Decendants of Theobald Gerst

DEATH: aged 66 yr 2 mo 21 da

From the Peffley book published in 1938, by Earl and May Frost, pages 16-18, we find the following information concerning this family profile:

"REVOLUTIONARY RECORD OF DAVID PEFFLEY. David Peffley Jr. 8th class Penna. Militia sworn and subscribed before me the 9th day of July 1782. Signed John Gloninger, Sub. Lt. L Co. (Penna. Arch. Ser. 5, vol. 7, page 172). "David Peffley Jr. 8th class Lancaster Co. Militia 1783 to 1790 (see Penna Arch. Ser. 6 vol 3, page 468). "David Peffley Jr. 8th class 1784, Capt. Jacob Meily's Co. (see Penna. Arch. Ser. 6 vol 3, page 368). "Note--This David Peffley was carried on the Milita Rolls as David Peffley Jr. to distinguish him from his uncle David Peffley, who was listed on the rolls as "David Peffley Sr." "About 1790 David moved to Botetourt Co., Va., where he spent the remainder of his life. The following land records are on file at Fincastle Botetourt Co., Va. "Dec. 14th, 1790 David Paefley brought 263 acres from Peter Noffsinger and Salome, his wife. In what is now known as the "Mill Creek Section." "Jan. 13th, 1795--David Pepley brought 207 acres from Wm. McClanahan and his wife Sarah on the branches of Carvin's Creek. "July 22nd, 1812--David Peffley bought 52 acres for 676 dollars of the U.S., from Wm. Evans and his wife Elizabeth, land adjoined Leonhart (Leonard) Houtz and Edw. Watts. "Apr. 2nd, 1830--David Peffley's Executors sold his land to Wm. R. Johnson. In July 1937 the writer made a special trip to Botetourt and Roanoke counties, Virginia, to locate the old homes of David, Henry and Samuel Peffley. After consulting the courthouse records in company with Miss Mat Garst (Salem, Va.) the farms were located on U.S. Highway 11 (known as the Lee Highway) seven miles northeast of Salem near Hollins College. The farms were side by side and all three houses faced the highway, known in those days as "The Great Road." "David Peffley's farm is now owned by John Morris, a court reporter, Roanoke, Va. In a hickory grove back of the present house were located the graves of David and his wife, Magdalena. It is nothing less than a miracle that the graves were located at all. They are at the foot of a hickory tree and are marked with slabs of native slate with the following inscriptions chiseled on the stone. "D.P. was born Feb. 15th in the year 1761. "Dide Dec. 14th, 1827. "Magdalena Pefly was born Jan. 11th, 1763. "And dide Apr. 1st, 1829. "There are other graves in the grove, but only one other grave is marked with the name of the person. "The old David Peffley place adjoines that of his brother Henry and his brother-in-law Frederick_Garst. It is across the road and just east of the road turning off to the airport. "On two pieces of paper, that fitted together, loose in a German bible at Levi Huffman's, were the records of the births of:--"David Paffly," "Magtalena Paffly," and their daughter "Elizabeth Paffly" and Elizabeth's marriage written in German. The fly leaf of the bible says "Elizabeth Pefli, given to her in 1800." "WILL OF DAVID PEFFLEY (II) WILL Book D, page 462-463, Botetourt County, Virginia. "In the Name of God Amen I, David Peffley of Botetourt Co., and State of Virginia being ill disposed of helth and in sound mind and understanding and considering the near approach of my dissolution do make and ordain this my last will and testament. "First and principally recommending my immortal spirit into the Shupreem power of God that gave it, trusting threw merrits of my Blessed Saviour for pardon and remission of all my sins and a happy admission into the regions of Bliss and Immortality, and as to such worldy Estate warewith it pleased God to Bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same as follows to-wit: "I do order and direct that all of my just and lawful debts to be paid as soon as is convenient after my decease By My Executors. "First, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Magdalin the full possession of my dwelling, spring house and gardian with as much household and kitchen furniture as is thought sufficient for her oan use so long as she lives, and at her death all of her property to be sold by my Executors and equally divided amongst my sons and daughters, and I will that said wife shall have the third of all the rent of my rale estate and also the third of my personal estate, with fire wood cut and prepared sufficient for her oan consumption as long as she lives. "Next I will that all of my sons and daughters have an equal part of all my rale and personal estate & I now make mention of what I have already advanced to each of my sons and daughters to be charged with in part of their legacies & that is to say as follows: "To Magdalin Mark Sixty nine pounds, also to Elizabeth Rettinger Sixty one pounds fourteen shillings, also Catherine Boswell Sixty two pounds four shillings, also David Peffley Fifty seven pounds fourteen shillings, also Any Etter Fifty eight pounds nine shillings, also Christina Garst Fifty pounds eighteen shillings, also Mary Manges forty two pounds eighteen shillings, also John Peffley, five pounds three shillings. "Said wife is to have any part of the orchard for her own use or consumption. I further will that my Executors shall rent out my plantation yearly or a term of years as they may think best to the advantage of said heirs, and the money when collected, equally distributed as above stated, and after my widow's death I will that all my rale estate shall be sold, and I give full power to my executors to sell and convey the same to the purchaser and divide the first payment equally among my said children and make it so that the remainder be in eight equal annual installments and for my eldest child to draw the whole of the first installment and the next eldest to draw the second installment and so on until they my said heirs, get their equal part in said estate. "And further I will that two years after my decease my executors shall make settlement for my movable estate or personal property and whatever remains of it in their hands to make an equal division as above mentioned by charging each legatee with the part I advanced them in my life & I will that in the time that said land is rented out the renter is not to have privelege of **** any timber except to repair fences and for firewood on said land. "I nominate and appoint my trusty friends, John Stover, Thos. Robinson and Henry Brewbaker my sole executors to this my last will and testament and give said executors full power to sell and convey all my land as aforesaid, revoking and making null and void all other will or wills by me heartofore made and declare this and no other to be my last will and testament. "In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th, day of December and in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Seven." Sealed and delivered DAVHID PAFFLY (Seal) in the presence of us. (written in German) PETER FRANTZ HENRY HEGGE FREDERICK GARST (signatures in German)

On page 16 of the Peffley book, there is disagreement with the original Garst book concerning the parents of Magdalena Garst, wife of David Peffley. The information as found in the Garst book was copied by this compiler as the one most likely to be correct. (Notes by Joe Garst)