Spach

Excerpt from "A brief history of the first Eberts who came to North Carolina
as found recorded in the Archives of the Moravian Church."

by Raymond E. ("Red") Ebert

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War Martin Ebert made many pleas for the exemption of his sons from the draft. John George had been sickly from birth and Martin, Jr. was so badly needed to help with the farm work. The exemption fee was four dollars, which their father gladly paid. They were also exempted, as were many others, due to the fact that they were members of the Unity of the Brethren.

John George Ebert and Rosina Spach lived in the Friedberg Community for a while after their marriage. In 1792 they moved to Salem where their two daughters were in school. On May 17, 1792, they bought the corner lot next to Kuschke on Main Street. In 1793 their house was completed. Due to the ill health of John George he had to sell the house and also give up the land grants he had obtained upon moving to Salem. In 1816 Christopher Reich became the owner of the Ebert house, thus the name Ebert-Reich house today.

Excerpt from the Old Salem Official Guidebook:

In 1792, with only grudging permission from congregational authorities, Johann George Ebert gave up the plantation he had been operating for the Brethren and moved to Salem. Now forty years old, he hoped to begin life as a wood turner. He also wrangled permission to buld a story-and-a-half log house on this corner even though the governing fathers would have preferred that he move into the smaller log house formerly occupied by the Salem nightwatchman, thus avoiding a financial burden beyond his means.

Ebert did not last long. Unable to get along with fellow townsmen, he eventually moved with his family to Germanton, a tiny community just north of the present Forsyth County line.

Excerpts from Records of the Moravians in North Carolina:

22 June 1774: Brother Ebert's sons, Martin and Johann Georg, came to let us see how well they can play the violin. Some other Brethren came in, and we had a happy Singstunde and evening prayer. (page 838)

10 September 1777: I wrote today to Brother Graff, and mentioned the thoughts of Brother and Sister Ebert concerning the marriage of their son, Johann George. (page 1200)

15 September 1777: I received an answer, and arranged a meeting between the Brethren and Sisters Spach and Ebert in the evening at the School-House, were I must make the proposal to Brother and Sister Spach for their daughter, Rosina. They had no objection, and were at once willing. The same evening they told their daughter; and so the next day a little Lovefeast was held at the School-House for the betrothal. (page 1200)

12 June 1787: This evening a little son was born to Brother and Sister Johann George Ebert, living near Salem. (page 1217)

17 May 1792: Brother Johann George Ebert has decided to take the corner lot next to Brother Kuschke. (page 2369)

19 February 1793: Johann George Ebert wishes to make the windows in his house one pane lower than is customary, which will not look well, especially on the side toward the street. The Brethren Stotz and Blum will tell him that at least on the street he must make them the same height at the others in the town. (page 2476)

16 May 1793: Brother Johann George Ebert, who has been to Petersburg with his brother, returned today. One night in their journey, for several hours large stones were thrown at them and their horses, presumably by persons who have been robbing waggoners in that neighborhood. Toward morning they began to shout loudly, and then were left in peace. (page 2472)

9 November 1796: Johann George Ebert and his wife left today, and took all their children with them to Germantown.