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 7
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 1-A D. A. R. woman, in Nebraska, obtained an oath of alle- giance record from Berks County of her great grandfather (George Laucks) and received an added "Bar" for it (1913), and a short time ago sent for proof of another ancestor of hers, (John Lorah.)
87
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
the public buildings, except the patent office, many valuable papers, among them the military rosters, were consumed in the holocaust.
August 17, 1777, Jacob Morgan reported that twelve com- panies of militia had marched from Reading, the whole num- ber of whose officers and men were six hundred and fifty-six. The total number of militia men from the State, at that date, was two thousand, nine hundred and seventy-three.
(Another authority fixes the number from Berks as seven hundred and thirty.)
The battalions from Berks County were under Colonels Undree (Uttery) and Hunter.
From the State returns, church records, newspapers and family returns of private papers and deaths, the list in the Pennsylvania Archives, of these men, is being slowly aug- mented, but of the five German companies from the vicinity of Womelsdorf, whose rosters were lost, little is known.
Captain Jacob Livingood's Riflemen, of Middletown, now Womelsdorf, were formed September, 1781. The company served until January, 1782. The roster of this company was among the five never recovered. The members of these companies were from Heidelburg and Tulpehocken Townships.
As the old church records are being slowly translated and old tombstones unearthed in the early cemeteries, and private family records are being transmitted to the State, the Penn- sylvania German Society and the State and County Historical Societies, some of these rosters may be partially re-incarnated, but there is yet much to unearth of the records of the seventy thousand individual soldiers who formed the army of the war of the Revolution.
"There were four thousand militia from six districts of Berks County. The first company, third battalion, was from Pinegrove Township."
(Note 1-Penna. Associators, Vol. II, pp. 257-276.)
88
BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
(Note)-In the United States a battalion consisted of two, four, six, eight or ten companies, according to circum- stances and was commanded by the senior officer present. The number of men in a battalion varied from one hundred to one thousand. In the Revolutionary War the maximum number was six hundred and eighty privates, three field offi- cers, one colonel, one lieutenant colonel and one major. The companies each had one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants and two court martial men.
Of the twelve captains that composed these battalions of militia, three were men from that part of Berks County now included in Schuylkill County, Captains Michael Furrer (Forrer), Jacob Wetstein (Whetstone), and Conrad Minnich. There were a number of men from the vicinity of what is now McKeansburg and West Penn, then included in North- ampton County, who enlisted under Captain Brucker, of that county.
Michael Forrer recruited his company from "the western section of Berks County (now Schuylkill), and the Tulpe- hocken."1
Capt. Michael Furrer's23 (Forrer) Co., stationed at South Amboy, N. J., September 5, 1776. Bat. of Col. John Patton.
Captain, Michael Forrer; Ist Lieutenant, Nicholas Sey- bert; 2nd Lieutenant, John Gernan; Sergeants, Adam An- spach (Alspach,) Henry Spang, Peter Leis, Philip Anspach, (Alspach) ; Ensign, Jacob Read (Rieth) ; Drummer, William Sherman; Fifer, Adam Read (Rieth).
Privates-George Wendlewolf, Peter Smith, John Keiser, Christian Witman, George Kantner, George Swartz, Daniel Sheffer, John Troutman, Michael Hoffman, Michael Bruker, William Feygert, Henry Deerwechter, George Deerwechter, Valentine Schiffller, Peter Deefenbach, Jacob Ruhl, Simon
(Note 1-Penna. Archives, 5th Series, Vol. II, p. 249.)
(Note 2-Andrew Miller History.)
(Note 3-Michael Forrer lived in Pine Grove Township.)
89
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
Linck, Frederick Sheffer, Valentine Troutman, Daniel Read, Peter Stein, Henry Koch, Adam Schnee, William Scheefer, George Emerich, Conrad Hoster, George Winter, Peter Hous- er, Nicholas Read, HEINRICH MILLER1, Jonas Read, Nicholas Lechner, John Stup, Daniel Kuff, Andreas Aulen- bach.
The above company was recruited from both sides of the Blue Mountain.
The Wetsteins were from near McKeansburg, and are on record from Pinegrove Township, their company was recruited largely from the north side of the Blue Mountain.
August 7, 1777, Jacob Wetstein's Company, mustered un- der Colonel Daniel Hunter, of Oley, and was on duty around Philadelphia, participating in the battle of Germantown under General Washington. The return roster of the company is given as containing forty-nine men and eight officers and in- cludes the following : May 17, 1777.
First Company, Captain Jacob Wetstein.2
Ensign, Henry Wetstein; Conrad Sheffer, Rudolph Buz- zard, Ludwig Herring, George Brouch.
The battalion of Colonel Daniel Udree, of Oley, was mus- tered in at the same date. To this command belonged the company of Captain Conrad Minnich, of Brunswick Town- ship (Manheim). No trace of this roster has been found. The company was made up of men from both sides of the Blue Mountain. The return report of third class, Berks County Associators and Militia, Col. Daniel Udree, shows Captain Conrad Minnich's Company to have had on the muster roll :3 one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, one drum and fifer, four substitutes.
(Note 1-Heinrich Miller lived in Brunswick afterward Manheim Town- ship. He was the ancestor of all of the descendants of Andrew Miller, Sr .- Miller History.)
(Note 2-The descendants of Jacob and Henry Wetstein reside at Ta- maqua, Schuylkill County, and spell their name "Whetstone.")
(Note 3-Penna. Archives, 5th Series, Vol. 5, pp. 128-201.)
90
BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
Nine officers and forty-one privates, making a total of fifty men, mustered as a company August II, 1777, four days after the battalion. Captain Conrad Minnich is referred to1 as "of the Revolution, from Brunswick Township, near the Schuylkill, several miles south of Sharp Mountain, then the frontier," and also notes Colonel Daniel Udree having six companies with a battalion of three hundred and one men around about Philadelphia, from August II to December I, 1777, and that eight thousand, nine hundred and seventy- seven men, from 1775 to 1782, were in service from Berks County. Captain Conrad Minnich's Company, mustered May 17, 1777, and August II, 1777, Colonel Udree and Colonel Lindemuth's battalions were mustered. Two records refer to Captain Minnich's Company as "Associators and Regulators" under Colonel Udree and two to Captain Conrad Minnich's second company, third battalion, Colonel Michael Lindemuth. The company serving twice under different commanders. John Stout, ensign ; John Graul, Phillip Boning, George Stout, Gideon Meyer, John Crawford, privates, are the only names of the company of fifty men recorded.
Those who have made a study of the records in the Penna. Archives will appreciate the difficulty encountered in drawing a chronological order out of the records of the military, a logical sequence, in many cases being the only conclusion that can be arrived at. Of the fifty-three bat- talions of the Pennsylvania Associators only fragmentary records are given and these are frequent repetitions of each other and occur with slight additions or omissions, perhaps, in different volumes. The Continental Line in the War De- partment, Washington, D. C., is nearer completion but here also there are many imperfect records. The Militia com- panies went out several times, the time of service being lim-
(Note I-Penna. Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. IV, p. 265.)
(Note 2-5th Series, Vol. V, pp. 128, 135, 190, 201 Penna. Archives.)
91
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
ited to two months. Occasionally persons of the same name, in large families, enlisted during these various terms of ser- vice and to identify these properly other documents than the Archives must be called into requisition to endorse them.1
Of the officers and privates of the fifty-three battalions of the Associators of the Colony of Pennsylvania, July 4, 1776, the following are of those closely associated with the localities of Berks and Schuylkill Counties, north and south of the Blue Mountains :
First Battalion-Privates John Hartman, Peter Filbert.
Second Battalion-Colonel, Mark Bird; Private, Benj. Tolbert.
Third Battalion-Private, Henry Spoon, Private Mathias Wenrich.
Fourth Battalion-Major Michael Lindemuth; Private Michael Moser.
Fifth Battalion-Col. John Patton.
Sixth Battalion-Major Conrad Leffler.2
Seventh Battalion-Colonel Sebastian Levan.
Major Martin Kergher (Kaercher) was of the third battalion under Colonel Michael Lindemuth. He lived in Windsor Township and was the ancestor of the Kaerchers, of Schuylkill County.
Col. John Patton was the ancestor of the Pattons, of Barry Township, Schuylkill County, who removed from Berks County, south of the Blue Mountain, to what was then Northumberland County.3 4
Col. Lindemuth's two sons served as substitute drummer
(Note 1-Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. V.)
(Note 2-Conrad Leffler, ancestor of William Leffler, deceased, Land- ingville; Aurelian Leffler, Mckeesport; Uriah G. Leffler, Mechanicsville; Mrs. Mary Paul, Port Carbon; and indirectly connected with C. W. Wil- dermuth and others of Pottsville.)
