Generation 1

He married Anna Maria Nicholas prior to 1741 at probably, Montgomery County, but we have not found a record of their marriage.

Anna Maria was born about 1720, at probably Montgomery County, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (________) Nicholas, a large land owner and early settler of Limerick Township. She died before 9 June 1780, probably at Limerick Township, but her burial place is unknown.

Go to the website at http://nicholas.family-history.com/ for information about Anna Maria's father and his Welsh and Norman ancestors which have been traced back hundreds of years.

After Conrad Jost's death, his widow remarried, before 29 October 1762, Frederick Bingaman of Limerick Township.

We do not know anything about Frederick Bingaman.

The Josts had at least seven children.

The Bingamans had at least two children.

We do not know for certain when Conrad Jost migrated to Pennsylvania, but he is probably the same "Conrad Jost" named on the list of "Palatines imported in the Ship St. Andrew Galley, John Stedman, Master, from Rotterdam" who qualified at Philadelphia on 26 September 1737. The group of 450 passengers included 142 men. He signed the oath of allegiance as "Johann Connrad Jost" and the oath of abjuration as "Johann Conrad Jost" at the courthouse that same day. See Ralph Beaver Strassburger, "Pennsylvania German Pioneers-Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia, 1727-1808." Norristown, Pa.: The Pennsylvania German Society, 1934, v 1, pp. 178-184 and Israel Daniel Rupp, "A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants to Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776." Philadelphia, Pa.: I. G. Kohler, 2nd ed., 1876, p. 108.

During our research on the Yost family, we found an interesting family legend which, since it was garbled when published, we have edited and interpreted as follows:

When Conrad grew up, he came to America, where he acquired a large tract of land and prospered. His father, hearing nothing from him believing he had died, had more children, one of whom he also named "Conrad". When the second Conrad had a family, he too came to this country. When he arrived at Philadelphia, the first Conrad happened to be there, went on board the ship and paid the passage for a man and his family as he wanted a laborer. Conrad took them to his home, and in a conversation learned they both had the same name. The younger Conrad said he had heard his parents talk of a son they once had who had a certain scar or mark on him. The older Conrad had this mark, and this is how the two came to know they were brothers.

The story, as told by Conrad's grandson Frederick, is related in Frederick Sheeder's "History of East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania." This history was originally published in 1845 and reprinted in "The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography" Pennsylvania, 1910, v 34, pp. 197-198. Here is the story as Sheeder published it:

James Rogers and Frederick Yost are the two princibal propriatories of this Springville at the place there where the Bridge now crosses Schulkill whent in former times by the Name of Hippel's foord him been the first Settler on but Since the year 1800 or 1801 Benjamin and David Royer, after the decease of Hippel, purchased the place and Some years after their decease Frederick yost purchas the greatest part of Royers a copple years before yost within eight years when buy one house been here, then an entire wilderniss what now represents Springville. They are two Enterprizing gentlemen J. Rogers the lower part here he has a Store lumber and Cole yard a foundary Lyceum F. yost a Store Cole lumber and lime yard a large Store house and Merchand mill in the corner of the Abutment of the Bridge this is a Tole bridge built 6 or 8 years by the two Counties and individual Subscription the writer had requested Yost and Rogers to Sent me the Number of inhabitants of the village but had not done So, F. yost related an incident of his grandfather and mother as he Says Use to been tould of by his pairants as follows when or before his grandfather came to this country he had a son that he called Conrad and when he had been grown up left home and come to America and Settled himself about the forris this side Reading took up a large tract of land and prospert, his father never having heard of him and expecting him to be death got more children and named an other one Conrad and that Conrad when had a family came with to this country and when arrived at Philadelphia the first Conrad happening to be there heard of a Ship having arrived with passengers whent on boad of ship as he wanted a hand to work and paid the passage for a man and family and took them home and in a conversation they after had and been both of the Same name and the last came in had his parents heart talk of a Son they had once and him having Some certain Scar or mark on him and this mark was the cause of coming to know that they were two brothers, That all the Yosts in Amarica had their origin that family.

If this story is true, it is possible that the Conrad Jost who resided in Lancaster, Lancaster County, until his death about 1780 was the minor brother of Conrad Jost of Limerick Township. Both were Lutherans; both were weavers.

Conrad Jost's father-in-law was Edward Nicholas, a native of Monmouthshire (now Gwent) in Wales. Edward Nicholas acquired 1,120 acres (plus an allowance of six percent for road and survey errors) along the Schuylkill River in Limerick Township on 14 March 1722. On 13 November 1724, Edward Nicholas sold the upper half of his tract, furthest from the river, to Thomas Addis. The remaining land he kept until his death in early 1746/7. See Philadelphia County Deeds, Book F, v 7, pp. 230-232 and Montgomery County Deeds, Book 3, pp. 169-171.

