Johannes Kolb (1683-1759) (arrival 1707)
Our Ancestors in America: Johannes Kolb
Representing the 2nd Generation
Johannes Kolb was born May 19, 1683. He came to America in 1707 and settled at Germantown. In 1709, he moved to Skippack where he bought 150 acres of land. The deed is dated December 15, 1709. His name also appears on a petition for a road to Farmers Mill in 1713; also on a tax list in 1734 as the owner of 150 acres in Skippack. When about 50 years of age, he and his wife sold their farm and later moved to South Carolina, obtaining land near Cashway Ferry. Peter Kolb, son of Johannes Kolb also moved to South Carolina about 1752 or 1753 and purchased land near Cashway, on the Pee Dee River.
The Welch who formed this settlement in South Carolina, were from Pennepack, Pennsylvania, and New Castle County, Delaware.
Peter Kolb married Ann James, eldest daughter of Rev. Philip James who also came to Pennsylvania about 1737.
Rev. Philip Jams became the first pastor of the Welch Neck Baptist Church.
Abel Kolb, the only son of Peter Kolb, later became known as a brave hero and noble soldier of the era of 1776.
While rendering the best service he could for his country’s cause, he was shot by the Tories and gave his life.
(See Kolb-Kulp-Culp Reunion Program 1960).
Other children of Johannes include:
- Tillman Kolb who married Beersheeba Watkins.
- Sara Kolb who married Robert Linde.
- Mehitabel Kolb who married Charles Irby.
Taken from the KKC Family Record Book, page 12.
Other Pages:
- Find-a-Grave for Johannes Kolb (1683-1759)
- Lisa Jadwin list of Johannes descendants – link broken (OW)
- Link to the book, History of The Old Cheraws by Right Rev. Alexander Gregg, D.D. (WF-H)it is at: https://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/History_of_the_Old_Cheraws_Gregg_1923.pdf
Johannes Kolb Genealogy Chart found in Georgia
Earlier in the year I thought it would be nice to have a genealogy of Johannes Kolb, since there is very little about him in the Cassel Kolb Genealogy. I may have even mentioned it to one or two of you at the reunion, too. Well, in August, I was contacted by David Nelson of Jefferson, Georgia, who had discovered a very detailed genealogy chart for Johannes Kolb at an estate sale northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. While he was not part of the Kolb family, recognized its genealogical importance and wanted return it to someone in the family. After an internet search, he came across our website, and after exchanging a few emails, sent it to me in September.
The genealogy is on two blueprint style pages that are about 18”x21”. One is hand drawn, starting with Johannes Kolb and Sarah, and has detailed genealogies of some of their children, specifically: Peter, Hannah, Mary, Sarah, and Mehitabel, but little or no info on their children: Dielman, Henry, Martin and Jacob. At the bottom, it notes: “Chart showing descendants of Johannes and Sarah Kolb, who were among the first settlers on the Peedee Chart prepared July 1932. By Thomas Evans Wilson – Revision made July 19, 1960. TEW.” There is a Wilson line that runs from Johannes’ son Peter, but surprisingly, as far as I can tell, the chart’s author does not locate himself within the genealogy chart.
The other chart has basically the same information but it is typed with a few handwritten notes, covering of the same genealogy. The main addition on this chart refers to a Major Robert Lide, the husband of one of the Johannes daughters, Sarah. It appears he was descended from French and English royalty. The chart actually traces his ancestors through the King Henries of England, and further back to Hengst, First King of the Saxons, 434 A.D!
Some of the surnames detailed on the chart: Charles, Coggeshall, Coker, Edwards, Evans, Gregg, Griffin, Law, McIver, Mullins, Norwood, Pouncey, Reaches, Stuart, Walsh, Watson, Wilds, Wilson and Williamson. Unfortunately, both charts lack of dates for most of the people.
Grandson Colonel Abel Kolb (1750-1781)
Colonel Abel Kolb (1750- 4/28/1781), Commander, Pee Dee Regiment, Colonel Marion’s Brigade
Abel Kolb was born circa 1750, in Pee Dee, South Carolina, one of five children born of his parents, Peter Kolb and Ann James.
