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I - The Origins Of The DeVilbiss Family

Alsace-Lorraine is a 12,356 sq. mile region of northeastern France, on the French-Germanborder. Switzerland lies to the south and Luxembourg to the north. A map shows the regionhas 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 theAlsace-Lorraine many times and the area has long been a

prize in wars between France and Germany. In the A.D. 300'sand 400's, Teutonic bands drove out the Celtic tribes then livingin the region. Alsace-Lorraine became part of Charlemagne'sempire in the late 700's, but fell to Germany when hisgrandsons divided his empire. Alsace and Lorraineremained under German rule until the 1500's..

On January 12th, 1525, the Council of Zurichissued the following decree: "Since there are

certain men who falsely teach that young childrenshould not be baptised until they reach the age ofunderstanding, the burgomasters...announce thatsuch men are invited to appear...and openly express theirviews...and our lords will deal with the matter further." This was a very ominous decree; it setthe stage for many violent actions over the next decades. In 1526 Berne accepted theReformation and this created a real schism with Zurich. Geneva, sensing that Berne was thestronger of the two, sided with Berne and the Reformation was well on its way. This actionprovided the atmosphere necessary for John Calvin, at the age of 27, to take up residence in Bernein 1536 and further the Protestant movement.

Very shortly thereafter a counter reformation was begun by the Catholic Church to stem therising 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 thiseffort 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 RhineRiver 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 foundin the wretchedness and sufferings of the times and partly in the unforgiving formalism intowhich the Church was gradually receding. Four years later Penn received from the English KingCharles II an immense tract of territory situated between New Jersey and Maryland which hereferred to as his "sylvan land." This led to the tract being called "Pennsylvania." Penn lookedto the Palatinate and the border region between southern Germany and Switzerland to providemany of the thousands of immigrants his new colonial land-grant would need. In order to procuresettlers for his land, Penn visited the Rhine provinces, whose once peaceful valleys, thriving fieldsand vine-clad hills had become the hunting ground of political and religious fanatics. Personallyand through agents Penn disseminated the news of his acquisition and invited the Rhinelanders,

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the suffering Palatines, to help him found a State in which religious and civil liberty wouldprevail. 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 practicallycrushed. The church council was reduced to just two men and in one area the Protestants werecompelled to share their church with the Catholic Church. By 1695, hundreds of Reformed anda number of Lutheran Church members were fully under the control of the Catholic Orders, tosay nothing of the parsonages and school houses. Beginning with the Germantown settlementin 1683, under the leadership of Pastorius, up to the revolution and the dawn of the nineteenthcentury a large-scale immigration followed, which spread not only through Pennsylvania but intothe South and the new West, influencing every phase of American life. Shortly after 1700 theMennonites and Reformed Church members were granted permission to sell their property, taketheir families and receive free transportation down the Rhine River on the condition that theypledge never to return to Switzerland.

The various Protestant groups left the area to seek freedom in America. Rotterdam was theport 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 toAmerica. The entire trip could last up to six months, starting in April or May and continuing tothe end of October. See Appendix C for details of the “Journey to Pennsylvania.”

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 theimmigrants Included in this list are the following named persons:

1. Hans Michel Debelbesin, age 22 (b. 1709) 2. Hans Debelbesin, age 18 (b. 1713) 3. Hans Georg Debelbesin age 16 (b. 1715) 4. Magdalena Debelbesin, age 18 (b. 1713) 5. Casper Debelbesin, age 10 (b. 1721)

This information is also found in " Pennsylvania German Pioneers," a publication of theOriginal 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], inthree Volumes, published by the Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, Pennsylvania, 1934.

Appendix B gives the entire passenger list of the Britannia, as provided by Captain MichaelFranklin. It contains the names and ages of all 269 persons, 106 men ages 16 and upwards,

82 women ages 16 and upwards and 81 children under 16 years of age. The oldest passenger,Vrich Keyser, was age 70. There are two children whose ages are given as 5 weeks and 15 days,indicating that they had been born at sea during the long voyage across the Atlantic.

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The Ship Britannia of London

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 ofLondon, Michael Franklyn, Mr., from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, as by Clearance from thatPort. 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 livePeaceably in this Province, the several persons whose Names are subjoyned, did repeat and signthe Declaration inserted in the Minutes of the 21st September 1731 and likewise took and

subscribed the Declaration of Fidelity and Abjuration. (See Appendix D)

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There were three different lists of names, designated A, B and C. The names of all 269passengers, including the above members of the DEVILBISS family, appear on List A, the

Captain’s List. (See Appendix B for the names of all passengers on List A). Of the names on ListA, the first 106 are designated as men aged 16 years and upwards. List B, has the names of 105adult men , who took and signed the Oath of Allegiance. List C contains the names of 105 menwho took and signed the Oath of Abjuration. (Appendix D gives both Oaths)

The one name from List A that is missing from List B and List C is that of Hans Debelbesin.List B contains the names of Hans Mich (H) Debilbissen and Hans George (HI)

Deibelbesin. List C contains the same two family names; Hans Mich.(H) Debelbissen and HansGeorge (HI) Debelbissen.'' The variations in the spelling of the last name (Debelbesin,Debilbissen, Deibelbesin, Debelbissen) resulted from different persons preparing each list. ListA was prepared in English by the Captain. Those who could read and write signed the oaths.Clerks wrote the names of those who could not write and the individual then made “his mark” Thetwo Debelbesin brothers initialed the oaths.

Why Hans Debelbesin did not sign the B and C lists is unknown. He may have been sick anddid not accompany the others to the courthouse. Perhaps he died shortly thereafter, as there

is no reference to him in the records of Frederick County, Maryland where the other three brotherssettled. Heading each of the Lists A, B. and C is the name Johannes Bartholomay Rieger. Thisis the well known Reformed minister, John Bartholomew Rieger, who headed up a group ofimmigrants from the Palatinate.

