Beeks line: Johann Frederick Serfass 1753-

 I am so excited to review what is known of Frederick's life, and so unhappy that I have so many unanswered questions.  This man lived through some very tumultuous times and would undoubtedly have many stories to tell us.  Highlights: His childhood family had a close call when neighbors were massacred by the natives during the French and Indian War, and his family became refugees.  They were Moravian by religion.  He is listed as inactive militia during 1780, when the Revolutionary War was going on, and due to his location, he probably had some part in the war effort regardless of his religious beliefs.  He lived through the War of 1812, so the man would have been a walking encyclopedia of events surrounding the birth and early days of our country.  

And yet, there is really very little known about him.  His parents were Johann Philip and Maria Catherina Altomus Servas (spelled many different ways, but eventually most were known by the name of Serfass or Searfass).  He was born about 1754, after his parents had come to Pennsylvania from (likely) the area around Koblentz, Germany.  His parents had first settled in Philadelphia, where Philip was a stocking weaver, but purchased land in 1750 in what was then Bucks County but became Northampton County before Frederick was born.  The family, eventually to total as many as 10 children, went to their new land about 1754 and worked hard to clear land and plant crops to support themselves.  They had become associated with the Moravian Church in Philadelphia and apparently continued as Moravians for at least two generations.  

Frederick was just a small toddler when the French and Indian war came close to home.  Neighbors of the Serfass family, the Hoedts, were massacred (some killed, some captured) in their home, and that was the signal for the Serfass family, as well as many others, to leave their homes and go to Nazareth.  Philip took his family on to Philadelphia where they had friends and perhaps relatives, and brothers and sisters in the church.  A fort was built on Philip's abandoned farm but it doesn't appear that the family went back for several years, perhaps when the war officially ended.  He probably supported the family in the meantime by stocking weaving.  

So Frederick was 9 or 10 years old before he really became familiar with his parent's farm, and this may have been culture shock for him, having lived in the neighborhood of Philadelphia for as long as he could remember.  Nevertheless, he would have learned to do farm chores and all the things that were required of pioneer families in that time.  Although the Moravians were pacifist in nature, we know that Philip had several guns when the family fled their home, and it's likely that Frederick learned to hunt in the thick woods and mountains surrounding his boyhood home.  

It's a little surprising to find several Searfass men from Northampton County who served on active duty during the Revolutionary War.  John, Christian, and Adam, likely served on active duty, and were also likely related to Frederick in some way.  The only reference I found was to Fridrich Serfas, who was in the inactive militia in 1780.  This doesn't mean that Frederick didn't have an important role to play in the war, however.  He was in his early twenties when the war began, and he may have served as a drover, a trader, a road builder, or any number of other civilian jobs that were necessary to the success of the war effort.  

Frederick married Sabina, maiden name not yet known, probably about 1779 as they had children born in 1780 and 1782.  Sabina may have died at an early age, since there don't seem to be additional children for this couple, or she may have been unable to have additional children.  The 1800 census is the last time we see Frederick in Northampton County.  The 1810 and 1820 censuses show a Frederick Searfoss of the correct age in AugustaTownship, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, which is a distance of about 100 miles, directly west of Chestnuthill Township.  I don't know whether this is our couple or not, as I've not found a will for Frederick anywhere-yet.  

There is a lot of information we are missing about Frederick.  We can see him only in the shadows, perhaps in a farm field or slipping through the woods as he hunted deer, or wolves, or whatever was needed.  I'm sure there is more to be found of his story and I'd be delighted to hear from anyone who has found even some small tidbit around him.  Meanwhile, we do know that he is another of the ordinary people who helped form this extraordinary country.  We can be grateful he is part of the family.

The line of descent is:

Frederick Serfass-Sabina

George Philip Serfass-possibly Eva

Mary Searfass-Andrew Wise

David Wise-Matilda Martin

Elizabeth Wise-John W Beeks

Wilbur Beeks-Cleo Aldridge

Mary Beeks-Cleveland Harshbarger

Their descendants