Hans Debelbesin was born 1679 in Baden, Germany133, and died Abt. 1725134.
Notes for Hans Debelbesin: Some sources claim this ancestor was Johan Debelbessin (Devilbiss) born 1683 in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany and died abt 1725 in Alsace-Lorraine.
Devilbiss Family Information provided by Jere Devilbiss:
INTRODUCTION By Dr. David Wilbur Devilbiss - 1976
The DEVILBISS family in the United States of America originated with the following members as recorded on the list of passengers who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 11, 1731, on the Ship Britannia, of London, Michael Franklin, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, as by clearance from that port:
Hans Michel Debelbesin (Devilbiss) age 22 Hans Debelbesin (Devilbiss) age 18 Hans Georg Debelbesin (Devilbiss) age 16 Magdelena Debelbesin (Devilbiss) age 18 Elizabeth Margarita age 18 Casper Debelbesin (Devilbiss) age 10
This information is 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. The record shows, " At the Courthouse of Philadelphia, September 21st, 1731,... 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 Brittania, of London, Michael Franklin, Master., from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, as by clearance from that Port." From the Minutes of the Provincial Council, printed in Colonial Records, Vol. III, p. 414. The names of all of the above listed members of the DEVILBISS family appear on this List A. The List B, " Palatines imported in the ship Britannia of London, Michael Franklin, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes p. clearance thence. Qualified at Philad., Sept. 21st, 1731." On this list B is found just two of the six names of the family found on List A. Hans Mich (H) Debilbissen and Hans George (HI) Deibelbesin. Then on List C, "Palatines Imported in the Ship Britannia of London, Michael Franklin, Master from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, the same two family names as found on List B - Hans Mich.(H) Debelbissen and Hans George Debelbissen.'' Heading each of the Lists A, B. and C is Johannes Bartholomay Rieger. This is the well-known Reformed minister, John Bartholomew Rieger, who arrived in Philadelphia at the head of a colony of Germans from the Palatinate - area west of the Rhine 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. Land and other records tend to support this assumption.
The late Dr. Grace L. 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. He devised Hunting Lot to his son, George (not Hans George). In 1804, George had a resurvey made on Hunting Lot which he called "Benjamin’s Advice." Casper came into possession of Resurvey on Leonard's Good Luck on the lower German Monocacy Road: he gave this land to Casper, Jr."
From Dr. Tracey, page 168, " The early DEVILBISS family were associated with the Reformed Church. According to confiscation records of Monocacy Manor, John Devilbiss 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. Casper made his will March 16, 1777 in which he named his wife, Anna; sons George, John, Casper, Jr.; daughters Ann Ramsburg, Susanna Ramsburg Barbara Flemming."
" John, son of Casper, Sr., married Rebecca Ogle, daughter of Alexander Ogle. They lived and were buried on the old Reverend Williams homestead which had been purchased by Ogle. George, son of Casper, Sr., married Elizabeth Ogle, also a daughter of Alexander; they were buried in the Moravian Cemetery at Graceham. Alexander, son of George and Elizabeth, grandson of Casper, Sr., removed to Ohio and founded the city of Alexandria and it is from his family that the DeVilbiss Atomizer Company was founded. Casper, Jr ., removed into what is now Carroll County and became Constable of Burnt House Hundred ( present-day Taylorsville). Ann (Anna Elizabeth) married Jacob Ramsburg, son of Stephen; Susanna married Phillip Henry Ramsburg, son of Stephen."
The record is not clear as to the specific date that the DEVILBISS family members came into Maryland along the Monocacy River. A careful study of available records indicate that they were on Monocacy Manor as early as 1736. On page 167, of Dr. Tracey's material the following, " On August 28, 1736, Pastor John Casper Stoever baptized the daughter of Baltis Fout who had Barbara Teuferbiss (Devilbiss) as a witness. Barbara was also a witness at the baptism of Adam Baker's daughter that same year." Do not know who Barbara Teuferbiss (Devilbiss) is but a fair assumption is that she was the wife of one of the Devilbiss brothers - probably that of Michael.
