Exeter Township: Off 422, one light east of Shelbourne turn left and follow the signs to Berkshire Manor.
Size: 87' x 126'
History: John Bishop received a patent, and their homestead was located on Shelbourne Rd. very near the junction of 422. The graveyard site is located behind the new health care facility, on the back bank slightly west of the power tower lines. (Location reported by LM but not included in her book.) The Bishops had a mill on the present Reading Golf Club property and were very early residents of the Exeter area. John of Exeter died in 1754 (Wills), and he left a widow, Maria Barbara. The progenitor's, (Johannes Bishop - also spelled Bishoff) letter of administration was granted January 21, 1754 to his widow, Maria Barbara. August 10, 1761 John Jr. petitioned the Orphan Court, relating that his father, John, died intestate, owning 150 acres in Exeter (in the vicinity of Boscov's department store) and a house in Reading. John Sr.'s widow, Barbara, has remarried to Ulrich Huy. The sons are John, Adam and George. The daughters are Mary, wife of John Groushore, Susanna, wife of Michael Krist and Elizabeth. The senior Bishop could not have been
buried on what was known as the Bishop cemetery (in Lynnstead east of Shelbourne), since the Bishop family did not own the property in 1754. Johannes Jr., March 4, 1740-August 31, 1812, married first Elisabeth who died about 1776. His second marriage was to Susanna Keim, December 3, 1753-0ctober 21, 1823. John Jr. became very successful owning hundreds of acres in Exeter Township and thousands of acres in Virginia. He operated both a grist mill and a saw mill along the Antietam Creek. Perkiomen Avenue runs by his front door - the road being built before 1775, partly to accommodate the mill traffic. A known child with his first wife was Sarah who married Matthias Gernandt June 13, 1782, son of George of Maidencreek. Matthias died in 1786 leaving a daughter Catharine who later married Rev. Charles Helfenstine. Sarah's second marriage was to Mr. Smith; she had a son, John. Sarah, Catharine and John Smith are mentioned in John Bishop's Jr.'s will and received land in Hardy Co., VA. Bishop's sons John and Jacob may be from his first wife Elisabeth. The following are known children of the second wife, Susanna Keirn: Elisabeth June 1, 1780-Apr. 7, 1823 m. Nov. 17, 1810 George Boyer Feb. 25, 1770-Nov. 9,1846; Catharine Aug. 19, 1778-after 1850 m. Francis Groff; Susanna Feb. 4,1783- Feb. 14, 1829 m. Nov. 13, 1803 Jacob Henry Kerchoff and then Mr. Stanford; George JUly 12,1786-1864 unmarried; Mary June 4,1791- July 19,1869 m, May 4,1829 Samuel D. Klose Dec. 25, 1802-March 27,1882; Johann Daniel December 28, 1794-m. l.st Nov. 14, 1818
Fanny Barnhart; 2nd Susanna.
Cassady
Bishop
Tombstones read:
Cassady
Susan d/o Daniel and w/o Thomas Cassady Jan. 20, 1848 aged 27 years
c/o Daniel May 30, 1850
Bishop
William s]» Jacob M. F. Jan. 20, 1853 7 2 4
Emily Elisabeth d/o John M. F. & Sarah A. May 27, 1856 12/9/6
John M. F. died between 1850 and 1856
Observations: Indicate 8 rows with room for 18 graves in each; it appears the site has no vacancies, but some tree plantings prevent a more accurate accounting. "This area was used for leaders to worship or as a church for an elite group. There is a strong presence of the beaver which symbolizes looking at all sides of an issue. Feels George Washington was a guest of this family. Trading and control was abundant." [GB]
Site address: 5501 Perkiomen Ave Reading
Pin: 43-5335-09-17-5435* DB 2373 p. 0866