Disinger Family Narrative

Barthel & Henrich Deissinger

Immigration/Homestead see below

Please watch Ken Burns' "The American Revolution" for free on pbs.org or your local PBS station. In particular, watch Episode 3 "The Times That Try Men’s Souls (July 1776 – January 1777)" that covers the Battle of Long Island. In August of 1776, Nicolaus and John Deissinger served in the "Heidelberg Brigade," a Continental Army militia unit from Berks County, PA. Their unit fought in the battle in Captain John Lesher's company of Colonel Patton’s Regiment. Also watch Episode 5 "The Soul of All America (December 1777 – May 1780)" covering the Sullivan Expedition, which likely influenced Nicolaus and his sons' move to Seneca County, NY.

Excerpt from 250 Years in America - 1998 Reunion Paper by Frank Disinger - "Our first immigrant ancestors to arrive in America landed in Philadelphia on Sept 17, 1748. Their landing and qualifying is verified in Pennsylvania German Pioneers by Strassburger and Hinke as follows: Volume 1 Page 383 [list 122A] Bartel Tiesingen 66, Hendk Tiesingen 18 " (on the ship Patience, see below)

Ship Patience arrival list: note- The list mentions "Mens Names", not women or children

Before Emigrating

Eric Dysinger visited Germany in July 2012 and found Barthel and his parents in the Steinwenden church records, as documented on his website. Bathel's father was Johan (Hans) Georg Deissinger, who was a baker. He married Catharina Seyler in May of 1672 in the town of Wolfstein, Germany, about 9 miles north of Steinwenden. Johan (Hans) Georg's parents were Hans Theobald (also a baker) and Ottilia Deissinger, who lived in Wolfstein. Johan (Hans) Georg and Catharina had four daughters and five sons. By 1748, the year Barthel left Germany for America, his first wife, 11 of his children, his siblings, and his parents had all died. While the causes of their deaths are unknown, Barthel likely had little reason to remain in Germany.

Passage

Eric Dysinger's website also suggests that Barthel arrived in America in 1748 with more of his family than just his son Heinrich Erasmus, namely Anna Barbara Bernhard (Barthel's second wife), daughters Maria Magdalena and pregnant Catharina Barbara, sons Johann Jacob, and Johann Wilhelm. This matches up with Barthel's family. This means Barthel paid the passage for 7 or 8 people for the trip to America, each costing about one year's income for a farmer from the Palatinate region in Germany. Additionally, Eric discovered that Barthel was a baker and an innkeeper, which may explain how he could afford to emigrate.

note- While there are German birth and baptism records for Anna Barbara, Maria Magdalena, Catharina Barbara, Johann Jacob, and Johann Wilhelm, and they may have immigrated with Barthel and Heinrich, there are currently no American records for them that indicate what may have happened to them after arriving in Pennsylvania. Presumably, they all may have died and been buried in Tulpehocken with Barthel and Heinrich, and knowledge of their fate has been lost to damage and deterioration over 250 years.

On Arrival

Frank Disinger states in his Two Hundred Fifty (250) Years in America 1998 reunion paper that 2 years after arriving in Philadelphia, Barthel was recorded as mortgaging 200 acres of land from Conrad Weiser in Andulhea near Rehrersburg, Tulpehocken, Berks County, PA., for 190 pounds (about $30,000 today), which he finished paying off in 1752 at age 70. On his death in 1770, Barthel was likely buried in his church cemetery in Tulpehocken.

Tulpehocken Culture

Conrad Weiser's homestead was in Heidelberg Township, Berks County, PA, about 6 miles southeast of Rehrersburg, 5 miles west of Reading, PA. Excerpt from the Heidelberg Township website -

"The first settlements in Heidelberg were made in 1735. The number of the first immigrants was small, consisting of isolated families who had come from Switzerland and Westphalia [Germany]. Until 1840, there was little mingling with other people. Those who had possession of the land conveyed it from one heir to another, and thus kept it among their descendants. Schools of the English language were scarce. Churches, both of the German Reformed and Lutheran denominations, were found all over the county and were well attended. There was strict adherence to the doctrine of the churches; the parents greatly desired having their children trained in the precepts of Christianity. It was rare for a stranger to settle among them."

