Notes:

Jean Michael was baptized in Alsace on Feb 18, 1724, in the Evangelish- Reformierte Kirche, Oberseebach. His godparents in Alsace were Maria Margaretha Christ and Johannes Michael Schatz. One record showed his parents as Philippi Jacobi and Catharina Probst (Philippi Jacobi would be the Latin, or Roman Catholic spelling); another shows Philippe Jacques Probst and wife, Catherine, Lutherans.

Jean Michael was only 12 years old when his family arrived in America in 1733. At the age of 21, he married Margaret Shadt (Daughter of Henry and Susanna Shadt) and had one son Heinrich (1745). (Note that previous reports that Margaret's name was Shade were in error. Also, her first name has not been verified.)

The family farm was on the farmsite of Philipp Jacob Probst in Albany Township, Berks County. PJ's son Jean Michael took over management the farm in the mid-1750s; PJ died probably around 1857, just a year or two before his wife, C'erine. Jean Michael moved onto his own farmland, just to the northwest of his father's farm, in the mid-1760s with the purchase of 923 acres of land to add to the 40 acres he had already owned. He was shown on the Albany Twp, Berks Co, tax rolls for 1752.

Jean Michael diel in 1771, and his sons Martin and Johannes F. took over the farm.

The farmsite is located just about a mile northwest of the Jerusalem "Red" Church in Stony Run, in what was back then called Fetherolfsville. It lies just north of Kistler Creek, at the intersection of Kistler Valley Road and Old Philly Pike. The bridge is still called Fetherolfsville Bridge on county maps. The original log house is gone, but the stone house which replaced it is still there. The stone house was built in the mid-1700s by Philipp Jacob and his sons. It has been modified and expanded in recent years, and is currently occupied by Jos. Freeman & family. Jean Martin's Grist Mill was just across the street, also on the north side of Kistler Creek, but is no longer there; it was located in what is now just a grove of trees. The house left Brobst hands probably in the early 1800s. Interestingly, the front walkway is made of the millstones from Martin Probst's Mill which was across the street.

Their children were probably all born on the family farm.

Margaret may have died in 1745, or for reasons unknown, Jean Michael and Margaret separated about that time, for in 1746 he married Maria Elizabeth Albright; they had 10 children. She must have had a difficult pregnancy with Christian, the last child, for she died just a couple of months after his birth.

According to Frances Hackworth, there was an additional son, Matthias, born in Reading, PA, who died as a child. No other record of this child. No birth year or mother identified. Frances also believes that all but the first three children were born in Reading, Berks Cty, PA. No other record shows this, but it may be so.

He was on the first tax roll of Berks County in 1752. He also owned land in Brunswick Twp, Berks (now Schuylkill) Co, PA, which he acquired in 1766 and 1769; that land later went to his son Martin.

He was a grand-uncle of Obadiah. He was also tax collector for Albany Twp in 1759. Owned nearly 1000 acres in Berks and Lehigh Ctys. Some of his land adjoined that of the Friesz family, and when Elizabeth died, he married his newly-widowed neighbor! He owned 2 tracts in Albany Twp of 326 acres, a tract of 50 acres of woodland in the same township adjoining lands of Conrad Schiessler and the Blue Mountains, and two tracts in Brunswick Twp of 350 acres. Some of his land adjoined that of the Friesz family, and when his second wife, Elizabeth, died, he married his newly-widowed neighbor, Margaretha Friesz, and had one more child (George Michael) by her; George Michael was born just a couple of months after his father's death.

He was naturalized in Philadelphia on Sept 25, 1761, with his brother Valentine and his friend Johannes Jurg Kistler. They walked the entire distance from Allemaengle to Philadelphia and back!!

He died without making a will; brother Valentine and Andreas Hagenbuch were administrators of estate. Info on estate settlement in W. Thomas file. Records show he died shortly before his son George Michael was born.

After Jean Michael's death in 1771, his widow Margaretha married Frederick Senztel of Reading, and she took her son George Michael with her into that marriage.

After Jean Michael's death, Jacob Gertner of Richmond Township, and Frederick Hill and Valentine Probst, both of Albany Township, were appointed guardians of Anna Maria, Valentine, Christian, and George Michael. Valentine Probst and Andrew Hagenbuch were appointed guardians of Jacob, Michael, and Catharine. (Per Orphan Court Book 2, pages 110, 113, 114, Berks County, Nov 1771.)

