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 8
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
Servey, John-4th Vol., p. 369-693-379, Northumberland Co. Militia. Private in Continental Line.
Servas, John-Served as a private in Capt. Byles Co., 3rd Penna. Regt., in Revolutionary War and that he was paid to September 1, 1776, 3 pounds, 15 shillings for service.
Serva, Jolın-Private, John Mull's Company, same battalion commanded by Col. Peter Hosterman, on duty for 16 days, from April to July, 1779.
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BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
Servy, John-Private, Capt. John Black's Company, same bat- talion from October 9 to October 28, 1779.
The above three are from the records of the War Dept., Adj. General's Office, Washington, D. C., January 4, 1912.
(There were in 1736 three John Zerbes in Berks County. Owing to the custom of naming one son after the father, to perpetuate the name, this number of Johns had doubled at least until 1776. Those too, who migrated to Northumber- land and Northampton County, also had Johns; they were, however, all related and first cousins, except the descendants of one of that name, who were of the second degree. The record from the War Department states, that, "as the term of all Militia men was not longer than two months, the same men returned several times under other, or the same com- mands and the records often refer to the same man," hence, the duplication of names.)
Servitz, Joseph-Private Capt. George Shriver's 3d Co., 7th class, Northumberland Co., Vol. 8, p. 357.
Sarby, George-George Peter Zerbe, son of Martin Zerbe. Private, Independent Troop of Horse, Phila. County, 1756. Capt. Edward Jones, Vol. I, p. 50, French and Indian War. They were of the 3d Battalion and were known as the Augusta Regiment.
Martin and John Phillip Zerbe (Zerbe History, brothers, were in Queen Anne's War, 1711. (Part I and 2.)
Seriver, George-Capt. John Patton, 7th Co., 6th Battalion, Col. Jas. Taylor, Lancaster Co. From the original mus- ter rolls, public records, Harrisburg, April 15, 1783. Vol. 7, p. 619. (Son of George Peter Zerbe, Zerbe History.)
Zehrfass, Capt .- Vol. 8, p. 590; Vol. 6, p. 216.
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
Zehrfass, Abraham-Vol. 7, p. 245-312.1
Zarban, John-Private in Capt. Weaver's Co., same battalion, Berks County, from April 5, 1779, for a period of 22 days. (Son of George Peter Zerbe-Zerbe's History.)
Zerben, George-3d Series, Vol. 6, pp. 321-'22. Accounts Capt. Phillip Filbert's Co. (Sth class.) 39 pounds. (Son of John Zerbe, the miller-Zerbe History.)
Zerbe, Leonard-5th Vol., p. 230. Ensign, Company 8, 5th Battalion, May 17, 1777. 3rd Series, Vol. 6, pp. 321-'22. 6th Battalion, 4th Co., Heidelberg, Capt. Phillip Fil- bert. (Son of John Zerbe, the miller-Zerbe History.) (Sworn in by Peter Spyker, Justice, with 778 others. Total number enrolled, 1778.)
Zerben, Michael-3rd Series, Vol. 6, pp. 22-38. 2nd Sergt., Capt. George Miller's Co., from Bethel and Tulpe- hocken Townships. 29 men, 4 officers. Mustered De- cember 13, 1777. On duty at South Amboy, N. J. (Son of George Peter Zerbe-Zerbe History. Sept. 5, 1776. 5th Series, Vol. 5, p. 152.) Four thousand and fifty- eight men.
Zerban, Michael-Account of Capt. Weaver's Co. 4th class. 8 pounds. Vol. 5, p. 151, 152. (Son of John Jacob Zerbe, Bethel Township.)
Zerbe, Christian-Capt. Phillip Filbert's Co. Series 3, Vol. 6, P. 322.
All of the above occur in the Fifth Series, Penna. Ar- chives, unless otherwise credited. The Pennsylvania Militia all served several tours of field duty, but only a few of the company lists have been preserved. The new Fifth Series of
(Note 1-There are many references throughout the 5th Series to the name spelled as above, but as the Christian name is the same as those previously given, spelled with an "S" instead of "Z", for the surname, it is believed that they are in most instances correlative.)
