1710 Francis Diller, father of Abraham and Peter and Francis Diller, was born in 1710. [1] [2]
The Dillers of Buffalo descend from Francis Diller, a Swiss immigrant about whom little is known further than the information contained in his passport, dated April 10, 1754. He was born in Biglen, a village in northwestern Switzerland. The earlier years of his life up to 1743 were spent in the canton of Bern. He was a Mennonite, a sect which, on account of their hostility to a union of church and state, their refusal to bear arms, take the oath or hold office, suffered great persecution. The persecutions were most intense and long continued in Bern, and it seems most probable that he was among those exiled from his native land, for during the last eleven years of his stay in Europe he was resident at La Chaux-de-Fonds under the authority of the King of Prussia, who had invited the exiled Bernese to settle in his own kingdom. His passport shows that he leased a considerable estate at Chaux-de-Fonds, where he resided continuously for eleven years, that he was a man of good character, and had a family. As his eldest son was born about 1743, possibly as early as 1731, he was most likely married in Biglen, and that his other three children were born at Chaux-de-Fonds. The passport was obtained April 10, 1754, and it seems more likely that he began his journey down the Rhine at once and made no stops of long duration in Holland or elsewhere before sailing for America. There is no record of the voyage, but tradition has it that his household goods were lost at sea, and that the family arrived destitute. This is improbable, as in a few years after his arrival Francis Diller bought a farm, paying over $2000 cash, and assuming a mortgage on the property. This farm, which he purchased April 10, 1760, contained one hundred and forty acres, situated on a branch of Muddy Creek, in now Brecknock township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. During his early residence there he built the first distillery in Lancaster county, and operated it during the revolutionary war. He made his will November 12, 1782, and named his son Peter as executor. He died soon after his will was made, and is supposed to have been buried at Mennonite meeting house, in Bowmansville, about one and three-quarters miles from his farm. No trace of his grave has been found. His wife Anna, maiden name unknown, was born June, 1707, and died between 1809 and 1811. A stone to the memory of Francis Diller has been erected in the graveyard of the Diller church in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, with inscription: "Francis and Anna Diller of Biglen, Switzerland, emigrated in 1754 from La Chaux-de-Fonds, to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where Francis died in 1783, and was buried near Bowmansville. Anna died about 1810, lies here with her three sons Francis, Peter and Abraham." Elizabeth, the only daughter, married David Eshelman, and lived in Berks county, Pennsylvania. Three of her six children lived in Niagara county, New York. The sons are all the founders of families found all over the United States.
c 1738 "Many immigrants from the Palatinate settled in Brecknock Tpwnship. Among these were Jacob Guth, who erected the first grist mill; John Musselman and Francis Diller, who erected the first distillery in Brecknock …". [3]
c 1783 Abraham Deeler owned 300 acres of land in Brecknock Twp. [4]
1788 Abram Deeler was taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [5]
1789 Abram Deeler was taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [6]
1789 Abraham Diller, distiller, was taxed in Brecknock Twp. [7]
1743 Francis Diller, father of Abraham and Peter and Francis Diller [and oldest son of Abram Diller], was born in 1743. Francis became a minister at Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [8]
1745 Abraham Diller, son of Frantz Ludwig Tueller and Anna Tschantz, was born on August 11, 1745. Abraham Diller's spouse was Susan Scherer Good. [9]
1785 Francis Diller, son of Abraham Diller and Susan Good, was born in 1785. He later married Marie Detweiler. [10]
1790 Abraham Diller lived in Westpensboro Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in a household with 1 males age 16 and over, and 3 females. [11]
1798 Abraham Diller, [brother] Peter Diller, and [brother] Francis Diller were listed in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania for the 1798 Direct tax. [12] Abram Diller lived in a wooden house in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [13] Abm Diller lived adjacent to James Graham in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [14]
1800 Abraham Diller purchased land from Barnhart and Magdalena Speck in Cumberland County. Adjacent lanhdolders were Andrew McFarlane heirs, Gabriel Pupensmyer, and Simon Culp. [15]
1801 The heirs of James McFarland sold land to Christian Moyer, Samuel Moyer, Peter Diller, and Abraham Diller. [16]
1800 Abram Diller lived in West Pennsboro, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 3 (Under 10), 2 (10 thru 15), 1 (16 thru 25), 1 (26 thru 44), and 1 (45 and over); and females: 1 (Under 10), 2 (10 thru 15), 1 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over). [17] Several McFarlane families were listed nearby [see the 1800 and 1801 deeds].
1810 Abraham Diller [perhaps a son of Francis-1743] lived in Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 2 (Under 10), 1 (10 thru 15), and 1 (26 thru 44); and females: 1 (Under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44). [18]
1820 Abraham Diller lived in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 3 (Under 10), 1 (10 thru 15), and 1 (45 and over); and females: 1 (Under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44). [19]
1830 Abm Diller lived in West Pennsboro Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (Under 5), 1 (10 thru 14), 1 (15 thru 19), 1 (20 thru 29), and 1 (70 thru 79); and females: 1 (Under 5), 1 (5 thru 9), 1 (15 thru 19), 1 (20 thru 29), and 1 (50 thru 59). John Diller and Francis Diller were listed adjacent. [20]
1857 Rev Francis Diller, spouse of Maria Diller [and son of Abraham Diller], died on March 10 in Hopewell Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was born on June 18, 1785 in Bowmansdale, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [21]
1841 Abraham Diller [perhaps a son of Francis-1743] died on August 19 in Erie County, New York. [22]
Descent to a DNA matched cousin of Robert Wolfe:
1846 Abram Diller died on May 11, at age 46. [23]
Abraham and Nancy Diller had children Abraham (18 Apr 1840-5 Apr 1843) and Elizabeth (30 Apr 1825-28 Jun 1849). [24]
1843 Abraham Diller died on April 5. Abraham Diller was born on April 18, 1840, child of Nancy Diller. [25]
1918 Martha Fry died on February 28 in Frankford Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. She was born on November 3, 1835 in Pennsylvania, daughter of Abraham Diller and Nancy Diller. [26]
[1] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), Citing the Pennsylvania-German, p 282-287, May, 1910, Vol. XI; No. 5, and citing Ellis & Evans, page 675, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[2] William Richard Cutter, Genealogical and Family History of Western New York (1912), 550, [URL].
[3] Pennsylvania Swiss and German Pioneer Settlers, [AncestryImage].
[4] Lancaster. Local Histories 1883, IGN=007718137, image 452, [FamilySearchImage].
[5] Tax Records: Brecknock Township. Tax Records 1750–1846, IGN=008353954, image 189, [FamilySearchImage].
[6] Tax Records: Brecknock Township. Tax Records 1789, IGN=008353954, image 205, [FamilySearchImage].
[7] Tax Records: Brecknock Township. Tax Records 1750–1846, IGN=008353954, image 210, [FamilySearchImage].
[8] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[9] Geneanet Community Trees Index, [AncestryRecord].
[10] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[11] United States Federal Census, 1790, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[12] Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[13] Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[14] Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[15] Cumberland. Deeds 1800–1804, IGN=008067032, image 128, [FamilySearchImage].
[16] Cumberland. Deeds 1800–1804, IGN=008067032, image 180, [FamilySearchImage].
[17] United States Federal Census, 1800, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[18] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[19] United States Federal Census, 1820, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[20] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[21] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[22] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[23] Iowa, U.S., Cemetery Records, 1662-1999, [AncestryRecord].
[24] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[25] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[26] Pennsylvania Death Certificates, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].