Jacob Joust was a "Burgesse" in the District of Meintz, in the Duchy of Franconia.

Children of JACOB JOUST and RACHEL ____?_____ are:

2. i. JACOB² JOUST.

ii. PETER JOUST.

 Generation No. 2

2. JACOB² JOUST (JACOB¹) He married CHARTHARINE ____?_____.

Jacob appears in a record dated 1710, as a member of a Protestant Colony in Franconia.

Children of JACOB JOUST and CHARTHARINE ____?_____ are:

3. i. CHRISTIAN JOUST³ (JOST).

ii. KLAUS (NICKLAUS) (JOST).

 Generation No. 3

3. CHRISTIAN JOUST³ (JOST) (JACOB² JOUST, JACOB¹) He married BARBARA ____?_____.

In 1714, Christian and Klaus are recorded in a religious migration to the Kingdom of Wurtemberg and in 1727-28, they are named in a "war on the Protestants" in Emmen Valley of Switzerland "near Langnau". In this record it mentions that Christian was killed and his wife, Barbara was imprisoned at Berne where shortly after she died, and the land and property of Christian was confiscated, leaving his children destitute.

At a meeting early in 1728, held at Berne, Switzerland, a resolution was passed to "transport these provident and destitute religious agitators to a Dutch port for transport to England". Queen Anne of England had issued a proclamation offering religious freedom to all the persecuted religious refugees along the Rhine, in her American Colonies. In the list of the improverished religious agitators of the Emmen Valley were given the sons and daughters of Christian with their ages: Jacob, age 18; Gasper, age 16; Chartharine, age 14; Heinrich, age 11, Barbara, age 8; and John, age 4.

The Dutch and English histories describing the immigration of the German and Swiss immigrants to America, relate that thousands upon thousands of these harassed and distressed people flocked to the Dutch Ports for passage to England. Their history consumes volumes of records that according to the historian, Eshelmann "are the darkest pages in the annals of Christian people". Even after every available ship was pressed into service to relieve the stress of ever increasing horde of these "Palatines", hundreds died from exposure and starvation in Holland and England awaiting transportation to America. In the effort to relieve the situation many were bound out as servants in England and as the early American immigration records do not list a female Yost, it can be construed that they remained in England, for a record says "these German and Swiss females are industrious housekeepers". Another record states that the Palatine females on marrying were freed of their bondage

The settlement of Pennsylvania by the Germans is an epic tale of faith and zeal, of sacrifice and achievement in the development of America. The story has been told and the Pennsylvania German Pioneers have come into their rightful place as builders of our nation.

The land that came to be known as Pennsylvania was granted by King Charles II of England to William Penn in 1681 in exchange of a debt of 16,000 pounds which the British Crown owed to his father. It was the largest tract ever granted in America to a single individual, he had simple title to more than 40,000 square miles of territory. Under his Charter, Penn was governor of the Province, which he and his sons held as proprietaries, with the exception of about two years under William III, until the Revolution of 1776. Pennsylvania was not a colony of any foreign power; as a British subject Penn owed his allegiance to the crown. While the government of Pennsylvania was proprietary in form, It was English in substance and all non-British subjects were known as foreigners.

In order to obtain settlers for his land, Penn visited the Rhine Provinces, whose once peaceful valley's, thriving fields and vine clad hills had become the hunting ground of political and religious fanatics. Penn and his agents told the news of his acquisition and invited the Rhinelanders, the suffering Palatines, to help him found a State in which religious and civil liberty would prevail. From the Germantown settlement in 1683, to the revolution, a large scale immigration followed,

When the pioneers arrived, Pennsylvania vas in the hands of British subjects. Penn's agents were Englishmen; the English language was used; English Common Law was in force. It soon became a matter of concern to these Englishmen that such a large body of Continentals, speaking another language and accustomed to another form of government should be admitted to the land, even though they came at the invitation of Penn, himself.

In 1727, the Provincial Council, passed a law requiring all Continentals who arrived at Philadelphia to take oaths of allegiance to the British Crown. Two years later they were required to take oaths of abjuration and fidelity to the proprietor and laws of the province. The oaths were administered and subscribed to before public officials,

These immigrant ancestors of ours came not to a ready-made republic of opportunity but to a virgin land inhabited by savages. Many were men of eminence in the fatherland others came up from the penury and virtual slavery of the redemptioner system. Together they worked, fought and won America's battles and led in public service, industry, science, education invention and in the art of agriculture which is the foundation of our national wealth and of human progress.

