Descendants of Johannes Diedricks
of Canton Bern, Switzerland

Emblem of
Canton Bern

Generation #1

Johannes Diedricks of Canton Bern, Switzerland

Johannes Diedricks was born in about 1683 in Canton Bern Switzerland. In about 1710 in Switzerland, Johannes married Anna Diedricks b. c. 1690 in Switzerland. And, they had three children.

Johannes' place of birth and circumstances of his emigration are learned from the History of South Carolina:

For some years previous to 1735 John Peter Purry, a Swiss gentleman, had been trying to establish Swiss colonies in South Carolina, and had actually established one on the Savannah river at a place called Purrysburg. He gave such a glowing account of the country in a pamphlet, which he freely distributed throughout Switzerland, Holland, North Germany and the Provinces of the Rhine, that a great many settlers were induced to come to Carolina. The first ship load for Orangeburgh Township arrived in Charlestown in July 1735, and immediately set out for the township on the Edisto, which was thereafter named Orangeburgh. The next year another installment of settlers arrived, and in 1737 a third arrived, bringing with them a Lutheran minister, the Rev. John Ulrick Giessendanner. Others arrived later. Dr. David Ram in his "History of South Carolina", page 11, says that the vessels which brought them over usually returned with loads of rice, and made profitable voyages.

Rev. J. T. Giessendanner and his nephew and successor. Rev. John Giessendanner, kept a record of the marriage, baptismal and burial ceremonies performed by them, and from the burial record we are able to learn where many of these settlers came from in the old country. From Switzerland came Peter Hugg (Canton Bern, 1735); Anna, wife of Peter Roth: Rev. John U. Giessendanner and his wife; John Giessendanner, Jr.; Jacob Giessendanner; Hans Henry Felder (1735); Jacob Kuhnen and wife (1736); Ann, wife of Jacob Bossart; Melchior Ott (1735); Anna Negely, widow; Magdalena, wife of Hans Imdorff: Martin Kooner; Peter Moorer; Zibilla Wolf (Grisons); John Friday (1735); John Dietrick (1735); Barbara Fund; Henry Wurtzer (1735); Henry Horger; Jacob Stauber (Canton Zurich, 1750); Henry Haym and John Myers. From Germany came John George Barr: David Runtgenauer; Lewis Linder and Elias Snell (1735). From Holland came William Young. These are all whose places of nativity are given, But it is reasonable to presume that the many other settlers bearing the same family names as the above, came from the same places.

    THE HISTORY OF ORANGEBURG COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR BY A. S. SALLEY, JR., 1898 <http://www.archive.org/stream/historyoforangeb00sall/historyoforangeb00sall_djvu.txt> pp 30-31.

Johannes and his family settled in the ethnic German colony at Orangeburg, attending St. Matthews, the local German language Church. Johannes, also known as Hans and perhaps John, is cited in church records. Significantly, Johannes's date of death is reported in the Giessendanner records. From this date, we determine his date of birth.

Ship Samuel arrived Sunday 13 July 1735 at Charleston  Settlers were sent to Edisto (Orangeburg) Township:

On Sunday last arrived here Capt. Hugh Percy in 9 weeks from Rotterdam and 6 from Cowes, with 250 Switzers on board, who are come to settle a township on the King's Land in this Province upon the Encouragement granted to other Foreigners. Amongst them are Ninety fit to bear arms, and it is not doubted but their settling in this Province will much contribute to its Strength, and by their industry and laboriousness. . . .