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BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
fifteen volumes, the sixteenth being the index, contains nearly all of the Pennsylvania Revolutionary records that have been found up to 1906.
BERKS AND SCHUYLKILL IN REVOLUTION
Those included in the following list are from Volume Five, Fifth Series, Pennsylvania Archives.
Baker, David-Second Lieutenant, Capt. George Miller's Co. On duty South Amboy, N. J., September 5, 1776. (Wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Zerbe and Eliza- beth Loucks.)
Gruber, Christian-Ensign, 6th Co., 2nd Battalion, Class A. May 10, 1780. Vol. 5, p. 183.
Gruber, Christian-First Co., 6th Battalion Lancaster County Militia, 1783. Vol. 7, p. 609.
Gruber, George-List of "Depreciated Pay," Vol. 4, p. 495. Gruber, Valentine-Served in Capt. Rieff's Co., December II, 1777-February 6, 1778.
Gruber, Albrecht-Capt. Conrad Shirman's Co., 6 Bat., Aug. 10, 1780.
Reber, Conrad-Capt. George Miller's Co., September 5, 1776. (Vol. 5, p. 152.) (Miller-Reber History, Part III.)
Reber, Michael-Capt. Baldy's Co., Militia, September 9, 1780.
(Note)-The name Staudt occurs more than one hun- dred times in the 5th Series Penna. Archives. It would seem that any one of that name in the United States, who can prove the chronological order of descent, may find among the names of those mentioned an early ancestor.
The Stoudts (Staudts) were numerous in the Revolu- tionary War. Among those from Berks and Schuylkill Coun- ties are the following : The name Staudt is variously spelled. Stout, George-Ensign, Capt. Jacob Kremer's Co., Co. 7, (A class), 6 Bat., May 17, 1777.
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
Stout, Daniel-Sergt. Jacob Baldy's Co., August 10, 1780.
Stout, Daniel-Capt. Phillip Filbert's Co., 5 Vol., p. 183.
Stup, John-Capt. Conrad Sherman (brother of Catharine Stup, wife of John Zerbe), Vol. 5, p. 41.
Stout, John-Sergt. Capt. Daniel Rieff's Co., Feb. 6, 1778. Swartz, Christian-Capt. Jacob Ladig's Co., Oct. 1, 1781, (brother of Wendel Swartz, married to Eva, daughter of George Zerbe.)
Stout, John-Capt. Conrad Minnich's Co., May 17, 1777; 3rd Bat., Col. Michael Lindemuth.
Stout, John-Ensign, May 10, 1780, Capt. Anthony Schra- der's 3d Co., 5th Battalion, (brother of Elizabeth Stout, married to Andrew Miller.)
Stout, Daniel-Lieut., May 10, 1780.
Stout, John-Sergt. Capt. Daniel Rieff's Co., Dec., 1777; Jan., 1778; in camp thirty and a half miles below Read- ing.
Stout, Joseph-Shipmaster, Lucia Packet, 1762-1776.
Stout, Capt .- Fifth Series, Vol. 3, pp. 534, 568, 574, 575, 582. Swartz, Jacob-List of Depreciated Pay, Vol. 4, p. 495. Stout, Abraham-Vol. 5, p. 442.
Stout, Daniel-Vol. 5, pp. 373, 378, 167, 234 ; Vol. 7, p. 766.
(Those above, credited as coming from Lancaster Coun- ty, lived in Heidelberg Township, near the line dividing Berks and Lancaster Counties. They were in Lancaster County prior to 1752, when part of Heidelberg was legislated to remain in that county. Families in Berks County, near the line, were closely identified with their friends and neighbors on the other side who had not changed their locality but the name.)
The name Merkle under various spellings occurs about eighty times in the Penna. Archives. The Merkles were very numerous in the Revolutionary War. There are also one hundred and sixty mentions of this name in the old Moselem
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BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
Church records, Richmond Twp., Berks County. (Pennsyl- vania Genealogical Society, Philadelphia), (Fifth Series Penna. Archives, 5th Vol., p. 183.)