The journey to Peansyvania was not an easy journey. This journey began in May and ended in October, fully half a year later amid much hardship. The Rhine boats had to pass 26 custom houses, where the ships were examined as it suited the convenience of the custom-house officials. The ships were detained Iong and the passengers had to spend much money. The trip down the Rhine took from four to six weeks before arriving at Holland where they were detained from five to six weeks, while the ships were waiting to be passed through the custom-house or waiting for favorable winds. Unless they had the right winds the ships sailed from eight to twelve weeks before reaching Philadelphia. Even with the best wind the voyage lasted seven weeks.

The passengers being packed densely, without proper food and water were soon subject to all sorts of disease, such as dysentery, scurvy, typhoid and small-pox. The children were the first to be attacked and died in large numbers. The terrors of disease, were much aggravated by frequent storms through which ships and passengers had to pass.

One ship after another arrived in the port of Philadelphia, just when the rough and severe winter was before the door. One or more merchants received a list of the freights and the agreement which the emigrants signed in their own hand in Holland, as well as the bills for their travel down the Rhine and the advances of the new-landers for provisions they received on the ships "on account". Formerly the freight for a single person was six to ten Louis d'ors, but later it amounted to fourteen to seventeen Louis d'ors (the equivalent of the Louis d'or is about $4.50, though its purchasing power at that time was much greater).

According to the law, before the ship was allowed to cast anchor at the harbor, the passengers are all examined by a physician, as to whether any contagious disease existed among them. Then they were led in procession to the City Hall to render the oath of allegiance to the King of Great Britain. After that they were brought back to the ship. Then announcements are printed in the newspapers, stating how many of the new arrivals are to be sold. Those who still had money were released. The ships became the market place. The buyers made their choice among the arrivals and bargained with them for a certain number of years and days. They were taken to the merchant, where their passage and other debts were paid and received from the government authorities a written document that made the newcomers their property for a definite period. In a few years of service, in spite of all difficulties and hardships, they emerged as successful farmers. It only shows of what sturdy stock these pioneers were made.

Nearly 50,000 embarked for the land of Penn, nearly 20,000 who sailed died at sea, the remainder reached their goal. Southeastern Pennsylvania was settled almost exclusively of Swiss and German settlers. They filled the valleys of the Susquehanna and Schuylkill and their tributaries. Before the Revolution, some moved down the Shenandoah, crossed the Alleghenies and into the Cumberland. They multiplied and drifted into the Ohio valley and at the beginning of the 19th century they settled in Lower Canada. They also went into Indiana, Illinois region, Kansas and the Dakota section and the northwest. Their descendents moved into all the vast area of middle west and far-western America as well as eastern America.

The Swiss and German labored under many problems and difficulties which people of today would find it hard to believe. They were foreigners and as such were held in disfavor by the English government of this providence even though Penn gave them a special invitation to come and settle here. The Swiss and Germans were hard workers and by being thrifty they began to make progress and money and were looked upon with jealousy by other settlers among them. It is believed that the noble life and struggles of the Swiss and Germans of eastern Pennsylvania, and especially of Lancaster County, were the very backbone of Industrial Lancaster County.

They were persecuted for their religious faith for many years in their homeland and in this new land. They were known by their plain dress, moral life, their temperate living and their refusal to take part in government and oaths. They did not believe in infant baptism, transubstantiation, force, war or political affairs. As far back as the Year 1000, they were called Anabaptists or Waldenseans and many suffered martyrdom for their faith. In 1203, these Anabaptists or Waldenseans had the Holy Scriptures translated into their own language and they did not practice any other doctrine. They carefully followed the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.

Ernest Muller, a preacher in Langnau, wrote that among the Mennonite families living in and around Langnau, Switzerland in 1621, was a family headed by Christian Yost, and a daughter of Stinnis Gibbel was living with them. Also a Klaus Yost and his wife. Others with the surnames of Baumgardner, Probst or Brobst, Moritz, Bichsel or Bixler, Ruch or Reich, Studder (a powerful youth), Utzenberger, Dellenbach, Raeber or Reber, Kreyenbuel or Graybill, Greber or Garber and Rothlisperger. Among the families of eastern Pennsylvania we find the familiar names of Baumgardner, Probst or Brobst, Ruch, Yost, Raeber or Reber, Kreyenbuel or Graybill, Bixler, Gibbel or Garber. This shows that some members of most of the families in Switzerland helped to establish the land of Penn. The community of Langnau had a population of 7,000, about 18 miles directly east of Berne in the Emmen Valley, which extends from the northeast to southeast of Berne.

Children of CHRISTIAN (JOST) and BARBARA ___?___ are:

Generation No. 4

Hans Casper Yost's birth name was Gasper Jost (or Joost), later known as Casper.

