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This site provides documents & information pertaining to Dewalt/Dewald Angeny/Ankeny, his ancestors and descendants. This site does not waste your time by including unnecessary graphics and does not include obtrusive colors or annoying backgrounds. Available documents are included and contributions of additional items would be welcomed including a reasonably good copy of the Charles Ross Shultz book. Since the previous update to this site, a much appreciated translation of the Gustav Angne book has been provide by Michael Lyons and associates.
If any errors are noted or if you wish to make additions, they may be sent to Bob Bergman..
Bob Bergman
Dewalt Ankeny
One of the Pioneers in the later Colonial Period of Pennsylvania and the father of other Pioneers, of the Revolutionary Period is Dewald Ankeny, an immigrant who arrived on these shores in the year 1746. This fact is found in the list of immigrants or passengers on the Ship Neptune, which arrived at the Port of Philadelphia on October 25, 1746. The name was given there as Dewalt Ancony.
By tradition the Ankeny family originated in France: probably in Flanders, and the name was said to have been Enghen at that time. The early members of the family were Protestants and followers of the Prince of Conde and Admiral Coligny,-that is, they were Huguenots. Persecution forced them into exile, and they later appear in the Rhine Palitinate.
Dewald settled in Lancaster County, Pa., somewhat west of Ephrata and in what is now Lebanon County Pa. A Warrant for 50 acres of land was granted to Dewalt Angena, on February 14, 1750, and that a survey of the tract was made, and returned 121 acres, 120 perches. The land was in Hanover Township, Lancaster County, but now is in Union Township, Labanon County, a short distance west of Swatara Creek, midway between Jonestown and Licksdale, Pa.
Tradition has it that Dewalt's first wife died at an early date from injuries received in the burning of their barn. It seems that she tried to save some of the cattle. The exact date is not known.
Dewalt married Margaret Becker Frederick in about 1758 and perhaps adopted a posthumously-born son as his own.
In about 1766 Dewalt and Margaret moved to Maryland, settling at a place called Clear Spring, in the Conoquocheague Valley. Here he bought a small tract of land in 1764, and, on January 19, 1773, it is found in the Maryland records, that Duval Anconi had a warrant for 500 acres,- the tract he named "Well-Pleased". He later took Out warrants for, or purchased, at least four tracts of land in what was then Bedford, now Somerset County, Pa., where several of his sons had settled. He lived at "Well-Pleased" during the remainder of his life and became one of the wealthy men of the region.
Dewalt died at Clear Spring in 1781. He left a will in which he directed that he was to be buried in the "orchard by the graves already there.