Merkle, Jacob-Capt. John Fulmer's Co., Wayne Township, formerly Manheim (Berks), Schuylkill County.
Merkle, Caspar-Capt. Phillip Filbert's Co., Vol. 5, p. 183. Markle (Merky), John-Capt. John Fulmer's Co. (Same). Merkle, Abraham-1781, 5th Vol., p. 185.
Merkle, Nicholas-
Mercklin-Vol. 6, pp. 240, 246.
Merckle-Vol. S, pp. 195, 210.
Merckling-Vol. 6, pp. 240-246.
Merkle-Vol. 5, p. 21I.
Merkly-Vol. 4, p. 252.
Merkle, Bernhard-Capt. Baldy's Co., Sept. 9, 1780. Merkle, George-Capt. Peter Nagle's Co.
Merkle, Christian, Jr .- Capt. Jacob Ladig's Co. Merkle, John-Capt. Jacob Ladig's Co., October 1, .1781. Merkle, Christian-Ensign, 5th Co., May 10, 17So, 3rd Co., and Ist Bat. from Trappe.
Marckle, Abraham-Independent troop of horse, Phila., 1756. Marckle, Michael-Vol. 3, p. 855, Capt. of the Light Dra- goons, came from France with Lafayette and belonged to the Independent corps, Cavalry and Foot, December ber 28, 1778.
Merkle, Merkel, Merclin, Marckle. Part 2.
THE RIETHS AND THEIR RECORDS
Rieth, Michael-Capt. John Huling's Co., Commissioned January 5, 1776; November 25, 1776. Furloughed from October, 1776, by Gen. Gates, Continental Line. Vol. 2, p. 109.
107
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
.
Rieth, Valentine. Jacob, Phillip, Adam, Caspar, Peter, Chris- tian, John, Samuel, George, Daniel, Michael, Frederick. -The name Rieth is now spelled Reed, Ried and Read. There were fourteen of that name in the Revolutionary War, all sons of the two who came from the Palatinate, 1710, and settled in the Schoharie, subsequently remov- ing to the Tulpehocken, 1723. The two former were ensigns. Jacob died 1821, Valentine, 1825. 75 and 76 years old ; both are buried in Rieth's cemetery, Stouchs- burg, Berks County.
Rieth, Leonard-2d Series, Vol. 3, p. 23. List of Officers, Rev. War, Berks County, Wagon Master, Jan. 8. 1778. Col. Henry Haller, Reading, held same position Feb. 25, 1778. Vol. 3, p. 23. (Leonard, son of George Rieth, wife, Anna Maria, daughter of George Peter Zerbe- Zerbe History.)
Rieth, John (Johannes) Was from Pinegrove Township. He was a brother of Leonard Rieth.
(Note-In the latter part of July, 1777, in anticipation of an invasion by the British, under Gen. Howe, the Executive Council secured wagons to remove the public records, at Philadelphia, to a place of safety and to assist the families of the inhabitants to remove, with the aid of the militia men. The President of the Executive Council ordered three hun- dred and fifty wagons from the Lieutenant of Berks County. Col. Jacob Morgan made the requisition according to the number of taxables. The Continental Congressional Records and Treasury were moved to Lancaster and Congress met there on the 27th of July. After the enemy left, October 17, 1777, only twenty of the three hundred and fifty wagons were retained.)
FAMILY TRADITIONS
Two incidents, in which members of the Rieth family participated, may prove interesting to others than those who have preserved the traditions.
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BLUE BOOK OF War of the Revolution
In 1793 when General George Washington visited Wom- elsdorf, he expressed a desire to see the tomb of Conrad Weiser and asked to be accompanied thither by three of his old body guard who had come to do honor to their old com- mander-in-chief. Christopher Lechner, Jacob and Valentine Rieth responded and spent an hour in his company. General Washington knelt at the lonely farmside grave for a brief prayer for his former comrade in arms. (Conrad Weiser's tomb is noted elsewhere.)
