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From: "Dwayne Wrightsman" <>
Subject: When were Peter Frantz and Catherine Garst born?
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 13:16:48 -0400


When were Peter Frantz and his first of four wives, Catherine Garst, born?

A quick search on Rootsweb's World Connect for the birth of Peter Frantz
shows that many compilers believe that Peter Frantz was born on July 22,
1765. Although no sources seem to be given for this date, it would appear
that the source is from Teri Pettit's files. Teri is always very good about
her sources, and says that the date comes from "Our Garst Family in
America," 1950, page 28. Actually the date from the Garst book given on
page 28 is "July 22, 1853," which is for the Will of Peter Frantz. The
Petit file has July 22 for both the birthday and for the
writing-the-will-day. Unless Peter wrote his will on his birthday, July 22
is not the birthday of Peter Frantz. Indeed, 1765 is probably not even the
birth year of Peter Frantz.

As far as I can tell, the only records pointing to Peter Frantz's birth are
from the census records. Although I haven't looked at 1820 or 1830, he is
listed as under age 46 in the Botetourt census of 1810, indicating that he
was born after 1864. In the Roanoke census of 1840, he is listed as being
between ages 60 and 70, indicating that he was born between 1770 and 1780.
Finally, in the 1850 Roanoke census his age is given as 78, indicating that
he was born in 1771 or 1772.

Peter Frantz first bought land in Botetourt County on December 11, 1792,
suggesting that he was probably of age in that year.

All things considered, I believe that Peter Frantz was born about 1771.

Peter Frantz's first wife, Catherine Garst, is listed in the Garst book
(page 25) as being born after her brother John Nicholas Jr. (1755) but
before her sister Mary (c1761). That would make Catherine 10-15 years older
than her husband Peter, which is possible, but not probable. I suspect that
she was the youngest of the nine Garst siblings, born after her youngest
brother Abraham (1770). Unfortunately, Catherine [Garst] Frantz was dead by
1809, as Peter Frantz's second wife Barbara was named in a series of land
records starting in 1809. Consequently, the Virginia census records provide
no guidance as to her birth year.

Any information or insights on this will be appreciated.

Dwayne Wrightsman
Lee, NH


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