The court documents state:

Michael Probst died possessed of cert. messuage Tenants and Tracts of Land situated partly in Berks County and partly in said Northampton County Containing in whole about Seven Hundred and eighty three Acres and Sixty one Perches besides the Customare allowances And the Orphans Court Dec. 17 1771 ...... leaving widow and Issue ten Children....same valued at One Thousand
seven Hundred and eighteen Pounds etc....remainder in hands of said Henry Probst.....conveys to Michael Probst his Brother Cert. three Tracts of land cont. 49 acres and allowances ....Beginning....extending by Land intended to be conveyed unto John Probst...Cont. 6 C. 9 per. the big part of ninety-nine acres etc. etc. et. (part of the land rec'd by Michael Probst the Father by Warrant Dated 3 day May 1749. signed Henry Brobst (German) Wits.: Matthias Brobst of Lynn Twp. Esq. John Okely. (Berks Co. Deeds Vol. 12 p.292.

MARGARET BROBST widow of Michael Brobst signs Releases" Aug. 16 1771. MARGARET BROBST widow and Relict of Michael Probst late of Albany Twp. Berks Co. Pa. Yeoman [landowner] deceased...For the Sum of One hundred and forty Pounds Lawful Money of Pennsylvania....paid by Valentine Probst of Albany wp.....Yeoman and Andreas Hagenbach.. of same place yeoman Administration of the goods and Chattels....of said Michael Brobst deceased for and in Behalf of
all the Children and Representatives of him the said Michael Probst. Releases her Dower Claim etc. signed her Margaret X Brobst mark

Wits.: to Ack. Sept. 25 1771 Peter Trexler Jacob I G Gordner.

Recorded June 4 1773. (Berks Co. Deeds Vol. 1-B p. 305

The term "yeoman" means "landowner", not "scribe".

Jean married ALBRECHT Maria Elizabeth. Maria was born in 1721 in Germany. [Group Sheet]

1. BROBST Michael was born in ABT. 1751 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, PA; died on 12 Oct 1814 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, PA.

Jean married SCHADT Margaretha Rosina. Margaretha was born in 1725 in Germany; died in Sep 1744 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, PA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Philip Jacob Probst was a master potter by trade (as were his father and brothers) in Kandel. He left Kandel and moved across the Lauder (River) about 15 miles to Oberseebach, in Alsace, where he met Catherine (Christ?), his future wife. C'erine was a French Heugonot. They were married probably in Oberseebach, although they may have married in Minfeld before they moved to Alsace. (In 1720, Alsace was controlled by Germany, but soon thereafter reverted back to French control.) He might have also later used the name of Philippe Jacques Probst, reflecting the politics of living in French Alsace! The births of his first four children were recorded there. They were French citizens when they left for America. The first names of the three boys may have been originally intended to be Johan, but had become Jean for political reasons, prior to their departure for America.

It is noted in the church records in Oberseebach (Evangelish-Reformierte Kirche) that one Phillippe J. Probst was the godfather on April 15 1724 of Marie Marguerite Anthes, daughter of Henri Anthes and his wife, Eve; the godmother was Maria Margaretha Christin (Christ). That same Maria Margaretha Christin was the godmother of Jean Michael, son of Philipp Jacob and C'erine. It is also noted that the German translation of those baptismal records shows PJ's name to be Philippus Jacobus in one place and Philippi Jacobi in another!!

He came to America on the pink (ship) "John and William" , leaving from Rotterdam, Holland, and then Dover, England, in 1732, and landing in Philadelphia on 17 October of that year, with their children Jean Michael, Jean Valentine, Jean Martin, and perhaps Anne Marie. Also on that boat were (1) an older Hans Michael Probst (1655?), PJ's younger brother Johann Michael (1707), and his younger sister Elisabeth Margaretha Probst Vossellmann.

His family stayed in Philadelphia over the winter, and in the spring of 1733 left for Berks County. See "The Brobst Chronicles" for details of this move and settlement. Since he could not make a living as a potter, he became a farmer as well.

By virture of a warrant dated 1 August 1734 (Book C-155, page 253, in the Land Office of the Commonwealth) and surveyed 12 November 1735, PJ was granted 200 acres of land situated on Kistler Creek, a branch of Maiden Creek, in eastern Albany Township, Berks County. He soon after acquired 50 acres more. In 1743, he acquired 97 more acres. The northeast corner of his land extended into Lynn Twp, Northampton (now Lehigh) County, per Lewis Donat, a Berks/Lehigh County historian. His farm, adjoining the Donat plantation, was northeast of Kempton, Albany Twp, Berks County, about 7 miles northwest from that of his brother, Johann Michael, whose farm was in Weisenberg Twp, Lehigh County. To the south of this land was the farmland of Jean Valentine Probst, reaching almost to the Jerusalem Church.

