BIOGRAPHY:
                          THE JOHNANNES BAST FAMILY
                 Biographical Notes by Mary Pegram West

     Johannes Bast was an educated German, a farmer, the father
of fourteen children and all were ardent Lutherans.  The first
records found to date are in the History of Old Williams Township
Congregation (Lutheran) of Bucks Co., PA. but now in Northampton
County due to county line changes.  Here we find the names of his
wife, Susanna Catharina, and nine of his children.  Their church
activities are set forth from 1740 until the late summer 1754.

     It is safe to assume that the whole family left PA by early
fall 1754 and came to NC where they settled in this community of
many German families.  Johannes secured a land grant on Adams
Creek, west of St. John's Church.  Some of his descendants are
living there today.  Traces of the old John Bost Meeting House
Road remain on the farm even though the road has not been used
for several generations.  His land was within walking distance of
the church.  Johannes died in late 1777 but Susanna Catharina was
living in 1787.  Both must have been buried at St. John's but
their grave stones have crumbled long ago.
     Children by first wife (name not known):
          William (Ger., Johann Wilhelm Bast)
          Anna Maria
     Children by Susanna Catharina
          Leonhardt           b. 10/19/1740
          Maria Catharina     b. 3/7/1742
     *    John                b. 8/23/1743 Bucks Co., PA
          Elias               b. 6/24/1747 Bucks Co., PA
          Margaretha Barbara  b. 3/10/1749 Bucks Co., PA
          Elizabeth           b. 2/24/1751 Bucks Co., PA
          Jacob               b. 1/1/1753
          George              b.
          unknown daughter
          Dorothy
          Christina
          Margaret
     Johannes signed his name Johannes Bast and we have kept this
spelling for our Pioneer Ancestor.  In later years it was
Anglicized to Bost and so remains today.  Our family is not to be
confused with the French Huguenot one of the same name-Bost-which
fled France and years later some came to America.
     NC has always been noted for its patriotic citizens.
Feeling was strong against the British Crown before and during
the Revolution.  British soldiers tortured St. John's beloved
first Pastor, Adolph Nussmann, and he later died from these
unhealed wounds.  Thus, we can understand why the Bost family
took an active part in the cause for freedom.  Four of the five
living sons; William, Elias, Jacob, and George are proven
soldiers and patriots.  There are documents indicating that John
also served.  William settled early in what is now Catawba County
but Elias, Jacob and George remained in this community near St
John's.  Jacob was on the first Board of Elders of this church.