Joseph Devitt, The Dionne

- Yes, date unknown

• Name	Joseph Devitt
  Suffix	The Dionne
  Gender	Male
  Rsrch. Note	Contact_FirstName: June Contact_LastName: Pearce Contact_MiddleInitial: B Contact_Email: jcareypearce@home.com Contact_URL: born: late 1700's death: abt 1853 description We first find BANGHART DeWITT in the marriage records of Dearborn Co, IN (Dec 1, 1834) marrying my gggrandmother Maria(h)Taylor who was a granddaughter of Aquilla Cross by way of his daughter Elizabeth and Isaac Taylor. No record of him can be found until early June of 1902 when he is named as the first husband of Maria(h) in her obituary, where we learn there were nine DeWitt children and they claim he died in 1853. We presume he lived out his married life in Indiana. My ggrandmother, Sarah Catherine DeWitt was born to them in IN Nov 26, 1852 and we have since found descendants of William George DeWitt, born in Aug 23, 1834 prior to their December marriage. Wm.G would seem to be the eldest. William George's death certificate confirms Banghart as his father. We also know from Maria's obit that there was one other surviving child in 1902, a daughter Mrs. John Dixon of Chebanse, Iroquois Co, IL . No one has been able to locate Banghart and Maria and their family in any census, land transaction, tax record, etc. I believe official records were purposely avoided. And if you will indulge me a little further let me tell you why. I have doubts the man was REALLY Banghart DeWitt! I was recently contacted by a descendant of a man by the name of Devitt. This is her story: Maria "Polly" Banghart married J.George Ribble in 1793. He died 2 yrs later after fathering George Ribble jr. On the 25th of December, 1800 she married Dennis Devitt an Irish immigrant recently arrived in the German-Dutch community of Sussex, NJ. The family spelled the name DeWit while living there. By 1812 seven little DeWits had arrived. At this time the family re-located to Canada leaving behind [with either the Bangharts or Ribbles], her son George and the two oldest DeWit boys, Matthew and John. James had died in infancy. Going with them to the Hamilton, ON area was Barnabus, Barbara, John and Dennis who now all became Devitts. Maria and Joseph Banghart Devitt were added in Canada in 1813 and 1814. At this time another re-location found them moving further west into the mostly German area of Waterloo. For some reason [and I will express my thoughts later on this], baby Joseph was left behind in the Hamilton area with a French Canadien family named Dionne. A family-written biography refers to him merely as "Joseph, the Dionne". Dennis and Polly are said to have had a row after moving to Waterloo at which time she packed up and fled in 1815, heading for the US. She left behind the five Devitt children, several of whom are known to have been taken in and raised by Mennonite families. It is said she picked Joseph up along the way and nothing more is known of either one of them at this time. Maria "Polly" Banghart was a benefactor of her grandfather Andrew Banghart's will in 1818. Her name there was Mary DeWit. Joseph was not mentioned. One or two decades later, the Ribble's and the DeWit boys moved into southern Michigan, later into Ohio and by the 1830s there were legitimate (i.e. German-Dutch) DeWitts from Sussex Co, NJ living in Dearborn Co, IN. A descendant of Dennis Devitt Jr believes that my gggrandfather Banghart DeWitt was really Canadian-born, Joseph Banghart Devitt. I think she makes a pretty good case! And my thoughts on Joseph Banghart Devitt, "the Dionne" ??? Was he really the son of Dennis Devitt Sr. or had Polly been up to a little hanky-panky with a French-Canadien! Boy, I would be happy if you could find a DeWitt pedigree for my ancestor!! Thank you
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-23135
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I23135	Generations
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025

  
  

  Father	Dennis Devitt,   b. Abt 1790, , Ireland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Mother	Mary Martin,   b. Abt 1790, of, Sussex Co., New Jersey ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F1028	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart