Biographical Sketch (1985):1513, p. 41. "Nicholas Lerch, as his brother William, was indentured to William Jones, a Welsh settler of Cumru Township, and was raised by Mr. Jones to manhood. He left Mr. Jones in 1757. About 1764 he married Margaretha ____, a servant on the farm of Thomas Jones, Jr., a brother of William Jones. He was naturalized as a subject of George II in Philadelphia on 24 September 1765. He purchased the remainder of the Elizabeth Ermentrout survey, 16 September 1768, along Church road near the present day Lower Heidelberg Elementary School, from Johann Henry Decker. Nicholas’ children were all minors when he died in 1784 and his sole son (John) received his lands upon reaching the age of 21 (Orphan’s Court, 14 November 1786). Nicholas was a deacon at Hain’s Church as are many of his descendants."

1741 Indenture:1513, p. 5. Nicholas was indentured to William Jones, a Welsh settler fo Cumru Township and son of early Welsh baptist preacher, the Rev. Thomas Jones.

1757 Land Purchase:1513, p. 6. Nicholas stayed with William Jones until about 1757, when he purchased the original Ermentrout tract of 210 acres from John Henry Deckert in Lower Heidelberg Township.

1766 Inheritance:1513, p. 23. Father Caspar Lerch bequeathed to "my son, Nicholas Lark, the sum of 25 pounds money as aforesaid to be paid within 10 years as aforesaid."

1779 Tax List, Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1563, (Nicholas Lerch, p. 234) Nicholas Lerch listed as owning 235 acres, 4 horses, and 3 cows, and who was levied a tax of 700.

1780 Tax List, Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1564, (Nicholas Lerch, p. 365) Nicholas Lerch listed as owning 245 acres, 5 horses, 4 cows, and who was levied a tax of 16.13.4.

1781 Tax List, Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1565, (Nicholas Lerch, p. 493) Nicholas Lerch listed as owning 240 acres, 4 horses, 4 cows, and who was levied a tax of 2.7.6.

1784 Tax List, Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania:1566, (Nicholas Lerch, p. 626) Nicholas Lerch listed as owning 240 acres, 3 horses, 4 cattle, and 5 sheep.

1784 Estate Administration:1206 Nicholas Lerch, Heidelberg, 4 June 1784, administration to Margaretha Elisabetha Lerch, the widow.

Descendant Information

Maria Margaretha:2045, p. 212. As his authority, Humphrey cites the records of Hain’s Reformed Church, Lower Heidelberg township, also know as Cacusi Church. Maria Margaretha Lerch baptised 31 May 1774 at Hain’s Reformed Church, Lower Heidelberg Township, also known as Cacusi Church to parents Nickolaus Lerch and wife.