On another occasion General Washington had met some of his officers, for a conference, at the old tavern at Valley Forge. He came out of the hotel rather hastily, unattended. Leonard Rieth, who was loitering outside, seeing his predica- ment rushed to his assistance and acted as aid-de-camp, or orderly, holding his horse and adjusting his cloak and stirrups, Washington apparently not noticing the omission on the part of his regular attendant.
GEORGE WASHINGTON SPOKE PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Phillip Schwartz lived in the vicinity of what is now McKeansburg, with the earliest settlers prior to 1776. After the battle of Trenton, in which the Pennsylvania Germans saved the day for their redoubtable leader, Washington re- ported that the term of service of many having expired, that one-half of the men capable of bearing arms should be called into the field. The order was made October 17, 1777, and January, 1778, one hundred and fifty men were recruited from Berks County, Phillip Schwartz, of Brunswick Township, was one of the number, but prior to this an interesting little epi- sode occurred which has been handed down among the remi- niscenses of the family.
When Schwartz heard that he was wanted he said: "I will go, but I must see General Washington first." Schwartz rode to Washington's headquarters on one of a handsome
109
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of the Revolution
pair of black colts, that he had spent much time and care upon in raising and that were the pride of his heart. Upon inquiring of the sentry for General Washington he was ad- mitted to his presence only upon the plea of most urgent business. ("Ich muss e' in sehnen.")
Schwartz then related to the great commander in the reigning vernacular, that "He wanted to go to the field before, he would go now but there was no one home but his wife and the children. They could manage the farm but they could not care for the colts, they needed his care, they would die without him."
Washington went out and inspected the handsome horse and then said,
"Cum yusht! Wier bezallen dich fier die guile was sie ward sin."
Phillip Schwartz went home, brought the remaining colt and received his pay for the pair and served his full time. The horses were used for mounts for the officers and to the end of his time, Schwartz died about 1840, he related this story. He was very proud of his service in the struggle for freedom and on Battalion Day, or any great political or other celebration, in Orwigsburg, in which the military participated, old Phillip Schwartz appeared in his Continental uniform, sat upon the platform and was made one of the Vice Presidents of the meeting or an honorary member of a committee. His grandsons were, Joseph and Edward Schwartz, well known citizens of Schuylkill County.
THE WAR OF 1812-'14
On the 3d of June, 1812, the United States declared war against Great Britain. Hostilities began, with England, as early as June, 1807, when the French and British govern- ments ordered the seizure and confiscation of American ships, on the high seas, in utter defiance of the rights of neutrals
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.
BLUE BOOK OF War of 1812-14
and when hundreds of American sailors were impressed into the royal navy on the pretence that they were deserters from the English forces and her ships of war. The Indians of the northwestern frontier, instigated by British emissaries, at- tacked the frontier settlements and an invasion of Canada was undertaken by the Americans, in IS12. The successes of the American navy, including the Great Lake's fleet, far out- balanced the defeats of the forces by land. The campaign of 1814 was more important. After a series of victorious ma- neuvers in New York and on Lake Champlain, the American forces repulsed the British, who lost their fleet and 2,500 men. In the summer of 1814, a British fleet landed a force of sev- eral thousand men on Chesapeake Bay, under General Ross, who advanced upon Washington, burning the capitol, the President's House and the several executive buildings of the government. After the defeat of the British at New Orleans, a treaty for peace was signed at Ghent, December 24, 1814.
(Note-The city of Washington was founded, 1790, by the first President of the United States, whose name it bears. It became the seat of the Federal government in 1800. The delegates from the original twelve colonies, fifty-five in num- ber, met in Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. The second Congress met May 10, 1775, and issued the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. The Congress removed to Bal- timore toward the end of that year. The first Congress of the United States met in New York in 1789, its sittings were transferred to Philadelphia in 1790, and were removed to Washington in 1800.)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, county seat of a southeastern county of the same name, adjoining the Maryland line, was the seat of the State government from 1799 to 1812. Many valua- ble records were burned here, too, by the destruction of the court house, 1828, by fire.