In his will dated 9 May 1744, Edward Nicholas bequeathed 100 acres, along the northwest side of his tract, to his daughter Mary and her husband, Conrad Yost, for their use while living. He provided that when both Conrad and Mary had died, the land was to be divided equally among their children. See Philadelphia County Will, no. 135, 1746. On 9 June 1780, Henry Yost, one of the children of Conrad and Mary, paid his two living brothers, a sister, and their spouses, a total of £300 for their shares of the bequest and acquired the 100 acres of his grandfather's land. See Montgomery County Deeds, Book 2, 442-443.

Edward Nicholas bequeathed 300 acres to his wife, Elizabeth, for her use while living. He provided that after her death, the rents and profits from this land were to be paid to his daughter, Susannah Nicholas, during her life and when she had died, the tract was to be sold and the proceeds divided equally among "my Children, Henry Nicholas of London, Edward Nicholas & Elizabeth Nicholas of Monmothshire in Great Britain, & Mary the Wife of Conrade Yost" or their heirs. On 17 November 1789, Daniel March, husband of Conrad Jost's daughter, Susannah, acquired 106 acres and 133 perches of this land and Peter Aston, a Philadelphia merchant, acquired 213 acres and 106 perches from the Reverend William Currie, surviving executor of Edward Nicholas' will. Evidently, the 300 acres actually consisted of 320 acres and 79 perches, and Daniel March got one-third of it and Peter Aston two-thirds. See Montgomery County Deeds, Book 4, pp. 506-513.

Edward Nicholas willed the remaining 200 acres, along the southeast side of his tract, to be sold to provide a legacy of £100 to each of his children in England: Henry, Edward, and Elizabeth Nicholas. He provided that if the 200 acres brought more than £300, the balance was to be divided between "my beloved Daughters, Mary & Susannah."

Edward Nicholas' widow died about a year after her husband, and on 21 March 1747/8, "Conrad Yost, Mary, his wife, and Susa Nicholas, Spinster" were granted letters to administer the estate of Elizabeth Nicholas, who had died intestate. "Conrad Yost of Limerick Town'p In behalf of Mary his Wife a dau'r of Elizth Nicholas widow & Late of the same place deced, Susannah Nicholas another daur of the sd Deced, Charles Railes of Coventry Town's Yeom & Geo Rutter of Philada Butcher" signed a £500 bond to guarantee performance of their duties. See Philadelphia County Wills, no. 81, 1747.

Conrad Jost was a friend of Reverend Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, pastor of Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church. In fact, the Reverend Muhlenberg was a sponsor at the baptism of Conrad's son Henry on 2 July 1753. On Thursday 7 June 1759, Reverend Muhlenberg wrote in his journal, "...we rode in the rain to Mr. Conrad Jost's and from there home." On Tuesday 26 June 1759, while visiting in New Jersey, he wrote, "Mr. Schafer returned from Pennsylvania bringing letters from Mr. Wilhelm Graaf and Conrad Jost." See "The Journals of Henry Melchior Mulenberg" Philadelphia, Pa.: The Muhlenberg Press, 1942, v 1, pp. 390, 396.

Conrad Jost signed his will 10 March 1760 in the presence of John Fleisher, Bernard Hardt, and Wendel Boteschwa. It was probated 2 April 1760 at Philadelphia and is registered in Book L, p. 415, but the original (no. 264, 1760) is also filed in the office of the Register of Wills for Philadelphia County. Here is a translation of the German original:

In the Name of God Amen

"I, Conrad Jost, inhabitant of Lemerick Township in Philadelphia County, now find myself sick in body but sound understanding and memory, calling to mind my mortality, do hereby make my last will and testament.

"I recommend my immortal soul in the hands of my Redeemer, Who purchased it with His blood and prepared it by His good spirit, to eternal life. And after my decease my body is to be interred in a Christian-like manner according to the laudable custom of our Protestant Church of which I am and Augustus Church in New Providence Township.

"As concerning my temporal estate which God hath blessed me with, the same shall, after my departure, be disposed of as following:

"First of all, my heirs shall pay my just debts and funeral charges out of my estate and afterwards they are to make an inventory and have my whole estate appraised by sensible and impartial men. Six pounds are also to be paid out of my estate to my church.

