| 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".
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1721 - 1771 (49 years)