Dietrich SIX ¹

   Another name for Dietrich was Fitrich SIN.

  Research Notes:

Dietrich and his wife were sponsors of the baptism of Georg Dietrich Graff (son of Hans George and Anna Barbara [Holstein] Graff) on 24 Jun 1750 at Christ Lutheran Church in Stouchsburg. Dietrich also served as a witness to Johannes Christopl Graff signing his will on 6 Apr 1748.

Dietrich and his wife also sponsored the baptism of their granddaughter, Maria Margaretha Thomas at Altalaha Lutheran Church in 1762.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Immigration, 19 Sep 1738, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ⁴ Arrived on the Ship the Thistle, John Wilson, Cmmander, from Rotterdam, but last from Plymouth in England. Suscribed the Oaths to the Government that day.

Name listed on various lists as Diterich Sixe (signed with an X), Jerich Six, and Diethrich Six.

Others on the ship: Johan Adam Schneider, Johan Peter Schneidder, Daniel Schneider, Valtin Wildt, several Benders, among others.

• Organizations, Bet 1743 and 1746, Tulpehocken Church, Lancaster (now Berks) County, Pennsylvania. ⁵ The first settlers in Tulpehocken were Lutherans and German Reformed. A list of church members included a Frederick Süss and Balthas Süss. Balthas had immigrated in 1737.

• Place, 1755-1758, Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. ⁶ The land owned by Dietrich Six is noted in various history books accounting the events of the French and Indian War era, particular related to the suffering of the people of northwestern Berks County.

As the 1750s began, the French were attempting to connect their possessions in Canada and Lousiana with a series of forts throughout the Great Lake and Ohio River regions. In 1754, they built a fort at the present day site of Pittsburg, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet. This fort was originally known as Fort DuQuesne, and later Fort Pitt. Meanwhile, the Delaware Indians were local to the Blue Mountains north of Berks County, and had become increasingly irate at the English due to a series of deceptions against them as the English were purchasing their land. After being forced from their homes several times, the Delaware Indians lived in shame among the other regional Indian tribes, who viewed the Delaware as "women". The French had recruited the support of these Indians through promises of regaining their land and respect.

In June of 1755, a British force lead by General Edward Braddock set out for Fort DuQuesne, after first carving a road through the Maryland and Pennsylvania mountains. On 9 July, 1755, General Braddock's advance force of about 1,400 soldiers was ambushed by the French and Indians about 8 miles from the fort. Over 1,000 of the soldiers were killed or wounded. The remnants of Braddock's defeated army withdrew southward into Maryland and Virginia, leaving Pennsylvania without any protection from the British Army. The results of the battle inspired the French and Indians, and demoralized the provincial residents. Raiding parties of Indians took easy prey of the frontier settlers whose homes were often miles apart. The first invasions were in Cumberland County, quickly speading to the Susquehanna River. An Indian village about 30 miles north of Harrisburg, served as a main base for the Indians.

