GREENE COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - Ancestral Roots Of The Kerbaugh Family ----¤¤¤---- Our Kerbaugh Family has been in the United States for over 260 years. The surname has undergone a myriad of spelling variations. This is not unusual for German surnames that were spelled phonetically by English speaking scribes. Some of these variations include: Kerbaugh; Kerbough; Kirbaugh; Kirbough; Carbough; Carbaugh; Kirback, Gerback, and no doubt many others. The original Germanic spelling of the surname is Kirbach or Korbach. I have been told the translation of this surname is "Kir/Kor" = "Basket" and "Bach" = "small stream". Hence, when surnames were being adopted, it is likely that hundreds of years back in time, a "root" ancestor was a basket maker who lived by a small stream. My research has been limited to George Kerbaugh, and his son, John, who came to Greene County, TN c. 1805. I am descended from John and his second wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" Wampler Kerbaugh who were married in 1821 in Greene County, TN. Before the Kerbaugh family arrived in Tennessee, other descendants who have researched the intermarried families of Myers, Lingenfelter and Trobaugh, have traced the George Kerbaugh family to Augusta and Rockingham Counties in Virginia prior to their migration into Greene County. The surnames of Myers, Lingenfelter and Trobaugh (sometimes spelled as Drorbaugh!!) have likewise undergone many spelling variations. All of these surnames were intermarried - sometimes in Greene County, TN; sometimes in Virginia, and sometimes in Pennsylvania, where these families began their "American experience." The Greene County, TN Kerbaugh family originated with George Kerbaugh and his wife, Catherine (probably "Katrina") Lingenfelter. George died in Greene County in 1805. His wife, Catherine, died sometime before the 1830 Census was enumerated. In 1831, their son, John, petitioned the Greene County Courts to divide up the family's 150 acre farm among the heirs. This petition, filed with the Courts on 4-28-1831, lists the children of George and Catherine Lingenfelter Kerbaugh. One of their daughters had already died by 1831. It is remarkable that twelve children would survive to adulthood. The twelve children named in the petition are: (I have "standardized" the spelling of the surname to that of "Kerbaugh", although spelling variations are found in different records, and no doubt were adopted by different descendant branches.) Page 2 1. Christian. Christian is named first in the petition. He may be the oldest son. There is no evidence Christian ever lived in Greene County, TN. It is my opinion he remained in Virginia. 2. John. John was the Petitioner. By the marriage dates of his siblings, John may have been the second born son. On 10-1-1808, John married Peggy Morrison. On 3-25-1821, he married Elizabeth "Betsy" Wampler. 3. Elizabeth Kerbaugh Slusser. Again, there is no evidence the Slusser family migrated to Greene County. I believe they, too, remained in Virginia. 4. Eve Kerbaugh, wife of Jacob Apply. 5. Polly (probably "Mary") Kerbaugh, wife of Frederick Myers. They were married in Greene County on 11-22-1810. 6. Nancy Kerbaugh, wife of Jacob Trobaugh. They were married in Greene County on 4-15-1811. 7. Sally Kerbaugh, wife of Daniel Farner. They were married in Greene County on 8-8-1816. 8. Caty Kerbaugh, wife of John Myers, both of whom were deceased by 1831. They were married in Greene County on 3-5-1808. Their two children, Polly and Eliza were named as heirs. 9. Daniel. Daniel was not married in Greene County; however, he did migrate there. He is in the 1830 Census and in November 1833 was a bondsman for a wedding. By 1836, he is no longer listed in the Civil District listing. His wife's name is unknown. 10. Jacob. Jacob married Margaret "Moyers" in Greene County on 10-12-1820. He is still found in Greene County in the 1850 Census. 11. George. George (Junior) married Rebeka Gibbs in Greene County on 8-27- 1829. George is still in Greene County in 1845; however, he is not in the 1850 Census. 