The records that have been researched reveal much information relative to the immigrant brothers Michael Devilbiss, George Devilbiss and Casper Devilbiss. 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 record is found that would indicate that Michael Devilbiss was either a farmer or miller on leased land, or that he had bought land.
The name Elizabeth Margarita, age 18, which was included with the list of the DEVILBISS family members on the Ship Britannia, followed the name of Magdelena Debelbesin (Devilbiss). Since no surname was given for Elizabeth Margarita, it may be assumed that it too was Debelbesin (Devilbiss). Another assumption that would seem rather reasonable and that is that Elizabeth Margarita was the wife of Michael Debelbesin (Devilbiss). It is doubtful whether specific information will ever be found to prove or disprove the assumption.
The compilation of the genealogical data of the DEVILBISS family is far from being complete. However, enough information has been assembled relative to the descendants of each of the immigrant brothers, that it seems advisable to make it available at this time, with the hope that some family members will be inspired to add to and expand it.
The first published material on the DEVILBISS family was the " History of The Devilbiss Family in the United States - 200 years, compiled by Thomas D. DeVilbiss, Fort Wayne, Indiana, May 1927. Five years later, in May 1932, a supplement to the original was published. In both publications the material is limited to the descendants of George Devilbiss, son of the immigrant Casper Devilbiss. Some references are made to other family members but no detailed information is included. The sources of information have been many and varied. Many days, weeks and months have been spent researching courthouse records, early church records, census records, family bibles, unpublished family records and visiting and talking with many people. The land and equity records, marriage licenses, wills and administrators records found in the Frederick County Courthouse, Frederick, Maryland, and in the courthouses of the surrounding counties, have provided much specific and detailed data. The records in the Frederick County Courthouse are particularly outstanding, not only for the manner in which they are maintained, but also, because they are complete from much an early date in the history of the county. Since the early German Settlement in Maryland was in Frederick County, it is logical that the civil and church records found there would provide much information about the family. The Burr Artz Public Library, Frederick, and the Hall of Records for the State of Maryland, Annapolis, Maryland, have excellent resources including microfilms of early newspapers, census records, church records, and much related and pertinent material. Every effort has been made to make the data presented authentic and accurate in every detail. However, since the records are the product of human hands, they are subject to possible unintentional errors.
The spelling and pronunciation of the name varies with the different families, even within the same family. Regardless of how the name is spelled and pronounced, whether DeVilbiss, Devilbiss, Divilbiss or some other modification, the origin of the family is clear. This family should not be confused with the families descended from John Jacob Dreibelbis who came to America from Hannesthal, Switzerland, on the ship "Mary" from London, landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 26, 1732. Many of the descendants of John Jacob Dreibelbiss are to be found in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
A brief summary of three of the immigrant DEVILBISS brothers follows. An elaboration of their descendants will be found in the particular section on each.
MICHAEL DEVILBISS- born in 1709; died in 1755. Children as reported in administration of the estate by brother George Devilbiss: Christian, a son; Catherine, a daughter; Jacob, a son; Barbara, a daughter; , Mary, a daughter; and Michael, a son. It was the son Michael, who moved into Little Cove, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and all of his descendants spell the name “ Divilbiss .”
GEORGE DEVILBISS - born in 1715; died in 1785. There were seven children: John, a son, born July 28, 1743; died 1804; George, a son, born about 1745, died 1806, Catherine, a daughter, born 1748, died 1800; Adam, a son, born September 18,1750, died September 12, 1794 (the great, great grandfather of Dr. David Wilbur Devilbiss, the compiler of these materials); Barbara, a daughter, born September 12, 1752, died 1801; Rosanna, a daughter, born March 7, 1755, died August 7, 1832; and Frederick, a son, do not have dates of birth or death but he was married in 1784.
