Descendants of Hans David Bielman of
the Duchy of Wurttemburg

Generation #1

Hans David Bielman of the Duchy of Wurttemburg

Hans David Bielman, the progenitor of the Billman/Bielman Family in America, was born 8/1703 in Biberach, Duchy of Wurttemburg. On 11/23/1734 in Biberach, Duchy of Wurttemburg, Hans married Anna Maria Bentz b. 2/1803 Duchy of Wurttemburg.

Located between the Upper Rhine and Danube rivers and extending south to Switzerland, the Duchy of Wurttemburg was devastated by wars between Catholic France and Protestant German states, overpopulation, heavy taxation, and exceptionally harsh winters between 1708 and 1719. Conditions were rife for ex-migration. [Palatinate Immigration]

Hans David and family emigrated from Rotterdam to the William Penn Colony, arriving on the Princess Augusta on 9/16/1736. [Account of the Voyage] In 1738 they obtained warrants for 200 acres of land in Bucks (now Lehigh) Co PA. These were not grants, but authorization to settle; as payment for the land would be demanded sometime in the future. Evidently, the family was successful, adding an additional 150 acres in 1744.

Hans David and company were pioneers of the region which would become known as Allemangle. Located about fifty miles northwest of Philadelphia, Allemangle was the ethnic German community situated on the border of northeast Berks county and northwest Bucks/ Northampton/ Lehigh county (vic. Kempton PA). This region was completely undeveloped, lacking roads or other instruments of commerce. These pioneers newly arrived from Europe had to fend for themselves.

To get there, they had to cross a barren, swampy wasteland of scrub oaks called Long Swamp, then through the Rittenhouse Gap in the South Mountain, northward to the Schochary Hills. They traveled the tops of the ridges because the valleys were full of vines, mosquitoes, and swamp fever. Arriving at their warrant, they set up a camp-site, usually a small lean-to, at a spring near the protected land of a low valley. Sometimes the wagon was the only shelter for the first several months until a cabin could be constructed.

                                                        Amos Long, Jr., The Pennsylvania German Farm, p.73

    "The Brobst Chronicles," <http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~brobst/chronicles/chap3.htm> 8 July 2007.

Hans David and family lived their lives in peril of Indians. Reportedly on 3/6/1756, Anna and two of their sons were killed in an Indian attack. One son, Johann b. c. 1746 who was killed in the attack is known. Another son may have been a younger brother who is unknown to date.

In 1756 in Berks Co PA, Hans David married Elizabeth Stumpfund b. c. 1710. Hans David Bielman died in 1768 in Northampton (now Lehigh) Co PA.

• Born 8/1703 in Biberach, Duchy of Wurttemburg

• Married 11/23/1734 in Biberach, Duchy of Wurttemburg to Anna Maria Bentz b. 2/1803 Duchy of Wurttemburg

• Immigrated 9/16/1736 to Philadelphia PA aboard the Princess Augusta

• Settled 1736 in Bucks Co PA

• 1738 Bucks Co PA Land Warrant

• 1744 Bucks Co PA Land Warrant

• 1752 Northampton Co split from Bucks Co PA

• 1752 Served as Constable of Albany District (Allemangle)

• 3/6/1756  Anna Maria was killed in an Indian attack at the homestead in Northampton (now Lehigh) Co PA

• Married 1756 in Berks Co PA to Elizabeth Stumpfund b. c. 1710

• 1757 Elder in Jerusalem Union Ch, Stony Run, Albany Twp, Berks Co PA

• 1762 Tax List for Lynn Township, Northampton (now Lehigh) Co PA: David Billman - 5

• 1765 Naturalized in Philadelphia PA: David Billman

• Died 1768 Northampton (now Lehigh) Co PA

• Possibly buried at Jerusalem "Red" Church, Berks Co PA

    Children

    1. Elizabeth Katharina Bielman

• Born 7/28/1735 Biberach, Duchy of Wurttemburg

• Immigrated 9/16/1736 w/ family to Philadelphia PA aboard the Princess Augusta

• 1752 Northampton Co split from Bucks Co PA

• Married c. 1755 Northampton Co PA to Henry Rupprecht (brother of Eva Maria Katharina Rupprecht) b. 1735 Biberach, Duchy of Wurttemburg

• 1762 Tax List for Lynn Township, Northampton (now Lehigh) Co PA: Henry Ruprecht - 7

• Died Northampton (now Lehigh) Co PA

    2. Anna Margaretha Bielman

• Born c. 1737 Bucks Co PA

• 1752 Northampton Co split from Bucks Co PA

• Married c. 1755 Northampton Co PA to John Frederich Hess b. c. 1720 Duchy of Wurttemburg

• Died after 1755 Northampton (now Lehigh) Co PA

    3. Hans Dewald Bielman

Note: His actual name was Hans Theobald Bielman, and he is not a descendant as proven by DNA.

• Born c. 1739 Lower Palatinate of the Rhine (Germany)

• 1752 Immigrated from Ingelheim, Lower Palatinate of the Rhine (Germany) to Pennsylvania

• 1756 Albany Twp, Berks Co PA Residents List: Dewald Beilman

• Married 1762 in Berks Co PA to Maria Magdelena Billig b. c. 1740 Bucks Co PA

• 1762 Northampton (now Lehigh) Tax List: Dewald Bielman

• Died 3/21/1821 Union Co PA

    4. Conrad B. Bielman b. 6/16/1740  Bucks Co PA

    5. Jacob Bielman

• Born 1741 Bucks Co PA

• 1752 Northampton Co split from Bucks Co PA

• Married c. 1764 Berks Co PA to Eva Maria Katharina Rupprecht (sister of Henry Rupperecht) b. 1745 Bucks Co PA

• Died after 1/16/1779 Northampton Co PA

• Buried Jerusalem Red Church, Northampton (now Lehigh) Co PA

    6. Maria Elizabeth Bielman

• Born c. 1743 Bucks Co PA

• 1752 Northampton Co split from Bucks Co PA

• Married c. 1760 Berks Co PA to Henrich Nothstein b. c. 1746 Der Pfalz, Lower Palatinate (Germany)

• Died after 1763 Berks Co PA

    7. Johann Bielman

• Born c. 1746 Bucks Co PA

• 1752 Northampton Co split from Bucks Co PA

• 1756 Reportedly killed in an Indian attack in Northampton Co PA

Generation #2