Catherine

  General Notes:

from the research of Robert Lionel Esch, 2012: "I have spent much time trying to determine the correct maiden name of the wife of Michael Esch, the elder, but so far without success. At any rate it is definitely NOT "Lacopes."

The surname Lacopes or Lacupes is a mistranslation of the early English script in the Will of Michael Jr. Esch whose wife was Catharina Lauffer. The name Laufer was written Lawfer in his will, and someone mistranslated that to "Lacopes". Even though incorrect, the error has persisted, and has been passed on from one "researcher" to another. The "Lacopes" surname was originally used for Catharina Laufer's surname, but when that was resolved correctly to Laufer/Lauffer, it was attached to the maiden name of her mother-in-law Catherine [Catharen as it appeared in the Will]. The confusion between Catherine, the mother of Michael Jr. Esch, and Catharina/Catherine Lauffer the wife of Michael Jr. Esch, has been rampant.

"My knowledge comes from a careful examination of the original copy of the Wills of Michael Jr Esch and that of his father Michael Sr Esch, which are still in existence at the Northampton County courthouse in Easton PA."
Bob (Robert Lionel) Esch
Northhampton County, PA
2/1/2012

Catherine married Michael Esch Sr. in 1756. (Michael Esch Sr. was born in 1736 in Germany and died on 14 Jun 1810 in Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.)