CASPER C. DEVILBISS - born in 1721, died in 1777. Children as recorded in his will and the administration account of his estate as follows: George, a son, born November 6, 1747, died July 29, 1813. He was married to Elizabeth Ogle on December 10, 1772. Elisabeth Ogle was born on July 26, 1752 in Delaware, and died May 2, 1800. She was the daughter of Alexander Ogle. George and Elizabeth are buried in the Moravian Church cemetery, Graceham, Frederick County, Maryland; John, a son, born 1750 and died October 19, 1827. He was married to Rebecca Ogle, a sister of Elizabeth, who was married to George Devilbiss. Rebecca Ogle was born May 17, 1755 and died March 23, 1805. She is buried with her husband John in the Ogle-Devilbiss Family Cemetery located in the front yard at the old Ogle-Devilbiss farm (Williams project) located along Devilbiss Bridge Road about one mile off of U.S. Route 15( about five miles north of Frederick). After Rebecca’s death John married Martha Devilbiss, widow of George Devilbiss, Jr., a cousin of John's; Casper, a son born October 20, 1761, died December 20, 1835. Casper married Susannah Derr on May 23, 1786. Susannah was born April 1767, died February 2, 1830; Anne Elizabeth, a daughter born December 4, 1752 and died 1828. Anne Elizabeth married Jacob Ramsburg on June 27, 1769. Jacob Ramsburg was born about 1746 and died April 10, 1826; Susanna, a daughter( no dates for birth or death, married on November 17, 1772. Susanna was married to Phillip Henry Ramsburg, a brother of Jacob who was married to Anne Elizabeth, sister of Susanna; and Barbara, a daughter born April 1, 1757 - she was married first to Samuel Fleming and second to Arnold Hardy in 1782.
THE FOLLOWING PAGES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM,-" PIONEERS OF OLD MONOCACY - THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND, 1721 - 1743" by GRACE L, TRACEY and JOHN P. DERN.(Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1001 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202) Pages 317, 318, 319.
The Devilbiss Family arrived early in this country, having come from Germany to reach Philadelphia on September 21, 1731. Presumably the parents had died en route, for those who did arrive ranged in age from 10 to 22 years. Those listed on the Ship Captain's list included Hans Michel 22, Hans 18, Magdalena 18, Hans Georg 16 and Casper Debelbesin 10. No family name was shown for an Elizabeth Margerita, also age 18, who is presumed by the arrangement of names to have been another member of this family, even though three of the family thus claimed they were of the same age of 18, an adult age for the girls. None was named Barbara, although on six different occasions in Stover's records where a female "Teufersbiss" stood as a baptism sponsor, he inserted that given name, once simply as Barbara, three times as Anna Barbara, and once each as Catharina Barbara and as Eliesabetha Barbara! The latter may have been the Elizabeth Margerita named in the arrival lists. If the others were Devilbiss wives, they could have been the wife of only the eldest, Hans Michael Devilbiss, for the others at the indicated dates were still too young to be married.
Locating the families for whom these Devilbiss sponsors stood suggests that the Devilbisses possibly came to the Monocacy area about 1736. Anna Barbara Teufersbiss was a sponsor on January 1, 1735 for the eldest child of John Georg Meyer, whom Stover listed as from Swatara in today's Lebanon County. Michael Reisner, who had not yet come to the Monocacy area, had a daughter baptized on the same day. But all the succeeding baptisms involved Monocacy families. These began on April 28, 1736 when Anna Barbara Teufersbiss was a sponsor for Anna Magdalena, second child of John. Jacob Mattheis of Manaquesen, and Barbara Teufersbiss stood for Catarina Barbara, daughter of Baltasar Fauth. Eliesabetha Barbara Teufersbiss (the sister Elisabeth Margareth Devilbiss?) was a sponsor on May 17, 1736 for Eliesabetha, daughter of Adam Backer of Manaquesen. Catharina Barbara Teufersbissen (wife of Hans Michael Devilbiss?) was a sponsor the same day for Catharina Barbara, daughter of Matthias Rossel of Manaquesen. Anna Barbara Tenffelsbissin was a sponsor for Catharlna Barbara, daughter of Johann Georg Gump on June 16, 1737. Later still, Catharina Divilplease was a witness to the will of Matthias Reasling [Rossel], March 25, 1747.64 From these notations, assuming that the Devilbisses stayed relatively close together, one can conclude that the brothers and sisters had arrived in the Monocacy area perhaps five years before they are found on "Monocacy Manor."