"Secondly, I do will and order that my beloved wife Mary shall fully possess and enjoy my real and personal estate as long as she remains my widow, provided she brings up my children Christian-like out of the issues and profits of my whole estate and keeps them to my religion, and more especially, to put my sons, if they incline, to good trades or arts which may tend to the honor of God and as well for their neighbors' as for their own benefit. My said wife Mary shall also have liberty, if my elder children shall happen to enter into the state of matrimony, orderly and with the consent of their mother and their remaining guardians, to give them something in proportion out of my estate in part of their inheritance, to fit them out, with which they are to be charged at the total division. And in case my said dear wife Mary shall remain my widow and live, she shall then have privilege to remain in the possession and management of my whole estate as is above mentioned until my youngest son Frederick shall come of age and then my real and personal estate is to be divided amongst my lawful heirs.

"Thirdly, my will and order concerning the division of my whole estate is as following:

1. My beloved wife Mary shall have a third part of my estate according to our laws whether she remains my widow or intermarries again at her pleasure.

2. My eldest daughter Elizabeth shall have ten pounds currency over and above the share each child is to share because that sum was left her by her grandfather.

3. My eldest son Edward shall have ten pounds and five shillings more than the rest of the children which he is to hold for his own use.

4. And after their mother's or my wife Mary's third according to law, my daughter Elizabeth's and my son Edward' sums as above said are deducted, then the residue of my real and personal estate shall be equally divided between my children (the daughters' share shall be equal with the sons') to hold to them to their own use and to be hereditary forever in common tenancy.

5. And in case my children together, or any one of them, do not sell my real estate buy keep the possession thereof to themselves, then my beloved wife Mary is to keep the right and privilege of having a small house, on the 140 acres, to live in during her life.

"Fourthly, in case my said dear wife, sometime or other after my decease, shall happen to intermarry, and if the second guardian, together with the sensible children then grown up and other well meaning Christian friends, shall find that my estate grows less, and that the younger children are neglected and not brought up Christian-like, or if my said dear wife Mary is not inclined to carry on the troblesome housekeeping and management, then in such case, my whole estate shall be divided as aforesaid, faithful guardians appointed for the minor children and each heir is to have his share as aforesaid, to hold to them to their hereditary use forever.

"And in order that this my last will and testament may be punctually and truly fulfilled and executed, I do hereby ordain and constitute my beloved wife Mary and Mr. Jacob Schrack in Providence Township to be executors of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby revoke all wills and the like heretobefore made and declare this for my true and last.

"Witness my hand and seal done the 10th of March 1760.

Sealed, Published and )
delivered in the Presence of )
Witnesses ) Johann Conrad Jost
John Fleisher
Bernard Hardt
Wendel Boteschwa
A true translation
from the German
original.
F. Miller"

When Conrad Jost died, he possessed a substantial personal estate valued at £220.12.2. His most valuable possession was a riding mare, bridle, and saddle appraised at £25. Conrad Jost owned 4 other horses, 20 cattle, 3 hogs, 11 old sheep, and 12 lambs plus farming equipment, furniture, household effects, and foodstuffs. As evidence of his literacy, he owned "one Duch Bibel and Several other Duch Books." "Duch" of course was a corruption of Deutsch, meaning "German". On 26 March 1760, a few days after his death, Enoch Davis and William How inventoried and appraised his personal estate. The appraisal, presented below, is now in the files of the Register of Wills for Philadelphia County.

