Early American Dalzells and Delzells

Detailed History

Robert Delzell, second son of John and Peggy, lived in Blount County, Tennessee longer than any other member of the family. From information in the 1850 Census we believe that Robert was born in 1787. The first official record of Robert Delzell is when he enlisted in the War of 1812 on September 23, 1813. He joined the New Providence Church in 1814 and was married to Dorcus Davis that same year. Their first child, Mary, was born about 1816 and they went on to have ten children. In 1826 he purchased land in Blount County and then sold it in 1834. He was included in the 1830, 1840 and 1850 Census of Blount County. He sold his Blount County farm in 1850 and was probably dismissed (transferred) from the church in 1851. In December of 1851 he began purchasing land in Richland County Illinois. In 1855 he began selling land with the last sale in 1857. He wrote out his Will in 1858 and died in 1858 at the age of 71.

Robert Delzell's War Record

Robert Delzell was a private in Captain James Tedford's Company during the War of 1812 against the British. He enlisted on the 23rd day of September 1813 and was mustered out on the 31st day of December 1813. His company was part of the Regiment of East Tennessee Militia under the command of Colonel Samuel Wear. He was probably about 25 years old at the time. This information was taken from page 308 of Inez Burns ‘'History of Blount County.”

Robert Delzell and the Church

h records show that Dorcus Davis Delzell was "dismissed" from the New Providence Church September 23, 1851. The term "dismissed" only means that she was leaving this Church in good standing and Mr. Parham's records show that Robert Delzell and Dorcus Davis Delzell joined the New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville TN on December 17, 1814. This is about one year after he was mustered out of the militia. Hugh Wayland Delzell believes that Robert had already married Dorcus Davis by that date but there is no extant record of their marriage. Robert Delzell's Will, in sharp contrast with his older brother William's Will, makes no mention of God or the Hereafter. The record does not show that Robert was dismissed, although he was an Elder in the church.

Robert Delzell and his Land Purchases

Blount County Deed Book #4, p. 329 records that Robert Delzell and his brother David purchased 216 acres of land on the waters of Nine Mile Creek from Daniel Bowers on September 28, 1811 for $500.00. This land was bounded by Jacob Timberman, vacant land and Michael Timberman. From the description it seems likely that this tract of land
was quite near the original family farm. Sometime between 1814 and 1817 Robert and David Delzell were ordered by the Court to work on a road, presumably one that ran past their property.

On January 7, 1826 Robert and David entered 50 acres of land situated in Blount County on the waters of Nine Mile Creek as land grant number 13443. In 1834 Robert and David sold their 216 acre holding to Daniel D. Foute. Robert's last sale of property was on October 22, 1850 when he sold the 158 acres on which he lived for $1125.00. He was about 63 years old at this time. Hugh Wayland believes this sale was in reparation for the family to leave Blount County for Illinois.

Robert Delzell as Citizen

Robert Delzell served on jury duty several times between 1814 and 1817, as well as in 1818. He also served in the Militia as noted above.

Robert Delzell's Occupation

Robert Delzell was a farmer as were most of the people on the Frontier. Mr. Parham says Robert Delzell was also a blacksmith which was was of the most important frontier skills.

Census Information about Robert Delzell

Robert and those of his family in residence are listed in the Census records of Blount County in 1830, 1840 and 1850. The records as shown in the Census are given below:

Blount County Census of 1830, page 142.

Robert Delzell
Male 2 under five, 2 5-10, 2 10-15, 1 40-50
Female 1 under five, 1 40-50
Blount County Census of 1840, page 41.

Robert Delzell
Male 2 5-10, 1 10-15, 2 10-15, 1 50-60.
Female 1 under 5, 1 5-10, 1 40-50.

Blount County Census of 1850, page 148.
Robert Delzell 63 M Farmer Born in TN
Dorcus Delzell 50 F TN
David Delzell 26 M TN
Addison Delzell 21 M TN
James Delzell 20 M TN
Theresa Delzell 17 F TN
Mary Delzell 15 F TN

Thus in 1830 their were six boys and one girl. In 1840 there were five boys and two girls, and in 1850 there were three boys, David, Addison and James, and two girls-Theresa and Mary. This probably means that as the children reached adulthood they left home and set up their own families. Hugh Wayland lists the whole family as: Mary, John Newton, William A., Andrew D., David, Gideon, Robert Addison, James Harvey, Teresa A., and Serena J.

Robert and His Family Go West to Illinois

In 1850 Robert Delzell sold the farm on which he lived and Dorcus was "dismissed" from the New Providence Church in Maryville and prepared to leave for Illinois. He received two grants of 80 acres each on December 12, 1851. Both grants were located in Richland County IL in Section 34, Township 5 North, Range 9 East. These may have been compensation for his service during the War of 1812. Richland County is roughly 240 miles south of Chicago and about 30 miles west of Vincennes There is no record of his having had slaves and according to Inez Burns, "Slavery agitation became such a problem that many families: McKamey, Duncan, Delzell, and Tedford emigrated en masse to Illinois." Mr. Parham states that Robert Delzell was a Justice of the Peace for several years.

Robert Delzell's Will

Here is a somewhat shortened version of Robert Delzell's Will which is straightforward and less legalistic than his brother William's Will. This may simply reveal a greater degree of sophistication or the hand of an attorney. Dorcus Davis Delzell died about 1874. The Will was written July 23, 1856 and Robert died on April 25, 1857 at the age of 70. The Will was filed for probate on June 22, 1858.

"I Robert Delzell of the county of Richland and State of Illinois being of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare this to be my last will and Testament.
"First it is my will that all my funeral expenses and my just debts be fully paid. Second I give unto my beloved wife Dorcus Delzell, all the live stock by me owned at my death viz horses, Cattle, Sheep & hogs together with all the household & kitchen furniture and farming utensils by me then owned. Also the following real estate viz ...in all 110 acres more or less, that she shall have the whole control of all the above property so long as she shall remain my widow excepting the following.

"Second it is my will that my daughter Serena Jane Delzell shall have a home on and be supported out of the above property without charges against her and at her marriage receive of the above personal property one horse worth $90, & one good cow and calf, one side saddle, one bedstead worth $6.00, one spinning wheel, one good ewe and
lamb, and all the rest of the abefore named property to remain in the use and for the benefit of my wife so long as she shall live and remain unmarried, at her death all the remainder of my property whether real or personal shall be and belong to my son James H. Delzell.
"Third the balance of my heirs viz Robert, Dorcus and Mary Jane Duncan children and heirs of my daughter Mary Duncan deceased & John N. Delzell, William Delzell, Andrew D. Delzell, David Delzell, Gideon B. Delzell, Robert A. Delzell. Teresa A. Duncan, having heretofore received their due portion out of my estate and lastly appoint my my said wife Executrix of this my last will and testament.... In witness:
G.W.Carrother and E.B. Page."

The Family of William and Dorcus Davis Delzell

Robert Delzell and his wife Dorcus Davis Delzell had ten children and many grandchildren and later descendents. I will simply write a paragraph about each of their children at this point and at the end of this chapter list as many descendents of which I have a record. Hugh Wayland Delzell's "Delzell Ties" has much more information.
Mary Delzell was their oldest child. She was born about 1816 and married John Duncan. Mary Died prior to 1856. They had three children, Robert, Mary and Dorcus, and are believed to have remained in Blount County. The record of this family is confusing however.
John Newton Delzell was born December 29, 1818 in Blount County and died in Richland Co IL in 1903. He married Nancy Jane Lowry in McMinn County TN. Mrs. C. A. Delzell wrote "John N. Delzell first met Nancy Jane Lowry at a Presbyterian Conference which was held at her father's house in McMinn Co." John Delzell is included in a partial list of ministers who were educated during the 38 years of the administration
of Dr. Isaac Anderson at Maryville College. They had a large family the members of which are listed at the end of this chapter. They were included in the 1870 Census of Richland Co IL.
William A. Delzell was born in Blount Co TN on January 7, 1820 and he died in Crawford Co IL in 1861. He married Mary Jane McTeer in 1842. They had eight children most of whom were born in TN. William followed tanning in TN until 1851 when he moved to Crawford Co IL., entered 120 acres of land and remained there until he died.
Andrew D. Delzell was probably born in Blount Co TN about 1823. He married Elizabeth M. Wilson. They had two sons and settled in Richland Co IL.
David Delzell, was probably born in Blount Co TN about 1824. He married Sarah M. Duncan, probably in White Co IN. They had two daughters, Martha and Dorcus.
Gideon Blackburn Delzell was born 1827 probably in Blount Co TN. He married Sibby C. Wilson and they settled in Richland Co IL. They had two girls and a boy.
Robert Addison Delzell was born about 1829 probably in Blount Co TN. He married Mary Ann Wilson and they had three children. Mary died in 1859 and Robert married Emeline Gould and they had six children. They lived in Crawford Co Il. Robert A. was a blacksmith.
James Harvey Delzell was born about 1832 probably in Blount Co TN. He married Margaret E. Wilson. They had three children and lived in Richland Co IL.
Teresa A. Delzell was born about 1833 probably in Blount Co TN and married James C. Duncan.
Serena J. Delzell was born about 1835 probably in Blount Co TN and married Thomas Dewhirst in Richland Co IL.

Stories about Robert Delzell and His Family

An interesting story is told of one of Robert's grandchildren, Margaretta Delzell who was the first Child of her family born in Illinois, after they moved with others of the Seceder Church to Robinson, Crawford Co., Illinois. Margaretta married Ezra Cushman Lyman in 1876 in Crawford Co. Illinois, and left with other members of his family in a move to Washington State. They went from Illinois to San Francisco by train, keeping house in a box car, taking with them their personal belongings, furniture, equipment, and livestock. They traveled by boat from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon, and on up the Columbia River to Walla Walla. From there they journeyed overland to Dayton. What a trip! And with Margaretta and her sister-in-law both pregnant.

Here is another interesting anecdote. This one is about Robert Montgomery Delzell who was the son of William A. Delzell and his wife Mary Jane McTeer Delzell, and the grandson of Robert and Dorcus Delzell. "Few persons ever attain to a warmer place in the hearts of the entire community than was attained by Doctor Delzell in his 35 years of practice of his profession in Reynolds, IL. He was an active G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) man, and with a young man named Clyde Keller, he had gone to the Bunnell Cemetery to place markers on the soldier's graves preparatory to the observance of Decoration Day. On their return about 5 o'clock in the evening they were caught in a storm, a limb of a tree was blown down on their buggy, striking the physician across the shoulders and breaking his neck. Death was instantaneous."

THE GENERATIONS FOLLOWING ROBERT AND DORCUS DELZELL

Robert and Dorcus had ten children, three girls and seven boys. All of the children were born in Blount County, Tennessee and they all moved with their family to Illinois. From these children mostly in Richland County Illinois, there were at least 34 grandchildren. This is an abbreviated copy of data from Hugh Wayland's wonderful book "Delzell Ties." There is much more about this outstanding family in Hugh Wayland's book, including maps, census records, anecdotes about the members of the family, etc, but for our introductory purposes this will have to suffice.