According to the custom of the times, the immigrant brothers probably paid for their passageby being bound out, after their arrival, to the plantation owner who bid the shortest term of

service. After their arrival, passengers who could not pay for their passage were “auctioned” andbecame indentured servants for a specified time period to the successful bidder. (Appendix Cgives an eyewitness witness account of this process) After completing their terms of service,Michael, George and Casper went to what is now Frederick County, Maryland and settled alongthe Monocacy River.

The 1976 works of Dr. Devilbiss includes an additional name, Elizabeth Margarita, age 18 (b.1713) with the five Debelbesin immigrants (see Appendix A). 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 noconsistency 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 firstadopted around 1840.) Today there are at least seven variations of the name. It appears that someof the descendants of Michel use Divelbiss or Divilbiss while most descendants of George andCasper C use DeVilbiss or Devilbiss, but the spellings Develbiss, DeVelbiss, and DeVelbess alsoappear from time to time.

Any information concerning the parents of these five individuals and their specific originremained shrouded in mystery until the year 2004. At this time, Sabine Schleichert, a

genealogist from Munich, Germany, who was employed by a member of the extended family,

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Ronald Ray Cassel # 511.434.11, discovered the christening record of Casper Devilbiss. Thefollowing excerpt from the Lutheran Parish Church Record of Woerth, Lower Alsace, waspresented on June 19, 2004 to attendees of a DeVilbiss Family Reunion in Sacramento,California:

[1721]” On the 19th of March was born to Samuel Teuffelbeß (Teuffelbess), the cow-herderfrom here, from his wife Magdalena, a little son, who was christened on the 22nd, andreceived the name Caspar.” [See pages 6A and 6B for a copy of this record.]

The above definitely establishes Samuel and Magdalena Teuffelbess as the parents of CasperDevilbiss and almost certainly the other four siblings, Michael, Hans, Magdalena and George.

A later entry in the Woerth Parish Record states that Samuel Teuffelbeß was witness at achristening in 1725. Beyond this, no further record of Samuel and Magdalena has yet been found.

As to the spelling of the family name, Devilbiss appears to be a direct translation of the GermanTeuffelbess. Teuffel = Devil and Teuffelbiss translates as Devil’s bite. Sabine Schleichert

stated this could mean “One who is bold enough to bite the devil, a person who has a devil-may-care attitude, or one who has been bitten by the devil.” The spellings on the Captains List of theBrittania, as well as the B and C lists, represent an Englishman’s attempt to spell a name spokenin German. Note that Michael, George and Casper all used the spelling Devilbiss at the time oftheir deaths, as reflected in land records and their wills.

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 comingto the United States. Another possibility is that the parent or parents died at sea. However, areasonable assumption is that these persons were brothers and sister(s). This assumption issupported by statements that were passed from generation to generation to the effect that three orfour brothers came together to this country, landing in Philadelphia, and going shortly thereafterto Maryland, settling on land along the Monocacy River. Land and other records tend to supportthis assumption.”

The late Dr. Grace Louise Tracey, in her excellent unpublished material, Notes From theRecords 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, JohannesBarthelomus Rieger and the Wellers. George Devil (Hans George Devilbiss) was the tenant farmeron Lot #5 leased by Peter Evelent in 1743. The land lay along the east side of Monocacy Rivermidway between Biggs' Ford and what is now Devilbiss Bridge. At later dates he leased land onMonocacy 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, Casperremoved to his own leased Lot #5. In 1751, he received the patent for Dulany's Hunting Lotlocated at the junction of the roads near present day LOYS, the land adjoining Joseph Ogle'shomestead. "

From Dr. Tracy, page 168, "The early DEVILBISS family were associated with the ReformedChurch. 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)

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known as Devilbiss', across the river from the Williams-Ogle-Devilbiss home. Casper Devilbisswas appointed overseer of the road from Major Ogle's Ford to Biggs' Ford on the Monocacy bythe court of 1758." A fine stone house, on 250 acres, had been built by the Reverend WilliamWilliams about 1749. The land , originally named “Williams Project”, was sold to AlexanderOgle, 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 hisfather died. In 1806 Alexander Ogle, Jr. moved to Bourbon County, Kentucky and sold theplantation to his brother-in -law, John Devilbiss, for 4,000 pounds sterling. At John's death, theestate passed to his son, Samuel Devilbiss. Ogles Necessary Compact is located at the confluenceof Fishing Creek and the Monocacy River on Devilbiss Bridge Road.

Dr. Devilbiss (1976) stated: "The records that have been researched reveal much informationrelative to the immigrant brothers Michael, George, and Casper Devilbiss. Nothing has been

found that relates to Hans (John) Devilbiss or the sister Magdelena Devilbiss. It is interesting tonote from the study of the early land records that George Devilbiss and Casper Devilbiss werefarmers and millers and acquired many acres of land in their own rights.” While no records havebeen found that show Michael Devilbiss was either a farmer or miller, he almost certainly was.Michael lived in Frederick county until his death in 1755. His brother, George was theadministrator of his estate. Chapter XX gives further details on the lives of Michael and GeorgeDevilbiss.

Chapter II of this work lists the known children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of thethree Debelbesin brothers who were the founders of today’s extended family. Most of this

information was extracted from the various volumes by Dr. David Wilbur Devilbiss. Beginningin Chapter III, the scope is narrowed to the descendants of Casper C. (#5) through Casper (#56)and John (#562). Their biographies and stories are in Chapters V and VI.

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