Johan Henrich DORNBACH (TURNBAUGH)

                   Child Bapt 9. Trin: 1715
                  

                   Name: Johan Theiss Dornbach, Americanized (Matthias)
B-abt 1723?
Chr-X111, Trin: 1716
Sources:
Church in Hochstenbach, Hesse-Nassau, Germany
Will of Henry Dornbach at Reading, Bk 2 p 78, Deed Bk No 8 p 115,
Berks Co. Pa. Deed Bk B3 p 317, Egle's Notes & Queries (1896)p 44.
Cem. Inscrip. at Freedens Church, New Ringgold, PA
Nat. 10/11 Apr. 1761 (PA. Nats.)
PA German Pioneers by Strassburger (Hinke Ed.) Vol. 1, p. 352, 353
Notes and Queries by Egle, Annual Vol. 1896, p. 44
Berks Co., Land Grants: Matthias Thornbach, 26 acres Berne Twp. 7 Mar 1754
Rupps Hist. of Berks and Lebanon Co. Matthew Turnbeh taxable 1752
National Archives Rev. War Files #S42 174. "Westerwald to America" p. 56-58
Orphan Court Reeds, Col. Co. PA, Bk. 1, p. 259
Inscriptions from the Mt. Grove Cemetery, Sugarloaf, Luzerne, PA
Bible record copies by Anna Maria Hener, daughter of Johann's & Elizabeth's
       eldest daughter,  Anna Maria Dornbach
Trinity Lutheran Church Recds. at Reading, Berks, PA
Marriage Recds. by the Rev. J. A. Herny

Will of Henry Dornbach at Reading, Bk. 2, p. 78
Deed Bk. #8, p. 115, Berks county, Pennsylvania
Deed Bk. B3, p. 317
Egle's Notes and Queries (1896) p. 44
Cemetery inscriptions at Freedens church, New Ringgold, Pennsylvania

Johann Theiss (Matthias) Dornbach was usually called Matthias.


DORNBACH AND SPIESS:

       There is an expression "Gold is where you find it," and sometimes precious bits of genealogical information prove to be a bonanza found in a strange place.  Who would expect to find a baptism certificate in a art display at a college such as Franklin Marshall in Lancaster, Pa.?
       Mr. Walter Sonen was searching court records of Berks and Schuylkill counties, Pa. for any record of our Pa. Dutch ancestors Turnbaugh or Dornbach.  We especially hoped to find the maiden name of Rebecca wife of William or of Elizabeth Catherine wife of Matthias.  He found other information but was disappointed in his efforts to identify these two, our grandmothers.
       One evening Mr. Sonen attended an art showing at the college.  He was surprised to see a collection of frakturs on display for their art value.  He was more surprised to see that one of these was of Anna Maria, born in Europe, daughter of the honorable Matthias Dornbach and his wife Elizabeth Catherine Spiess.
       Here for the first time was found the surname of William Dornbach's mother Elizabeth Catherine.  Truly a bonanza in tracing our Dornbach family and in adding Spiess to our family lines.
       The manuscript reads, "Anna Maria Dornbach first saw the light of this world in the year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: 1742, the 14th of September, in Europe; her father is the respectable Mathias Dornbach and Her mother Elisabeth, born Spiesin.  On this date the above mentioned daughter was born to her and brought to baptism immediately and in her adolescence she was accepted and that was still in Europe, by a Protestant preacher and the name Anna Maria was given to her."
                                            (by Thelda Baker)


BERKS COUNTY DEEDS:

       This indenture made the 28th day of November, 1744, between John Kershener of the county of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, on the one part, and George Weaver of the County of Lancaster, cordwinder, and in pursuance of a warrant from the Proprieter of the said Province, there was surveyed unto the said John Kershener a certain tract of land situate in Bern Township of the said county of Lancaster, adjoining Herman Miller and Christian Weaver, and containing 250 acres. . .now the said John Kershener, for and in consideration by the said George Weaver, , etc., etc.
       The within named George Weaver, for the consideration of 29 lbs. assign my right, title and interest in and to the said tract of land and improvements thereon to Matthias Dornbach and his heirs forever.  12 October 1748.
       Witnesses: Edmund Carpenter, Daniel shoemaker.  Carpenter, one of the Justices of the Peace for Lancaster County.

       Indenture between Matthias Dornbach of Bern Township, County of Berks, yeoman, and Elizabeth Catherine, his wife, and Jacob Kern, of the said county, yeoman, in consideration of the sum of 530 lbs. bargain and sell to the said Jacob Kern a certain plantation containing two parcels of tracts lying in the said Township or Bern, with the water grist mill thereon, erected, adjoining the lands of Herman Miller, alias Weaver, Nicholas Tunchel, and others, containing 25 acres or thereabouts . . . the first of which was surveyed unto a certain John Kershener by virtue of a Propriety Warrant, and being the same for which Mathias Dornbach obtained a warrant 7 (1?) March 1754 from the Receiver General, etc., . . 25 Oct. 1773.  Recorded 15 May 1775.