(Note 3-Vol. V, 5tlı Series, p. 262.)
(Note 4-Penna. Archives, 5th Series, 5th Vol., pp. 160-180.)
92
BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
boys in Captain Rodermel's and Lieutenant Umbenhauer's Companies, for which they received forty-nine pounds.
Berks County Militia, First Battalion :- Colonel, Daniel Hunter; Lieutenant Colonel, John Guldin; Quartermaster, Isaac Feather.
First Company-Captain, Mathias Wick; Court Martial Men, John Pott, Jacob Heffner (ancestor of the late Samuel Heffner, of Pottsville, and his descendants), May 17, 1777.
Third Company-Captain, Jacob Rothermel ; Lieutenant, Daniel Stout ; Ensign, Christian Merkle. May 10, 1780.
Fourth Company-Captain, George Focht; Ensign, John Yoder. May 10, 1780.
Fifth Company-Captain, Jacob Hill; First Lieutenant, George Schall.
Sixth Company-Captain, Peter Wanner (Werner) ; First Lieutenant, Henry Strauch.
Seventh Company-Captain, George Beaver. May 10, 1780.
Detachment of First Battalion Berks County Militia, Captain Charles Krause, guarding prisoners, August 16 to October 16, 1781, thirty-five Privates: Caspar Merkle, Titan McCarty, Jacob Sigfried (Jacob Sigfried, ancestor of the Berks and Schuylkill County Sigfrieds.)
Reber, Conrad-Captain George Miller's Co., on duty South Amboy, N. J., September 5, 1776.1 (Father of George Reber and grandfather of George, Jonathan and Daniel Reber, deceased, of Schuylkill County.)
Ney, Valentine-Ney, Jacob; Aulenbach, Daniel; Swartz, John ; Loose, Jacob; Mayer, Phillip, were other mem- bers of this company from that part of Berks County now included in Schuylkill.2 (Great grandfather of Daniel Ney, Friedensburg ; Valentine Ney, buried in Summer Berg cemetery.)
(Note 1-5th Series, 5th Vol., p. 152.)
(Note 2-Vol. V, p. 194.)
-
93
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
Orwig, Henry; Fisher, George; Fisher, Joseph-Colonel Michael Lindemuth certifies that they served out their time as substitutes, no company mentioned. They were from Brunswick Township (now Schuylkill County.)
Beard, Adamı-Captain Third Company, Third Battalion ; (grandfather of the late Michael Beard, and great grandfather of Captain Samuel and Attorney Herman Graeff, of Tamaqua, deceased.)
Graeff, Daniel-Captain Fifth Company, Third Battalion, Ex- eter Twp. (ancestor of the Schuylkill County Graeffs.) Bechtel, Jacob-Jolin, Peter and Henry were of this Bat- talion, and Judah and Moses Boone, Exeter Township (ancestors of Judah Boone, deceased, of Pottsville, and the Boones, of St. Clair.)
Easterly (Esterly), Daniel-Captain Robinson's Company, Exeter Township, October, 1781. On list of Depreci- ated Pay (grandfather of the late Daniel Esterly, of Pottsville.)
Kercher, John; (Kaercher), Kercher, Christian; First Com- pany, Third Battalion, Captain Krauss, return 1783. Henry Miller, of Longschwamp, Berks County, also on the roll.1
Miller, Sebastian-Captain Seventh Company, (A class) ; Fourth Battalion; return May 31, 1781. John Reber, John Van Read, John Reasher (Reeser) and Adam Fulmer on the rolls.2
Wolf, Michael-Captain of company on duty at South Amboy, N. J. August 26, 1776.3 Private Ludwig (Wendel) Swartz, McKeansburg.
(Note 1-Vol. 4, p. 257 Penna. Archives, 5th Series.)
(Note 2-5th Series, 5th Vol., p. 262, Penna. Archives.)
(Note 3-5th Vol, pp. 158-170.)
94
BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
Captain Diehl's Company, Berks County Militia, January 22, 1777. Dallet Rhein and Pant Enge, from Pinegrove Township, Schuylkill County.
Nagle, Phillip-A drummer boy in the War of the Revolution, was the grandfather of Colonel Daniel Nagle and the late General James and Captain Phillip Nagle, of Potts- ville. The Revolutionary soldier, Phillip and wife, are buried in the old cemetery in the rear of Trinity Luth- eran Church, Reading. (Simon and Phillip Nagle came from Rotterdam, October 16, 1751, ship Duke.)
