Jost Dreisbach's wife was NOT Elizabeth Rachenberger!
Jost Dreisbach, eldest son of Simon, Sr. - b. BEF Sep 18 1721 Oberndorf, Wittgenstein, Ger - Immigrated 1743 - Burial 1794 Kreidersville, Northampton County, PA
Jost Dreisbach, the eldest son of Simon Dreisbach, Sr., was born in Obendorf. He was a miller by trade and during the Revolution owned and operated two mills in Lehigh township. He was one of the first commissioners of Northampton county, and in 1756, the period of the Indian uprising, gave his excuse for non-attendance at court, "I must grind wheat for the forts." In 1774, he was a member of the "Committee of Observation" for Northampton county; in 1775, captain of the Lehigh Company of Associators, and in October of the same year was appointed Colonel. On March 10, 1776, he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in Mile's Rifle Regiment and was captured, August 27, 1776, but on February 22, 1777, he enlisted again in Baron Von Otterndorf's Light Infantry. He continued to serve the cause of Freedom until 1780. He died in 1794.
Assigning the name of Elizabeth Rachenberger as the wife of Jost is a mistake that was made in the early 1900's and took on a life of its own. Users of Ancestry.com have continued to have Elizabeth Rachenberger as Jost's wife, but there is definitive proof that she was married to somebody else and was never married to Jost Dreisbach. Please make corrections to your database if this error has crept in. And read the DDFA Newsletter (link is below) which provides proof for this statement. Thanks!
Jost's 3 Elizabeths - who gave birth to Jost's 12 children?
Click on this link to read the issue: May 2020 - Jost's 3 Elizabeths - Who was Jost’s Wife?
This is an IMPORTANT newsletter because it establishes Elizabeth Dieter as Jost Dreisbach's wife. Jost was the oldest son of Simon Dreisbach Sr, a miller, an active patriot in the Revolutionary War, a Colonel in the Lehigh Township militia and a founder of the Reformed congregation of Zion Stone Church in Kreidersville, PA. Over the years, the surname of his wife was lost. In the early 1900's an incorrect name, Elizabeth Rachenberger, was added and unfortunately was printed in The Dreisbach Book, which is the main source for Dreisbach genealogy. This newsletter proves that Jost was married to the 'girl next door' Elizabeth Dieter! It also brings to light one more Elizabeth who played a role in Jost's life. The take home message of this newsletter is that Elizabeth Dieter was the wife of Jost Dreisbach.
Ardis Grosjean-Dreisbach has translated his Will (the original was written in German.)
Translation of the Will of Jost Dreisbach - The original in Northampton County Archives, Easton.
The division into lines has been retained in accordance with the original. There is no punctuation in the original, and little capitalization. For the sake of clarity, these have been introduced into the translation. (Ardis Grosjean Dreisbach, November 5, 2001)
In the name of God, amen. I, Jost Dreissbach, in Lehigh Township,
Northampton County, state of Pennsylvania, the first of April one thousand seven hundred
ninety-one, since I do not know when it will be the holy will of the almighty God
to take my soul, as I believe, to himself in heaven, therefore
I shall make here my last will and testament, and my son
Johannes, (and) my son Adam (having been) designated administrator and executor, they are
to have full power after my death and a Christian burial, above all
(illegible)……… demand payment of debts owed me and pay debts
to bring everything into proper order as circumstances permit at that time.
Secondly, it is my will that my lawful surviving widow Liesbet
shall have full right and power to keep the land, mill, sawmill,
for her use as long as she lives or it pleases her and she bears my name.
Further she shall have fifty pounds of good, hard money, and a cow, six
pewter plates, her bed, bed-frame, further her mohark bearers' food and (the) dish-
cupboard which my son Jost gave her. In addition, my appointed
administrator shall have everything appraised including what I
have given to my children additionally of money and property, which is in a book
written apart, and further what the movable goods consist of, to be divided in three
equal parts, and to give my lawful surviving widow Ließbet a
third part. From the remaining two-thirds part my son Johannes shall have five
pounds taken out first, thereafter (it is) to (be) divided in nine equal parts, thus:
to my son Johannes one part, to my son Jost one part, to my son
Adam one part, to my son Phielep one part, to my son Miechael one
part, to my daughter Abalonia one part, to my daughter Catarina one part,
to my daughter Sussana one part, to my daughter Macktalena one part be given.
Further it is my will that the above-mentioned, as far as their
understanding and knowledge permit, shall carry out everything in unanimity and peace
so that almighty God may give his blessing upon it.
I hereby commend all my surviving heirs and my soul to the
protection of the almighty God of heaven and earth. Amen
Kottlieb anderä (= Gottlieb Andre)
Jacob schäffer Jost Dreißbach
(written at bottom in another hand: )
Exec.or
John + Adam Dreisbach Sworn 20 october 1794
Original German Text of Jost's Will
In dem name gottes ammen Ich Jost Dreißbach in Lächae taunschüp
northämton Caunti staat penßylvanie den Ersten april ein taußent sieben hondert
ein und neintzich weillen ich nicht weiß wan es dem almächtigen gott sein heiligen
wille ist meine seele wie ich glaube zu sich in den himmel auß nehmen wille, des
wegen will ich hier mein letzten willen und testament auff setze und meinen sohn
Johannes mein sohn adam zu atmenistrator und Executor ernant die sollen völ-
lige gewald habe nach meinem tod und einer Christlichen begräbniß über all
……………………………….schulde ein fordere und schulde bezahle diete gebe
um alles in richtichkeit zu bringe wie es die umstänte zu der zeit er laube.
Zum Zweÿde ist es mein wille daß meine Eliche hinverlaßene witwe ließ-
bet ein völliges recht und gewalt haben soll daß land mühl segmühl in
ihrem gebrauch behalde so lang als sie leb oder ihr gefält und meinen name
führt / verner soll sie funfzich pfunt gut hart gelt habe und eine kuh sexs
zinne blatte ihre bet betlade verner ihre moharkene traer köst und schüssel
schanck welche mein sohn jost ihr geschenckt hat dar noch solle meine ernan-
de atmenistrator aller schätze lasse daß jenige mit ein geschlossen waß ich
meinen kinder zuden an gelt und guht gebe habe welches in ein buch
abart ist auff geschriebe und dann waß die losse güter auß mache in treÿ
gleiche teÿl teÿlle und meiner Eliche hinderlasse witwe ließbet ein
driete teyl gebe die uber(ige) zwey driete teÿl soll mein sohn Johannes fünf
pfunt vor auß habe hernach in nein gleiche teÿl teÿlle als meinem sohn
Johannes’ ein teÿl meinem sohn Jost ein teÿl meinem sohn
adam ein teÿl meinem sohn phielep ein teÿl meinem sohn miechael ein
teÿl meiner tochter abalonia ein teÿl meiner tochter Catarina ein teÿl
meiner tochter Sussana ein teÿl meiner tochter macktalena ein teÿl gebe
dervor ist es min wille daß mine oben an vor gesetzde so weit als iher
verstant und wissen auß macht alles in einich keit und friede auß richten
werde damit der almächtige gott seinen segen dar zu geben wolle
hir auß em fähle ich all meine hinderlaße erbe und meine sehle in den
schutz des almächtigen gottes himmels und der erden ammen
Kottlieb anderä
Jacob schäffer Jost Dreißbach
(written at bottom in another hand: )
Exec.or
John + Addam Dreisbach Sworn 20 october 1794
Children of Jost Dreisbach
Jost DREISBACH
b: Bef. Sep 18, 1721 Oberndorf, Wittgenstein
Baptism: Sep 18, 1721 Oberndorf, Wittgenstein
Military service: Revolutionary War - Colonel in 3rd Battalion Northampton Militia
d: Oct 17, 1794 in Allen twp, Northampton Co, PA
Burial: 1794 Zion Stone Church, Kreidersville, Allen twp, Northampton Co, PA
.. +? m: Abt. 1750
.... 2 Apollonia DREISBACH
b: Feb 01, 1749/50 Northampton, PA
Baptism: Feb 01, 1749/50 Egypt Union Church, Whitehall twp, Lehigh Co, PA
d: Jun 16, 1822 Burial: Egypt Union Church, Whitehall twp, Lehigh Co, PA
........ +John Frederick NEUHARD
b: Apr 20, 1748
m: Bet. 1767 - 1772 in Whitehall twp, Lehigh Co, PA
d: Mar 24, 1823 in Whitehall twp, Lehigh Co, PA
Burial: Egypt Union Church, Whitehall twp, Lehigh Co, PA Father: Michael NEUHARDT Mother: Barbara ?