PATENT BOOK, p. 55, 224, Office of community Affairs, Philadelphia, PA:

       Know ye, that in consideration of the monies paid by Matthias Turnbach unto the late Proprietors. . .at the granting of the warrant herein after mentioned and the sum of twenty two dollars and thirty cents paid by George Himmelburger into the Receiver General's office of the commonwealth, there is granted by the said commonwealth unto the said George Himmelburger a certain tract of land called _______ Georges situated in Bern township, Berks Co. Beginning at a Hickory there by the other land of said Turnbach South 22 degrees and a half East one hundred and six perches (?) to a stone thence (?) by vacant land So. 67 degrees, thence by the land of Nicholas Runckle, west 36 perches to a black oak north 22 degrees and 1/2 west 39 perches to a Hickory thence by the land of Nicholas Runkle.  North 15 degrees west 57 perches and a half to a hickory and thence by the land of George Kersner and north 67 degrees and 1/2 east 29 perches. . .in the beginning containing 21 acres and 1/2 and allowance for 6% for roads.  And which said tract was surveyed in pursuance of a warrant dated 7 Mar 1754 granted to the said Matthias Turnbach whose right to the above described tract of land by virtue of sundry good conveyances in the law duly had and executed, became vested in the said George Himmelburger with the appurtenances to have and to hold the said parcel of land with the said appurtenances unto the said George Himmelburger and his heirs and assigns forever. . .in witness thereof.  This land (?) keep.
       (sign) 5 Jan 1805.
       James Trimble, Deputy Sec.

       On the earliest tax list of Bern Township that still exists, 1759, only "Matthias Dornbach" is listed, assessed 9 pounds, which is a little above the average.  Again on the tax list of 1767 only Matthias is listed, this time with 150 acres, and owning 2 horses and 2 cows.  On the list of 1768 he was shown as owning only 100 acres.
       In 1779 there was no longer any Dornbach in Bern, but William Dornbach was listed in Brunswick Township, as owning 90 acres, 2 horses and 1 cow.  It seems likely that Oct 25 1773 when Matthias sold his land to Jacob Kern, is the time when the family moved up through the gap on the other side of the Blue Mountain into Brunswick Township.  In 1781 and 1784 there was no longer any Dornbach in Brunswick, so this may mark the approximate date when the family moved still further into the frontier, namely the Susquehanna Valley in what is now Columbia and Luzerne counties.


Notes from J.E. Miller:

       About 23 German families settled in 1738, I believe in what is now Berks County, and later other relatives came from Germany to join them.  After the Revolution, settlers came from Northampton, Bucks, etc.  You will look on the map in vain for Brunswick Township, where William Dornbach lived part of his life.  During the Revolution it was cut off and became a part of Schuykill, and about the same time the names of other townships in Berks were changed or their identity lost, when they were taken into the adjoining counties.  The Brunswich records are in Schuylkill.

       An index at the Gen. Soc. listing records of Zion's Red Church of Schuylkill refers to Dornbach names on pages 24 and 245.  The church is known on Berne Co. tax lists of 1754 and later as beyond the Blue Mt. and later until 1913 as in Brunswick county.  Pub. of Schuylkill County vol 2, pt. 3, p. 145 has records of Zion's Red Church.  This could possibly be the same.
       The Dornbachs appear to have belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran church.

       This indenture made between Mathias Dornbach of the Township of Brunswick, in the county of Berks, state of Pennsylvania, yeoman, and William Dornbach, yeoman of the same place of the other part, whereas by virtue of a warrant bearing the date of the 4 of March 1750, there was conveyed to a certain William Dewees, in fee, a certain plantation tract, piece or parcel of land situated and lying in the township of Brunswick aforesaid, on the west branch of the Schuykill River. . .adjoining the tract of Hacob Schoffer. . .Joseph Leddicks. . .and Jacob Kern. . .containing 182 acres and 101 perches of land, etc. etc. and whereas the said Jacob Kern by indenture the 23 Oct 1773, granted the aforesaid described tract of land to the said Mathias Dornbach. . .now the said Mathias Dornbach, for natural love and affection he bears toward his said son, . . .and for the consideration of 368 lbs. lawful money of Pennsylvania in hand paid, conveys to the said William Dornbach, all the undivided or equal half part of the said tract of 182 acres, etc. together with. . .all improvements, ways and water courses. . .Recorded - 21 Jun 1778.
                  

                   D-Soon after Baptism