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PROPST, PROBST, PROPES, BROBST FAMILY

The American Brobst family traces back into the 1500's near Bern, Switzerland, where Rudolph Probst was born in 1595. His father may have been Niklaus Probst b. 1554, and his grandfather Hans Probst b. 1531, although those two earlier generations are not certain, Yes, the name "Brobst" was originally "Probst." Propst means 'Main Pastor.'

Others of the larger Probst family lived in northwestern Switzerland also, from Siselen in the northwest of Kanton Berne to Lutzelfluh in the northeastern part of Kanton Berne. Many of these Probsts also emigrated elsewhere in Europe -- into Germany and into southern Alsace, France. Some of those who moved to southern Germany had moved further north into Saxony by the 1800s. (Note: John Frederick Probst, b. 13 Aug 1824 in Hanover, Germany came to America and attended Gettysburg Seminary.) Many Probsts came to America from Switzerland, Germany, and France later in the 1700s and 1800s. These families are not the primary focus of the Brobst Family Historical Registry, although there is some information on the other American Probst.

In the early 1600's , Rudolph moved to Wangen, Germany. In the mid-1600's, his only son, Barthel, floated down the Rhine to Kandel, in the German Palatinate, near the border of Alsace, France. Barthel had a large family, one of which was Christophel b.1661. Because living conditions there were so deplorable, three of Christopher's children came to America -- Philipp Jacob b.1692, Johann Michael b.1701, and Elizabetha Margaretha (Vossellmann) b.1703. These three were the first Probst's to come to America. They arrived in 1732, the year George Washington was born.

The three children of Christophel Probst arrived in Philadelphia in October 1732, after a horrible voyage on the ship "John and William." Philipp Jacob came with his wife, C'erine, and three young sons -- Jean Michael, Jean Valentine, and Jean Martin. Johann Michael was unmarried, but married Anna Marie Kerr shortly after his arrival. Elisabetha Margaretha came with her husband, Hans Erhardt Vossellmann. The English-speaking clerk misspelled their name phonetically as had the ship's captain. The Brobst then settled in the area now known as Berks and Lehigh Counties, PA, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia. All American Brobst descended from one of those three children of Christophel.

THE WEST VIRGINIA PROPST

In addition to the various Probst and Brobst families discussed in the main part of this report, there were several Propst families who came to America from Germany. These Propsts have not been connected with the Probst families who emigrated to America from the Palatinate of Germany.

One was the Propst family: Hans Michael Propst b.1679 (age 54) and his wife Barbara b.1670 (age 53), with their two children Johann Michael b. 1754 (21 years old) and Barbara b. 1741 (8 years old).¹

Hans Michael, Barbara, Johan Michael and Barbara arrived in America on Aug 17, 1733 in Philadelphia on the ship "Samuel", Hugh Percy, Master, coming out of Rotterdam. On the ship's papers, the names were shown as Michael Propts, Babara Bropts, Johan Michal Propts, and Barbara Bropts. It is noted that his signature on the immigration and oath of allegiance papers is in the name of "Johann Michael Probst," rather than Propst. His father was apparently illiterate, for the clerk signed his name for him, as "Michael Propst." I note the differences in spelling of the last name, but am unable to explain the difference, other than the difficulty of the English in understanding German. The family name historically has been Propst, but Johann Michael evidently preferred Probst. And, on the immigration clearance papers, the male names were Michael Probst and Johs. Michall Probst.

Shortly after their arrival, they went to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but apparently spent little time in that part of Pennsylvania (and none in the Allemaengle-- this could mean "the Dutch country"), but instead they moved westward to Lancaster. Why Lancaster? They may have had friends who had already settled there, but why they went to Lancaster County is not known. There is evidence they passed through Bethlehem, PA, enroute to Lancaster. And it appears that they were inclined toward the Moravian form of religion.

There were Propsts who went from Philadelphia to West Virginia, many without even passing through the Allemaengle, or perhaps lingering there only for a short time. Other Propsts and also some Probsts never lived for any time in Pennsylvania, the Virginias, or North Carolina, but moved from the port of entry to residences elsewhere in America.

After ten or sixteen years in Lancaster, they migrated southwestward through Maryland down into the Shenandoah River Valley of northern Virginia into what was originally Rockingham and Augusta Counties, Virginia, and which later became Pendleton County, West Virginia. Whether Hans Michael and Barbara stayed in Lancaster or moved into Virginia with Johan Michael is not known.

The immigrant Hans Michael's origin is cloudy. (What does seem certain is that he was not related to the Swiss/German Probsts.) The Propsts generally are of Saxon nationality. The Saxon evangelist Martin Luther had several friends named Propst. Hans Michael Propst's birth year was determined to be 1679 from the ship's manifest which listed him as being 54 years old in 1733. (And how accurate were the ship's records?)

