Person:Johann Durrenberger (2)

His birth date is not given on his baptismal record but can be assumed to have been a day or two before his baptism.

He was a baptismal witness in Gundershoffen in 1756 as Johann Peter Dürrenberger auch Peter Dürrenberger burger und dreher sohn.

Called simply burger in 1760, then burger und dreher (lathe turner) or sometimes drechsler (wood joiner) starting 1763. From 1772 to 1775 he was called "Platzmeister auf dem hochlöblichen Eisenwerck bey Reichshoffen" (possibly "ironmaster at the most praiseworthy ironworks near Reichshoffen"?)

Peter was a signator on his father's death record from 1779. He also signed the record of his grandson Johann Georg's death in 1786 as Peter Dürrenberger der alt, grossvatter.

In 1791, Peter and his family immigrated to America, arriving at Philadelphia 10 Aug 1791 on the ship "Diana." From the passenger lists: Peter Durenburgh, wife Eliza Durenburgh, and children Solima, Philip, Jerry Frederick, and Hans Jerry. Peter Durenburgh, wife Margaret, and children Hans Jerry and Magdalena. [Source: Strassburger, Ralph Beaver. Pennsylvania German Pioneers. Genealogical Publishing Co.: Baltimore, 1980.]

Two of Peter's children, Anna Dorothea and Johann [Stephan], are missing from the list and were most likely already married. [Dororthea's married name is unknown at present, so it is possible she and her family may have come on the same ship as well.] Oldest son Peter, already married with children, accompanied them with his own family. The younger Peter seems to have settled first in Pennsylvania, then West Virginia, but the whereabouts of the elder Peter and his other children after arrival in America remain unknown.