Nagle, George and Peter-Were Captains in the Continental Line. They were of a branch of the same family as the above, cousins, it is presumed.
Scheffer, Nicholas-Captain of Company on duty at New Town, January 2, 1777. Includes on its muster roll :
Huy (Hoy), John, Lieutenant; Abraham Hoy, Ensign. (An- cestors of Schuylkill County Hoys.)
Gernandt, Mathias-(Ancestor of the Gernandts formerly of Orwigsburg and of Aaron Gernandt (Gernan), of Pottsville.)
Kerschner, Conrad-Of Windsor Township, Berks County, (great grandfather of Mrs. A. J. Pilgram, Pottsville.)
Rauhn, Jacob-Progenitor of the Charles Rahn family, of Pottsville (Part 2.)
Matz, George, and Medler, George-Ancestors of old Schuyl- kill County families, are also on the roll of this com- pany.1
Zwally, Captain-(9th class.)
Schwaller, Christopher-From the return of the 7th class of Militia. Battalion Lancaster County Militia, Colonel, John Huber, under marching orders to Sunbury.
(Note 1-5th Series, 5th Vol.)
95
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
Zwally, Christopher-Believed to be the same man. Captain Duck's Company.1 2
Other officers in the Berks County Militia were:
Captain Daniel DeTurek-Mustered into service July, 1776, with a muster roll of three commissioned and eight non commissioned officers, sixty-one men. He was the great grandfather of Samuel DeTurck, of Friedens- burg, deceased.3 Nicholas Scull, the surveyor of plats in Schuylkill and adjoining counties, and Frederick Fernsler, the great great grandfather of the Fernslers, of Pottsville, were members of this company.
Captain Henry Strouch-August 10th to September 9th, 1780, 6th Battalion ; of Brunswick, afterward Manheim Township; ancestor of the Strauchs, of Schuylkill County.
Captain Jacob Schartel-After whom Schartlesville, Berks County, was named, was the great grandfather of Al- bert, Harry and William Schertle, deceased, of Potts- ville.
Captain Phillip Filbert's Co., December 13, 1777; 48 men, 9 officers, Colonel Jacob Weaver, great grandfather of Attorney J. II. Filbert, of Schuylkill Haven, and an- cestor of the Filberts, of Pinegrove, and of P. K. Fil- bert, of Pottsville.
Ensigns-Henry Orwig, 2nd Company, 4th Battalion, Nicholas Leib and John Stout, all of whom have numerous descendants in Schuylkill County, Captain Frank Leib, of Harrisburg, and Ellwood Orwig, of Lansford, being among the number directly or indirectly connected.
(Note 1 -- Vol. 7, pp. 890, 233, 891.)
(Note 2 Some of the above named spelled the name "Schwalm" later, but their connection with the Berks County family cannot be traced.)
(Note 3 -- Isaac DeTurek, born 1686, came from Northern France to Duchess County, New York, 1709, and to Oley Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1721. He was the ancestor of Daniel DeTurck, who was the great grandfather of Samuel DeTurck.)
96
BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
Lieutenants-Gernant, (Gannon), Phillip Spohn, Henry Focht.
Seitzinger, Nicholas-Captain Charles Gobin's Company, September 9, 1780.
Frederick Bensinger-Came to Brunswick Township, 1740, and lived in that vicinity. He was in the Revolutionary War, his name occurs on the pension list. His descend- ants reside in this county and in the western part of the State. A great granddaughter, Mrs. Jacob Olhau- sen, deceased.
Peter Kutz, Anthony Roeder and Frederick Shaffer, from Pine- grove Township, now Wayne and Washington Town- ships, were Revolutionary soldiers.
John Dollinger is buried in St. Peter's Lutheran and Reformed cemetery, Pinegrove.
Jacob Reinhart, from Upper Mahantongo, now Eldred Town- ship, Revolutionary soldier, lived and died in that town- ship.
Conrad Eisenhuth-Revolutionary soldier from Berks County, lived to the remarkable age of III years. His son, Con- rad, died at 95. The former was the grandfather of A. C. Eisenhuth, of Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County.
Peter Bock, Isaac Moser, Balthaser Borck, Andrew Burkes, Bernard Kepner, Phillip Schwartz, Henry Lutz, Henry Hoffman, Frederick Hettinger were in the Revolution- ary War from Brunswick Township (from the vicinity of McKeansburg.) There were five residents from the same locality in the War of 1812.