Tulpehocken, where Barthel and his family lived, being close to Heidelberg in distance and inhabitants, was likely similar in culture. Berks County is in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch region (Palatinate Germans) in southeast Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Dutch

Google AI - "The Pennsylvania Dutch (or Pennsylvania Germans) are an ethnic group descended from 17th-18th century German-speaking immigrants, primarily from the Palatinate region. Known for preserving a unique, mostly oral, German dialect (Deitsch), they are divided into "Plain" (Amish/Mennonite) and "Fancy" (Lutheran/Reformed) groups. They are renowned for their agricultural tradition, unique arts, and, particularly, the Amish, a simple, non-modern lifestyle."

Homestead

Google Street View of Barthel Deissinger's homestead at 28 W 4 Point Road, Richland, Tulpehocken, PA, looking west from Teen Challenge Road near a creek. Zillow lists it at over $1 million, 63 acres (less than half the original farm), and a single-family home built in 1900. Frank Disinger visited here in 1990 and took photos of the house and parts of the farm using maps of Barthel's original land grant in Lancaster County, PA, in 1750. The shape of the house above looks the same from Frank's 1990 photos as does some of the barns near the house.

Barthel, his son, Heinrich, & grandsons

Nicolaus, along with his grandfather, Barthel, his father, Heinrich, and his brother, Johan George (John), are pivotal figures in the Disinger family tree. Thousands of Disinger descendants are directly related to Barthel and Heinrich and are split between Nicolaus and John. There are almost no records in America about Barthel and Heinrich because they're missing or damaged from over 250 years ago. Johan George (John), whom the family seemingly lost track of, settled in York County, PA, and died at 46, leaving hundreds of descendants. Nicolaus, John, and William all served in the American Revolution. Still, Nicolaus seemed to be the only one to receive much attention for his service, which may be thanks to his descendants and surviving records.

Family Church Records

While there are no records of Barthel's burial in Berks County, PA., there are many records written in German for both Barthel and Heinrich before they left Germany. However, there are records for Heinrich's sons, Johan Wilhem, Johan Nicolaus, and Johan George (John), births/baptisms at the (St. John's) Host Church, Host, Tulpehocken, Berks County, PA. Originally in German, the English translation was published by Thomas Royce Brendle. The author noted, "The oldest record book is only partly preserved. The covers are gone; the leaves are foxed [brown, reddish-brown, or yellowish spots]. The watermark is a lion with his master in a circular stockade; the lion bears a sword in one paw and a bunch of arrows in the other: the motto is 'Pro patria.'" At approximately 250 years old, the oldest Host Church records are incomplete and damaged. It's also likely that many of the oldest Host Church cemetery headstones are either missing or deteriorated and unreadable.

After Nicolaus' grandfather and father, Barthel and Heinrich, immigrated in 1748 and settled in Pennsylvania, Nicolaus was born in 1755 in Tulpehocken, PA, not Germany, as some Disinger descendants had thought. His older brother, Johan Wilhelm (William), was born in 1750 in Tuplehocken, and his younger brother, Johan George (John), was born in 1757 also in Tuplehocken. Barthel died in 1770, and Heinrich died in 1814. William died in 1822, and his will mentioned his wife but made no mention of children. Although there are no burial records for Barthel, he was likely buried in the Host Reformed Church cemetery or the Altalaha Church cemetery of Rehrersburg, PA. Heinrich's burial records are also missing, except that on FamilySearch, someone posted he was interred in Prospect Hill Cemetery, York, PA. Although there's no source cited, nor is he listed on FindAGrave, Heinrich may have moved to York before his death in 1814 to be with his son, John, after his second wife died in 1766, and his father, Barthel, died in 1770. Heinrich's oldest son, William, inherited his grandfather/father's farm in Tulpehocken.

