Joseph was married to Maria Salome Doll.
Joseph was the founder of the family in Lehigh Co., Pa. The old form of the name was Bieri and still is written that way in Switzerland. He was the emigrant and was a man of position and property in his native land, and came to America arriving at PA, in the ship "Samuel", commanded by Hugh Percy, he took the oath of allegiance at the Colonial Court House soon after landing on Aug 27, 1739. In addition to becoming a large land owner here in the states in what was Longswamp, in Berks Co. He acquired nearly 1,000 acres of land. In addition to being a large landowner he built and operated a saw mill, grist mill and iron forge. His enterprises became known as "Biery's Mills" and are so named on the surveyors map of eastern Pa in 1759, He was a prominent member of the reformed Church at Longswamp, which was organized long before 1750. Records show he was the largest contributor for the building of a church in 1748. He was also treasurer of the congregation as well as one of the two members composing the building committee. He died in the early part of Feb, 1768 leaving no will. Letters of administration were granted to his widow Feb. 10, 1768. He left three children, Henry, Philip, and Anna Margareta, the wife of Peter Keyser of Macungie.
Joseph was married to Maria Salome Doll.
Joseph was the founder of the family in Lehigh Co., Pa. The old form of the name was Bieri and still is written that way in Switzerland. He was the emigrant and was a man of position and property in his native land, and came to America arriving at PA, in the ship "Samuel", commanded by Hugh Percy, he took the oath of allegiance at the Colonial Court House soon after landing on Aug 27, 1739. In addition to becoming a large land owner here in the states in what was Longswamp, in Berks Co. He acquired nearly 1,000 acres of land. In addition to being a large landowner he built and operated a saw mill, grist mill and iron forge. His enterprises became known as "Biery's Mills" and are so named on the surveyors map of eastern Pa in 1759, He was a prominent member of the reformed Church at Longswamp, which was organized long before 1750. Records show he was the largest contributor for the building of a church in 1748. He was also treasurer of the congregation as well as one of the two members composing the building committee. He died in the early part of Feb, 1768 leaving no will. Letters of administration were granted to his widow Feb. 10, 1768. He left three children, Henry, Philip, and Anna Margareta, the wife of Peter Keyser of Macungie.
