Seventh Generation  

64. John (Johannes) Zerbe, son of Johan Jacob Zerbe and Maria Catharina Winter, was born in Oct 1719 in East Camp, Columbia, NY and died Prior to 8 Nov 1776 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA.

John's birth and baptismal dates are recorded in the registers of the Lutheran Church in New York City, probably the home church of the minister who baptized him. When married by the famous Rev. John Casper Stover in 1744, he entered their names as John Zerwe and Catarina Stup. It seems certain that it was this John Zerb who was an original signer in 1743 on the rolls of Christ Lutheran Church. The only other man by this name of appropriate age was John's uncle, John the Miller (i.e. John Japhet son of Martin). However, the latter seems unlikely since John the Miller had previously joined the Moravian movement, and Christ Lutheran Church had been formed primarily as a result of the Moravians having taken over the old Rieth's or Zion's Lutheran Church.

John Zerbe is entered on the tax rolls for Tulpehocken Twp. for 1754, 1758, 1760 and 1765 and probably is the Hans Zerben on the tax roll for 1770. It does not appear that John owned land for several years after his marriage and until he eventually bought the two tracts of land comprising his father's farm in Bethel Twp. From his brothers Michael and Valentine Zerbe, John bought 84 acres on 14 November 1768 and 100 acres on 16 November 1768. After John's death his heirs on 15 March 1785 sold these two tracts to his son Christian Zerbe (The Ancestor). It is probable that this farm was north of Rehrersburg and just across Little Swatara Creek in Bethel Twp.

Letters of administration on the estate of John Zerbe, the younger (i.e. younger than his uncle John the Miller), late of Tulpehocken Twp., deceased, were issued to the widow Catherine on 8 November 1776. This suggests that John may never have moved onto his father's farm in Bethel Twp. after he bought it. Petitions to the Berks Co. Orphans Courts (Dockets 2:251, 255) dated 12 and 13 November 1778 show that John died intestate leaving a widow Catherine and dying seized of both real and personal property. His daughter Margaret, a minor over 14 years, chose Jacob Strauss as her guardian. The court appointed Daniel Schneyder and Jacob Strauss guardians of Barbara, John and Daniel, all orphans of John under 14 years.

Catherine apparently moved to the farm in Bethel Twp. after the death of her husband as she is recorded in the tax lists there in 1780, 1784 and 1785. In the year 1784 she was assessed for 50 acres in Bethel Twp., this presumably being her own dower assignment out of her husband's estate. It is probable that she was the Widow Zerbe residing in Bethel Twp. when the census was taken in 1790; the two females in the family were probably Catherine and her daughter Barbara.

From Vallentine Family History (A1, B3, B38, B39, B43, B47, B48, C2, C16, C18, C21, E30)

John married Caterina Stupp on 4 Jun 1944 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA. Caterina was born about 1723.

Children from this marriage were:

          i.  Maria Zerbe was born on 8 Apr 1745 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA and died Prior to 1776, probably in.

         ii.  Johannes Zerbe was born on 23 Mar 1748 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA and died Prior to 1776.

32      iii.  Christian Zerbe (born on 25 Dec 1750 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA - died in 1817-1818 in Union County, PA). Christian married Maria Christina Strauss on 3 Jun 1773. Maria was born on 20 Feb 1749 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA and died 11-16 Nov 1805 in Union County, PA, at age 56.

         iv.  Anna Elizabeth Zerbe was born on 15 Oct 1753 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA.

          v.  Anna Christina Zerbe was born on 10 Feb 1756 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA.

         vi.  Maria Margaretha Zerbe was born on 6 May 1761 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA.

        vii.  Barbara Zerbe was born about 1764 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA.

       viii.  John Zerbe was born about 1766.

         ix.  Daniel Zerbe was born about 1768 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA.

65. Caterina Stupp was born about 1723.

Caterina married John (Johannes) Zerbe, son of Johan Jacob Zerbe and Maria Catharina Winter, on 4 Jun 1944 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA. John was born in Oct 1719 in East Camp, Columbia, NY and died Prior to 8 Nov 1776 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA.