3. PETER³ KOLB BISHOP (DIELMAN², HENRICH¹) (#431) was born in Wolfsheim, Baden, Pfalz, Germany 1671. PETER died 1727 in Manheim, Pfalz, Germany, at age 56.

       He married MARIA BARBARA before 1700. (MARIA BARBARA is #42282.) MARIA was born before 1678.

       BISHOP PETER KOLB and his sister ANN were the only two children of DIELMAN KOLB SR. who did not emigrate to America. his 5 brothers all emigrated, JACOB in 1707, HEINRICH, MARTIN and JOHANNES went in 1709. Dielman JR. left in 1717. Peter's son DIELMAN emigrated in 1729 with his wife Judith.

       BISHOP PETER KOLB was instrumental in aiding many Mennonites to emigrate to America to avoid persecution in Switzerland and the Palatinate area of Germany. In 1709 he visited the Netherlands as advisor to the Dutch Mennonite Committee of Foreign Needs of Amsterdam.

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

       KOLB, KULP and CULP FAMILY HISTORY published in 1895 by Daniel Kolb Cassel. It was republished in 1990 as KOLB FAMILY HISTORY.

            PETER KOLB BISHOP and MARIA BARBARA had the following children:

         10      i.  DIELMAN (TILMAN)⁴ was born 1700

          11     ii.  HANS CASPAR was born circa 1701

          12    iii.  MARTIN was born 1703

                 iv.  JACOB (#53730) was born circa 1705.

  4. FRANCIS³ KOLB (DIELMAN², HENRICH¹) (#53728) was born in Wolfsheim, Baden, Pfalz, Germany 1673.

       FRANCIS KOLB emigrated to either England or America in 1709 along with his wife, whose name we don't know, and 5 children, whose names we don't know.

            FRANCIS KOLB had the following children:

                   i.  SON⁴ (#53731) was born 1689.

                  ii.  DAUGHTER (#53732) was born 1694.

                 iii.  SON (#53733) was born 1695.

                 iv.  SON (#53734) was born 1699.

                  v.  UNKNOWN (#53735) was born 1702.

  5. HEINRICH (HENRY) SCHUMACKER³ KOLB REV. (DIELMAN², HENRICH¹) (#435) was born in Wolfsheim, Baden, Pfalz, Germany 1679. HEINRICH died July 1730 in Vanbebber's Twp. Phil. Co. Pa., at age 51.

       He married BARBARA FRETZ circa 1702 in Germany. (BARBARA FRETZ is #42284.) BARBARA was born circa 1683 in Pfalz, Baden, Germany. BARBARA died 1765 in Deep Run, Bedminster Twp. Bucks Co., Pa., at age 82. Her body was interred date unknown in Deep Run Cem. Buck's Co. Pa..

       HEINRICH KOLB came to America in 1709 with his brothers Martin, Johannes and Jacob. Originally he had travelled from Germany to Amsterdam in 1707 where he sailed to England. Arriving in America he settled first in Germantown, Pa. 1709 and then moved to Skippack, Pennsylvania. Henry was a Mennonite minister as well as a farmer and weaver. He served the Mennonite Church at Skippack for several years. His will was dated Feb. 20, 1729 and probated the 13th of July, 1730.

            HEINRICH (HENRY) SCHUMACKER KOLB REV. and BARBARA FRETZ had the following children:

         13      i.  MARY⁴ was born circa 1703

                  ii.  DOROTHY (#42289) was born in Wolfsheim, Baden, Pfalz, Germany circa 1706. She married JOHN GODSHALL date unknown. (JOHN GODSHALL is #53736.)

                            JOHN GODSHALL was appointed guardian by the Orphan's Court, of Dielman Kolb's minor children. He was the brother of John's wife Dorothy Kolb.

          14    iii.  ANNE was born circa 1709

          15    iv.  AGNES was born 18 April 1713

          16     v.  PETER FRETZ was born circa 1718

          17    vi.  DAVID was born 1720

          18   vii.  DIELMAN was born circa 1722

  6. MARTIN³ KOLB REV. (DIELMAN², HENRICH¹) (#436) was born in Wolfsheim, Baden, Pfalz, Germany 1680. MARTIN died 1761 in Skippack Twp, Montg. Co., Pa., at age 81.

       He married MARY MAGDALENA VAN SINTERN 19 May 1709 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. (MARY MAGDALENA VAN SINTERN is #1460.) MARY was born circa 1689 in Amsterdam, Holland. MARY was the daughter of ISAAC VAN SINTERN and NEELTJE CLASSEN. MARY died after 1771 Pennsylvania, USA, at age unknown.

       MARTIN KOLB came to America in 1707 and settled at Germantown. He married Magdalena Van Sintern. daughter of Isaac Van Sintern and Neeltje Van Sintern (nee Classen) and great-great-grand-daughter of Jan de Voss. Burgomaster in Flanders in 1550. He moved to Skippack (then Bebberstown) in 1709 and was ordained to the ministry of the Mennonite faith. serving at Germantown and Skippack. On the deed of the Mennonite Church at Germantown, his signature appears as a witness. He was one of the first trustees of the Mennonite congregation at Skippack.