Casper arrived at the Port of Philadelphia on 17 August 1733, at the age of 21 years. He was a Redemptioner passenger on the Ship Samuel of London, mastered by Hugh Percy. The ships original clearance on this passage, was out of Rotterdam, Holland, with one stop at Deal, London. It took eleven weeks to cross the Atlantic and en-route, forty-one died of a fever said to have been caused by the fouling of drinking water stored in old wine casks.

On arrival at the Deleware River anchorage off Philadelphia, over one hundred immigrants were too sick to land at once, but Hans Casper Yost was named with one hundred and seventy others, who disembarked on the day of the ship's arrival and signed the Oath of Allegiance to the King of England.

The Ship Samuel of London was of eighty ton register, about sixty feet long and thirty feet at its widest, in the class of sailing ships of those days. called brigantines. The passenger list in its original clearance, records "eight-six females and eighty-nine males above the age of sixteen, and sixty-two females and fifty-four males under sixteen - in all, two hundred and ninety-one passengers from the Provinces of Franconia, chiefly and from other districts contingent to the Rhine."

Hans Casper Yost was born in the year 1712, near Meintz, Duchy of Franonia (close to what is now Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany). Hans Casper Yost was bound out to William Moerschel (Marshall) of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and served him two years to redeem his foreign transportation debt. William Moerschel (Marshall) was the son of Toby Moerschel (Marshall) who immigrated from Holland prior to 1700. William Marshall had a daughter, Eleanor, who married Casper Yost shortly after his freedom from his redemption.

The first property tax record of Casper is dated 1742, in which year he paid 'L1.6.0 on a farm of forty acres, 1 horse, and 1 cattle." In 1756, he and his family abandoned their clearing on account of numerous murdering, burning raids by the Indians. In 1765, he again fled with his family from 'the wholesale slaughtering by the Indians in Lebanon Towne (Township) where all around Yost's mill were massacred" - and evidently gave up pioneering on farms. It is stated in this last Indian raid, that Casper "rode the valley warning the approach of the Indians". No record could be found giving the owner of this "Yost Mill" and what Yost family was "wiped out'. Whether or not Casper and his family suffered any physical harm is not of record.

In 1765, Casper Yost paid a provincial business tax in Lancaster Boro, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania of L4.10.0 as a tanner. Sometime prior to 1769 or the spring of that year, Casper and family removed to the Antietan Valley of Maryland, no doubt answering the solicitation of Rev. Funk, who recently established a church near Elizabeth Towne (near Hagerstown).

On August 16, 1771, Casper purchased from Beatty and Hawkins of Prince George County, Maryland, a lot in the addition to George Town, Frederick County, subdivided in a tract known as 'Knave's Disappointment" - being lot No. 88, having a frontage on High Street of 90 feet with a variable depth of 150 feet extending toward the Potomac River. (About 1933, this lot is now being used as an oil station and fronts on Pennsylvania Avenue, about 50 feet east of the Rock Creek Park bridge, in the business section of Georgetown which is the western part of Washington D.C.).

In the George Towne Hundred census of 1776, the house of Casper is listed as follows: Casper, age 64; Elanor, age 58; Tobias, age 21; Susannah, age 17; Phillip, age 14. The same list by the same census taker and but one family removed, proving them close neighbors, was Casper's son, John, age 33; his wife Rebecca, age 27; and children, Katherine, age 7; Mary age 4; Elizabeth, age 2; and John Jr., age 5.

On August 4, 1777, an inventory of the estate of Casper Yost was filed at George Towne, amounting to L216.10.4. As such inventories were filed, with few exceptions, within thirty days after death, it can be reasonably presumed that he died in the early part of July. As the record of his immigration gave him as 21 on arrival in 1733, he was about 65 years old when he died.

Of his wife, Eleanor, a descendent through the son, John, says that Eleanor died in 1780 at the home of John, in Fairfax Court House, Virginia, which is a short distance south of the Potomac River from George Towne of that time. Eleanor's pet name was Patsy.

 Children of HANS CASPER AND ELEANOR (MOERSCHEL) YOST are:

Arrived at Philadelphia on 23 August 1728. The list of Palatine Passengers imported in the Ship Mortonhouse, John Coultas, commander, from Rotterdam, but last of Deal, arrived the 23rd day of August 1728, listed as Jacob Joost. Qualified 24th august 1728. (*From minutes of Provincial Council, printed in Colonial Records, Vol 111, page 327.) He settled in Limerick Township, Philadelphia County. He died of a "Bone Fever". The first Yost of record to be buried in America. He left two sons: Nicholas and Henry.

(*The Allegiance lists were incorporated in the Provincial Council minutes from 1727 until 1736 and were published by the State of Pennsylvania in 1852 under the title of 'Colonial Records".)

