logo

An American Family History

Josiah Yerkes and Sarah Lupton

 
Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia)
Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio
Washington Township, Carroll County, Indiana
 

The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia borders Maryland and Virginia. The first European settlers started arriving about 1730.

map
 
 
Yerkes has also been spelled Gerkes, Gerckes, Jerghes, Jerghjes, Jurckes,Yercas, Yercks, Yerkhas, Yerkas, Yerkiss, Yerks, and Yerkus
 

West Virginia is located in the Appalachians and was originally part of Virginia. The capital and largest city is Charleston. It became a state during the Civil War and was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863.

Butler County, Ohio was established in 1803 from Hamilton and Ross Counties.
Indiana became a state in 1819. The north was settled by people from New England and New York, the center by people from the Mid-Atlantic states and Ohio, and the south by people from Southern states, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.

Josiah Yerkes married Sarah Lupton on December 12, 1805. They were married by the Reverend C. Collins in Jefferson County, Virginia, which is now West Virginia. All the children, except Henry, were born in Jefferson County.

Eliza Yerkes Fox was born on January 12, 1809 and William B. Yerkes was born on May 25, 1810.

The family (Josiah Yerkis) appeared in the 1810 census of Jefferson County, Virginia.
1810 Yerkes Household
a man between 26 and 44 (Josiah)
a woman between sixteen and 25 (Sarah)
a boy and a girl, both under ten (Eliza and William

Mary B. Yerkes was born on January 28, 1812, Josiah Yerkes, Jr. was born on May 10, 1815 and Sarah Ann Yerkes Hinkle was born on March 26, 1817. Mary died when she was only six years old on March 26, 1818. Catherine Yerkes Cline was born on March 4, 1819. David Henry Yerkes was born on May 1, 1821, and Rebecca Yerkes Lenon was born on July 10, 1823. Henry Clay Yerkes was born on June 28, 1826.

They moved to Ohio before the 1830 census. They probably took the National Road.

The family (Joshua Yerkus) appeared in the 1830 census of Hamilton Township, Butler County, Ohio.

1830 Yerkes Household
one man between 40 and 49 (Josiah age 53
one woman between 40 and 49 (Sarah age 53)
two men between twenty and thirty (William and ?)
one girl between fifteen and 19 (Eliza age 21)
one boy between 15 and 19 (Josiah, Jr. age 15)
one girl between ten and 14 (Sarah age 13)
one girl between five and nine (Catherine age 11)
one boy between ten and fourteen (David age 9)
one girl under five (Rebecca age 7)
one boy under five (Henry age 4)

On February 17, 1831 Eliza married Levi Fox and William died in 1833 in Butler County.

On March 20, 1837 Josiah, Sr. purchased 160 acres of land in Carroll County Section 8, Township 25 North Range One East. Later that year on June 10, 1837 Josiah and Sarah deeded 40 acres of their land to Josiah, Jr. for 100 dollars.

By 1840 the family was living in Washington Township, Carroll County Indiana. Eliza was married and William had died.

The 1840 Yerkes Household
a man between 60 and 69 (Josiah age 63)
a woman between 50 and 59 (Sarah)
a boy between 20 and 29 (Josiah Jr. age 25)
two women between 20 and 29 (Sarah age 23 and Catherine age 21)
a boy between 15 and 19 (David age 19)
a girl between 15 and 19 (Rebecca age 17)
a boy between 10 and 14 (Henry age 14)

In 1841 Sarah died in Carroll County. Catherine and Rebecca both married in 1841, Josiah Jr. in 1845, and Sarah Ann in 1846. Eliza died in 1850 in Butler County, Ohio.

Josiah appeared in the 1850 census of Carroll County, Indiana. At that time Josiah, Sr. was living with Josiah, Jr. and his family. Josiah, Sr. died in 1852. Josiah Jr., Sarah Ann, David, Rebecca, and Henry remained in Carroll County and died there. Catherine moved to Iowa.

Berkeley County, Virginia was created from the northern third of Frederick County, Virginia in 1772. Jefferson County was formed from the county's eastern section. In 1863 Berkeley County became part of the new state of West Virginia.

The National Road (Cumberland Road) was built by the federal government and connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers. Construction began in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland. The road crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania and reached Wheeling, West Virginia in 1818. It then crossed Ohio and Indiana and stopped at Vandalia, Illinois.

 
article
28 Dec 1937 Logansport, Indiana
 
 
 

divider

 
An indenture is a legal contract for labor or land. Two copies on the same sheet were separated with a jagged edge so that the two parts could be refitted to confirm authenticity. An indentured servant worked without wages for a specified time to pay a debt and was bound to the employer. In the 17th century, nearly two-thirds of settlers came as indentured servants to pay for their passage.

1837 Land Indenture
This indenture made the tenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven between Josiah Yerks and his wife Sarah Yerks of the County of Cale [sic] and State of Indiana on the first part and Josiah yerks Junior of the County and State aforesaid of the second part.

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars lawful money of the United States to them in hand paid, by the party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract or parcel of land Situated in Carle [sic] County being the South east forth of the North west quarter of section eight town twenty five North Range one east second principal meridian containing forty acres.

To have and to hold the said granted and bargained premises, together with all the privilege and appurtenances thereof, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, and assigns forever and the said party of the first part for themselves their heirs, executors administrators, doth covenant with the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns that they are lawfully seized of the premises above conveyed as of a sure, perfect and indefeasible estate of inheritance in fee simple, and that they are free of all encumbrances and the above bargained premises in the quiet and peacible [sic] possession of the party of the second part his heirs and assigns against the lawful claims and demands of all persons, the said party of the first part doth hereunto set their hand and seal the day and year above.
Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of
Josiah Yerkes
Sarah Yerkes

The Public Land Survey System is used to survey and spatially identify land parcels in the United States.
  • Range is the distance east or west from a referenced principal meridian in units of six miles.
  • A Section is approximately a one-square-mile block of land. There are 36 sections in a township.
  • A Township is a parcel of land of 36 square miles or a measure of the distance north or south from a referenced baseline in units of six miles.
  • In the 1830s settlers began arriving in Iowa from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia. Iowa became a state in 1846.

     
     

    Most Americans were farmers in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

    Whereas Josiah Yerkes of Butler County, Ohio has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Crawfordsville whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Josiah Yerkes according to the provision of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April 1820 entitled An Act making further provision for the sale of the public Lands for The North West quarter of section Eight in Township Twenty five North of Range one East, in the District of Lands subject to sale at Crawfordsville, Indiana, containing one hundred and sixty acres, according to the official plat of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General which said tract has been purchased by the said Josiah Yerkes.

    Now know ye. That the United States of America in consideration of the premises and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant, unto the said Josiah Yerkes and to his heirs, the said tract above described; to Have and to Hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature thereunto belonging, unto the said Josiah Yerkes and to his heirs and assigns forever.

    In testimony whereof I, Martin Van Buren, President of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.

    Given under my hand at the City of Washington the twentieth day of March the Year of our Lord one hundred and thirty seven and of the Independence of the United States the sixty first.

     
     
     
    Colonial Maryland
    Colonial New England
    Colonial Virginia & West Virginia
    Quakers & Mennonites
    New Jersey Baptists
     
    German Lutherans
    Watauga Settlement
    Pennsylvania Pioneers
    Midwest Pioneers
    Californians
    Jewish Immigrants

    ©Roberta Tuller 2023
    tuller.roberta@gmail.com
    An American Family History is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
    an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.