III
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of 1812-14
SOLDIERS IN WAR OF 1812-1814 FROM SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Captain John Barr-Tavern-keeper, Pinegrove.
Michael Fritz-Substitute for Jonathan Seidel, Friedensburg.
(Father of E. J. Fritz and Mrs. J. K. Baker, of Potts- ville.)
Samuel B. Riland-Friedensburg.
John Aulenbach-Friedensburg.
Jacob Mennig-Friedensburg (father of Edward Mennig, of Pottsville.)
Adam Snyder-Friedensburg.
George Lerch-Friedensburg-First Defenders-1812.
Daniel Kaercher-Friedensburg. (Grandfather of Samuel B., Edward and Daniel Kaercher, Pottsville.)
John R. Bannan-Pottsville.
Burd Patterson-Pottsville.
Benjamin Pott-Pottsville.
Daniel Christian-Pottsville, (drummer boy).
Charles Siegfried-Pottsville. (Grandfather of George Eiler, Mrs. K. C. Wilson, the Rehrs and others, of Pottsville.) David Maurer-Pottsville.
Christopher Loeser-Pottsville. (Father of Mrs. Sarah Bris-
coe, Mrs. F. P. Dewees, and uncle of Charlemagne Tower.)
Andrew Achey-Pottsville.
Henry Fidler-Pottsville.
Conrad Roeder-Pottsville. (The Roeders were among the first butchers of Pottsville, and highly respected.)
Caspar Roeder, Pottsville. Peter Dinger-Pottsville.
George Dinger-Pottsville.
George Deidrich-Pottsville.
John Schoup-Pottsville.
John Kessler-Pottsville.
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BLUE BOOK OF War of 1812-14
Peter Bressler-Lower Mahantongo Twp.
Jonathan Bressler-Now Hegins Twp.
John Sterner-Manheim and Pinegrove Twps., native of Long Swamp, Berks Co. (Father of Charles B. Sterner, Potts- ville.)
Phillip Staller-Wayne Twp.
Henry Heckaman-(Father of Sarah Heckaman, of Stouchs- burg, Berks Co., and grandfather of the wife of Capt. W. F. Stitzer, of Schuylkill Haven.)
Peter Starr-Branch Twp.
George Hoerner-Lower Mahantongo Twp. (Father of Mrs. Ernest Nichol, dec'd, of Pottsville.)
John Kawl-Now Hubley.
Ludwig Shott-Berks Co. (Grandfather of Dr. C. Lenker, Sch. Haven.)
Phillip Snyder-From Mohrsville, Berks Co. (Grandfather of Henry B. Snyder, of Mahanoy Plane, Schuylkill Co.) John Hummel-Berks Co., 1776, (Grandfather of Hon. Ed- ward Hummel, Pinegrove.)
Peter Aurand-Berks Co. (Father of Aquilla Aurand, of Ta- maqua.)
Jacob Heisler-East Brunswick Twp.
Jacob Waltz, East Brunswick Twp.
George Moyer-East Brunswick Twp.
Capt. John Christian-East Brunswick Twp.
Rev. John Stein-East Pinegrove Twp.
(Rev. John Stein, son of John Stein and wife, Susanna Eckles, born two miles north of Pinegrove, July 17, 1794. He preached in many Lutheran churches in Schuylkill and Lebanon counties, among them Jacob's church, Pinegrove Twp.)
(The Christians of Pottsville have good military records in all of the wars since 1812. John, Michael and Daniel came to Cumru Township, Berks County, from Switzerland, about 1780. The latter went to Mary- land and settled. Michacl was the ancestor of the Berks County branch. John settled north of the Blue Mountains and was the head of all of that name in Schuylkill County. Capt. John Christian was the father of Wm. Christian, father of C. & I. policeman Capt. Daniel Christian. Other sons were Jacob and Benjamin, of Pottsville.)