                                   THE FIRST MENNONITE MEETING IN AMERICA

       The first religious meeting of the Mennonites in America was held at the house of Thones Kunders in 1683. From that time they held their meetings in private houses. Sometimes in Summer the meetings were held in the shade of the trees. In 1708 they built their first Meetinghouse at Germantown Road and Herman Street. It was a log house and stood at the southeast corner of the lot on which the present meetinghouse now stands. It was also used as a schoolhouse and Christopher Dock for many years was the teacher. The deed for the property is dated September 6. 1714. The witnesses to this deed were Martin Kolb and Dirk Keyser. Their first minister was William Rittenhouse. who arrived in 1688. and a few years later built the first paper mill in America. on a branch of the Wissahickon Creek.  

       The names of the members of this first Mennonite congregation in America. at the time of organization in 1708. are as follows: Bishop Jacob Godshalk, Minister William Rittenhouse, Herman Carsdorp Martin Kolb, Isaac Van Sintern, Conrad Johnson, Henry Kassel and wife, Herman Teyner, John Fry, Peter Connerts, Paul Klumpkes, Arnold Van Vossen, John Kolb, Jacob Kolb, Wynant Bowman, John Gorges, Cornelious Classen, Arnold Kuster, Mary Tuynen, Helena Frey, Gertrude Conners, Mary Van Vossen, Barbara Kolb, Ann Bowman, Margaret Huberts, Mary Sellen, Elizabeth Kuster, Margaret Tuysen, Altien Revenstock, John Nise, Hans Nise, John Lensen, Isaac Jacobs, Jacob Isaacs, Hendrick Sellen, John Connerts, Peter Keyser, Herman Kuster, Christopher Zimmerman, Sarah Van Sintern, Civilia Connerts, Altien Tysen, Catherine Casselberry, Civilia Van Vossen.  

       Many of these members later moved to Skippack. but continued to attend the meeting at Germantown until the year 1725. when the meetinghouse at Skippack was built. now known as the Lower Skippack Mennonite Church. Among the first ministers of this Skippack congregation were Martin Kolb. Henry Kolb. Claus Jansen. Michael Ziegler and Isaac Kassel. Pennypacker says they also served as preachers at Germantown. He also refers to Heinrich Hunsicker who. with his wife. rode on horseback from the Perkiomen to Germantown on a Sunday morning to preach.        The first Conference of Mennonites in America was held in 1727. It included Skippack: Germantown. Conestoga. Great Swamp and Hereford. At this Conference it was decided to adopt the "Dort" Articles of Faith. The following ministers of the Skippack Congregation affixed their signatures to the agreement: Henry Kolb. Michael Zeigler. Clam Jansen and Jacob Goetshall. '

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

THE DESCENDANTS of DIELMAN KOLB, published in 1936.

            MARTIN KOLB REV. and MARY MAGDALENA VAN SINTERN had the following children:

         19      i.  MAGDALENA⁴ was born 19 May 1710

          20     ii.  NELTGEN (ELLEN) was born 20 July 1712

                 iii.  HANNAH (#21765) was born in Skippack Twp, Montg. Co., Pa. 17 February 1714/15. She married JOHANNES DETWEILER date unknown. (JOHANNES DETWEILER is #53737.)

          21    iv.  SARAH was born 25 March 1716

          22     v.  DIELMAN was born 02 March 1718/19

          23    vi.  ISAAC was born 30 April 1722

          24   vii.  MARIA was born 12 April 1725

  7. JOHANNES³ KOLB (DIELMAN², HENRICH¹) (#437) was born in Wolfsheim, Baden, Pfalz, Germany 19 May 1683. JOHANNES died 31 January 1759 in Cashaway Ferry, Kolb's Neck, S.C., at age 75.

       He married SARAH date unknown. (SARAH is #42280.) SARAH died 31 January 1759 in Cashaway Ferry, Kolb's Neck, S.C., at age unknown.

       JOHANNES KOLB settled in Germantown when he first arrived in America in 1707. He later moved to Skippack Township and finally about 1732 migrated to the Pee Dee River area in South Carolina. This place was later called Kolb's Neck near the Cashaway Ferry.

       Although he was originally Mennonite, he later in South Carolina coverted to the Baptist Church.

       In my files is a map of Kolb's Neck on the Pee Dee River in south Carolina. it was sent to me by Chris Judge who is in charge of the archaeologic dig on this land. It shows the original survey plat. Following is an article with details on the archaelogical dig on the original Johannes Kolb house and farm site. The South Carolina Wildlife Magazine kindly gave permission to reproduce the article here.

                    LIFE ON A SANDY KNOLL

            by CHRIS JUDGE, South Carolina

       In the year 1732 on a knoll of sand deep in the Great Pee Dee River swamp, frontiersman Johannes Kolb dug postholes for his house and outbuildings, not realizing that he was digging backward in time. With each layer of soil, he removed remnants of past campfires and discarded artifacts hiift behind by Native Americans since at least 13,000 years ago. Like others before and after him, Kolb left his mark on the landscape before moving on. In fact, the site seems to reveal evidence of occupation during all periods through time on this thirty-acre sand dune adjacent to an old course of the Great Pee Dee River. Nowadays it's mainly hunters and fishermen who come to the 2,800-acre S.C. Department of Natural Resources' Heritage Preserve, along with a team of professional archaeologists from the DNR who visit yearly, bringing a host of students and volunteers from the public at large.

       The Johannes Kolb Site was reported to the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina in 1974 by Ernest L. "Chip" Helms III, a native of the nearby farming community of Mechanicsville, in Darlington County. Helms became interested in archaeology as a child, collecting arrowheads, potsherds, British coins, kaolin pipes and other artifacts from the fields of his grandparents' farm bordering the lands of the future Great Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve. As a teenager he became familiar with the lands that now make up the preserve, hunting with his father and uncle with the Edwards Hunt Club in what was then known as Edwards Swamp.