It is evident that Philip Jacob and Michael Probst; and Erhardt Vosselman
moved much more quickly than most to become established in a district that for a time was called Allemagnel, which today is Albany Township, Berks County, PA. Philip Jacobs’ warrant for two hundred acres of land plus 6% allowance for roads is dated 1 Aug 1734 which is but twenty one months from the time of their arrival in this country. This has been found to be most unusual.

The farmsite is located just about a mile northwest of the Jerusalem "Red" Church in Stony Run, in what was back then called Fetherolfsville. It lies just north of Kistler Creek, at the intersection of Kistler Valley Road and Old Philly Pike. The bridge is still called Fetherolfsville Bridge on county maps.

The tract, resembling huge trapezoid is located East of the village of Kempton, Berks County, PA, along what is locally known as the "Kistlers’ Valley Road". More specifically, Philipp Jacob's house located just north of the bridge spanning the Kistler Valley Creek in what years ago was regarded as the village of Fetherolfsville would be near the center of this tract. The tract bordered George Ritter's farm on the west side.

All three of them, Philip Jacob and Michael Probst and Erhardt Vosselman must have been skilled in the trades of masonry and carpentry, although they had been potters in Germany. With all of this work in progress in this time period of the 1730s, this would account for the reason why Erhardt Vosselman did not acquire his own tract of land until 4 Oct 1738. There is a possibility that Hans David Billman was another person to aid in the construction of the Brobst tract; for he had acquired land adjoining Erhardt Vosselman on the North of the warrant, too, dated 4 Oct 1738. Billman arrived in this country on 16 September 1736. Certainly the sons of Philip Jacob Brobst were of but limited help during this time period for in 1734 his son Michael was but 13 years old, Valentine was 10, and Martin was 8. It was during this time period that their three daughters were born.

In addition to necessary housing and farm buildings that had to be constructed, a
grist mill and a saw mill were built across the road from the house of Philip Jacob. This mill has long since disappeared but the foundation stones still exist at the site, though no longer visible because of later road improvements.

For a period of almost eight years, there was no attempt made to acquire more land. The building phase was completed, and the Brobst children were growing up. Suddenly, in 1742, there was a flurry of activity. A fifty acre tract of land was acquired about a mile distant from the plantation; a twenty five acres tract of land was acquired which adjoined the plantation on the western boundary; a seventy five acre tract of land was acquired which adjoined the plantation partially on the northern boundary and all of the eastern boundary. All of these separate tracts were acquired by warrants on the same day, the 23rd of March, 1742.

The family farmhouse was on the farmsite of Philipp Jacob Probst. The original log house is gone, but the stone house which replaced it is still there and is being used today as a residence. There is a stone in the foundation clearly engraved "1737". During the French and Indian War, the Ft. Henry Militia stayed overnight in the "Brobst Tavern" in Philipp Jacob's house, operated by Valentine Brobst. The bar room was in the cellar, next to the fireplace which is still there. The tavern had a separate entrance around the south side of the house.

The house left Brobst hands probably around 1900. Interestingly, the front walkway is made of the millstones from Martin Probst's Mill which was across the street. The stone house has been modified and expanded in recent years. In the 1930s, it was occupied by Ralph and Mabel Lutz; they sold it to a Dritski family in the 1950s. It is currently occupied by Joseph and Barbara Freeman. Sarah (Schroeder) Burns, a Brobst descendant, spent some time visiting in that house when she wasa child, not knowing it was a Brobst ancestral home!

In 1740, he and his sons helped to build the "New Bethel Corner" Church in Albany Township, west of Kempton, and just north of the Brobst Grist Mill on Pine Creek. (per Bill Rutledge)

PJ's son Jean Michael took over management the farm in the late-1750s; PJ died around 1757-1759, just a short time before his wife, C'erine. Jean Michael died in 1771, and his sons Martin and Johannes F. took over the farm.

His saw mill (later son Martin's) Grist Mill was just across the street (now Old Philly Pike), also on the north side of Kistler Creek, but is no longer there; it was located in what is now just a depression with some buried stones in a grove of trees.

Their children were probably all born on the family farm.

His spelling of English was poor, and command of spoken English probably not much better.

