John W. Bieber, Bartol Research Institute wrote: > > Folks, I hope this won't be perceived as stirring up trouble, > but can anyone tell me what is the proof that Yost Yoder (OY), > who died in Oley 1741 or 1742, is the same as the Yost Yoder > born 5 Oct 1679 in Steffisburg ? > > I note that Oley Yost's 4 known children were born between > 1718 and 1735, which would mean Yost was aged between 39 and 56. > Certainly this is possible, but it seems more natural to suspect > that Oley Yost was of a later generation than the Yost born in > Steffisburg. > > Thanks in advance for any insights on this question. > > .. John Bieber > john@bartol.udel.edu > John...I think the best answer is given in the YNL 5 article by Dr. Don Yoder, the noted historian. Due to the work by Dr. Don, Hans seems well documented ...his links to Germany by will of a nephew leaving property to Hans' son Hans Jr in 1771....by the Speyer and church record showing the departure of his family to the "island of Pennsylvania"...his recoded widowhood and remarriage, etc... Yost has little documentation, but on this side of the ocean it has been long identified that Hans and Yost were brothers. Early family records documented by Bertolett in the early 1800s spoke to this relationship. This was known long before any of the European information began to be deciphered. The fact that their wills were filed together in 1742 supports this relationship. If born in 1679 and he died in 1742, Yost would have been in his early 60s...not terribly old. There is much yet to learn about Yosts family. Bertolett says he had three sons and one daughter....one of the sons isn't well established. The approximate births of his children... 1718-for Yost-Hannes; 1720- for Elizabeth, and particularly 1735 for Jacob...do seem a bit late....but Yost was known as a "frontiersman" and known to have had multiple wives.... it isn't out of line for a hearty and active 50 some year old to marry and father children... The recorded Steffisburg births of children of Hans and Yost's parents, Adam Joder and Barbli Oschenbein, extend through son Casper in 1683. They may have left about that time--I can't find them in my records there after that......and it is conceiveable that their son Jost born in Steffisburg dies and they had another of the same name at a later time...Adam was only 33 when Casper was born... I hope this helps a bit.. Chris Yoder