Generation No. 1

HANS JOST TOBE (or JOHANN JOST TOBE) or (TOWE) born 1718 in Wiebelskirchen, Zweibrucken, Rhine-Pfalz, Germany, and died 1775 in Bern Twp, Berks Co., PA. He married Eliza. She was born 1722 in Wiebelskirchen, Zweibrucken, Rheinland, Germany.

Children of HANS TOBE and UNKNOWN are:
i. GEORGE TOBIAS, b. 1738, Wiebelskirchen, Zweibrucken, Rhine-Pfatz, Germany; d. 16 Mar 1790, Bern Twp, Berks Co., PA.
ii. LUDWIG TOBIAS, b. 24 Jun 1739, Wiebelskirchen, Zweibrucken, Rhine-Pfalz, Germany; d. 27 Sep 1810, Bern Twp, Berks Co., PA.
iii. JOHN TOBIAS, b. Abt 1742.
iv. JOHANN PETER TOBIAS, b. 14 Oct 1744, New Holland, Lancaster, PA; d. 1809, Bern Twp, Berks Co., PA..
v. JACOB TOBIAS, b. Abt. 1748, Upper Bern Twp., Berks Co., PA.

Documents:

Pictures

Tobias Homestead in Berks County PA - Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 Picture 4

Notes: Courtesy of Wick Tobias collection of information from other Tobias researchers

From a genealogy provided by Christie Yeager Fink

One of the foreigners imported in the Ship Europa, Captain Lumusdaine, Qualified Nov. 20, 1741 in America.

The boys were too young to be registered and therefore did not appear on the ship's list of passengers.

Hans Jost Toby may have lived in the Canton Bern District in Switzerland before residing in the District of Zweibrucken, Rhine-Pfalz, Germany for many Swiss left Bern and settled in the Pfalz ca 1670. They settled in Berns Twp., Berks Co., PA.

Like many emigrants, they left thier "Home Land" because of the religous persecution called "the Thirty Year War" that was the cause of unrest and much of the famine. Political conflict was also rampant.

The signature of Hans Jost Toby shows Johann for John, and the early German script of Thoee (Tobee) for Toby. Jost was probably his mother's maiden name and used to distinguish from another person or family since three names wee not given at that time.

1767 Jost Toby--farmer owning 50 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows and tax was 4 (4 what?). There were no single men listed with this name.

From Berks Co., PA, Vol. 2 "The History of the Tobias Family" compiled by Morton Montgomery, 1909, pg 1554,

The source of information as to the place, Zweibrucken, from whence they came, is an old letter written in 1916 by J. J. Tobias of Chicago to his cousin, Denny Tobias of Peoria, which states that the family originally came from Zweibrucken, South Germany. He wrote, " I talked to a clergyman of the M.E. Church, who lives in Zweibrucken and he said that there are members of our family still living in that ancient city and the names of our family is upon the public records for several hundred years, which he saw." Zweibrucken is a town about sixty miles southeast of Trier, which is on modern English maps.

From Crystal Ritter

Hans otherwise known as Johann Jost TOBE/TOBIAS/THOWE/etc. There are many spellings of his name. When he signed his immigration records he signed them Johann Jost THOWE. Many tax records and land records have various spellings which is common with German words. You have to remember many of the learned people were English so wrote things like they sounded or were in England. Hans as he is known immigrated and came to Phila. on ship Europa 20 Nov. 1741 with his wife and children. I haven't been able to confirm how many children. But we know that Georg being the oldest and Ludwig were born in Germany. He was age 23. He was naturalized 29 Mar. 1761 Bern Twp., Berks Co. I'm under the impression they can't own land until they are naturalized. This makes sense since I find him in land records after he was naturalized. I can not find him prior to 1761 except for 1741 when he shows up in Phila. tax records listed as living in Phila. So for 20 yrs. I don't know where he was [except that] I did find his son, Johann Peter's birth in 1744 in New Holland, Lancaster Co., PA so I have that. Only problem is many ministers then would travel a circuit. So as they would go visit the people of their church if a birth or death happened nearby the member they would send over their minister to do the deed. Same as with marriages. many would admit publicly their intentions and get married when the next minister was in town. Hence why it seems many were pregnant before the marriage.

So knowing Hans was 23 in 1741 we assume he was bn in 1718. Others have him born in Zweibrucken, Rhine-Pfalz, Germany.... I've found he was from Wiebelskirchen. That is a small town in the state of Zweibrucken... I don't know when Hans died. I know Stuart Yeager, the researcher you mentioned said 1775 in Berks Co. I have yet to prove it. He also had Hans' wife bn abt 1722 in the same place of Hans....

TOBIAS, Jost; warrant # 1859; location East District, Berks Co; warrant dated 1 Sep 1766; 100 acres; Bern Twp; application (Berks Co. PA Land Warrants 1730-1868)

TOBY, Jost, farmer 50 acres; 2 horses; 2 cattle; no sheep; tax 4 (Berks Co. Taxables, 1767)

DOWY, Jost 100 acres; 2 horses; 2 cattle; no sheep; tax 2 (Berks Co. Taxables, 1768)

Jost is not listed. Only 5 TOBY's-Lodowick, John, Geo, John, Peter (Berks Co. Taxables, 1779)

Deed in courthouse:

Recorded 8 Mar. 1797; Grantee (Buys land) TOBY, Jost; Grantor (Sold land) KURTZ, Christian; location Bern Twp; Year deeded 1764; VOL 15; pg 437

[http://13.1911encyclopedia.org/Z/ZW/ZWEIBRUCKEN.htm]

from 1911 encyclopedia

WEIBRUECKEN, a town of Germany, in the Palatinate, on the Schwarzbach, and on the railway between Germersheim and Saarbrucken. Pop. (1905) 14,711. The town was the capital of the former duchy of Zweibruecken, and the Alexander-Kirche contains the tombs of the dukes. The ducal castle is now occupied by the chief court of the Palatinate. There is a fine Gothic Catholic church. Weaving and brewing and the manufacture of machinery, chicory, cigars, malt, boots, furniture and soap are the chief industries.

Zweibruecken (" two bridges ") is the Latin Bipontinum; it appears in early documents also as Geminus Pans, and was called by the French Deux-Ponts. The independent territory was at first a countship, the counts being descended from Henry I., youngest son of Simon I., count of Saarbruecken (d. 1180). This line became extinct on the death of Count Eberhard (1393), who in 1385 had sold half his territory to the count palatine of the Rhine, and held the other half as his feudatory. Louis (d. 1489), son of Stephen, count palatine of Zimmern-Veldenz, founded the line of the dukes of Zweibruecken, which became extinct in 1731, when the duchy passed to the Birkenfeld branch, whence it came under the sway of Bavaria in 1799. At the peace of Luneville Zweibruecken was ceded to France; on its reunion with Germany in 1814 the greater part of the territory was given to Bavaria, the remainder to Oldenburg and Prussia. At the ducal printing office at Zweibruecken the fine edition of the classics known as the Bipontine Editions was published (1799 sqq.).

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In the book, Persons Naturalized in the Provice of Pennsylvania 1740-1773, Excerpted and Reprinted from Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Volume II Indexed Edition by the Clearfield Company,

"At a Supreme Court held at Philadelpha, before William Allen and William Coleman, Esquires, Judges of the said Court, the tenth and eleventh days of April, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-one, between the Hours of Nine and twelve of the Clock of the forenoon of the same day, the following subscribing persons being foreigners:

Person's Name Of what place Sacrement, when taken

.... many people in list, about 4 pages,

Yost Tobie, Berks, 29 March 1761

From: Henning Boettcher

To: GEN-DE-L@rootsweb.com

Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2004 3:28 PM

Subject: Re: Tobias/Toby/Tobe/Thowe/Thoma (long)

""Crystal Ritter"" <spunkygen@msn.com> schrieb

> Hi, I was hoping someone could help me take the next step to find my German ancestor in Germany before he came to America. If someone answers they need to put it in English since my German is poor.

> Hans Jost Tobe as he is known in PA immigrated Nov. 20, 1741 from Germany to Philadelphia, PA with his wife and children. He was on the Ship Europa that sailed from Roterdam.

> In Pennsylvania German Pioneers on page 318 List 90 B it lists the Palatines imported on Ship Europa. Johann Jost Thowe was listed. His signature confirmed that spelling. On page 317 List 90 A he was listed on a list of Mens Names from Lews as Hans Jost Toby age 23.

Again on page 319 List 90 C At the courthouse in Philadelphia he was listed as a Palatine on Ship Europa and did take the Oaths to the Government and listed as Johann Jost Thowe and again his signature matched that spelling.

> He showed up in Phila. on records in 1741 in Phila. on tax records. From 1741 till 1744 I have no record of him. On 9 Dec 1744 at Trinity Evan. Luth. Church, New Holland, Lancaster County, PA he is listed as father with the last name Tobia with " above the a, for his son Johann Peter. I believe Peter was the youngest child, but I could be mistaken. Peter later shows up in Brunswick Twp, Berks Co, PA which became Schuylkill County. His brother Jacob showed up at the same time in Manheim Twp, Berks Co. and the next census showed up in Upper Bern Twp, Berks County, PA.

> Hans was naturalized Mar. 29, 1761 in Bern Twp, Berks County, PA.

> I've found him on various tax records in Bern Twp.:

> 1. TOBIAS, Jost: warrant # 1859; location East District, Berks Co., warrant dated 1 Sep 1766; 100 acres Bern Twp; application (Berks Co. PA Land WArrants 1730-1868)

> 2. TOBY, Jost, farmer, 50 acres: 2 horses, 2 cattle, no sheep-tax 4 (Berks Co. Taxables, 1767)

> 3. DOWY, Jost 100 acres: 2 horses, 2 cattle, no sheep-tax 2 (Berks Co. Taxables, 1768)

> In 1779 Berks Co. Taxables he is not listed, only his sons:

Lodowick, John, Geo, John (who I believe to be my Jacob), Peter.

> Deed in Courthouse of Reading, Berks Co, PA: Recorded 8 Mar 1797, Grantee TOBY, Jost, Grantor KURTZ, Christian, location Bern Twp, year deeded 1764, Vol 15, pg 437.

> Other spellings of the last name with him and descendants are

TOBIE, TOBY, TOBIA, DEWEES, DOBY, THOWE, DABY, TONY, TOWY, TOBIAS, TOBIN)

> In Eithteenth Century Register of Emigrants from Southwest Germany to America and other Countries I found Jost listed on page 459:

> TOWE W & CH (Lastname), Jost (Firstname), Wiebelskirchen (Place of Origin), 1741 (Emigr) , A (De), x15158 (source)

> I also saw on page 458 this person and wondered if they were related:

> TOBE, Anna Maria, Wiebelskirchen, 1756, ?, x15108

> I questioned a friend of mine who teaches classes on Germany what is my next step. She helped me look up Wiebelskirchen in a book in German to see if there was a church listed. There was. So she said to take this paper to an LDS Family History Library to find more out on Wiebelskirchen and see the church records for the town. Looking at records should help me more and help me find more out about my ancestor and his family.

> I decided since I was going out to Utah to see my daughter graduate from college I'll ask them there. They tried to help me but were unable. They said they did not have the church records for that town. Someone noted in a book to check a nearby town, which I did, but found nothing similar to my ancestor.

> Checking back with my friend she said to try the German lists on Rootsweb and hopefully someone can help me.

> I'm hoping someone can help direct me which way to go to try to seek out info on my ancestor and his family. I would love to know if that Anna Maria was related to my Hans since they came from the same town. I would also like to know how to find out if more family immigrated or more from Wiebelskirchen. But mostly I would like to find Hans Jost Tobe there and the right spelling of his German name and his parents and other family.

> Thanks so much for your help. I really do appreciate it!

> crystal (tobias) ritter

Wiebelskirchen is now part of Neunkirchen/Saarland.

1741 Europa [List 90 A, B, C] Europa Captain: Lumsdaine From: Rotterdam By Way of: (Lewes)

Arrival: Philadelphia, 20 Nov 1741

List of Palatines.

Name, Age Place of Origin (Town, Province) Source Remarks (USA, Spelling Variations, Occupation, Relationships, etc.)

