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From: Michael O Reck <>
Subject: [PABERKS] Rev. Johann Casper STOEVER
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2001 21:05:48 -0400


My information on Johann Casper STOEVER is as follows:

He was the first German Lutheran Minister ordained in America. He arrived
in America on September 11, 1728. Pastor of the Lutheran Congregation at
Hill Church for 46 years. He was also a fluent linguist and a traveling
pastor for many churches.

Rev. John Casper Stoever II, was married on 8 April 1733, on the same day
that he was ordained by Pastor John Christian Schultze.

John Casper Stoever II and his wife, Maria Catarina, are buried in the
cemetery which adjoins the Hill Lutheran Church at Cleona, Pa.

Johann Caspar (Stover) STOEVER, II. Monument b. 21 Dec 1707, Ludorf,
Solingen Amt, GERMANY, occupation Minister, m. 8 Apr 1733, in Trapp, PA,
Maria Catarina MERCKEL. Johann died 13 May 1779, Lebanon Co., PA, buried:
Hill Lutheran Church, Lebanon Co., PA. Ordained in Lutheran Church
04-08-1733, same day as his marriage. John Caspar Stoever (II) was the
first ordained German Lutheran Minister in America. He was ordained on
his wedding day, April 8, 1733. His father was also ordained the same
day. He was naturalized by the act of March 29, 1735. This gave him all
rights, privileges and advantages of natural-born subjects of the
Province of Pennsylvania. Parliament passed a law making it possible for
the courts to grant British citizenship to foreigners. John Caspar
Stoever, (II), became a naturalized citizen on the 24th of September
1741. Earl Town became the center of Pastor Stoever's activities until
1742. At this time John Caspar Stoever, (II) changed his residence from
Earl Town to Lebanon Township, Lancaster County, PA. John Caspar Stoever,
(II) and several other men formed the Lebanon Land Company. They
purchased large tracts of land and later gave some land to the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, called Salem Church. John Caspar Stoever,
(II) was a well-dressed colonial pastor and an educated man full of
energy and ambition. While he was an educated man, his manner was
sometimes violent and rough. He started numerous churches and accumulated
a large amount of wealth. He served as scribe for the people on civil
matters, such as deeds; many of the old deeds of Lancaster County are in
his handwriting. In 1762, he was authorized by the government to issue
marriage licenses and then to perform the marriages. Arrived in America
aboard the ship James Goodwill on Sept. 11, 1728.


Atolheo Lutheran Church
This church is in Tulpehocken township, begun in the 1740s. Rev Casper
Stoever was presumed to be the pastor since about 150 baptisms and
marriages in his register were performed there between 1746 and 1757.
In 1757 Nicholas Kurtz became pastor until 1770. It is also called
Beaver Creek.
Supposedly the land for the church was partly from land owned by Jacob
Hoffman.

Reference: Pastors and People, Vol 1, by Charles H Glatfelter, pub 1980
by the Pensylvania German Society, p 238

....Michael Reck



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