The above are buried at Frieden's church, near New Ringgold and at McKeansburg. The first settlers came to that vicinity in 1740. They were Daniel, Jacob and Frederick Bensinger, Phillip Schwartz and John Kuehnle. They brought their families with them and named their settlement
97
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
"Schmaltzdahl." Their first church was held in a log school house and was known as "Friedens, unweit der kleinen Shool- kill, neben den Blauen Bergen, Braunschweig, Berks County." Ulrich Heiser and Abraham Seltzer came 1758; Bernard Kep- ner, 1769; Jacob Whetstone (Capt. of Company from Pine- grove Township), Andrew Bolich, Balzar Koch, Henry and Frederick Sassaman, in 1769-70. A tract of land was given, additional, 1768, when a new church was built. Part of this locality was in Northampton County until Schuylkill County was formed, 18II.
Jacob Shoemaker-Was born in New Jersey, 1760, and died at Bloomsburg, Pa., 1840. He served throughout the entire Revolutionary War. His great grandson, William H. Shoemaker, of Shenandoah, was born in Pottsville, 1832.
The list of these men is imperfect. There may be more, but enough have been given to refute the assertion fre- quently made, that "Schuylkill County was not represented, to any extent, in the War of the Revolution."
It should be borne in mind that the locality known now as Schuylkill County was not changed, only its name.
ZERBES IN THE COLONIAL, FRENCH AND INDIAN AND REVOLUTIONARY WARS
The name Servi, Xavier, Servitz, Seriver, Serfas, Serfass, Service, Servey, Servier, Sevier, Zerfas, Zerfass, is the same as Sevier, Sarva or Zarva, in the original and many branches of the family who spelled the name phonetically as above, have adopted the "Zerbe," "Zerbee," "Zerby," "Zerbey," others retaining the original spelling. There are sixteen different methods of spelling the name, as is stated else- where.
98
BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
The following occur in the Fifth Series Penna. Archives, which contains fifteen volumes, the sixteenth being an index : Serfas, Adam, 4th Vol., p. 344, Capt. Continental Line, List of Depreciated Pay.
Serfas, Charles, Vol. 4, p. 344, Private, same.
Serfas, Christian, Vol. 4, p. 664-672-357; Vol. 8, p. 203. Private, same.
Serfas, Frederick, Vol. 8, p. 242-297.
Serfas, Henry, Vol. 8, p. 113-448-562 ; Vol. 4, p. 357.
Serfas, Jacob, Vol. 8, p. 577.
Serfas, John, Vol. 4, p. 664 ; Vol. 8, p. 575.
Serfass, Capt., Vol. 8, p. 96.
Serfass, Adam, Vol. 8, p. 96, pp. 598-599-600, 48-109.
Serfass, Christian, Vol. 8, p. 264.
Serfass, Christian, Vol. 4, p. 344; Vol. 8, p. 306.
Serfass, Frederick, Vol. 8, p. 283, 297, 596.
Server. Daniel, Capt. John Slater's Co., Lancaster Co., Ist Battalion Lancaster Militia. (Daniel Zerbe, son of John Zerbe, the miller and brother to Benjamin, who set- tled in Pinegrove Twp .- Zerbe History.)
Server, Jacob, received depreciation pay. (Original rolls.) Continental Line. Jacob was a son of John Zerbe, wife Catharine Stup. He went carly to Cumberland County. Christian Zerbe, who married Christina Strauss, was a brother.) (Vol. 6, pp. 556, 553, 577.) Servier, Phillip-Cumberland Company, same county, Vol. 4. p. 638.
The U. S. paid the army in depreciated money, (shin plasters). This currency became lower and lower in value, the Tory sympathizers buying it up in quantities to still fur- ther reduce the credit of the government. The Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an Act to pay from the resources of
99
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
the State treasury the balance, and all Penna. soldiers were paid off at par by the State. This was called the "Depre- ciation Pay," hence the lists.
Servise, John, Capt. Nicholas Saltmier, May 1, 1777. Vol. 3. p. 89.
Service, John-Capt. James Dunn's Co., Chester Co. Asso- ciators and Militia, 8th Battalion, Col. Patterson Bell. Service, John-Capt. Gilbert Gibbs, Chester County, June 18, 1777. Militia of foot, Col. John Hannum.
Serfass, John-Vol. 8, p. 282, 493.
Serfass, William, Vol. 8, p. 282, 306.