Abel’s grandfather, Johannes Kolb (1683-1759), arrived in Pennsylvania with three brothers in 1707, the first of many Kolbs to come to America from the Palatinate, now part of Germany. Around 1737, Johannes left his brothers in Skippack and settled on the south bank of the Great Pee Dee River, South Carolina. In South Carolina, he is often referred to as “Father Abraham” because he had nine children and many descendants.
Johannes’ son, Abel’s father, Peter Kolb (1732-1779), was born in Skippack, Pennsylvania, and moved south with his parents and siblings. Around 1750, Peter married Ann James, granddaughter of Rev. Philip James, who had also originally settled in Pennsylvania and also moved south.
Little is known of Abel’s early life. He married Sarah James (1750-1785) in 1772 and they had three children; James, who died young, Ann and Sarah. Ann Kolb married Major James Pouncey and had many descendants.
When the revolution started, the British felt the strong loyalist following in the South would help them and they did have several military successes there. Meanwhile, Abel enlisted in the South Carolina Patriot Militia. He was first commissioned a Captain in the Cheraws District Militia around 1775. Later, he was promoted to Lt. Colonel in 1778 and was in Charleston when the British Army, commanded by General Henry Clinton, lay siege to the city in March 1780. The American defenders finally surrendered on 12 May 1780, and Abel was later paroled on an unknown date.
Soon after his parole, he was appointed commandant over the Cheraws District Regiment and promoted to Colonel. In the Fall of 1780 and Winter of 1781, his regiment supported Colonel Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox”, in his guerilla campaigns against the small outposts and forts of the British Army in South Carolina.
Meanwhile, back in Abel’s home in what is now Marlboro County, the Loyalists, emboldened in having a British army nearby, started to plunder Patriot homes in the Upper Pee Dee Region. On April 27, 1781, Col. Kolb learned of a gathering of Loyalists along Drowning Creek (now the Lumber River). He assembled as many men he could muster and attacked, surprising and routing them. Kolb then gathered still more men, and attacked another Loyalist group at Hulin’s Mill along Catfish Creek. Two Loyalist leaders were killed during these engagements. Kolb then returned home and dismissed his gathering of men, presuming all the Loyalists were dispersed and they would stop their raids on Patriot homes.
Unfortunately, on the night of April 28th, fifty North Carolina Loyalists, led by Captain Joseph Jones, captured Col. Abel Kolb at his home. As he exited his front door, he was shot and killed by one of the Jones’ men, in front of Abel’s family. The Loyalists then proceeded to plunder the house and burn it. Their actions were probably in retaliation to the killing of Loyalists John Deet and Caleb Williams a day earlier at Hulin’s Mill.
Colonel Abel Kolb gave his life in service to his country and should be remembered for his sacrifice and dedication to duty. Today, he rests in old Welsh Neck Cemetery, Marlboro County, South Carolina, in Colonel Kolb’s Tomb, with the inscription:
GRAVE OF
COL. ABEL KOLB, BORN CA. 1750,
COMMANDER OF PEE DEE REGIMENT OF
GEN. FRANCIS MARION’S BRIGADE.
COL. KOLB WAS MURDERED BY
TORIES NEAR HERE APRIL 26, 1781
Additionally:
Abel Kolb was one of the founding members of the St. David’s Society on 31 December 1777, which lead to the founding of St. David’s Academy, an educational institution of learning for the youth of the region.
In the late 1770s, Abel Kolb was recognized as a leader in the upper Pee Dee region. He was a member of the Welsh Neck Baptist Church and was elected to the State House of Representatives for the Cheraws District in 1778.
A historical marker commemorating Col. Kolb was erected by the Marlboro County Historic Preservation Commission (Marker Number 35-17) in 1973.
Sources:
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89061952909&view=1up&seq=605&skin=2021
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/charleston
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Marion
The Historical Marker Database – Abel Kolb’s Murder/Welsh Neck Cemetery
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37938618/abel-kolb
Other Pages:
