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From: Anne Wiegle <>
Subject: RE: DIEHLS of Tinicum Island, Delaware Co., PA
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 22:24:34 -0500


That is Tinicum Island.
It is a marshy Island right next to where the Phila. Airport is now.
Tinicum inhabitants tended to be graziers. That is they grazed livestock rather
than plowed and cultivated. The island was very marshy. In early times, it was
diked to let the fresh water out and keep the salt water out. Then during the
revolutionary war, in 1777,they broke the dikes to keep the British from
marching on Philadelphia. After the Rev. War, I don't think the island dikes
were ever restored.
See Smith's History of Delaware County, page 224. & 337
In 1780 Tinicum became a separate township, it was formerly part of Ridley.
Thier petition read:
" That the inhabitants of the Island aforesaid, as a part of the Township of
Ridley, have heretofore paid a great part of the tax for the support of the
roads in said township, and also maintained and supported the roads on the
Island at their own cost and charge, without the least assistance from the
other part of the township, and whereas the dams on said island made for the
purpose of preventing the tides from overflowing the meadows belonging to your
petitioners, were int he year 1777, cut and destroyed with the view of
retarding the progress of the enemy at that time invading the State, whereby
the roads on said Island were greatly damagedtot he very great prejudice of
your petitioners, and as it is not in our power to derive any assistance from
the inhabitants of the other part of the township, Pw conceive it to be a
hardship to be obliged to support thier roads."


In the 1790 census, I see Adam Deihl in Tinicum Twp.

John Hill Martin's "Chester & its Vicinity...":
p. 217: Proceedings of the Supreme Executive council July 29, 1777- Nicholas
Diehl was among those appointed to drive off stock on the enemies' approach.
p 254: Edward Clark Diehl, a member of the Philadelphia Bar, son of William and
Mary A. Diehl, married Annie E. McIlvaine, dau. of Edwin & Mary Pearson
McIlvaine. Edwins parents were Spencer McIlvaine & Sarah Crosby, b 25 Apr.
1801 d 21 Dec. 1865.
Children of Edward Clark Diehl & Annie McIlvaine are Sallie, Ella and Mary
Diehl. [no dates]
p 430-1:
"The above was kindly furnished to me by Edw. C. Diehl, son-in-law- of Spencer
McIlvaine. Mr. Diehl is the descendant of a former well-known resident of
Tinicum, and active and intelligent man of business in his day, Nicholas Diehl,
a German, the owner of a considerable tract of land in the vicinity of the
Lazaretto. He ws the great grandfather of Thomas J. and Edqard C. Deal, Esqs.,
both members of the Philadelphia Bar. Nicholas Diehl lived in the fine old
country mansion adjacent to the Lazaretto Station, on the west side of the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. His son Thomas Diehl was a tea
merchant at Front and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, and his son William J.
Diehl wsa the father of Edward C. and Thomas J. Nicholas Diehl died in 1828 at
an extreme old age."

Hope this info is helpful.
Anne Wiegle

On Sunday, November 26, 2000 1:40 AM,
[SMTP:] wrote:
> Hi,
> I'm new to the list and a Diehl / Deal descendant. Searching for data about
>
> the Diehl family of Finicum Island and would also like to know the location
> of the Island.
>
> LDS indicates the following Diehls, all born on Finicum Island:
> Nicholas b. 28Jun1769
> Eliza b. abt. 1774
> Thomas b. 20Apr1776
> John b. 1777
>
> Looking for information for Simon Diehl b. abt 1779 (Simon could be a
> nickname)
> He was my 3x great grandfather.
>
> Thank you for any information.
> Sherry Deal Jones
>
> ______________________________

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