Johann Nicklaus Fast ^{1 2 3}

  General Notes:

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 4, Ed. 1, Tree #0408]
1000 Acres deed in now Dunkard and Greene Townships, Greene, Ohio, On the waters of Dunkard Creek. Deed Book 1, p. 209, Fayette, dated 20 Nov 1786. Will of 1816 probated Fayette County 10 Jun 1818 (Will Book 1, p. 187).
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[Web Site: The Johann Nicklaus Fast Family]
Nicklaus Fast was born in Göcklingen, Germany 27 Dec 1727. He married Cadarina Dörner of Ilbesheim, Duchy of Zweibrucken, Pfalz, Germany. They came to American in 1750, settling in Frederick County, Maryland. Nicklaus later relocated his family to what is now Greene County, Pennsylvania. He is buried in the Jacob's Lutheran Church cemetery, located west of Masontown, Pennsylvania.
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[Web Site: The Johann Nicklaus Fast Family]
Johann Nicklaus Fast (1727-1818) came from Germany with his wife Cadarina Dörner on the Royal Union, from Rotterdam to Philadelphia, arriving on 15 Aug 1750. He first settled in what is now Frederick County, Maryland. Later, he relocated his family to Greene County, Pennsylvania. The Fast's had 6 sons and 8 daughters. Nicklaus and Cadarina are buried at the Jacob's Lutheran Church cemetery, near Masontown, Pennsylvania. He was a charter member of the church. [from Johann Nicklaus Fast Family website by Robert G. Fast]
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[Web Site: The Johann Nicklaus Fast Family]
Why do some Nicklaus Fast descendants use the surname Faust?

At one time, the surname "Faust" was believed to have been the original spelling. For reasons that are not clear, it was assumed that Nicklaus allowed the name to be shortened from Faust to Fast sometime after his arrival in America.

Jonathan Wesley Fast (1841-1940) became interest in his family history while attending the West Virginia Agricultural College (now the West Virginia University) at Morgantown, West Virginia. He knew about a number of documents belonging to Nicklaus where the surname had been spelled Faust. His son, Wirt Gerry Faust (1886-1952) and author of "By Way of Rotterdam", writes about his father on page 53, "While a student at college, he adopted the spelling of the family name [Faust] which he always insisted was the original form." Jonathan Wesley Fast changed his surname from Fast to Faust, thinking it was the original spelling. Following in Jonathan Wesley's footsteps, over the years a small number of other Fast's did the same.

We now know positively from Nicklaus Fast's birth record, and a number of other German and American documents, that Nicklaus' surname had never been Faust. The two most common spelling variations are Fass and Fast.
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[Web Site: The Johann Nicklaus Fast Family]
Why did Johann Nicklaus Fast emigrate to America?

Johann Nicklaus Fast's father, Johann Jacob Fast, died in 1732, leaving his mother to provide for four small children. They lived in a rented house and owned just one cow. Johann Nicklaus Fast and his two brothers were simple field laborers. They had no formal education and little money.

Nicklaus married Katharina Margaretha Dörner in 1749, and she became pregnant. They may have initially stayed with Nicklaus' mother or Katharina's parents. Either way, very likely they had little room or privacy. With Katharina pregnant, Nicklaus is now faced with the challenge of providing for a growing family.

To address this problem, in 1749 Nicklaus attempted to obtain citizenship in Katharina's home town of Ilbesheim. He was turned down because he did not have enough money or property. At this point, he must have considered emigration to America as his only viable option. They began the journey in the Spring of 1750, arriving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 15 Aug 1750. Katharina's baby, Johann Jacob Fast, was baptized on 9 Sep 1750.
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Will of Nicklaus Fast

In the name of GOD, Amen, I Nicholas Fast of German township, Fayette County and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, yoeman, being week of Body but of a sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed by Almighty God for the same do make, ordain and establish this my last will and testament in manner and for as follows, vix:

First - I give and bequeath unto three children of Mary Wibel, deceased wife, formerly of Frederick Wibel one hundred acres of land situated in Jefferson County & State of Ohio being a part of a half section of land conveyed by my son Francis Fast to me on the sixth day of March, 1807, being No. 23 in the Eleventh Township & Fourth range said hundred acres of land to be laid off the west end of said half section said three children to have equal shares of said hundred acres of land.

