Called DeWald, he emigrated from Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, where he was born. He arrived in Philadelphia from Germany aboard the "Two Brothers" on 15 Sep 1748, settling near Kutztown, Berks Co, PA. He married Hanna Fox. He moved to Franklin Co after the Rev War and laid out/founded the town of Upper Strasburg in 1789, where he kept a tavern which was also a noted resort.
In 1789 Dewald Keefer purchased land from James Clark in Upper Strasburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

15 Sep 1748 Abraham Kieffer and Johan Nicholas Kieffer of St. Wendel's, Saar, Johan Caspar Keiffer and Agnes Glockner, his wife, of Waldmohr, Abraham Kieffer Jr, of Breitenbach, Johan Peter and Johan Theobald Kieffer of Zweibrucken, via the ship the "Two Brothers" arriving in Philadelphia, PA. Source 9041, Source 3193, Source 1815 p17, Source 7820, Source 1031.9 p197, 198, Source 1031.9 p368

It is believed that Abraham Kieffer, Sr. left Europe with his four sons of which one died at sea. Caspar Kieffer's wife died in Germany and Abraham Kieffer, Jr.'s wife is not listed on the ship passenger list, but that's expected. The Kieffer family first settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Sources:
1. Seilhamer, G. O. Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, p. 465, 470, 476-477, 483.
2. Yoder, Pennsylvania German Immigrants, 1709-1786, p. 311.
3. Filby. Passenger and Immigrant Lists Indes, Volume 12, p. 1088.
4. History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, p. 813.'
5. The Seilhamer Collection, volume 8, p. 30.

Probably bordering France(Same province in Germany as George Beaver)1
5 Sept 1748 came over from Zwer Brucken on the Rhine with Father and 2 brothers.
Will of Dewald Keefer( -1833) m.Hannah Fox
Franklin County Pennsylvania Wills.Liber D. ff 275-276
(Seen on microfilm at Pennsylvania state Archives, Harrisburg, Pa.
Biographical Annals of Franklin Co. Pa.
Published by Genealogical publishing Co. Chicago. 1905

DeWald is listed as a Revolutionary War Veteran from Berks Co., PA

Dewald Kieffer's Will from the courthouse in Chambersburg is dated 21 June 1817.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 19 2021, 15:42:05 UTC

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Johann Theobald “DeWald” Kieffer

• BIRTH 18 Dec 1738 Hessen, Germany
• DEATH 1817 (aged 78–79) Upper Strasburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA
• BURIAL Zion German Lutheran and German Reform Church Cemetery, Chambersburg, Franklin County, PA,
• MEMORIAL ID 88982284

He was called DeWald, and emigrated from Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, where he was born. He arrived in Philadelphia from Germany aboard the "Two Brothers" on 15 Sep 1748, settling near Kutztown, Berks Co, PA. He married Hanna Fox. He moved to Franklin Co after the Rev War and laid out/founded the town of Upper Strasburg in 1789, where he kept a tavern which was also a noted resort.
In 1789 Dewald Keefer purchased land from James Clark in Upper Strasburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

15 Sep 1748 Abraham Kieffer and Johan Nicholas Kieffer of St. Wendel's, Saar, Johan Caspar Keiffer and Agnes Glockner, his wife, of Waldmohr, Abraham Kieffer Jr, of Breitenbach, Johan Peter and Johan Theobald Kieffer of Zweibrucken, via the ship the "Two Brothers" arriving in Philadelphia, PA.

It is believed that Abraham Kieffer, Sr. left Europe with his four sons of which one died at sea. Caspar Kieffer's wife died in Germany and Abraham Kieffer, Jr.'s wife is not listed on the ship passenger list, but that's expected. The Kieffer family first settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. He emigrated 5 Sept 1748 from Zwer Brucken on the Rhine with Father and 2 brothers, probably bordering in France, same province in Germany as George Beaver [2] They traveled on the ship "Two Brothers" departing Rotterdam on July 20, 1748 and arrived in Philadelphia, Sept. 15th, 1748 with Captain Thoams Arnot, last from Portsmouth. The passenger list excludes the names of wives and young children. [10]

DeWald is listed as a Revolutionary War Veteran from Berks Co., PA, but this is incorrect. When his son died in 1855, Abraham's obit mentions that he served as a substitute for his father. The father is not a veteran, but the son served twice -- once on his father's account in 1778, once on his own in 1781. [7] Dewald Kieffer's Will from the courthouse in Chambersburg is dated 21 June 1817. [8]

Parents
Johann Abraham Kieffer 1700–1788
Anna Barbara Gerhart Kieffer 1715 – unknown

Spouse
Hannah Marianna Fox Kieffer 1740–1824 (m. 1757)

Siblings
Christian Kiefer 1726–1794
Johan Nicolaus Keefer 1734–1818
Johann Peter Kieffer 1735–1816
Maria Elizabeth Kieffer Bieber 1737–1812
Maria Appolonia Kieffer 1741 – unknown
Johan Jacob Kieffer 1741–1748
Abraham Kieffer 1747 – unknown
Maricha Kieffer 1748–1784
Johann Jacob Kieffer 1750–1809

Children
Abraham Keefer 1758–1855
Theobald Keefer 1760–1811
Catharine Kieffer Beaver 1763–1833
Peter Keefer 1766–1813
Christian Keefer 1768–1822

References

[1] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88982284/johann-theobald-kieffer

Sources

[2] Seilhamer, G. O. Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, p. 465, 470, 476-477, 483.

[3] Yoder, Pennsylvania German Immigrants, 1709-1786, p. 311.

[4] Filby. Passenger and Immigrant Lists Indes, Volume 12, p. 1088.

[5] History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, p. 813.'

[6] The Seilhamer Collection, volume 8, p. 30.

[7] "The History and Genealogy of the Bieber, Beaver, Biever, Beeber Family" by I.M. Beaver, pub 1939

[8] Will of Dewald Keefer( -1833) m.Hannah Fox, Franklin County Pennsylvania Wills.Liber D. ff 275-276 (Seen on microfilm at Pennsylvania state Archives, Harrisburg, Pa. Biographical Annals of Franklin Co. Pa. Published by Genealogical publishing Co. Chicago. 1905

[9] http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_descendants/ action=list&MyPrimary_Seqn=790789&MyLineageCount=1 DAR#A063834 A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of PRIVATE.

[10] "Two Brothers" Ship Passenger List, Departed Rotterdam on July 20, 1748 and arrived in Philadelphia, Sept. 15th, 1748 Captain Thoams Arnot, last from Portsmouth. (Wives and young children were not included on the passenger list)

Johann Casper Apfel
Johann Daniel Kreutz
Peter Bier, Jr.
Johannes Herrmann
Johann Peter Denig
Siegmund Bassermann
Johannes Knecht
J. Friedrich Hoetz
Goerg Carl Hoetz
Casper Kiefer
Abraham Kiefer
Abraham Kiefer, Jr.
Johan Kasper Engel
Johan Jacob Scherer
Johann Philip Steffan
Johannes Eberth
Christoffel Heck
Johann Jost Runckel
Johann Conrad Viehman
Johan Conrad Rauch
Johannes Woerner
Johann Jost Eberth
Johann Baltzer Schaefer
Johannes Laubach
Johann Peter Engel
Johan Matthias Otto
Johann Caspar Kraemer
Henrich Kremer
Johannes Neun
Johannes Huntzeker
Hans Jacob Kendel
Johan Jacob Hoeck
Johann Friedrich Weber
Michael Guenter
Conrad Guenter
Johan Paul Junger
Johannes Eckkart
Philippus Stein
Michael Reiffsnyder
Johannes Keller
Conrad Koehler
Johannes Schlegel
Johann Juerg Keller
Jacob Bretzius
Johan Wilhelmus Mueller
Johannes Stoehr
Philipps Jacob Schaefer
Johann Philippus Schwob
Johann Henrich Spicker
Johann Michael Brucker
Jeremias Runckel
Johann Jost Runckel
Nicklaus Clementz
Johann Peter Lenhart
Ulrich Wirth
Johann Burkhard Braun
Peter Bier
Ewald Gunter
Johan Joerg Messerschmid
Johannes Achtung
Johannes Waltz
Johanes Peter Anthony
Johann Nicklas Kind
Johannes Gessner
Matthias Dieder
Johannes Deys
Johann Jost Doerr
Egidius Meffert
Johann Peter Meffert
Johannes Holtz
Jacob Girardin
Peter Girardin
Johannes Schlegel
Johannes Schlegel, Jr.
Peter Ernst
Conrad Keller
Conrad Keller, Jr.
Jacob Reichart
Johann Joerg Fass
Michael Hasler
Johann Daniel Schneider
Henrich Frantz
Eitel Engel
Johann Wilhelm Engel
Johan Henrich Engel
Johannes Weiand
Peter Dauber
Jacob Nies
Dominicus (or Magnus) Presser
Johannes Mueller
Ludwig David Ruepfel
Daniel Kober
Nicolaus Kuntz
Peter Felte
Michael Berges
Johannes Neuhaus
Carl Marth
Philip Grimm
Mathias Huetwohl
Johannes Adam Stroeher
Johann Mattes Stroeher
Daniel Angst
Michel Christman
Johannes Mathes Stroeher
Johan Fuelleps
Johannes Sumerlauter