Sebastian Henry Knauss, second son of Ludwig, was born in Titelsheim, Wetteravia, near Manheim, Germany, on Oct. 6, 1714, and was about nine years old when he accompanied his parents to America in 1723. On New Year's Day, 1741, he was married to Miss Anna C. Transue, who had emigrated from the same district in £730. Soon after 1741, when the Moravian missionaries were branching out in every direction and making converts to their faith in various parts of the country, Sebastian Knauss became deeply impressed with the teachings of Count Zinzendorf. Later he left the Reformed faith and joined what was then known as the Society of Brethren. He was one of the number who organized a congregation in 1747 and founded a village which was named Emmaus, but which name was later corrupted to Emaus. With others he had walked to Bethlehem over the Indian path and there assisted in the organization of a separate church. He became steward and served in that capacity until his death in 1777. His remains were interred in the old cemetery at Emaus. He and Jacob Ehrenhard jointly donated 102 acres of land for the building thereon of a Moravian hamlet, including a site for the church and school, in adjacent grounds. The village was surveyed and laid out in 1757 and in 1761 officially received its name.

Sebastian Henry Knauss was a farmer and wheelwright. He learned the trade under the direction of Henry Antes, the pioneer layman of Frederick Township. Montgomery County, through whose instrumentality he also became acquainted with the Moravian brethren and their work. Thirteen children were born to him and his wife, five of whom were daughters, and of them it is recorded that "they were of small stature, beautiful of form and exceedingly entertaining." His wife was the daughter of Abraham Trauseau and his wife Elizabeth Munster, of Mutterstadt, where she was born March 6, 1722. She died at Emaus June 26, £799. Mr. Knauss died Feb. 26, 1777.