Berkeley County, West Virginia - The TEDERICK Family of West Virginia ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** The records for this work have been submitted by Lawrence G. Brown, E-mail address: , April 1999. ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** The TEDERICK Family - of West Virginia with variations; Tedrick, Dedrick, Dederick, Deitrich, Dietrick, etc. --mid 18th century German immigrants through Pennsylvania, Maryland into Virginia by Lawrence G. Brown Fayetteville, AR ---- Rev. Feb. 1994 SETTLEMENT IN VIRGINIA\WEST VIRGINIA The entry of the Tederick family to Berkeley County, West Virginia, (then Virginia) appears to have begun in the late 18th century. The person we feel to be the progenitor of the Tederick family that settled in Berkeley County VA/WV is Christopher Tederick, earlier known as Dederick, with other variations of spelling. A deed transferring land from a George Tederick outlines the connection. Christopher acquired land from a Paul Hulse on 21 Feb. 1792 along Sleepy Creek, Berkeley County, VA. Christopher transferred the same land to George Tederick on 8 June 1792, and George transferred the land to a Philip Pendleton on 1 Aug 1793. A photocopy of this 1 Aug 1793 action is available and outlines the transfers. It is evident the family were likely migrants from Pennsylvania since the 1 Aug 1793 deed contained reference to payment of "One hundred fifty nine pounds and Ten Shillings Pennsylvania Currency." The family name is spelled three different ways in this particular document; Dedrick, Dederick and finally is signed by George Tederick. ORIGINS IN GERMANY Birthplace and birthdate of the family progenitor, Christopher is not known with certainty, but is assuredly German in origin. We find a Christoph Dietrich was born 1747, Sachsen (Saxony), Germany to Christoph Dietrich and Justina Hahn. Also born to this same couple were Johann David Dietrich, born 1756, and Gotthilf Dietrich, 1759, also in Sachsen. A large number of Christoph Dietrich's were in Sachsen from the mid-1600's to early 1800's. Dates of their births, or other factors did not warrant consideration as an immigrant through the eastern seaboard with subsequent settlement in the Pennsylvania or Virginia (West Virginia) area. Another Christoph Dietrich was born 1747 to Christoph Dietrich and Anna Dietz, Thuringer, Germany. If either of these Christoph Dietrich were the immigrant in 1765, indicated following, they would have been about 17 or 18 years old, and not an unreasonable age to leave their homeland and gamble their future in an expanding America, thereby escaping political and religious persecution and unwilling military service they faced then in Germany. DIETRICH (TEDERICK) MARRIAGE The late Mrs. Mary E. Magruder and daughter Virginia Magruder, of Hagerstown, MD, and the late Virginia (Tederick) Houck, Fairmont, WV, all direct descendents of the Tederick families also engaged in research on the Tederick family and of their origins. The given name for Christopher's wife was reportedly Elizabeth. The surname is not confirmed, however we do find in "Pennsylvania Marriages Prior to 1810, Vol II, GPC, 1968, page 336, Marriage records of St. Michael's & Zion Church, Philadelphia 1745-1800, the following entry: "1769 - Feb 21--Christopher Dietrich and Elizabeth Hofmann." (edit: underscoring supplied) A Christopher Dietrich and Maria Becker married in the same church 30 Oct. 1770, which I think unlikely as the Christopher for whom we are searching. An Indenture prepared and signed 26 Oct 1812 by all males and wives of this first generation assures us the name of Christopher's wife was Elizabeth. Coincidentally, Elizabeth was also the name of spouses to son George and John as well. Peter's spouse was Sarah (Sally) Stout, sister to Elizabeth Stout who married Peter's brother George Tederick, both daughters of Philip Stout The 1812 Indenture was prepared a decade or more before the demise of Christopher, and it would appear he attempted to sign as "Crystoffel Dieteryi" If Christopher Dietrich, born 1747, is the same Christopher who married Elizabeth Hofman he would have been 22 years, a very marriageable age. The Christopher Dietrich (Tederick) we are striving to identify perhaps died between 26 Oct 1812 - 5 July 1821. His name was listed in the 1810 Census, but not in the 1820 census. A family property deed of 27 April 1829 refers to "Christopher Tedericks line". Assuming our Christopher was born 1747, he would have been between 68 and 82 years of age, the latest likely date at time of his death. ARRIVALS Countless Germans came through the Port of Philadelphia in the mid-18th century. Many were from Hesse, Wirtenberg, Zweibrucken and Palatinate. "Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants," by Rupp, published by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1965 cites on Page 369, "Aug. 24, 1765, Ship "Polly", Robert Porter, Master, Rotterdam via Cowes (England)-211 passengers..... John Bernhart Dietrich..... Christoph Dieterich...... " On Page 372, same publication, appears "Sept 21, 1765, Ship "Myrtilla", James Clayton,Captain, from London,-81 passengers..........Jacob Dieterich...... Christoffel Dieterich...." A slight spelling variation to the first cited entry is found in Vol. 1, "Penna German Pioneers": Strassburger-Hinke..."From Rotterdam via Cowes, 26 Sept 1765, Ship "Polly", "--Christoph Dietterich and Johann Bernhard Dietrich..." A "New Jersey Tax List 1772-1822," Vol. 2, P. 935, pub. 1981 shows a Christopher Dederick and Jacob Dederick were each located at Maurice River Township, Cumberland Co., NJ, as of Jan 1781, which is at the mouth of the Delaware River, a few miles south of the presumed entry Port of Philadelphia. To be expanded upon in a later paragraph is that a Christoffel and Jacob Dietrick were in the Waterford Township, vicinity of Philadelphia in 1773. It is doubtful those on the Maurice River were those also in Waterford some eight years earlier, and rather than move toward the coastal area, most immigrants would more likely move inland. Errors in spelling of a given name or surname, whether Dederick, Ditrick or Dietrick is attributed to language difficulties on the part of the recording immigration official and on the immigrant. Both undoubtedly had much difficulty in understanding the other. Both relied on enunciation in a foreign language, compounded with dialects. Numerous dialects then and now in middle European countries are often as plentiful as are the individual and adjacent provinces. Hand written records by minimally educated recorders were often based on phonetic interpretations. To amplify, an explanation on Page 482, above cited book, explains the name "Christopher" is of Greek origin, meaning, "Christ" refers to Christ, and "Pherin" to "bear or carry". Variations of Christopher are sometimes Christoph, Christof, with endings of Stoffel and Stoffe. In a reissue of "30,000 Names of Immigrants...." by Rupp, GPC 1971, page 483, the name Dietrich..means "patriot, or friend of the people." F. Pilcher writes, "The vulgar write Dieter, Ditrich, Tietrich...etc." EARLY OCCUPATIONS In early 1773, about seven years and six months after the arrival of a Jacob and Christoffel Dieterick in 1765, we find a Jacob Dedrick and Christopher Dietrick were residing in Waterford Township, Philadelphia, there receiving and sponsoring incoming German immigrants as servants to already established families. It is possible, but unlikely this Jacob and Christoffel were the same Jacob and Christopher who were later in southern New Jersey Tax List of January 1781. This early "employment agency" may have been providing a high quality of Indentured Servants to already established families who had pre-paid, or would regain investment costs in return for services by the servant for their ship passage. Despite the difference in spelling of the family name in this business endeavor, the fact a Christoffel and a Jacob Dieterich arrived on the same ship, and a Christoph Dieterich and another Johann (John) Bernhart Dieterich arrived within short weeks or months of each other, and their residence in the same township, and were engaged in similar activities leads me to believe they were certainly bloodline related, if not actual brothers. From the total number of Dietrich's arriving as immigrants, one suspects a large portion of the German born same name family and relatives migrated to the Colonies. WESTWARD MIGRATION The German immigrants spread the entire length of the state of Pennsylvania. A large settlement of these were in the Lebanon and York county area, mid-state, and within easy access to the northern counties of Virginia and Maryland. In mid-Pennsylvania the surname began to assume spellings of Tectrigh, Tectereck, etc. In the "First Census of the U.S.--1790, Pennsylvania;' page 127 Lancaster Co., Caernarvon Township, (which in 1790 was east of the Susquehanna River) there is listed "Dietrick, Christor..." "1 White Male of 16 & up, including head of family, and 2 White Females, including head of family." No age was given for the females. From the Elizabeth_Town Herald/Advertiser,(now Hagerstown, MD) and Frederick-Town Hornet (now Frederick, MD)newspapers from 1800-1808 we know the Dietrich(k) families moved southward through Chambersburg, PA, to Hagerstown, MD, then known as Elizabeth-town. Reportedly there are many burials of the Dederick (Tederick) families in the Mt. Olive Cemetery, Hagerstown. In Hagerstown a Jacob D. Deitrick operated as an iron-monger, printer, postmaster and merchant from 1800 until 1808 when he petitioned for relief of debts. In 1814 a Capt. Jacob Deitrick, commanding a company, 2nd Regiment, 1st Brigade, PA State Troops, rode off in the defense of Baltimore; probably the same Jacob D. Dietrick. Because of this Jacob D. Dietrick's business interests, and the fact he was for a time Postmaster in Elizabeth Town (Hagerstown) we can presume he could read and write. A Jacob Tedrick signed his signature with an "X" to a Deed in Berkeley County, VA in 1821, along with John, Peter and George Tederick, the latter three who did fully sign their own name. It is doubtful these two Jacob Dietrick/Tedrick were the same. Also from the "Elizabeth-Town Herald/Advertiser" newspaper, 1804 we find the following entry: "To be rented....300 a. of woodland 5 miles from Hancock-Town, bounded by land of Jacob Bishop; 100 a. on Canaloway creek, 1 mile from Jacob Bishop's saw mill, where Christopher and Jacob Dietrick's sawmill formerly stood." The Dietrick's (Tedericks) operated saw-mills in Berkeley county after arriving in Virginia (West Virginia). From 1850 Census reports of Highland County, New Market Township, Ohio, and from "A History of Highland Co., Ohio" and publications of that same county historical society, Charlotte Dederick (Tederick) and spouse Jacob Barnes migrated from Berkeley co., VA/WV to the Ohio territory in 1805. LAND ACQUISITIONS Christopher reportedly had a son named George, born either 1770 or 1774. I earlier presumed the George named in the 1793 land transactions was that son, and if so would then have been 23 years of age at most. I now feel more certain one George who was also acquiring land may have been a brother or other relative to Christopher. Here is why. On 17th April 1799 the Virginia Commonwealth granted George Tedrick 351 acres in Berkeley County on the "drains of the Potomac River". Christopher Tederick purchased 100 acres, more or less 10 June 1800 on Sleepy Creek, Berkeley Co., VA from John and Elizabeth Rhone for Twenty Seven Pounds and Nine Shillings. On 9 Dec. 1800 the Virginia Commonwealth granted Christopher Tedrick 100 acres in Berkeley County also on the "drains of the Potomac River". Both George and Christopher's properties adjoined, but it was one year, seven months and 23 days later that Christopher received his grant after George received his. It is difficult to comprehend how the 29/30 year old son, if that is who George was, would, or could move more expeditiously than his father's in land acquisitions. Christopher, if born 1747, would then have been 52/53 years of age and may have perceived his personal physical deterioration. At that age he may have had no further desire to amass property. It was three and four years later, and on 20 June 1803 before John Page, Governor of the Virginia Commonwealth affixed his signature and seal to the grants. PROPERTY LOSS With favorable land speculations one also encounters land pitfalls. Mrs. Magruder earlier advised those Tederick family engaged in sawmill operations and encountered financial difficulties at one time or more times. This supposition is supported. On 26 Oct. 1812 Christopher and Elizabeth Tederick, George and Elizabeth Tederick, Peter and Sarah Tederick and John and Elizabeth Tederick mortaged two pieces of property in Berkeley County in the amount of $275.77. One property, 103 acres on Mountain Run and Sleepy Creek on which Christopher Tederick was then living, and another 243 acres were put into hock with payment of the $275.77 due 15 May 1813. To be noted on this document, the signature of "Cryrostoh Diteri---" was difficult to read and noticeably in a truly foreign script. Signatures by John, Peter and George Tederick were most legible, beautifully flowing and neatly scripted, suggesting a pronounced degree of education. The name of Jacob Tederick did not appear on this document. None of the spouses could sign their name, but did indicate their signature by an "X". Coincidentally the property on Sleepy Creek on which Christopher resided was reportedly owned earlier by Edward Rumsey, reportedly a brother to John Rumsey, inventor of the steamboat. I did not find that name on any Deeds, but did find what appeared to be "Roany". Financial troubles dogged the Tederick family for another decade. On 22 June 1821 in Morgan County, (which subdivided from Berkeley in 1821,) George, John, Peter, and now a Jacob Tedrick were in the Morgan County Jail as a result of a lawsuit by Jacob Zuck for their inability to pay a claim of $562.32, being compounded at an annual interest rate of 6%. In an Indenture they signed over 1,062 acres of land to Sheriff Peter Bruner, to sell at public auction to satisfy the debt. It is noted in this Indenture the four Tedricks had expressed a desire to avail themselves of an Act of the Virginia General Assembly for relief for insolvent debtors. It was on this Indenture that Peter, John and George personally signed their full name. Jacob signed with an "X", but there was no reference he actually held any acreage subject to this lawsuit. Christopher Tedricks name did not appear in this document, but there was reference to a tract of 103 acres, where John lived, which perhaps is the same 103 acres earlier acquired by Christopher. John's wife, Elizabeth (Hartman), named in the deed of 26 Oct. 1812 no longer appeared in any transaction thereafter. Since John was living on the 103 acres believed earlier bought by Christopher, it is presumed Elizabeth (Hartman) had died, certainly before June 1821, nor did her name appear on a Deed of 27 Apr 1829 in which John sold to Jacob Tederick 160 acres on Sleepy Creek, earlier purchased 5 Sept 1808 from George Tederick. REACQUISITION OF OLD HOME SITE Interestingly enough the recurring reference to a 103 acre tract of land on Sleepy Creek, Morgan County, WV suggest a tendency for the Tedericks to adhere to the home of their immigrant father, Christopher Tederick. I've mentioned before this 103 acres. Now, on 1 April 1864, a George Tederick, who probably was the grandson to immigrant Christopher, purchased a 103 acre tract on Sleepy Creek for $250.00 from a Matilda Wheeler and four named males of the same Wheeler family. It had passed through the hands of a Henry I. Seibert and John W. Hedges, to Christena Dick, and the Wheeler's. It would suggest a loving desire to retain the old farm within the family, despite their earlier years of financial purgatory. BURIAL SITES: We know Christopher Dedrick was listed in the 1810 U.S. Census, and he signed a mortage agreement 26 Oct 1812. We do not have an exact date or precise location of his death or other recorded activity on his part thereafter, suggesting he died before the 1820 Census was made. As mentioned in a previous paragraph, there is reference to "Christopher Tederick line" in a Deed of 1829. Recent publication of "Tombstone Inscriptions of Jefferson County", and "Cemeteries of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia" carries no reference to any of the Christopher Dederick immediate family. The greater probability is the elders of the Tederick family were buried in family cemeteries on their properties, which was customary in many instances, and those sites are now lost. Further, about 1910 or thereabouts the Baltimore and Ohio railroad constructed track in the vicinity of the Tederick former land holdings. Short years thereafter grave stones and other markers were reportedly stacked in the vicinity, which became further lost to history. Mrs. Mary Magruder advises Page 575, Book 28, Morgan Co., WV land records reflect 103 acres known as "Saw Mill Place", owned in 1908 by Andrew Michael Tederick, was on the west side of Sleepy Creek, and this site is where the elder Tedericks were buried. The 103 acres coincides with the 103 acres on which Christopher was living at the time of the mortage established in 1812, referred to previously. [Editorial Note:] This is not the end of the study of the Tederick family history, coupled with the Brantner family. Once begun, a genealogical study never has an ending. My initial purpose in assuming this enjoyable task was to provide my descendents a direct lineal history of their heritage as far back in time as possible. An equally important objective was, and still is, to insert our family data into the world's largest International Genealogical Index. This would make the data of permanent duration and is maintained by the Latter Day Saints (Morman) Church at Salt Lake City. This data is open and available to any researcher or contributor world-wide. To date I have made two significant contributions of numerous families, either directly or more remotely connected to my own families. Submission have been made without reference or request for church religious motifs, sacraments or obligations, nor will any be made under such conditions. All contributions made are solely for historical value. Land transactions, (Deeds and Indentures) are listed separately in personal files. Lawrence G. Brown Submitted 28 April 1999