       "The site was exposed during a period of logging in the 1970s," states Helms. "I knew it was special from the exceptional quality of the potsherds found here, and the fact that they represented some of the earliest pottery made in North America. They had been described extensively elsewhere, but there had been little significant professional work documenting these cultures in Darlington County. Moreover, the presence of Colonial ceramic fragments, brick, pipestems and other European artifacts suggested a pre-Revolutionary habitation as well. When I stumbled across a plat by T. E. Wilson showing 'Old Mr. Kolb's' at this location on the river, I suspected this site might indeed be that homesite. What I did not appreciate at that time, however, was the extensive familial connection 'Old Mr. Kolb' had with so many of the Pee Dee Region's earliest families. In many ways he is a type of Adam for the area."

Helms wrote to Robert L. Stephenson, then state archaeologist, about his discoveries. His hand-written letters and maps provided the primary database when, in 1997, Helms persuaded me to excavate the site, eight years after the DNR's Heritage Trust Program had acquired the Edwards Swamp Property and dubbed it Great Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve. Helms was the project's first of many volunteers, and we have dedicated the project to the memory of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. Helms Jr.

       Since that time great effort has been directed toward the systematic archaeological survey and testing of the Kolb Site to obtain a sample of the information available through excavation. Through the excavation of carefully measured test units, we quickly realized that, while certain areas of the site were disturbed, others contained intact deposits to a depth of more than three feet below surface. Basically, the site has what archaeologists call stratigraphy-layers in the ground from different time periods, progressively older by depth.

       Excavation has proceeded cautiously and slowly because we want to leave as much of the site intact as possible. After all, it is dedicated and protected in perpetuity under the Heritage Trust Act. Still, we need to retain a sample that is large and inclusive enough to help us make educated assumptions about the site's past. Field Director and project Co Principal Investigator Carl Steen explains the need for a statistically valid sample:

       "Our sampling at the Kolb Site will eventually produce a seventeen percent sample, meaning we will have actually investigated seventeen percent of the total site. This should be enough to predict with accuracy the activities at the site. We are digging along a precisely measured grid with preset length, width and depth to help set artifacts in context when found."

       Each year at the conclusion of the ten day field project, a large number of artifacts, ecofacts (carbon, bone and shell), and soil samples arrive in Columbia, where the time-consuming laboratory process commences. Lab technicians first wash and dry artifacts, then sort, measure, weigh, and, in some cases, draw and photograph them. Metal objects must be treated to clean rust and retard additional deterioration. Soil samples are processed in water via a technique called flotation to capture small carbonized seeds and plant parts that reveal the ways plants have been used on the site. Kolb Site Lab Director Genevieve Brown oversees this enormous and complex phase of the research and describes the lab work in the following manner: In doing so, we have found evidence that Native Americans, African Americans and Euro-Americans are all represented at the site-a microcosm of the South Carolina ethnic stew.

       The process of organizing, identifying, and cataloging hundreds of thousands of artifacts has been a long and sometimes monstrously overwhelming job; however, it is not without its unique rewards. The Kolb Site produces a wide variety of artifacts, calling on the need for knowledge and research into both historic and prehistoric lifeways. The lab offers the most intimate view into the lives of the people who once owned and used the same objects that we derive meaning from today. Although lab work is only part of the continuous archaeological process, it is fundamental to the interpretation of the site."

       The artifacts' and deposits' position in the ground and association with other similar artifacts and deposits provide meaningful data to the archaeologist. A final, well illustrated report will detail our findings and interpretations.

       To better understand the way artifacts become buried in the ground and the age of the Kolb Site land form, we have retained the services of geomorphologist David Leigh, of the University of Georgia. Dr. Leigh has examined the walls and floors of our excavations, placed deep cores in the upland and floodplain contexts of the preserve, and also taken core samples from locations upriver and down river of the preserve. This research enables us to reconstruct the environment at certain times in the past.

       "The Kolb Site occurs on a sandy portion of a widespread late-Pleistocene terrace that stands just slightly above the flood plain of the Great Pee Dee River. State-of-the-art scientific dating techniques, including accelerator mass spectrometry (Carbon 14 dating) and optically stimulated luminescence dating (OSL, which determines the last time sunlight penetrated sand grains) have been applied to samples from the Kolb Site and similar landscape settings in the vicinity of the Kolb Site, n says Leigh. "The results indicate that the low terrace comprises most of the Pee Dee River valley. Thus, the landscape around the site existed prior to the tim of Widespread peopling of North America, which occurred circa 13,000 years ago. Thus it offers an ideal locality for preserving a continuous record of human occupation in the region."

       Additional work is ongoing to study pollen contained in Leigh's sediment cores. The study of pollen allows the reconstruction of the floral environment and helps us understand human interaction with the natural world. One of the more rewarding aspects of this project has been the overwhelming reception the DNR team has received from the residents of the Darlington/Florence area. We allow volunteers to join us in investigating the site, and visitors call on us daily. Some come and work for an hour and others come out for the whole ten days i each and every year. Molly, Laura and Stephen Steadman, of Florence, for instance, have been volunteering at the Kolb Site for three years. Molly, popular on site for her upbeat attitude and endless energy, always has hot coffee and fresh baked goods for the crew. The 'diggers,' as we call them, are a friendly group with a wealth of information to share. They are always willing to stop and answer questions. I consider visits to the yearly dig an important part of Laura and Stephen's educational experience," says Molly Steadman.

       We have also established ties with the Pee Dee Indian Nation, and Chief David Locklear and other tribal members have frequently visited the site. In addition, numerous school groups visit us in the field to observe the excavations i firsthand. Groups from as far away as Orangeburg, Greenville, Spartanburg and North Augusta, as well as local schools, have participated in our outdoor classroom. Each group gets a guided tour of the site, a view of selected artifacts and an opportunity to ask questions. Small groups often get the opportunity to work beside the archaeologists.

       Many university-level students and professional archaeologists have volunteered on the Kolb Site. Students come to learn practical survey and excavation skills. Students from USC, College of Charleston, East Carolina University and University of Memphis have worked with us, and several of our alumni have entered M.A. and Ph.D. programs in archaeology.

       We are in the process of expanding our project to include the entire drainage and to that end have started the Great Pee Dee River Heritage Research Initiative to further our research and educational goals in the region. We plan to investigate other sites of both prehistory and history, record standing historic structures and cemeteries and continue to bring our information to the public through school programs and public-oriented publications.

       Like Johannes Kolb, we are on the frontier and digging down. The archaeological history of the Pee Dee region has been until now a mystery. While we have learned a great deal, we have also generated additional questions that need to be answered. What else might be out there? Perhaps evidence of ice-age hunters? Perhaps a refuse pit belonging to Kolb that would teach us much about him and his family? Archaeology holds the key to answering those questions.

SOURCE of INFORMATION

PROFESSOR CHRIS JUDGE. A former staff archaeologist for the DNR's Heritage Trust Program, Chris Judge is a professor at USC Lancaster.

            JOHANNES KOLB and SARAH had the following children:

         25      i.  MARY⁴.

          26     ii.  MEHITABEL.

          27    iii.  JACOB was born circa 1715

          28    iv.  DIELMAN was born March 1718/19

                  v.  HENRY (#53742) was born 1725. HENRY died 1759 at age 34. He married SARAH ELLESON date unknown. (SARAH ELLESON is #53743.)

          29    vi.  MARTIN was born 2 February 1727/28

          30   vii.  HANNAH was born 1730

          31  viii.  PETER was born 1732

          32    ix.  SARAH was born 1736

  8. JACOB³ KOLB DEACON (DIELMAN², HENRICH¹) (#438) was born in Wolfsheim, Baden, Pfalz, Germany 21 May 1685. JACOB died 04 October 1739 in Skippack Twp, Montg. Co., Pa., at age 54. His body was interred after 04 October 1739 in Skippack Mennonite Cem. Pa..

       He married SARAH VAN SINTERN 02 May 1710 in Germantown, Phil. Co. PA, USA. The following individual is also linked to this event: DIRCK KEYSER (minister). (SARAH VAN SINTERN is #450.) SARAH was born 6 January 1689/90 in Hamburg, Altona, Germany. SARAH was the daughter of ISAAK VAN SINTERN and NEELTJE CLAESSEN. SARAH died 25 April 1766 in Skippack Twp, Montg. Co., Pa., at age 76.

       JACOB KOLB was born on the 21 May 1685 in Wolfsheim, Palatinate, Germany. His father was Dielman Kolb Sr. and his mother was Angenes Schumacher. He was a weaver and a farmer and operated a cider mill on his farm. He belonged to the Mennonite congregation.

       Jacob emigrated to America in 1707. Three of his brothers Martin, Johannes and Heinrich, arrived in 1709. A younger brother Dielman arrived in 1717 and a nephew also named Dielman arrived in 1729. This latter Dielman (Tilman) is also a direct line ancestor through the Fretz family.

       SARAH and JACOB were married on 2 May 1710 in the original log Mennonite Meeting House in Germantown. The minister performing the marriage was DIRCK KEYSER

       He first lived in Germantown but almost immediately purchased 150 acres in Van Bebber Township, Philadelphia County. This later became Skippack Township in Montgomery County. He bought this land for £31 10 shillings from Matthias Van Bebber. The copy of the deed in my file is dated 10 April 1709 recorded 15 December 1709 taken from Philadelphia County Deed Book "E" Volume 6 Page 134. Also available from LDS Microfilm reel # 0021875. Historic as well as modern maps are in my files showing the location.

       JACOB KOLB took his Oath of Allegiance in 1730 as shown in the HISTORY OF SOUDERTON page 142 by Henry S. Landis published in 1930. It was republished in 1993 by Adams Apple Press, Bedminster, Pa. A copy of this book is in my library

       He is shown as owning 150 acres in Skippack-Perkiomen Township in the list of landholders in Philadelphia County in 1734. Copies of these pages are in my files.

       JACOB added to his property when he purchased 53 acres from Nicholas Scull for £18 adjacent to his original land. Copy of the deed in my file is dated 2 April 1728 recorded 20 August 1735 taken from Philadelphia County Deed Book "F" Volume 8 Page 237. Also available from LDS Microfilm reel # 0021880. This land was part of the original 500 acres Patented to Hannah Price 9 August 1703. Copy of this original Patent is in my files taken from Patent Book "A" Volume 2 Page 571. These "original" Patent Books are held by Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, Pa.

       JACOB added yet another piece of land to his holdings when he purchased 126 acres. This latest piece fell across the township line into Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County but abutted his original land in Skippack Township. So his property totalled 329 acres and stretched all the way from Skippack Pike (Hwy. 73) on the west to just beyond the Lederach-Skippack Road on the east. The north was bounded by the Lucon Road and the south was the Cresswell Road. His house was built in the middle of this land and was reached by a lane from the Cresswell Road. The present house built in the early 1800's is owned in 1994 by Mr. and Mrs. Chown who own only about 3 acres. The rest is still being farmed. Photographs of the house and farm taken in 1994 are in my files as well as historic and modern maps showing the location.

       JACOB KOLB purchased 217 acres from James Robinson for £105. Copy of the deed in my file is dated 31 May 1735 recorded 27 July 1735 taken from Philadelphia County Deed Book "F" Volume 8 Page 223. Also available on LDS Microfilm reel # 0021889. This property was in Rockhill Township, Bucks County. He sold this almost immediately to his son-in-law Michael Dierstein who had married daughter Agnes in 1734. Michael bought the property in 1736. Historic and modern maps are in my files showing the location which was just southwest of Sellersville.

       He was one of the 28 petitioners 2 June 1713 requesting a road to be laid out through Van Bebber Township (later Skippack Township). This became the Skippack Pike and is still called that although it is Highway # 73. It now goes as far north as Pottstown but then only ran through Skippack Village to Germantown.

       JACOB was also one of the 34 residents in Skippack and Perkiomen Township, Philadelphia County, Pa. to have the township surveyed. The petition with the signers is shown below.

       In 1725 the residents of the township of Skippack and Perkiomen in Philadelphia County (today Skippack Twp., Montgomery Co.) petitioned the Court of Quarter Sessions in Philadelphia to have their township accurately surveyed and to have this survey officially recorded in the court records. Up to this time, the township had never been accurately surveyed and had never had its boundaries exactly located. This township had originally been named VanBebber's township, named after Mathias VanBebber, who purchased 6166 acres of land here in 1703. In the same year, a few Mennonite families from Germantown began to settle here, making this the second oldest continuous Mennonite settlement in America. At the same point (about 1725) the township became known as Skippack and Perkiomen, named after the two creeks that ran through it. By this time there were quite a few Mennonite settlers located in the township.              The list of signatures attached to this 1725 petition shows some important early Mennonites in the Skippack community.

       To the Worshipful the Justices of the County of Philadelphia at the Court of Quarter Sessions now Held for sd County. The petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants of the township of Skippack and Parkyeoman in sd County           Humbly Sheweth        That Whereas the Constables Collectors Supervisors of the Highways and other public officers of sd Township have heretofore met with diverse Difficulties by Reason the sd Township was not Regularly Bounded whereby they might fully Know the full extent of their respective offices in Order to Discharge the Same Accordingly And to that End Y9ur Petitioners have been at the Charge To have the sd Township Regularly Layd out by a Surveyor as by a Return hereunto Annexed Appears And Therefore Humbly pray the Same may be Entered on Record So that they may be Certain for the future how far their Limits Extend In full expectation whereof your Petitioners As in Duty bound Shall ever pray...

       Clas Jansen, Johan Umstat, Petter Bon, Henry Pannebakers, Hermannus Kusters, Paulus Frid, Johannes Vanfossen, Johannes Friedt, Hans Detweiler, Henrich Kolb, Martin Kolb, Jacob Kolb, Jacob Markley, Arnold vanfossen, Isaac Dubois, Johannes Lescher, John Pawling, John Jacobs, Vallentin Hunsicker, Richard Gobe,l Matthias Teisen, Arnold Van Vossen, Sinnier (Senior), Jacob op degraff, Georg Merkle, Daniel Deesmant, Petter Jansen, Jacob Scheimer, Paul Fried, Willem weierman, Nicolas n Hicks his mark, Richard Jacob, Michel ziegler, Christop Dock, Hans Vollweiler

       Probably Jacob Kolb's children including Agnes attended school at the Mennonite Meeting House in Lower Salford at Harleysville. Or they may have attended at the Mennonite Meeting House just southwest of Skippack. Their farm would have been about half way between. These two Mennonite schools were started very early. They were both taught by Christopher Dock, a well known Mennonite of the time. In my file is a copy of an article about his teachings.

       THE JOURNAL of the LAND OFFICE of the PROPRIETERIES of PENNSYLVANIA shows that JACOB KOLB paid the following Quit Rents.

       13 March 1732/3 203 acres in 2 parcels, 2 1/2 years in full £ 0, 5 S, 0 P £ 0, 7 S, 6 P. Copy from this book is in my files.

       On 18 June 1717, Matthias Van Bebber who was the original Patentee from William Penn, conveyed to 7 trustees (including Jacob Kolb) 100 acres for £15. This land was to be used to build a Mennonite Meeting House and burying ground. This is the location of the present Lower Skippack Mennonite Meeting House and cemetery. It is on the corner of Meeting House Road just southwest of Skippackville. The first Meeting House was where the old part of the cemetery is located. The congregation first met in 1702 which makes it one of the oldest churches in Pennsylvania. The present Meeting House is across the road from the original location. There are photographs taken in 1994 in the Horning Files.

       JACOB audited the "Alms Book" at Lower Skippack 26 December 1738 so he must have been a Deacon at that time. It is shown in a very rare book as it is only 1 of 3 known to exist. It is in German and any record such as this is very rare because the Mennonites did not believe it proper to keep records. It showed a lack of austerity to their way of thinking.

       In my files is a copy of a loose page found in a copy of "Martyr's Mirror" printed by the Mennonites in Ephrata Township, Lancaster County in 1748. This was the first book published in America outlining the Mennonite faith. This particular copy of the book was found at an auction at Roan's in Williamsport, New York. It was purchased on 18 February 1986 for the Emma Thomson collection.

       It is interesting to know that Jacob Kolb's brother Dielman was one of the Mennonites sent to Ephrata to help supervise the printing. The page mentioned above contained a marriage record for Jacob Kolb and wife Sarah Van Sintern. It gives the birth dates for all 9 children and it is interesting to note they even give the time of birth. The book was printed in German.

       In my library is a reprint of the English version printed in 1950. Also in my files is a copy of the history of the printing of the Martyr's Mirror at the Ephrata Cloister taken from the Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Volume 9 Number 1 January 1986.

       JACOB KOLB was killed in 1739 when a beam from his cider mill fell and crushed him. In my file is a copy of the obituary that appeared in the Philadelphia Gazette 11 October 1739. It shows

he had been held in high esteem to have this appear in an English paper in Philadelphia.

       Will of KOLB, JACOB. Philadelphia County.

       Dated March 2, 1737. Proved December 5, 1739. F.141.

       Philadelphia County Will Book "F" Page 141 Will # 129.

       Be it known unto all whom it may concern; That I. Jacob Kolb of the township of Skippack and Perkiomen in the County of Philadelphia and Provence of Pennsylvania; on the second day of March. in the year of Our Lord. One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Seven. being weak of body but having my memory and understanding sound and perfect. do make ordain this my last Will and Testament in the following manner and form:

           Imprimis-I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Kolb in line of her third or dower of my Estate; all my hold goods. husbandry and implements and chattels. to be free and fully enjoyed and possessed by her. her Administrators and Assigns from the day of my decease thence forward and forever. I likewise order and allow there shall be raised and levied out of my Estate. One Hundred and Thirty Pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania which shall be put to interest on good security; the Bond or Bonds thereof shall be given the Trustee of this my Will with a declaration in full endorsed thereon for the use of my said wife in manner following:        (Viz) I give and bequeath unto my said wife the yearly interest of the said One Hundred and Thirty Pounds during widowhood and if the said yearly interest prove too short of answering her necessity. she shall use so much of the principal as she shall have occasion of and if she remains my widow during her natural life. she may give and bequeath the same as she thinks fit and if she marries. she shall then be debarred from using or bequeathing the principal or any part thereof thence forward and forever and shall from the day of her first marriage after me after my decease only be poor and allowed the yearly interest of One Hundred Pounds money as aforesaid for and during her natural life. She shall also have free and convenient house room and firing with my son Dillman during her said widowhood.  I order and direct that all my Estate in value boh real and Personal (except what is above bequeathed) be equally divided between my children. (Viz) Isaac, Agnes, Elizabeth, Elin, Henry, Mary, Dillman, Modlen and Sarah including and always allowing the accounts writ with my own hand as with respect to what my said son Isaac rec'd of me the eleventh day of July Anno Domini 1734; to Agnes the 11th day of June 1734 and with respect to Elizabeth the 4th day of December 1735. They having each a part of my Estate in to their own hands as by the said account appears. I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Isaac Kolb. the ninth part of all my Estate except before excepted to be had and taken what he hath already in his own hand as the account aforesaid the which said ninth part he shall freely and fully enjoy. possess from the day of my decease thence forward and forever.  

       Ibid. I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Agnes Derstine. one equal ninth part of all my Estate (except before excepted to be paid her by my said son Isaac or her lawful issue born of her body) within one year next from the day of my decease to be freely and fully enjoyed and possessed by her or her aforesaid thence forward and forever.

       Ibid. I give and bequeath unto my second daughter Elizabeth Hunsicker, one equal ninth part of all my Estate except before excepted to be paid her or her lawful issue born of her body by my son Isaac within one year next from the day of my decease the same to be freely and fully enjoyed and possessed by her or her aforesaid thence forward and forever. I order and direct that my Plantation and Tract of Land situate in the township aforesaid whereon I dwell at thereof containing by estimation-Two Hundred and Twenty Six Acres, be equal divided by a line, through the middle length ways and if the said division taketh equal part of the orchard by my dwelling house into the upper divided end next to my brother Martin Kolb's Land. I order and direct that an offset shall be made to include the same in the lower divided end and allow proportionable out of the North Estate of the same in order to make each divided end equal.

       Ibid. I give and devise to my son Henry Kolb. one equal moiety or half part cf my said Land and Plantation being first divided as above directed (viz) that part next adjoining to my brother Martin's with all the privileges. improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging to my son Henry; he paying the legacy due therefrom as bequeathed by this my Will to be freely and fully enjoyed and possessed by his Heirs and Assigns from the day of my decease thence forward and forever.        Ibid. I give and devise unto my son Dillman Kolb one equal ninth or half part of my said Land and Plantation being first divided as above directed (viz) that part next adjoining Michael Ziegler with all the privileges. improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto my son Dillman; he paying and allowing the legacies. privileges due thereupon as bequeathed and directed by this Will to be freely and fully enjoyed and possessed from the time my said son Dillman arrives to twenty-one years of age by him. his Heirs and Assigns thence forward and forever.

       Ibid. I give and bequeath unto my daughter. (viz) Elin Kolb one equal ninth part of all my Estate except before excepted to be paid to her by my son Henry when she arrives to twenty-one years of age. the same to be freely and fully enjoyed and possessed by her. her Executors. Administrators thence forward and forever.  

       Ibid. I give and bequeath unto my fourth daughter. (viz) Mary Kolb. one equal ninth part of all my estate except before excepted to be paid her by my son Henry when she arrives to twenty-one years of age the same to be freely and fully enjoyed and possessed by her Executors. Administrators thence forward and forever.  

       Ibid. I give and bequeath unto my fifth daughter Modlen Kolb, one equal ninth part of all my Estate, except before excepted. to be paid her by my son Dillman when she arrives to twenty-one years of age the same to be freely and fully enjoyed and possessed by her. her Executors. Administrators thence forward and forever.  

       Ibid. I give and bequeath unto my sixth daughter. Sara Kolb. one equal ninth part of all my Estate, except before excepted. to be paid her by my son Dillman when she arrives to twenty-one years of age; the same to be freely and fully enjoyed and possessed by her, her Executors. Administrators thence forward and forever.   I do hereby constitute make and ordain my said wife with my son Isaac to be executors of this my last Will and Testament giving them by these presents. full power to ask. demand and be over all my rights and credits and also to pay all my just debts and funeral charges, I nominate and desire Martin Kolb. Julius Kassle. Jacob Greder of the Township of Skippack and Perkiomen. in the County of Philadelphia. Yeomen. and Jacob Clements of Salford in the said County, Yeomen. to be Trustees of this my Will authorizing them hereby to order and demand that the same be observed. paid and performed according to the meaning. tenor and true intent thereof. And I do hereby utterly disallow and disannul and all every other former Testaments. Wills. Legacies and Executors by me in any ways before this time willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in Witness Whereof. I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year first above written,

                                                                                           JACOB KOLB

                                                                                                             (Seal)

Signed. Sealed. Published and Declared by the above named Jacob Kolb as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us subscribers.           MICHAEL ZEIGLER

       CHRISTOPHER HIEMAGER

Philadelphia. December the 5th 1739. there personally appeared Michael Zeigler and Christopher Hiemaker the Witnesses to the within written Will and on there affirmation did declare they saw and heard Jacob Kolb. Testator within named. sign. Seal and Publish and declare the same Will to be his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound mind and memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge.

       Obituary of JACOB KOLB

       "On the 4th instant. October. 1739. Jacob Kolb of Skippack. as he was pressing cider. t·he beam of the press f dl on one side of his head and shoulder and wounded him so that he languished about half an hour and then died. to the exceeding grief of his relatives and family. who are numerous. and concern of his friends and neighbors. among whom he lived many years in great esteem."

       SOURCE of INFORMATION

       KOLB, KULP OR CULP FAMILY HISTORY by Daniel Kolb Cassell published in 1895.Republished in 1990 as KULP FAMILY HISTORY.

       HISTORY of SKIPPACK and VICINITY by James Y. Heckler published in 1895 and republished in 1993 by Adams Apple Press of Bedminster, Pa.

       HISTORY of HARLEYSVILLE and LOWER SALFORD TOWNSHIP by James Y. Heckler published in 1886 and republished in 1993 by Adams Apple Press of Bedminster, Pa.

       THE CUSTER FAMILY by Agnes Williamson Storer published in 1937. Copy of this book is held by Conrad Grebel Library at Waterloo University, Waterloo, Ontario. Also available on LDS Microfilm # 1454997 Item 7. Copies of pertinent pages are in my files.

       THIRTY THOUSAND NAMES of IMMIGRANTS TO PENNSYLVANIA by Prof. I. Daniel Rupp published in 1876. Copy of this book is held by Orlando Public Library in Orlando, Florida.

       RHINELAND EMIGRANTS by Don Yoder published 1981 by Genealogical Publishing Co.,Baltimore. Copy of this book is held by Largo Public Library in Largo, Florida.

       LANDHOLDERS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY in 1734. This list was republished in1994 by Adams Apple Press, Bedminster.

       HISTORY OF SOUDERTON by Henry S. Landis published in 1930. It was republished in 1993 by Adams Apple Press, Bedminster, Pa.

       THE DESCENDANTS of DIELMAN KOLB, published in 1936.

            JACOB KOLB DEACON and SARAH VAN SINTERN had the following children:

         33      i.  ISAAC (STRONG) VAN SINTERN⁴ was born 28 March 1711

          34     ii.  AGNES VAN SINTERN was born 28 October 1713

          35    iii.  ELIZABETH VAN SINTERN was born 23 June 1716

                 iv.  ELLEN (NELLIE) (#444) was born in Skippack Twp, Montg. Co., Pa. 4 March 1719. She married JACOB SABELKUHL date unknown. (JACOB SABELKUHL is #1452.)

          36     v.  HEINRICH VAN SINTERN was born 26 September 1721

          37    vi.  MARIA VAN SINTERN was born 28 February 1724

                vii.  MAGDALENA (#448) was born in Skippack Twp, Montg. Co., Pa. 22 April 1729.

          38  viii.  SARAH was born 22 June 1732

          39    ix.  DILLMAN VAN SINTERN was born 29 May 1746

  9. DIELMAN³ KOLB JR. REV. (DIELMAN², HENRICH¹) (#439) was born in Wolfsheim, Baden, Pfalz, Germany 10 November 1691. DIELMAN died 28 December 1756 in L. Salford Twp. Montg. Co. PA, at age 65.

