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]

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:

Jan Binkley believes his first name was George, thus LtCol George Michael Brobst.

With his brother, Johannes, he operated "Union Forge" in Albany Twp. He owned considerable land in Albany Twp, Berks Co, and 247 acres of woodland in Lynn Twp, Lehigh Co. He owned a valuable flour mill (The Brobst Grist Mill) near the village of Albany where flour was made to be used by the neighbors who built ovens and baked bread to relieve the suffering of Washington's army in the Rev. War. In his will, he gave the Forges and Furnace jointly to his son Michael and to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband James Mitchell.

In the Miller Family history "The Spirit of Evangelical Women", p 128, Michael was described as a "rich iron-master of Albany, Berks County." He disowned his daughter Magdalena because she became an Evangelical, and she suffered bitter persecution from him. He was known for his bad temper (per Jan Binkley).

He was a LT COL, 3rd Battalion, Northhampton County Militia, Rev. War. He is listed in the DAR Patriot Index files, and is on the DAR Roll of Honor. One report that he had served with General Stanwix in the Indian wars on the frontier in 1758-1759 was in error, since Michael wasn't born until 1751. The Michael who served with General Stanwix was Michael Bobst (1739).

Both Andrew and Daniel Straub of Lynn Twp, Lehigh County are listed on the General Muster Roll for June 18, 1777 under Colonel Michael Brobst, as is his uncle, Mathias George Probst 1736.

His will was written in Albany Twp, Berks Co, PA, on Oct 3 1814. He mentioned his sons Johannes (Jacob) and (George) Michael, his daughter Elizabeth and his son-in-law James Mitchell, his daughters Magdalena Miller, Maria Miller, Catherina Merckel, and Susanna Landes; and his friend Jacob Levan (the father-in-law of his Uncle Valentine); no mention of his wife who preceded him in death.

He is buried near the boundary of Berks and Lehigh Counties, but the dates on the stones are obliterated with age.

Courtesy of Peggy Light, Albany County Historical Society: From "A
History of the Evangelical Church", by Raymond W. Albright, 1942:
"A very unudual situation grew out of the regular preaching of (Rev. Jacob)
Albright at the home of Michael Brobst near Miller's home in Albany
Township, Berks County, equalled perhaps only in the Eyer family near
New Berlin where the Rev. John Dreisbach, the Rev. Henry Niebel, and the
Rev. David Shellenberger married daughters of the Eyers. Magdalena and
Maria (Catharina) Brost married George and Solomon Miller and were
convereted with their husbands under Albright's preaching. Mr. Brobst,
formerly a lieutenant in the French and Indian War and a major and
lieutenant-colonel of militia in the Revolution, was a wealthy owner of
the Union Iron Works and had associated with him his two sons John and
Michael Jr. These sons with their wives were also won to the
(Evangelical) church at the Easter meeting at the home of Solomon Miller
in 1803. As a result of these accessions, a class was formed and George
Miller became their leader. Both George and Solomon Miller later became
ministers. Colonel Brobst was very much opposed to having a son-in-law
in the ministry and, it is reported, tried to kill George Miller. Jacob
Albright intervened and succeeded in calming Brobst. Later Brobst was
converted and his home became a regular preaching place."

Michael married EVERETT Magdelena Catharina. Magdelena (daughter of EVERETT Thomas) was born in ABT. 1745 in Lynn Twp, Lehigh Co, PA; died in BEF. 1814 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, PA; was buried in Jerusalem Union Ch, Stoney Run, Berks Co, PA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Brobst family history provided by Arthur Holmes on the Brobst web site on Rootsweb.

Susannah married LANDIS Samuel on 27 Sep 1805 in Reading, PA. Samuel (son of LANDIS George and LATCHAR Marie) was born on 21 Dec 1785 in Reading, Berks Co, PA; died on 21 Dec 1839 in Lawrence Co, IL; was buried in Brian Cemetery, Lawrence Co, IL. [Group Sheet]

Jesse married SPANGLER Sarah on 10 May 1832 in Ohio. Sarah (daughter of SPANGLER Jonas and RHODEARMEL Hannah) was born on 7 Oct 1810 in Wayne County, Ohio; died on 7 Dec 1858 in Lawrence Co, IL; was buried in Brian Cemetery, Lawrence Co, IL. [Group Sheet]

Jesse married GRAFF\\GRASS Katharine on 8 Sep 1859 in Lawrence Co, IL. Katharine was born in 1828 in Baden, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Samuel married BERRY Christina. Christina was born in ABT. 1810 in Probably PA. [Group Sheet]

Susannah married BERRY Jacob on 12 Jan 1832 in Ashland, Jefferson Co, OH. Jacob was born on 5 Jul 1810 in Miles, Center Co, PA. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married BRIAN Jacob, JR in Jan 1841 in PA. Jacob (son of BRIAN Jacob) was born on 14 Jun 1807 in Baden Baden, Wuertemberg, Germany; died on 26 Jul 1871 in Lawrence County, IL. [Group Sheet]

Leah married BRIAN John Martin on 24 Dec 1848 in Lawrence Co, IL. John (son of BRIAN Jacob) was born on 8 Jun 1815 in Baden Baden, Wuertemberg, Germany; died on 26 Sep 1873 in Lawrence County, IL. [Group Sheet]

Sarah married ALLEN John Samuel. John was born in 1813 in Olney, Lawrence Co, IL. [Group Sheet]