USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > Blue book of Schuylkill County : who was who and why, in interior eastern Pennsylvania, in Colonial days, the Huguenots and Palatines, their service in Queen Anne's French and Indian, and Revolutionary Wars : history of the Zerbey, Schwalm, Miller, Merkle, Minnich, Staudt, and many other representative families > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
(Note-Dietrich Snyder was the g. g. f. of Senator Charles A. Snyder, of Pottsville. He belonged to the militia from Bethel Township in the Revolutionary War, but this company was not called out for active ser- vice. He was a court martialman.)
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HEINRICH BOYER
Heinrich Boyer (Bayer) was with the fifty families that came from Schoharie, N. Y., 1727. They followed to Penn- sylvania to cast their lots with the original thirty-three fami- lies who settled in the Tulpehocken, Chester County, 1723. He took up a tract of land adjoining Martin Zerbe's and Albrecht Strauss' lands, in North Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1730. Heinrich Boyer married Elizabeth Maria, daughter of Martin Zerbe.1
Heinrich Boyer, b. 1689, d. 1757. His second wife was Salome Sneiss. He came from the Tulpehocken to the vicinity of New Ringgold, then Northampton County, in 1749, where he built a block house that was a refuge for the settlers dur- ing the Indian troubles, in their flights to the Forts, Franklin and Lebanon, and in their final stampede to the other side of the Blue Mountain, and here Elizabeth Maria Zerbe died. The remains of a tunnel or ground cellar, in which they se- creted themselves, could be seen until within the last few years, when it was filled up by the owner, Nathan Gerber. Heinrich Boyer's children were : Anna Maria, George, Assmus, Andreas and Henry.
A copy of the bill of sale of Henry Boyer's personal property, held "in the Tulpehocken" (now New Ringgold). April 13-14, 1757, (Vol. II, No. 2, Pub. Schuylkill Co. His. Soc., pp. 159-167) shows his Zerbe kinsmen and George, Leonard and Michael Rieth and others from the Tulpehocken to have been present and among the purchasers. The Boyers in Southern Schuylkill County are descendants of Heinrich Boyer.
ALBRECHT AND JOHN PHILLIP STRAUSS
Maria Margaretha (Martin Zerbe), second daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Zerbe, b. in the Tulpehocken, 1716; m. Albrecht Strauss, 1734. They had eleven children.
(Note 1-John Caspar Stoever's Records.)
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
Albrecht and John Phillip Strauss, of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, landed at Philadelphia, September 26, 1732. They took the oath of allegiance to the British Government. Albrecht, b. 1712; d. before May 7, 1787. John Phillip, b. September 13, 1713, d. before May 28, 1792. They came to Berks County and settled in Tulpehocken Township. Albrecht Strauss took out a warrant for land from Thomas Penn, October 7, 1736, "where he had already been settled two years." There were 150 acres in the tract, through which ran Zerbe's (Sharva's) creek, emptying into the Tulpehocken river at Krick's Mill's post office. His land adjoined that of Mardin Zarva (settled there in 1723, land warranted January 2, 1735,) whose daugh- ter, Anna Margaretha, he married in 1734. Children :
Maria Barbara, b. November 16, 1735; m., June 2, 1754. to John Kloss; Jacob, b. May 5, 1737; m. Elizabeth Brecht, August 21, 1759; Maria Elizabeth, b. May 5, 1737; m. John Daniel Madern, May 4, 1760; Anna Elizabeth, b. March 25, 1739; John Caspar, b. August 5, 1741; Maria Eva Rosina, b. November 6, 1742; m. Christopher Schaber, November 9, 1762; Maria Catharinc, b. March 6, 1745; m. John Long, November 9, 1762; John Phillip, b. January 4, 1748; m. Savilla, da. of Benedict and Salome Kepner. Twins, Maria Christina, b. July 26, 1751, m. Benjamin Kebner, May 24, 1774; Maria Susanna, b. July 26, 1751; John Samuel, b. May 13, 1756, m. Catharine Umbenhauer.
