Catherina Margaretha Dellinger Hoyle ~

Sometimes you get so blind to the things you see on a daily basis. You just pass on by, without a second thought about what may lie down a side path. Well, I ventured down a side path today and was well rewarded.

Remember our old Heinrich in the woods, there near Magnolia Grove?
Brother to our Johan "John" Philip Dellinger, Jr.?

Well, they had at least one sister, that made it to America as well.
Her name was Catherina Margaretha Dellinger. Her final resting place is right here in Dallas. Not even three miles from me. Imagine how surprised I was to learn that!

Catherina Margaretha “ Margaret” Dellinger was born in Oberacker Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. She died May 25, 1827. She married Michael Hoyle, 1761 in Hoylesville, Gaston, North Carolina. Michael was the son of Johann Pieter (Pioneer) Heyl/Hoyle and Susanna Catherina Dales, both of whom were born in Germany.

Margaret Dellinger Hoyle and Michael Hoyle had eight daughters and two sons.

Margaret and Michael are buried near Dallas, off of Dallas Cherryville Hwy. in a family plot, called Samuel Best Cemetery. Samuel Best was their grandson. He is buried here as well as other family members.



The wind howled around us, out on the open field where we found her. The field is sown in soybeans during the growing season, but now lies dormant and barren in the middle of winter. The ground level of the cemetery is higher than the surrounding field from countless years of plowing it under. I squished on through the muck, not letting a few inches of recent rain “muddy” my thoughts..although they did do a number on my shoes..

The descendants have placed newer markers to replace those that have been worn over time. There is a lone cedar that stands guard over the graves. Margaret and Michael, share a stone that is lightly etched with the dates of their lives.

I stood there and reflected on how many times I had passed this side road and never given it more than a passing thought. She rests here beneath this tree, my kin. She just waited for me, all this time, patiently, like all the rest. I stood before her marker and touched it’s surface, as I have all the others before.

I said , "It is just me, your 5th Great-grandniece, come to visit you".

I wonder about this lady, and all she must have endured, living in that timeframe. Bearing ten children. Then having to survive burying six before she died. It was a punishing time to live in, but she survived to age 82 years old. Imagine what she saw in her lifetime, coming to a new country, bound for the unknown. New world, new language, everything different. But she did well.



Rest in Peace, Margaret.











Inscription on Margaret Dellinger Hoyle and Michael Hoyle’s tombstone.

In memory of

Michael Hoyle died March 12, 1792, aged 62 years

Margaret Hoyle died May 25, 1827, aged 82 years

" Children, dear, as you pass by, Pray on these lines do cast an eye.

As you ware young, so once ware we; Prepare for death and eternity."






SOURCE: "OUR KIN" By Laban Miles Hoffman, 1989 Edition, Chapter 7, Section 3, Pages 412 - 413.


"Michael Hoyle, son of Peter Hoyle, the pioneer of this family, according to the sketch of the family copied in the beginning of this Chapter was born in the year 1738. He married Margaret Dellinger, sister of Henry Dellinger. He lived on Big Long Creek on a farm, part of which he purchased from Zachariah Routh, November 25, 1769, but he had lived on other land adjoining this tract prior to this purchase. This homestead was situated about three-quarters of a mile northwest of what is now known as the White & Jenkins Mill, three miles west of Dallas. He died after rearing a large family, and after an honorable useful life, on the 12th day of March, 1793. He is buried on his old homestead and many years later his widow was buried by his side. A single large marble slab for both of them is bunglingly inscribed: "In memory of Michael Hoyle. Died March 12, 1792, aged 62 years." "Also Margaret Hoyle died May 25, 1827, aged 82 years. Children, dear, as you pass by, Pray on these lines do cast an eye. As you ware young, so once ware we; Prepare for death and eternity."



Michael Hoyle’s Last Will and Testament:

"In the name of God amen I Michael Hoile of the County of Lincoln and State of North Carolina farmer Being very sick and weak but of Perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God Calling into mind the mortality of my body and holding that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordane this my Last Will and testament that is to say principaly and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hand of God Almighty that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buryed in decent Christian manner at the Disission of my Executors Nothing doubting but at the general predirection I Shall receive the Same againe by the mighty power of God and as touching Such Wordly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this Life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form
"first I order my lawful debts to be paid of my estate Seckond to my Dearly Beloved wife Margret I give one Negro wench called Dinah one bright Bay Horse Sadle and bridle one bed with all its furniture with two cows which she Choses herself with her living in the House where She Now lives on with the third of of the Land her Lifetime Likewise I give my well beloved son Petter one hundred ninety six acres of Land on the North Side of the South fork of the Cataba River on which he lives Likewise my well beloved son John I give him a Hundred and fifty acres of Land on which I Now live one Horse Sadle and Bridle out of my moveable Estate to the value of twenty five Pounds I give to my beloved daughters Cathren Elizabeth Margret and ann to each one Horse Sadle and Bridle with -aws and Household furniture to the amount of thirty Pounds Likewise I order that the other three Negros Emy Sal & -eat with my Still with the vesils and to Remaine on the plantation for the use of my Children and old woman the Still is for the use of all my Children at Home and abroad as they agree it ammong themselves for the time of five years the Remainder of my moveable Estate is to divide among themselves as they can agree if they Choose the help of a Neighbour or two to divide they are welcome
"I constitute and ordaine Margaret Hoils and Petter Hoils to be my Sole Executors and I do hereby uterly disalow Revoak and disolve all and every other former testaments wills Ratifying and Confirming this and No other to be my Last will and testament in witness thereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Second day march in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Three Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Michael Hoils as his Last will testament in the presence of us who in his presence and and in the presence of each other have Hereto Subscibed our Hand" testors

(signed) Samuel White

(signed) Michael Hoils seal

(signed) Joseph Holloway

(signed) Joseph Jenkins