I come from a long line of farmers. And when I say “long line,” I mean that I have very few male ancestors who weren’t farmers. George Debolt, my 4th-great-grandfather, was an Old School Baptist minister.
George was born in 1786 in Pennsylvania, probably Fayette County. By 1811, he was preaching in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. George also preached in Perry and Licking counties. With his son-in-law Eli Ashbrook, he organized the Harmony Baptist Church in Licking County.
George’s first wife Mary Rider died in 1850. In 1852, George married Sarah Spence, the widow of David Allen. By 1860, George and Sarah moved to Jay County, Indiana and were living with Sarah’s son Joseph. Not surprisingly, neither the 1850 nor the 1860 census indicates George as owning any real property.
Close-up of George Debolt’s tombstone, Boundary Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana. Photo by Amy Crow, 20 August 2004.
George died 1 October 1867 (likely in Jay County) and is buried in Boundary Cemetery along with his widow Sarah.
Sources:
- Brister, E.M.P. Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio. Vol. 1. Chicago: S.J. Clarke, 1909. [Available on Google Books.]
- George Debolt tombstone, Boundary Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana. Photo by Amy Johnson Crow, 20 August 2004.
- Joseph Allen household, 1860 U.S. census, Pike Township, Jay County, Indiana, p. 52. [George is living with his step-son Joseph Allen.]
- Rezin Debolt household, 1850 U.S. census, Thorn Township, Perry County, Ohio, p. 418. [George is living with his son Rezin/Reason.]
- Wiseman, C.M.L. Centennial History of Lancaster, Ohio and Lancaster People. Lancaster: by the author, 1898. [Available on Google Books.]
My husband has several De Bolts in his family as well who also live in Lancaster Co., Ohio! His are Henry De Bolt (1723-1788) and his daughter Mary DeBolt (1747-1842) who married Ephraim Walters. I wonder if Henry DeBolt was one of his ancestors?
Those names don’t sound that familiar. Were they in Fairfield County, Ohio (where Lancaster is) or were they in Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania? (There isn’t a Lancaster County in Ohio.)
I research Debolt’s too. I descend from Nicholas Debolt and Margaret Stephenson from Greene County, Pennyslvania through their son Benjamin Debolt who was married to Dorcas Wood and then through their son John T. Debolt who was married to Ida Issadore Boughner and then through their daughter Louis Estelle Debolt who was married to Fenton Clark LeMaster and then through their son Cody Lee LeMaster who was my Grandfather. Thank You for sharing your ancestor George Debolt, I wonder how he fits into this Debolt family?
Melissa (LeMaster) Barker
Houston County, TN. Archivist/Records Manager
Professional Genealogist for Tennessee
Hi Melissa! I’m pretty sure there’s a connection. I’m on a business trip right now and don’t have all of my notes with me. I’ll take a look when I get home.
I also come from a long line of farmers! There is a railroad guy and a minister too but mainly my people tilled the earth!
Enjoyed reading about George Debolt!
Love the Headstone. I got a lot of farmers in Newville Pa too.
Love the story about your Baptist minister, Amy:) So far, I’ve found two of them in my family tree. They were in the deep South, though – Georgia and Alabama.
My Michael DeBolt was born about 1774 in or around Masontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania…
*Note to self – work on my DeBolts for #52Ancestors. Soon.
That sounds very familiar. I’ll have to take a look next week when I’m back in my office and have access to my notes.
Amy,
You’ve listed my ancestor blog but it seems to be too shy to show up.
Am I doing something wrong? Feedly not getting it?
http://pastremains.blogspot.com/2014/01/52-ancestors-4-ps-bancroft-3-careers.html
http://pastremains.blogspot.com
Feedly has it.
I have 3 of your posts included in this week’s recap, which should be published tomorrow (Wednesday).