 Children of JACOB and  _______ ( _______ ) JOST are:

Generation No. 5

Henry Yost was the eighth child of Hans Casper and Eleanor (Moerschel) Yost.

He removed with his father's family from Lancaster Boro in 1768 or 1769 to near Elizabeth Towne, Frederick County, Maryland (now Hagerstown, Washington County).

In 1772 he purchased a lot in George Towne, Frederick County, Maryland, but shortly after sold it to his brother John, and returned to his former home at Elizabeth Towne.

In 23 June 1772, Henry purchased lot No. 142 in the same tract adjoining Casper's lot in the rear and bordering on Rock Creek. This lot was later purchased from Henry by his brother John and was established as a forge for making guns (muskets).

There is no tax record in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania nor in Frederick County, Maryland showing Henry as a farmer and it was not until 1775 that he appears in the History of Maryland as a gunsmith, 1775-1781, according to records he owned and operated a factory for the making of rifles, muskets, ball molds and other gun accessories of the times and also did gun repairing as well. Preceding the actual Declaration of Independence in 1776, the furnishing of arms to the hurriedly mustered troops "was a sore trial and tribulation for foreign guns were few and foreign orders unreasonably delayed" and every patriot so talented was called upon to make guns and other arms. Henry and his brother John, were no doubt gunsmiths before the necessity of their services were called upon, for they received orders as soon as district committees were appointed to authorize the purchase and payments.

There were two committees of war preparation appointed in Maryland; The Committee of Safety, seated at Annapolis -- the Committee of Observation, seated at Elizabeth Towne. It was the latter that directed orders to Henry Yost, who lived in or near Elizabeth Towne. The following record was copied exactly as it appeared in the Archives of Maryland:

"Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Elizabeth Towne District, July 28th, 1775. A list of rifles appraised for Capt. Cresap's Company", (32 gunsmiths were listed with appraisals of their manufactured weapons, of which 18 were ordered delivered. Of the eighteen, three were selected from the supply of Henry Yost. The highest appraisal was to Peter Wirtz at 5.15.0, and the lowest to John Boozer at 2.10.0 Henry's guns were second highest at 4.15.0 and with him in his class was Francis Waggoner, Hen's brother-in-law.)

The following description is the only Maryland record showing the musquettes made by Henry Yost and John Yost. There is no original gun in known existence, made by the American gunsmiths for the Militia and Continental Line during the revolution, neither the Smithsonian Institute or War Department at Washington, haven't even a Copy. The make of all guns had his name engraved in brass on the lock or barrel.

"For the Maryland Militia and Continental Line: Musquets must be 42" long - 3/4" at bore - 1 1/2" at breach and 7/8" at muzzle - with good bouble bridal locks - black walnut or maple stocks - plain strong brass mountings - bayonets with steel blade 17" long - steel ramrods, double screws - priming wires and brushes fitted thereto: with a pair of brass molds with every 80 muskets, to cast 12 bullets on one side and on the other side to cast shot of such size as that the muskets will chamber three of them".

"Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Elizabeth Towne District, Feb 5th, 1776."

"Henry Yost having been charged with make'g use or selling the powder allowed him by this Committee to Prove his Muskets, is Honorably Acquitted, and he has fully satisfied the Committee he is clear of the Charge."

"Journal of the Committee of Observation for the District of Elizabeth Towne. Proceeding of the Committee - Met July 25, 1776, John Stull, Esq., in the chair: Received of Henry Yost, 2 rifles and 1 musquet at L13, to be delivered to Coln'l Henry Shriock."

"Thursday, Jan 16, 1777. Ordered that the Western Shore Treasurer pay to Henry Yost, one hundred pounds of the new emission for repairing muskets on Account."

"Tuesday 30 Jan, 1781. Ordered that the Western Shore Treasurer pay to to Henry Yost, one hundred Pounds of new emission for repairing muskets on Account."

Record Pertaining to Henry Yost's service record

Upper District of Frederick County, Maryland; Enrolled as able bodies, over 16 and under 53; February 1775* Henry Yost.

March, 1776 - Signed as an Associator, Henry Yost

February, 1778 - Patriots Oath of Fidelity to Maryland and the Cause; List No. 17, signer No. 161, Henry Yost. List sworn to by John Stull. (There were 1598 men in 11 return in the Province of Maryland and these signers were called "The Patriots of Maryland").

March 1778 - Henry Yost was Commissioned First Lieutenant for the Upper District of Frederick County (this district is now Washington County, Maryland).