Hans Michael Devilbiss (1709c-1755), the eldest, served as administrator for the estate of Magdalene Bancalf, who is believed to have been his sister. The inventory, made by William Durrum [ Dern] and John Bell on December 11, 1741, names George Devilbees, John Stull (his father-in-law), Mathias Reesling, James Reed, and others known to have been on or near the Devilbiss area of " Monocacy Manor." In 1749 when John House was convicted of assault on the body of Mary Divelbess (her identity has not been satisfactorily established) and fined five shillings, Michael Divelbess, farmer of Frederick County, guaranteed payment of both fine and fees so that House could be dismissed. On December 22, 1755 an administrative bond for the estate of Michael Devilbiss was posted by his brother George Devilbiss, and on the same date Margaretha Devilbiss declared, "I do hereby certify that the administration of my father Michael['s] estate is left to my Uncle George Devilbiss and I will not so administer the same."
George Devilbiss (1715-1785) was the first of the family to appear on ''Monocacy Manor." On November 28, 1743, he leased Lot No. 4, adjacent to and south of Peter Evelant's Lot No. 5. The term of the lease was for his natural life and that of his son John. In 1767 they were believed to be 55 and 27, respectively. Like other lots nearby, this lot was largely rectangular in shape with its long length running east and west, its short width fronting on the Monocacy to the west. By contrast, Lot No. 9, a contiguous lot to the northeast, lay in an approximately north and south direction with its short width on the north side also fronting on the Monocacy which here flowed from east to west. The latter lot had been leased originally to Richard Cooke, age 50 in 1767, on the lives of himself, his wife Mary Magdalene, 46, and son Richard Donaldson, 20, By 1757, however, this lot had been assigned to George Devilbiss, while Lot No. 4 was then occupied by his brother Caspar Devilbiss (1721-1777). In 1764 George Devilbiss leased an additional 103 acres to the east of Lot No. 9, and this became known as Lot No. 15. These arrangements governed at the time of the 1767 review, but by 1781 Lot No. 5 was tenanted by George Devilbiss, possibly a son of Caspar, and Lot No. 9 was in the hands of John Devilbiss, son of George. After the death of John Biggs in 1761 Caspar Devilbiss also became the tenant on Lot No. 2, first leased by Biggs in 1741. By 1781, however, this lot had passed to William Smith, son of Philip Smith, who also held Lot No. 8, as above. Altogether, well over 700 acres of land, representing most of the western portion of "Monocacy Manor," were under lease to members of the Devilbiss family by the year 1767.
George Devilbiss died in 1785 leaving a will which made no mention of real estate. His children were John, George, Catharina, Adam, Barbara, Rosanna and Frederick Devilbiss. Caspar Devilbiss on the other hand was deeply involved in land transactions. "Hunting Lot," which had been surveyed in 1741 for Daniel Dulany adjoining Joseph Ogle's homestead near today's Loys Station, was patented in 1751 to Caspar Devilbiss. In 1758 he was made overseer of the road from Major Ogle's [Stull's] Ford to Biggs Ford, virtually connecting, via the Manor Monocacy Road, his two locales. Caspar Devilbiss died in 1777, devising "Hunting Lot" to his son George, "Mill Seat," "Resurvey on Bill's Meadow" and "Deer Park" to his son John, and "Resurvey on Leonard's Range" on the lower German Monocacy Road to son Caspar, Jr. His son George Devilbiss and his wife Elizabeth Ogle, daughter of Alexander Ogle, were buried at Graceham cemetery. Their son Alexander moved to Ohio where he founded the city of Alexandria. His descendants have spelled the name as DeVilbiss. Caspar's son John married Rebecca Ogle, also a daughter of Alexander Ogle, and lived north of the Monocacy River on the old Reverend William Williams homestead purchased by her father. Devilbiss Bridge Road, which now forms the northern limits of Walkersville before the road crosses the Monocacy to meet the Old Frederick Road and U.S. Highway 15, passes John Devilbiss' property. He was buried there in 1826 in a small Devilbiss Cemetery near the mouth of Fishing Creek. Caspar Devilbiss' daughters Anna Elisabeth and Susanna married brothers, Jacob and Henry Ramsburg, sons of Stephen Ramsburg. Daughter Barbara Devilbiss married first Samuel Fleming and then Arnold Hardy. Caspar Devilbiss, Jr. moved to present Carroll County and became Constable of Burnt House Hundred (present-day Taylorsville). He married Maria Susannah Derr.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ( A few from the many sources used in this study)
1 Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus. Maryland Records - Colonial, Revolutionary County and Church from Original Sources. Washington, D.C. Volume II.
2 Census Records - from 1790 - 1880. Burr Artz Public Library, Frederick, Maryland .
3 Courthouse Records - land, marriage, wills, administration accounts, civil and equity - not only in Frederick County but also in all adjacent counties.
4 Dern, John P. Information contained in letters and other correspondence between this compiler and Mr. Dern. 950 Palomar Drive, Redwood City, California 94062.
5 DeVilbiss, Thomas D. History of the DEVILBISS Family in the United States of America. Fort Wayne Also The Supplement to the above publication by the same author, 1932.
6 Foreman, Harry E. History of Little Cove Franklin County Pennsylvania, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, The Kerr Printing Company, 1967 .
7 Holdcraft, Jacob Mehrling. Names in Stone. Volumes I and II. Distributed by The Monocacy Book Company, P.O. Box 765, Redwood City, California 94064, 1966.
8 Holdcraft, Jacob Mehrling. More Names In Stone. Distributed by the Monocacy Book Company, P.O. Box 76;, Redwood City, California 94064, 1972.
9 Myers, Margaret B. Records of many Frederick County Churches which Miss Myers has copied and shared with this compiler. Also much genealogical material on the several families included in these materials.
10 Scharf, J. Thomas. History of Western Maryland. Volumes I and II. Philadelphia: Presa of J.B. Lippincott and Company, 1882.
11 Stoever, Rev. John Casper. Records of Baptismal and Marriages - 1730-1779.
12 Strassburger, Ralph Beaver, Hinke, William John. Pennsylvania German Pioneers. Norristown, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania German Society, 1934, Volumes I, II, III.
13 Tracey, Dr. Grace Louise. Notes From The Records of Old Monocacy. Unpublished material. Copy in the Burr Artz Public Library, Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Tracey died in 1972.
14 Weiser, Frederick Sheely. Washington: The National Genealogical Society, 1972.
15 Williams, T. J. C. History of Frederick County, Maryland. Hagerstown: Publshing Co. L. R. Titsworth and Company, 1910. Volumes I and II.
More About Hans Debelbesin: Date born 2: 1680, Alsace.135
Children of Hans Debelbesin are:
+Casper Conrad Devilbiss, b. Bet. 1720 - 1721, Palatine, Germany136, d. Bet. 16 Mar - 06 Apr 1777, Monocacy, Frederick Co, MD.
Hans Debelbesin (b. 1679, d. Abt. 1725)
Notes for Hans Debelbesin: