Casper Conrad Devilbiss (b. Bet. 1720 - 1721, d. Bet. 16 Mar - 06 Apr 1777)
Casper Conrad Devilbiss (son of Hans Debelbesin)147 was born Bet. 1720 - 1721 in Palatine, Germany148, and died Bet. 16 Mar - 06 Apr 1777 in Monocacy, Frederick Co, MD. He married Anna Cocil on Abt. 1745 in Frederick Co, MD149.
Notes for Casper Conrad Devilbiss: The following was provided by Jere Devilbiss:
I _ The Origins Of The DeVilbiss Family
Alsace_Lorraine is a 12,356 sq. mile region of northeastern France, on the French_German border. Switzerland lies to the south and Luxembourg to the north. A map shows the region has a shape that resembles a figure "7", with Alsace forming the north_south arm and Lorraine the east_west arm.
Throughout history, conquerors have crossed the Alsace_Lorraine many times and the area has long been a prize in wars between France and Germany. In the A.D. 300's and 400's, Teutonic bands drove out the Celtic tribes then living in the region. Alsace_Lorraine became part of Charlemagne's empire in the late 700's, but fell to Germany when his grandsons divided his empire. Alsace and Lorraine remained under German rule until the 1500's..
On January 12th, 1525, the Council of Zurich issued the following decree: "Since there are certain men who falsely teach that young children should not be baptised until they reach the age of understanding, the burgomasters...announce that such men are invited to appear...and openly express their views...and our lords will deal with the matter further." This was a very ominous decree; it set the stage for many violent actions over the next decades. In 1526 Berne accepted the Reformation and this created a real schism with Zurich. Geneva, sensing that Berne was the stronger of the two, sided with Berne and the Reformation was well on its way. This action provided the atmosphere necessary for John Calvin, at the age of 27, to take up residence in Berne in 1536 and further the Protestant movement.
Very shortly thereafter a counter reformation was begun by the Catholic Church to stem the rising tide of the Protestants and France then began to regain control of the area in slow stages, while the people living there fought all efforts to turn them into Frenchmen. Part of this effort to establish control included religious persecution of Protestants by the Catholic majority.
In 1677 William Penn, the venerable Quaker leader, made a historic visit to the upper Rhine River valley near the Swiss border. Penn knew that a great pietistic movement was churning throughout the entire Swiss-German region. The causes of this movement were partly to be found in the wretchedness and sufferings of the times and partly in the unforgiving formalism into which the Church was gradually receding. Four years later Penn received from the English King Charles II an immense tract of territory situated between New Jersey and Maryland which he referred to as his "sylvan land." This led to the tract being called "Pennsylvania." Penn looked to the Palatinate and the border region between southern Germany and Switzerland to provide many of the thousands of immigrants his new colonial land-grant would need. Penn's call for immigrants immediately attracted the serious attention of the Reformed Swiss-Germans of the region. The Protestant Church in and around the Palatinate was practically crushed. The church council was reduced to just two men and in one area the Protestants were compelled to share their church with the Catholic Church. By 1695, hundreds of Reformed and a number of Lutheran Church members were fully under the control of the Catholic Orders, to say nothing of the parsonages and school houses. Shortly after 1700 the Mennonites and Reformed Church members were granted permission to sell their property, take their families and receive free transportation down the Rhine River on the condition that they pledge never to return to Switzerland.
The various Protestant groups left the area to seek freedom in America. Rotterdam was the port from which most of the immigrants to the New World left Europe. They came down the Rhine on small boats to Rotterdam, where they embarked on the ships that were to carry them to America. It appears that the transition from leaving the Palatinate to the departure for America could occupy a decade or so as these German speaking immigrants did not begin arriving in large numbers until the later 1720's. Philadelphia was their principal port of disembarkation.
The Ship Britannia of London, with Michael Franklin as Ship's Master, sailed from Rotterdam, Holland, and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 21, 1731. Pages 28_35 inclusive of the Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. 17 gives the passenger list of the immigrants Included in this list are the following named persons:
1. Hans Michil Debelbissen, age 22 (b. 1709) 2. Hans (John) Deibelbesin, age 18 (b. 1713) 3. Hans Georg Debelbissin, age 16 (b. 1715) 4. Magdalena Debelbesin, age 18 (b. 1713) 5. Casper Debelbissen, age 10 (b. 1721)
This information is also found in " Pennsylvania German Pioneers," a publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808, By Ralph Beaver Strassburger, President of the Pennsylvania German Society, [edited by William John Hinke, in three Volumes, published by the Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, Pennsylvania, 1934. At the Courthouse of Philadelphia., 21 st September, 1731. Present:
The Honorable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr Clement Plumsted, Esqr., Member of Council Thomas Laurence, Esqr., Member of Council Derick Jansen, Esqr., one of His Majesties Justices of Peace for the county of Philadelphia.
A list was presented of the Names of One hundred and six Palatines, who with their Families, making in all Two hundred and sixty - nine Persons, were imported here in the ship Britannia of London, Michael Franklyn, Mr., from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, as by Clearance from that Port. The Master, being Examined, said he had no particular License for their Transportation. They were then called in, and having declared that their Intentions were to settle and live Peaceably in this Province, the several persons whose Names are subjoyned, did repeat and sign the Declaration inserted in the Minutes of the 21st September 1731 and likewise took and subscribed the Declaration of Fidelity and Abjuration.
There were three different lists of names, designated A, B and C. The names of all 269 passengers, including the above members of the DEVILBISS family, appear on List A. The List B (see appendix), with the names of 106 adult men , represents those who took the oath. List B contains only the names of Hans Mich (H) Debelbissen and Hans George (HI) Deibelbissin. List C contains the same two family names as found on List B - Hans Mich.(H) Debelbissen and Hans George Debelbissen.'' Between the three lists and individuals on the same list, the spelling of the last name is not constant, Debelbesin, Debilbissen, Deibelbissin, Debelbissen, Heading each of the Lists A, B. and C is Johannes Bartholomay Rieger. This is the Reformed minister, John Bartholomew Rieger, who arrived in Philadelphia at the head of a colony of Germans from the Palatinate, an area west of the Rhine
The 1976 works of Dr. Devilbiss includes an additional name, Elizabeth Margarita, age 18 (b. 1713) with the five Debelbissen immigrants and makes the assumption that she was the wife of Michel (Michil). I have not included Elizabeth in the family tree although she could be a sister of the five listed above.
Devilbiss has been spelled many ways in the early Maryland church records. There was no consistency since the writing was done by many different pastors. Some of the variations on the name include :Debelbiss, Deivilbiss, Deubelbiss, , Dewelbiss, Feubelbiss, Leubelbiss, Teubel, Teubelbiss, Teufelbiss, Teufersbiss, Teufersbissen, Teuffel, Teuffelbiss. ("DeVilbiss" was first adopted around 1840.) Today there are at least seven variations of the name. It appears that some of the descendants of Michil (Michael) use Divelbiss or Divilbiss while most descendants of George and Casper C. use DeVilbiss or Devilbiss, but the spellings Develbiss, DeVelbiss, and DeVelbess also appear from time to time.
Hans is the German and Dutch name for John. According to a custom of the time, the father's name often preceded the child's Christian name, from which one can assume that the father of these five children was Hans Debelbissen..
According to the custom of the times, the immigrant brothers probably worked out their passage by being bound out, after their arrival, to the plantation owner who bid the shortest term of service. That is, they were indentured servants. After completing their terms of service, Michael, George and Casper went to what is now Frederick County, Maryland and settled along the Monocacy River.
In his 1976 work, Dr. David Devilbiss wrote:
“Definite proof of the relationship of the six persons is lacking. Why the six young people and no parents is unknown. One possibility is that these children had lost their parents before coming to the United States. Another possibility is that the parent or parents died at sea. However, a reasonable assumption is that these persons were brothers and sister(s). This assumption is supported by statements that were passed from generation to generation to the effect that three or four brothers came together to this country, landing in Philadelphia, and going shortly thereafter to Maryland, settling on land along the Monocacy River. Land and other records tend to support this assumption.” The late Dr. Grace Louise Tracey, in her excellent unpublished material, Notes From the Records of Old Monocacy, Hampstead, Maryland, 1958, page 167 states "The DEVILBISS family (Hans Michael, aged 22; Hans, aged 18; Hans George, aged 16; Magdelena, aged 18; Casper, aged 10) arrived in this country with the Reformed Minister, Johannes Barthelomus Rieger and the Wellers. George Devil (Hans George Devilbiss) was the tenant farmer on Lot #5 leased by Peter Evelent in 1743. The land lay along the east side of Monocacy River midway between Biggs' Ford and what is now Devilbiss Bridge. At later dates he leased land on Monocacy Manor under his own name. Casper Devilbiss was the tenant farmer of John Biggs' leased Lot #2 (1741), which lay on the east side of the River at Biggs' Ford. In 1743, Casper removed to his own leased Lot #5. In 1751, he received the patent for Dulany's Hunting Lot located at the junction of the roads near present day LOYS, the land adjoining Joseph Ogle's homestead. "
From Dr. Tracy, page 168, "The early DEVILBISS family were associated with the Reformed Church. According to confiscation records of Moncacy Manor, John Devilbiss (son of Casper C.) was a tenant farmer on Lot #9 at the time of the sale - Lot # 9 lay at the ford (now bridge) known as Devilbiss', across the river from the Williams-Ogle-Devilbiss home. Casper Devilbiss was appointed overseer of the road from Major Ogle's Ford to Biggs' Ford on the Monocacy by the court of 1758." A fine stone house, on 250 acres, had been built by the Reverend William Williams about 1749. The land , originally named “Williams Project”, was sold to Alexander Ogle, Sr. , father of Rebecca Ogle who married John Devilbiss, son of Casper C. Devilbiss. Alexander Ogle, Jr. inherited the plantation, renamed "Ogle's Necessary Compact", when his father died. In 1806 Alexander Ogle, Jr. moved to Bourbon County, Kentucky and sold the plantation to his brother-in -law, John Devilbiss, for 4,000 pounds sterling. At John's death, the estate passed to his son, Samuel Devilbiss. Ogles Necessary Compact is located at the confluence of Fishing Creek and the Monocacy River on Devilbiss Bridge Road.
Dr. Devilbiss (1976) stated: "The records that have been researched reveal much information relative to the immigrant brothers Michael, George, and Casper Devilbiss.(Debelbissen) Nothing has been found that relates to Hans (John) Devilbiss or the sister Magdelena Devilbiss. It is interesting to note from the study of the early land records that George Devilbiss and Casper Devilbiss were farmers and millers and acquired many acres of land in their own rights.” While no records have been found that show Michael Devilbiss (Debelbissen) was either a farmer or miller, he almost certainly was. Michael lived in Frederick county until his death in 1755. His brother, George was the administrator of his estate.
V - Casper C. 1721-1778 & Casper Devilbiss 1761-1835
Casper C. Devilbiss was only 10 years old when he arrived in Philadelphia in 1731 with his brothers and sister(s), and was the youngest of the group. There is no written record of what transpired during the following 10 years and one can only speculate as to where and how he spent his late childhood. Early church records (see appendix) indicate that members of the Devilbiss family were on the Monocacy River as early as 1736. Land records show that in 1741,Casper was a tenant farmer of John Bigg’s leased lot #2 on the east side of the Monocacy River at Bigg’s Ford in Frederick County, Maryland. By 1743, he was farming land he had leased under his own name
The date is not recorded, but Casper C. was probably married about 1745 or 1746, as his oldest son, George, was born Nov 6, 1747. The County Records of Frederick County, Maryland, show that he bought a Negro slave in 1747, paying 25 Lbs. Sterling. The records of the Annapolis, Maryland land office show that in 1751 Casper received a land grant from Great Britain for 150 acres of land in Frederick County, known as Bill’s Hunting Lot. In 1758, "Casper Devilbiss" was appointed overseer of the road from Major Ogle’s Ford to Biggs Ford on the Monocacy River, virtually connecting via the Manor Monocacy Road, his two locals. From time to time he bought other tracts and at the time of his death in 1778, he owned more than 3000 acres in Frederick County.
Casper and his wife, Anne, had six children, three sons and three daughters. Two of the girls, Ann and Susannah, married brothers named Ramsburg and continued to live in Frederick County. Barbarah married a Samuel Flemming and then, following his death, a man named Hardy. Casper's and Anne's sons were George, John, and Casper. George and John married sisters, Elizabeth and Rebecca Ogle, daughters of Alexander Ogle, Sr. Casper Jr. married Susannah Derr.
Thomas D. DeVilbiss (5_514,48) visited what he mistakenly thought was the Casper C. Devilbiss home site and reported in his 1932 supplement: "The Casper Devilbiss home was located on the tract of land received from Great Britain, which was known as Bill's Hunting Lot, containing 150 acres, two miles south of Lewistown. About 200 feet from the main road is a stone house possibly built by Casper Devilbiss during the 1750's." He further observed that: "The walls (of the house) are two feet thick, in good condition, and look as if they would stand for another hundred years. On the right hand side of the drive there is a burying ground containing many unmarked graves, as well as a few with markers. One marker has the following inscription: 'John Devilbiss (of Casper) Died Oct 19, 1827, aged 77 years'. Another says: 'Rebecca Devilbiss, daughter of Alexander Ogle, wife of John Devilbiss, born May 17, 1755, died March 23, 1805, aged 49 years, 10 months, 6 days'. No doubt Casper and his oldest son George are also buried here." In reality, this was the place known as “William’s Project” that had been built about 1749 by a Reverend Williams. Casper’s second son, John Devilbiss (2-52), purchased it from his brother-in-law, Alexander Ogle, Jr., in 1806. Casper C. and son George are probably buried in Graceham Cemetery.