Henry Yost was a soldier in the 4th Regiment of Maryland, a German Regiment, as was the 5th also. When the british occupied Washington, D.C. in the war of 1812 - 1814, the Revolutionary records of Maryland and Virginia 'with a lot of other irreplacable documents were destroyed by them."

A record of Henry, handed down through the generations, is that Henry Yost was in charge of an Armory near Harper's Ferry, but on the Maryland side of the Potomac. There was such an Armory located about where New Brunswick, Maryland is today. Two other Armories at Harper's Ferry were built for the 1812 war and used during the Civil War but since torn down and obliterated.

Shortly after the Revolutionary War, Henry moved with his family down the Valley of Virginia, over the Wilderness Trail, and settled in Augusta County, Virginia, in that section then that became the Southeast district of Pendleton County, West Virginia of today. From approximately 1781-82 to 1790, there is no printed or family record to show any permanent removal of Henry. In 1790 he paid a tithable in the South Fork District of Augusta County. In 1793, 96, and 1800, he appeared at Tinkling Springs (now Staunton) Virginia, as consent to marriages of his three daughters, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Polly Eleanor, was given there. In 1809, he purchased 250 acres on the New River, in the then Wythe County, Virginia and sold it to his son, Rev. Casper Yost of Wytheville in 1819. In 1812 he purchased two lots in Fincastle, Botetourt County, Virginia, one a residence site and one a business location "adjoining the dam". In 1796 he was delinquent, having moved from his Augusta County district to Millton (now Rockingham County). In 1820 he paid a tithable in Bland County, Virginia. That Henry followed the gun making business during the Revolution proves that he was capable at it and no doubt it was the most profitable business at that time, but he was a tanner, saddler and harness maker when he died. Henry's father, Casper, was a tanner by trade and a farmer by necessity. When he abandoned farming and moved to Lancaster Boro, Pennsylvania, he went in the business of a tanner and no doubt his sons learned that trade from him.

Henry and Polly Marie (Waggoner) Yost had 10 known children.

The children are listed as: Elizabeth Yost, Jacob Yost, John Yost, Rebecca Yost, Henry Marshall Yost, Polly Eleanor Yost, James Casper Yost, William Yost, Fletcher Harris Yost, and David Greiner Yost.

Of Henry and Polly Yost's children, it has been proved that the first five were born in what is now Washington County, Maryland, the last five in what was Augusta County, Virginia prior to 1793.

(This list of children's names conflicts with other historical data. For instance, in the "Children of Henry Yost" Jacob Yost's biography mentions, twice, a brother George, who was a minister and moved to Clareborne, Tennessee. However, that is the only information given and there is no George listed as a child of Henry Yost. George is not the same person as David Greiner Yost. Polly Eleanor Yost is also not mentioned in the "Children of Henry Yost". There are nine children listed there, they are: Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Rebecca, Henry Marshall, James Casper, William, Fletcher Harris and David Greiner.

 Children of HENRY and POLLY MARIE (WAGGONER) YOST  are:

John Yost was the fifth child of Hans Casper Yost.

John and Rebecca (Bonham) Yost had eight children.

Established at Georgetown, Maryland. In 1775 he contracted with the Committee of Safety for muskets at 4 pounds, 5 shillings each, and rifles at 4 pounds, 15 shillings each. This contract remained in effect until 1782.

According to reliable tradition in the Yost family, John served in the Revolutionary War under General George Washington and was in the battle of Lexington. It is said that he made guns for Washington's Army.

John and his brother Henry were the only two sons of Hans Casper and Eleanor (Marshall) Yost who removed from Maryland into the southwestern part of Virginia. Henry migrated down the Wilderness Trail (Shenandoah Valley), but John traved down "east of the blue ridge" by way of Culpeper and Charlotte.

John and Henry's history in Virginia is associated in the histories of the Virginia Valley from Augusta County to the "spring gardens" west of New River, in what is now Tazewell and Wythe County. Both were prominent gunsmiths of Maryland during the Revolution and both served in the German Regiments of Maryland. After the war, they went back to the soil and farmed for a while but in later years, both moved into town and opened up tanning shops and conducted the business of saddle and harness makers. It is said of the early Yosts that they were poor farmers but excellent tradesmen, excelling in the making of "wagons, saddles, harness and transprotation smithing".

 Source:

Annals of John Yost Sr. (Proceedings of the Council of Safety of Maryland, seated at Annapolis; copied from original records in the Archives of Maryland and Baltimore.)

"At a meeting of the Council of Safety for the Province of Maryland at the City of Annapolis on Sunday 7 July 1776: Council met, were present: The Hon'ble Daniel of St Thomas Jenifer Esqr.: Charles Carroll, Barrister, Bejamin Rumsoy & James Tilghman, Esquires.

