Michael Joerger was confirmed at the New Hanover Lutheran Church in 1758. He was 15 years old and said to be the son of the late Peter. Michael Joerger was buried at New Hanover Lutheran and his tombstone says he was born 15 Jul 1743. Certain other given names, for example Tobias, were popular in the Joerger family back then and there were several men of those names -- but there was only one Michael. Ours.

1790-1810. Michael lives in Colebrookedale, Berks County. Henry is a neighbor in 1810.

Margaret’s marriage to Daniel Guldin 31 May 1795 is found in the records of New Hanover Lutheran. Eva’s marriage to Jacob Yauser (but from the will it was Devert Heiser) was also recorded 3 Apr 1796.

We know a man named Michael Yerger worshipped at New Hanover Lutheran in the late 1700’s and we find a man of that name in Colebrookdale, Berks County in the same period. The question is: were they the same man? Could he have lived in Colebrookdale, Berks County and worshipped in Gilbertsville, Montgomery County? The answer is it was about 5 miles, so it is possible.

Actually, there is strong evidence it was indeed the same man. Michael of Colebrookdale named his children in his will and their names match, for the most part, the names of children baptized by Michael and Anna Margaretha at New Hanover. Moreover, the married names of two of his daughters match marriage records of the New Hanover Church. So I believe it is not just possible, I believe Michael of Colebrookdale was Michael of New Hanover Lutheran.

Michael’s will named wife Margaretha, son John deceased, son Henry and daughters Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry Adams), Margaret (Mrs. Daniel Guldin), Eve (Mrs. Devert Heiser) and Catherine. These births/baptisms were recorded at New Hanover (birth date shown): Elisabeth 13 Feb 1770, Eva 22 Aug 1775, Heinrich 22 Aug 1775 (twin of Eva), Margaretha 3 Apr 1772 and Anna Barbara 1 Jan 1766 (died 7 Mar 1767). John’s baptism was not recorded but Johannes, son of Michael, was confirmed in 1784 at age 16 [1768].

William Henry Egle, in 1898, in his series of columns titled “Notes and Queries” published in the Harrisburg “Daily Telegraph” newspaper gave a list of transcriptions of the old tombstones of New Hanover Lutheran Church in Montgomery County. On that list, we find Anna Marg Joerger (1746-1818) wife of Michael and daughter of John Ehrhart.

On find-a-grave, she is listed as Anna Margaretha Joerger b.13 Jan 1746, no date of death. Remember, 1746 was before the Gregorian calendar came into use, so Jan 1746 may have been Jan 1746/47, thus a year and half after the marriage of her parents.

Her tombstone was also transcribed in 1895 and it gives her birth and death dates and also her marriage date of 15 Apr 1765 (though church records from the time said 2 Apr 1765), that she was the wife of Michael and daughter of John and Daisa (sic) Ehrhart and that she had 2 sons and 5 daughters.

These transcriptions seemed to have a surprising amount of information so I decided I needed to go see her stone for myself. I did and was surprised to find the amount of biographical information included on hers and her husband’s tombstones. I wish all were so complete!

In June 2011, I visted the cemetery at New Hanover Lutheran and John LeVan, caretaker, was kind enough to stop and show me his transcription book and help me find both Michael’s and Anna Margaretha’s graves.