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY War of 1812-14
RECORDS FROM TOMBSTONES
St. Peter's Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery-Jonathan Bonavitz, Benjamin Bonavitz, John Bonavitz, John Boyer, Dr. Jacob Christ, Henry Eckler, Jacob Lehman, Daniel Um- benhen, Henry Zimmerman.
St. John's Lutheran, Pinegrove-Henry Conrad, John Barr, Peter Filbert, Daniel Kitzmiller.
Hetzel's Church-Phillip Zerbe, 1812; Joseph Zerbe, 1861 ; John Zerbe, 1861 ; John Hummel, 1812.
St. Jacob's, Swatara Valley-John Ream, Adam Reed, Ja- cob Spancake, 1812, 1861.
St. Paul's Evangelical, Pinegrove-Henry Reinoehl.
(Pension list, soldiers in the War of 1812, Penna. Archives, 6th Series, Vo. 9, pp. 408, 505, 603.)
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BLUE BOOK OF Mexican War
Mexican War
Schuylkill County Represented
HERE had been a constant friction between Mexico and the United States prior to the admission of Texas into the Union.
The Mexicans imprisoned Americans, seized their ships and confiscated their goods. In 1831 this country concluded a treaty of commerce with Mexico, which was frequently vio- lated and the Americans retaliated by assisting Texas to be- come an independent State. Ten years later, March 1, 1845, Texas was added to the United States, and a declaration of war followed. November 1, 1846, Governor Shunk issued a call for volunteers which was immediately responded to by two regiments of infantry from Pennsylvania. Schuylkill County responded with the Washington Artillery, now Co. F, of Pottsville, Fourth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsyl- vania. November 30, 1846, the company reported at Phila- delphia, joining six companies from that city, two from Pitts- burg and one from Wilkes-Barre. Peace was concluded after a strenuous warfare of not quite two years and the Pennsylva- nia infantry disbanded in Philadelphia, July 24, 1848.
115
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Mexican War
Muster Roll of Co. B, Ist Regt., Pa. Vols., War With Mexico. December 5, 1846
(From copy in possession of Col. Daniel Nagle, Pottsville, Pa.)
OFFICERS
Captain, James Nagle,
age 25 years, Pottsville
Ist Lieut., Simon S. Nagle,
25
2nd Lieut., Franklin B. Kaercher
25
3rd Lieut., Jacob Fellnagle,
20
Ist Sergt., Edward Rehr, 32
20
3rd Sergt., Edward Kaercher,
21
4th Sergt., J. L. MeMicken,
24
Ist Corporal, Enos Zentmyer,
25
2nd Corporal, David Llewellyn, (On way to New Orleans)
22
66
3rd Corporal, J. Egbert Farnum,
23
4th Corporal, Edward W. Masson, Ist Musician, Daniel Nagle, Drummer, "
25
18
2nd Musician, Reuben Stamm, Fifer,
23
66
PRIVATES
William C. Boland,
Pottsville
Charles Scrimshaw,
23
Daniel Shappell,,
36
Elias Shelly,
26
Emanuel Shelly,
26
A. H. Berger,
Nelson Berger,
",
27
George Seitzinger,
27
William Seitzinger,
40
John Stegner,
29
66
66
16
66
2nd Sergt., William S. Nagle,
66
66
66
Henry Smink,
66
66
"
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BLUE BOOK OF Mexican War
John Shuster,
age 22 years, Pottsville
(Discharged at Perote Castle, January 7th, 1847.)
66
22
66
Jacob W. Shoub,
22
Michael Sands, (Left at New Orleans, January 15th, 1847.)
James Sands,
Robert H. Savage, (Left at New Orleans, January 12th, 1847.
Samuel Shadman,
66
22
Henry Fisher,
21
George W. Garrett,
24
66
John C. Gilman,
34
66
66
Thomas W. Guthrie,
21
(Discharged at Vera Cruz.)
Elias F. Hiney,
John Hays,
22
Peter Hass,
26
William H. Hatcheley,
25
66
66
John Jennings,
24
(Left at New Orleans, January 12th, 1847.)
Elias Kelly,
(Discharged at
Vera Cruz,
March 17, 1847.)