PJ signed his will on Apr 27, 1747, stating that he was then in good health; his will was not probated until Mar 21, 1860. Jacob Albrecht was a witness to the signing of the will, which was written in very poor English, and signed what appears to be "Philbs Brobs". However, Lewis Donat of Allentown challenges that will. He translated the original will from German to English. On May 20, 1991, Lewis wrote to Paul Gann:

"1760 was the year of the probate of the last will and testament of Philip Jacob Probst. At this point I will write something that will astonish you. Historians have oft quoted this will, and it has caused some genealogical discomfort. I say to you that the PHILIP JACOB BROBST WILL IS A FRAUD. Now that you have regained consciousness from this genealogical shock, let me give you the end result of all these goings on. We are dealing here with the original 1734 land purchase by PJ containing 212 acres of land. In addition to that we must add 150 acres of the 1742 purchase, all of which amounts to 362 acres of the finest farm land to be found, and is so to this day. the PJ daughters were very neatly eased out of the picture, leaving the land mass to PJ's sons. (Jean) Michael, as administrator of the PJ estate, out of love and affection for his brothers, paid 5 shillings to (Jean) Valentine and 5 shillings to (Jean) Martin; Valentine, out of love and affection for his brothers, paid (Jean) Michael 5 shill

He apparently never became a naturalized citizen.

His will was witnessed by Johann Jacob Albrecht, father of Marilis Albrecht who married Philipp Jacob's son Jean Michael.

His will was probated on March 21 1760; his death date is not recorded. He apparently died 13 years earlier, which was the date of his will. He was by his own assertion in "I being in good helth and my Naturall Senses" in 1747 when he made his will; it is assumed he lived significantly longer than that. It would have been extremely unusual to take 13 years to probate the will, especially as land-hungry as his sons were. On the other hand, Bill Rutledge's history of the Brobsts notes that he "was not listed among the residents of Albany Township in 1748 or 1752, although his three sons were listed." He was not listed on the tax rolls for Albany Twp, Berks Co, in 1752, so he may have already died by then. Rutledge states ".... the will was not filed until 1760 as the widow died in 1760 and the necessity of settling the estate led to the filing of the Will and the repatenting of the Land."

Per Irene Konrad, he was buried on 27 Apr 1747, so perhaps he really did die in Apr 1747. Brobst is trying to verify that.

Perhaps buried w/ C'erine in New Bethel "Corner" Church Cemetery, Albany Twp, Berks Cty, but no marked stones have been found (there are many unmarked ones). It is also possible that both he and C'erine were buried on the family farmsite.

It is noted that a Joes Philippus Probst was the sponsor for the baptism of Johannes Philippus Enes, born to Johannes and Elisabeth Enes, Pietists -- in Oberseebach, Alsace, on 14 June 1726, in the Oberseebach Catholic and Lutheran Church! Who was Joes Philippus Probst?

Phillip married CHRIST Anne Catharine. Anne (daughter of CHRIST Johann Heinrich) was born on 10 Nov 1696 in Niederseebach, Alsace; died on ABT. Jan 1760 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, PA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her family name is in some question. Unfortunately, the marriage records for Oberseebach, Alsace, France, for the period 1682 through 1755 are missing. We only know that the marriage took place there about 1720.

Other records do exist. According to French archives in Strasbourg, France, for the church in Oberseebach, on 4/15/1724, one Phillippe J. Probst was godfather to Marie Marguerite Anthes, daughter of Henri (Heinrich?) Anthes and his wife Eve (Eva) (nee Christ). The godmother, standing with Philipp Jacob, of Marie Marguerite Anthes was Marie Marguerite Christin (Christ). That same Marie Marguerite Christin was the godmother of Jean Michael Probst, first son of Philipp Jacob and C'erine.

Philipp Jacob's wife C'erine was the sister of either Henri or Eva. But which one? For some time, it was not known, but only assumed that she was Henri's sister.

(It is noted that a Henry Antes and Christina Dewees were parents of an Elizabeth Antes (b Feb 9 1834) who married Rev. Nicholas Pomp at the New Goshenhoppen Church, Upper Hanover Twp, Montgomery Co, PA, on Apr 23 1772. Elizabeth was the widow of George Philip Dotterer (m in 1754). Nicholas and Elizabeth lived in Montgomery Co, PA. The relationship of this Antes family to the Alsatian Henri Anthes is not known.)

And the godfather of Philipp Jacob Probst was Valentin Christ. The godfather of Philipp Jacob's second son Jean Valentine was Johann Valentine Christ (and Anna Elisabeth Anthes. And the godfather of Philipp Jacob's first daughter, Anne Marie, was Johann Jacobus Christ (and Anna Maria Kobel)! Clearly, their ties to the Christ family were much stronger than to the Anthes family.

Those same records (Evangelish-Reformierte Kirche, Oberseebach) state "Philippe Jacques Probst and Catharine, his wife, Lutherans, had these children found in the Parish registers of Oberseebach: 28 Aug 1721 Jean Michel; 18 Feb 1724 Jean Valentin; 29 Dec 1726 Jean Martin; 8 Mar 1731 Anne Marie." It is noted that two of her daughters had the first name "Eva", and one of her children was named "Valentin", the same name as her husband's godfather (Valentin Christ). (Those same records in the Catholic version listed their names as Philippi Jacobi, Joannes Michael, Joannes Valentinus, and Johannes Martin.)

Another coincidence, or possibly more than a coincidence, is that a Johann Heinrich Christ Jr, son of Johann Heinrich Christ Sr, born in Kanton Berne, Switzerland, was living in the village of Hatten (or Hotten), just a few miles southwest of Oberseebach, Alsace, France, where he married on Jan 8 1715 Anna Goetz, daughter of Johann Jacob Goetz, in the village of nearby Hatten. Johann Heinrich was probably born around 1690-1693, and appears to have been a possible (likely?) brother to C'erine! Johann Heinrich Jr and his family came to America on the "Pennsylvania Merchant" on Sept 11 1732, just a month before C'erine and Philipp Jacob. Their property in Berks Co was very close to that of Philipp Jacob and C'erine.

Their son, Johann Heinrich, Jr, b 26 Jan 1721, was Recorder of Deeds in Berks County for several years.

It is noted that there were other Christs in the Kandel area in the 1600s: Jonas and his daughter Anna Christina (d 1626), Balthasar and his son Adam (d 1626); info provided by Dora Kamalu.

C'erine's asserted family name of Anthes had earlier been inferred, rather than proven. In the past, the evidence for that seemed credible, under the (unproven) assumption that Henri Anthes was C'erine's brother, rather than her brother-in-law. However, information that Dora Kamalu has put together indicates that the reverse is more likely; i.e., that C'erine's family name is more likely to have been Christ, not Anthes. At this point, it appears possible, and perhaps even probable, that Eva Anthes' maiden name was Christ, and she may have been a sister to C'erine, in which case C'erine's maiden name would definitely be Christ, not Anthes.

It is noted that if C'erine were truly a Christ, she might well have been a sister to Johann Heinrich Christ who came to America in 1732, just a month earlier than C'erine and Philipp Jacob, and whose son was Register of Deeds for Berks County for quite some years. However, W. Robert Gillespie, a noted Christ researcher, has yet (in 1999) to find any certain information on brothers or sisters of Johann Heinrich Christ. There was no mention of Christs in the estate papers of Philipp Jacob Probst.

Since the preponderance of evidence now tends to favor Christ rather than Anthes, my records have been changed to reflect Christ, not Anthes, and as a sister to Heinrich Christ, with the understanding that it is not certain.

She was illiterate; she signed her will and other papers with an "X".

Some records show her death year as 1759. That is not certain, but she was probably not alive when PJ's will was probated in 1760 since she was not mentioned in any of the probate records. It seem certain then that she died sometime between 1747, when PJ made out his will and March 1760. Other records show she died in 1760; if true, then she must have died Jan, Feb, or early Mar 1760. Jan is most likely, since it probably would have taken a month or two to get PJ's will into probate after C'erine died.

Notes:

His exact birth date is not known; the Mar 31 1661 date is of his christening. Bill Brobst has a copy of the birth and marriage records, in the German Pfalz file.

Christophel was a master potter (Meistertopfer) in Middle Kandel. Church records call him a Burger and Haffner in Kandel.

Church records show his name as Christoph, as do several historical reports.

The birth dates shown for his children (except Eva Christina, Maria Sara, and Eva Christina II) are actually the baptism dates; the exact birth dates are not known

Will was probated 1 Apr 1727 in Kandel; wife not living at that time. Actually, she had died a few weeks earlier. Why it took so long (8 years) for probate is not known, except perhaps that the younger children were not yet of age.

Christophel married HOFMANN Eva Christina. Eva (daughter of HOFMANN Hans Michael and RIMPLER Anna Maria) was born on 25 Sep 1670 in Kandel, Pfalz, Germany; died on 2 Mar 1726/27 in Kandel, Pfalz, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Bartholomew married FISCHER Susannah. Susannah was born on 14 Feb 1629/30 in Kandel, Pfalz, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Hans married RIMPLER Anna Maria. Anna was born on 31 Aug 1645 in Kandel, Pfalz, Germany. [Group Sheet]