Drumheller
Joe Drumheller
All Drumhellers in the United States appear to be descendants of one of three immigrants, who were themselves related.I feel this somewhat unique circumstance presents the opportunity to give a rather complete overview of the immigrants and their families; which I have attempted to do in the attached file.
Drumheller Families in America
In 1751, a man whose name was recorded as Ewald Trumanner disembarked the ship Neptune at Philadelphia. This was Johann Ebald Trumpfheller, born on August 16, 1722 in Rossbach in the Odenwald, Germany, to Jacob Trumpfheller and Johanna Ottilia Weber. Later in 1751 a warrant for 52 acres in the Manor of Ruscomb was issued to Dewalt Drumheller. At the time this was part of Philadelphia County. In 1752 it became Rockland Township, Berks County. Dewalt appears as a taxable there in 1758 and 1759. In 1760 the family moved to Williams Township, Northampton County, near present Easton. This may have been in response to the increasing attacks by natives in Berks. His children appear to have mainly settled in an area which is now Lehigh, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Monroe and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania.
On October 22, 1754, Johann Leonhart Trumpfheller stepped off the ship Mary and Sarah at Philadelphia. His name was recorded as Hans Trumheller and Drumheller on the ship's list. He was born 12 April, 1720 to Hanss Trumpfheller and Elisabertha Mohr in Wurzberg in the Odenwald. He arrived with his wife, Anne henriette Kebler, and probably four (we can confirm three at present) children. He settled initially in an area known as the Western District, now just District Township, in Berks County, within ten miles of Dewalt. Tax records indicate that he left Pennsylvania in 1775 or 1776. J. Leonhart, his wife and at least three children: Adam, George Leonhard, and Leonhard moved to Albemarle County, Virginia. Because of her age (16) it is likely that Anna Catherine also went to Virginia, but there is no confirmation of this at present.
Three sons and at least one, possibly as many as three daughters stayed behind in Pennsylvania. Johannes, the eldest son, was a taxable in District Township until about 1782 when he moved to Earl Township, where he died in 1815. Jacob was a resident of Exeter Township until he joined the Continental Army. He died a single man in the service of the Continental Army in 1784, the only known fatality of the Revolutionary War from the Drumheller family. Nicholas was also initially a resident of District Township, moving to Earl sometime around 1782. He lived there until about 1805, when he took his large family to Northumberland County where he died in 1823.
Records that we are aware of at present seem to indicate that all Drumheller families in America today are descended from one of these two men, (J. Leonhart and Dewalt) with one notable possible exception. The ship list of the Tyger in November, 1771 records the arrival of a Peter Trumpfheller at Philadelphia. This may have been Johann Peter, born March 26, 1748 in Würzberg, a great grandson of Heinrich Trumpfheller. An entry in the church book at Falkner Swamp Church in Montgomery County records the birth of a daughter, Elisabeth, to Peter and Sabina Trumpeller on May 4, 1783. It is unknown whether this is the same man that got off the Tyger. No other records of this family are known to us at present.
J. Leonhart can also be traced back to Heinrich Trumpfheller (abt 1627-1696). Dewalt descended from a Hans Trumpfheller. Both of these men came to the Odenwald from Mechterstadt in Thuringia at about the same time, undoubtedly as part of the same family. Although their relationship is unknown, it is clear that the two were related.
Consequently, all Drumheller familes in America appear to be related, having descended from one of these two men
Last Modified