Baptismal sponsors at the New Hanover Lutheran Church were "Carls Beier (Beyer) and wife Elisabeth" (Kugler). Charles is listed in the St. Michael's Lutheran Church records as "Carl" Kugler. His wife's name is "Catharina" in those records.
Charles served in the American Revolution as a Private in Captain Michael Gilbert's 2nd Company, 4th Battalion, Philadelphia Militia commanded by Lieut, Colonel William Will, Esquire, as found in the 1783 Muster Rolls and in Capt. John Kling's Company as found in the January 13, 1784 Muster Rolls. (His son George's future father-in-law, Christian Kunkel was in the same Company on the Phila. Northern Liberties, West Part, Muster lists.)
Charles is listed under several variations of his surname in Phila. Directories in 1785 to 1805, but all list him as innkeeper at the corner of 4th & Race. e.g. Kughlen, Kugher, Kughler. He and his inn, "Seven Stars" are also mentioned in Vol III page 347 of John F. Watson's "Annals of Philadelphia". Sometime before 1810 Charles turned the operation of his inn over to his son George. The Inn was located at the NW corner of 4th & Race (facing Race). His son-in-law and daughter, Henry & Mary Sweitzer lived across the street at 124 Race, SW corner of 4th Street. In Francis White's 1785 Phila directory page 39, Henry Kneer is also listed as "Sign Seven Stars, corner of Race and Fourth streets". Henry Knerr is found in the 1790 census on page 214, three families before Charles Kugler. Buried originally at St. John's Lutheran Church graveyard, in 1861 his remains were transferred to Laurel Hill Cemetery, Ridge Avenue, Phila. A U.S. government marker was obtained for his grave on June 20, 2001 by his 4th great grandson James H. Lawrence.
The 1790 census numbers for Charles' family are as follows: 1/4/3 (possibly a 4th son in the family) The 1800 census numbers are: 01111-01101 The 1810 census numbers are: 00101-10101
Following is Charles' name misspelled in the Penna. Will Abstracts: Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834 HUGLER, CHARLES. Northern Liberties. Phila. Gentleman. May 1, 1818. September 8, 1818. 6.600. Estate to my wife, Catharine, and my children: George, Benjamin, Elizabeth and Mary, and to my two grandchildren, Catharine and Simon Sweitzer, children of said daughter, Mary, by her former husband, Henry Sweitzer, deceased. Execs: Said sons, Geo. and Benjamin, said daughter, Elizabeth. Witnesses: John Brooke, Isaac Wampole. Letters to George Kugler and Elizabeth Kugler.
In John F. Watson's "Annals of Phila. & Penna." Vol 3 page 130 "Gas, Watchmen etc." there is the following: "In 1817, Dr. Charles Kugler made illuminating gas, with which Peale's Museum, in the State House, was lighted." Since Charles was the only mature person with his name in America at the time, it can be assumed the reference was to him.
In the 1785 Francis White Phila. Directory there is a Michael "Gunckle", grocer, corner of 4th & Race. This is the same address as Charles Kugler. Perhaps the Northeast corner. In the 1785 White's directory page 34, and the 1790 Philadelphia census page 214, the Honorable Francis Hopkinson, judge of the court of the Admiralty and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was lucky enough to have lived on Race Street between 4th & 5th Streets, next door to Charles Kugler.
Charles Kugler (b. 15 February 1754, d. 11 May 1818)
Notes for Charles Kugler: