Jost DREISBACH

Familienname: Dreisbach

Weitere Namen: Johann Jost

Vorname (kurz): JJost

Name (kurz): Jost Dreisbach

Freier Text: P Fdg 1742 KWied

Status: nach Amerika

Quellen: *: Johann Jost, Simon Treißbachs undt Maria Catharinen Kindt von Oberndorf ist getauft worden den 18. 7temb.

UV 1736 (15), 1741 (21)

Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Band I, S. 340 ff., Schiff „Lydia“, Ankunft am 19.09.1743

Dreisbach Family Association, Newsletter April 2011:

There are more than 35 references to “Jost Dreisbach” in sections of the Pennsylvania Archive documents that relate to the Revolutionary War. Until now, it was assumed that all refer to a single person, Jost Dreisbach (1721 – 1794), son ofSimon Dreisbach Sr. However careful reading of these references produced a surprising result: most of the citations refer to two different Jost Dreisbachs, both of them active in the Revolutionary War but in very different ways.

Jost #1 was born in 1721 in Wittgenstein, Germany. In 1775, he is 54, married and the father of seven. He owns a gristmill and a sawmill, is a prominent member of his church as well as a respected person in the community and he serves on the Committee of Observation and Safety from 1774 through 17751.

When the Northampton County Militia was formed in May 1775, Jost #1 was elected Captain by the men of his company2. Five months later he was appointed to be Colonel of the 3rd Battalion of the Northampton County Militia, a post that would only be given to a man who was already known and respected in his community3.

Who then, is Jost #2? The best candidate is the oldest of the next generation of “Josts” – a nephew of Jost #1. Yost (also spelled ‘Jost’) Dreisbach (1754 – 1808) is 22 years old in 1776 and the son of Adam Dreisbach. At 22 he is more likely to be made a 2nd lieutenant than his cousins who are also named “Jost” but who are only 19, 18 and12 years old in 1776. They are probably too young for a commission. Unfortunately, we know almost nothing about this Yost/Jost - The Dreisbach Book4 does not show if he married or has any descendants.

The first indication that there are two different Josts is when the Assembly in Philadelphia, in March 1776, appoints “Yost Dreisbach” (Jost #2) as a 2nd Lieutenant in Capt. Henry Shade’s Company of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment5 . At thesame time Col. Jost is back home organizing the 3rd Battalion. Clearly the well known and respected Col. Jost Dreisbach (Jost #1) is not about to give up his position as head of about 500 men in his 3rd Battalion of the militia to accept the much lower rank of second lieutenant serving under a captain. These are two distinct Jost Dreisbachs beginning their military service in the Revolutionary War.

...

1 Pa Arch, Ser 5, Vol VIII, Muster Rolls Relating to Associators & Militia of Northampton Co. p 4.

2 Pa Arch, Ser 5, Vol VIII, Muster Rolls Relating to Associators & Militia of Northampton Co. p 9.

3 Pa Arch, Ser 5, Vol VIII, Muster Rolls Relating to Associators & Militia of Northampton Co. p 16.

Paten: JJost Sassmannshausen, Odf;JWilh Sv Herm Strack, Odf; JJak Sv JGilb Wunderlich, Rph; MElis & JJost Strack, Odf; AMarg Tv HWilh Keller +, Hlz

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