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 19
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St. Jacob's church was built of logs on a tract of 27 acres of land obtained from the State. Unfortunately, as with all of the churches with which Rev. Win. Kurtz was connected who organized the church 1780, and the early pas- tors who followed, the records for the first nineteen years are missing. Andrew Schulze, of the Tulpehocken, was its pastor for two years. He was afterward Governor of Penna. This church is known as the White Church.
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
John and Leonard Rieth are among the first sixty-two taxables returned, from Pinegrove Township, Berks County, and they were among its first members.
The first communion, recorded 1799, gives Leouard Rieth and wife, Johannes Rieth, Catharine Rieth and Eliza- beth Rieth as communicants.
The children of Leonard Rieth and wf. Anna Maria Zerbe, were :
Eva, b. August 7, 1771. Conrad Muench (Minnich) and wife, Elizabeth Zerbe, sponsors. John Heinrich, b. July 12, 1773, 7 weeks old, the parents sponsors; Maria Eva, b. September 30, 1775 (the first child of this name probably died and another was given the same name.) Red Church records (11% miles below Orwigsburg); John or Jonas, b. 1777, wf. Elizabeth; Leonard, b. March, 1783, d. December 26, 1851, wf. Margaretha Brennern; Anna Maria, b. 1779, wf. of Daniel Zerbe; Catherina, b. 1781, wf. of Jacob Brennern. (Jacob's Church records.)
(Note-The grandparents usually stood sponsors for the first child in baptism. The custom being invariable the relationship of the parties is thus determined if there are no other means at hand. December 25, 1808, Anna Maria Rieth stood sponsor for Sophia, da. of Jonas and Elizabeth Ried, of which child she was the grandmother .- Jacob's Church records.) Confirmed :-
October 9, 1803, Adam Ried, 17.
March, 1810, John George Ried.
March, 1810, Maria Ricden, born Henen, 18.
April 26, 1812, Saloma Ried, 16.
April 26, 1812, Catherina Ried, 14.
June 2, 1816, Maria Rieth.
Communicants :- June 2, 1816, John Ricth and wf. Elizabeth Rieth.
Baptisms :--
1799-August 18, Maria Catherina, da .; parents, Daniel and Anna Maria Zerbe; sponsors, Lenhard Ried and wf. Anna Maria.
1800-October 4, Solomon; parents, Jacob Brenner and wf. Catherina; sponsors, Leonhard Ried and wf. Anna Maria.
1802-Henrich, b. July 23; parents, Johannes Ried and wf. Catherine; sponsors, Henrich Stein and Christina Ried.
1803-Elizabeth, b. January 15, 1802; bap. May 19; parents, Peter Ricd and wf. Susanna.
1803-September 4, Eva Margaretha; parents, Phillip Ried and wf. Catherina.
1804-January 22, Catherine; parents, Johannes Ried and wf. Cathe- rina; sponsors, Johannes Ried and wf. Margaretha.
1805-September 27, Catherina; parents, Johan Rieth and wf. Catha- rine; sponsor, Anna Maria Ricthen. (Leonhard Rieth, her hus- band, died August 26, 1805.)
1806-January 1, Johannes; parents, Johannes Ried and wf. Catherina,
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1807-January 25, Johann; parents, Johann Jacob Brenner and wf. Catherina; sponsors, Leonard Ried and Margaretha Brenner. March 27, Heinrich; parents, Jonas Ried and wf. Elizabeth.
March 27, Catherina; parents, Jonas Ried and wf. Elizabeth; (twins).
1808-April 17, Johan Peter; parents, Johan Ried and wf. Catherine. September 4, Peter; parents, Johan Ried and wf. Elizabeth. December 25, Sophia; parents, Jonas Ried and wf. Elizabeth; sponsor, Anna Maria Riethen.
1809-March 5, Johann; parents, Adam Ried and wf. Catharina; sponsors, Johan Ried and wf. Margaretha.
March 5, Salome; parents, Leonard Reed and wf. Margaretha; sponsors, Johann Brenner and wf.
