The Church at Jost Dreisbach’s
The Dreisbach family settled in Lehigh Township, Northampton County, PA about 1747 or earlier. Not long after this, Simon Dreisbach Sr, along with his older sons, Jost and Adam, and nearby neighbors started a Reformed Congregation. A log church was built on Jost’s property. The earliest burials were in the cemetery adjoining this church. The church was dismantled in 1772 when Zion Stone Church was built in Kreidersville. The cemetery continued in use for a short while, but soon all burials were in the cemetery beside Zion Stone Church and the original burying ground fell into disuse. The owner of the land, moved the stones to the side of his field and plowed it under. In 1920, the tombstones that remained on the original burying ground were rescued and brought to Zion Stone Church where they were embedded in a cement monument. The tablet on this monument reads “These tombstones were brought here on July 22, 1920 from the old abandoned burial grounds at Howersville, Northampton Co., PA. where the first church of these congregations had been erected in the year 1747.” Below is a photo of the monument and beneath that are the inscriptions and rough translation of the stones embedded in it.
Inscriptions on the north side of the monument
ESRUHETALHIR SIMO:D:DERI(?) JOSTD:B:U:E:D:B IHR EHLER SOHN G:BOH-D-X-JUL:1760 GSTOR:D:17-F:1764 [Here rests Simon Dreisbach, son of Jost, born July 10, 1760, died Feb 17, 1784.
ES RUHET AL HIR DER LEIB DER MARIA DORRODEA DREISBACHIN GEBOHREN DEN 26 ABRIL IM JAHRA 1734 GESTORBEN DEN 8 JULY IM JAHR AO 1773. ICH UNDDIE II ZWEILINGMEIN DERLEIBUNTERDISM STEIN AUCH MEIN SOHN D: ZW:YTE W-RDSEHEN:INFREYDE IHR LIEBE MEIN HALTGOT IMHERZEN FEIN ES KOMT DIE ZEIT DAS WIR EIN ANDER SEHENINDEREWIGEN FREYD U SELICHKEIT. [Here rests the dear Maria Dorrodea Dreisbach, born 26 April in the year 1734, died the 8 July in the year 1773. I and the two twins lie under this stone, also my second son, in peace until the time when we will meet each other again in peace and joy}
ESRUHET AL HIR ELISABETA DREISBACHIN JOSTD B-ELI-BET:D:IEHL TOCHTER GEBOH-D 23 APRIL 1755 GSTOR:D 20 FEB 1764 [Here lies Elisabeta Dreisbach, daughter of Jost and Elisabet, born 23 April 1755, died 20 Feb 1764]
Inscriptions on east side of monument
HANNES BIEGELI 1769 HRN [Here rests Hannes (Johannes) Biegeli - 1769
MAGDALENA ULLERIN-D:DES H:U-CA:ULRICH G:B 22 FEB 1761, G:S:D-X ABRIL 1764 [Magdalena Uller (Ulrich), born 22 Feb 1761, d. April 1764]
MARIA ULRIN D:DES HENRICH NAGLR G:B:D 14 JAN 1763, G:S:D 2 ABRL 1764 [Maria Ulrin (Ulrich) daughter of Henrich Nagle born 14 Jan 1763, died 2 April 1764]
Inscriptions on south side of monument
ANDREAS CORBER G-BO 1698, G:STO:B 1765 [Andreas Corber, born 1698, died 1765] Note* he was the father of Adam’s wife Susanna Corber
ANNA MARIA KATTARINA DREISBACHIN GEBOHREN D 17 MERZ 1696 GESTOR D 22 MAY 1768, ALTER 79JA 9WO:U:3T [Anna Maria Katarina Dreisbach, born 17 March 1696, died 22 May 1768, age 79 years, 9 weeks and 3 days] Note* This is the tombstone of Simon Dreisbach Sr’s wife.
ES RUHET AL HIR IN GOTT CADARINA DREISZBACHIN IR VATTER UND MUTTER SIND H D B INER UND CADRINA DREISZBACHIN UND IR ALTER WAR 6 JAR 3 MONAT 2 WOCHEN UND IS GESTORBEN 1773 [Here lies in the peace of God, Catharina Dreisbach, her father and mother are H D B and Catharina Dreisbach. Her age was 6 years, 3 months and 2 weeks. She died in 1773]
Inscriptions on west side of monument
ES RUHT AL HIR JACOB DITER [Here lies Jacob Diter (Dieter)]
ES RUH ALL HIR MARY GETRAUT D B:N G:BOHREND 4 JULY 1768, G-STORBEND 18 AUGUST ANNO 1769 [Here lies in peace Mary Gertrude Dreisbach, born 4 July 1768, died 18 August 1769]
HIER RUHET SIMMON DREISBACH GEBOREN D 19TAG MEY ANO 1754 GESTORBEBD 9TAG MEY ANO 1769 WIE WOHL IS MEINER SEELEN NACH AUSGESANDEMLEYD [Here sleeps Simon Dreisbach, born the 19th day of May in the year 1754, died the 9th day of May in the year 1769. How well is my soul now at rest] Note* This is the 15 year old son of Simon Dreisbach Jr and his wife Maria Dorodea.