Chronicle of the Yerkes Family: With Notes on the Leech and Rutter Families by Josiah Granville Leach
Silas Yerkes (Herman2, Anthony1), sixth child and fifth son of Herman Yerkes by his wife Elizabeth Watts, was born in the Manor of Moreland, Montgomery (formerly Philadelphia) County, 15 February, 1723; died there, 25 September, 1795, and was buried in the graveyard of the Southampton Baptist Church.
He was a large land-owner and a prosperous miller and farmer. Under the will of his father, Silas Yerkes became entitled to a one-fourth interest in the property in Moreland that had been the homestead of the father and grandfather, and by deed of 10 February, 1755, the remaining interests in the property, which consisted of two hundred acres, were conveyed to him by his mother and his brothers Stephen, Elias, and Titus.
At this time Silas Yerkes was residing in Warwick Township, Bucks County, where he would seem to have been engaged in the milling business, as he is described as "miller" in the conveyance here mentioned, and he continued to reside there until after the birth of his daughter Elizabeth, when he removed to the homestead estate in Moreland, and there continued the milling business, as well as carried on farming...
In 1780 the tax list of Moreland contained over four hundred names, the third highest assessment being that of Silas Yerkes.Mr. Yerkes was a man of much intelligence and a devout Christian.
In 1755 he united with others in founding the Union Library Company of Hatboro, one of the earliest library organizations in Pennsylvania, and he was an active member of the Baptist Church, the principles and doctrines of which he imbibed from his mother and inherited from his grandfather, the Reverend John Watts. A formal profession of religious faith was, however, not made until 1 June, 1742, when he was baptized in the Pennypack Creek, and became a member of the Southampton Baptist Church, Bucks County, retaining membership until his death. Mr. Yerkes no doubt received his Christian name in honor of his uncle, Silas Watts.
Silas Yerkes was married by the Reverend Joshua Potts, pastor of the Southampton Baptist Church, 14 June, 1750, to Hannah Dungan; born in Bucks County, 24 September, 1725; died at the seat of her husband, 22 August, 1792;
daughter of Thomas and Esther Dungan, and granddaughter of the Reverend Thomas Dungan by his wife Elizabeth Weaver. Silas Yerkes's will, dated 21 March, 1795, was proved 22 October, same year, and names the children given below, with the exception of Thomas and John, both of whom are supposed to have died before the will was made. His five eldest children were born in Warwick Township, Bucks County, and the others at the homestead in Moreland.
Children of Silas and Hannah (Dungan) Yerkes:
Elias Yerkes, born 7 December, 1751; died 15 January, 1828; married.
Deborah Yerkes, born 3 September, 1753; died 11 February, 1826; married Samuel Ayres.
Esther Yerkes, born 13 February, 1755; married Charles Ayres (a brother of William Ayres, who married her sister Deborah), and had one child: (56)
Mary Ayres, who married Jonathan Yerkes.
Thomas Yerkes, born 24 September, 1756; died in 1781.
Elizabeth Yerkes, born 26 March, 1758; died 2 September, 1826; married Daniel Howell.
John Yerkes, born 26 September, 1760; probably died young.
Silas Yerkes, born circa 1762; died 15 January, 1837, unmarried and without issue. His death is thus noted in the records of the Southampton Baptist Church:
Silas Yerkes, beloved disciple, fell asleep in Jesus, we think, on Sunday, about noon, the 1sth of January, 1837, and was buried at Southampton.
Hannah Yerkes, born circa 1764; married John Wright, by whom she had: (62) Esther Wright', who never married.
Daniel Yerkes, born 23 July, 1767; died 30 September, 1824; married (1) Martha Collom; (2) Esther Lykens.
Benjamin Yerkes, born 22 February, 1768; died 25 June, 1847; married Rachel Buzart.
