An American Family History

Stephen Yerkes was born on August 3, 1727 in the Manor of Moreland. His parents were Herman Yerkes and Elizabeth Watts. He was a farmer and a landowner.

He was a member of the Union Library Company of Hatboro, and he and his wife were members of the Southampton Baptist Church.

He married Rebecca Whiteside. 

Rebecca and Stephen's children were James Yerkes (1756), Stephen Yerkes (1759), James Yerkes (1761), Elizabeth Yerkes Morgan (1764), Rebecca Yerkes Watson  (1766), Joseph Yerkes (1769), Rachel Yerkes  Rodgers (1772), and Samuel Yerkes (1775).

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

His will was probated December 23, 1811.

STEPHEN YERKES8 (Herman2, Anthony1), sixth son and eighth child of Herman Yerkes by his wife Elizabeth Watts, was born in the Manor of Moreland, Montgomery (formerly Philadelphia) County, 3 August, 1727, and died there, probably shortly before 23 December, 1811, the date of the probate of his will. He was a farmer and land-owner, and resided in More- land throughout his life. His father devised to him a one-fourth share in the two hundred acre plantation which he, the father, had received from his father, Anthony Yerkes, which share Stephen Yerkes sold to his brother Silas.

Stephen Yerkes married Rebecca Whiteside, who was living 28 July, 1811, and is named in her husband's will of that date. The others named therein are: sons Samuel and Joseph, daughters Rebecca and Rachel, and grandchildren Mary, Emma, and Thomas, the children of his deceased daughter Elizabeth, " late the wife of Eli Morgan." His son Samuel Yerkes and George Shelmire were appointed executors. Mr. Yerkes was a member of the Union Library Company of Hatboro, and he and his wife were members of the Southampton Baptist Church.

Children of Stephen8 and Rebecca (Whiteside) Yerkes; born in the Manor of Moreland:
71. James Yerkes', born 24 December, 1756; died in infancy.
72. Stephen Yerkes', born 4 June, 1759; died at about fifty years of age, unmarried.
73. James Yerkes', born 2 October, 1761; died at Ovid, New York, in June, 1804;married, 23 December, 1783, Rachel Shaw. He removed with his family to Ovid, New York, after 22 September, 1800, on which day he conveyed land in Moreland, which his father had conveyed to him 6 May, 1797, and the son is described in the former conveyance as " of Moreland." He is said to have had ten children, "all of whom died young." His will, dated Ovid, 11 June, 1804, proved 28th of same month, names wife Rachel, and mentions " sons" and " daughters," but only one child by name,—Stephen. He directs that his estate should be sold, debts paid, and that his family should remove to Pennsylvania, " among my relations, and there remain until my youngest child be twenty-one years of age." As none of the family are mentioned in his father's will, it is believed that all had died before the date thereof.