As news of the French and Indian atrocities spread East, local groups established private forts for their own protection given the lack of any supported by the provincial government. Along the Blue Mountains, was a pass by the mountain now referred to as Round Top. Dietrich Six had settled by the base of this mountain, along the Shamokin Trail connecting what is now Sunbury with the most populous areas of Berks County. The home of Dietrich Six was fortified to serve as a gathering point and watch point. Given Dietrich's location along the trail, it became the most important post along the Blue Mountains. On 15 November, 1755, fear finally became reality for the residents of Berks County, when the Indians attacked Dietrich Six's home. The events of this day are recorded by Conrad Weiser in a letter written to Governor Morris on 19 November, 1755: "Honoured Sir: On my Return from Philadelphia I met in the Township of Amity, in Berks County, the first news of our cruel Enemy having invaded the Country this Side of the Blue Mountain, to witt, Bethel and Tulpenhacon. I left the Papers as they were in the Mesengers Hands, and hasted to Reading, where the Alarm and Confusion was very great. I was obliged to stay that Night and part of the next Day, to witt, the 17th of this Instant, and sot out for Heidleberg, where I arrived that Evening. Soon after, my sons Philip and Frederick arrived from Persuit of the Indians, and gave me the following Relation, to witt, that on Saturday last about 4 of the Clock, in the Afternoon, as some Men from Tulpenhacon were going to Dietrich Six's Place under the Hill on Shamokin Road to be on the watch appointed there, they were fired upon by the Indians but none hurt nor killed. (Our People were but Six in Number, the rest being behind). Upon which our People ran towards the Watch-house which was about one-half a mile off, and the Indians persued them, and killed and Scalped several of them. A bold, Stout Indian came up with one Christopher Ury, who turned about and shot the Indian right through his Breast. The Indian dropt down Dead, but was dragged out of the way by his own Companions. (He was found next day and scalped by our People). The Indians devided themselves in two Parties, Some came this Way to meet the Rest that was going to the Watch, and killed some of them, so that six of our Men were killed that Day, and a few Wounded. The Night following the Enemy attacked the House of Tho[mas] Brown [Bower], on Swatara Creek. They came to the House in the Dark night, and one of them put his Fire-Arm through the window and shot a Showmaker (that was at Work) dead upon the Spot. The People being extreamly Surprised at this Sudden attack, defended themselves by firing out of the windows at the Indians. The Fire alarmed a neighbor who came with tow or three more Men; they fired by the way and made a great noise, scared the Indians away from Bower's House, after they had set fire to it, but by Thomas Bower's Deligence and Conduct was timely put out again, So Tho[mas] Bower, with his Family, went off that Night to his Neihbour Daniel Schneider, who came to his assistance. By 8 of ye Clock Parties came up from Tulpenhacon and Heidleberg. The first Party saw four Indians running off. They had some Prisoners, whom they scaped immediately, three Children lay scalped yet alive, one died since, the other two are like to do well. Another Party found a woman just expired, with a male Child on her side, both killed and Skalped. The Woman lay upon her Face, my son Frederick turned her about to see who she might have been and to his and his Comapions surprize they found a Babe of about 14 Days old under her, raped up in a little Cushion, his nose quite flat, which was set right by Frederick, and life was yet in it, and recovered again. Our People came up with two Parties of Indians that Day, but they hardly got sight of them The Indians Ran off Immediately. Either our People did not care to fight them if they could avoid it, or (which is most likely) the Indians were alarmed first by the loud noise of the People coming, because no Order was observed. Upon the whole, there is about 15 killed of our People, Including Men, Women and Children, and the Enemy not beat but scared off. Several Houses and Barns are Burned; I have no true account of how many. We are in a Dismal Situation, some of this Murder has been committed in Tulpenhacon Township. The People left their Plantation to within 6 or 7 miles from my House [he lived at the present town of Womelsdorf]. I am now Busy to put Things in order to defend my House against another attack." Conrad went on to request guns and ammunition to continue the defense of the area. (Pennsylvania Archive Series 1, vol. ii, p. 503)

On 24 November, 1755, another letter to the Governor indicated that most of the People of Tulpenhacon had left their homes, those in Heidelberg moved their effects, and that Bethel Township (where the Six home was located), was entirely deserted. The residents had fled south to the various towns providing additional safety. Reporting the demands of local residents, they demanded a law be passed authorizing a reward for every Indian killed. The people were incensed, not only against the Indians, but against the Governor and Assembly for not providing adequate defense. He added to the letter yet another graphic account of the attack of two Indians on a Kobel family with eight children (ranging ages of 14 days to 14 years). The man had been shot in the chest, though not killed. The woman was struck with a Hatchet blow to the head, and then scalped. Four of the children were scalped, two of which survived. The remaining children ran into the bushes, and the noise of coming people scared the Indians away before further harming the children.