John Kepply,
Singleton Kimmel,
22
66
66
Michael Lust,
37
66
66
William Tyson,
24
Abel B. Macy,
28
66
Alexander McDonald,
22
Ferdinand Mammerank,
20
66
66
26
26
66
66
28
66
25
66
28
66
66
66
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Mexican War
117
age 21 years, Pottsville
John Mooney, (Left sick at Pittsburg, De- cember 21st, IS46.)
John Myers,
Samuel McLaughlin,
35
(Discharged at April 2nd, 1847.)
Vera Cruz,
Thomas Simpson, (Left in Mexico.)
Robert F. Walter,
66
26
Gottloeb Wishue,
66
22
William Wolfinger,
66
25
Owen D. Thomas
29
Andrew Stamm,
20
John Douty,
(Killed at San Angel, by Mex- ican Greaser in ambush.)
Joel Metz,
James H. Ruckel,
23
David Jones,
22
66
66
(Discharged at Vera Cruz,
April, 1847.)
66
20
66
66
Benjamin Smith,
20
(Died at Perote Castle,
June 29th, 1847.)
6
21
Bernard Barr,
32
Valentine K. Mills,
30
66
(Died at Perote Castle, Au-
gust 8th, 1847.)
·
66
21
18
66
22
66
Robert Welsh,
22
66
William Witecomb,
66
66
-
Benjamin Shell,
66
66
Augustus H. Boyer,
66
66
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BLUE BOOK OF Mexican War
William Merkle, age 25 years, Pottsville
(Killed by Mexican Greaser in ambush at San Angel, about August 1.)
Benjamin Nagle, (Died at San Angel, Mexico.)
26 66
John M. Nolan,
24
28
66
Francis M. Wynkoop, (Elected Colonel from the ranks at Pittsburg.)
Francis C. McGeen,
23
Henry Richards,
66
22
66
John Hand,
19
" Philadelphia
Thomas W. Guthrie,
22
66
Henry Graeff, (Died at Jalapa, Mexico.)
66
23
Pittsburg
Patrick H. McElroy, (Left January 5, 1847, at New Orleans.)
Joshua Jenkins,
24
Thomas Quiddington,
42
John McCormick,
66
19
William Hines,
66
20
66
Thomas J. Gilpin,
Mahlon A. Fraser, age 25 years, New Orleans. (Left at Vera Cruz, April 8th, 1847.)
William Knockhouse, age 22 years, Schuylkill Haven.
William H. Stackpole, age 21 years, Waynesburg.
Samuel Montgomery, age 22 years, Waynesburg. (Died at Perote Castle, August 26th, 1847.)
James H. Ross, age 20 years, Waynesburg.
66
66
26
66 66
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY Mexican War
Levi Bright, age 30 years, Reading. (Lost on march from Pueblo to Perote.)
Charles Seagraves, age 22 years, Reading.
George W. Ilesser, aged 27 years, McVeytown.
Seth Price, age 26 years, Orwigsburg.
Edward Robins, age 21 years, Port Carbon.
Levi Essler.
Commissioned officers 4
Musicians 2
Non-commissioned officers 8
Private soldiers 83
Total 97
Number of men enlisted in Pottsville. .74
Number enlisted outside of Pottsville, but in county IO Number enlisted outside of county along route to New Orleans 13
Total .97
The following is a copy of a letter written by William Merkle, July 16, 1847, to his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Merkle, of Spring Garden, Schuylkill Haven, several days before his death. Col. Daniel Nagle says: "William Merkle and John Douty went out for a walk, one morning, beyond the picket line, when they were shot by Mexican Greasers lying in am- bush. Their bodies were recovered and buried within the redoubts." (History of Merkles.) The original is in the pos- session of his great nephew, Prof. Bartolet, Instructor of Mathematics, Collegiate Institute, York, Pa. The stamp bears the date of November 5, 1847, Vera Cruz, Mexico. Wm. Merkle was an uncle of W. M. Zerbey, deceased, of Potts- ville.
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