Family Tree History for Greg & Linda Hooper

BIRTH: Caspar was born in Roddenau, Germany at 4 am on 31 Jan 1822 . He was named "Caspar" after his godfather, Caspar Hofmann, who wa s a cousin of his mother.

Caspar married Elisabeth Mengel on 15 May 1851 at the Public Register, T own Hall, Frankenberg, Germany. Note that a later church wedding took p lace at the Lutheran Church in Roddenau on 7th September, 1851. The Pub lic Register wedding was a requirement introduced into Germany by Napole on some years ealier.

EMIGRATION: Emigrated with family from Germany on sailing ship "La Ro chelle". The family departed Roddenau on 26 April 1862, boarded the shi p at Hamburg on 27 April and the ship departed the next day. Arrived Mo reton Bay 31 Jul 1862. Qld Land Orders No. 1072 of 1862 (54 Pounds) & N o. 670 of 1864 (36 Pounds) were both issued to Shipping Agent, Mr. C. H eussler to pay for the family's passage to Australia.

Caspar became a Naturalised Australian on 11 Jul 1864. (State Archive s SCT/CF2 952)

Caspar's occupations were "Ploughman/Farmer" and "Shoemaker". He starte d work in Queensland on a farm at Oxley Creek. Later on he kept a veget able garden at the place where the Fairfield railway station used to sta nd. It was in 1873 that he took up a selection at Kirchheim.

~ For most of his 42 years in Queensland, Caspar lived on the 81 acre pr operty at Kirchheim. Caspar paid 60 Pounds for the property. He reside d there until shortly before his death in 1904. The property was situat ed on the Warrego Highway - original Deed of Grant No. 24626 of 1873 re fers. (Note that prior to 1884, Kirchheim was known as "Walloon Scrub" . Caspar, along with other landholders, signed a petition requesting th e change of name in September, 1884.)
~ When Caspar died in 1904, the following obituary was published in a lo cal newspaper:

~ "DEATH OF MR. CASPAR SCHAFE R
Mr. Caspar Schafer, a very old resident of the district, died at the res idence of his son-in-law, Mr. J. Finch, Moffat Street, on Thursday last . The deceased came to Queensland in the ship Laura Shelle (sic) in th e year 1862, and started work at Oxley Creek. Later on he kept a vegeta ble garden at the place where the Fairfield railway station now stands . He then took up a selection at Kirchheim, where he resided for the la st 32 years. He was 83 years of age, and leaves a widow and family of f our children. There are also 27 grand-children, and seven great grand-c hildren. The funeral took place at the Kirchheim Cemetery yesterday an d was largely attended. The Rev. J. Frank conducted the ceremony."

~ Caspar died "Intestate". His wife Elisabeth had to petition the Supre me Court to allow her to administer his estate, small as it was. See cop ies of relevant papers filed herewith.

Caspar was buried in the old Walloon cemetery. The site is unmarked. ( See attached plan)

Note that Caspar and Elisabeth were married firstly at the registr y at the Town hall in the city of Frankenberg. This registry marriage w as a requirement in those days instituted by Napoleon, and this occurre d on 15 May 1851. Later, on 7 September 1851, they were married in th e Lutheran Church in Roddenau.