An American Family History

Margery Yerkes Saurman was born on October 28, 1757 in the Manor of Moorland. Her parents were Josiah Yerkes and Mary Walton. In 1793, when her father, Josiah, died, "Margaret" (sic) inherited 20 shillings.

She married shoemaker, Peter Saurman, in 1777 in Hatboro, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Peter was born in Hanover Germany on April 1, 1753. He was the son of Philip Saurman and Maria Knobler.

According to The Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Indiana, in the winter of 1775 Peter enlisted as a private for one year in Captain Harmans' Infantry Company, Colonel DeHames' Regiment on the Pennsylvania line. He participated in the battles of Three Rivers, Trenton, and Princeton. He also served as a volunteer on board The Lady Washington privateer commanded by Captain Josiah. He was present at the capturing of three prizes. His pension claim was S. 36748/His adventure while visiting Margery before the Battle of the Billet is described below.

Peter Souerman appeared in the 1776 assessment of the Manor of Moreland.

Margery and Peter's children included:
Ann Saurman Vasant,
Josiah Saurman,
Mary Saurman,
Rebecca Saurman (1784),
Jacob Saurman (1789),
Yerkes Saurman (1791), and
Jonathan Saurman.

In 1790 Peter was suspended from communion of the Southampton Baptist Church due to a complaint against him for defamation by Josiah Hart. In 1791, Peter acknowledged that Josiah had not taken a false oath and in 1792 he was restored to the communion of the Church. On December 13, 1794, Margery was baptized into the Church. In 1803 they bought a farm in Bucks County Pennsylvania.

Between 1806 and 1808, the church attempted to reconcile the Saurmans. In 1809 a church committee reported that she had left him without provocation and that her conduct had been disorderly at times. The church leaders resolved to suspend her from communion and directed William Watts to inform her that unless she gave some satisfaction to the church, she would be excommunicated. In 1810 Peter appeared in court for wife abuse.

In 1813 they sold their farm in Bucks County and the Saurmans divorced between 1813 and 1817 when Peter married, Eleanor.

In 1823 Peter owned land in Rising Sun, Ohio County, Indiana.

Peter died in 1830 in Ohio, Indiana.

Margery died in 1835 and was buried at the Old School Baptist Church Cemetery.