Johann Conrad Dieffenbach, II

Translation of the will as it was recorded in the Philadelphia Courthouse Will Book as No. 178

Note; the below will was signed Diefenbach, although the clerk had written it as Tiffebogh. Witnesses were John Martin Kitzmiller who made his mark with a 'K' and Johann Lebo who made as his mark 'ILB. This is a translation by Christian Graff on 19 June 1793 'of the original will written in German

"Tulpchoken, 22 July 1737 - In the name of God Amen: Since I am yet in good mind of Memmory and Consider my End and that I must Die, therefore I will order my house. How it shall be kept and Ruled, after my decease.

So at first I recommend my Soul in to the Earth, till to a General resurrection, next, I chuse for my Executors My wife Barbara Tiffebogh, and Jacob Etschberger that they want is mentioned in this my will bringed to a perfect Execution.

Thus I bequeath unto my Wife the Fourth part, or Share, of all what my Son John Adam Tiffebogh. by the Plantation prouced of all what is or hais in fences at present, it be on Rye, Wheat, Barley, and like wys to Sow a peck and a half of Flax Sead, upon good Ground, also a Quader of an Accer of Indshen Corn, and the halfe of the Garden, and also is She is Live in my house, inwhich I dwell now, for all he Lif Time, but after her Deceasease, the remaine of the Sd. moubles is to go unto my Two Daughters, Maria Elizabeth Ernst and Anna Dorothea Hock to part them in Equal ahars between them.

I do also give or bequeth unto my Son John Adam Tiffebogh the Plantation and the Fourty Pound which I paid upon it and the halfe of the banded Waggon, the two Horses which he has in the present use and also a Cow and the plough which is in the present use. Likewise all the geers or tacklings belonging to the horses.

But iff my Son John Adam Tiffebogh Should not prove his Duty as a Child to his Mother ought to do and dos not keep her as his Mother and Not Deliver unto her all that what I in this my Last Will have made unto her. The She shall have the full power over all the Things till he Demeans or proves him self again as a Child unto his Mother ought to do.

As for the Two Children of my First Wife, namely Jacob Tiffebogh and Catharina Margaretha Reeth (Reith-Reed), to which I have assigned their Hereditary Share and have got theier part, but yet to prevent Trubel and grief in the future unto my Wife of the Last Marriage and my three Childers; I give unto my Son Jacob Tiffebogh one Engl. Shilling and to my Daughter Catharina Margaretha Reeth also one Engl Shilling. This is my Last Will and Testement unto which I have Subscribed with my hand and Confirmed with my Seal." _ John Conrad Diefenbach

Immigration

Name Johann Conrad Dieffenbach
Arrival Year 1710
Arrival Place New York, New York
Primary Immigrant Dieffenbach, Johann Conrad
Family Members Wife Maria B Christler; Child Johann Ludwig; Child Jacob; Child Catharina Margaretha
Source Publication Code 3570.4
Annotation Date of arrival with port or place of settlement, a few are date and place of first mention of residence in New World. Listings of mostly Mennonite German immigrants, the majority were from Baden-Durlach in the Palatinate.
Source Bibliography JOHNSON, MRS. ARTA F., editor. "Immigrant Ancestors." In The Palatine Immigrant. Vol. 8:1 (Summer 1982), pp. 20-25; vol. 8:2 (Autumn 1982), pp. 80-87; vol. 8:3 (Winter 1983), pp. 139-144; vol. 8:4 (Spring 1983), pp. 186-191.

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[In the year 1702, and entry in theh records of the Reformed Church in Wieslock, Germany. Reads: "Johann Conrad Dieffenbach, a widower age 43, a Cooper by trade, lives here with a son Jacob and a daughter Catherine Margaretha, age 4, born 1698." As Conrad and Marie were married in the Reformed Church, it may be assumed that her father (Deceased at time of the marriage) & family were among the mulititude of Calvinists who fled to Germany to escaped Religious persecution in their homeland.]?

Printed 1723-1973 Anniversary Magazine of the Tulpehocken "Early Tulpehocken Settlers" by Charles Adam Fisher John Conrad Dieffenbach, commonly called "Conrad" may have been a son of the widow Anna Dieffenbach, who lived in the colony of New York, in 1710. The Hunter Ration list of 1710 give him as the head of the family, consisting of three persons over, and one under, ten years. Prior to 1717, Simmendinger states, Conrad, his wife Marie Barabara and five children lived in Smithtown, now the location of Schoharie Railroad Station, at Schoharie, NY. Conrad came to the Tulpehocken Section after May 13, 1723, and before January 10, 1725. Around 1732 he was a landholder in the Valley.

Johann Conrad Dieffenbach was born in Berstadt, Wieslock, Germany in 1659.