.... 2 Catherine DREISBACH
b: 1754 d: Jun 30, 1810 in Towamensing twp, Carbon Co, PA
Burial: St. Johns Cemetery, Towamensing, Carbon, PA
........ +Bernard Henry BAUMAN, Sr.
b: 1749 Marlborough Township, Montgomery, PA
m: 1775 in Carbon Co., PA
Military service: Revoloutionary War
d: Dec 1824 in Carbon, North Hampton Co, PA Father: Hans Dieterick BAUMAN Mother: Eve Elizabeth Weil KLEIN
.... 2 Elizabeth DREISBACH
b: Apr 23, 1755 Northampton Co., PA
d: Feb 20, 1764 in Northampton Co., PA
Burial: Buried at Howersville, Pa, headstone at Zion Stone Church, Northampton Co, PA
.... 2 John Jost DREISBACH
b: Oct 26, 1757 Northampton Co., PA
Baptism: Feb 08, 1758 Tohickon Reformed Church, Bedminster, Bucks Co, PA
Sponsor: William Deter and wife
d: Aft. 1794 in prob Albany, NY
........ +Catharine ?
.... 2 Simon DREISBACH
b: Jul 10, 1760 Northampton Co., PA
Baptism: Sep 22, 1760 Tohickon Reformed Church, Bedminster, Bucks Co, PA
Sponsor: Simon Dreisbach and wife
d: Feb 17, 1764 Burial: Howersville, stone at Zion Stone Church
.... 2 John Adam DREISBACH
b: Oct 25, 1762 Northampton, PA
Military service: Revolutionary War - Pvt PA, unit unknown
d: 1849 Burial: 1849 Zion Stone Church, Kreidersville, Allen twp, Northampton Co, PA
........ +Maria Margaret HAMSCHER
2nd Wife of Jost Dreisbach:
.. +Elizabeth ? *
m: Abt. 1766 in PA
d: Aft. 1799 Burial: Zion Stone Church Cemetery, Kreidersville, Northampton, PA
.... 2 Susanna DREISBACH
b: Apr 14, 1767 Baptism: Jun 07, 1767
d: Sep 30, 1834
........ +Jacob SCHAEFFER
.... 2 Mary Gertraut DREISBACH
b: Jul 04, 1768 d: Aug 18, 1769
.... 2 John DREISBACH
b: Jun 26, 1769 Northampton, PA
d: Jan 07, 1835 in Hemlock Twp, Columbia Co., PA
........ +Elizabeth GINTER b: Abt. 1785
.... 2 Philip DREISBACH
b: Feb 03, 1773 Northampton Co, PA
Baptism: May 03, 1773 Zion Stone Church, Kreidersville, Allen twp, Northampton Co, PA
d: Aft. 1850 in prob Schoharie Co, NY
........ +Elizabeth SCHNEIDER
m: 1792 in Schoharie Co. NY d: in prob NY
.... 2 Michael DREISBACH
b: Apr 01, 1779
d: Oct 15, 1868 in Northampton Co, PA
Burial: Abt. Oct 18, 1868 St. Paul's Indianland, Cherryville, Northampton Co, PA
........ +Susanna SCHAEFFER
b: Jul 22, 1778
m: Sep 04, 1796
d: Sep 03, 1851 in Northampton Co, PA
Burial: St. Paul's Indianland, Cherryville, Northampton Co, PA
.... 2 Magdalene DREISBACH
b: Aft. 1749 d: Aft. 1794
........ +Lawrence HERMAN
*Past researchers have erroneously identified her as Elizabeth Rauschenberger/Rachenberger. This is incorrect.