General Notes

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Johann Frederick Desern came to America in 1753 from Prussia, present d
ay Germany. Johann was a passenger aboard the ship Queen of Denmark, who
se homeport was Rotterdam, Netherlands. The ship arrived
in a port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, 11 September 1753. Jo
hann originally boarded the ship in Hamburg, Prussia. The ship had a po
rt call in Cowes, England before proceeding to
Philadelphia. The Queen of Denmark was commanded by Captain George Parish
.
Johann's possible place of origin is revealed in the ship's passenger lis
t: "A List of Male Names on Board the Ship Queen of Denmark,  Endorsed: Li
st of the Hanoverians from Hamburg imported in the
Queen of  Denmark."
Three versions of the passenger's list were prepared. On the Captain's Lis
t, Johann is shown as Joh. (+) Devehrn; on the Oath of Allegiance, he is s
hown as Joh. Frederick De Vehrn; and on the third
list, Oath of Fidelity and Abdication, he is shown as J. Freiderich (+) D
efern. Some researcher believe that the Defern variation resulted from a G
erman long "s", which appears in written script as
an "f". As a result, Desern is probably the most correct interpretati
on of Johann's surname upon his arrival in Philadelphia. In addition, t
he 1753 Pennsylvania Early Census Index for Philadelphia
County records his name as Joh. Frederick De Vehrn.
Several family researchers believe, but have not proven, that Johann was a
ccompanied on his voyage to America by two of his young sons, Francis a
nd Frederick. Their names do not appear on the
passenger list because only persons age 16 or older were recorded. Thus f
ar, no records have been found regarding Johann's wife in Prussia or the m
other of Francis and Frederick.
Following his arrival in America in 1753, Johann married Barbara Tefe
rn in 1755 in Pennsylvania. His surname on the marriage record is record
ed as "Tefern". There is record that his marriage produced
a daughter, Margaret Tefern, who was born in 1758 in Lancaster, Pennsylva
nia.
A possible explanation for the Tefern surname variation is that it was com
mon for a "d" and "t" to be interchanged in the surnames of persons with G
ermanic ancestry. Thus, Defern may have become
Tefern.
Extracts from Wills, Washington County Maryland. - Will of Frederick Tefe
rn of Conococheague Hundred, Washington Co. State of Md., dated 21 Octob
er 1778, probated 24 November, 1778, witnessed by John
Barnes, Jacob Hershner, and Jacob Sibert; executors, John Barnes, Jacob S
ibert, and wife, Barbary. Mentions: Wife, Barbary Tefern, daughter, Margar
et, wife of John Millhouse (Liber A, p 26).
A book titled The Place Names of Maryland and their Origin and Meani
ng by Hamill Kenny lists Conococheague as: A creek flowing into the Potom
ac River at Williamsport, Washington County; also a
village. Pronunciations:KAHN-ohko-CHeeg.
The Washington County, Maryland Church Records of the 18th Century on pa
ge 34 contain the following entry: Salem Reformed Church. Henrich of Henri
ch Braun and Maria Salome, married: b 8 Jan 1773;
bapt. 23 May; wit. Fridrich Defern and his housewife Maria Barbara.
It is possible, but not proven, that Johann, upon his arrival in Ameri
ca in 1753, may have been in the Prussian Army.