Godfrey Carriger, Sr.

• CARRIGER, GODFREY (born Kerchner), DAR Ancestor #: A019699
• Service: NORTH CAROLINA Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE
• Birth: 3-7-1732
• Death: 10-8-1811 CARTER CO TENNESSEE
• Service Description: 1) MADE LAND ENTRY 10-30-1783 GREEN CO
• Spouse 1) MARGARET HANCHPAUGH

He served in the Revolutionary War. In 1782, he came to the Watauga Settlement from Brunswick County, PA. He was one of the wealthiest men in the area. He brought from PA six wagon loads of supplies which included furniture, and iron cook stove ( the first in the area) over $35,000 in gold and several slaves. The 1792 tax role shows him owning almost 3000 acres of land in Carter County. He was overseer of the wagon road from Sycamore Shoals to the foot of Holston Mountain. Godfrey and his sons were iron workers and involved in politics.

A Tennessee Historical Commission plaque "CARRIGER'S LANDING" now stands in the Hunter Community of Carter County documenting the CARRIGER family's mark on early Carter County history.

Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769–1923: Volume 2 WILLIAM McDONALD VAUGHT. page 421-4 On the 16th of June, 1896, Mr. Vaught wedded Elizabeth C. Carriger, daughter of Jackson and Edna Carriger and a descendant of Gotfried Kercher (Godfrey Carriger, Sr.). The name was originally Gotfried Von Kaercher, but afterward the “Von” was dropped and later Godfrey Carriger, Sr., dropped the “a” from the name. The German pronunciation of “Kaercher” is “Carriger” and all deeds and other written documents, including his will, bearing date March 30, 1808, are signed in his own handwriting “Gotfried Kercher,” while in the body of all said deeds, documents and will his name is written “Godfrey Carriger, Sr.” He was born March 7, 1732, in Stuttgart, Germany, and in his seventh year came with his parents, brothers and sisters to Burks county, Pennsylvania, sailing on the vessel “Friendship,” Henry Beech, commander. They landed at Philadelphia, September [p.421] 20, 1738, and at that time the father, Michael Kercher, was forty-six years of age. He took the oath of allegiance to the province of Pennsylvania and he left his native land on account of religious persecution, being a Lutheran. His son, Gotfried Kercher, signed a memorial in 1779 against calling a convention for the purpose of aiding British rule, he being strongly in favor of American independence. His wife was Margaret Hanchpaugh, or Anspaugh, a very devout Christian woman. Their children were: Johan Nicholas, who was born February 28, 1761, and married a Miss Millard and emigrated to Middle Tennessee; Johan Michael, who was born April 26, 1764, and wedded Elizabeth Worley; Johan Lenhart, who was born January 3, 1766, and who was killed by the Indians in 1780; Gotfried, whose birth occurred May 13, 1767 or 1769, and who married Elizabeth Lovelace Crawley; Elizabeth, whose natal day was May 12, 1771, and who became the wife of John Nave; Johan Henrich, who was born February 26, 1774, and died in early life; Johan, who was born February 24, 1777, and wedded Margaret Elliott; and Christian, whose natal day was July 28, 1779, and who married Levisa Ward. Gotfried Kercher bought land in Brunswick township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1760 and also in 1765. In 1779 he sold his eight hundred and twenty-five acres and the following year removed to the Watauga settlement in Tennessee, traveling with four six-horse covered wagons, bringing his family and ten negro men and their families, together with thirty-two thousand dollars in money. He brought also the first cook stove ever used in the Watauga settlement, and it was such a great curiosity that the settlers came for many miles to see it. His son Leonard, while the family were en route to Tennessee, left the camp with his gun to hunt game and was killed by the Indians. Gotfried Kercher became the owner of much land on the Watauga and built and operated the first mill in the eastern part of the settlement. Legal documents show that he and his sons owned and operated a number of forges in upper East Tennessee. The Carrigers were leaders in church and school work and after coming to Tennessee united with the Baptists. "

From Lee Skutt: Godfrey Carriger Sr’s given name was Gotfried Von Kaercher. The Karcher name means transporter or one who transports people or items in a cart or carriage. Gotfried purchased eight hundred and twenty five acres of land in Brunswick Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1760.