12. Margaret Kerbaugh, wife of James Vance. This family was in Greene County; however, it appears by 1831, they may have migrated elsewhere. Page 3 We know that John Kerbaugh was born in Virginia in 1783. From the marriage dates of his siblings, one can approximate their years of birth. The names of George and Catherine's children provide us with an important link to their ancestors. I have not researched the Pennsylvania records, but I present who I believe to be George Kerbaugh's ancestors, based on the work of Annette Kunselman Burgert and Henry Z. Jones, Jr.. Ms. Burgert and Mr. Jones have researched many German immigrants and are authors of several publications on this subject. The following is presented from their book, Westerwald to America, ISBN 0-929539-32-X, dated 1989. The immigrant ancestors of the Kerbaugh (or variation) surname are: Johannes Christian KORBACH who immigrated from Germany on Ship Samuel & Elizabeth in 1740; Georg Wilhelm KORBACH who also immigrated on Ship Samuel & Elizabeth in 1740; and Simon KORBACK, who immigrated on Ship Hope Galley in 1734. Johannes Christian and Georg Wilhelm were brothers. Simon's relationship to the family is unknown, however all three were from the town of Niederwambach located in the area of Westerwald in the Rhine-Palatinate of Germany. Of these three men, I believe the immigrant ancestor of George Kerbaugh, who died in Greene County, TN in 1805 is Georg Wilhelm KORBACH. The KORBACH family can be found in the 1698 Church Books in Puderbach, where the family attended Church. They lived in nearby Niederwambach, four km northwest of Puderback. The largest town, today, which we would recognize is Dierdorf. Dierdorf is south of Dusseldorf. The two immigrant brothers, Johannes Christian and Georg Wilhelm were sons of Johann Georg KIRBACH (born c. 1680). His first wife was Anna Margaretha who died 8-26-1700. His second wife was Maria Catharina, daughter of Johann Adam Marts, whom he married on 11-5-1701. All of the known children are by the second wife. These children included: 1. Johannes Christian, baptized 1-24-1706. He is one of the immigrants. 2. Anna Kunigunda, baptized 11-4-1708 3. Elisabetha Margaretha, baptized 1711 4. Anna Maria, baptized 3-17-1712 5. Johann Herbert, baptized 11-7-1714 6. Georg Wilhelm, baptized 10-21-1717. He is one of the immigrants. 7. Anna Elisabetha, baptized 2-6-1720 Page 4 The father, Johann Georg KIRBACH died 4-11-1721, about 40 years old. His widow remarried 12-16-1722 to Johann Ludwig Harter "from another land". Two of Johann Georg's sons, Johannes Christian and Georg Wilhelm left Germany on Ship Samuel and Elizabeth, arriving in Philadelphia shortly before September 30, 1740. On that date, both brothers took the Oath of Abjuration to the King of England. They signed their name and used the spelling of KIRBACH. In the Ship's records, brothers Johannes Christian, age 30, and Georg Wilhelm, age 26, were registered under the name of KEERBACK. Immigrant Johannes Christian The brother, Johannes Christian and his wife, Maria Christina settled in Germantown (near Philadelphia) where in 1765, he signed his name a KERBACH. On 7-15-1772, Christian KOERBACH died at age 64, as entered into the Germantown Reformed Church Book, Philadelphia County, PA. Researchers, Kunselman and Jones present Johannes Christian's children as: 1. Johannes. He was born c. 1734 and died 5-28-1791, age 57. His year of birth indicates Johannes came as a young boy with his parents to America. Johannes' wife was Sybil, surname unknown. They had three known children: (1) Daniel, born 12-5-1758; (2) Catharina Margaretha, born 2-1-1763; and (3) Johann Christian, born 10-6-1765. 2. Catharine Margaretha. She married Peter Weckerle in Germantown, PA on 3-17-1763. No children are known. 3. Johann Jacob. Jacob married Catharina Bikes in Germantown, PA on 11-7- 1764. They had two known children: (1) Johannes, baptized 5-21-1770 and (2) Anna Barbara, born c. 1772 and who died 1-4-1775. (As recorded in the Germantown Church Books.) Immigrant Georg Wilhelm The brother, Georg Wilhelm is who I believe to be our immigrant ancestor and father of George Kerbaugh, who died in Greene County, TN in 1805. Page 5 Georg Wilhelm is also found in the records of the Puderbach Churchbooks, but it appears he actually lived in the small village of Ratzert. In December 1736, Georg Wilhelm KORBACH "from Ratzert" was married to Anna Eva, daughter of Herbert TRAPPER "from Bubach (or perhaps "Brubbach"?). At