Johann Philipp Dellinger (1706 - aft. 1783)

Born 24 Aug 1706 in Oberacker, Bezirk Dertingen, Herzogtum Württemberg, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Ancestors

Husband of Anna Maria (Brandstatter) Dellinger — married 30 Jan 1731 (to 11 Mar 1748) in Oberacker, Dertingen District, Herzogtum Württemberg, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Husband of Catharina (Zeeb) Dellinger — married 26 Nov 1748 in Oberacker, Dertingen District, Herzogtum Württemberg, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Husband of Mary (Unknown) Dellinger — married after 1750 in America

Descendants

Died after 4 Oct 1783 after age 77 in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

During the time that Philipp resided in the village of Oberacker, it was in the Dertingen District, Duchy of Württemberg, Holy Roman Empire [in German: Bezirk Dertingen, Herzogtum Württemberg, Heiliges Römisches Reich]. Oberacker now is part of the State of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

A comparison of Philipp Dellinger's signatures confirms without question that the man born in Oberacker is the same person who emigrated to America in 1750.

1735 and 1750 Signatures.

Marriages and Children

Marriage 1: Anna Maria Brandstatter, 30 January 1731, Oberacker, Germany.^[1]

Only two children (Henry and John) survived from Philipp and Anna Maria (Brandstatter) Dellinger's marriage.

1. Catherina Margaretha Dellinger 1733-1734
2. Hanns Philipp Dellinger 1734-1738
3. Rosina Barbara Dellinger born 1737
4. Heinrich "Henry" Dellinger 1740-1820. Spouses: 1) Anna Johanna "Hanna" Rudisill, 2) Margaret (née -?-) Schmoller
5. Johann "John" Philipp Dellinger 1743-1826. Spouse: Barbara Whitener
6. Peter Paul Dellinger born and died 1747

Marriage 2: Catharina Zeeb, 26 November 1748, Oberacker.^[2]

1. Margaretha Dellinger born 1750

No other child for Philipp and Catharina (Zeeb) Dellinger is recorded in the Oberacker Church Register.

Marriage 3 after 1750 in America to Mary née —?—.
In 1769, Philipp Dellinger and his wife Mary executed a deed to William Tankersley, indicating Philipp had married a third time.^[3] A published abstract of the deed misled some researchers that Mary’s maiden name was Tankersley. Consulting the deed book itself on site at the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds Office revealed the Register of Deeds made a copying error by confusing the grantors’ surname with that of the grantee. Whatever Mary’s maiden name was, this instrument does not establish her as a Tankersley.

Child: None known.

Inaccurate Speculation

There is speculation in print, both hard-copy and online, that Philipp had surviving sons in addition to Henry and John. This speculation originated with Don Billet in 1998 and 2000 when he published it on a subscription site for the Dellinger surname. The site subsequently became a Yahoo.com site and is now defunct. Two experienced North Carolina researchers immediately protested. Billet's database was removed and replaced by more accurate information. Nevertheless, the damage continues to prevail in wildly inaccurate family trees published on the Internet.

Justification for Billet's undocumented hypothesis was that “it made sense." Well, no. It does not make sense to fabricate parents for anyone. Ongoing research has not produced indicators of any surviving sons other than Henry and John. Knowing that Philipp Dellinger endured the loss of two infant sons as well as at least one—and probably two—infant daughters in Oberacker, it is implausible that he would omit any son from his estate distribution.

Occupation

In his home village of Oberacker, Philipp was a tailor and a grave digger.^[4] He continued his tailoring trade in North Carolina. When he purchased North Carolina land in 1757, the deed states his occupation: "This Indenture made in the year of our Lord 1757 between Martin Falinger [Dellinger], Planter, and Barbara his wife to Philip Fallinger [Dellinger], Taylor."^[5]

1750 Emigration

Emigration route: From Oberacker village via the Rhine River in Germany to Rotterdam, Holland, Netherlands, to Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, to the Port of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, America.

Philipp Dellinger was age 44 when he emigrated to the American colonies on the ship Two Brothers. At Philadelphia Town Hall on 28 August 1750, he signed the oath of abjuration required of all non-English emigrants as Philipp Dellinger in German script. Following after Philipp's signature is "Henry his X mark Hillinger." Presumably he was Philipp's ten-year old son even though requirements were that only males age sixteen and over were sworn.^[6]

North Carolina Land

Philipp's first land purchase was 2 September 1757 for 185 acres in Anson County (present-day Lincoln County), Province of North Carolina.^[7] This is the tract he later conveyed to his son Henry. The second and last land tract Philipp acquired was by a 1765 grant of 250 acres "on a branch of Leepers Creek joining the lines of the land he lives on."^[8] He sold this tract soon after on 7 January 1769 to William Tankersley. Witnesses were George Poof [Pfoff], Peter his P mark Club, and John Dillenger [Philipp’s son].^[9]

Revolutionary War Patriot

Philipp Dellinger is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A207928.

Philipp Dellinger performed Patriotic Service in North Carolina in the American Revolution.

The date and specifics of Philipp Dellinger’s contribution to Revolutionary War efforts are unknown other than it occurred prior to October 1783 and was not for active military service; he was in his seventieth year when the Revolution began in 1776. 4 October 1783, the Morgan District Board of Auditors issued a voucher for £9.9.0 to Phillip Dellinger, reimbursing him for a contribution to the War effort.^[10] Philipp was accepted August 2011 as a Patriot by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). His patriot number is A207928.^[11]

Philipp’s sons, Henry (DAR No. A088225) and John (DAR No. A031545), both served active military duty in addition to supplying provisions to the Patriot cause.

Lincoln County, North Carolina, Estate

Philipp disposed of all his worldly goods in two 1783 deeds of gift to his sons Henry and John.

20 May 1783, Philip Dellinger, County of Lincoln, State of North Carolina, for love and affection to my son Henry Dellinger, the land on which I now live, 185 acres, being half of a tract of 370 acres granted to Martin Tillinger [Dellinger] August 30, 1753 and conveyed from Martin to the said Philip Dellinger on September 2, 1757. Signed in German script: Philipp Dellinger.^[12]

22 May 1783, Philip Dellinger for natural love and affection to my son John Dellinger, me hereunto moving, have given and granted all and singular my goods and chattles: two mares and colts, one still and vessels, 14 head of cattle, sheep, loom and gears, horse and wagon and hind gears, one wire sifter, one feather bed and cover, one chaff bed, seven books, one pair of shears, mall rings, one tailors goose, one pr. wool cards, one pr. double trees, one log chain, four augurs, three scythes, one small anvil, one mattock, one hand saw, pitch fork, two chisels, drawing knife, grindstone, two felling axes, coopers dowel, three sides of tanned leather, one basin and one pot and other moveables. Signed in German script: Johann Philipp Dellinger.^[13]

Mary Dellinger, wife of Philipp, may have been deceased by May 1783 as he did not mention provision for her livelihood in his deeds. Under prevailing law, Philipp did not have to provide for his widow because she automatically was entitled to lifetime use of one-third value of his land and to absolute ownership of one-third of his personal property. However, the language of Philipp’s deeds to his sons Henry and John implies that he did not have a living wife.

Philipp's death date and burial site are unknown. A Find A Grave memorial stating he is buried at Smith-Dellinger cemetery is speculation. A personal survey of the cemetery confirms there is no tombstone for Philipp.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ St. Andrew Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oberacker, Ehebuch [marriage book]; FHL microfilm 1,272,382, item 8.
2. ↑ St. Andrew Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oberacker, Ehebuch [marriage book]; FHL microfilm 1,272,382, item 8.
3. ↑ Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, deed book 4: 472-73, Philipp and Mary Dellinger to William Tankersley, Register of Deeds, Charlotte.
4. ↑ His occupations are stated in St. Andrew Evangelical Lutheran Church Register, Oberacker.
5. ↑ Anson County, North Carolina, deed book C-1: 346-48, Martin Falinger to Philip Fallinger; North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.
6. ↑ Ralph B. Strassburger, Pennsylvania German Pioneers (1934; reprint Camden, Maine: Picton Press, 1992), vol. II: 509, signature image.
7. ↑ Anson County, North Carolina, deed book C-1: 346-52.
8. ↑ Granted 25 October 1765, to "Philip Tillinger" in Mecklenburg County (present-day Lincoln County); recorded in Grant Book 18: 275; Secretary of State Land Records, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.
9. ↑ Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, deed book 4: 472-73, Register of Deeds Office, Charlotte.
10. ↑ State Treasurer, Revolutionary War Vouchers, Philipp Dellinger certificate no. 2810; North Carolina State Archives.
11. ↑ See DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/), "Record of Philipp Dellinger", Ancestor # A207928.), Ancestor database, Dellinger: Philipp, Henry, and John. Philipp was sponsored by his descendant Kathy Gunter Sullivan, DAR member national no. 752135.
12. ↑ Lincoln County, North Carolina, Deed Book 2: 623, Philip Dellinger to Henry Dellinger, Register of Deeds, Lincolnton.
13. ↑ Lincoln County, North Carolina, Deed Book 2: 623-24, Philip Dellinger to John Dellinger, Register of Deeds, Lincolnton.
14. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #207058802 for Johann Philipp “Philip” Dellinger (1706–1783), , citing Smith-Dellinger Cemetery, Iron Station, Lincoln County, North Carolina, USA; maintained by Rita Wehunt-Black (contributor 48110921); based on speculation that he is buried here in an unmarked grave.

Acknowledgments

• Biography and citations contributed by Kathy Gunter Sullivan, who acknowledges with grateful thanks Miles S. Philbeck's his translations and extensive guidance to understanding German church registers.