JOSEPH GEST son of HENRY GEST
“A Biographical History of Lancaster Co. Being a History of
Early Settlers and Eminent Men of the County” by Alex. Harris, 1827
Lancaster, Pa.: Elias Barr & Co., 1872
Pg. 233, JOSEPH GEST, born at Bethel, (now Delaware Co.), in the year 1722, was the son of HENRY GEST, who emigrated to this country from Birmingham, England, about the year 1700, and who was married to MARY, the daughter of JAMES CLEMSON.While yet a boy, JOSEPH moved to Lancaster Co., and resided with his uncle, THOMAS CLEMSON; here he learned the trade of a carpenter, and soon became an extensive contractor, and was engaged in erecting some of the finest buildings among the early settlements.In the year 1764 he purchased 300 acres of land from William Webster, the original patentee, on which his grandson, JACOB T. GEST, now resides; and in the following year he was joined in marriage with DEBORAH, the daughter of JOSEPH and ELIZABETH DICKINSON.His son, JOHN GEST, was appointed to the office of Recorder of Deeds, for the city and county of Philadelphia, under the administration of Governor Ritner, in the year 1835; and his son, JOSEPH GEST, was for many years county surveyor for Hamilton Co., Ohio, and for the city of Cincinnati.He lived to the age of 92 years, and his descendants are among the respectable personages in the eastern section of Lancaster Co.