Heinrich's wife

Heinrich's wife, Catherina (Mayer/Meyer), was the daughter of Johannes Meyer, who emigrated from Germany in 1739 and also settled in Tulpehocken, Berks County. Mayer died in 1766. His will mentions his daughter, Catherina Deissinger, and her children (Barthel's grandsons), who were to receive a portion of his estate.

Barthel's Grandson Johan Wilhelm

In 1822, Johan Wilhelm Deissinger left a will written in German in Tulpehocken. The will mentions his brothers, John and Nicholas, whose children were to inherit his estate after his wife, Elizabeth, passed away, meaning he presumably had no children. He served in the American Revolution in 1780 with his brother Nicolaus in Captain Conrad Shirman's Company of the Sixth Battalion of Berks County, PA.

Barthel's Grandson Johan George (John)

While there's no record of Nicolaus' marriage details, there are records that he served with his younger brother Johan George (John) in August 1776, in Captain John Lesher's company in Colonel Patton’s Regiment. Their company marched 135 miles east to Perth Amboy, NJ, near Staten Island, NY. They presumably took part in the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776. By 1793, Johan George (John) had established a homestead in York County, PA, where he raised a family of 8 children before passing away in 1803. John's homestead was about 35-45 miles southwest of Tulpehocken, Berks County, PA, where he was born.

Family Military Service

Barthel's grandsons, Johan Nicolaus, Johan George (John), & Johan Wilhelm (William) Deissinger fought in the American Revolution.
His great-grandsons, Nicolaus' sons, George Disinger and David Deissinger served in the War of 1812.
His great-great-grandson, David Deissinger's son, David D. Disinger served in the Civil War.
His great-great-grandson, Thomas Deissinger's son, Thomas W. Dysinger died in the Civil War.
His great-great-great-grandsons, Thomas Deissinger's grandsons, Henry Dysinger and Isaac Dysinger died in the Civil War.
His great-great-great-grandsons, David Deissinger's grandsons, Henry A. Ernest, George Disinger, and grandson-in-law Thomas C. McEwen also served in the Civil War.
There were a couple of Spanish American War veterans, about 10 WWI veterans, and many WWII and Korean/Vietnam veterans. See Reunion Papers 2009 Addendum for more details.

American Revolution & DAR

For the first Deisinger reunion in 1901, Lyman Dysinger wrote about Nicolaus, "With his two brothers, John & William, he served on the side of the colonists in the American Revolution." For the 115th Deissinger reunion, in honor of Cpl. Nicolaus Deissinger, the Henry Clay Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution in Virginia, obtained a bronze plaque placed permanently in the Town of Pendleton, NY, park. To date, DAR memberships have been obtained by 24 Disinger daughters in total.

Excerpt of full bio for Daniel Disinger, grandson of Nicolaus

Portrait and biographical record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York 1895, p. 380 -

"He [Nicolaus] served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as did also two of his brothers, William and John. They never returned, however, and the natural supposition is that they were killed in battle, but there is no certainty on this point."

note- Neither William nor John died in the war. An explanation for this misunderstanding is that William died about 20 years before Nicolaus, and John died nearly 40 years before. By 1895, Nicolaus' descendants had either forgotten or were unaware of their (great) granduncles, who had died 70 and 90 years earlier.

WikiTree - Nicholaus and his brother William served together in Captain Conrad Shirman's Company of the Sixth Battalion of Berks County Militia, commanded by Colonel Joseph Heister, during the American Revolutionary War. William served as a Sergeant; his brother Nicholas was a Corporal.

FamilySearch.org- Captain Conrad Shirman's Company of the Sixth Battalion of Berks County, PA. Brothers William and Nicolaus were listed, but did not include Johan George (John), who served in a different company earlier.

FindAGrave- In 1780, the company was called into active duty against the Indians for 1 month (Aug 10 to Sep 9).

For the 115th Deissinger reunion, in honor of Cpl. Nicolaus Deissinger, the Henry Clay Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Virginia, obtained a bronze plaque permanently placed in the Town of Pendelton, NY, park (see photo below).

24 Disinger daughters have obtained DAR memberships-

Eliza A. (Dysinger) Sprague

Maude Dysinger Sprague

Pearl M. (Sprague) Goff

Letah M (Dysinger) Johnston

Margaret L Johnston

Florence (Deisinger) White

Effie (Dysinger) Coburn

Mary (Riddell) Morgan

Doris (Fry) Bower

Patricia (Dysinger) Jones

Georgia (Peck) Soule

Laura (Peck) Mahnke

Name Restricted George Dysinger II branch

Name Restricted Henry Disinger branch

Name Restricted George Dysinger II branch

Name Restricted Lydia (Disinger) Behe branch

Name Restricted George Dysinger II branch

Name Restricted Isaac Dysinger branch

Name Restricted Lydia (Disinger) Behe branch

Name Restricted George Dysinger II branch

Name Restricted Samuel Disinger branch

Name Restricted Jacob Disinger branch

There are no male Disingers who have SAR memberships.

The local Seneca Falls DAR chapter replaced Nicolaus' original damaged gravestone with an incorrect one, see Paul M. Disinger Jr.'s bio.

Nicolaus' Mini-bio

First Militia Stint

As a child, Nicolaus likely attended the Host Lutheran church, where the locals spoke German. At 21, Nicolaus served in the "Heidelberg Brigade" (a militia unit from Berks County, PA, comprised of German-American patriots) in August 1776, along with his brother, John. In the History of Berks County in Pennsylvania in the Revolution by Montgomery, Morton L., 1894, Nicolaus Teisinger and John Teisinger were listed as privates in Captain John Lesher's company in Colonel Patton’s Regiment. On August 11, 1776, after making preparations in Berks County, Captain Lesher's company marched 135 miles east to Perth Amboy, NJ, near Staten Island, NY. They presumably took part in the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776, where British forces defeated the Continental Army under George Washington. After suffering about 1,000 losses, the Continental Army safely retreated and escaped across the East River to Manhattan.

Second Militia Stint

Nicolaus served a second time in 1780. In the same book by Morton L. Montgomery, Corporal Nicolaus Deisinger and Sergeant William Deisinger were listed in Captain Conrad Sherman's company under General Joseph Reed. In service for thirty days from August 10th to September 9th, the author could not identify the orders they were under, nor any actions they took. (also see Sullivan Expedition) Only Nicolaus is acknowledged as a Colonial veteran in DAR/SAR records; William and Johan George (John) are not. It appears that only Nicolaus paid a voluntary 1779 Revolutionary War supply tax (money, goods, or materials), whereas William and Johan George (John) seemingly did not. DAR/SAR uses the supply tax records as proof of patriotic service.

Tuplehocken to Cumberland County

At some point between Nicolaus' two tours of duty, he married his wife and had their first child, Catharina, in April 1780. Nicolaus and his family, at first, likely lived with his father and brothers on his grandfather Barthel's former farm. Eldon Dysinger states Nicolaus was known as a "smith" and a taxpayer (likely the supply tax mentioned) in Tuplehocken, even though he didn't own any land. After relocating, his third son, George, was born in 1785 in Cumberland County, PA. Nicolaus's growing family may have prompted the move to Cumberland County, and as noted by Frank Disinger, may have been aided by cheap land grants or military service-connected land grants. Frank Disinger states in his 2008 Cradle to Grave reunion paper that by 1792, Nicholas was the owner of two adjacent farms in the Sherman Creek-Muddy Run valleys located between Loysville and Landisburg, Cumberland County, PA. William stayed on his grandfather/father's farm since he was the eldest son.

Cumberland County to Seneca County

In 1804, Nicolaus's oldest son, John, age 22, packed his bags and traveled north about 250 miles to Seneca County, NY, presumably following Indian trails. In Seneca County, he worked long enough to buy an axe and went into the woods, built a log cabin, and farmed in an area formerly occupied by the Indians. (see Sullivan Expedition) In 1805, Nicolaus's second son, Thomas, also relocated to Seneca County, later moving to Royalton, Niagara County, NY, and finally to Ohio. In 1813, Nicolaus and his wife, along with his son, George, and his family, also moved to Seneca County. Nicolaus and his wife purchased a small 20-acre farm near Fayette, NY, where they remained the rest of their years. His son, John, being the first to settle in Seneca County, raised a family of seven children and accumulated hundreds of acres of farmland, which his children and grandchildren inherited. Nicolaus' youngest son, David, moved his family to Niagara County, NY, near Royalton in 1828, being the first Deissinger to settle there. George eventually also relocated to Royalton in 1830.

German Schooled

Nicolaus and William's wills were written in German, and the baptism records of William, Nicolaus, and John were also in German. The churches they attended and all the people they knew almost certainly spoke mainly German and little English. Schools were church-established and run. Some families in remote areas would have homeschooled their children in German. When asked to give their names, Nicolaus and even his children likely spoke with heavy German accents, which possibly is the reason for some of the strange misspellings of the Deissinger name.

Discovery

About 1980-1985, Frank Disinger and Clint Dysinger had finally determined that Barthel and Heinrich had immigrated to America and farmed in Berks County, PA, and that Nicolaus was born there. By 1988, with the help of Kenneth Dissinger (no relation), who visited Germany, Frank had pinpointed the Deissinger's family origin in Steinwenden, Germany. In June of 1995, Dennis Dysinger traveled to Germany, visited Steinwenden, and confirmed the finding in church records. Before those discoveries, the Disinger family incorrectly assumed or believed that Nicolaus Deissinger was born in Germany. Lyman Disinger was Nicolaus' great-grandson, born 4 years after Nicolaus died, and lived in Seneca County surrounded by his grandfather, father, uncles, and cousins, some of whom knew Nicolaus. And yet, Lyman did not write in his 1901 Disinger Reunion paper, the first reunion paper, that Nicolaus was born in Pennsylvania, not Germany, because he apparently didn't know. Did Nicolaus not tell his son John he was born here, or did John not tell his children? There must have been a divide between Nicolaus and his offspring.

Breakdown

So what happened? Nicolaus likely spoke very little English. He was born and raised in a Pennsylvania German-speaking community by German immigrants, his father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother. His church and school were German-speaking. They presumably spoke a West Central German dialect called Deitsch. Did Nicolaus' children and grandchildren learn his childhood language, or did they struggle to communicate? Many families in the past sometimes kept a family bible with recorded births, deaths, and marriages. Did the Deissingers have a family bible? Was it written in German? Judging by the 1901 Reunion paper he wrote, Lyman Disinger was well educated in English, and he likely didn't know much German. Even if Nicolaus had lived long enough, Lyman may have had a tough time talking to him. So it's likely the barriers of time and language prevented the passing of family knowledge from one generation to the next, and left all the Disinger descendants in the dark for more than a hundred years.

Nicolaus Deisinger's Will translated from the original German, provided by the Niagara Genealogical Society, Lockport, NY.

I, Nicholas DEISINGER of the town of Fayette in the county of Seneca N. Y., Yeoman, being mindful of my mortality do this eighth day of June in the year of out Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following. First I desire to be decently and privately buried in the churchyard at Christ Church without and funeral pomp and with as little expense as may be.

First I give and evise unto my daughter Cathering Overhouse of Seneca County N. Y. three Bonds against my son David DISINGER of fifty six pound five shilling Each. Two of the Bonds said David my son has received for her maintenance and the said David shall receive the third bond, if he will maintain the said Catherine Decently for life, and if the said David will not keep said Catherine OVERHOUSE then said David shall pay the three Bonds above mentioned of 56LfS. Each (without interest, to the Executors for the keeping of the said Catherine (Said Cath” not being sensible). Also to my daughter Barbara Bergstresser, to my son John DEISINGER, to my son Thomas DEISINGER, to my son George DEISINGER, to my daughter Susan CROW. Each of the above Last mentioned names to have equal shares, first deducting off each that has been charged on Book Seperately against – each heir. – Also I give my wife Eve Catherine DEISINGER during her life the use of my house and Lot of Land in the said Town, county and State aforesaid for her use and maintenance, One Cow, and as much furniture as my wife wishes to keep, and after her death my executors shall and may sell the said lot & goods for the best price and Divid_ Equal to each heir-

Same may be and not herein before given and disposed of, shall be Sold by my executors (and the funeral Expenses and Debts first to be paid, and Divid_ as above mentioned. And I do constitute and appoint John DEISING__ and George Singer of Fayette Seneca County N. Y. Executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and first above writ-en. - - Nicholas DEISINGER L. S. Signed Sealed and published and declared by the said testator as and for his last will and testament in our presence, who, at his request in his presence and in the presence of Each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto - - Daniel HOLMAN Samuel RUTHRAUFF Samuel ROUSH

An affidavit is included from the Clerk of the Surrogate’s Court of the County of Seneca, in the State of New York that this a true copy of the will on file in Book B of Wills, page 159. Further information provided: Nicholas DEYSINGER A/K/A Nicholas DEISINGER late of the town of Fayette, Seneca Co., NY. Deceased. Date of Death June 18, 1841; Date of Probate Oct. 25, 1841.

Excerpt from the 2008 Cradle to Grave reunion paper by Frank A. Disinger, Deissinger Family Historian

"What can be said about Nicolaus' 86-year 3-month-long pilgrimage? He spent 31 years in Berks Co, PA; 27 years in Cumberland Co, PA; and 28 years in Seneca Co, NY. In miles, it covered about 340. [see Maps and Locations] He raised 7 children. He has 42 grandchildren that we know of. Several more are possible since little is known about the descendants of his daughters. We have charted approximately 5,100 descendants. [updated to 57 grandchildren and hundreds more descendants of Barbara (Deissinger) Bergstresser, who once lived in Yates County, NY. Not sure how Frank got 5,100 since two major branches were uncovered after his death. ]

Was he patriotic? He saw service during our country's 'War for Freedom.' He must have been community-minded since he served as a constable in Toboyne Township, Cumberland Co, PA in 1804.

Nicolaus was our family's first generation born in America. There's no indication that he lived anything other than an honorable life. He was frugal as most foreign families were and eager to improve their 'LOT' in this new world. We should, as one of his now-known descendants, give thanks and praise for his foresight and his contributions to our heritage."

FindAGrave bio by Eldon Dysinger

"Nicolaus was spoken of as a "smith" and was a small taxpayer in Tulpehocken in 1780 and 1781. He did not own any land at that time, but in 1781 he had 1 cow. His name disappears from the tax rolls in 1785. Based on birth records of his children, he left Tulpehocken after 1783 and moved to Cumberland County and then to Franklin County (now part of Cumberland). About 1792 or 1793, they moved to Perry area of Cumberland County where he owned 2 adjacent farms in the Sherman Valley. After the War of 1812, Nicolaus and his son George sold their farms and moved to Seneca County, NY. [see Maps and Locations] They farmed in NY. Earlier, sons John and Thomas had already moved to Seneca County. Nicolaus was a corporal in Captain Conrad Shirman's Co, 6th Battalion, Berks County Militia (Joseph Hiester, Colonel). In 1780, the company was called into active duty against the Indians for 2 months (Aug 10 to Sep 9). Nicolaus's grave marker was damaged and replaced with a marker with his name misspelled as Nicholas Disinger 1776. This is believed to commemorate his service in the American Revolution."

note- The local Seneca Falls DAR chapter replaced Nicolaus' original damaged gravestone with an incorrect one, see Paul M. Disinger Jr.'s bio.

Excerpt of Daniel Disinger bio

Portrait and biographical record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York 1895, p. 380 -

"Grandfather Nicholas Disinger came to Seneca County about six years after his son John came, purchasing twenty acres of land, and here passed the remainder of his days. He lived to be eighty four years of age, while his good wife reached the age of eighty-eight. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as did also two of his brothers, William and John. They never returned, however, and the natural supposition is that they were killed in battle, but there is no certainty on this point. John Disinger [Nicolaus' son] was drafted into the War of 1812, but considered it his duty to remain at home and hired a substitute." [a common practice for those who could afford it]

note- This book was published in 1895, 100 years after the American Revolution and Nicolaus, William, and Johan George's (John) lives. Nicolaus' life was well documented here and elsewhere, but his brothers' were not. William died after the war, leaving only a will. Johan George (John) seemed to have disappeared, but Eric Dysinger and others found him. He's listed in FamilySearch and here with an extensive family located in southern central Pennsylvania.

Homestead

3961 Seybolt Rd, Fayette, Seneca Co., NY, built 1820

This house is on Nicolaus Deissinger's property, which he purchased in 1815 for $113, according to Frank Disinger in his 2008 Cradle to Grave reunion paper. It was 20.8 acres or about 1/4 mile long by 1/8 mile wide at the corner of Seybolt and Reese Rds. Zillow lists it as built in the year 1820. The current lot is bigger than Nicolaus' original lot, and the house looks like it's had several renovations and possibly an extension added. He would have been about 60 when he acquired the property and may have had help from his sons and grandsons to build the house.

Fayette and Seneca Co., NY

Mid-1800 US Census Fayette, NY

1840 US Census for Fayette, Seneca County, NY - Two J. Deisingers were listed within 6 homesteads of each other. Unfortunately, no individual names were recorded as were in later censuses. On the first page, one had 5 males and 2 females. The other one had 4 males and 3 females. There was also N. Deisinger with 1 male 80-90 y.o. and 1 female 70-80 y.o. who must have been Nicolaus & Eve (Wiesner). And there were 2 more J. Deisingers, one with 3 males and 1 female, 50-60 y.o. The other had 3 males and 2 females.

note- There may have been only three J. Desingers, not four. The handwriting is difficult to read, and the surveyees may not have spoken or understood English well.

1850 US Census for Fayette - Daniel Dysinger, 4-year-old William Dysinger (his mother died earlier in the year), Jacob Williamson, Elizabeth Williamson, and Mary M. Gambee lived together. Just a few households down were John (Sr), Caroline, Margaret, Ellen, and Lyman Dysinger. They were immediately followed by Jacob, Mary C., James, and Elizabeth Dysinger. Several pages later, there was John, Elizabeth, Samuel, Caroline, and infant Velaria Disinger. They were Johannes/John and Elizabeth (Ernsberger) Deissinger with his son Samuel, daughter-in-law Caroline (Bookman) and granddaughter Velaria.

Three of the J. Deisingers in the 1840 census are accounted for. One was John (Sr) and Caroline (Yost) Disinger, the second was Jacob and Mary C. (Gambee) Disinger, and the third was Johannes/John and Elizabeth (Ernsberger) Deissinger.

In short, Nicolaus Deissinger moved to Fayette from Cumberland County, PA, with most of his immediate family. According to Lyman Dysinger's 1901 reunion paper (Nicolaus' great-grandson), his grandfather Johannes/John came to Fayette in 1804 before Nicolaus. Johannes/John worked a week to earn the money to buy an axe to build a log house in the forest for his wife, southwest of the Burgh Church. This concurs with Frank Disinger's 2008 reunion paper, where he states that Nicolaus and George, with their families, arrived in Seneca County in 1813 from Pennsylvania. Sons Johannes/John and Thomas had previously arrived, Johannes/John in 1804, and Thomas in 1805.

Nicolaus Deissinger 's children:

Cattharina, Nicolaus's oldest daughter, possibly lived in Fayette, but there's no evidence of her final location.
Barbara, Nicolaus's second daughter, married Christian Bergstresser and moved to Yates County, NY, on the west side of Seneca Lake, about 20 miles from her parents. Although she and her husband eventually moved to Ohio by 1838, many of her descendants stayed in Yates County, and some moved to Royalton, Niagara County.
Johannes/John, Nicolaus's oldest son, with his wife, Elizabeth (Ernsberger), and his family lived on Tom Allen Rd. in Fayette.
- - Johannes/John's second daughter, C. Elizabeth, married John Frantz (many Frantz were in Seneca County) and moved to Royalton, Niagara County, NY.
  - Johannes/John's first son, John (Sr), lived on State Route 89, Fayette.
    - - John (Sr)'s oldest son, Lyman Dysinger, was mentioned many times in the Disinger reunion minutes.

John (Sr)'s second son, Jacob, lived on Seybolt Rd just north of his grandfather Nicolaus' farm.
John (Sr)'s second daughter, Nancy, married Michael Hoster and lived in the village of Seneca Falls.

Johannes/John's third son, Daniel, lived on Bull Farm Rd and Rte 89 in Fayette near Cayuga Lake.
Johannes/John's fourth son, Samuel, inherited his farm.

Thomas, Nicolaus's second son, lived a few years in Fayette until his first wife died and then moved to Ohio.
George and David, Nicolaus' third and fourth sons, moved to Royalton, Niagara County. David was the first to move in 1828, followed by George in 1830.
Susan, Nicolaus's third daughter, seemingly married Henry Crow. Henry's family was listed in the 1820 US Census for Fayette, NY, near John, George, and Nicolaus Disinger, with 5 people, 2 daughters, 1 son, and he and his wife. By the 1830 US Census, Henry Crow's family was no longer listed in Fayette (see below).

The census information above closely matches the information from Lyman Dysinger's and Stephen A. Dysinger's papers for the first Disinger Reunion in 1901.

1894-95 Seneca County Directory/Map

Disinger - Caroline, widow of John (Sr), obit states she died at home (see location #87 on the map below)
Disinger - Cora lived with her mother and stepfather, William Pearson (see location #59 on the map below, father Jacob's former farm). All of her siblings had died except for James, who moved to Syracuse.
Disinger - Daniel with his second wife, Christiana. Sons John E. and Peter E. were farming much of Daniel's property (see locations # 85 and 120 on the map below). Daniel likely inherited or acquired parts of his brothers John C. and Jacob's properties after they died, although some of their children stayed on parts of their farms. Daniel's grandson, Franklin, built a cottage nearly a mile south of Bull Farm Rd. on Cayuga Lake near Sunrise Cove, where he held parties. Daniel, like his father John, was also intent on collecting land, owning 451 acres before giving parts of it to his sons.
Disinger - Emma, Henry, & George lived on their grandfather Johannes/John and father Samuel's farm on Tom Allen Rd. (see location #33 on the map below)
Disinger - John C. (Jr) with his wife Nettie lived on his father John (Sr)'s 100-acre farm on Rte 89 (see location #87 on the map below)
Disinger - John E., with his wife Celia, lived and farmed on 100 acres of his father Daniel's farm (see location #120 on the map below)
Disinger - Peter E., with his wife Mary, lived and farmed on 70 acres of his father Daniel's farm (see location #120 on the map below)
Disinger - Samuel with his wife Caroline lived and farmed on his father, John's, 222-acre farm (a portion of which he rented out) and also owned 200 acres in Tyre, NY, north of Seneca Falls. His farm was on Tom Allen Road. (see location #33 on the map below) The road immediately to the east is named Disinger Rd. presumably because a large section of John's farm bordered the road. The Burgh Cemetery is less than a mile south of the farm where a few Disingers are interred.
Disinger - Vergie lived with her father, Samuel, on Tom Allen Rd. (see location #33 on the map below)
Disinger - William, with his wife Mary, lived on his 147-acre farm on Leader Rd. (see location #114 on the map below) He was Daniel Disinger's eldest son and was politically active.

There were a lot of John Disingers in the family:

Johannes/John, the original settler of Seneca County, was the father of John (Sr), Jacob, Daniel, and Samuel.

John (Sr) was the father of John C. (Jr).

Jacob was the father of Cora and James.

Daniel was the father of William, Peter, and John E.

Samuel was the father of Emma, George, Henry, and Vergie.

Unfortunately, no underage children were named in this directory, and some adults weren't either. Even though it's some 50 years after the 1840/1850 US Census from above, it matches the census data fairly closely. Also, it matches Frank Disinger's Fayette, NY map in the 2008 Cradle to Grave reunion paper.

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