First Families of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina

Till (Diel, Dill)

1. NICLAUS TILL, was baptized 29 Sep 1695 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1] and died abt. Aug 1736 in Charles Town, South Carolina[4,5]. He was the son of JACOBUS TILL and CATHARINA SPIELHOFER[1].He married ANNA MARIA DURING on 30 Jun 1721 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1]. She was baptized 28 Feb 1695 in Lausen, BL, Switzerland[2] and died 19 May 1758 in Orangeburg Township, South Carolina[6,7]. She was the daughter of PETER DURING and ANNA SCHWEITZER[2].

A letter of 23 Apr 1737 from Rev. Giezendanner to Samuel Parvicini gives the news that Niclaus died ten days after they reached Charleston and that two of their children died two weeks earlier aboard ship[4,5].

The widow, Anna Maria, received a warrant for 250 acres of land in her own name on 13 Oct 1736[8]. The grant for 250 acres and Orangeburgh town lot #393 was surveyed on 8 Oct 1737[9]. Anna Maria married John Shaumloffel on 24 Feb 1738 in Orangeburg Township, South Carolina[6,7].

Children of Niclaus Till and Anna During are:

a. Anna Till, baptized 12 Apr 1722 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1], died Aft. 5 Jan 1790 in Orangeburgh District, SC[10], married Heini Rickenbacher abt. 1740 in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina[6,7].

On 5 Jan 1790 Ann (Till) Rickenbacker signed an affidavit in regards to Revolutionary War claims[10].

b. Hans Jacob Till, baptized 21 Sep 1723 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1], died probably aft. 1742 in South Carolina.

c. Anna Maria Till, baptized 12 Feb 1725 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1], died probably in 1736 aboard ship.

d. Anna Cathrina Till, baptized 09 Jun 1726 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1], died 28 Aug 1755 in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina[6,7].

e. Johannes Till, baptized 16 Nov 1728 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1], died 17 Jul 1732 in Pratteln[1].

f. Anna Barbara Till, baptized 4 Mar 1730 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1], died 5 Mar 1730 in Pratteln[1].

g. Niclaus Till, baptized 11 Mar 1731 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1], died Aft. 3 Oct 1756 in South Carolina[6,7].

h. Elizabeth Till, baptized1 Feb 1733 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1], died 25 Feb 1734 in Pratteln[1].

i. Johannes Till, baptized 24 Jan 1735 in Pratteln, BL, Switzerland[1], died probably in 1736 aboard ship.

No direct evidence for the presence of Hans Jacob, Anna Maria, or Johannes in South Carolina can be found. Hans Jacob, however, is the only male old enough to be the father of the Nicholas Dill who was Confirmed by Rev. Giezendanner on 26 Mar 1758, leaving Anna Maria and Johannes as the two children who died aboard ship[5,6,7].

The surname is spelled Till in the Swiss Church Book after 1690 and Tijll or Tyll before[1]. The current spelling in Switzerland is Dill.

REFERENCES:

1. Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Pratteln-Augst (Basel), "Kirchenbuch, 1625-1879", FHL INTL Film #953182.

2. Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Lausen (Basel), "Kirchenbuch, 1542-1838", FHL INTL Film #953150.

3. Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Kilchberg (Basel), "Kirchenbuch, 1559-1911", FHL INTL Film #953142.

4. A. B. Faust and G. M. Brumbaugh, Lists of Swiss immigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies, Vol. II, p 102.

5. Joop Giesendanner, "Giezendanner to Paravicini, April 23, 1737". http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/.

6. Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC". http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/.

7. A. S. Salley, The History of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, 1898, pp 96, 164, 207, 215.

8. Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals, Volume I:1735-1748, p.60.

9. SC Archives, Colonial Plats, Vol. 5, p 270, #2.

10. SC Archives, Accounts Audited, 6401 Rickenbacker, Mrs. Ann.

Other references to this surname are found in OGSGS Newsletters: Vol. 1, #22, p. 127; Vol. 1, #3, p.16; Vol. 1, # 7 #8, p.37-38; Vol. 1, #11, p. 56; Vol. 3, #4, p. 26,27; Vol. 6, #4, p. 65; Vol. 6, #5, p. 95,97.

Information provided by Jim Rickenbacker 11/17/02.