Servey, Peter-Vol. 2, p. 109, Capt. Huling's Co., Jan. 5, 1776; Nov. 25, 1776: Commissioned, Col. Arthur St. Clair, furloughed from Oct. 1776, by Gen. Gates, Con- tinental Line. (Son of George Peter Zerbe, Zerbe His- tory.)
Service, John-Vol. 4, p. 963 ; Vol. 5, p. 809, 817.
Service, James-Vol. 4, p. 963.
Servis, Jacob-Vol. I, p. 302. Detachment Penna. Regt. in Garrison at Fort Bedford under Col. Jos. Shippen, Jan. 24, 1760. Capt. Hambright's Co.
Surver, Phillip-Vol. 6, p. 556-564.
Surver, Adam-Vol. 8. p. 575.
Servise, John-Vol. 3, p. 1025.
Server, Abraham (8th Vol., p. 222.) Capt. Jacob Heller, two months tour of duty, from around Allentown, North- ampton County. 8th Co., Capt. John Santee.
Server, Daniel-7th Vol., p. 4, 245.
Server, Jacob-4th Vol., p. 333 ; 6th Vol., p. 332-563.
Server, Phillip-4th Vol., p. 630; 6th Vol., p. 563-630.
Serves, Henry-8th Vol., p. 306.
Serfass, Christian-Same company from Northampton Co., same.
100
BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
Servey, John-Private Continental Line, Northumberland Co. Vol. 4, p. 379, p. 693.
(From lists of soldiers who received depreciation pay, and also from a manuscript record, no date, headed "Rangers on the Frontiers.")
Note-In addition to the Depreciation pay the Pennsyl- vania Legislature passed an Act entitling each soldier from this State, in the regular service of the Revolutionary War, to 200 acres of land. The officers were graded accordingly, a Major General receiving three thousand acres. There were no homestead laws attached to the bill and the greater part of the land fell into the hands of unscrupulous land specula- tors who bought up the bulk of the grant as low as fifty cents per acre.
Servey, Benjamin-Private, Capt. Benjamin Weiser's Co. of the German Regiment, of the General Battalion.
Zerbe, Benjamin (the same, enlisted twice)-Continental troupes commanded by Colonel Nicholas Hausseg- ger, in the service of the United Colonies, in barracks, Phila., Oct. 3, 1776. Enlisted July 19, 1776; Dec. 3, 1776. The Penna. German Regt. Berks County. Court Martial Man, Vol. 3, p. 793. (Son of John Zerbe, the miller), (Zerbe History). Court Martial Man ranked next to Ensign.
Serven, William-Enlisted Dec. 10, 1776; killed Oct. 4, 1781.
Col. Hazen's Regt. Penna. Continental Line. Vol. 3, p. 780. Vol. 4, pp. 357-672.
Service, Thomas-Private, Capt. Charles McHenry, 5th Penna. Regt., Continental Line, Sept. 9, 1778.
Service, Thomas-Was in McHenry's Company to August, 1778, and afterward in Col. Richard Butler's Company. Sarvas, John-Private 5th Penna. Regt., Continental Line, January 17, 1781. Vol. 5, p. 89.
IOI
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
Service, Thomas-Private, Capt. John Barclay, 5th Penna. Infantry in service U. S., Col. F. Johnstone, Comman- der, April, 1780. Vol. 3, p. 62.
Service, Thomas-Private, Capt. John Lacy, 1778; enlisted January 1, 1777, Capt. Alex. Jolinstone, in service U. S. 5th Penna. Regt. Col. F. Johnstone Regt. Continental Line, April 30, 1776.
Servits, George-Capt. John Gragery, Col. Nicholas Kerns, Northumberland Co., April 22, 1782. Vol. 8, p. 493.
From list of "Depreciated Pay," Vol. 4, p. 344. Service, Thomas-Private, Capt. John Lacy's Co. January 5, 1776 to January 9, 1778. Fourth Penna. Battalion, Col. Anthony Wayne. Vol. 2, p. 150.
Serfass, John-Capt. John Gregory, Col. Nicholas Kerns, for the year 1782, April 22, from Northampton Co., Vol. 8, p. 493.
It should be borne in mind that the early magistrates were phonetic spellers. Many of the early settlers, the French and German, had little or no knowledge of English, and had not decided upon perfect translations of their names into that language. They spelled by sound. Of these were the Zerbes. Others took the meaning of their names and changed them, as Hunter, Stone, etc., which differed widely from the names in the original pronunciations and spelling.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.