In 1782 Gotfried sold his land and moved his family to the Watagua Settlement in Washington County, North Carolina. Gotfried Kercher was a carriage maker by trade and a man of wealth. On the trek from Pennyslvania to North Carolina, the Carrigers packed their food, supplies and furniture into six four horse drawn wagons. Buried somewhere in a trunk located in one of the wagons was thirty-two thousand dollars in cash money Godfried Sr., needed to purchase land and supplies once the family reached their destination. The wagons also carried the first cook stove ever seen in the Watagua Valley. The company also included the Kercher’s slaves-ten Negro men and their families.

Indians killed Gotfried’s son, Leonard, during the trek. Leonard had left camp to hunt game and was attacked and killed. Leonard’s body was found torn to shreds caused by being dragged to death. Lenhart’s body was buried and the family moved on. 

Gotfried or Godfrey americanized his name after the family arrived in the Watauga Valley by dropping the Von and an “a” from Kaercher. Later in 1780 the Kercher name was again changed to Carriger. On October 30, 1783, Godfrey, Sr. filed on a claim for two thousand acres of land on Richland Creek in Greene County, North Carolina. A land grant, # 749, was issued on July 11, 1788. Before entering the land claim, Godfrey had to sign a pledge of allegiance for the state of North Carolina. 

In 1790 Gotfried and his sons built a two story log house on the property. The house contained 4 large bedrooms, with a fireplace in each room. After the house was completed a large one room cabin was constructed which served as the slave quarters. The Carrigers also constructed a two story Grist Mill on the property. The family continued to operate the mill well into the 1830’s. 

Godfrey Sr. is listed in the 1790 Washington County, Tennessee tax list as having two thousand nine hundred and twelve acres of land, which eventually became the Carriger plantation. Three of Gotfried, Sr.’s sons served in the militia for the Territory South of the Ohio in the 1790’s, Henry, Godfrey Jr., and Michael. 

Godfrey Sr. was a Christian man and held the position of First Deacon of the Zion Church in Carter County. He and his sons Michael, Godfrey Jr., and Christian were slave owners. The Carrigers were considered among largest slave owners in Tennessee and the family continued to own slaves up to the time of the Civil War. Because of the slavery issue, many of Godfrey’s grandsons fought for the Confederacy. 

Godfrey had owned slaves in Pennsylvania and they traveled with the Carriger family on the trip to Tennessee. In 1810 Gotfried purchased a family of six slaves from his daughter-in-law Elizabeth Worley-Carriger for $1530 .32. The sold slaves were listed as: Isaac, a Mulatto, age 24 Nancy age 26 Frances, a Mulatto, age 10 William age 8 Abigail age 5 Sophia, age 2.

Several Bills of Sale are on file in the Carter County Register of Deeds Office concerning slave transactions from Godfrey Sr., to sons Christian, Godfrey Jr., and John. One Bill of Sale dated July 1807 recorded Godfrey Sr.’s sale of a twelve year old Negro girl named Nancy for $400.00 to his son Godfrey Jr. Another Bill Of Sale a negro boy named Tom was sold to John Carriger for $400.00.

Gottfried Von Kaercher; Godfrey Kercher; Godfrey Carriager, Sr., and wife Anna Margret Anspach had children. They were Palentinate Germans that came from Rotterdam to Isle of Wight to Berks County, Pennsylvania. Gottfried and his brother, Martin Kaercher, sister Elizabeth Karcher came over with their father, Hans Michael Kaercher or Karcher on the Friendship with Captain HENRY Beech about 1730’s. They settled in Longswamp, PA. Kaerchertown, PA, later called Gertoen was named after Martin Kaercher, who became Major Martin Kaercher in the Revolutionary War. Godfrey Carger or Carriger signed an Oath of Allegiance. One of his children: Johann Kercher, Born in Berks County, PA married Margaret Elliot. Her parents are Patrick Ellet and MaryMcHenry from Ireland.