Secondly - I do leave and bequeath to Henry Weaver, Frederick Wibel & John Sears each of them fifty cents and as for all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate both real and personal, it is my will that it should be sold and the neat proceeds thereof equally divided into seven parts or shares and given as follows, vis: one-seventh part to my son Jacob Fast, one-seventh part to my Son Christian Fast, one-seventh part to my son Adam Fast, one-seventh part to my daughter Barbara Tultman, one-seventh part to my daughter Katy Bowman and the other seventh part to the children of my daughter Catharinia Weaver, deceased being eight in number, vis : Nicholas Weaver, John Weaver, Henry Weaver, Jr., Jacob Weaver, Barbara Weaver, Mahdlana Weaver, Elizabeth Weaver and Mary Weaver each to have equal shares of the seventh part but - Whereas Mary Weaver was married to Frederick Wibel as above mentioned and is now deceased but left three children as above, namely, Marby Wibel, Nicholas Wibel and Elizabeth Wibel said three children - And whereas the above named Mhdlana Weaver was married to John Sears and is now deceased but left seven children said Mahdlana's share is to be equally divided amongst her seven children - And I do hereby empower and authorize my two Executors to sell all my estate Real and personnel giving a reasonable credit and to give good and sufficient deeds to the purchasers for the same and I do give four years to my executors to sell, collect and pay over but they must account with the heirs for all the interest they may receive - and I do hereby appoint, constitute and make my two sons, Francis Fast and Christian Fast sole Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made, ratifying and Confirming this to be my last will and Testament and no other --

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of January, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixteen.

Signed Nicklaus Fast (Seal)
Signed and sealed in the presents of
John Auld
James Sangston
Simon Yandes
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  Baptism Notes:

Lutheran Church, Göcklingen, Duchy Of Kürpfalz, Pfalz, GERMANY
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Name: Niclas Fasts
Event Type: Christening
Event Date: 28 Dec 1727
Event Place: Klingenmuenster, Pfalz, Bayern, Deutschland
Event Place (Original): Klingenmuenster, Pfalz, Bavaria
Gender: Male
Father's Name: Jacob Fasts
Mother's Name: Margaretha Fuchsin

Citing this Record
"Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ND3Z-B43 : 25 March 2020), Niclas Fasts, 1727.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He immigrated on 17 August 1750 to Philadelphia, PA.
³ Arrived 17 Aug 1750, From Rotterdam, Holland by way of Portsmouth, England on the Royal Union to the port of Philadelphia.
.

• He resided in Bullhead Township, Fayette, PA in 1790.
^{2 4}

• He signed a will on 17 January 1816 in German Township, Fayette, PA.
²
The will of Nicklaus Fast can be found in several locations as follows:
1. Will Book 1, page 186, Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
2. Will Book 1, page 600, Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
3. Will Book 9, page 225, Wayesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania.
4. "By Way of Rotterdam, page 31, 32.

There is no apparent difference between the 3 copies. Copies may be found: "By Way of Rotterdam", Wirt Faust, page 31 and "Nicklaus Fast of Göcklingen, Germany", Robt G. Fast, page 141, 142.

Will of Nicklaus Fast, 17 Jan 1816, German Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, viz:

1st, unto the 3 children of Mary Wibel deceased wife of Frederick Wibel, 00 acres of land, Jefferson, Ohio being part of the one half section conveyed by my son Francis Fast to me, 6 Mar 1807, being #23, 11th Township, Range 4, to from the west end of side half section, to be shared equally by the 3 children.

2nd, unto Henry Weaver, Frederick Wibel and John Sears, each 50 cents. Remaining of my estate real and personal to be sold and equally divided in 7 shares and given as follows, viz:

One each to
(1) son Jacob Fast,
(2) son Francis Fast,
(3) son Christian Fast,
(4) son Adam Fast,
(5) daughter Barbara Aultman,
(6) daughter Kathy Bowman,
(7) children of daughter Catharina Weaver, deceased, being 8 in number, viz: Nicholas, John, Henry Jr, Jacob, Barbara, Mahdlana, Elizabeth, and Mary. Mary Weaver married Frederick Wibel, now deceased left 3 children, namely Mary, Nicholas and Elizabeth. Mary Weaver's share to be equally divided among her 3 children. Mahdlana married John Sears, now deceased leaving 7 children. Mahdlana's shares to be equally divided among her 7 children.

Executors: Sons, Francis and Christian Fast.

Signed 17 Jan 1816. Nicklaus Fast.
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• He was buried after 3 May 1818 in the Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in McClellandtown, PA.

Inscription:
"NICKLAUS FAST GEBOHREN 26 DECEMBER 1727; ENTSCHLAFEN 3 MEY 1818"

Translation:
"Nicklaus Fast Born 26 December 1727; Passed away 3 May 1818"

Find A Grave Memorial #31646926
. ³

Johann married Cadarina Margaretha Dörner, daughter of Johann Bernard Dörner and Anna Catharina Pfuster, in 1749 in Ilbesheim, Duchy Of Zweibrucken, Pfalz, GERMANY. (Cadarina Margaretha Dörner was born on 19 September 1724 in Ilbesheim, Duchy Of Zweibrucken, Pfalz, GERMANY ^{2 6}, baptized on 29 October 1724 in Leinsweiler, Pfalz, Bavaria, Germany,^{2 7} died on 8 May 1795 in , Fayette County, PA ^{2 6 8} and was buried after 8 May 1795 in Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, McClellandtown, PA ⁶.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Her parents, who were people of wealth, opposed the marriage on account of the young man's poverty. After their marriage they sailed for America. On their arrival they were unable to pay for their passage over the ocean, and were sold into a term of servitude until it was worked out." Quotation from History of the Bowman Family
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