Ordered: The Council contract with John Yost for the making of 300 Musquets at four pounds, fifteen shillings each to be delivered at the terms and in the proportion expressed in his bond.

Ordered: That the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay the said John Yost, one Hundred Fifty Pounds common maney to enable him to comply with his Contract."

 Following records are orders of the same Committee:

"Tuesday, 23 July 1776

Copy of letter No. 70 was sent to John Yost of George Towne: (Council to Yost) We are very desirous of knowing exactly what Arms you have ready for the public, that we may send for them as soon as you get a waggon load, or such number as will be worth while sending fore; let us know by first good opportunity, and if none offers, and your arms be ready, hire an Express and we will pay him. 23 July 1776.

Tuesday, 30 July 1776

Ordered, that John Yost deliver to Capt. Edward burgess all the Musquets he has made for the public.

(Council to C. Beatty and others) Commissioners of Gun Lock Manufactory,

Gent'n.,

As a considerable time has elapsed since your erecting your Gun Lock factory, we are in great hopes you have made a number for the use of this Province.

The Province is in great distress for Arms; few of the Troops raised for the Flying Camp are supply'd with them and the Militia will not lend theirs. There is an absolute necessity therefor that you immediately send them down what Locks yu have. We expect Firelocks from John Yost, they have come from thence if you contrive them there. We desire also to know how many Locks you made per week. We have barrels enough here and in Kent for the Locks you can make. 30th July 1776

Thursday, 1 August 1776 (Yost to Council) George Towne, Aug 1, 1776

Gentlemen of the Council:

I have received your letter dated the 23 July and finding you desirous to know what Compliment of Arms I had ready for the Public. I have them all ready of the First Contract including the Bayonets which I expect this day with and Express that I have sent for them. I have also been much detained in the last Contract by repairing old Arms for the Militia, che Con'l finding it very necessary. If I am now not deceived in receiving of the Bayonets I hope I can dispatch all by the latter end of this week. I am Gen't. in duty bound, John Yost.\

Saturday, 10th August 1776:

Ordered: That the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay to John Yost fifty pounds common maney being the Balance due him on his Contract with the Council of Safety in November last.

Wednesday 25 Sept 1776 (John Yost to Council) George Town, Sept 13, 1776

Gentlemen,

In consequence of your Favor of the 6th Instant, I have to inform you that I have erected a Horse Mill for boring Gun Barrels, that I am now employed with all the workmen I have in making Locks, Screws, Mounting and gorging Barrels ready for boring, but cannot proceed to that part of the work before I receive the Materials (Steel in particular) which I purchased at Philadelphia some time ago; having been disappointed by Mr. Jesse Hollingsworth of Baltimore, who I am informed, had neglected to bring them from the Head of El in his packet; probably a missive from you to him on this occasion, might be of Service to hasten their Conveyance.

I was told by the Manager of the Gun Lock Manufactory at Frederick Towne, that they forge Gun Locks much faster than they can finish them off: as that is the case, I should be glad to furnish myself from thence with 300 ready forged Locks, provided the terms are admissable.

If this proposal is agreeable, I hope I may shortly be furnished with proper Authority through you, or some other Department, to receive that Quantity, as it will greatly further my work.

I have nine hands employed at present, and have engaged two more, who I expect will be at work for me in less than a Fortnight.

With great Respet, I am Gentlemen

Your most Ob't Servant,

John Yost

Wednesday, 25 Sept 1776

Ordered: That Mr. John Yost of George Towne deliver to Lieutenant Frederick Skinner all the Musquets he has ready made for the public service.

Friday, 1 November 1776

Ordered: That Western Shores Treasurer pay Robert Peters for use of John Yost six Pounds, thirteen shilling and six pence. Adjourned 'till next day 10 o'clock.

Mar 27, 1777

Said Treasurer pay John Yost two hundred Pounds in advance on his contract for arms."

Rebecca Bonham's last name also given as "Bonniham".

Generation No. 6

James Casper Yost was a Methodist Minister and was known as Reverend Casper Yost.

He was the seventh child of Henry Yost and Polly Waggoner.

Casper Yost was a Justice in Wythe County, Virginia in 1807. He was a wagon maker, farmer, and minister. In the Astor Library in New York City, New York, there is a history of Missionary or Itinerant Methodist Ministers in South West Virginia showing a wood cut of Casper Yost sitting in a pulpit chair.

Casper Yost came to Wythe County, Virginia in the early part of 1800, he was a Methodist Pastor for 18 years and a member for 48 years. He served as trustee on several church boards, and figured in more church organizations in Wythe County than any single individual of his day. On October 10, 1828, Casper and his wife deeded to the Methodist Episcopal Church 1 1/2 acres of land for the building of the Mount Ephraim Church which was a place of worship for over 100 years.

Rev. Casper Yost was buried in the old M.E. graveyard on the west side of town of Wytheville, Virginia. The church has since been removed to the east side of town on Church Street. The grave marker, a white sand store head-piece stands aobut three feet high is located at the foot of a chestnut tree planted at his burial. Inscription reads: "In memory of Rev. Casper Yost, born March 11, 1785, died Jan 5 1850 - Eighteen Years a Pastor of the Methodist Church and Forty-Eight Years a Member".

James Casper and Euphemia Hughes (Bickle) Yost had 10 children.

Copy of Will of Rev. Casper Yost, filed at Wytheville, Wythe County, Virginia, in Book No. 7, pages 131, 152 and 153.

Elizabeth Yost was the first child of Henry Yost and Polly Waggoner

John David Greiner, Jr., his wife Elizabeth Yost, and their only child Jacob Greiner all died in 1798, near Middlebrook, Virginia, of smallpox which at that time "was ragin in the valley" and this record said for many years, most of the survivors were pock-marked.

Jacob Yost was the second child of Henry Yost and Polly Waggoner, born 1773/74 in Virginia.

The Yost brothers, Henry Marshall, Jacob, and George left Virginia early in 1819 via Clareborne, Tennessee, where George settled. Henry and Jacob moved to Gallatine, Tennessee, then to Logan County, Kentucky where Jacob settled. Henry moved on to Benton, Illinois.

Jacob was a Presbyterian - his father was German Reform which is Presbyterian.

Jacob owned and operated a "Tavern", located about 2 miles east of Auburn. It was a log house and was razed not many years ago, and a fairly new brick house stands there today. Some of the old trees stand on the yard yet. The tavern of that day served a multiple purpose, it provided food, bedding and drinks, also food and care for horses of the overnight guests, and sometimes even a fresh team (of horses) in case of an emergency. These places were sometimes called "Stagecoach Inns" and were located about every 10 miles apart in the early days.

Jacob and his first wife, Matilda Johnson, had 4, possibly 5 children.

Henry Marshall Yost married first, Mary Polly Early. They had nine children.

He and Mary Polly and eight of their nine children left Virginia around 1819 and moved to Illinois and settled near Fort Jordon, Franklin County, Illinois.

During the trip they were crossing a stream in the wrong place and in deep water and Henry's wife Polly fell out of the wagon. She was saved from drowning but contracted cold fever from which she never fully recovered.

Their youngest son, Roberts Early Yost, was born in their new home "Fancy Farm," just purchased from Mr. John McCreery. Fine breed of stock and poultry were raised here. His rail fences were laid with the precision of a surveyor. Henry was neat and orderly, both at to his person, family, and property. What he did, he did well or not at all. His home, inside and out were scrupulously clean. During the years of his ownership, the farm was the show place of the county and was shown with pride to all new settlers. Polly brought several Silver Leaf Poplar saplings from Virginia which made the farm beautiful. In 1933, four of these trees were still standing by the house. The name "Fancy Farm" was given to the place by Green Mitchell, who ran the store a quarter mile away in 1825. The first Post Office in Corinth Township was at "Fancy Farm" and Henry M. Yost was appointed Postmaster February 19, 1835. Henry was a man of religious honesty and integrity, was a charter member of the Zion Church at Cornith in 1823, and Liberty Church near his home in 1826. As success was measured in his day, he was wealthy and too generous for his own good. When baby Roberts was about two years old, his mother died, leaving seven children, all under fifteen years of age. Two children preceded her in death.

Henry married second, Lydia Eleanor Roberts. Lydia lived in the Roberts Settlement near the other Jordon Fort when Henry and Lydia were married. After the death of Henry, Lydia remained at "Fancy Farm" until about 1852, when she moved to Benton, Illinois. Henry and Lydia had six children.

 Children of HENRY and MARY POLLY (EARLY) YOST are:

David was admitted to the Maryland Bar from Fort Cumberland in 1818, age 25.

On June 17, 1823 he purchased a Pew in the Episcopal Church of Haggerstown, Maryland for $151.00 plus annual rent of $30.00. In 1840, David G. Yost was a church Trustee.

He was a prominent member of the Hagerstown Bar and became wealthy in business real estate, but through a venture in a promotion scheme, lost his fortune and in 1843 committed suicide. A column press notice said "Hagerstown had lost, in the death of David G. Yost, one of it's most prominent citizens."

David had one child, R. D. Yost.