"A Invetary of the APraisment of the Parsonal Eastate of Conerd Yost of Limbrick Township in the County of Philadelphia Late Decest appraised By us the under Subscribers By the order of Jacob Schrock Executor and Mary Yost Excutrex of the Last Will and Testement of the sad Conard Yost appraised By us the 26 Day of march in the year of our Lord Anno Doma 1760"
L S D
to his wearing apparel cote Jacote
and one Leather Brichis and hat
appraised to 4.10. 0
to his Riding mair Bridle and Sadel 25. 0. 0
To a Cloth Kote and Jackote and a
par of ould Leather Brichis 02.15. 0
to a Great Kote and one Pair
of Briches 00.18. 0
to one Pair of Boots and one
pair of Shoos 01.06. 0
to a Sorrel mair 15.00. 0
to a Sorel Hors 10.00. 0
to a Gray hors 13.00. 0
to a Brown hors 06.00. 0
to one Brown Cow 02.15. 0
to one Pide Cow 03.00. 0
to one Read Cow with a Star in
the forehead 03.00. 0
to one Brindel Cow 03.05. 0
to a Read Cow 02.15. 0
to one yong Cow With a Star in
the forehead 03.15. 0
to one Brown Cow Big with Calf 03.15. 0
to one Pide Bull 02.10. 0
to one Pide Hifer 02.10. 0
to one Read Hifer 02.10. 0
to one yong Cow with a white face 02.15. 0
to one yong Hifer 01.10. 0
to one Brindel hifer 01.10. 0
to Six yong Calves 02.10. 0
to one Read Bull 01.15. 0
to one Straw Box and knife 00.07. 0
to one Waggon 09.00. 0
to one Plantation Waggon 07.00. 0
to two pair of quilers 3 pair of
treases and 3 pair of beams 01.07. 0
to three Blindholters 00.09. 0
to two Pair of hoppils and a
Backband 00.06. 6
to two old Bridels 00.03. 6
to two old Colers 00.03. 0
to one Duch Bibel and Several
other Duch Books 03.16. 6
to three owld Spining Wheels 00.12. 0
to fowr old Schairs 00.04. 0
£136.12. 6
to one Eiron Stove 5. 0. 0
to two Barels 0. 6. 0
to one Chaf Bead and Beading 1.15. 0
to one feather Bead Bead Cloths
and Beadstid 6. 0. 0
to one Chest 0.10. 0
to one Dow troff 0. 3. 0
to one Big Spining Whel 0. 6. 0
to one Brass Kittle 2.15. 0
to one Eiron Kittle 1. 0. 0
to one Little Pott 0. 6. 0
to one Pott 0. 8. 0
to one Larg Pott 0.12. 0
to fifteen Pewter pleats 1. 0. 0
to six Pewter Dishis 1. 6. 0
to two Peuter Basons 0. 3. 0
to one Peuter quort and Pint 0. 6. 0
to one Creem pot and owld peutor 0. 3. 6
to two tea Potts and a Boul 0. 8. 0
to one piper mill 0. 5. 0
to one Lantorn 3 Candlesticks and
one lamp 0. 6. 0
to one tea Kittle 0. 4. 0
to one tea Pott 0. 1. 0
to one frying pan and Gritiron 0. 7. 0
to one Bake pleat 0. 5. 0
to one Stilerds 0.12. 0
to Six Knives and forks 0. 6. 0
to two Smoothing Eirons 0. 4. 0
to two falling axis 0.12. 6
to one Pott Rack flesh fork and
Leadle 0. 5. 6
to fowr Pails and one Churn 0. 6. 0
to old Sives 0.10. 0
to one Side saddle 2. 0. 0
to one Big Spining Whele 0.10. 0
to one Sidesaddle 0.10. 0
to one upper feather Bead 1.15. 0
to four old Hoxheats 0.15. 0
to two tubs 0. 6. 0
£32. 7. 6
to one hunded and sixty Pownds
of Baken 2.00. 0
to ould Earthin Ware 0. 4. 6
to one Brass Skillet 0. 4. 0
to two tubs 0. 4. 0
to Carpintors tools 0.13. 0
to three ould Blankats 0.15. 0
to three Pillows and one Boulstor 0.12. 0
to one Cag 0. 2. 0
to two Butterboxis 0. 4. 0
to a Peece of Harnis Leather 0. 5. 0
to a Lump of Whate Supposed to be
38 Bushels 8. 0. 0
to a Lump of Indiencorn Supposed
to be 4 Bushels 0.10. 0
to one Barrel With hempseed 0.12. 0
to two Hids 0. 6. 0
to flaxseed 0. 6. 0
to one Peece of woLinning 1.10. 0
to one Grindstone 0. 4. 0
to three Hogs 2. 0. 0
to two Plows plowirons and 2
Cleavises 1. 8. 0
to one fier tongs 0. 3. 0
to old hrrow teeth 0. 9. 0
to maul Rings and Wadgis 0. 5. 0
to thre weeding hows and one
Grubing hoe 0. 6. 0
to Ealeavin old Sheep and twelve
Lambs 6.14. 0
to twe hay Lathers 0. 5. 0
to Corn in the ground Supposed to
Be 20 acres 18. 0. 0
to fowr Bushels of Barly 0.12. 0
to a parsel of Sheets 2. 0. 0
to one Wind mill and three wyer
kiddels 1.10. 0
the aBove Mentioned Goods and £50. 1. 6
Chattels ware appraised By 32. 7. 6
us the under Subscribers the 136.12. 6
Day and year first above written £219. 1. 6
Enoch Davis
William How

Evidently a few items worth in the aggregate of L1.10.8 were overlooked and subsequently inventoried for included in the file is a small piece of paper, undated and unsigned, listing the following items:

to a brass kitel 0. 2. 0
to a Looking Glas 0. 1. 0
to a Saw 0. 1. 0
to Wooling Were 0. 2. 0
to Straw Baskets 0. 0. 8
to Sundry Bords 0.10. 0
to three pels and a lok 0. 6. 0
to popler Bords 0. 8. 0
1.10. 8

On 28 October 1763, Jacob Schrack, one of the executor's of Conrad Jost's will renounced his executorship in the following letter, now in the Register of Will's files:

"Providence October the 28th Day 1762

Sir/

Whereas I am one of the Exets to the Estate of Conrad Yost And as the Court and Children Have Chosen Guardians and the Estate is to Be Settled I Therefore and Other Reesons Do Renounce My Executorship to sd Estate As Witness my hand the Day first abov Written

Jacob Schrack"

The following day, Frederick Bingaman and his wife, Mary, who was the widow of Conrad Jost, filed an accounting showing disbursements and distributions from the estate. Jacob Schrack did not sign this document, and one can only speculate as to what the "Other Reesons" were for his resignation the day before. This accounting is also in the Register of Wills' files:

"The sd accomptants Charges themselves ) Dr.
with all & Singular the Goods Chattels )
Rights and Credits which were of the )
sd decedt and which came to their Hands ) 219. 1. 6
Possessions or Knowledge as mentioned )
in an Inven'ry thereof Exhibited into )
and remaining in the Regr. Genl's )
office at Philada amt to )
"The sd accomptants Charge themselves )
wth the amount of an Aditional )
Inven'ry into the aforesd Office &ca" ) 1.10. 8
£120.12. 2
"Item 1760

"The sd Accomptants Prays allowance for the Several payments & Disbursements made out of the same, which are as follows Vizt.

Paid for proving the Will &ca £1.1. -
do doctor Frederick Martin prect 3. 7. -
do Funeral Charges 5. -. -
do William Curry (Rent) pdo 30. -. -
do for appraising the Estate pdo .10. -
do John Coughenour pdo 4. -. -
do Jacob Crouse pdo 2.15. -
do Henry Antis pdo . 7. 6
do Barnabas Hart pdo .18. -
do Elihu Evans pdo 1.14. 2
do Jacob Bowman pdo . 2. 6
do George Evans pdo . 7. 6
do Frederick Sour pdo . 8. 4
do George Brooke pdo 1.15. 6
do Oliver Rees pdo 1.11. -
do George Leesher pdo . -. 9
do Jacob Derr .16. 8
do Jacob Dehaven pdo .10. 4
do Jacob Hoy pdo .13. -
do Lawrence Ryne pdo .10. -
do John Grub pdo . 9. -
do Jacob Slectser pdo . 6. 9
do John Koplin pdo . 7. 6
do Enoch Davis . 5. -
do Daniel Marts pdo .10. -
do Henry Brower pdo . -. 9
do a Legacy to the use of the
Church as p the Decedt's Will pdo 6. -. -
do Robert Woodward pdo . 5. -
do Henry Dearinger pdo 1.19. 4
do John Custard pdo . 4. -
do Edward Yost pdo 1. 9. -
do Danl Marts for foddering Some
of the Decedt's Cattle &c pdo 2. -. -
do the Decedts Daughter Elizabeth
a Legacy left her by her Grand
Father 10. -. -
By allowance for a Legacy left to
the Deceds son Edward by his
father which the sd accomptants
undertakes to pay 10. 5. -
Paid at ye Office for these Acco's
fair Copy &ca 1. 5. -
£91.14. 7

Ballance Remaining in Hands of the
sd accomptants to be divided agreeable
to the _________ as follows Vizt.
To the Widow for her Thirds £42.19.2
To Each of the Deced's 6
Children 85. 6.4
__________ 4-3/4 is 128.17. 7 (sic)
220.12. 2
Philada 29th October 1762
Errors Excepted P
Frederick Bingaman Exect
her
Mary M. Bingaman Exect
mark

2 i.       Elisabeth² Jost¹, born Abt. 1741¹; died Bef. 1780¹.

+ 3 ii.   Susannah Yost, born 1743; m. Daniel March.

4 iii.     Edward Jost¹, born Abt. 1745¹; died Bef. 1780¹.

5 iv.     John Yost¹, born 1751¹.

+ 6 v.  Henry Yost, born 03 June 1753 in Limerick Township, Montgomery County (then Philadelphia County), Pennsylvania; died Bet. 1825 - 1830 in probably Limerick Township, Pennsylvania; m. Susannah Kieler.

+ 7 vi.  Frederich Jost, born 1755; m. Ann Lute.

8 vii.    Daniel Jost1, born 1757¹; died Bef. 1760¹.

Maria Rosina Bingaman = Edward Lord

Margaret Bingaman = Henry Koon

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