DAR #A087434

Dewalt Johann Theobald Ankeny was born 16 Nov 1727, in Lambsborn, Keiserslautern, Rhineland‐Palatinate, Germany. His father was Johann Heinrich Agne (2 Mar 1698‐25 Dec 1727) and his mother Christina Roth (abt 1696‐17 Feb 1732). On 23 Feb 1749, in Lambsdorn, Kaiserslautern, Rhineland‐Palatinate, Germany, Dewalt married Mary Jane Domer (9 Jun 1730‐Jan 1759). They were the parents of at least five sons and seven daughters. Christian, John, Elizabeth, Peter, Veronica, Michael, Anna Maria, Catherine Margaret, Mary Ann, Christina, Rebecca and Johann. Jane died after sustaining injuries while attempting to save cattle from a burning barn. He would go on to marry Catherine Land, with whom he had Christian, Peter, Catherine and Rebecca. His last wife was Margaret Frederick with whom he had John, Henry, George, Jacob, David Mary Margaret and Elizabeth.

Dewalt came to America in 1746, settling first in Lancaster Co., PA (now Lebanon Co.). Dewalt would play a notable role during the American Revolutionary War. He took an Oath of Allegiance to the Colonial Cause before the Justice of the Peace in Washington County, Maryland, 28 February, 1778, found in unpublished records, Vol 3, Pg 39 of the D.A.R. and from "Maryland Historical Magazine", Vol 12, Pg 345. Name given "Devault Anchony". The act demonstrated his commitment to the American fight for independence. Arkeny served as a 1st Lieutenant and a Court Martial Officer during the war. Dewalt Ankeny moved to Clearspring, Washington County Maryland, from Lancaster County (Lebanon County) about 1762. He was one of several patriots appointed 30 Dec 1776 to form the county into companies after the militia had marched. Their purpose was to compel Dunkards and Mennonists to give their assistance.

In Maryland Dewalt and Margaret settled at a place called Clear Spring. It was there they would spend the remainder of their years, increasing their acreage and becoming well placed financially and within the community. Initially they purchased a small tract of land in he contributed to his community by erecting the first grist mill near Somerset and later added a fulling mill. He purchased several large tracts of land in Somerset County, enabling his sons to settle there.

Dewalt passed away on 4 Mar 1781, in Clear Spring, Maryland. He was buried in Saint Paul’s Cemetery after DeWalt’s burial place in a nearby orchard was lost and family graves plowed over. The inscription reads, “To the Memory of DeWalt Ankeny, the first of his name and the founder of that family in America, one thousand seven hundred forty six, born 1733 died at Clear Spring, Maryland, 1781.”

Devault Anconey Will ‐ In the Name of God Amen: The eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty one. I, Devault Anconey, of Washington County, Maryland State; being sick in body, but of good and perfect memory thanks be given to Almighty God and calling to Remembrance the uncertain Estate of this Trancetory life and that all flesh must yield to death when it shall Please God to call, do make constitute ordain, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament; in manner and form following, revoking and annulling by these presence, all and every Testament and Testaments, Will and Wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing, and this is only to be taken only for my Last Will and Testament, and none other, and first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my heart for my sins past, most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same. I give and commit my Soul unto Almighty God my Savior and Redeemer in whom, and by the merits of Jesus Christ, I trust and believe assuredly to be saved and to have full remission of all my sins, and that my Soul with my body at the General Day of Resurrection shall rise again with joy,‐‐‐through the merits of Christ's Death and Passion, possess and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, prepared for his Elect and Chosen, and my body to be buried within my orchard fence by the graves that is already therein and now for settling of my Temporal Estate and such goods, chattels, and debts as it hath pleased God far above my deserts to bestow upon me, I do give and dispose the same in manner and form following; that is to say: First I will that all those debts and duties as I owe in right to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall well and truly be paid within convenient time after my decease by my executors hereafter named.‐‐‐ Item, I give and bequeath three hundred acres of land, the lower part of the original whereon I now live with all the meadows and improvements thereunto belonging to which two of my sons it shall fall to by a fair drawing of tickets for the same by my seven sons, hereafter named; Christian; Peter; John; Henry; David; Jacob; and George Anconey, the advantage of the water within the meadows to be equally advantagious each to the other, and further the said three hundred acres of land is to be justly appraised and valued in hard money or the exchange at the time of the appraisement by my sons which have come of’ age, and them the said sons, shall find and give to my beloved wife Margaret Anconey yearly and every for the term of six years if in case the younger is not properly educated, the two sons aforesaid is to give to the said Margaret Anconey yearly, twenty five bushels of good merchantable wheat, each also ten bushels of’ good rye each, also ten bushels of good Indian corn, also ten bushels of good buckwheat each also fifteen bushels of potatoes each likewise the sons is to find the said Margaret Anconey, one ton of good first crop hay, each also one ton and a half each of second crop hay and the whole to be delivered by said sons in good order into the barn or the stable which she shall think proper and the aforesaid sons that get the land is to move the old house from where it now stands on the other side of the upper spring, and to repair the same in such manner as she the said Margaret Anconey may live warm and decently in the same, also they are to put into the said house my forge stove which now stands in my room with the pipe thereto and she the said Margaret Anconey is to have the said house and stove during her natural life if she chuses. Likewise my wife is to have the said negro girl called Rachael during her natural life, then after her decease the said girl Rachael is to be sold and the money or price of her is to be divided amongst the whole children seven boys and five girls: the sons is to chop and have all the firewood for said Margaret Anconey during the time she shall have occasion for it. Likewise the said sons shall find said Margaret Anconey one large year old hog each yearly and every year fit for fatting, also fifteen pounds of hackled hemp each and fifteen pounds of good ton, (tow) each likewise all I have with her saddle and bridle, the saddle and bridle to be found by her said sons likewise she is to have three cows, the choice being of the Penn. Item: I give and bequeath two hundred acres of land it being the remaining part of my original tract called "Well Pleased" lying Northeast of the aforesaid three hundred acres to any of my seven sons as aforesaid which ever one shall draw it by a fair draft of tickets aforesaid for the other three hundred acres it also being appraised or valued by my sons as before mentioned and at the experation of six years the appraisement money of the said two hundred acres of land is to be equally divided amongst my twelve children to be paid in equal payments every year within the term of four years after the said appraisement of said land likewise the before mentioned three hundred acres the value of which is to be equally divided amongst my twelve children and paid them within or at the experation of four years as before mentioned by which every (ever) two sons get it, but if in any case my son Peter Anconey should draw one of the improved places in the original tracts whereon I now live, it is my desire that he would let one of his younger brothers have the place whereon he now lives, according to the appraisement of each or as they may otherwise (ways) agree but if my son Peter Anconey should not be willing to agree with his brother it is my desire that he will purchase one for his brother that may be aducate (adequate) to the appraisement; Item: Whichever of my sons as dose not draw a piece of land in my original tract shall each one have one tract of land lying in Milford Township, ye state of Pennsylvania at the first cost. One bought of Michael Huff £55. One bought of John Shoff at £143. One bought of Matthias Ditch £36 10. One bought of Jacob Houke £110 hard cash. Item: I give to my beloved wife to take her choice of four ewes of the best of my flock, likewise all my household furniture during her natural life and after her decease it is to be sold and the money equally divided amongst the children except the three cows and their increase after her decease is to be given to my youngest daughter Elisabeth. Morever I do ordain that my beloved wife shall have the privileges of pasturage for her stock in the same pasture with my two sons stocks that gets the places, also my beloved wife is to have the privilege of what apples as she may think necessary and proper for the use of her house. Moreover after the expiration of six years which two sons gets the places they are and shall find my beloved wife yearly and every year a good and sufficient maintenance of meat and drink and clothing and other neceparies (necessaries) which she shall stand in need of. Item:‐‐I do order and ordain that all my stock and farming utensils except what I have already bequeathed shall be sold at Public Vendue and the monie arising therefrom shall be equally divided among my twelve children and my beloved wife Margaret (sic) likewise sixty pounds good money which I received with my wife Margaret by our marriage which sum I apoint to be divided between said wife and the children she had by me (viz) my sons; John; Henry; David; Jacob; and George Anconey; and my daughters; Margaret and Elisabeth Anconey, by her first husband Franey and Christina Frederick, all in equal shares, and if God in his Providence should call me off the stage of life before my younger children should receive their learning in the Dutch school I appoint that my wife shall receive twenty pounds of good money out of the vendue money for to school the said children and I ordain and appoint my beloved wife Margaret and my son Christian Anconey my executors of this my last Will and Testament for the true intent and meaning of the same whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above writing, his Devault X Anconey {Seal} mark Signed, Sealed, Published, and Pronounced, and Declared by the said Devault Anconey as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers. N. B. I give to my beloved wife to be found by her by the before mentioned sons all nespasary ((sic) cloathing for my youngest during the term of six years, and also for the negroe girl Rachael and money to be drawn by said sons from the Vendue of my stock. Joseph Brewer; ‐Henry Gerbach;‐ Thomas Van Swerigan Washington County, Maryland., SSt April 7, 1781, On the back of the original will and the following indorsements, (to wit)

Washington County, Maryland, SSt. April 7, 1781. Then came Margaret Anconey and Christian Anconey and made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that the within instrument of writing is the and Whole Will and Testament of Devault Anconey late of the said County, deceased, that have come to their hands or possession and that they do not know of any other. Certified by Thomas Belt, Register

Washington County, Maryland: SSt April 1781, Then came Joseph Brewer, Henry Gerbach, and Thomas Van Swerigan, the three subscribing witnesses to the within Last Will and Testament of Devault Anconey late of said County, deceased, and severally made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that they did see the Testator therein named Sign, and Seal, this Will and that they heard him Publish, Pronounce and Declare the same to be his last Will and Testament; that at the time of so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and that they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to this Will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and in the presence of each other.

Certified by Thomas Belt, Register (Will Book of Washington County, Maryland: Liber "A" folio

Available resources:
(http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 27 March 2024), "Record of Dewalt Ankeny", Ancestor # A002824. ‐ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 January 2019), memorial page for DeWalt Theobald Ankeny (16 Nov 1727–4 Mar 1781), Find A Grave Memorial no. 37592033, citing Saint Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery, Clear Spring, Washington County, Maryland, USA ; Maintained by Barbara Anderson (contributor 46899837).
‐SOME OF THE ANCESTORS AND DESCENDENTS Of DEWALT ANKENY
‐ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 January 2019), memorial page for DeWalt Theobald Ankeny (16 Nov 1727–4 Mar 1781), Find A Grave Memorial no. 37592033, citing Saint Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery, Clear Spring, Washington County, Maryland, USA
‐Shultz, Charles Ross. A Sketch of the Life, and Some of the Descendants, of Dewald Ankeny. December 1948.