Generation No. 7

Lewis Marshall Yost also known as James Lewis Marshall Yost.

The birth dates of Lewis Yost's children Euphemia J. [b. Nov. 24, 1849] and Caroline (Callie) Virginia [b. April 22, 1849] conflict.

 Children of LEWIS MARSHALL AND JULIA A. (SPANGLER) YOST are:

James was a distinguished member of the Wythe County Bar. He taught school three years, was clerk of the Sharon Township, Bland County, elected in May 1870 and re-elected 1871-2-3; Deputy Sheriff of that county 1871-2; Supervisor of Sharon Township, elected May 28, 1874, and resigned December 7, 1874; began practice of law October 23, 1874, was elected mayor of Seddon, Virginia July 8, 1876 and re-elected in 1877; resigned and came back to Wythe County, Virginia, entering again the practice of law. In July 1882 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for commonwealth attorney, but the Re-adjuster party carried all the county offices and he lost the place. He returned to his law practice in Wytheville, County Seat of Wythe County, Virginia.

The following children are listed on the 1850 census of Wythe County, Virginia: Mary E. Yost, James C. Yost, Margaret E. Yost, William Lockhart Yost.

 Children of JAMES LOCKHART AND NANCY ELLEN (WYGAL) YOST are:

19. FLETCHER HARRIS⁷ YOST (JAMES CASPER⁶, HENRY⁵, HANS CASPER⁴, CHRISTIAN JOUST³ (JOST), JACOB JOUST², JACOB¹ JOUST I) was born 05 January 1821 in Wythe County, Virginia, and died 1874 in Buried at Equality, Gallatin County, Illinois. He married SUSAN KANADY 03 June 1858. She was born 20 July 1837, and died 17 May 1912.

Fletcher Harris Yost was a clerk, listed as living in Wytheville in the household of Ephriam McGavock in the 1850 census (age 28).

Henry Adam Yost died 14 July 1871 of Potts disease of the spine.

He and Gillie Ann (Shrader) Yost resided at Bluestone, Virginia and Tazewell County, Virginia.

Henry A. Yost was elected Captain May 1862 of Company "K" 45th Infantry C.S.A., he held this office until the end of the war.

Under the list of Merchants, was 'W.O. and H.A. Yost Main Street Saddlery, W.O. Yost back street Tannery". H. A. Yost was Qualified at the May Term 1851 as Deputy for Wm. Thompson, Sheriff.

Nothing definite has been found on this family. Henry and Gillie (Shrader) Yost may have had 11 children: George Yost, Sallie Yost, Joseph W. Yost, David Yost, Sheffey Yost, Sidney Yost, James Yost, William Yost, Louise Yost, Bishop Yost, Frank Yost.

Generation No. 8

Died on Easter Sunday, April 1927.

Graduated from Emory & Henry College.

Taught college at St. Charles, Missouri for a short time, then came to Weaverville, North Carolina to teach at Weaver College, a Methodist Junior College. Left after 3 years and returned to St. Charles, Missouri. After a short stay, he returned to Weaver College in Weaverville, North Carolina and spent the rest of his life teaching Greek, Latin, and Philosophy. Met Alice Hoofnagle, who was also teaching there and they were married in the late 1800s.

Marion Alexander Yost was a well-loved man in the community of Weaverville. He was very active in the Methodist church. He took care of many relatives over the years. Two of his wife's sisters lived with them and a niece, Virginia Hoover, was raised as one of his children, after her mother was killed in an automobile accident. After his death, his son, Marion F. looked after the welfare of these relatives until their deaths.

Marion A. and Alice (Hoofnagle) Yost had three children.

Benjamin Jacob Huddle was one of the first Wythe County (Virginia?) Volunteers in the Confederate Army and served throughout the Civil War. He lost his arm in the battle of Five Forks, just 9 days before the surrender at Appomattox.

He was a teacher and farmer and a Lutheran. Lived near Rural Retreat, Virginia.

Benjamin Jacob and Caroline "Callie" Virginia (Yost) Huddle had eight children.

Generation No. 9

Marion Francis Yost lived in a house inherited from his family all his life. He was a rural mail carrier out of Weaverville for 44 years, then became City Clerk of Weaverville for 3 years. He and his wife Lucile (Penland) Yost were lifetime members of Weaverville United Methodist Church. Both were active in many community activities and well-respected citizens. Lucile Yost taught school for many years.

Marion Francis and Lucile (Penland) Yost had three children.

Sara (Yost) Kester graduated from Weaver College and Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She taught music for several years at Converse College.

Generation No. 10

Walter Allen Kester was married. He and his wife had three children. It is not known if they were male or female.

Walter worked as a self-employed electrical engineer.