catharine Muth (or, there are two Johann Heinrich Lehs!). Sophine and Johann Heinrich’s children were Elizabeth, Jacob, and Sarah.

9 Johannes was born on September 2, 1773 and dued in 1839. At this time nothing else is known.