Johann Michael Dewald (1716 - 1798)

Born 10 Aug 1716 in Medard, Meisenheim, Kurfürstentum Pfalz, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Ancestors

Husband of Maria Barbara (Schmidt) Dewald — married 1740 in Berks County, Province of Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 31 Dec 1798 at age 82 in Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Michael Dewald is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A032144.

Michael Dewald is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 147431
Rank: Soldier

Michael Dewald performed Patriotic Service in the American Revolution.

Birth

10 August 1716 at Medard, Kusel, Rheinland-Pfalz [present-day Germany]

Immigration

Michael swore the oaths of immigration on 9 September 1738 at the Philadelphia Courthouse, after arriving on the ship Glasgow. He was age 20.^[1]

Spouse

Maria Barbara Schmidt 1719 – 1801

Land

Michael Dewalt's three land patent surveys were for warrants dated 26 August 1743, 8 August 1747, and 5 February 1752.^[2]

Naturalization

Michael Dewald’s application for naturalization was among those approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court at its sessions held 10 and 12 April 1762 in Philadelphia. He had met the requirements of a) at least seven years residence in any colony, b) taking the prescribed oaths before a Judge in his colony of residence, and c) having received the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper within three months. Michael, a resident of Windsor Township, Berks County, had taken the Lord’s Supper on 4 April 1762.^[3]

Will and Probate

Michael Devolt executed his Berks County will on 29 December 1798. He bequeathed all his assets to his wife Barbara for her natural life and directed the assets be sold after her death and the proceeds distributed to his heirs. His will entered probate on 21 January 1799. After wife Barbara's death, the probate was completed in 1802.

I Michael Devolt of Winser [Windsor] Township in Berks County Pennsylvania Taylor being Weak in bodily Health, but of Sound and Disposing Mind Memory and Understanding Do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following vizt
First My Will is that all my Just Debts and funeral expences be paid Out of my Estate by my Executors hereinafter named
Second I Give and Bequeath to my Dear Wife Barbara Devolt all the rents Issues and profits of my plantation Whereon I now live adjoining Lands of Herman Unger, Casper Smyth, John Becker, Jacob Engle, Henry Mull, and John Snyder, supposed to Contain Eighty Acres of Land be the same More or less, to be by her possessed and enjoyed During her Natural life and my Executors Shall be Aiding and assisting to her in renting the Same if she thinks best to rent it – And my Will is that my said Plantation shall be kept in good and husbandlike Order and repair, and that there shall be care taken not to use or Destroy any Timber or Trees more than What is Necessary for fuel and to keep the Buildings and fences in good Order and repair – I also further give and Bequeath to my said Wife all my Household and Kitchen furniture, my Stock of Creatures, and Implements of Husbandry of What kind or Nature Soever [meaning “of whatsoever kind or nature”] to be by her possessed and Enjoyed during her Natural life as aforesaid giving her full liberty to sell such parts thereof as may not be Useful to her. and that the monies Arising therefrom shall also be by her possessed and enjoyed by her as aforesaid Except such part thereof as may be Needful to the Discharge of Just Debts and funeral Expences as aforesaid
Thirdly I Do Will and Order that my Executors hereinafter named or the Survivor of them shall Immediately after the Decease of my said Wife Sell in the best Manner they can all that my plantation and Tract of Land aforesaid and for the best prices they can get, And also all such parts of my personal Estate as my said Wife may leave, and that the Monies arising therefrom as Well as any Debts that may [be] Due to me at my Decease Shall be Equally Divided among (and as Early as they can be Collected) paid to my Sons John, George, Henry, and Jacob, and the Children of my Daughter Katherine, and my Daughters Eve, Barbara, Elizabeth, Susanna, and Maria – that is to say the Children of my said Daughter Katherine as much as to one of my Children beforenamed
Fourthly I hereby give my full power and authority to my Executors or the Survivor of them to Execute a Deed or Deeds to the purchasor or purchasors of Lands to hold to them their Heirs and assigns forever
And Lastly I hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint my Son John Devolt, and my Son inlaw Nicholas Crate Whole and Sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking & making Void all Other and former Wills by me made, Ratifying and Confirming this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this twenty Ninth Day of the Twelfth Month 1798 [signed:] Michael his M mark Dewolt
Signed, Sealed published and Declared by the said Testator as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, Who at his request and in his presence have Subscribed the same as Witnesses Caspar Schmidt [in German script], Caspar Schmidt [in German script], Thomas Lightfoot

Registers Office Reading in Berks County Jany 21st 1799} Then Personally appeared Casper Smidt Senr and Casper Smidt Junr on their Solemn Oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God and Thomas Lightfoot on his Solemn Affirmation, Witnesses to the afore written Will of Michael Dewalt, deceased, did severally say that they were present together and did see & hear Michael Dewalt the Testator therein named Sign in making his Mark, Seal, Pronounce publish & declare the same writing to be his last Will & Testament & that at the time the doing therefore he the said Testator was of sound Mind, Memory & Understanding, to the best of their knowledge & as they verily believe & further that the Names Casper Smidt Senr, Casper Smidt Junr & Thomas Lightfoot thereto subscribed are of the proper hand writing of the said deponants & affirmant respectively by them thereto subscribed as Witness in the presence of each other, at the request and in the Presence of the said Testament, J Bower Rgr [Jacob Bower, Register]

Inventory valued at £223.15.9 exhibited 2 February 1799 [images 423-425].

Administration of the estate dated 11 June 1802 submitted by Nicholaus Krete, Acting Executor [images 426-429], state Moveables [personal property] was sold for £68.12.5; the plantation was sold for £902.13.0; and includes a detailed list of disbursements.^[4]

Death

December 1798 at Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States.^[5]

Children

1. Katherine Dewald b. 25 Aug 1742, d. 1793
2. Eva Maria Dewald b. 3 Nov 1744, Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, d. 25 Jun 1799, Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
3. Johannes "John" Dewald b. 22 Apr 1746, d. 12 Apr 1816, South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
4. George Michael Dewald b. 22 Apr 1748, d. about 18 Apr 1825
5. Maria Barbara Dewald b. 21 Jan 1750, d. after 1798 [1825]
6. Johann Heinrich "Henry" Dewald b. 20 Dec 1751, d. about 1834 [or 1800]
7. Jacob Dewald b. 3 Apr 1755, Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania d. about 1833 [or 1834]
8. Elizabeth Barbara Dewald b. 23 Mar 1757, d. 1860
9. Susannah Dewald b. 5 Aug 1758, Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, d. 28 Feb 1836, Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
10. Maria Dewald b. about 1760, d. 3 Sep 1825

Notes from profile merge

• Birth location Medard was part of Palatine-Zweibrücken, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire.
• Birth date was 22 Aug 1716 in Dewald-15 and 10 Aug 1716 (certain) in Devault-2.

Sources

1. ↑ Ralph Beaver Strassburger and William John Hinke, ed., Pennsylvania German Pioneers (Norristown, PA: Pennsylvania German Society, 1934), pp. 205, 207, 208, captain's list: Michal Dewald; allegiance oath: Michel Dobalth; abjuration oath: Mich. his O mark Deobalt; digital edition, HathiTrust.
2. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archives, RG-17, Records of the Land Office, Copied Surveys, 1681-1912 (series #17.114), Images of Each Survey, Book D44: 262 (https://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Books%20D1-D90/Book%20D44/Book%20D-44%20pg%20523.pdf); Book D58: 104 (https://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Books%20D1-D90/Book%20D58/Book%20D-58%20pg%20207.pdf); and Book C232: 276 (https://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Books%20C1-C234/Book%20C232/Book%20C-232%20pg%20551.pdf).
3. ↑ M. S. Giuseppi, editor, Naturalizations of Foreign Protestants in the American and West Indian Colonies Pursuant to Statute 13 George II, c. 7 (Manchester, England: The Publications of The Huguenot Society of London, by Sherratt & Hughes, 1921), p. 79, Supreme Court held at Philadelphia, 10 and 12 April 1762, Foreigner’s Name Michael Dewald of Windsor Township, Berks County; digital edition, Internet Archive accessed 20 October 2023).
4. ↑ Berks County, Pennsylvania, will and estate probate, Michael Dewald (1799); digital images, FamilySearch; FHL microfilm 5538038, images 417-429.
5. ↑ Find A Grave, memorial page for Johann Michael Dewald (22 Aug 1716–31 Dec 1798), Memorial ID 9438886; citing Zion United Church of Christ Cemetery, Perry Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by James R. Freeman (contributor 47363538).

• Kathy Jo and Mary Alice Berger, Strausstown Roots.

Acknowledgments

• Kathy Gunter Sullivan.