(Burial Records not already given) :-
Johannes Rieth, b. October 15, 1755; d. December 26. 1827. Peter Rieth, b. October 10, 1788; d. January 2, 1848.
John Ried (Jonas) and Anna Maria, widow, were made the administrators of Leonard Rieth, September 1-October 9, 1805. The inventory was 213 1bs., 16 s., 9 d. (Register of Wills, Orphans' Court B., Berks County.)
Johannes3 Rieth (Johan2 George, Leonard1), b. October 15, 1755, was a brother of Leonard3 Rieth. The spelling of the name Reed has no bearing on the issue. The German spel- ling Rieth has been changed by the different branches to Reed, Ried and Read, but they are all from the same vocabu- lary. The Reeds of Pinegrove Township, which now includes Wayne and Washington, are descended from Leonhard and Johannes Rieth, brothers, who came from the Tulpehocken and the part now included in Marion Township, where the original Rieths settled, 1723, coming from the Schoharie Val- ley, New York, to Berks County, then Chester, where they have an important and voluminous history among the early settlers.
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LEONARD RIETH'S WAR RECORD
Among the list of officers from Berks County, in the Revolutionary War, occurs the name of Leonard Rieth (m. to Anna Maria Zerbe), Wagon Master January 8, 1778 .- Penna. Archives, 2d Series, Vol. 3, p. 23. Part I, Rieth's Record, in Revolutionary war.
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
John5 Reed, (Jonas1 or Johan, Leonard3, George2, Leon- ard1), m. Maria Fischer. Their children were:
John3 m. Margaret Guth, da. of Attorney Good, of Harrisburg; Wil- liam, m. Susanna Berkheiser; John, David, Daniel, Peter, d .; Maria, wf .- Marlin; Rachel, wf. of Henry Manbeck; Mrs. Kate Lesher, Mrs. Leah Merkle. These families went to Illinois, settling there. Peter and John remained.
John3 Reed, m. Margaret Guth; c., Wesley, m. Ellen V. Berger; c .: Mary, Sophronia, Irvin D., John, Clinton, Carrie, Robert, 2 da., 1 son, dec.
William4 Reed, (John3, John2 George, Leonard1), wf. Susanna Berk- heiser; c., Ludwig, Solomon, Jonathan, Daniel, William, John.
Levi6 Reed (Ludwig5, m. Susanna Staehle), m. Jane Reber; c., Charles D .; Alice, m. Daniel Reber.
Irwin D. Reed, school teacher, Reedsville; m. Abbie Fidler; c., John, Clinton, Pottsville; Robert; Sallie Laubenstein, Panther Valley; Ida We- ber, Reedsville.
Sophronia, wf. Monroe L. Miller (Wesley), Adamsdale; two da.
Peter4 Reed (John3, John2 George. Leonard1); e., Henry, Elias, Eman- uel, George, Peter, Rebecca, m. Wm. Krecker; Sarah, m. Franklin Berk- heiser; Mrs. Reuben Berger, d., Frackville.
Solomon Reed sons, Jerome and Alexander.
Peter Rieth, b. October 10, 1788, d. January, 1848 (Ja- cob's Church records) ; buried in Jacob's cemetery. He had a son, Christian. Mrs. J. W. Hoover, of Bedford, Ind., is a granddaughter of Christian Reed. Peter Rieth lived in that vicinity, he married a daughter of Johannes Braun, who lived in Blue Mountain Hollow, and baptized many children in that church. Peter Rieth was no doubt a son of Peter Rieth and wf. Susanna, who baptized a da., Elizabeth, b. January 15, 1803. The first Peter was born about 1767. George Reed lives at Cressona.
Leonard Rieth and wf. Anna Maria Zerbe, and Johannes Reed and wf. Catharine, are buried in St. Jacob's cemetery. Their graves have not yet been identified, being doubtless some of the many unmarked, of sandstone or common field stone headstones. (Jacob's Church records.)
Squire Irwin D. Reed, school teacher, relates that deer and other game were very plentiful in that valley. He remem- bers well his father telling this story: When butchering time
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BLUE BOOK OF Genealogical Records
came, John Reber, son of Daniel, came from the Summit to their farm to do the butchering; when he had the hogs killed Reber said to John Reed, his father, "now, John, it is time to go up on the hill and shoot a deer for the sausage," and John went and shot one and brought it down by the time the hog was scraped, and sausage making then began.
John Phillip Reed, b. 1698, d. 1783; wf. Veronica -,
b. 1702, d. 1792.
John1 Phillip Rieth was a brother of Leonard Rieth, b. 1691, d. 1747.
Michael2 Reed, (John1 Phillip), b. 1728, d. 1806; wf. Ann Maria, da. of Frederic Maurer.
John3 Phillip Reed, (Michael2, John1 Phillip), b. 1764, d. 1836; wf. Elizabeth, da. of John and Susanna Horner.
Michael+ Reed, (John3 Phillip, Michael2, John1 Phillip), b. 1788, d. 1872; wf. Elizabeth B. Schell, b. 1794, d. 1854.
Maria5 Catharine Reed (see Minnichs.)
Michael1 Schell, b. 1675, d. 1770; wf. Veronica, b. 1766.
John2 Schell, b. 1729, d. 1782; wf. Veronica Maurer, da. of Jacob and Sophia Maurer, b. 1761.
John3 Schell, b. 1754, d. 1825; wf. Elizabeth B. Hillegas, b. 1763, d. 1842; da. of .John Frederick and Elizabeth Hil- legas, b. 1685, d. 1765.
George2 Peter Hillegas, b. 1735, d. 1810; wf. Anna Bar- bara Hornecker, b. 1737, d. 1810.
The Hillegas family of Tamaqua are descendants.
Rev. John Schell, of Allentown, an early pastor of the Evangelical church, of Pottsville, was a descendant of Michael Schell. (Penna. German, May, July, 1901.)
Michael Hillegas was the first Treasurer of the U. S. His portrait is on the ten dollar gold certificates of the U. S. Treasury.
John3 Phillip Rieth, "of the Tulpehocken," was a taxable in Pinegrove Township, 1771.
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION SHIP LISTS
Immigrants Into Pennsylvania
Ship William and Sarah Hill, from Rotterdam, Philadelphia, Septem- ber 18, 1727 :- John Tob Serveas, Ulrich Sieere.
Ship Elizabeth, from Rotterdam, August 27, 1733 :- Jacob Serber, Jr., Jacob Serber, Sr. Another list, same ship: Jacob Sorver, age 56; Barbara Sorver, 23; Fronegh Sorver, 54; Rodelph Sorver, 21; Jacob Sorver, 26.
Ship Glasgow, from Rotterdam, September 9, 1738 :- Gottfried Zerfass. Another list, same ship: Godfriet Serwaes.
Ship Samuel, from Rotterdam, August 27, 1739 :- Johan Phillip Serfass. Another list: Phillipus Serfas.
Ship Robert and Alice, from Rotterdam, December 3, 1740 ;- Johan Nicholas Zerfass.
Others who came and must be reckoned in the second generation, all of whom were over 21 years of age on their arrival, were: Hans Surber, October 2, 1741; Henry Cerber, 1742; Caspar Surber, 1737; John Jacob Zervin, 1742; (2)Hans Surber, 1749; Hans Martin Surfas, 1750; Jacob Surber, 1752; Johannes Surber, 1752; Wentzel Serb, 1769.
While some of these adopted the "Zerbe" in the spelling of their names, no connection can be traced to them. The Surbers, doubtless, were Swedes and are the heads of the families known as Sorbers, who are numerous in Pennsylvania and in the United States.
Henry Surber (Zerbe in census of 1790), took out a warrant for land in Lancaster County, August 9, 1738. (Deed Book, Recorder's office, for 250 acres, not returned.)
Phillip Sowber, October 20, 1738, supposed to be the head of the Sour- bier or Sorbier branch of Sorbers.
Gottfried Zerben is named as a taxable in Heidelberg Township, 1787.
Gottfried Zerfass, ship lists, ship Glasgow from Rotterdam; another list, same ship, as Godfried Serwaes, September 9, 1738. He is named as Godfrey Zerbe in the census of 1790, Berks County, and no other Godfrey being on record, is doubtless the same man, or his son. March 3, 1789, Gotfried Zerbe m. Appelona Michael (Christ Church.)
Ship Edinburg, from Rotterdam, September 15, 1749 :- Freiderich Zerfass.
Ship Patience, from Rotterdam, Captain Hugh Steel, September 17, 1753, last at Cowes, qualified at Philadelphia :- Jean Jacques Servier, af- terward known as Jacob Zerbe, aged 29 years.
Ulrich Zurger, ship St. Andrew, from Rotterdam, September 23, 1752.
Ship Peggy, from Rotterdam, September 24, 1753 :- Jacob Zerbinger, age 16.
Ship London Pacquet, from Lisbon, September 29, 1769 :- Wentzel Serb.
Brig Dolphin, from London, August 29, 1770 :- Jean Serieux.
Ship Snow Rose, from Lisbon, September 10, 1770 :- Gille Sarier.
Ship Crawford, from Rotterdam, October 16, 1772 :- Henrich Zercher.
Some of the above, notably the Serfass', retained the shipmaster's spelling, but the majority spelled their names afterward Zerbe.
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BLUE BOOK OF Genealogical Records
SHIP LISTS-PENNA. ARCHIVES
Among the names of foreigners who took the oath of allegiance to the Province and State of Pennsylvania, 1727-1775, occur the following:
1733, August 27-Jacob Server, Sr., and Jacob, Jr., and Rudolph, Ship Elizabeth, from Rotterdam.
1749, September 15-Frederick Zerfass, Portsmouth, England, from Rotterdam.
1738, September 9-Daniel Staudt, Peter Staudt, Ship Glasgow.
1738, September 9-Godfried Serwaes, Ship Glasgow, from Rotterdam.
1740, December 3-Johan Nicholas Zerfass, Captain Hugh Percy.
1769, September 29-Joh. Tob Serveas and Wentzel Serb, Ship Eliza- beth, London Packet from Lisbon.
1775, October 3-Theils Zerfass, Ship King of Prussia, from Rotterdam.
Some of the above were Swedes, whose descendants have since vari- ously modernized the spelling of their names.
ZERFASS, SECOND GENERATION
Johan Phillipus Serfass (Sevier, Sarva), Ship "Samuel," from Rotterdam, August 27, 1739, landed at Philadelphia, where he settled. His name appears on the list of members of the Moravian Church, 1727-1754, (Reichel, Vol. 31, P. 97. Transactions of the Moravians), he having been a prominent communicant and helping to build the church, 1742. He re- moved from Philadelphia to Head's Creek, Upper Northamp- ton, 1754, where he died on his farm in Chestnut Hill Town- ship. There are many descendants of this man in that county.
William, son of Phillip and Mary C. Servas, was a pupil in the "Kinder Gemeine" of the Moravian boarding school for boys, 1747, in Frederick Township. This school was dissolved September 3, 1750, and the pupils transferred to the Moravian schools in Oley Township and at Bethlehem. (pp. 123-127.)
The ground upon which Fort Norris, Northampton Coun- ty, stood and that of Fort Franklin, then in the same county, now in Schuylkill, was owned by John Serfas; he was the grandfather of Nathan and T. H. Serfas .- (Indian Forts, Vol. I.)
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
John Nicholas Zerfass, Ship Robert and Alice, from Rot- terdam, December 3, 1740. Settled in Lancaster County. He took up a tract of land, November 13, 1747, returned, April 25, 1788, and another from Peter Klopp and wf., November 10, 1752. (Deed Book, Recorder's office, Lancaster County court house, C, Vol. 10, pp. 60, 446.)
In the Abstract of wills of Lancaster County, 1721-1820. Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia, Nicholas Zer- fass died October 1, 1784; his heirs were: Wife Elizabeth, c., Abraham, Daniel, Samuel and Catharine. Among the Wills of this name, Lancaster County court house, occurs that of Samuel Zerfass, February 28, 1773, and many others of this name of a later date. Some of these records show that some of this line, later, spelled their name "Zerbe."
UNCLASSIFIED ZERBES
Zerbe-Jacob, (Samuel), Middleville, Michigan.
Zerbe-Samuel, brother of above Jacob, d.
Zerbe-Abraham D., (Samuel1), Bradford, Ohio.
Zerbe-John, Washington, Illinois, removed to Three Rivers, Michigan. Sons of John; Lewis, Elias and Jacob, d., whose widow lives in Mifflin County, Penna.
Zerbe-L. L., Concord, Morgan County, Illinois.
Zerbe-Daniel, b. in North Heidelberg Township, wf. Catharine Eagle; c., Reuben, William E., Elvina, wf. of John Settler; lives in Kansas.
Zerbe-William E., wf. Sarah Kauffman, had nine children, one of whom, Henry E., m. Hetty D. Groff, florist, Manchester, York County, Penna. Five children deceased.
Zerbe-Henry T., Harrison, Nebraska; Miss Lena Zerbe, same, came west from Landisville, Penna.
Zerbee-Joseph, Ashville, Cambria County, Penna. His daughter mar- ried F. D. McNellis, Gallitzin, Penna. Joseph Zerbee is of the original Zerbe stock and came from Lebanon County. He married -- Maguire, of a Revolutionary War ancestor. The daughter, Mrs. McNellis, belongs to the D. A. R.
1873, May 23-Zerbe, Kate, da. of John Zerbe; wife - Hiester, of Upper Tulpehocken; m. Ephraim Henne. They had nine children, three deceased.
There is a tradition that eight brothers came to America from Belgium, locating near Jamestown, Virginia. They spelled the name Surber and Sarvar. It is believed that they were not brothers, but descendants of the eight brothers,
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BLUE BOOK OF Genealogical Records
Sevier-Sarva, from Alsace, some of whom took refuge in Bel- gium during the Huguenot persecutions. They colonized near the border between Virginia and North Carolina, founded a county and named it Wittenberg County, Virginia.
Surber, Surbey, Sarvar, Canton, Ohio. These names are corruptions of the original Sevier, Sarvas.
Surber, A. C., Muncie Indiana, gives the following data:
Surber, Henry, moved from Roanoke, Virginia, to Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio; son, Henry Surber; son, John P., same address.
Surber, John-Sons, Lewis A., Hillsboro; Dr. A. C. Surber, Muncie, Indiana.
Surber, Rev. Lee, President of the Southern "Christian" College, Nash- ville, Tennessee, and Minister Plenipotentiary, to Australia during the Cleveland administration, says: "The Surbers were Huguenots and lived in Alsace, France, during the Huguenot persecutions." Mr. Surber now resides in Boise, Idaho.
Zerbe-David, b. in Berks County, 1795. Brothers, Peter, who removed to Portage County, Ohio; Daniel and sister, Susan, of Reading, John and Benneville, d., sons.
Zerbe-Daniel W. (David), b. September 3, 1832, wf. Ellen R. Three daughters, Rebecca Homan, Harriet Darby and Mary Hinkle, d., Wil- liamsport, Pa.
Zerbe- R. H., (Daniel W., David), manager of Lauderbach, Barber Company, wholesale grocers, Phillipsburg, Pa. This branch spells the name "Zerby."
Zerbe-David K., Harry, McClellan and Caroline, of Williamsport. Two being employed on "The Sun" newspaper.
Zerbe-Mrs. Hannah, Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, Pa.
Zerbe-J. G., Professor in High School, Clearfield, Pa.
Zerbe-J. Edward, Lock Haven, Pa.
(Note-The above were written to regarding their line, but no reply was received.)
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO BRITISH CROWN
The early immigrants were required to take the oath of allegiance to the crown of Great Britain and the Province of Pennsylvania, from the year 1727 to 1775. The originals in the possession of the Commonwealth having been badly mu- tilated by those in search of fortunes, the State reprinted then and they may be found, Vol. XVII, Penna. Archives. All males over sixteen years of age were required to take this oath as soon after their arrival as possible.
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO STATE
By an Act of General Assembly of Pennsylvania, June 13, 1777, all men above the age of 18 years, were directed to take an oath of allegiance and fidelity to the State of Pennsylvania. The United States was not at that time a regularly constituted government. This was known as the "Test Oath" and showed that the signer would uphold the new form of government. In several counties there was much opposition to the oath, through fear, largely, that the Revolutionary movement might fail and some were, of course, still loyal to the King of England. The plain sects, Quakers, etc., refused to make oath though some affirmed. Berks County was loyal to the State and nearly all of its male citizens took the oath. The original manuscript is in the possession of the Berks County Histori- cal Society, Reading, and contains the signatures of 5,500 men.
ZERBES WHO TOOK THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
Zerben, Peter.
Zerbe, Johannes, (the miller, Moravian), affirmed.
Zerbe, Hannes.
Zerbe, John George (son of George Peter.)
Zerbe, Michael (son of George Peter.)
Zerben, Daniel, (son of John, the miller.)
Zerben, George Adam, (son of John, the miller.)
Zerben, Christian, (son of John, the miller.)
Zerben, Peter, Sr. (George Peter.)
Zerbe, Christian (son of John Jacob, Martin.)
Zerbe, Peter.
Zerbe, Johannes.
Zerbe, Phillip.
Zerbe, Leonard.
Zerbe, Peter, Jr.
Zerbe, Benjamin.
Zerben, Jacob.
A few only of the connections have been given, others are found on another page.
The above, with one or two exceptions, all served in the Revolutionary War. Their records are substantiated on another page. No names on the list are duplicated. The signatures, each, refer to a different man of the same name.
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BLUE BOOK OF Genealogical Records
TAXABLES IN BERKS COUNTY, ORGANIZED 1752
1753-Tulpehocken Township, John Zerbe, (m. C. Stupp.)
1754-Heidelberg Township, John Zerbe, the miller.
1754-Tulpehocken Township, George Peter Zerbe and Peter, Jr.
1754-Bethel Township, Jacob Zerbe.
1754-Heidelberg Township, Phillip Zerbe, (afterward of Hetzel's.)
1758-Heidelberg Township, (same) Phillip Zerbe.
1772-Pine Grove Township, Daniel Zerbe. (Heidelberg Township in Revolutionary War.)
1786-Pine Grove Township, Phillip, Daniel, and George Adam Zerbe.
1786-Brunswick Township, (Manheim), John George Zerbe.
1786 -- Same, Peter Zerbe, single, a sojourner. (Supposed to be the Peter who went to Mahantongo Township and afterward settled in Clarion County.)
1798-Tulpehocken Township, John, Emanuel, Christian, Valentine, Leonard, John and Michael Zerbe.
1798 -- Heidelberg Township, Christian Zerbe.
1798-Pine Grove Township, Daniel, Daniel, Jonathan, Jonathan, George, and Phillip Zerbe.
1810-Mahantongo Township, Peter Zerbe.
1810-Mahantongo Township, George Zerbe, sojourner.
1810-Heidelberg Township, John (the second miller), and Christian Zerbe.
1810-Pine Grove Township, Phillip, Jonathan, Christian, George Adam, Thomas and Adam Zerbe.
DATE OF EARLY CHURCHES ERECTED IN SCHUYL- KILL COUNTY WHEN PART OF BERKS
1755-Zion's, or Red Church, West Brunswick Township.
1795-Christ's Reformed, opposite Red Church.
1780-St. Jacob's Church, one and a half miles from Pinegrove.
1784-St. Paul's, South Manheim.
1791-St. John's, Friedensburg.
1790-Summer Hill, near Auburn.
1798-Frieden's Kirche, New Ringgold.
Some of the above churches existed before they were formally organized.
Services were held in the school house adjoining the cemetery, in Beaver Valley, two miles from Cressona, at an early date. This was the first cemetery in that vicinity until the New Jerusalem, near the alms- house, was laid out.
THE FIRST CENSUS
The first census in Pennsylvania was taken 1790. The following are the names of Zerbes in Berks County at that date and the heads of families :
Adam Zerbe, Andrew Zerbe, Benjamin Zerbe, Benjamin, Jr., Zerbe, Catharine Zerbe, widow; Christian Zerbe, Christian Zerbe, Elias Zerbe,
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Of the Zerbeys
Elizabeth Zerbe, George Zerbe, Godfrey Zerbe, John George Zerbe, John Zerbe, John Zerbe, John Zerbe, Leonard Zerbe, Peter Zerbe, Phillip Zerbe, Wendel Zerbe, Benjamin Serva, Benjamin Serva, Frederick Serva, Michael Serva, Jacob Serva, Christian Server, David Server, Henry Server, Jacob Server, Jacob Server, Jacob, Jr., Server, John Server, John Server, John Server, Phillip Server.
(Note-Where a similarity of names occurs, each refers to a dif- ferent person.)
GRUBER FAMILY, INTERMARRIED WITH ZERBES
Henry Gruber, born, 1710. Died, 1777. Will probated, June 17, 1777, Berks County, court house. Came to this country in the ship "Dragon," qualifying at Philadelphia, September 30, 1732, and naturalized April 10, 1761. Wife, Maria Euphrosina. He was a member of the Little Tulpe- hocken Church, one and a half miles southwest of Bernville. When St. Daniel's Corner Church (near Robesonia) was founded, he was one of the original members and he and his wife are buried in that churchyard, and fifty or more of his descendants are interred there. He took up three hundred acres of land in North Heidelberg Township and surveyed it June 17, 1737. In 1761 this land was patented by Penn's agents and in 1769 he divided it into two almost equal por- tions between his sons, John Adam and Henry. His chil- dren were: John Adam, b., October 19, 1735; d., March 6, 1807, who had two wives, Elizabeth and Sarah. John Adam had twelve children.
John3 Gruber, (John2 Adam, Henry1) owned the old Gruber homestead, from 1807 till his death, 1829. He had six children.
Albrecht Gruber, b., May 9, 1754; d., March 11, 1825; wf., Susanna Vilibina, da. of Henry Knobb and wf., Maria Catharine Fidler, b., July 30, 1767; d., June 16, 1847. Both, with a number of their descendants, are buried at the Union Church, Smithfield, Jefferson County, West Virginia, to where they removed from Jefferson Township, Berks County, Penn- sylvania, about 1806 and where he bought a farm of three
.
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BLUE BOOK OF Genealogical Records
hundred acres. They had five sons and four daughters. The third child, Susanna Phillipina Gruber, married John4 Zerbe, (Christian3, John2, the m., Lorentz1,) the second miller. Al- brecht Gruber was a son of Christian Gruber, brother of Henry, the immigrant, who was b. October 18, 1712; d., No- vember 14, 1781. His wife was Anna Christiana Kunin- gunda Stupp, b. December 21, 1721 ; d., May 30, 1799.
Elmira Gerhart, da. of Gabriel Gerhart, b. February 24, 1816, d., December 31, 1891, and wf. Catharine Gruber, b. February 1, 1825, d., May 24, 1865., m. Monroe Zerbe.
(The Gruber and Sontag tracts of land in Tulpehocken Township, now Jefferson and North Heidelberg, were adjacent to the Zerbe lands.)
John2 Adam, b., 1705, d., 1807, (Henry1). A daughter, Catharine, m. John Keller, 1798. They had two children, Martha and John Keller. Martha married a John Zerbe. Their children were: Eli, Darius, Rebecca, Catharine, Sarah, William and John. (Little Tulpehocken church.)
Richard5 Michael Gruber (Michael4, John3, John? Adam, Henry1), b., July 20, 1834, d., March 14, 1909; wf., Mary Ann Schaeffer, b. September 14, 1833, d., December 26, 1904; both buried in St. Daniel's cemetery. He was a farmer and school teacher and a resident of North Heidelberg for forty-eight years, where he taught school for thirteen consecutive terms. He and his four sons have a remarkable record as school teachers, each of them attending his school. The eldest taught fourteen terms and was succeeded in turn by his brothers, one of whom is still teaching. Sons :
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