Although the focus of today’s post is to identify grandchildren of Nicholas Krieger and Catharina Maria (Borger?), it should be noted by Alberty descendants that Frederick Alberty married three times, with his first wife being Elizabeth Krieger.

For those interested in the Alberty family, scroll down the lef tof of the blog home page to Topics. There are links to other Alberty posts.

Now, let’s look at the family of Frederick Alberty and Elizabeth Krieger.

For many years, the name of Frederick’s first wife was unknown, but there were clues to be found in Records of the Moravians in North Carolina:

Bethania Diary, 1781

Notice the three Krieger mentions, plus on 3 May 1781, Frederick Alberty requested a Moravian Church funeral for his wife.

Then, the entry on 4 May 1781, indicates that many met at “Krieger’s.”

Two other documents prove that Elizabeth Alberty was a Krieger by birth.

Her father, Nicholas, died in 1804, but wrote his will in 1785. In it, all five of his children are mentioned, including Elizabeth, deceased, and her share falling to her three surviving children:

In the name of the Lord, Amen November 28, 1785

I who have signed below am at present sick in body and have considered and observed that all men are mortal.  Because I already have a large part of my life behind me, it may now be my turn. I have thought about what action should be taken in consideration of my earthly goods, yet with good and sound mind, thus the following:

Firstly, I commend my soul into the hands of God my Redeemer and my body to the earth, that it may be given a simple Christian burial.
 Secondly, it is my wish that my dear wife Catharina Maria should live from my estate during her remaining years and that she should make her home with her children where she pleases. Then after her death, my remaining assets, whether fixed or movable, should be divided in equal parts among my five children, namely, Henrich, Jacob, Elisabeth, Johan George, and Rosina, with my deceased daughter Elisabeth’s share falling to her three surviving children.

Thirdly, it is my wish that three pounds, fourteen shillings from my son Johan George’s share be paid to the three surviving children of my daughter Elisabeth.

In affirmation of my last will and testament, I appoint my son Henrich as administrator and executor thereof.

Nicolaus (XX) Krüger (Seal)

Henrich Schore, sworn witness
Johannes Daub

Translation by Jeannette Louise Norfleet, October 2013 and share on FamilySearch Family Tree

Next, her brother Henry was married, but had no children of his own. He wrote his will in January 1828 (Stokes County, North Carolina Will Book 3:179-180) and specifically mentioned his deceased sister, Elizabeth:

The two wills leave no doubt that Frederick’s wife was Elizabeth Krieger AND that, as of 1785, she had three surviving children.

Next, when was Elizabeth born? Most have her estimated birth year as c1751. However, from other clues, it seems that she probably married as a very young bride aged only about 16 years.

This determination has been made based on two facts. Her three brothers all have original gravestones with their birth and death dates inscribed. Furthermore, her sister Rosina appears to have been the youngest child born in the family.

Based on that evidence, the birth order of her siblings was:

1. Henry, born 24 June 1753
2. Jacob, born 19 April 1755
3. George, born 13 July 1759
4. Rosina, born c1760

Secondly, she predeceased her father’s 1785 will, but the children Nicholas named in his will are, in order:

Henry, Jacob, Elizabeth, George and Rosina.

Placing a deceased child in the middle of living children named in a will is an odd thing to do – UNLESS all the children are named in birth order.

Therefore, it is estimated that Elizabeth Krieger was born c1756-1757 and died just about 12 o’clock (midnight) on 3 May 1781.

Frederick Alberty was not a member of the Moravian Church and no marriage record has been found for Frederick and Elizabeth. Given her young age, they likely married about 1773 and probably in the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church.

Lacking any birth or baptismal records, determining the mothers of Frederick Alberty’s children left a question mark for third child, Elizabeth, who married Peter Kline in 1803.

However, with the supporting statement in Nicholas Krieger’s will that Elizabeth left three children, the youngest child would be Frederick’s daughter, Elizabeth. It’s also very possible that Elizabeth died from the effects of childbirth.

Children of Frederick and Elizabeth:

1. Maria Catharina, born c1774 (and likely named for Elizabeth’s mother, Catharina Maria), Surry County, North Carolina; died before 30 July 1842, Stokes County, North Carolina, when papers were filed in her estate; married Adam Strub, 14 March 1790, Surry County, North Carolina. She lived many more years than Adam Strub, who died in 1815. They were parents of at least six children.
2. John Henry, baptized 25 August 1777 at the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, Surry County, North Carolina (now the Shiloh Lutheran Church in Forsyth County, North Carolina; died after 1850, probably in Washington County, Arkansas; married Rebecca (MNU), c1805. Rebecca was born c1782 in North Carolina and died after 1860, probably in Washington County, Arkansas. Rebecca’s maiden name is UNPROVEN. They were the parents of seven known children.
3. Elizabeth, born c1781, Surry County, North Carolina; died before 1810; married Peter Kline, 10 February 1803, Stokes County, North Carolina. They were the parents of two children, a boy and a girl, both under 10 and born, say, c1805 and 1807, enumerated with Peter Kline in 1810. However, there is no adult female at home with them. In 1820, Peter is 26-44, with a female 26-44, one male under 10 and three females under 10. By 1830, Peter is enumerated next door to widowed sister Caty Strub. He is 50-59 years old, with one female aged 40-50, and eight children, all too young to be Elizabeth’s children. The fate of her son and daughter is unknown.

Therefore, Elizabeth’s daughter Maria Catharine, and son John Henry, have many descendants today. However, it is unknown whether Elizabeth Kline’s two children grew to adulthood, married and also left descendants.