(Note-John Samuel and Phillip, sons of Albrecht Strauss and Maria Margaretha Zerbe, and Phillip and Caspar Strauss, their cousins, were actively engaged in the War of the Revolution.)
John Phillip Strauss, m. Anna Margaret Reimer. They had nine children. Their third child, Maria Christina, m. Christian Zerbe, son of John2 Zerbe (Martin1) m. to Catha- rine Stupp1. Their seventh child, John Jacob, b. May 5, 1757, m. Barbara Zerbe, da. of John2 Zerbe, (Martin1) June 14, 1785. He died October 22, 1822. His wife died before he
(Note 1-There are four records of Christian Zerbe in the Revolution- ary War, (Christian Serfas, Zerbe, Scrfass), Penna. Archives, Vol. 4, pp. 664, 357, Vol. 8, pp. 203, 264.)
(Note-A monument was erected at Strausstown, Berks County, sev- eral years ago, to Maria Margaretha Zerbe, wife of Albrecht Strauss, one of the founders of the Strauss family, at one of the Strauss reunions which occur once in two years, and when it was dedicated with appro- priate ceremonies. The Strausses are numerous in that vicinity and of this branch number over a thousand in the U. S.)
1
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did. Their children were: Catharine, Barbara, m. Adam Radebach ; Daniel, Magdelena m. Peter Smith: Sarah, Adam, and Susanna.
The Krammes family of Schuylkill County are descend- ants of Albrecht and Maria Margaretha Zerbe Strauss, also B. Morris Strauss, of Reading, and Strauss' of Schuylkill Haven.
(Note-John George Zerbe attended the sale of Albrecht Strauss, after his death, held June 9, 1787. The record says, "the personal property was all bought in by relatives," the name of the above appears on the list of purchasers.)
There were two Christian Zerbes of the third generation, Christian3, b. December 25, 1750; (John2 Zerbe, m. to Catha- rine Stupp, Martin1), m. June 3, 1773, at Christ Church, to Christina Strauss, b. February 20, 1749. (Stoever's Records.) Their children were: (Rehersburg Church Records.)
1774, March 20, John George.
1776, February 15, John.
1777, January 16, Mary Catharine.
1780, January 31, Susanna.
1782, February 7, Jacob; m.
Ferris, July 13, 1809.
1783, December 31, Maria Christina.
1787, October 29, Mary Salome.
1789, May 25, Elizabeth.
1789, May 25, Henry, m. Susanna Heckel, May 17, 1808.
1791, Samuel.
1792, April 2, Anna Maria.
They removed to White Deer Township, Northumberland County, (now Union.)
Christian3 Zerbe died in Union County, 1818, where his will is on record in which he mentions the above sons and daughters.
Christian Zerbe, non-resident, paid tax in Heidelberg Township, 1787.
George Zerbe, b. Union County, March 18, 1808; d., January 6, 1893, was of this linc and doubtless a son of John George+ (Christian3, John2, Martin1), b. March 20, 1774. George Zerbe is buried in Grant City, Iowa. His children
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
were: William, who has three sons: Daniel, Wichita, Kan .; John W., York, Pa .; Dr. George T., Nashville, Tenn .; d., November 1, 1865, aged 25 years ; John, d., twice married, two children d. Da., Mrs. Charles Rochl, Nashville, Tenn., has three sons and two daughters and nine grandchildren. Da. of George, Mrs. Susan Greenawalt, four children, one son. three daughters.
The brothers and sisters of this George Zerbe, b. in Union County, were: Joseph, who had one son and two daughters. Rebecca, Mrs. Thomas Riem ; Hettie, Mrs. Wm. Hyles; Eliz- abeth, Mrs. Robert Wrick; Mrs. Susan Moore, Atlanta, Ill .; Nancy, Mrs. Wm. Noll, Union Co., Pa.
GEORGE PETER ZERBE-EARLY SETTLER
The carly settlers were engaged in raising hemp, flax and tobacco, in addition to food stuffs. They ran saw, grist, cotton-batting and fulling mills for carding ; distilleries, tan- neries, paper, oil and powder mills. They raised fruit trees and cultivated vineyards, ran cider and wine presses and the Tulpehocken and its tributary streams furnished the motive power for small mills and forges where gun metal, spikes and the primitive tools for agricultural pursuits were made. The Zerbes were mainly fruit culturists, vine dressers and millers, their farms today being among the garden spots of Berks County.
George Peter Zerbe, (Martin1), eldest son of Martin and Elizabeth Zerbe, was one of the one hundred and sixty-five signers for the building of Christ Church, Stouchsburg, Ma- rion Twp., Berks Co., Pa. The record of Pastor Tobias Wag- ner, the first minister, gives a list of the male members only, from 1743 to 1746. Including the women, averaging four per- sons to a family, it would indicate that the church had a mem- bership of at least five hundred. On the building of the pres- ent handsome edifice, the foundation stones of the old log
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building were permitted to remain in the broad avenue, their outline giving the dimensions of the old historical church, which is of great interest to visitors.
George Zerbe was on the tax lists of Berks County, 1754, (their first publication). During the depredations of the In- dians, 1754-1756, cattle stealing by the red men was common in the Tulpehocken and bands of the settlers patroled the sparse settlements to prevent this thievery. George Peter Zerbe or George "Sarby," as he is known on the company rolls, Jacob Bender, Michael Rieth, Peter Walborn, Herman Sundock (Sontag), Christopher Stutzman, John Goodman and Adam Markle, all from the Tulpehocken, joined the Philadel- phia company, Capt. Edward Jones, private Independent troop of horse, 1756, which passed through Lancaster County on its way to Harrisburg with the hope that they might intercept the red men and regain their cattle. They went to John Har- ris' Fort, where Harrisburg now stands and rode along the Susquehanna to Fort Shamokin, where the company joined the Augusta regiment and became part of the Third Battalion that guarded the fort and intervening country during its build- ing.1
George2 Peter Zerbe. (Martin1), first son and child of Martin and Elizabeth Zerbe; born, 1710; died, 1780-'82; married Christina, daughter of Abraham Loucks, 1736. No record having been discovered of George Peter Zerbe and his wife's burial place, it is believed they are interred in a private burying ground or that their graves are among the many unmarked in Christ church cemetery. Upon this land, lo- cated at Host's Post Office, four miles north of Womelsdorf, Berks County, George Peter Zerbe lived from 1723 till his death, about 1782.
(Note 1-(Part 1.) (Penna. Archives, 5th Series, Vol. 1, p. 50.) (Indian Forts, Vol. 1.)
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BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
REAR VIEW OF MANSION ON SITE OF MARTIN ZERBE'S LAND, SETTLED UPON IN 1723.
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
GEORGE PETER ZERBE-HOMESTEAD OF
Here, at the present time, in the midst of a beautiful grove of mighty oaks, stands an old colonial mansion, built 1802, by Christopher Leiss, who purchased the land from George Ege, who bought it from the heirs of George Peter Zerbe, October 22, 1783, to wit: Elizabeth, married to Conrad Minnich ; Anna Maria, married to Leonard Rieth, (Reed), both of Brunswick Township; Valentine, John, Peter, George and Michael. The four former conveyed their interest in the land to the three latter and Peter, Jr., sold the land to George Ege. Recorder's office, Berks County court house, Deed Book 8, Vol. 1, pp. 103-4. The original deed refers to Caspar Wistar of the one part and George Peter Zerbe of the other, of Tul- pehocken Township, Lancaster County, May 5, 1742, and says-"this was settled with Thomas Penn." Zerbe's Creek is mentioned and the number of acres as being 153 and 228 "in his actual possession." The heirs spell their name "Zerbe" in the signatures. Deeds for settlement of lands in Tulpe- hocken, January 2, 1735, Chester County, recorded, Book D 2, Vol. 2, p. 148, at Philadelphia, Recorder of Deeds. (Penna. Archives, Vol. 1, pp. 400-405. Map of Fell's Manor, Series 3, Vol. 24, p. 521.)
The children of George Peter Zerbe and Christina Loucks were:
Peter Zerbe, Jr. b. 1738; m. Elizabeth
Elizabeth Zerbe, b. 1740, d. 1796; m. Conrad Minnich.
Valentine Zerbe, b. 1743, m. Salome Ney.
Michael Zerbe, b. 1744, d. 1806, m. Anna Maria Donmier, June 4, 1776. Johannes Zerbe, bap. 1745, m. Maria Margaret Aungst, April 2, 1771; second wf., widow, Elizabeth Kronberger, January 29, 1805.
Anna Maria Zerbe, b. April 23, 1747, d. May 24, 1827, m. Leonard Rieth, December 20, 1768.
Maria Zerbe, b. 1749, bap. 1750, d. November 13, 1751.
George Zerbe, b. April 24, 1750, d. Jan. 19, 1814, m. Barbara Spon- chuchen, June 23, 1778. (Christ Church records.)
(Note-If one child died, its name was frequently given to another. This duplication adds to the difficulty of adjusting the baptismal records.)
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The account of the vendue of Heinrich Boyer, on another page, April 13, 1757, (near McKeansburg), shows George Peter Zerbe to have bought some trivial articles at this sale of his brother-in-law's. This visit was probably not his first to what is now Schuylkill County. His first cousin, John Zerbe the miller, had taken up a thousand acres of land on this side of the Blue Mountain, 1754, and Peter Minnich and son, Conrad, (George Peter's future son-in-law), had settled in Brunswick Township, 1752, on the site of the Seven Stars Hotel. George Kolıl, of Cumru Township, son-in-law of John Zerbe, of Cumru, also attended the sale. It was consid- ered a mark of respect on the part of the kinsmen to attend and purchase something.
Between Zarva's Creek and the house is a remarkably fine large spring, over which was built a large spring house, Gothic architecture, with mansard roof (cut on another page). Over and aside of this spring stood the log house erected by Martin Zerbe, 1723, in which George Peter Zerbe lived until he built another home upon the site on which Christopher Leiss afterward built the stone house, still standing.
To make way for the stone spring house one half of the old log house was removed, the other half, built in 1723, still remains. The owner of the place, at present, is Miss Hattie Shaffner, daughter of Mrs. Jacob Shaffner, Womelsdorf ; and Mrs. Hammeker, a sister of Mrs. Shaffner, owns the tract above, that also belonged to the Zerbe estate. Christopher Leiss, died July 26, 1826. He left one son, John, and five daughters1. (Will Book 5, P. 508, Berks County court house.)
Abraham Louck, Heidelberg, January 28, 1771-August 15, 1772, (Vol. II, p. 115), who sold his real estate to his sons, George and Abraham, devises all his personal estate to four
(Note 1-Abstract of Wills of Berks County, Vol. 1 1752-1798, p. 167. Collection of Genealogical Societies of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania His- torical Society, Philadelphia.)
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
daughters, in four equal shares; one quarter to Christina, married to George Peter Zerbe (Martin) and one quarter to be divided in two equal shares, to Elizabeth, married to Peter Zerbe, the remaining two quarters to the granddaughters and his daughter Elizabeth; and the land to the two sons.
THIRD GENERATION
Peter3 Zerbe, Jr., (George2 Peter, Martin1), b. 1738; wife, Elizabeth. At the death of his father, George Peter, he bought the rights of the other heirs in his father's plantation, in Tul- pehocken Township, Recorder's office, October 22, 1783, (B. 8, Vol. I, p. 103.) He also bought land from Valentine Bender, Grantor, Peter Zerbe, Grantee, December 2, 1797, (B. 16, p. 104.) Casper Wister, Penn's agent, appears in this transaction as Grantor to Peter Zerbe, October 22, 1783, sel- ling to the said Peter the water rights of "branch of the Tul- pehocken," (Sarva's Run), B. 8, p. 101. Peter Zerbe, Jr., had one daughter, Elizabeth, bap. July 22, 1771, (Christ Church.) Sponsors, his brother, Johannes and wife, Maria Margaret Aungst. Peter Zerbe Jr., lived in Tulpehocken Township until his death. (Map of Pioneer Homesteads.) He was in the Revolutionary War, Continental Line (Record, Part I.) Eliz- abeth Zerbe, daughter of Peter, married Captain David Baker, who was in the War of the Revolution. Peter Zerbe, in his will, probated October 2, 1797, bequeathed 100 pounds to his wife, and fifty pounds to each of his daughter Eliza- beth's children when twenty-one years old.1
Elizabeth3 Zerbe, (George2 Peter, Martin1), b. 1740, con- firmed at the age of 19 years 6 months, (Christ Church), m. Conrad Minnich about 1768; d. 1796. (For additional record see history of Conrad Minnich, in the Muenchs, this volume.)
Valentine3 Zerbe (George2 Peter, Martin1), b. 1748, lived and died in Tulpehocken Township; wf., Salome, daughter of Valentine Ney. Valentine Zerbe is mentioned as executor of
(Note 1-Abstract of Wills, Berks County C. H.)
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his father-in-law's will, July 19, 1790. (Abstract of Wills, Gen. Society, Phila.) He is on the tax list as land owner, 1798. Their children were:
1768, March 27, Mary Magdalena. Michael (Valentine's brother) and wf. Anna Maria Zerbe, sponsors.
1770, March 14, Jonathan.
1775, March 6, Hannah Elizabeth. Sponsors, Maria Elizabeth Zerbe
and George "Neu" (Ney.)
1776, May 2, Andreas. ( Rehersburg Church records.)
To Andreas Zerbe and wf. was born a son, William James, 1837. (Christ Church records.)
Jonathan, son of Valentine Zerbe, m. Margaret Weiser, May 1, 1795. (Christ Church records.)
SERGEANT MICHAEL ZERBE
Michael Zerbe. There were two Michaels of the third generation and two of the fourth. Those of the fourth gen- eration were the sons of the third generation of Michaels, who were first cousins.
Michael3 Zerbe, (George2 Peter, Martin1), b. 1744, d. 1806, m. Anna Maria Donmier, June 4, 1776. Children bap. :
1777, July 5, Michael. Sponsors, John George and Barbara Zerbe, (Michael's brother.)
1779, March 12, Salome.
1781, February 6, Anna Marie.
1782, August 28, Elizabeth. Sponsors, Benjamin and Elizabeth Zerbe, (his cousin.)
1791, September 29, Barbara.
1794, September 20, Eva.
1796, February 24, Johannes. Sponsors, Michael and Anna Maria Zerbe, parents, stood for the last three children.
1800, February 7, Anna Margarette.
(Christ Church records, Stouchsburg.)
Michael3 Zerbe, d. 1806. His will was admitted to probate June 2, 1806. Tulpehocken Township, Jacob Shafer, admin- istrator. (Abstract of Wills, Genealogical Society, Phila., Vol. 2, 1798-1825.)
Michael3 Zerbe, Second Sergeant, Capt. George Miller's company, from Bethel and Tulpehocken Townships, Decem- ber 13, 1777 On duty at South Amboy, N. J. (Zerbes in the Revolution, Part I.)
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
Michael+ Zerbe, (Michael3), b. July 5, 1777, d. November 14, 1844; wf., Elizabeth Shaffer, b. February 21, 1780, d. May 4, 1840; m. May 24, 1799. (Jacob Zerbe's Family Bible.) (Jacob, son of Michael+ Zerbe.) Children :
1801, December 3, Johannes.
1802, September 24, John Jacob.
1811, Jonathan.
(Christ Church Records, Stouchsburg.)
1813, Magdelena.
1814, Lydia.
(Jacob Zerbe's Family Bible, Womelsdorf.)
1817, December 30, Michael.
1819, August 31, E. - -.
Michael Zerbe buried in Christ Church cemetery : also wf. Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Zerbe, da. of Michael+ and Elizabeth Zerbe; b. January 14, 1806 ; d. October 22, 1864 ; wf. of Mathias Deck.
Israel Zerbe, son of Mathias Deck and Elizabeth Zerbe, b. February 12, 1834; d. July 5, 1855. (Tombstones Christ Church cemetery.)
Dr. Thomas T. Zerbe, of Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, says : "Many of the Zerbes on this side of the Blue Mountain are afflicted with asthma. It is hereditary and there is a family tradition that we inherit it from an ancestor (Michael3), who contracted it from exposure while in the Revolutionary army."
Michael+ Zerbe settled one mile north of what is now Mt. Aetna, Berks County, where Jonathan Zerbe was born. Mich- ael is on the Tax Lists, 1810, Tulpehocken Township.
Jonathan5 Zerbe, (Michael+, Michael, George2, Martin1.) b. ISII, d. 1876; m. Martha A. Meyer, d. 1896. Their chil- dren were:
Charles M., b. 1841. Agnes, b. 1843. Thomas Taylor, b. 1846. Jane, b. 1850. B. Frank, b. 1853.
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BLUE BOOK OF Genealogical Records
Jonathan5 Zerbe was a practicing physician at Mt. Aetna and his two sons, Thomas Taylor and B. Frank Zerbe, of Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, have succeeded him and are prominent in the medical profession. Charles M. Zerbe is a well known attorney of Lebanon, Pa.
Charles M. Zerbe, eldest son of Dr. Jonathan Zerbe, m. Rebecca Yearsley, of Philadelphia, 1888. They have no issue.
Dr. Thomas6 Zerbe, (Jonathan5), b. 1846, m. Emma E. Taylor, a descendant of the Boones of Exeter Township, Berks County, b. 1854. Their children are :
Florence T., b. 1882; Mabel R., b. 1884; Wm. Taylor, b. 1889; Marie M., b. 1890; Mabel R., m. Geo. E. Reiter, d. Children: George Zerbe, b. 1905; Muriel Marie, b. 1907; W. Emily, b. 1911.
Dr. B. Frank6 Zerbe (Jonathan5), b. 1853, m. Ida Susan Lanser, b. 1856. Son, Charles Lanser, b. 1885.
Jane6 M. Zerbe, b. 1850, d. 1911, (Jonathan5) ; m. Jacob Hickernell, d. Children: Fred. Zerbe, b. 1874; Charles T., Attorney, Lebanon, Pa., b. 1878; Frank J., b. 1880; Cyrus D., b. 1882; Jennie A., b. 1886; Annie M., b. 1888; Norma A., b. 1893.
Children of Fred. Zerbe Hickernell: Hattie, Frank, Wil- liam, Martha, Harold, Elsie, George, John.
Children of Frank J. Hickernell : Russel, Esther, Hilda.
Children of Cyrus D. Hickernell: Minerva, Eugene, Grace, Ethel, Norma.
Agnes6 Zerbe, b 1843, d. 1869, m. Dr. George Mays, d .; left no issue.
Michael5 Zerbe, (Michael4), b. December 30, 1817; m. Elizabeth Lillian Stambaugh. Children: Jonathan, Reading, Pa .; William, Myerstown; Prosper, Newmanstown; Alex- ander, d .; Mrs. Hartman, d., Richland; Mrs. Leininger, Mey- erstown ; Da., Emmeline, bap. November 14, 1848.
John5 Jacob Zerbe, (Michael+), b. September 24, 1802; d. 1836, m. Sarah Scholl, February 18, 1834; b. March 30,
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
1802; d. March 14, 1882; c., Melinda, b. November 22, 1835, (grandparents, Michael and Elizabeth Zerbe, sponsors) ; d. September 12, 1851. Franklin, b. 1822, d. 1870, m. Elizabeth Heffelfinger, October 31, 1846, b. July 29, 1828, living at the age of 85 years (1913) at her home in Womelsdorf. Their children were: Silas, Reading, b. September 9, 1847; Sarah C., b. April 29, 1851, m. Simon Moyer, d., October 11, 1857 ; left daughter, Sarah. Franklin Zerbe was the town clerk of Womelsdorf, 1866. He was a school teacher, justice of the peace, and a remarkable penman. He is buried in Union cemetery, Womelsdorf, Pa. (Jacob and Franklin Zerbe Fam- ily Bibles, and Christ Church records.)
(Note-An interesting historical building in Womels- dorf is the stone tavern, built 1762, by Jacob Seltzer and still known as the Seltzer House. Here Washington stopped over night, November 13, 1793. Womelsdorf was then called Middletown.)
Johannes3 (George2 Peter, Martin1), son of George Peter and Christina Loucks Zerbe; bap. 1745; m. Maria Margaret Aungst, April 2, 1771. Their children were: Johannes, bap. February 3, 1772; George Peter and Anna Christina Zerbe, sponsors; John George, bap. May 4, 1773; m. Susanna Mil- ler, December 1, 1799; Peter, bap. May 12, 1781. John Zerbe came over the Blue Mountains about 1780 and settled in Pinegrove Township, the locality afterward included in Manheim. The census of 1790 gives him as having seven children. He is supposed to have returned to Berks County and his children migrated West from here after his death, as none of his branch are located in Schuylkill County. His wife died about 1803 and he re-married (Trinity Lutheran Church records, Reading). John Zerbe, of Manheim, Berks County, January 29, 1805, m. Elizabeth Kronberger, widow, of Bern Township.
Anna3 Maria Zerbe (George2 Peter, Martin1), b. April 25, 1748, (Christ Church records), d. May 24, 1827, (Jacobs
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BLUE BOOK OF Genealogical Records
Church records) ; m. at Reading, December 20, 1768, (Trinity Lutheran Church records) . For additional history see Rieths or Reeds, on another page. Of the children of George Peter Zerbe, his sons, Peter, Jr., John, Michael and John George, were in the Revolutionary War ; Valentine being the only one of whom no record is found in the archives. Two sons-in-law, Capt. Conrad Minnich and Wagonmaster, Leonard Rieth, were also engaged in the struggle.1
John Zerbe's record, one of the three John Zerbes, re- corded in the Adjutant General's office, War Dept., Washing- ton, D. C., Capt. Weaver's company, Berks County, from April 5, 1779.
JOHN GEORGE ZERBE
John George3 Zerbe, (George2 Peter, Martin1), b. April 24, 1750, d. January 19, 1814, aged 63 years, 8 months and 25 days. Buried in St. John's Lutheran and Reformed cemetery, Friedensburg, Schuylkill County, Pa .; married Barbara, da. of John Bernhard Sponchuchen, June 23, 1778, (Christ Church Records, Stouchsburg, Pa.) The text upon his tombstone reads: "Gott kann mir das leben wieder geben," 2d Timothy, 4th Chap. Barbara Sponchuchen, b. March 9, 1758. d. Jan- uary 25, 1817, buried in the Reformed cemetery, Orwigs- burg, beside her son, Henry Zerbe (first husband of Han- nah Miller Schwalm.) Barbara Sponchuchen, wife of (John) George Zerbe, after his death lived with her daughter, Mrs. Catharine Grieff, between Orwigsburg and Schuylkill Haven, until her death, three years later, aged 59 years, I month, 12 days.
(Note-Deed book, 12-22, Berks Co. C. H. Deed granted John Klinger and wf. Mary, May II, 1771, for 100 acres of land adjoining Deppen and Stephen Lengel, Heidelberg Township. The heirs of John Klinger (see Phillip Zerbe, of Pinegrove Township), mentioned as: John, Peter, Adam, Bar-
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