Frederick Baltaser Pfeifer - 25 May 1836 - 13 Sept 1912
Frederick Baltaser PFEIFFER (PFEIFER). Son of Conrad (Konrad) PFEIFFER & Anna Margaretha KRAUSGRILL. Born 25 May 1836 in Starkenburg, Friedberg, Hessen, Germany. And was Christened on the 5 June 1836 in Steinfurth, Hessen, Germany. Died 13 Sep 1912 in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia. Buried 15 September 1912 in Daylesford Cemetery, Australia. During his lifetime he changed his name a number of times; The fist was when he was granted Australian Naturalisation certificate no. 986 which was issued to him on 28 April 1876, whereby he changed his name to Friederich Baltaser Pfeiffer by dropping the third "E" in Friederiech, and the 'H" in Balthaser, in an attempt to "Anglicise" his name. And the second change was when he married Henrietta Coppen, on the marriage certificate he signed his name as PFEIFER, dropping one "F". It is not known why he did this. Thus ending up with Friederich Baltaser Pfeifer. Back in those days people were not required to register a name change, any legal document such as a marriage certificate was sufficient. The changing of his surname was significant as henceforth the surname of his descendents became PFEIFER with a single middle "F".

Friederiech and his brother Conrad migrated to Australia aboard the “Tauran” from Liverpool, England, arriving in Sydney on 2 January 1858. Friederiech applied for naturalisation on the 22 January 1876. His friend Hinrich Kroger applied at the same time. They both lived at Talbot in Victoria. They signed “the oath of allegiance” on the 10 February 1876 at Talbot, Victoria, Australia.

On his Certificate of Naturalisation Friederiech had his occupation listed as “Cooper”. He later made further changes to his name, and is now known to successive generations as; Frederick (Freddie) Baltaser Pfeifer.

Frederick first married Henrietta Marie (Maria) COPPEN, daughter of Ferdinand COPPEN & Marie MULLER, on the 16 Dec 1874 in Talbot, Victoria. who was born about 1857 in Maldon, Victoria. Died 19 Oct 1883 in Smeaton, Creswickshire, County Talbot, Victoria aged 26. Buried 20 Oct 1883 in Blanket Flat General Cemetery. Religion: Presbyterian. Friederiech and Henrietta Marie (Maria) had the following children: