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Jacob Engel was sometimes called Yokeli.

1752 Ulrich (Yockeli) Engel was reported to be the only child who survived the voyage of the ship Phoenix, from Switzerland. "Ulrich Engel and wife, with eight children, located in a reeking marsh at a point about two miles west of Marietta, Lancaster county, Pa., now known as 'Wild Cat'." [1] [2]

1753 Jacob Engel arrived as an infant in Philadelphia on 10/1/1753 on the ship "Phoenix" with his parents. The youngest child in his family. On the "Phoenix," all the small children except Jacob died of dysentery. It was said then that God had a mission for Jacob. Though a man of slight build, he was energetic, a weaver and a minister, and founder of the River Brethren Church in 1773 (or 1776). He became Bishop of the Church. He also taught English and German in the school. [3] [4]

c 1776 Jacob Engle, son of Ulrich, the emigrant, was the founder of the River Brethren Church, a branch of the Mennonite faith to which he and his family belonged. The first services were held in the house of Jacob Engel, a Mennonite, who lived near Bainbridge, Lancaster County. Jacob Engel became the first bishop of the new church. [5]

1779 Jacob Engel [Angle] was taxed in Donegal Twp, Lancaster County for 100 acres, 4 horses, 3 cattle, and 9 sheep. [6]

1782 Jacob Engel [Angle] was taxed in Donegal Twp, Lancaster County for 140 acres, 2 horses, 6 cattle. [7]

1784 Martin Boehm, celebrated evangelist, conducted a revival in Donegal Twp. Brothers Jacob and John Engel attended. They decided that immersion was the proper way to perform a baptism. [8]

1786 They took part in an immersion baptism and they became ministers of the denomination, which is different from the Dunker Brethren. [9] "Yokeli at the time of his marriage, pledged his inheritance to get money but before his guardian paid his money, he was able to pay back his loan. At age 25, he and Mr Witmer baptized each other; shortly afterward the River Brethren Church was founded and Yokeli was ordained as its first minister." [10]

1790 Jacob Engall [Engel] received a warrant dated May 14 for 49.5 acres in Donegal Twp, Lancaster County. [11] The patent had the same date [12] A land survey was returned to Jacob Engall dated May 14, 1790. Henry Kipp, Mathias Blazer, Jacob Good and Christian Saddler owned lands adjacent. [13]

1790 Jacob Engle lived in Donegal Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in a household with 2 males under age 16, 1 males age 16 and over, and 3 females. [14] Henry Kipp was listed nearby (see the 1790 land survey).

1810 Jacob Engle lived in Donegal Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (10 thru 15), 2 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over); and females: 1 (under 10), 1 (16 thru 25), 2 (26 thru 44), and 1 (45 and over). [15]

1833 Jacob Engel was one of the first ministers of the Brethren in Christ Church. He lived to be 79y 3m 5d. He was buried at Reichs cemetery near Maytown, Pennsylvania. [16] [17]

Research Notes:

"His parents died soon after [their arrival in America]. When he was fourteen years old he was hired to a Mr. Witmer, who was a weaver to learn the trade. This same year he united with the Mennonite Church. At eighteen he was converted to God experiencing the new birth became dissatisfied with his baptism. He and Mr. Witmer visited a minister. They considered his faith questionable and returned home without letting the man know of their purpose. Later they visited another minister of the same persuasion asking him to baptize them by true immersion but wishing to stand aloof from that organization. The minister refused. About this time the people and several among them done as their own fathers had done. In a secret way they baptized each other and it was never discovered who was first baptized. This was about seven years after his conversion. Soon there were about twelve others who requested Yokeli to baptize them. Yokeli founded the River Brethren Church, a branch of the Mennonite faith to which he and his family belonged. In the beginning no attempt was made to form a separate organization. About 1773, such an organization was affected. Yokeli became the first bishop of the new church and his descendants today are actively engaged in religious work. The first Love Feast was held at Yokeli's place, near Stackstown, Lobato, PA, in the original stone house on the garret or second story of his home. The service consider of only eleven members, which was probably before the church was organized." [18]

"Jacob Brechbill Engle, born 5 Nov 1753, immigrated in 1754, and after his marriage to Veronica Shrock in 1773, co-founded the River Brethren faith with Peter Witmer (History of the Old Order River Brethren by Laban T Brechbill, 1972). Sophia died 8 December and was buried at the Forry Cemetery, Hellam Twp, York County, Pennsylvania." [19]

Se also [20].


Footnotes:

[1] John K. Miller, "The River Brethren," The Pennsylvania German 7 (1906), 17, [GoogleBooks].

[2] John E. Engle and Eugene K Engle, "A Letter from Immigrant Ulrich Engle to Switzerland," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 16 (July, 1993), 11-18, at 17.

[3] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 296, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].

[4] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 257-58, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].

[5] George R. Prowell, History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume 1 (Beers, 1907), 143, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].

[6] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 17 (Lancaster Taxables) (1897), 517, [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[7] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 17 (Lancaster Taxables) (1897), 856, [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[8] George R. Prowell, History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume 1 (Beers, 1907), 143, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].

[9] George R. Prowell, History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume 1 (Beers, 1907), 143, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].

[10] Morris M. Engle, The Engle History and Family Records of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties (Mt Joy, Pennsylvania: Bulletin Press, 1927), 23, [InternetArchive], [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].

[11] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, Lancaster County, E-245, [PHMC Warrant].

[12] Bureau of Land Records, Pennsylvania Land Patent Books, P16-305, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[13] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C065-C65-81, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].

[14] United States Federal Census, 1790, [AncestryRecord].

[15] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryRecord].

[16] A. W. Climenhaga, History of the Brethren in Christ Church (Nappannee, Indiana: 1942), 48.

[17] John E. Engle and Eugene K Engle, "A Letter from Immigrant Ulrich Engle to Switzerland," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 16 (July, 1993), 11-18, at 17.

[18] Morris M. Engle, The Engle History and Family Records of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties (Mt Joy, Pennsylvania: Bulletin Press, 1927), 18, [InternetArchive], [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].

[19] Donald Frankline Billet and Edward Albert Dellinger, The Chronicles and Genealogy of the Jacob Dellinger Family of York County, PA (1993), 185, [GoogleBooks].

[20] Oscar Kuhns, The German and Swiss settlements of colonial Pennsylvania : a study of the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch (New York: Eaton & Mains, c1914), 179, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].