Johann Michael Propst (son of Hans Michael Propst)

In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Johan Michael Propst (b. 1712) married Anna Maria Keller, widow of Peter Keller, at the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church in Cocalico Township, PA.²

They had four children in Lancaster-- Philip, Daniel, Leonard, and Johann Michael, Jr. Anna Maria died in 1738 in Lancaster, perhaps in childbirth with Johann Michael, Jr., who also died as an infant.

(Note: the family history of the Kellers has not been revealed. There were Kellers living in Lancaster at the time, although no Keller's were found among the names of immigrants from 1720-1735.)

It didn't take Johann Michael, Sr., long to recover from her death, for while still in Lancaster, he married Maria Margaretha Corell on Dec. 3, 1738. They had four children while in New Holland, Lancaster County -- Johann George, Frederick George, the second Johan Michael Jr., and Margaretha Barbara.³

Maria Margaretha apparently died around 1745, for shortly after the birth of their fourth child, he married Catherine Elizabeth (last name unknown). They had six children -- Catharina Barbara, Maria Elizabeth, Frederick George, George Peter, Maria Eva, and Heinrich. It is possible that some or all of those six children could have been the offspring of Maria Margaretha Corell, and the marriage to Catherine Elizabeth (unknown) took place later.

According to one history, Johann Michael either was or may have been a Moravian, and "... in the year 1749 entertained in his home along the South Fork certain Moravian missionaries from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who he had previously known in that area before his moving to the Pendleton County area."

Sometime after his marriage to Maria Margaretha, after the birth of Margaretha Barbara in 1745, and after selling his land in Lancaster County, he migrated southwestward through the Shenandoah Valley to "Germany Valley," in Augusta County, Virginia, near what is now the area south of Brandywine, Pendleton County, West Virginia. His parents evidently moved with him, as well as the six surviving children of his first two marriages, and perhaps his sister Barbara, also. ⁴

Exactly when he left Lancaster and arrived in Pendleton County is not certain. One record states he was there in the late 1740s. However, it is doubtful he was actually there that early. Another record states he settled in Pendleton County in 1753, and is listed as one of the early Pioneers there. Whatever his actual arrival date, and whether with or without his father, he established the village of Propstburg, Pendleton County, West Virginia.

By the late 1750s, he had settled along a small creek leading into the South Fork. In 1756, he and William Dyer were appointed road overseers, replacing William Hevener.

He was appointed a "Processioner" on the South Fork of the Potomac in 1767.

For many decades, this area was called "Germany Valley" and the village was "Probstburg". In 1769, he and his wife Catherine sold, for 5 shillings, 3 1/2 acres of his 415 acre tract in Propstburg for the building of the first Lutheran Church in West Virginia. (He also owned 240 additional acres elsewhere in Germany Valley.) Today, the third "Old Propst Church" stands on that site, along with the cemetery where Michael and his wife, Catherine, are buried. The fate of Michael's parents is not known. Johann Michael died in 1786. His will, dated Dec 19, 1785, gives some details of his family. The historic marker in Propstburg, WV, shows his wife's name as Catherine in 1769. Family records show that Catherine was clearly the mother of Heinrich, born between 1759 and 1764.

Details of later generations may be found in other references.,

The Family History Center in Salt Lake Center has hundreds of Propst's, many or most of whom might well be descendants of this early Propst family.

History of Propst Country, WV

Prior to 1700, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia was inhabited primarily by Indians, French soldiers, and wild animals. The Indians were of the Algonquin family; primarily the Senedos Tribe which was exterminated around 1732 in a battle between the Delaware's and the Catawba's.

The first non-French whites to see this territory were in a party of about fifty explorers, led by the Alexander Spotswood, Governor of Virginia, in 1716. The area became colonized with European settlers in about 1732, and became known as the Augusta Territory in 1738. So the Propst's, who arrived in 1733 or 1734, were among the very first settlers in this area.

In Virginia, Augusta County was established in 1745; Rockingham County was formed in 1778 from Augusta County. In 1787, an Act of the Virginia Assembly was passed creating Pendleton County. This Act transferred the northwest boundary of western Rockingham County some 25 miles southeastward, that is, from the Allegheny Mountain to its present position on the Shenandoah Mountain. When West Virginia was created from western Virginia in the mid 1800s, Pendleton County became part of West Virginia.

The Shenandoah Valley where the Propst's settled became famous in the Civil War. On April 1, 1862, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson began his campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, disrupting Union forces there. In September of 1864, the Valley became even more famous because of the Battle of Cedar Creek, where Union General Philip Sheridan attacked the Confederates and crushed the Southern forces in the Shenandoah Valley. The Valley remained Union for the rest of the war. Thirty-eight Propst's fought in the Virginia Confederate forces during the Civil War; over half of them were killed or wounded.

Today, this area of Pendleton County, West Virginia, is still called "Germany Valley", and lies nestled between the north and south forks of the South Branch of the "Potowmack" (headwaters of the Potomac River).

The original Propst lands in Pendleton County still remain today in the hands of Propst descendants. The local telephone books are full of Propst's. Propst family reunions are still held annually at the end of June (the day before Father's Day) at the Old Propst Church south of the town of Brandywine. Other descendants of this family may be found in Catawba County, North Carolina, in the area of Hickory and Lenore; there is even a Propst Crossroads near Hickory.

Interestingly, these Propst's retained the original German spelling of "Propst", and use that spelling today. Also interesting is that their pronunciation of the name is with the German short "o" (as in "crop"), rather than the American long "o" (as in "probe"). This may be unique to the West Virginia Propst's, as most Propst's elsewhere in the United States use the long "o".

The 1810 census of Pendleton County shows numerous Propst's: Adam, Christian, Daniel, George, George, Henry, Henry, Jacob, John, John, Leonard, Michael, Michael Jr. Their family name was spelled "Propt's"! There were no Propst's, Probates, or Brobst's. There were also two Propt's' in Rockingham County, just across the Virginia state line: Henry and Michael. Most of the boys of the immediate first few generations down from Johann Michael (1812) remained around the original homestead, and few migrated out of Pendleton County. The Pendleton Propst's furnished more men -- 35 -- to fight in the Confederate army than any other family in Pendleton County.

THE NORTH CAROLINA PROPST'S

The North Carolina Propst's can be traced back to Henry Propst b. between 1743 to 1758 who married Elizabeth Klein. It is possible that he is the son of Johanna Michael Propst b. 1711 in Kandel, Palantante, Germany who died in Propsburg, WVA (then VA) or his son Johann Michael 2nd. Continuity after Henry is good including the branch that left Lincoln Co. NC and went to MD.

NORTH CAROLINA TO MISSOURI

The Spanish Commandant, Lorimier, of Cape Girardeau sent a Mr. Bollinger to North Carolina promising all families that would come and settle near this Spanish colony, in order to strengthen it, approximately 1000 acres of land free. The families of Niswonger, Stotlar, Masters, Bollinger and Crites returned with Mr. Bollinger and located on a stream of water named Big White Water 20 miles west of where the Spanish settlement was located. This was in the summer of 1800. Jacob and John Propst families are listed in Missouri as of January 1803. John Propst married Catherine Cottner, daughter of Jacob Cotner. John Propst died 13 February 1824. John and Jacob Propst were not named among the 20 original families who came with Mr. Bollinger in 1800. A John Propst sold 131 acres in Lincoln Co. NC on Jan 8, 1800 and on March 24, 1800 he sold another 131 acres. This may indicate when he left NC.

John Probst from North Carolina was supposed to settle along the White Water river in 1800 in the Cape Girardeau District. Jacob Probst is listed as a member of the Spanish - American Military Company of 164 men who served six weeks to punish Indians near New Madrid before 1803 and each man received 300 Arpens of land. (Source: "History of Missouri" Vol II by Louis Houck. p. 188 and p. 192.)

John Propst was the oldest son of Frederick Propst who came from Rotterdam to Philadelphia, PA on October 21, 1761 on the ship "Snow Squirrel." with his brother Johanna Ludwig and Johanna Jacob Probst -- possibly also a brother.

About the year of 1797, Daniel Propst, son of John Propst, was born. He married Elizabeth Masters who was born in 1800. To this union eleven children were born: Henry, John, Solomon, David, Jessie, Daniel and the names of 5 children are not known. After the death of Daniel's wife Elizabeth, who died on September 21, 1859, he then married Peggy Fargison. To this union eleven more children were born: James, Wes, Alec, Frank, Cal, Pink Neal, Nam and 3 children who died very small.

The above notes about various branches of the family came from the Internet, "A History of Pendleton county, West Virginia by Oren F. Morton, "The Propst Family 1761 - 1991" by Thurman Propst, "German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in North Carolina 1750-1800" by Lorena Shell Eaker, "History of Missouri" by Louis Houck, and research by Paul Propst and others.

The Wisconsin Propst's

It is noted that a quite different Propst family immigrated in the 1700s into the New York area, and later moved west into Wisconsin.

Johann Erhardt Propst was born on July 4, 1823, in Schney, Lichtenfels, Bavaria. He came to America 1849, settled in NY, Oswego Co. While in New York, he married Wilhelmina Kreuger, and shortly afterward moved to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

They had four children - Frederick Wilhelm, Alfred Erhardt, Albert Samuel, and Erhardt Carl. The fate of the first three is not known to this author. Erhardt Carl (1880-1962) married Amelia Kirchberg (1880- 1959). They also had four children Wesley Lester, Florence Irene, Erhardt Irwin, and Oliver Franklin.

Annual Propst reunions are held in Beaver Dam.