Early American Dalzells and Delzells

Detailed History

The following four paragraphs are copied from Hugh Wayland Delzell's boo, Delzell Ties.

"(Mr. William A. Delzell of Portland, Oregon, researched for many years on this  family of which he was a member. He contacted many older family members and made at least one trip to the site of the old family  home. About 1934 he collected his material into a very excellent manuscript. I had heard of his work and after many futile attempsts, I  finally obtained from R. Carson Dalzell(sic) of Arlington, VA, a copy for my reference file. It is complete except for a few photos which I did not have copied. Included in the manuscript is a poem titled 'The Clan of Delzell'  and a short story (fictional) of the trip west from Pennsylvania to Ohio of part of his family. Material from Mr. W. A. Delzell's manuscript is used whith the permission of his son, Dr. Charles F. Delzell, Professor of History, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.

"During his research he contacted some descendants of  John Dalzell(sic) of Blount Co., TN. In several places in his manuscript there are suggestions that he thought the two Johns may have been related. He also commented on resemblences between all Delzells that he met. Some were so striking that he claimed he was able to pick a Delzell out of a crowd of 20-30 men, many strangers. His son, Charles, and my uncle, Ernest, also experienced this instnat recognition the first time they met in Nashville, TN. Other members of the family have suggested that our John Dalzell(sic) of Blount Co. TN may have been married earlier in Pennsylvania and was possibly  the father of John Delzell of Lancaster Co., PA. It is interesting to note  that, while early records this family used the DELZELL spelling, some members of the family now used the DFALZELL spelling

“John Delzell was born in 1776. Although his parents names are not known, we do know his mother was a daughter of Thomas Bull. It appears that John was raised in his grandfather’s home in chester Co., PA, almost like another son, until his grandfather’s death. In his will Thomas Bull divided his estate in 7 equal paarts to go to six children and grandson John Delzell. John continued to live in this area (probably in the Bull home) and learned the blacksmith trade.

“When about 22, he married Margaret Ann Glass on 22 Nov 1798, who lived a few miles away in Berks Co., PA. However their home appers to have been at Spring Grove Forge, about two and one-half, and is said to have settled near Damascus in Goshen Twp. Columbiana Co. OH. However their home appears to have been at Spring Grove Forge, about two and one half miles northest of Churchtown, PA. Mr. W, A, Delzell says this is in Lancaster Co. PA. It may be now-however we have found a family which we think must have been his listed in Berk Co., in the 1800 Census.”

Letter dated Sep 4, 1972, from Charles F. Delzell
As keeper of the records of the Delzell genealogy, I am enclosing some updated information for each of you to insert in your copy of the family history that Father compiled in the 1930s. This information pertains to the section covering the descendants of Thomas Delzell (1799-1858), the eldest son of John Delzell (1776-1837) the blacksmith pioneer. This Thomas Delzell was the older brother of the David Delzell who was the father of my father's father, (Thomas T. Delzell). The information that is updated has come from R. Carson Dalzell, 2548 North Vermont Street, Arlington, VA 22207.

“John Delzell was born in 1776. Although his parents names are not known, we do know his mother was a daughter of Thomas Bull. It appears that John was raised in his grandfather’s home in chester Co., PA, almost like another son, until his grandfather’s death. In hi will Thomas Bull divided his estate in 7 equal paarts to go to six children and grandson John Delzell. John continued to live in this area (probably in the Bull home) and learned the blacksmith trade.
“When about 22, he married Margaret Ann Glass who lived a few miles away in Berks Co., PA. However their home appears to have been at Spring Grove Forge, about two and one half miles northest of Churchtown, PA. Mr. W, A, Delzell says this is in Lancaster Co. PA. It may be now-however we have found a family which we think must have been his listed in Berk Co., in the 1800 Census.” Qoute from “Delzell Ties.”2,2

Children of John Delzell and Ann Margaret GLASS1,7,5,2

Thomas (1799-1858)
Elijah (1801-1824)
John (1803-1876)
James Ross (1806-1881)
Martin V. (1808-1882)
David (1811-1893)
Samuel (1814-1886)
Isaac (1817-1826)

References:

CHAPMAN, Marylou. 16 Sep 2000,Misc. names
DELZELL TIES, Hugh W. Delzell, Appendix E. 97.
DALZELL, W. A., Letter to Winnie Delzell, July 6, 1940.
DRZEWIECKI,Carol, [email protected] 24 Feb. 1999,
G.S.U., Pedigree Chart, Salt Lake City, UT
[email protected], 20 Nov 2002, posted DALZELL-L,