Yarnall, Peter, 1754-1798

vol 1, pp. 191-192. Peter Yarnall, M.D., b. Philadelphia, Pa., 2 mo. 17, 1754; d. Byberry, Pa., Feb. 25, 1798; the son of Mordecai and Mary (Roberts) Yarnall.... Peter Yarnall was apprenticed by his father to learn the trade of tanner and currier. His employer giving up his business, he was apprenticed in 1770 to another master in Chester Co., Pa. He was granted a certificate, Philadelphia MM, Pa., 10 mo. 26, 1770, to Uwchlan MM, Pa. He ran away from his second employer, went to New York, and enlisted in the British Army. Because of this act he was disowned 9 mo. 10, 1772, by Uwchlan MM, When release from the Army was procured by the efforts of his father, he went to Trenton, Mercer Co., N.J., where he lived until his majority. Then he went to Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked as a tanner and started to study medicine at the Pennsylvania Hospital. He was commissioned a Surgeon’s Mate of the 3d Pennsylvania Battalion, Feb. 7, 1776. In August, 1776, he transferred to the U. S. Navy. He returned to the Army May 22, 1777, as Surgeon’s Mate of the 4th Continental Dragoons and resigned four months later, Sept. 15, 1777. He resumed his professional studies and in 1779 was graduated from what is now the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. He was restored as a member of Uwchlan MM 12 mo. 7, 1780. He lived for some years at Concord, Delaware Co., Pa. He went to York, Pa., in 1785; to Hatboro, Montgomery Co., Pa., in 1791, and to Byberry, Pa., in 1797. His will was dated 2 mo. 17, 1798; a codicil was dated 2 mo. 19, 1798, and his will was probated Mar. 5, 1798.