The original settler was Johannes Jacob Donat, who with his wife emigrated from Westphalia wi th 108 passengers on the ship Forest , arriving in Philadelphia October 10, 1752. He signed h is qualification papers in Philadelphia October 10, 1752. (Jerusalem Lutheran and Reformed Church - Albany Twp., Berks Cty., lists a Jacob Donat arriving October 4, 1752 on the Neptune) . His original house was still standing as of 1987, but it was bought by two antique deale s from New Hope and moved to their shop where it was attached. Jacob was a taxable in Albany Township in 1759. It is believed he was a cooper.

He is believed to have been married twice according to a 1760 document. His first wife was Magdalena Driess (Treese). According to one source her father was named Cornelius (Jerusalem Lutheran & Reformed Church also lists a Cornelius Dries arriving September 29, 1733 on the Mary but, how does that fit with Jacob arriving with a wife in 1752?)

Jacob and his first wife supposedly had one daughter, Barbara, mentioned in a document along with the fact he was a widower and living in the household of another (presumably his father-in-law). There is no record of what happened to Barbara. But the Dries farm became known as the Levan farm and then went to the possession of Stewart Trexler in Kempton. His first wife may have died between 1759-60.

Jacob left a will and one of his executors was supposed to be Jacob Fosselman. This man die d and 15 years later P. J. Shellhammer (son-in-law) was executor in his place. The will is on file in Berks County.

The second wife of Jacob was Catherine Holtzenhaus. She was the daughter of a stone mason, Johann Martin Holtzenhaus and his wife, Catherine, of Lynn Twp. Supposedly, at this point Jacob Donat acquired the Mathias Dech house. We know Catherine was the second wife from the bapti sm record of her son Martin (Sept. 2, 1762) in the New Bethel Church records in Kempton. Subsequently, one of her children was Elizabeth Donat who later married Philip Jacob Shellhammer . In her father's will, Elizabeth was to receive money for working for her father (Jacob) pas t the age of 21. This would indicate she lived in his house, but we don't know if she was mar ried at the time. Presumably she was not.

Her mother, Catherine, died in 1810; Jacob in 1813, having been taken care of by his youngest daughter, Susanna. Jacob made his will November 13, 1811 and since it was probated Januar y 11, 1814, that indicates he died late in 1813 or early in 1814.

The Estate records for Berks County 1752-1914 list:
Jacob 1814 Albany Twp.
Martin 1828 "
Catherine 1857 "
This may have been an unmarried dau., not the wife.

Extract of the will of Jacob Donat:

Nov. 13, 1811 -Jan. 24, 1814. Translation

To son-in-law Abrm Merkel + 30 for the nursing of my dear wife. The money which my son William yet owes me shall be divided among my following children. To daughter Elizabeth +91 13-4 o f which is wages for her work over her age. To daughter Rachael +77-13-4; +60 of which is wages. To daughter Susanna +111-13-4 of which is wages. To son Jacob +73; +30 of which is wages . To daughter Maria +60; +20 for wages. To son Peter's children +30. To daughter Catherine +10. Son-in-law Philip Jacob Shellhammer shall keep in his hands the money which comes to his wife until her children are 21. Sons Martin and William have received their portions in the plantation I have sold them. Mentions daughter Elizabeth Shellhammer and grandson Joseph Donat . Friends George Fusselman and John Smith, Executors. Wit. By John Brobst and John Brobst, Jr . Note: what about the earlier will and the mention of PJ as executor?)

The interesting thing is PJs charge to hold the money for his wife till her children are 21 . She lived till the age of 80 at least, so it's not like she died. Was it because all of PJ s children were not her children - or some other reason?

Jacob Donat's children were:

Barbara dau. of first wife, believed to have died about the age of 3

Martin b. Sept. 28, 1762; d. Aug. 24, 1839 (Jacob's Union Church).
Married 3 times. Maria Nun gesser, Christina Christ, Anna Maria (Wehr) Horn.

