The Heffner Family Association says that Matthew’s wife, mother of Eva Maria, was Maria Catharina. I can verify that her name was Catharina from her appearance as a sponsor at a baptism in 1747.

IMMIGRANT. Several men named Kelchner arrived Philadelphia between 1731 and 1733. It is believed that they were brothers and that Matthew, a younger brother -- too young to be listed on the ship’s passenger list -- came with one or the other of them.

Naturalized. Matthias Kelchner, Phila Co, 10 Apr 1760. LDS Film 908978.

We know that Eva Maria’s father was named Mathew and he was in the right place at the right time to have a daughter who would marry Heinrich Heffner. Here’s what I know about Matthew Kelchner. He was born in Germany and came to America in 1731 or so. He died before 2 Jul 1785 in Richmond Twp, Berks County, PA.

In his ”Historical and Biographical History of Berks County”, author Morton Montgomery said: “four Kelchner brothers emigrated between 1731 and 1741: George, Matthias, Michael and Henry. Hans George came on the PA Merchant in 1731. Matthias was probably on board too, but under 21 and so not specifically identified as a passenger. Michael came on the PA Merchant in 1733. Matthias was the first Kelchner to settle in Richmond Township, Berks County.”

His name also appeared in American church records.

His estate was administered by his son George who also administered the estate of John Class, father of George’s wife Agnes who was John’s eldest daughter.