Casper's will was written March 16, 1777 and probated June 8, 1778 thus fixing his death between these dates. Under the terms of the will, his estate was divided between his wife, Anne Devilbiss, and their six children. The text of the will is as follows: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF CASPER DEVILBISS
"Be it remembered (sic) that this, sixteenth day of the third month, commonly called March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy_seven, I, Casper Devilbiss, of Frederick county and province of Maryland, being weak in body, but of sound and perfect disposing mind and memory, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this transoldery life, do make this my last will and testament, touching the disposal of what temporal estate I have, hereby revoking and disannulling all former will or wills heretofore by me made, and this only to be taken for my last will and testament and none other. Imprimis I will that my body be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. Secondly, that all my just debts be fully paid and satisfied. Thirdly, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Anne Devilbiss, one large Dutch Bible, one mare, which is called by the name of my wife's mare, one woman's saddle, one good feather bed and all the furniture thereunto belonging, and also one_third part of all my personal estate forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son, George Devilbiss, his heirs and assigns, forever all that tract or parcel of land called Bill's Hunting Lot, containing one hundred and fifty acres, with all the buildings and improvements thereunto belonging or in anyways appertaining. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son, John Devilbiss, his heirs and assigns, all those tracts or parcels of land called Mill Seat resurvey on Bill's Meadow and Dear Park, containing about seven hundred and two acres, with all the buildings and improvements thereunto belonging or in anyways appertaining. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son, Casper Devilbiss, his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract or parcel of land called the Resurvey on Leonard's Range, containing about six hundred and fifty acres of land, with all the buildings and improvements thereunto, belonging, or in anywise appertaining, also I give and bequeath unto my son, Casper Devilbiss, one hundred pounds Current Money that is to be raised or levied out of my movable estate. Item, it is my will and desire that all tracts of land or parcels of land which I own by the name of Chestnutt Spring and the addition to Chestnutt Spring and the house and lot in Tawney Town, known by number Z, with my two plantations on his Lordships Manor on Monocacy be sold by my executors hereafter named and the moneys arising from the said sale to be applied as part of my personal estate. Item I give and bequeath unto all my children , namely, George Devilbiss, John Devilbiss, Casper Devilbiss, Ann Ramsbergh, Susannah Ramsbergh and Barbarah Fleming, to them and their heirs and assigns forever, all the remainder of my real and personal estate which is not yet willed and bequeathed to be equally divided amongst the above named children. Item, I hereby make this reserve, that if my son Casper DeVilbiss, should die before he comes to the age of twenty-one without lawful begotten heirs, then his part of the estate bequeathed him shall be equally divided between the other of his brothers and sisters. Lastly, I do constitute and appoint my beloved wife Ann Devilbiss, and my friend William Ballinger, my executors to see this my last will and testament , truly executed. In witness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand and seal, the day and year first above written.
his Casper C Devilbiss mark
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Casper Devilbiss as his last will and testament in the presence of us.
John Ranabryer, John Snook, Richd. Snook”
Note in the signature block of Casper’s will that there is a large gap between “Casper” and “Devilbiss.” This is as it appears in the original hand written version that was most likely drawn up by a professional scrivener or secretary of that period. An examination of the will reveals that the “C” in the middle is in a totally different hand than the rest of the document. It is most probable that this was “his mark” and that he never had a middle initial. All of the official records and references from this period refer to him simply as “Casper Devilbiss.” This is even the case in the text of the will itself. The fact that he is know as Casper C. Devilbiss is probably due to a misinterpretation of the “C”, that was “his mark”, as being a middle initial. However, for purposes of clarity, I will continue to refer to him as Casper C. to distinguish him from his son, Casper.
Following Casper C.’s death in 1778, his widow, Anne Devilbiss, married a man named Cox. The Will of Anne (Devilbiss) Cox was dated June 29, 1792, probated May 26, 1794, and made bequests as follows:
Ten pounds each to sons George (2-51) and John (2-52) Devilbiss
Forty pounds each to daughters Anne Elizabeth (Devilbiss) Ramsburg and Barbara (Devilbiss) Hardy
Fifty pounds to the children of daughter Susanna (Devilbiss) Ramsburg (deceased): John, Henry, Christopher, and Susanna Ramsburg.
The residue of the estate to my son Casper (2-56). My son Casper is the administrator.
It should be further noted that when Anne prepared her will that the signature block was in the same form as Casper’s, with a large gap between “Anne” and “Cox”. However, “her mark” was simply a scrawled “X”
Leonard's Range had been purchased by Casper C. in 1765 from Great Britain for one pound sterling per acre. At the time of his father's death in 1778, Casper (2-56) was only 16 years old, but he continued to operate the farm. He married at age 25, built a stone house on the property, and fathered 12 children. Present day descendants of Casper who live in the area report that family tradition states that he was prone to gambling and had to sell off part of Leonard’s Range to cover losses. The house, located on Sam’s Creek Road, is still standing today (1995) and has been well maintained. Modern improvements and additions have been added. Casper's will was dated 1832 and his death was in 1835. The estate was administered by sons Levi (3-567) and Thomas (3-560) Devilbiss. The sixth and final account was made May 22, 1843 with distribution to:
- Casper (3-566) Devilbiss, son - Levi (3-567) Devilbiss, son - Thomas (3-560) Devilbiss, son - Sarah (3-561) Lookenbeel, daughter (Sally) - Elizabeth (3-568) Castell, daughter - Mary (3-56b) Cover, daughter (Polly) - Legal representations of Susannah (3-56a) Devilbiss - Children of John (3-562) Devilbiss, son, deceased: Mahala, George (4-562,2), Casper, and Adazilla - Children of Nancy (3-569) Nicodemus, daughter, deceased: Asbury and Emeline Nicodemus
In his will, Casper(2-56) bequeathed to his daughter Catherine (3-564) Angel, who lived in Ohio, all land he owned in Montgomery County, Ohio.
Casper and Susannah (Derr) Devilbiss are buried in the DEVILBISS FAMILY CEMETERY, located on a hill top behind the stone farmhouse he built on Sam's Creek Road near the towns of Libertytown and New Windsor, Maryland. This compiler visited the cemetery in August 1995 and found both of their headstones intact and in remarkable condition. A photograph on the headstone appears on the following page. The house itself was occupied and in excellent repair, having several new additions. The land is still being farmed. Also buried in the DEVILBISS FAMILY CEMETERY are Casper’s daughter Susannah Devilbiss (3-56a) and son Levi Devilbiss (3-567), Levi’s wife, Sara (Nicodemus) Devilbiss, and two of their children, Susannah Devilbiss (4-567.2) and John Lewis Devilbiss (4-567.3). This would probably indicate that Levi occupied the house following his father’s death and continued to farm the land. The graves of two of Casper’s other sons, Casper Devilbiss (3-566) and Thomas Devilbiss (3-560), along with many of their descendants, are located nearby in BETHEL METHODIST CEMETERY, Sam’s Creek, MD. Conspicuously missing from either site is the grave of Casper’s oldest son, John Devilbiss (3-562), indicating that he had migratred westward, probably in the 1820's.
In 1932, one of Casper's descendants, a George Dewey Devilbiss (6-567.434), was operating a dairy farm on a portion this tract (Leonard's Range) and living in another stone house (built around the time of Casper’s), the sixth generation to hold and occupy the land for 175 plus years. George Dewey died in 1970. His daughter Nancy Devilbiss Eigenbrode. (7-567.434.2) currently lives in the city of Frederick, MD.
Head stone of Casper Devilbiss
The DEVILBISS FAMILY CEMETERY
Sam’s Creek, Maryland
SACRED To THE MEMORY OF Casper Devilbiss Who departed this life December 20th 1835 74 Years & 2 Months of Age
Graves in The DEVILBISS FAMILY CEMETERY
Casper Devilbiss (2-56) 1761-1835 Susannah Derr Devilbiss 1767-1830 Susannah Devilbiss (3-56a) 1803-1840 Levi Devilbiss (3-567) 1796-1852 Sarah Nicodemus Devilbiss 1796-1855 Susannah Devilbiss (4-567.2) 1825-1851 John Lewis Devilbiss (4-567.3) 1827-1855
More About Casper Conrad Devilbiss: Date born 2: 1721, Baden, Germany.150 Immigration: 21 Sep 1731, Arr Philadelphia, on ship Britannia, from Rotterdam. Probate: 06 Apr 1777151 Will: 16 Mar 1777, Names Casper (and others).152
More About Casper Conrad Devilbiss and Anna Cocil: Marriage: Abt. 1745, Frederick Co, MD.153
Children of Casper Conrad Devilbiss and Anna Cocil are:
+Barbara Devilbiss, b. 01 Apr 1757, Frederick Co, MD, d. 12 Sep 1840, Nelson Co, KY154.
Casper Conrad Devilbiss (b. Bet. 1720 - 1721, d. Bet. 16 Mar - 06 Apr 1777)
Notes for Casper Conrad Devilbiss: