An American Family History

Elias Yerkes was born on February 7, 1729 in the Manor of Moreland. His parents were Herman Yerkes and Elizabeth Watts. He was a farmer.

He married Rebecca Foster on March 18, 1756. 

They were members of the Southampton Baptist Church. Their children were Elias Yerkes (1757), George Yerkes (1758), Elizabeth Yerkes Marple (1760), Susanna Yerkes (1762), Isaac Yerkes (1765), Mary Yerkes (1766), Rebecca Yerkes (1766), Arthur Yerkes (1769), Sarah Yerkes Michener (1772), and David S. Yerkes. 

In the Assessment of Moreland of 1776 from Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania he had 150 acres, 4 horses, and 5 cows.

Their son, Elias, was a private in the Pennsylvania militia during the Revolution.

He died on January 16, 1799 in Moreland. Rebecca died on November 30, 1820. They were buried together in the graveyard of the Southampton Baptist Church.

Chronicle of the Yerkes Family, with Notes on the Leech and Rutter Families by Josiah Granville Leach

Elias Yerkes (Herman2, Anthony1), ninth child and seventh son of Herman Yerkes by his wife Elizabeth Watts, was born in the Manor of Moreland, Montgomery (formerly Philadelphia) County, Pennsylvania, 7 February, 1729; died there, 16 January, 1799. He was a farmer, and resided throughout his life in the Manor of Moreland.

The Pennsylvania Gazette of 23 August, 1770, contained this advertisement:" Supposed to be Stolen, on Tuesday night, the 14th of this instant August, from the plantation of Elias Yerkes, living in the Manor of Moreland, Philadelphia County, a dark bay mare, 9 years old between 14 & 15 hands high, a large star on her forehead, behind feet white, shod before, she can pace and trot, but is more inclined to pace. Whoever takes her up and secures said Mare, so as the owner may have her again shall have Ten shillings,

and Mr. Yerkes married, 18 March, 1756, Rebecca Foster, who died 30 November, 1820, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. Her will, dated 16 February, 1807, was proved in Montgomery County, 23 November, 1821, and names sons Isaac, David, Elias, and Arthur, and daughters Mary, Rebecca, Sarah, and Susanna.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes were baptized according to the Baptist faith, 10 October, 1773, and were received into membership in the Southampton Baptist Church, the religious home of many of the Yerkes family. They were buried in the graveyard of that church, where a stone marks their grave, as is shown in the accompanying illustration. Children of Elias and Rebecca (Foster) Yerkes; born in the Manor of Moreland:

82. Elias Yerkes, born 16 January, 1757; died 21 June, 1844; married .
83. George Yerkes, born 18 September, 1758; died 25 December, 1839; married Rebecca .