The Manor of Moreland, Philadelphia County (now Moreland Township , Montgomery County , Pennsylvania
A grist mill is a building where a miller grinds gain into flour.
Early European settlers in the American colonies were mostly farmers and craftsmen. They had to work hard to provide daily neccesities for themselves.
Herman Yerkes and Elizabeth Watts married, according to The History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania on February 8, 1711 in Christ Church, Philadelphia. Their children were named in his will. The children were all born in the Manor of Moreland.
They acquired about eight hundred acres of the best farmland in the Manor of Moreland. Harman's father, Anthony Yerkes, gave him two hundred acres in the Manor of Moreland on Pennypack Creek and formally conveyed it to him in a deed dated August 20, 1723.
In 1744, Herman formed a partnership with Walter Moore in the milling business. They built a water grist mill on the bank of the Pennypack Creek. They were prosperous and had at least one indentured servant. In his will Herman directed that Sarah Griffied would attend Elizabeth until she became free.
Herman died in March, 1750/51 and Elizabeth on October 11, 1756.
An indenture is a legal contract for labor or land. Two copies on the same sheet were separated with a jagged edge so that the two parts could be refitted to confirm authenticity. An indentured servant worked without wages for a specified time to pay a debt and was bound to the employer. In the 17th century, nearly two-thirds of settlers came as indentured servants to pay for their passage.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
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.
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.
