"Rockhill" Henry Dreisbach
- aka Bucks County Henry Dreisbach
With the assistance of Herr Mehldau of Germany, assisted by Dr. Paul Riedesel, Henry has been identified as Simon Dreisbach's nephew. While this connection is not absolutely proven, we believe it to be highly probable, thus connecting the Bucks County Henry line to the main line descending from Abraham:
Johann Georg DREISBACH (Simon's brother)
b: Bef. November 27, 1701 in Oberndorf, Wittgenstein, Westfalia, Germany
Baptism: November 27, 1701 Feudingen, Wittgenstein, Westfalia, Germany
d: January 1747/48 in Richstein, Wittgenstein, Germany
Burial: February 01, 1747/48 Arfeld Church
.. +Katharina FEURING
b: 1714 in Richstein, Wittgenstein, Germany
m: May 29, 1735 in Richstein
d: 1744 in Richstein, Wittgenstein, Germany
Burial: 1744 Arfeld Church
Father: Johann Georg FEURING Mother: Elisabeth SCHMIDT
.. 2 Katharina Elisabeth DREISBACH b: 1734
.. 2 Henry DREISBACH b. 1735
.. 2 Christine DREISBACH b: 1744
Source of this narrative: The Dreisbach Book pp. 18-19, 24-25. Additions are cited in indented paragraphs.
Immigrant Heinrich Dreisbach, farmer in Bucks County, makes his first appearance in 1760
The Heinrich Dreisbach who settled in Rockhill Township, Bucks County, has been thought to be the Henrich Dresbach who arrived in Philadelphia on 7 November 1754 on the "John and Elizabeth". As yet nothing has been discovered about Heinrich’s place or date of birth. Not until a daughter, Elizabeth, was baptized in 1760 at the Indian Creek Reformed church, Telford, Montgomery Co., does Henry appear in the records. This would suggest that he was born about 1725-1735. In any event, he was surely younger than Simon and probably younger than Martin. Little more is known of Henry's first wife than her name, Anna Maria. Nor has it been learned whether the couple married in Europe or in Pennsylvania.
Heinrich was a farmer, and settled near Almont (formerly Schlichtersville) in Bucks County. His farm was situated near the Bucks/Montgomery county line. The christenings and confirmations of his children are well documented, and traces of Heinrich Dreisbach and his family are found in church records in both counties. Moreover, Henry's descendants have left multiple land records in southeastern Pennsylvania which extend well into the nineteenth century. This notwithstanding, of the three Dreisbach lines which are undoubtedly descended from pre-Revolutionary immigrants, the Henry Dreisbach line is the one of which we know least.
During the Revolutionary War he served in Capt. Kachline's Company (Bucks County.)
[Capt. Kachline must have been Andrew Kachlein (Johan Andreas KUECHLINE 1728) from Rockhill Twp, Bucks Co. Andrew was chosen as Capt. on 8/19/1775 and his unit became part of Thos. Craig's Co. 2nd PA Battalion, and saw action in Quebec. The company was reorganized on 7/1/1776 at which point Andrew became a Col, so probably Henry was part of the first company. However, I was unable to locate Henry in the PA Archives. --Carrie Bodensteiner] In 1782, on the earliest tax list of Rockhill Township, Bucks County, Henry appears as a farmer owning 94 acres. In 1791 Henry was taxed on 90 acres, elder son Jacob on 20, and younger son John on none. In 1798 a Direct Tax was imposed in Rockhill Township on Henry Driesbach's log barn, 30x22 ft. In 1800 and 1802 tax records show that Henry had 96 acres and son Jacob 112. Eventually Jacob took over Henry's farm.
Nothing is known about Henry's first wife, Anna Maria, who bore him six children. She died in 1785 and is buried in Row 11, Jerusalem Union Cemetery, Almont. On 18 April 1791, widower Henry married Susanna Maria Neiss, a widow, who outlived him by many years, dying in 1837. Henry Dreisbach died intestate on 8 January 1808. He is buried in Jerusalem Union Cemetery, Almont, Rockhill Township, Bucks County.
It is likely that a number of Dreisbachs of south-eastern Pennsylvania are descended from Henry's two sons, Jacob and John. Among Henry's descendants we find the spellings of Dreisbach, Driesbach and probably also Treisbach. These names appear in records of Bucks and Montgomery County Reformed congregations into the twentieth century. Of particular interest are the Treisbachs of upper Montgomery County, who may well be descended from immigrant Henry's younger son John.
Some records pertaining to Henry:
PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES Third Series Volume XIII
BUCKS COUNTY TRANSCRIPT-1779. [Tax List] Pages 76-81
ROCKHILL TOWNSHIP.
Henry DRISCACK ------ 94 - 2 horses-4 cattle
Colonial Census index, lists a Henrich DRESBACH in Philadelphia in 1754.
1800 PA Census Bucks County
Henry DRIESBACK 30010-20011-00 p. 302
Henry DREISBACH was sponsor for John Henry BLANK, s/o Michael and Elizabeth, born 1/17/1790 bap 3/14/1790 Tohickon Lutheran Church. PGCR Vol. 3 p. 636
A Henry DREISBACH is listed as attending the Lord's Supper at Tohickon, Bedminster, Bucks, on the Sunday before Easter 1775 (9 April 1775).
Bucks Co. Pa. Doylestown (p. 1) File #3574 bk. 75
26 Jan 1808 Henry DRIESBACK, Rockhill, deceased. Administrators: Jacob DRIESBACK, John DRIESBACK.
Instante? File: Record account 1809 Jan.
25 Feb 1808 - a note & interest to be paid to John, Jacob, Catharine, Elizabeth, and Polly DRIESBACK.
Descendants of Henry Dreisbach:
1 Henry DREISBACH
b: 1735 in Richstein, Wittgenstein, Germany
Baptism: October 30, 1735 Arfeld Church
Immigration: November 07, 1754 "John and Elizabeth", -- Ham, Master, from Amsterdam, last from Portsmouth
d: January 08, 1808 in Rockhill Twp., Bucks Co, PA
Burial: 1808 Rockhill Twp. Bucks County O.C. #3574, no will
. +Anna Maria ?
b: Abt. 1740
d: Abt. 1785 in Bucks County, PA
Burial: Abt. 1785 Jerusalem Union Church row 11
.... 2 Elizabeth DREISBACH
b: Nov 19, 1760 in Indian Creek, Bucks Co., PA
Baptism: Indian Creek Reformed Church, Franconia twp, Montgomery Co
Sponsors: Kelean Hag and wife Eliz.
d: Dec 18, 1792 in ?Rockhill township, Bucks County
........ +Michael BLANK
.... 2 Jacob DREISBACH
b: Jun 20, 1762 in Indian Creek, Bucks Co., PA
Baptism: Jul 22, 1762 Indian Creek Reformed Church, Rev. Jacob REISS
Sponsors: Jacob Beuter and Marg. Seller
d: Sep 19, 1846 in Rockhill Twp. Bucks Co. PA
Burial: 1846 Almont Cemetery, Ridge Road, Rockhill twp, Bucks Co, PA
........ +Margaret ?
b: Abt. 1771
m: Abt. 1789
d: Sep 07, 1815 in Rockhill Twp. Bucks Co. PA
Burial: 1815 Almont Cemetery, Ridge Road, Rockhill twp, Bucks Co, PA
They had at least seven children, born between 1792 and 1808. Jacob was a weaver and also a farmer of substantial property. As early as 1798 he was taxed on a log stable, a log barn and a stone frame barn. Jacob was a member of Indian Creek Reformed Church, and donated money for a parsonage in 1806. Little is known of Jacob's descendants. At least three are buried at Jerusalem Union Cemetery, Almont, Bucks Co.
1800 PA Census Bucks County
Jacob DRIESBACK 40010-10010-00 p. 302
1810 Census, Bucks Cty Rockhill Twp p. 79
Jacob DRUSBACK
.... 2 John DREISBACH
b: 1767 in Rockhill Twp. Bucks Co. PA
d: Apr 14, 1851 in Rockhill Twp. Bucks Co. PA
........ +Elizabeth WAGNER
b: Abt. 1770
m: Abt. 1796 in Mason, Upper Salford Twp, Montgomery Co. PA
In 1796 John was listed as a member of Indian Creek Reformed Church in Telford, Montgomery County. Ten children are known. John's eldest son, Henry, also appears to have remained in the area until his death in 1887. There is little information on the other children, however, except for the names of certain spouses. Some seem to have lived in Upper Montgomery County (Frederick and Upper Salford Townships.)
John DREISBACH and Elizabeth were sponsors for the baptism of Elizabeth BLANK, d/o Michael & Elizabeth, b. 23 May 1794, bp 3 August 1794, Tohickon Lutheran Church.
.... 2 Anna Catharina DREISBACH
b: Jan 06, 1768 in Bedminster, Bucks Co. PA
Baptism: Mar 06, 1768 Tohickon, Bedminster, Bucks, Pennsylvania
Sponsors: Andrew Stein & wife Anna Barbara
d: Aug 15, 1849 in Bucks Co, PA
Burial: 1849 Doylestown Mennonite, Bucks County, PA
........ +Nicholas REIGEL
m: Bef. 1797 d: Bef. 1798
.... *2nd Husband of Anna Catharina DREISBACH:
........ +Lorentz FRANKENFIELD
b: Aug 23, 1774 in Bucks Co. PA
Baptism: Sep 12, 1774 Ferndale, Nockamixon, Bucks County
Sponsor 1: Lorentz Messer and wife
m: Apr 22, 1798 in Keller's Lutheran, Bedminster, Bucks Co. PA
Father: Hans Henrich Frankenfield Mother: Barbara Heinrich
Residence: 1850 Plumstead twp.
.... 2 Anna Maria DREISBACH
b: May 01, 1770 in Bedminster, Bucks Co. PA
Baptism: May 12, 1770 Tohickon, Bedminster, Bucks Co
d: Apr 03, 1790 in Bedminster, Bucks Co. PA
Burial: Apr 03, 1790 Tohickon Church Cemetery, Bucks County, PA
.... 2 Magdalena DREISBACH
b: Apr 20, 1772 in Bucks County, PA
d: Nov 14, 1858 in Williams Township, Northampton or Durham, Bucks County, PA
Burial: Nov 1858 Old Durham Cemetery, Durham, Bucks County, PA
........ +Jacob DIEMER
b: Oct 24, 1764 in prob Nockamixon, Bucks County, PA
m: Apr 11, 1793 in Tohickon Reformed Church, Bedminster, Bucks County, PA
d: Aug 16, 1845 in Williams township, Northampton County, PA
Father: Michael Diemer Mother: Elizabeth ?
*2nd Wife of Henry DREISBACH:
. +Susanna Maria ? (widow Neiss - possibly surnamed Weiss or Scholl, but this is still speculative)
b: Abt. 1740
m: Apr 18, 1791 in Tohickon Reformed, Bedminster, Bucks Co, PA
d: Feb 21, 1837 in Indian Creek, Bucks Co., PA