“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists."
― Franklin D. Roosevelt
Pennsylvania German families took an active role in the American Revolution in Northampton County.
Europeans who made the voyage to America faced a difficult journey of several months.
Lush forests in Colonial America allowed settlers to build wooden homes.
Simon Dreisbach, Jr. was born in Oberndorf, Germany and his christening was recorded at the Evangelical Lutheran church in Feudingen on February 18, 1730. His parents were Johan Simon Dreisbach and Maria Katharina Keller. He was a farmer and miller.
He came to America with his family on the ship Lydia which departed Rotterdam and arrived in Philadelphia on September 20, 1743.
His first wife was was Maria Dorothea Theis (Does, Toss, Taes) They married in Philadelphia in April, 1752.
Simon and Dortheas' children included:
John Dreisbach (Aug. 21, 1752),
John George Dreisbach (Jan. 31, 1756),
John Peter Dreisbach (Nov. 3, 1757),
Jacob Dreisbach (June 27, 1759),
Adam Dreisbach (May 8, 1761),
Elizabeth Dreisbach (Aug. 29 1762),
Daniel Dreisbach (May 29, 1764),
Sophia Dreisbach (Feb, 1 1766),
Mary Magdalena Dreisbach (Dec. 1, 1767),
Mary Catherine Dreisbach Butz (Jan. 8, 1769, married, July 9, 1787, George Butz) and
Susanna Dreisbach Deshler Lynn (Jan. 25, 1771, married George Deshler and Peter Lynn). George was the great grandson of Captain David Deshler, the immigrant.
Four of the children; George, Adam, Sophia, and Daniel were deaf.
The first tax list of the inhabitants of Alsace Township, Berks County, was drawn up in 1752. It included "Simon Drisebogh" and "Adam Swasbogh." Simon soon moved to Northampton County and settled in Allen Township.
In 1771 he and his brother Adam were among the founding members of Zion Stone Church in Kreidersville
In January, 1773 Simon wrote a letter to Rev. John Henry Helffrich. (from A History of the Tohickon Union Church)
About seventeen years ago [1755-1756] when I began to reside here, church services of church attendance was very irregular, the preacher [Hecker] appeared only half of the time when he announced services. Then the people who met had to return home most of the time, without hearing a sermon, which displease them very much.
Dorothea died in 1773. After she died, he married Anna Maria Fuchs Kuder. She was the daughter of Conrad Fuchs.
During he Revolution Simon was a member of the Provincial Convention and the Assembly from 1776 to 1780. On Oct. 20, 1782 hebecame a member of the Council of Censors.
After the war he served several terms in the Assembly and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1790.
He died near Weaversville, December 17, 1806.
1773 The Pennsyvania Gazette
Oberndorf is a village in northwest Germany and part of the city of Bad Laasphe. It was in the feudal country of Wittgenstein in the 18th century.
Feudingen is a village in the city of Bad Laasphe and its 13th century church ministered to the entire surrounding area. The church has been Protestant since 1555.
Northampton County, Pennsylvania is on the eastern border of the state in the Lehigh Valley. It was formed in 1752 from parts of Bucks County. Easton is the county seat.
Zion Stone Church is a Lutheran church near Kreidersville, Pennsylvania. It was dedicated on June 18, 1772.
Lutherans are Protestants who follow Martin Luther's religious teachings, especially the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania was first settled about 1730 and officially constituted in 1812 with the division of Northampton County.
The Boston Tea Party was on December 16, 1773. The Sons of Liberty destroyed an entire shipment of the East India Company's tea by throwing it into the harbor.