He came to America as one of the Palatines who went first to England, then to the harbor in NYC and then were put to work creating pitch from pine trees along the Hudson River. He traveled with his wife, Maria Barbara, his first 3 children, and his mother, Anna Mather. They arrived in America in 1710.

After working for several years, the Palatines were released to settle in the new world. The Dieffenbachs went first to the Schoharie Valley, in New York, where they farmed for 10 years before learning that the Governor of NY had given their land to new settlers.

They followed Conrad Weiser down the Susquehanna River to the Tulpenhocken area of Pennsylvania, where they were welcomed and given title to their land.

Trinity Church near Womulsdorf, PA was formed from the Dieffenbach land and they are said to be buried there in the old cemetery, although there are no stones for them.

Johann Conrad Dieffenbach died in 1738.

Sources: The Palatine Emigration of 1709 by Rosanne Troy Chesakis, published by the Tulpehocken Settlement Historical Society

Johann Conrad Dieffenbach of Tulpehocken, Berks County, PA, by Ray Dieffenbach and George L. Irgang, Mayflower Printing Co, 1983.

From Wikitree page

Note

Father could be Michael, Johann Konrad's brother.

We are missing a daughter - The Dieffenbach Organ Builders book by Victor C Dieffenbach states: "In the 4th list enumerating those who arrived at St. Catharines near the tower of London on June 11, 1709 appears the following, concerning our pioneer Diffenbach ancestor: Konrad Dieffenbach, cooper, aged 50, Reformed religion - his wife Maria Barbara and three daughters aged 11, 4, and 1, his mother Anna Dieffenbach aged 74."

A Cooper by trade, he learned his trade in his youth. He spent many years learning his trade

Lived in Wiesloch, Germany in 1702 as a widower with 2 children.

Conducted farm operations later in his life.

Left Germany for America on 15 May 1709, according to a church book "Conrad Dieffenbach and his household left Wiesloch for America". This included his wife, 3 daughters and his mother Anna, then 74 years old.

On Epiphany, 1709, there descended on Europe a winter more cold and bitter than ever remembered. William Penn invited them to Pennsylvania. Queen Anne of England disributed pamphlets encouraging emigration to her American colonies. The Dieffenbach's probably traveled several days by boat up the Rhine River to the ports of Holland to await transport ships for England. (England promised free land in the Carolina's to anyone who would go. Many went and then were forced to work in the tar pits in NY. The Queen never promised or intended to give the land. This was a betrayal and could have happened to the Dieffenbach's)

On June 11, 1709 they arrived at St. Catherine's dock near the Tower of London. The Board of Trade offered transportation to New York and employment extracting tar from the pine trees there for the British navy currently at war with France. They finally set sail April 1710, arriving at Nutten Island in June 1710. They were quarantined until October when they were moved up the Hudson River to Livingston's Manor where they were housed in villages in East Camp or West Camp. Conrad was kept busy making barrels. Son Johann Adam was born there. They were released of their indenture on Sep. 12, 1712. In Oct they defied orders to stay in the province and went to Indian lands on the Schoharie with a group that included Jacob Kobel. (Jacob Kobel, father of Maria Sybilla who became wife of Johann Adam Dieffenbach, arrived the same day and place as Johan Conrad Dieffenbach - June 11, 1709 - at St. Catharines.) (Source: Book: The Dieffenbach Organ Builders written C. 1959 by Vicor C. Dieffenbach Printed 1967 & 1973)

They became friends with the Iroquois.

Jan 31, 1716 he took the oath of allegiance at Albany (the name reads as Johan Coenraet Jefbach)

In 1717 Conrad and Maria Barbara and 5 children were living at New Annesbury , NY. (Hartmansdorf to the Germans).

April 1723 they and others (16 families total) left with 20 canoes, rafts and dugouts and went for 10 or more days down the Susquehanna River for 300 miles to the Tulpehocken (Land of Turtles). They arrived before May 1723. They were finally able to purchase their land in 1732.

Conrad and Jacob Kobel were among 28 Germans petitioning for a road eastward to be built, but since nothing was done the settlers widened Indian trails themselves.

Conrad and his son Adam made annual trips to Philadelphia to sell grain with a wagon train, a 10 day trip to market.

Will dated 22 July 1737 and probated Oct 11, 1738. It was filed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. recorded under the name of John Cynrad Tiffenbogh

George Reith is a son-in-law whose farm joined Dieffenbach's on the north in 1724

Johann Conrad Dieffenbach with his 2nd wife Maria Barbara Christler & family where part of the Palatine German Immigration that can be found in Captain Walter Houxton 3rd passenger list the ship Fame From London UK to New England New York City arrival 14 June 1710