Charleston Gazette, Saturday 19 July 1735
Lot 283 granted to Hans Diedricks in Orangeburg and 200a. on the north bank of the Edisto River, just west of the town.
Anno 1740 Jacob Wolff to Veronica Domin, maiden name Fluhbach, widow Mr. Hans Domin dec'd. both Parties witnessed by and in the presence of Mr. Peter Hug, Georg Giessendanner, Hans Frydig, Hans Diedrich and Conrad Alder. (Rev. Giessendanner)
Anno 1740 The 3. January that is on Thursday (after they had been announced 3 times) were publicly married in the presence of a large congregation Mr. Richard Horsfort and Miss Barbara Diedrich, Mr. Johannes Diedrich's lawful daughter. (Rev. Giessendanner)
A petition to the SC Council, dated 8 Dec 1744, from "Hans Dietrick a German" states that his house and barn had been "burned down to ashes" with all their contents, and he prayed for relief from the provincial government. Granted him £50 to help with rebuilding.
Charleston Will Book RR 1767-1771, p. 298:
Will of Hans Dietrick. Hans Dietrick left his estate to his widow Anna. Residual legatees were :
Beloved Grand Child Anna, daughter of Richard Hasfort, dec'd.
Jacob Weimer late husband of my Grand Daughter Anna Dietrick, dec'd.
Beloved Daughter Barbara now the wife of John Jennings.
Beloved two Grand Sons Peter and Matthias sons of Peter Roth.
Beloved grand daughter Margaret now the wife of Jacob Hottow of Orangeburg
Ex: Peter Roth. Wit: Samuel Luther, George Frazler, John Endel.
Signed 15 May 1759, proven 3 Mar 1769.
On Thursday June 21 [1759] died after a lingering Illness and the day after was interred in the Church yard of Orangeburgh the Body of John Dietrick a native of Switzerland and a settler in this Township since the year 1735 Aged about 73 years. (Rev. Giessendanner)

    Children

    1. Johannes Diedricks, Jr. b. c. 1715 Canton Bern, Switzerland

    2. Barbara Diedricks

Anno 1740 The 3. January that is on Thursday (after they had been announced 3 times) were publicly married in the presence of a large congregation Mr. Richard Horsfort and Miss Barbara Diedrich, Mr. Johannes Diedrich's lawful daughter. (Rev. Giessendanner)
The Number of all those, who have received the Holy Communion on Easter Sunday and Monday in the Church of Orangeburgh according to the Form and Use of the Church of England 1750. On Sunday April 15 the following received Communion: Barbara Jennings
Charleston Will Book RR 1767-1771, p. 298:
Will of Hans Dietrick. Hans Dietrick left his estate to his widow Anna. Residual legatees were :
Beloved Daughter Barbara now the wife of John Jennings.
Ex: Peter Roth. Wit: Samuel Luther, George Frazler, John Endel.
Signed 15 May 1759, proven 3 Mar 1769.
Charleston Will Book VV 1776-1784, p. 116: Will of "Barbara Jennings.
The will of "Barbara Jennings, her mark, Orangeburg, St. Matthews Parish" was signed 6 Feb 1771, left her property to daughter Ann Linder.

    3. Anna Diedricks

Anno 1742. June 25 on Sunday, I baptized Henry, my own Leg. child, Ulrick Giessendanner and my wife formerly Miss Hugg. Spons: Mr. Henry Wurtz, Michael L...gry, Anna Rohrig, formerly Miss Diedricks which child came to light on Saturday afternoon, June 1742. In the Sign of the Twins. (Rev. Giessendanner)
On Monday August 12th was enterred in the Church yard of Orangeburgh the Body of Anna Roth, Wife of Peter Roth, Miller and Carpenter: She was born in Switzerland June 4th 1722 N.S. and died the Day before her Burial having been confin'd to her Bed Since her Delivery for the Space of nine Weeks. Age 29 years and Some weeks. (Rev. Giessendanner)
1752 On Sunday Febr. 2d, in Orang. Church, Peter Roth to Agnes, late widow of George Giessendanner, dec'd. In Presence of the Congregation. (Rev. Giessendanner)
Charleston Will Book RR 1767-1771, p. 298:
Will of Hans Dietrick. Hans Dietrick left his estate to his widow Anna. Residual legatees were:
Beloved two Grand Sons Peter and Matthias sons of Peter Roth.
Ex: Peter Roth. Wit: Samuel Luther, George Frazler, John Endel.
Signed 15 May 1759, proven 3 Mar 1769.
Charleston Will Book 1757-1760, p. 282:
Will of Peter Roth. Peter left his estate to surviving sons Peter and Matthias (of first-wife Anna Dietrich), and also left a bequest to "Margaret, now wife of Jacob Hottow, dau. of my late wife [Agnes], deceased." He identified himself as a millwright and house carpenter of Orangeburg.
Signed 26 Mar 1760, proven 2 Apr 1760.

Generation #2

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This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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