Tillman Bower - or Dielman Bauer - is closely associated with the family of Diel Bauer of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Family tradition holds that Tillman was Diel's son and there was obviously a close link between them.
For example, Dielman and Eva Bauer served as sponsors at the baptism of Diel's grandson, Abraham, who was the son of Dietrich Bauer. The baptism is recorded in "Church Book of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa, 1763-1853," vol. 1, page 19. In addition, an agreement recorded in Northhampton County Deed Book F2, shows that Tillman appointed Dietrich as his representative in Northampton County when him moved to Tompkins County, N.Y.
Unfortunately, no primary documents have been found to prove a direct link betweem Diel and Tillman. In fact, the record that lists Diel's children - a transaction recorded in Northampton County Deed Book A-4, page 35 - doesn't mention Tillman at all, which casts doubt on the possibility. And, in the power of attorney mentioned above, Tillman calls Dietrich "my trusty and loving friend," not his brother.
Despite these concerns, it's still possible that Diel and Tillman were father and son. But it must be acknowledged that some other relationshp may have been the case.
DIELMAN and MARIA EVA BAUER
Dielman Bauer was born in 1744 in Germany. (1)
Married Maria Eva, who was born in 1741 or 1743. (2)
Children: (3)
John, born Aug. 15, 1765, or Dec. 22, 1765.
Johan Simon (Samuel), born March 20, 1767.
Johan Dietrich (Honteeter), born July 29, 1769.
Johann Adam, born Sept. 29, 1772.
Johann George, born Feb. 5, 1775.
Anna Catherine, born Aug. 20, 1777. Married Mechior Conrad.
Elizabeth, born March 9, 1780. Married Andrew Keller.
Susanna, born Dec. 15, 1782, probably died very young.
Susanna, born Aug. 11, 1786. Married Palmer Baker.
Dielman's name is often spelled Tillman Bower in many records, especially after he moved to New York State.
The Bauer family immigrated to America in the late 1740s and settled in Northampton County, Pa.
In 1772, Deal Bower is listed in tax records as a farmer in Chestnuthill Township. Land records from the 1790s show him making many deals in real estate in that township and Hamilton Township. (4)
During the Revolutionary War, Dielman served as a private in Capt. Lewis Stacher in the 4th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Northampton County Militia. Dielman's unit, mustered: May 16, 1780; April 10, 1781;and April 18, 1782. His DAR file mentions he “fought at Valley Forge,” which seems unlikely, especially since there wasn't any fighting there. After the war, Dielman served as a private in the 7th Company of the 6th Battalion, which was also commanded by Capt. Stacher. (5)
About 1799, Dielman moved to Tompkins County, N.Y. An extensive Bower family in New York State is descended from him.
Dielman died Aug. 29, 1810, in Ludlowville, N.Y. Maria Eva died Dec. 22, 1815.
(1) Date comes from tombstone at the German Cemetery near Lansingville, Tompkins County, N.Y. Also, “Daughters of the American Revolution Linage Book” Vol. 74, page142. Dielman (or Tillman) Bauer's original DAR file refers to a “Grace Rice Genealogy” at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., which in turn refers to research by a C.O. Rhodes of Groton, N.Y. (2) Maria Eva's maiden name is listed as Jung in the International Genealogical Index of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (3) John and Dietrich's possible birth dates come from DAR records and LDS International Genealogical Index. Simon's birth is in “Colonial Baptisms, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.” The births of George, Adam and Catharine are in “The Hamilton Township Union Church Record.” The births of the youngest three daughters are recorded in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I.” Some of the sources list conflicting birth dates. (4) Tax records in “Pennsylvania Archives” Series 3, Vol. XIX, page 75. Land records in Northampton County Deed Books: G1, page 534; A2, page 120; G1, page 431; G1, page 536; C2, page 60; E2, page 201; E3, page 41. (5) Dielman's Revolutionary service records appear in “Pennsylvania Archives” Series 5, Vol. VIII, pages 123, 139, 174, 219, 601 and 609. Postwar militia service is recorded in Series 6, Vol. III, page 817.
CHILDREN OF DIELMAN AND EVA BAUER
JOHN and ROSINA BAUER
John Bauer was born Aug. 15, 1765 in Northampton County, Pa., to Dielman and Maria Eva Bauer. (1)
Married Rosina Young on Feb. 20, 1787. She was the daughter of Henry Young. (2)
Children: (3)
Maria Catharine, born Aug. 30, 1787.
Anna Maria, born Dec. 7, 1788.
Johann Dieter, born Jan. 23, 1791.
Daniel, born April 12, 1793.
Susanna, born April 5, 1795.
Sarah, born March 3, 1797.
Johannes, born Jan. 25, 1799.
Until at least 1799, John probably lived in Hamilton Township, then apart of Northampton County. John is listed in communion records of the union church in Hamilton Township until 1799.
Information comes from Dielman’s file with the Daughters of the American Revolution. Errors often crop up in these files, so more research is needed to confirm the information. (2) “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” page 343. (3) Maria Catharine and Anna Maria’s births are in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I.”
SIMON (SAMUEL) and POLLY BAUER
Johan Simon Bauer was born March 20, 1767 in Northampton County, Pa., to Dielman and Maria Eva Bauer. (1)
Married Susanna or Polly. (2)
Children: (3)
Simon, born March 4, 1796.
Peter, born April 7, 1798.
Willard, born in 1819.
There is a bit of confusion surrounding Simon. Records of the Daughters of the American Revolution refer to a son of Dielman Bauer who was named Samuel and was born March 20, 1767. Baptismal records say a Johan Simon was born to Dielman on that date. Simon was probably called Samuel as a nickname. The names Simon and Samuel Bauer are listed in the record of the Hamilton Township Union Church, seemingly confirming my belief.
Also, church record list Simon’s wife as Susanna. DAR records say it was Polly. This could be another case of a nickname, or Simon may have been married twice.
The Bauer family probably lived in Hamilton Township, then part of Northampton County. Sometime after the baptism of Peter in 1798, the family followed Dielman and many of his children to New York State.
DAR records say Willard was born in Ludlowville, N.Y.
Polly died in 1819. Samuel died Jan. 2, 1850 in Lansing, N.Y.
(1) “Colonial Baptisms, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania,” page 119. (2)Listed as Susanna in “The Hamilton Township Union Church Record.” The name Polly comes from Dielman Bauer’s file with the Daughters of the American Revolution. Errors often crop up in these files, so more research is needed to confirm the information. (3) Simon and Peter are listed in” The Hamilton Township Union Church Record.” Willard is recorded in DAR records.
JOHAN DIETRICH BAUER(BC)
Johan Dietrich Bauer was born July 29, 1769 in Northampton County, Pa., to Dielman and Maria Eva Bauer. (1)
Hontetter married Susanna Teeter and later Elizabeth Brooks.
He lived in Northampton County at least until 1793, when he appears as a communicant at the union church there. (2)
Most information comes from Dielman Bauer’s file with Daughters of the American Revolution. (2) “The Hamilton Township Union Church Record.”
ADAM and SARAH BAUER
John Adam Bauer was born Sept. 29, 1772 in Northampton County, Pa., to Dielman and Maria Eva Bauer. (1)
Married Sarah Adam or Sarah Conrad, who was born in 1783.
Child:
Charles, born in 1817.
Adam died in 1847 and Sarah died in 1861.
Birth is in “The Hamilton Township Union Church Record,” page 8.All other information comes from Dielman Bauer’s file with Daughters of the American Revolution and DAR Lineage Book Vol. 74, page 142.Information in these sources conflicts.
GEORGE and ELIZABETH BAUER(BE)
Johan George Bauer was born Feb. 5, 1775 in Northampton County, Pa., to Dielman and Maria Eva Bauer. (1)
Married Elizabeth Hauser. (2)
George probably lived in Hamilton Township, Northampton County, where he appears in church records until 1793. Most of the members of his family moved to New York State around 1799.
(1) Birth is in “The Hamilton Township Union Church Record,” page 11.(2) From Dielman Bauer’s file with Daughters of the American Revolution.