the time of immigration, Georg Wilhelm, age 26, was also married. Georg Wilhelm did not stay in Germantown, PA like his brother, Christian. Georg and his family are found in Berwick Township in York County, PA in 1765 when Georg Wilhelm was naturalized. The family also resided in Adams County, PA where his children were baptized in the Conewago (Christ) Church. The children named in various baptism records include: 1. Johannes Christianus. Born September 6 and baptized 9-15-1737. He, too, was born in Germany, and was only a small child when the family immigrated in 1740. "Christian" married Julianna, surname unknown, and they had the following children: (1) Christian baptized 7-25-1758. (The sponsor was Georg GERBACH and Eva, no doubt the grandparents.) (2) Johann Jacob, baptized 12-9-1760; (3) Johannes, baptized 2-12-1763; (4) Eva Catharina, baptized 7-21-1765. 2. Johannes Martinus. Born March 11 and baptized 3-20-1740. This son, too, was born in Germany, and was only a baby when the family left Germany and arrived in Philadelphia in September of 1740. "Martin" GERBACH married Anna Maria, and one son is known: (1) Johann Phillip, baptized 12-26-1762. 3. Johannes. No year of baptism is given for this son. He married Anna Maria Becker in Hanover, York County, PA. They had one known son, Georg Wilhelm, who was baptized 7-21-1765. The sponsors were Anna Eva and Georg Wilhelm GERBACH, the grandparents who were still alive in 1765. 4. Georg Wilhelm, a twin, baptized 5-28-1749. I BELIEVE THIS GEORG WILHELM TO BE GEORGE KERBAUGH WHO DIED IN GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE IN 1805. 5. Johann Adam, a twin, baptized 5-28-1749. 6. Catharina, baptized 6-21-1751. 7. Johan Jacob, born May 1 and baptized 7-15-1753 in St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Hanover, York County, PA. 8. Nicolaus, baptized 6-7-1756. Page 6 When comparing the names of George and Catherine Lingenfelter Kerbaugh's children, born in Virginia, most of whom migrated to Greene County, TN, there is no mistaking the common naming patterns to the children of German immigrant Georg Wilhelm. Children of: George and Catharine Lingenfelter Georg Wilhelm and Anna Eva (d. 1805) KERBAUGH (b. 1717) KORBACH 1. Christian Johannus Christianus 2. John b. 1783; m. 1808; d. 1856 Johannes 3. Jacob m, 1820 Johan Jacob 4. Daniel nephew, Daniel 5. George Jr. m. 1829 Georg Wilhelm,a twin b.1749 6. Elizabeth 7. Eve granddaughter, Eva Catrina d/o Chriastianus 8. Caty m. 1808 Catrina 9. Polly (Mary??) m. 1810 10. Nancy m. 1811 11. Sally m. 1816 12. Margaret niece, Margaretha The son, Georg Wilhelm, born in May 1749, of the immigrant Georg Wilhelm KORBACH born 1717, is who I believe to be George KERBAUGH who died in Greene County, Tennessee in 1805. George Kerbaugh would have been about 55 years old at the time of his death in 1805. George's son, John, who petitioned the Greene County Courts in 1831 was born in 1783 (as stated in his application for Pension, War of 1812). John, is probably the second born son. Christian is probably the oldest son, born c. 1780. Georg Wilhelm, born in 1749, would have been about 30 years old when the first son was born. We know that George and Catharine Lingenfelter Kerbaugh had 12 children. With an average of two years between births, this would have been a period of 24 years. The years of birth can be estimated between 1780 (oldest who is probably Christian) to the youngest whose birth is estimated to be 24 years later in 1804. George Kerbaugh died in 1805. He would have had several minor children at home at the time of his death. By reviewing the marriage records in Greene County, TN, George and Catharine Lingenfelter Kerbaugh's children begin to marry in March 1808 (Caty); followed by John in October 1808; then Polly in 1810; then Nancy in 1811; then Sally in 1816; Jacob in 1820; and George Jr. in 1829. The next Kerbaugh marriage does not occur until 1837 when the second Greene County generation begins to marry. I believe George Kerbaugh who died in Greene County, TN in 1805 is Georg Wilhelm, a twin, born in 1749. I will leave it to my readers to make their own assessment. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Stevie Hughes Stevie1302@aol.com ___________________________________________________________________