Berks County PA Archives Bibles  .....MARKLE/MERKEL Bible from the Journals of Josiah V Thompson
  ************************************************
  Copyright.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
  ************************************************
  
  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lynn Beatty

  ************************************************

                    V10 Page 394

  Clarence Anten Roat No 376 E. Mahoning St Milton Pa Oct 5, 1923 the old big German bible
  of her great grandfather, Christian Merkel which is in German & was printed in Nrmberg in
  1768.  The bible is well preserved is covered with hogs hide is 18 inches long 12 1/2 in
  wide & 5 1/2 in thick.  The only family record is on the back fly leaves & covers two
  pages, all the earlier record written in German as is shown by the translation which Mr &
  Mrs Roat had made by a good German scholar & which is as follows:
        "Translation
  Christian Merkel, born on the Mosselem (near Reading) Mch 18, A.D. 1758. Upon arriving at
  the age of manhood, he was pleased to get married after the Christian religion with a
  maiden named Maria Strauben who was born near Lancaster in Jany 8th A.D. 1759.
  The Lord blessed them with a little son & he received the name by Holy Baptism of:
  1. Jacob, witnesses being his grandfather
  
                    V10 Page 395
  
  & grandmother.  He first saw the light of the world Aug 31st, A.D. 1782.
  The Lord blessed them again with a little son & he received the name by Holy Baptism of:
  2. Wilhelmns born Nov 8, A.D. 1783.
  The Lord again presented them with a son who received by the Holy Baptism the name of:
  3. Johannes born Oct 24, A.D. 1785.
  The Lord presented a little daughter who received the name by Holy Baptism of:
  4. Elizabeth, born July 24 A.D. 1787
  The Lord blessed them with a little son who received the name by Baptism of:
  5. Samuel, born Feby 27 A.D. 1788
  (Here is a 7 mos child which was not the first one after marriage)
  The Lord presented again a little son who received the name by Holy Baptism of:
  6. Gideon, born on Mch 25th, A.D 1791
  The Lord again presented a little daughter who received the name by Holy Baptism of:
  7. Maria, born Nov 26, A.D. 1792
  The Lord presented again a little daughter who received the name by Holy Baptism of:
  8. Katherina, born Sept 23, A.D. 1796
  (Mrs Roat says Christian Markle's wife above is what we call Straub & the "en" was just
  the German as in "Mercklen")
  There are 740, 512 & 480 pages & then some unpaged in the old bible = 1732 pages.
  9. Peter Markle son of Christian & Mary Markle was born Mch 8, A.D. 1798
  Katharina Merkel born Sept 23, 1796 married John Philip Follmer who was born near Milton
  Pa in 1793.
        Their children as recorded in the back of the old German Bible were:
  1. Samuel born on the Homestead near Milton Pa July 29, 1830
  2. Mary Elizabeth born on the Homestead near Milton Pa Nov 29, 1831
  3. Philip Henry born on the Homestead near Milton Pa Aug 17, 1834
  John Philip Follmer died Sept 16, 1882       }see item 5
  Katherine Markle, his wife died June 21, 1883} page 40
  Samuel Follmer died Nov 24, 1866
  Philip Henry Follmer died July 11, 1891
  Mary Elizabeth Follmer Derrickson died July 3, 1919

  ---------------------