He is often credited as being the earliest-born person to have been photographed alive, although several other contenders are known, most notably a shoemaker named John Adams and Caesar, an African.

The settlement had been sacked and depopulated by Wabanaki attacks and resettled with German immigrants recruited from the Rhineland.

Among these settlers were the parents of Conrad Heyer, who also may have been the first white child born in the settlement.

[4] During the American Revolution, Heyer fought for the Continental Army in the 25th Regiment, according to his pension filed in 1819 and several witnesses.

Later claims, such as that Heyer participated in Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware in December 1776 or served in the Army until 1778, cannot be confirmed.