       He married ELIZABETH SCHNEBLI 25 July 1714. (ELIZABETH SCHNEBLI is #1461.)

       DIELMAN KOLB JR. came to America from Ibersheim in the Palatinate. arriving in Philadelphia on August 10, 1717. He was one of the founders of the Mennonite Church at Salford in Montgomery Co., Pa. He was also one of a committee to arrange and supervise the translation of the "Martyr's Mirror" from the Dutch to the German language. This is such an interesting story I am going to include the complete article which was printed in the 1936 book published by a Committee representing the descendants of Dielman Kolb Sr.

       THE MARTYRS' MIRROR

       Translated from Dutch into German by Dielman Kolb and Heinrich Funk.

       This book is the great historical work of the Mennonites. and the most durable monument of that denomination. It traces the history of those Christians who from the time of the Apostles. were opposed to the baptism of infants and to warfare. including the Lyonites. Petrobusians and Waldenses; details the persecution of the Mennonites by the Spaniards in the Netherlands and the Galvinists in Switzerland, together with the individual sufferings of many hundreds who were burned. drowned. be headed. or otherwise maltreated: and contains the confessions of faith adopted by the different communities.

       "Many copies of the book were brought to America. but they were in Dutch. No German translation existed. and much the larger proportion of those who were interested in it could read only that language. It was not long before a desire for a German edition was manifested. and the declaration of war between England and France in 1744, which. in the nature of things. must involve. sooner or later. their colonies in America. made the Mennonites fearful that their principles of non-resistance would be again put to the test. and anxious that all of the members. especially the young, should be braced for the struggle by reading of the steadfastness of their forefathers amid sufferings abroad. Their unsalaried preachers were. however. like the members of the flock, farmers who earned their bread by tilling the soil and were ill fitted. both by circumstances and education. for so great a literary labor. Where could a trustworthy translator be found? Where was a printer in the forests of Pennsylvania who could undertake the expense of a publication of such magnitude? Naturally. they had recourse to the older and wealthier churches in Europe. and on the 19th of October. 1745. Jacob Godshalk of Germantown, Dielman Kolb of Salford, Michael Ziegler, Yilles Kassel and Martin Kolb, of Skippack and Heinrich Funk, of Indian Creek. author of two religious works published in Pennsylvania, wrote. under instruction from the various communities. a letter to Amsterdam on the subject. They say: 'Since according to appearances the flames of war are mounting higher, and it cannot be known whether the cross and persecution may not come upon the defenseless Christians, it becomes us to strengthen ourselves for such circumstances with patience and endurance, and to make every preparation for steadfast constancy in our faith. It was. therefore. unanimously considered good in the community. if it could be done, to have the Bloedig Toneel of Dielman Jans Van Braght translated into the German language, especially since. in our communities in this country. there has been a great increase of young men who have grown up. In this book posterity can see the traces of those faithful witnesses who have walked in the way of truth and given up their lives for it.'  

       "At Ephrata, in Lancaster County, had been established some years before and still exists, a community of mystical Dunkers, who practiced celibacy and held their lands and goods in common. About 1745 they secured a hand printing press, now in possession of the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, on which they printed over fifty books, which are among the scarcest and most sought after of American imprints. The chronicle of the cloister says: 'Shortly before the time that the mill was burned down, the Mennonites in Pennsylvania united together to have their great martyr book. which was in the Dutch language, translated and printed in German. For this work there was nobody in the whole country considered better fitted than the brotherhood in Ephrata, since they had a new printing office and paper mill and moreover, could place hands enough upon the work. After the building of the mill was completed, the printing of the martyr book was taken in hand. for which important work fifteen brethern were selected, of whom nine had their task in the printing office, viz. a corrector, who was also a translator, four compositors and four pressmen. The others worked in the paper mill. Three years were spent upon this book. but the work was not continuous because often the supply of paper was deficient. And since in the meantime there was very little other business on hand. the brethern got deeply into debt, but through the great demand for the book this was soon liquidated. It was printed in large folio, using sixteen quires of paper and making an edition of thirteen hundred copies. In a council held with the Mennonites, the price for a single copy was fixed at twenty shillings, from which it can be seen that the reasons for printing it were very different from a hope of profit. That this martyr book was a cause of many trials to the recluse. and added not a little to their spiritual martyrdom, is still in fresh remembrance."        The foregoing is taken from a manuscript prepared by The Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker. Governor of Pennsylvania from January 20 1903 to January 15 1907. In commenting on this interesting and arduous task, historian Daniel Kolb Cassel has this to say: "In this remarkable way have been fortunately preserved the particulars concerning the publication of the Ephrata Martyr Book. The publication of the first part was completed in 1748 and the second part in 1749. It is a massive folio of 1512 pages. Heinrich Funk and Dielman Kolb had such a great love for this book that they both, with common consent. gave their time and labor to it; and as the sheets came from the press and were sent to them in their order, went over them one at a time, comparing them with the Dutch: and in this work has not been omitted a single verse."    The press used to print the Martyr's Mirror is now in possession of the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia. About 1745 it was in use at the Cloisters of Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pa. The print shop that housed this press has long since been torn down, but the caretaker on the premises states that printing types are frequently unearthed in the vicinity where the old print shop stood. The main building is still standing and is now the State of Pennsylvania.

            DIELMAN KOLB JR. REV. and ELIZABETH SCHNEBLI had the following child:

         40      i.  ELIZABETH⁴ was born 1715

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