Georg Biegbie, 43

Henrich Ensminger, 40

Johann Christian Hausknecht, 24 Houseknight

Michael Marck

Christian Bechli, 23 Webenheim, Bayern-Pfalz Bur1985 Beckley, To Philadelphia PA.

Daniel Bechli, 21 Webenheim, Bayern-Pfalz Bur1985 Begly, Beyby, To Philadelphia PA.

Godfrey Langbane, 17

Andreas Fuyst, 24

Michael Mark, 45

Elisabetha (Wertmüller)

Maria Magdalena (Klein)

Sophia Susanna

Maria Elisabetha

Johann Michael

Anna Catharina, 17

Magdalena

Anna Maria, 12

Johann Peter

Johann Georg

Maria Elisabetha, 7

Catharina Salome, 4 Burbach, Alsace-Lorraine Bur1992 To Lehigh Co.

Mathias Bauer, 25 Bower

Johann Paul Bauer, 23 Bower

Michael Bauer, 20 Bower

Paulus Furman, 60

Anna Elisabetha (Ochs)

Paulus Jr., 18

Maria Elisabetha

Anna Elisabeth Goerlingen, Alsace-Lorraine Bur1992 Fierman, To Lancaster Co.

Dewaldt Meyer, 27 Mayer

Heinrich Christman, 35

Anna Margaretha

Catharina Barbara

Elisabetha Catharina

Maria Appollonia, 16

Maria Elisabetha, 11

Johann Peter, 3 Quirnbach, Bayern-Pfalz Yod1980, Bur1985 Chrissmann

Christopher Ecker, 42

Johann Peter Welhan, 40

Johann Christian Welhan, 16

Henrich Kauf, 25

Anthony Naye, 21

Nicholas Wilhelm, 30

Jacob Löser, 18 Lezer

Christian Löser, 32 Lezer

Georg Righter, 27

Theobald Schank, 25

Anna Catharina

Johann Jacob, 2

Johann Jacob, 1 Wahlhausen, Bayern-Pfalz Yod1980 Schanck

Caspar Rubert, 29 Rupert

HANS JOST THOWE, 23 TOBY

Peter Walmer, 21

Henrich Kuhntz, 19 Kuintz, Kuhens

Henrich Adami, 36 Adam

Johann Henrich, 40 Hendrick

Conrad Lahm, 22 Laam

Jacob Schneck, 18

Simon Gross, 30

Theobald Gross, 24

Ludwig Breit

Friedrich Wolfanger, 20

Ludwig Bread, 21

Hans Michael Eisenhauer 50 Joshower

Johann Eisenhauer, 28 Joshower

Hans Peter Eisenhauer, 25 Joshower

Johannes Eisenhauer 16 Joshower

Andreas Lahm, 24 Lumm, Lum

Daniel Michaeler, 20

Hans Jurg Schneider, 40 Shnyder

Jacob Schneider, 16

Jacob Mawer, 33

Michael Haberstüch 23 Bayern-Pfalz Yod1980 Habersack

Anthony Swyn, 24

Hans Nichol Hostein , 17 Horstein, Hostain

Philip Creutz, 26 Critz, Crytz

Jacob Lunger, 25 Plummer

Conrad Corman, 18 Cornman, Corrman

Johann Nichol Andra, 24 Andre

Sebestian Stain, 25

Johannes Correll, 36

Christo Wagner, 20 Waganer

Philip Werball, 20 Swerber

Peter Schreiber, 17 Schryver,

Nicolas Waganer, 20

Andreas Krüger, 22 Kryger, Kreiger

Godfred Wolloweber, 45 Wolwerber, Werber

Philip Naar, 26 Near, Nair

Peter Krieger, 17 Kryger

Henrich Krieger, 29 Kryger

Peter Main, 30 Maim

More About HANS JOST TOBE:

Burial: Unknown, Eplers Cemetery, Bern Twp., Berks Co., PA

Emigration: 20 Nov 1741, Ship Europa from Rotterdam

Naturalization: 29 Mar 1761, Bern Twp., Berks Co., PA

More About ELIZA:

Burial: Unknown, Eplers Cemetery, Bern Twp., Berks Co., PA