Yerkes has also been spelled Gerkes, Gerckes, Jerghes, Jerghjes, Jurckes,Yercas, Yercks, Yerkhas, Yerkas, Yerkiss, Yerks, and Yerkus
American colonists continued to use British monetary units, namely the pound, shilling and pence for which £1 (orli) equalled 20s and 1s equalled 12d. In 1792 the dollar was established as the basic unit of currency.
Josiah Yerkes was born on November 28, 1718 in the Manor of Moreland. His parents were Herman Yerkes and Elizabeth Watts. He was a farmer.
He married Mary Walton about 1747. Their life and children together are described in detail in the section on Josiah and Mary Yerkes.
In 1751 his father died. He had already received 50 acres. The will provided him with one pound and the provision that
it is also my Will that if Josiah my son thinks proper to keep the Thirty acres that is over and above the fifty acres that I gave him he may keep it he Paying my two Daughters Sarah and Elizabeth the Sum of Sixty Pounds (viz) Thirty Pounds each Current Money of Pennsylvania . . .
His will was dated December 2, 1791.
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.
