Entry #27

My four times great-grandfather, Johann Wippel, was born to Jacob Wippel and Anna Maria Eisenhauer in Roxheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, on 10 May 1796. He appears to have been the second child named Johann from this union. The first Johann was born around 1791 and died 25 Jan 1796; so, when a baby was born later that year in May, the parents succumbed to the odd custom of naming the child after the deceased one. The second Johann grew to adulthood and married Katharina Dietrich on 12 February 1816. They produced ten children together between 1816 and 1838, including my 3 times great-grandmother, Katharina Wippel, who married her first cousin, Charles Wippel.

The records were unremarkable until I began to research the family’s passage to the United States. They were found on the ship’s passenger list for the Carolina which arrived in New York from Antwerp, Belgium, on 8 June 1847. Most of the family is easily identifiable. Matching well with my family are: Barbara, age 24; Cath. Wippel, age 19; Maria, age 14; Elias, age 11; Franz, age 9; and Georg, age 28. Mary Becker, present under Georg, must be his wife (Magdalena Becker) and the child, Loren Becker, age 1/2, is their son. There is also a Chris Wippel and family, who I cannot identify at this time. The eldest daughter, Helena is listed with her husband, Phil Graef. Seemingly, at the head of the family of unmarried children is WJ Wippel, male, age 54.

1847 Passenger list from the Ship Carolina (page 1 excerpt)

On the surface, this would appear to be a very informative record, perhaps with a few minor inaccuracies. There are two significant problems. The first is, where is Katharina Dietrich Wippel, who should be about age 50? The second is that I have been informed by a family member that Johann Wippel died in Roxheim in late March 1847. I tracked down the record and he did indeed die on 28 Mar 1847.

Death Record for Johann Wippel 

Who, then, is WJ Wippel? I have sometimes seen Johann referred to Johann Wendelinus Wippel, Wendelinus having been the name of his grandfather. The WJ seemed like a good fit, even if the age of 54 was a few years too old.

There is no doubt that Johann Wippel was dead prior to this voyage.  So, who traveled on the Carolina in the spring of 1847 under the name of WJ Wippel? This is what may happen to our ancestors who are missing from the records. Either the record was in error, or it was falsified in some way.

I like to imagine that Johann’s wife, Katharina, decided to travel as a man. Perhaps she felt this was the best way to protect her family. Katharina became the matriarch of the Wippel family in Meigs County, Ohio, and later died in Mason County, West Virginia, in 1884. She bears a reputation, well over a century later, as having been a very strong woman.

The record of WJ Wippel’s passage to America on the Carolina is a cautionary tale for genealogists. A record may not always be what it seems on face value.

Resources:

“Deutschland Heiraten, 1558-1929,” database, FamilySearch  (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J414-H8G : 11 February 2018), Joannes Wippel, death 28 Mar 1847; citing Roemisch-Katholische, Roxheim, Pfalz, Bavaria; FHL microfilm 367,595.)