These and other accounts finally got the serious attention of the Governor, who after touring the areas, established a series of provincial forts about 10 to 12 miles apart East of the Susquehanna River. Fort Henry was built in February 1756, near the home of Dietrich Six. It stood north of the current locality of Bethel, in the western corner of Berks County. The fort consisted of one or more tile-roofed buildings within a stockade.
It was better constructed than usual, roomy, and well kept. The origin of the name is possibly some member of the royal family, such as William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, a younger brother of the later George III.

The fort was built under the direction of a Captain Christian Busse of Reading. He had reported to Conrad Weiser on 1 February, 1756, that he and a company of 50 men had reached Bosehair's the night before, and had immediately made a barricade round the house five feet high. He was joined by Dietrich Six and George Grove, the nearest neighbors, who had been driven by the Indians from their homes. They then proceeded to built the fort near Dietrich Six's house during the next four to six weeks.

Fort Henry's sole function was to house the garrison which used it as a base for ranging the forests to the west and northwest. It was not a communications or strategic center, and it played no role in any Indian negotiations or trade. It was well constructed but not elaborate, roomy and well kept. It was maintained throughout the time of need and was then abandoned.

In June of 1757, then Governor Denny visited Fort Henry after attending a conference with friendly Six Nations Indians in Lancaster. He successfully sought to strenghten the support from Freeholders who were having some disputes with the regular Provincial officers regarding organization of the militia.

Later, on 12 October, 1757, it was reported that a French diserter or spy came down the hill near Fort Henry, and proceeded towards Dietrich Six's house. Sentries at the fort noticed the man, and sent several soldiers to seize him. He identified himself as the son of the French commander at Fort Machault, and said he had lost his way. He was imprisoned at Philadelphia until the spring of 1759.

Throughout these years there continued to be atrocities by the Indians. At various times, less soldiers were stationed at the fort in order to provide suppport to campaigns up into what is now Northumberland County. There was difficulting in dealing with the Indian raids during these times. On 19 June, 1758, Captain Busse reported to Conrad Weiser that Indians had that morning carried off the wife and three children of John Frantz six miles from the fort; that three Indians had been seen near the fort, "at the place of Six"; and that Jacob Snabele's son had been killed. Nevertheless, the staff continued to be reduced.

It is unclear how long Fort Henry remained garrisoned. Captain Busse left service on 11 May, 1759, which may signal the end of the forces at the fort. The Indians raids had already subsided. It has been noted that Fort Henry was a patrol station in 1763-1764 during Pontiac's War, although it is unclear what buildings and structures remained in place at that time.


Sources:

W. W. Munsell, History of Schuylkill County, PA, New York: W. W. Munsell & Co., 1881, 13-14, 27-28

Louis M. Waddell and Bruce D. Bomberger, The French and Indian War in Pennsylvania 1753-1763 - Fortification and Struggle During the War for Empire, Harrisburg: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1996, 10-15, 25-26, 85

I. Daniel Rupp, History of Lancaster County, Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Gilbert Hills, 1844, 332-335

William A. Hunter, Forts on the Pennsylvania Frontier, 1753-1758, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1960,

Thomas Lynch Montgomery, Litt. D., editor, Report of the Commission To Locate the Site of the Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania, Volumes One and Two, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1916

• Will, 3 May 1770, Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. ² The will of Dietrich Six was written in German, and translated as the following:

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The third May 1770.
I Diedrich Six give this as my whole will that my Son-in-Law namely Petter Domas shall have the place for seventy five pounds and to maintain the Mother out of the place, to wit: ten bushels of wheat and six bushels rye. One swine of a hundred weight and the third barrel of cider and to keep one cow. One quarter flax and ten shillings yearly in money and to keep two sheep. And Gret shall get her paternal share of the seventy five pounds one as the other.

George Emmert and Petter Domas (Thomas) were executors. Witnessed by Johannes Strubhar and Christoffel Witmer.

The will was proven 25 June, 1770.

Dietrich next married Wife Of Dietrich SIX. (Wife Of Dietrich SIX died after Jun 1770 ⁷.)