Michael Johannes Yax (1709 - 1793)

Born Jul 1709 in Koln Allemand, Germany

Husband of Catherine (Herbinne) Yax — married about 26 Dec 1745 in Goshenhoppen, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 8 Jul 1793 at about age 84 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Lisa Trudeau [send private message] and Dennis Jacques [send private message]

Biography

Michael was born in July 1709 in Koln Allemand, Germany.^[1]

Michael died at the age of 84 in 1793 in Detroit.^[1]

8 JUL 1793

Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Michael was buried on 8 July 1793 in Ste Anne Detroit Mi.Michael was buried on 8 July 1793 in Detroit.

Baptism Date: 1709

Spouse(s): Catherine Herbins

Marriage Date: 1746

Children:

Marie-Catherine Yax

Angélique Yax

Louis-Michel Yax

Cécile Yax

Marie-Joseph Yax

Simon Yax

Jean-Baptiste-Guillaume Yax

Pierre Yax

Joachim Yax

Nicholas Yax

^[2]

Research Notes

As a young man he attempted to walk from his home in Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River with the intent of founding a small colony of Germans near what is now Pointe Coupee (Louisiana). He lost his way, and after many privations and trials, he was taken prisoner by the Ottawa Indians who stole from him and sold his wife to M. de Longueuil, the commandant. He obtained a farm at Grosse Pointe before 1758. He was the first German settler in Detroit River. In Germany his name was spelled Jacks

Michel Johannes Jacks was born in Germany in 1709 and died July 8, 1793 in Detroit Mi. In Germany he met Catherine Herbinnes who was born in 1726 in Germany,and died January 1789 in Detroit Mi. The story told is that Michel and Catherine's relationship was frowned upon by their families due to the fack that one was from a upper class family and the other was from a lower class family. So they left Germany and sailed to the United States some where between 1740 and September 1741, on the ship Lydia where it docked in Philadelphia PA. Michel changed his last name to YAX, upon entering the United States. They were marriedabout April 1745 in Philadelphia PA. Michel attempted to walk from PA. to the Mississippi at the place called Pointe Coupee on the Louisianna coast to establish a small colony of Germans. He lost his way and after many privations and trials he was captured by the Ottawa's who stole from him and sold his wife to Commandant de Longueuil. In 1751 they received a French land Grant which is nowknow a Private claims #586 and #344 Grosse Pointe, and supplies. The following is a list of supplies that he received from the King's store. 1 plow, 1 axe,1 hoe, 1 sickle, 1scythe, 2 augers, 7 chickens, 1 sow, 8 lbs lead, 4 lbs powder, 2 lbs rice, 6 lbs flour, 1 pot of wine, 80 nails. Michel was the first German Settler at the Detroit River.

Following Story as given by Alice Yax Matusiak:

Johan Michael (Jacks) Yax decided to go to America. It took 4-6 weeks to travel down the Rhine River to Rotterdam. He spent 5-6 weeks in Holland and then traveled to Dover. He spent somewhere from 8-12 weeks at sea, on board the ship "The Lydia" from Dover to Philadelphia, PA. There were 71 men on the ship captained by James Allen from Rotterdam. Disease infected the ship, dysentery, scurvey,typhoid and smallpox. On the 27th day of September 1740 Johan Michael Jacks took the oath of allegience at the courthouse in Philadelphia, present were Jeremiah Longhorne, Thomas Graeme, and Thomas Griffiths: Esq's.

Michel and Catherine did have eleven children, but four died very young. Four boys lived to carry on the family name. Two of the boys are recorded as having participated in the Revolutionary War on the side of the British.

Looking in history books trying to find land holdings by members of the Yax family one comes across some interesting stories, and some very interesting spellings of this name.It was orginally Johan Michel Jacks. From the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collection Vol. XVIII, Early History of Macomb County by Hon. Warren Parker page 486. "Private Claims # 192, 193 and 342 granted to Meldrum and Parke were occupied, also Private claim #343 granted to Pierre Yacques(Yax). The present site of New Baltimore was settled during this period. Appendix states: Yax, or Hiax were of Dutch origin and settled at an early date at Port Pontchaitrain and along Lake St. Clair. Pierre Yax was born in 1763, son of Michel Hiax(Yax)a laborer living on his land at Grosse Pointe, and Catherine Herbinnes, hiswife. In 1783, Pierre married Marie Josephte Ferton(Forton). In 1826 their son Pierre was born.

In our research for a "Hiax" connection, nothing was found. Nor could a basis be found for "of Dutch origin". No spelling of Hiax could befound in any other referrence books showing Dutch names, German names, Welch names or any other country.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Death: Missing source ID S-2121571527. Citing: Data: Text: Date of Import: Oct 13, 2007 (accessed before 11 February 2013)
2. ↑ Burial: "Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890"
   Volume: Vol. 7 Sect. 2 : Tre-Zis; Page: 491
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 2177 #163905 (accessed 12 December 2022)
   Michael Yax burial on 8 Jul 1793 in Detroit.

See also:

• Author: MARY LOU RATHBUN Title: RATHBUN Web Site Text: MyHeritage.com family tree CONT Family site: RATHBUN Web Site CONT Family tree: 2139195-1 Media: 314663-1 Type: Smart Matching Page: Michel Johannes Yax Event: Smart Matching Role: 1005252 Data: Date: 18 SEP 2009 Text: Added by confirming a Smart Match Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
• Pedigree Resource File: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/MZXP-XSJ

Acknowledgments

• Profile Yax-126 was created through the import of Paul Schram's Family Tree.ged on Feb 11, 2013 by Paul Schram.
• Profile Jacks-148 was created through the import of newgen.ged on Nov 25, 2012 by Dennis Jacques.