“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves,
and, under a just God cannot retain it."
― Abraham Lincoln
Yerkes has also been spelled Gerkes, Gerckes, Jerghes, Jerghjes, Jurckes,Yercas, Yercks, Yerkhas, Yerkas, Yerkiss, Yerks, and Yerkus
Byberry is a township in the northeast corner of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The Walton brothers were early settlers. Moreland Township was just west of Byberry. When Montgomery County broke off in 1784, Moreland was divided into two townships, both called Moreland. In 1917 the Montgomery County Moreland split into Upper Moreland Township and Lower Moreland Township.
Pennsylvania is one of the 13 original states and was originally founded in 1681 as a result of a royal land grant to William Penn, the son of the state's namesake.
Anthony and Jane's children were:
Elizabeth Yerkes Fulton (1735, married David Fulton),
Obadiah Yerkes (1742),
Jacob Yerkes (1744, married Elizabeth Gaunt and Sarah Fleming),
Anthony Yerkes, Jr. (1745, married Mary Harper),
Joseph Yerkes (1746, married Hannah Ashton),
Sarah Yerkes Grant (1750, married Robert Grant) and
Lieutenant David Yerkes (1752, married Elizabeth Wilmerton).
In the 1776 Assessment of Moreland from Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Anthony Yerkes had 230 acres, 3 horses, 7 cows, and a son who was "a cripple." His son, Jacob Yerkes and a horse and a cow and Anthony Yerkes, Jr. had 2 horses and 2 cows. Obadiah was probably the handicapped child because he provided for his maintenance in his will.
TO TO BE S 0 L D, PLANTATION, in Moreland townthip, containing about A 65 acres, fituate on the Southampton road, adjoining land of Anthony Yerkes and Ifaac Roberts. There are erected thereon, a large two ftory ftone houfe, table, orchard, and wood -land fufficient for the place. For terms, apply to THOMAS HARPER, near the Premifes. Moreland, Sept. 18, 1782
In 1790 the Anthony Yerkes, family lived in the Manor of Moreland, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The household consisted of 15 people. They had one person enslaved.
During the Revolution, their son Anthony was first lieutenant of the Second Company, First Battalion, Philadelphia County militia, Lieutenant-Colonel George Smith commanding. David was a first lieutenant of Captain Josiah Hart's company, in the Fourth Battalion of Philadelphia County militia.
Jane died on May 12, 1783 and he died on March 9, 1791 in Moreland when he was 78 years old.
A militia is a military unit composed of citizens who are called up in time of need.
Slavery is an immoral system of forced labor where people are treated as property to be bought and sold. It was legal in the American Colonies and the United States until the Civil War.
The Manor of Moreland was composed of a tract of ten thousand acres, and was created, in 1682, by a grant from William Penn to Dr. Nicholas More. Most of the Manor was in Philadelphia County, but is now
Moreland Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