Jacob b. April 30, 1765; d. Nov. 20, 1847. Stark County Ohio

William b. 1768; d. 1829. Married Catherine Holler

Elizabeth b. Aug. 18, 1769; d. Oct. 10, 1853. West Penn Zion Lutheran (Snyders). Married P.J . Shellhammer

Susanna b. Nov. 6, 1779; d. Jan. 25, 1864. Buried at Jerusalem (Red) Married Abe. Merkle

Jacob's Union Church in Jacksonville (there are lots of later generation Donats buried there) , Lehigh Cty. has:

Susanna, w/o Abe. Merkel, their daughter Elisabeth
b. March 24, 1813
d. March 15, 1894

Susanna d/o Jacob and Catherine Holzenhaus
b. Nov. 6, 1779; d. Jan. 25, 1864

There were also: Rachel, Anna Maria, Peter, and Catherine (children of Jacob & Catherine)

Most of the above information came from Lewis Donat

From Russ Kirkman, whose cousin did a book on the Donats:

Johannes Jacob Donat's parents were: Johann Heinrich Donat b. about 1695. Married Catherine S eibel on June 23, 1722. She was born around 1698.

Johann Heinrich's father was Ludwig Donat b. about 1665 and died before 1722.

There are some other Donats as well as the family of Johann Jacob.

1. In 1734 there was a George Donat who owned 80 acres in Springfield Twp. Also the records o f St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Germantown (1711-1820) list George Donat as a contributo r to the fund for land.

2. St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Whitemarsh, Montgomery Cty. has an
-Ann Donnat born 1745 a nd died 1815
-Christian Donnatt 1740 - 1815
There are several other Donats buried in the sam e cemetery.

New Bethel Church in Albany Twp. show these burials:

Catherine Donat nee Haller
Dec. 15, 1781
April 16, 1857

William Donat
March 25, 1768
March 19, 1829

The records also have these baptisms:

Parents Child Sponsors

Jacob Tonnat John Martin John Martin Holzenhaus & wf.

W/Catherine b. Sept. 2, 1762 Catherine of Lynn Twp.

in Lynn Twp.

Jacob Donhardt -- Jacob Donhardt

Elisabeth March 17, 1795 Catherine

May 10, 1795

Jacob Donnard Lydia Ferdinand Ritter

Elisabeth Oct. 9, 1796 Rachel Donnard, Single

Nov. 13, 1796

John Adam Creutz Elisabeth Christian Creutz

Susanna Sept. 27, 1796 Elisabeth Donnard, Single

Nov. 13, 1796

Martin Donnard Lydia Martin Ber

Anna Maria Aug. 18, 1798 Maria Elisabeth

Sept. 30, 1798

Peter Fries Peter Peter Donart

Catherine Apr. 23, 1799 Magdalena Klingaman

June 16, 1799

John Corell Issac William Donat

Elisabeth Feb. 18, 1810 Catherine

May 13, 1810

There are also a lot of Dries and Treiss buried there.

The ancestors of Catharina Holzenhaus (wife of Jacob Donat)

This information was supplied by Dalice Whitenight

Catharina Holtzhauser, born 12 May, 1742 at Merklingen, Wurttemberg, Germany, died Berks Coun ty, PA, 1810 Married Johannes Jacob Donat.

Her parents were: Johann Martin Holtzhauser, born 3 May 1710 at Merklingen, Wurttemberg. Die d May 1775 at Lynn Twp., Northampton Cty. PA Married Catharina Dorothea Raethlin on 2 June 17 39 at Merklingen. She was born 12 November 1720 at Merklingen. She presumably also died in Ly nn Twp.

The parents of Johann Martin Holtzhauser were: Sigmund Holtzhauser, born Wurttemberg, Germany ; died at Merklingen. Married Anna Maria Schwilling on 23 Jan. 1695 at Merklingen.

The father of Anna Maria Schwilling was Jacob Schwilling.

The parents of Catharina Dorothea Raethlin were:

Johann Jacob Raethlin, born Wurttemberg. Married Catharina Pfaeffler on 15 Feb. 1715 at Merkl ingen.

The father of Johann Jacob Raethlin was: Jacob Raethle.

Catharina Pfaeffler was born 22 June 1694 at Merklingen. Her parents were: Johann Martin Pfae ffler and Catharina Harkin.

Catharina Harkin was born at Retting, Germany and died at Merklingen.

The father of Johann Martin Pfaeffler was Bernhard Pfaeffler.

Abraham Merckel - b. 1/7/1766; baptized 2/7/1766. sprs. - S. Nicholas Crone (?) and his wife