Descendants of Leonard Divan
of Lower Palatinate, Germany

Palatinate of the Rhine (14th - 18th C.)

Generation #1

Leonard Divan of Lower Palatinate, Germany

ISAAC DIVAN, a venerable and highly respected retired farmer of Cadiz township, Green county, is a native of Ohio, born July 25, 1816, in Coshocton county. . .Leonard DIVAN, his grandfather, was a native of Germany, whence he came to this country when a young man, settling in Pennsylvania. . . .

Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, pub. 1901, p. 953.

Leonard Divan was born in about 1742 in Pfalz, Lower Palatinate, Germany. Located between the Main and Upper Rhine rivers and extending south to Switzerland, the Rhenish Pfalz 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]

Leonard is believed to have migrated to Pennsylvania between 1762 and 1766. And in about 1766 in Pennsylvania, Leonard married Abigail Divan b. c. 1747. 

The first documentation of Leonard and family is in the 1781 Washington Co PA Tax List. Additionally, Leonard served in the Washington Co PA Militia, reportedly attaining the rank of Colonel.

In 1785, 300 acres were surveyed for Leonard in Bethlehem Twp, Washington Co PA. And, Leonard and family lived there until about 1806 when the family migrated to Richland Twp, Belmont Co OH. 

Living in Washington county, the Divans were effectively straddling Forbes Road, the major east-west thoroughfare of the day. By 1806 the Divan family only had to head southwest to Wheeling (W) VA, crossing the Ohio, and down Zane's Trace to central Ohio.

In 1815 Leonard purchased land in Perry Twp, Coshocton Co OH. Beginning in 1820. Leonard is documented in the Coshocton Co OH Census:

A settlement of Germans came in early, perhaps in 1815, most of them from Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Among them were Peter Ault, who entered the southwest quarter of section 23; Leonard Divan, the southwest quarter of section 18 and the northwest quarter of section 23; his two sons, John and Henry, the latter owning the northwest quarter of section 22; Henry Billman, the southwest quarter of section 21; George Sossaman, the southeast quarter of section 15; Frederick Shrake, the southeast quarter of section 23, and Jacob Shrake, the north half of the southeast quarter of section 19. The last mentioned moved to Wisconsin, and from last accounts was still living.

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 582

In 1823 Leonard wrote his will naming Abigail and son Jonathan as executors. Leonard died shortly thereafter and is believed to be buried on the family farm. Abigail died sometime thereafter.

Males Born
After		 # Divan Females # Divan
18+   1 Lenney

All

 5 Abigail
Catherine
Rebecca
Barbara
Mary "Polly"
17- 1778 2 Henry
Jonathan
Males  Born
After		 # Divan  Females Born
After		 # Divan
45+   1 Leonard 45+   1 Abigail
25-44 1755 0   25-44 1755 0  
18-25 1775 0   18-25 1775 1 Mary "Polly"
10-15 1785 2 Henry
Jonathan		 10-15 1785 0  
to-10 1790 0   to-10 1790 0  
Belmont Co OH Deed Book D, p. 63:
Feb 15, 1810 Leonard Divan sold to Henry Billman 104 acres Loc. 2-7-4

Belmont Co OH Deed Book C, p. 312:
Jun 17, 1810 James Caldwell sold to Leonard Divan 219 acres Loc. 2-7-4
Belmont Co OH Deed Book D, p. 63:
Feb 15, 1810 Leonard Divan sold to Henry Billman 104 acres Loc. 2-7-4

Belmont Co OH Deed Book F, p. 135:
Mar 23, 1816 Leonard Divan sold to David Miller 85 acres Loc. 2-7-4

Belmont Co OH Deed Book M, p. 458:
Mar 23, 1816 Leonard Divan sold to Alban Robinson 29 acres Loc. 2-7-4
Males Born
After		 # Divan Females Born
After		 # Divan
45+   1 Leonard 45+   1 Abigail
25-44 1775 0   25-44 1775 0  
18-25 1795 0   18-25 1795 0  
16-18 1802 0   10-18 1805 0  
10-15 1805 0  
to 10 1810 0   to 10 1810 0  
Coshocton County OH Records:
Will for Leonard Divan dated October 31, 1823.
Eldest Son: Jacob. Sons: John and Henry. Daus.: Barbara, wife of Peter Ault; Mary, wife of Henry Billman; Catherine, wife of Frederick Luidy. Wife: Abigail.
Executors: wife, Abigail Divan and John Divan.
Witnesses: J.W. Pigman, George Lussaman and Henry McVey.
Probated: November 17, 1827. Abigail Divan relinquished her executorship because "I am very old and infirm."
Coshocton County OH Deed Book 4 (1825/26)
4-153 Leonard Divan to Jacob Huffman 9-5-SW of 18
4-294 Leonard Divan to John Divan 9-5-23
4-615 Leonard Divan to John Divan 9-5-SW of 18

    Children

    1. Jacob Divan

    2. Catherine Liny Divan

    3. Rebecca (Margaret?) Divan

Winding Fork Cemetery Perry, Coshocton, Ohio
Margaret Huffman wife of Jacob
died November 30, 1868 age 93 years.
    4. Barbara Divan     5. Mary "Polly" Divan b. 1782 Washington Co PA  

    6. Henry Divan

The Evangelical Lutheran church was organized about 1835. The first minister was Jacob Seidle. Rev. S. Kammerer had previously held services in the neighborhood. The leading early members were Henry Billman, Henry Divan, George Sossaman, Henry Keifer and Solomon Exline.

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 592
    7. Jonathan A. Divan
Males Born After # Divan Females Born After # Divan
100+   0   100+   0  
to 100 1730 0   to 100 1730 0  
to 90 1740 0   to 90 1740 1 Abigail
to 80 1750 0   to 80 1750 0  
to 70 1760 0   to 70 1760 0  
to 60 1770 0   to 60 1770 0  
to 50 1780 0   to 50 1780 0  
to 40 1790 1 John to 40 1790 1 Catherine
to 30 1800 0   to 30 1800 0  
to 20 1810 0   to 20 1810 0  
to 15 1815 2 Unknown
Unknown		 to 15 1815 1 Unknown
to 10 1820 2 Unknown
Unknown		 to 10 1820 1 Unknown
to 5 1825 1 Unknown to 5 1825 2 Unknown
Unknown

Generation #2

Caveat
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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