Adam Dietrich ⁸⁸¹

  General Notes:

Patriot - Sergeant in Captain Jacob Baldy's Company, Sixth Battalion

Morton Montgomery

(I) Adam Dietrich, born in the German Palatinate, in the Rhine Valley, Oct. 28, 1740, was reared to agricultural pursuits in his native country, where he also learned the trade of weaver. In 1751 his elder brother, Johannes Dietrich, emigrated to America, and settled in Greenwich township, Berks County, Pa. He was followed to this country by Adam and another brother, Casper, in 1767. The two brothers crossed the Atlantic in the good ship "Britannia" which qualified at Philadelphia Oct. 26, 1767. Casper located in Northampton county, Pa., where he lived until about 1790, when he settled in Virginia, from which State his son, Casper, Jr., served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Casper Dietrich had a large family.
For some years after coming to this country Adam Dietrich apparently lived in Lowhill township, Northumberland county, where in 1772 he paid a proprietary tax of $27.96. His occupation was that of farmer and innkeeper at Sunbury. In 1785, when a federal tax was collected in that county, he was no longer a resident there, but the State records and the old tax lists of Berks county, show him a resident in Greenwich township, Berks county. In 1779 he owned there 130 acres of land, four horses and three cows. In 1780-81-82-83 he was assessed with 130 acres, two horses, two cattle in Greenwich; and in 1779-80-81-82-83-84-85 he was assessed also in Maxatawny township with two horses, two cattle and two sheep. He conducted an inn a quarter of a mile northeast of Topton for some years, in addition to farming in Greenwich. A warrant for eighty acres of land located in Northumberland county was deeded to him Feb. 16, 1767, by the Commonwealth. On Feb. 15, 1787 he obtained another warrant, this one for sixty acres located in Greenwich township. In 1785 he bought several lots of land on White Oak street, Kutztown, from George Kutz. In 1789 he bought from Michael Roth, who lived in Virginia, a tract of land located in Maxatawny township, Berks county. This deed states that Adam Dietrich was a yeoman, and a true and trusty friend of the grantor. In 1793 he purchased more land, this being a tract in Kutztown, from Samuel Schoedler. On Nov. 30, 1809, a warrant was granted Adam Dietrich by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a tract of 200 acres located in Greenwich township, and this he sold June 3, 1812 , to his youngest son, Johann Christian, for $2,796. Adam Dietrich was loyal to his adopted land, and the Dietrich Family Association have certified records that he was a sergeant in Capt. Jacob Baldy's company, under Lieut. Col. Joseph Heister, of Berks county, in the Revolutionary war in 1780.
Adam Dietrich was married before his emigration to America, and two of his children, Johann Adam and Johann George, were born in the Fatherland. He married Maria Barbara Steinbruch, who was born March 13, 1741, daughter of Jacob Steinbruch. She died on the homestead in Greenwich township, June 6, 1821, aged eighty years, two months, and twenty-four days. He died in Greenwich township March 1, 1817, aged seventy-six years, four months and three days. Both Adam Dietrich and his wife were staunch Lutherans, and were members of the Moselem Church (which was established in 1742), of which he was an official, and they are both buried in the cemetery adjoining this church. To this couple were born seven sons and five daughters, all but one of whom lived to old age. All the sons were named Johann, but each was known by his second name with the exception of the sixth son, who had no second name. These children were: (1) Johann Adam, born Dec. 11, 1765, died Aug. 19, 1823, aged fifty-seven years, five months, twenty-seven days. (2) Johann Georg, born May 7, 1767, died Nov. 4, 1845, aged seventy-eight years, five months, twenty-seven days. (3) Maria Barbara, born 1769, m. Johannes Zimmerman, of Albany township, where their descendants still reside. (4) Maria Catharine, born 1771, m. Rev. Johann Michael Schmidt, mentioned elsewhere. (5) Johann Jacob, born June 25, 1773, died Sept. 1. 1857, aged eighty-four years, two months, six days. (6) Johann Michael, born April 6, 1775, died June 19, 1861, aged eighty-six years, two months, thirteen days. (7) Johann Heinrich, born 1777, died 1857. (8) Johann, born Jan. 7, 1779, died July 28, 1830, aged fifty-one years, six months, twenty-one days. (9) Maria Elizabeth, born 1781. (10) Johann Christian, born Jan. 13, 1783, died Nov. 21, 1873, aged ninety years, ten months, eight days. (11) Maria Magdalena, born 1785, was known by the name of Polly. She m. a Becker. (12) Anna Margaret, born January, 1787, died July 14, 1838, aged fifty-one years, six months. She was called Beckie, and she m. Jacob Heffner (1781-1867), of Virginville, Pennsylvania. ⁸⁸²

Adam married Anna Barbara Steinbruch, daughter of Jacob Steinbruch and Maria Margaretha Unknown. (Anna Barbara Steinbruch was born on Mar 13, 1741 in , , Pennsylvania,¹⁰² died on Jun 6, 1821 in , , Pennsylvania ¹⁰² and was buried on Jun 6, 1821 in Moselem Church, Kutztown, Berks Co, Pennsylvania ¹⁰².)