~1678-~1734
Holland - Pennsylvania
Our next ancestor, Cornelius Dewees, the son of Gerrit and Zytian, was born in about 1678, probably in Holland (since the sister born before and the brother born after him were born there - in Lieuwarden, Friesland, Holland), although at least one source has him born in New York. His parents came to America in about 1688, and after a short stay in New York (as it had become by then), settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania.
In 1707/8, he witnessed the will of Paul Kuster:
146, 193? Paul Kuster - Germantown - 11/28/ 1707-8 - Feb 23, 1707-8 C.72
Cornelius Deweese witness
Abstracts of Philadelphia County wills.(Westminster, Md.:Family Line Publications, 1995-, p. 98.)
He was a farmer.
"On June 20th, 1708, he in partnership with his brother Cornelius, bought 390 acres of land in Bebber's (afterwards Skipjack) Township, which they sold during the succeeding five years. William did not live on this property, but Cornelius did." (La Munyan, p. 20)
Cornelius's son Samuel was supposedly born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, which is northwest of Philadelphia (follow the river from Philadelphia to Reading) - but it was not formed until 1751.
According to La Munyan, Cornelius "took up his residence in what is now Montgomery county." (LaMunyan, p. 18) And Montgomery County (formed 1784) lies between Philadelphia and Berks. So - Cornelius probably lived somewhat northwest of Philadelphia in what was then Philadelphia County.
He married Margaret Kuster or Koster, who was born in 1690 in Kalden Kirchen, Germany, and together they had 6 children. The only child for whom we have anything close to a birthdate was John, baptized in 1710, so presumably they married about that time. The children were:
John
Garrett (our next ancestor)
Christina
William
Samuel
Cornelius
Some people make William and Cornelius into one person, William Cornelius, but LaMunyan has different wives and children for them, so.
The children were sent (along with their cousins) to the school taught by Francis Daniel Pastorius at Germantown. (LaMunyan, p. 27) This Pastorius was an important person - he was the leader of a group migration of 13 families from Franconia to Germantown in 1683.
Cornelius, along with a Johannes de Wees, is listed as one of the first settlers in Germantown and vicinity (from 1683-1710). (Rupp, 30,000 Names . . . ,
Appendix 1, p. 430) The entry lists him as Cornelius de Wees, now Dewes. Johannes de Wees does not appear in other lists. Considering that Cornelius's (first?)
son was named John, this Johannes could be a significant person.
He is on another list, of landholders in Philadelphia County in 1734, along with a Garrett, who is probably his son, although he did have a nephew of the same name, born at about the same time:
Hanover Township
Cornelius De Wees 24 acres
Garret De Wees 100 acres
(Rupp, 30,000 Names . . .Appendix Appendix XVI - 465 names of German, Dutch and French inhabitants of Philadelphia County, who owned land, and paid quit-rents prior to 1734, p. 431)
He died in about 1734. It is not known when Margaret died.
John
was baptized in 1710.
From the Bensalem Dutch Reformed Church Record
1710, 25th Dec. Willem deWees Sen Deacon. Dese dinderin syn op Schepack gedoopt Den 29 May, Anno 1810. Gerardus. De fader Willem de
Wees, De moeder Anna Katrine Meels. Johannis. De fader Cornelius de Wees. De moeder Margaret Koster
Translation. These children are at Skippack christened. May 29th, 1710.
Garrett. The father William de Wees. The mother Anna Catharina Meels.
John The father Cornelius de Wees. The mother Margaret Koster (Kuster).
(LaMunyan, p. 222)
Nothing more known.
Garrett (our next ancestor)
born about 1710, died 1769
married Mary Unknown.
Children Elizabeth, William, Cornelius, Henry.
Garrett's personal page
Christina
Nothing more known.
William
Married Rachel Hufte or Huste on 3 Nov 1743.
Three children: William, Rachel, David
1780 Pennsylvania census index:
?Dewees.Wm Berk RD
Nothing more known.
Samuel
lived in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Maried Elizabeth Unknown.
7 Children:
John
William
Elizabeth
Samuel, born 1760
Paul
Thomas, born May 04, 1770
David
"He was a leather breeches maker by trade, but in 1760 was master collier at Patton's furnace, about ten miles from Reading, in the same county. He
was Captain in one of the Pennsylvania regiments during the Revolution, and was taken prisoner by the British and confined on board the prison ship.
His wife by dint of coaxing and importunities had permission to wait on him, and eventually he was released. He was afterwards, in 1777, sent to the
hospital near Allentown to take care of the sick who were confined there with the small-pox. He was superintendent and had charge of the rations and
the preparation of food, etc., and assisted in nursing. He contracted the disease and died in the hospital, and was buried at or near Allentown. His son
Samuel was a fifer in the same regiment with his father, and served through the war." (LaMunyan, p. 170-1)
Died 1777, Manchester, Maryland.
Cornelius
married Margaret Richards, daughter of William Richards.
They had 6 children:
Cornelius - became a Quaker. moved to Ohio.
William, born about 1750
Owen
Mary, born July 21, 1764
David, born August 24, 1766
Samuel, born ? died about 1800
also, possibly, Elizabeth:
From the Trappe Record. Elizabeth de Wees, daughter of Cornelius and Margreta, born July 1, baptized November 27th, 1748. (she was born too late to be Cornelius's sister)
1780 Pennsylvania census index:
Dewees. Cornelius Berk AM
Saml Berk RD
Wm Berk RD
Nothing more known.
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Page last updated 29 August 2004