USA > Maryland > First settlements of Germans in Maryland > Part 3
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It was such a village as one may see to day in sparcely-settled countries, containing perhaps a public house, a blacksmith shop, a store, a few dwellings and a church nearby, where the people living for miles in the surrounding country, congregate as occasion requires.
Although I have been unable to locate any settlers in the vicin - ity of Monocacy prior to 1732, there are reasons to believe that there were some in that vicinity prior to that year. But it is j known that before the year 1750 a large number of Germans and their descendants had found their way into Maryland via the set- tlements in York and Lancaster counties and sertled on the lands contiguous to the settlement of Monocacy. Among these were the Zimmermans, Kolbs, Hoffmans, Beckenbaughs, Bickels, Tra- danes, Devilbiss, Wetzels, Eckmans, Cramers (Kramers), Brinkers, Crise (Krise), Gushorns, Dohlmans, Blumingshiue, Protsmans, Shrumps, Stulls, Cullers, Creigers (Kriegers), Poes (Pohs), Eich- elbergers, Shrivers, Weinbrenners, Shryocks, Wilhides and many others.
There were also a number of settlers of English extraction, among these were the Beattys, who were large landholders in that section. the Campbells, Grimes, Hammetts, Heads and others.
John Cramer, a German, or a descendant of a German, be- tween 1760 and 1770, laid out a village on grounds belonging to him, which was named in his honor, "Creagerstown. The site selected was a few rods north of the Old Log Church, and a little less than a mile from the first settlement. The site selected for the new village was on more elevated ground, which fact doubtless caused it to expand to the detriment of the older village. It
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is to be regretted that the new village did not retain the ancient name Monocacy, as Creagerstown then could claim the honor of being the oldest town in Western Maryland.
The Albaughs, Zollers, Harbaughs, Stauffers, Stimmels, Smiths, Cronises, Millers, Derrs, Delaplanes, Shanks, Hauvers, Dudderers, Fogles, Adams, Weavers, Barracks, Hedges, Crimms, Wiers, Kellers, Snooks, Reamers, Snyders, Clems, Ramsbergs, Shaefers, Lettermans, Wormans, Houcks and Heffners were also settled in what is now Hauvers, Lewistown, Woodsboro, Liberty and Me- chanicstown Districts prior to 1760.
CONOWAGA.
The place or settlement Conowaga, where Mr. Muhlenberg preached "in a large barn, because of the large number of peo- ple," was not the Conowaga where Mr. Schlatter preached in the same and following years. The first mentioned was near Hano- ver, Adams County, Pennsylvania, and the present St. Matthew's Lutheran Congregation at that town, is the lineal descendant of the . one to whom Mr. Muhlenberg preached, June 23, 1747. It was or- ganized, May, 1743, by Rev. David Chandler, of York, who, in the same year, organized the "Evangelical Lutheran Congrega- tion at Monocacy," of both of which he became pastor, and served as such until his death in the following years. Rev. Lars Nyberg then became pastor of both congregations, but being charged with a leaning to Moravianism he was soon removed.
There was not at that time more than a half dozen either Lutheran or German Reformed ministers in the country, and as there was an urgent demand for them by the largely increasing numbers of German immigrants coming to the settlements, the cupidity of some unscrupulous persons was excited to assume unlawfully the sacred office of Ministers of the Gospel. Among these was one Carl Rudolph, Prince of Wurtemburg, as he styled himself. By means of forged papers, letters and documents, he succeeded in obtaining the charge of the Conowaga and Monoc- acy Congregations. In this capacity he also ministered to the part of the Lutheran Monocacy Congregation residing at Fred- ericktown, but his dissolute and immoral character soon became known, and he was dismissed.
A certain Mr. Schmidt, a dentist, and a Mr. Streiter, a school- master, neither of whom, it was said, were regularly ordained ministers, for a time succeeded in obtaining the charge of these congregations. An aged minister, Valentine Kraft, a Moravian,
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also had for a time a following in both congregations. He re- moved to Frederick in 1749, where he died in 1751. During the incumbancy of this gentleman, the Conowaga Congregation was separated from that at Monocacy.
It was not until 1753, when Rev. Mr. Hauseal removed to Fred - erick, and was installed pastor of the Lutheran Congregation, that peace, harmony and regularity was established in the Mo- nocacy Congregation, about which time its headquarters were per- manently transferred to Frederick, where it has since had a peaceful and prosperous existence.
The site of the log meeting house at Conowago, where Mr. Schlatter preached in May, 1747 and 1748, is now covered by Christ's German Reformed Church, a short distance from Littles town in the same county, and distant about six miles from Han - over. This congregation was organized by Mr. Schlatter May 6th, 1747, who, two days later, May 8th, 1747, organized the Reformed congregation at Monocacy by ordaining Elders and Deacons. These congregations were united under one charge until about the year 1760. I have been unable to trace the visit of a Reformed minister to either Conowago or Monocacy until that of Mr. Schlatter, although doubtless both had been visited at irregular times by one or other of the few ministers residing in Pennsylvania, but there is no known record of any such visitations. At the time Mr. Schley was schoolmaster at Frederick and Monocacy to the Reformers a Mr. Otto Rudolph Crecelius was acting in that capacity for the Lutherans at the same places.
From all that has been said I think the Lutheran congregation may safely date from the year 1743, when it was organized by Rev. David Chandler, of York. And that the Reformed congre- gation may date its organization from May 8th, 1747, when Rev. Mr. Schlatter ordained Elders and Deacons at Monocacy. Although, as stated, both lead an irregular organization for some years previously.
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PULPIT OLD GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH, REV. DANIEL ZACHARIAS, I). D.
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THE OLD GERMAN REEORMED CHURCH.
The engraving facing the title page of this work gives a view of the tower of the Old German Reformed Church erected in 1763 and 1764, which, including the steeple erected at the same time, was sixty feet high. This structure is without doubt the oldest church tower standing in our State. In a letter written by a resi- dent of Frederick in 1773, the writer states, "we have the only church with a steeple in the Province."
The graceful spire shown in the engraving, was erected in 1807 upon the orignal stone-work by Stephen Stoner (Steiner), archi- tect and contractor. The original bells, which had been procur- ed from London at a cost of £130, were superseded by two larger bells cast in New Haven, Connecticut, but it was said they were inferior in chime to the first ones.
The town clock was constructed and placed in the steeple about this time by Frederick Heisely. For nearly a century therefore this clock has been tolling the hours of passing time to the good people of Frederick.
The tower, as originally constructed, stood out from the wall- entrance into the church being through a large door in the tower. The recesses between it and the end wall of the church were occupied by one-story frame buildings, in one of which was kept the biers and grave-diggers' implements, in the other was housed the engine of the Independent Fire Company. These buildings were standing within the recollection of the writer. But in 1836 they were removed and the recesses were built up on either side even with the roof of the church, as shown in the engraving, and the stairways to the gallery were constructed therein.
The old pulpit, a partial representation of which is given on the preceding page-with the beloved pastor Rev. Dr. Daniel Zacharias, who served the congregation from 1835 to 1875, standing therein, was erected in 1822-1823. It is to be regretted that the engraving does not show the entire pulpit, which was quaint and quite picturesque. The railings and banisters were made of solid mahogany.
In 1881, as stated elsewhere, all the old church except the tower and steeple were removed, and the present Trinity Chapel built upon the site.
It is much to be regretted that an engraving was never made of the Lutheran Church built in 1752 1758, and enlarged in 1824. It was very similar in size and construction to that of the Reformed Church, except that the steeple was not so high, and had but one belfry. This venerable building was removed in 1854 to make way for the present two steeple church.
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THE OLD GLATZ (SCHULTZ) HOUSE. The first Stone-House built West of the Susquehanna River. ANNO 1734.
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AN HISTORIC OLD HOUSE.
The engraving on the preceding page is a representation of one of the first two stone houses erected on the west side of the Sus- quhanna river, either in Maryland or Pennsylvania. It is located on Krentz Creek, about four-and-a-half miles northeast of York, Pennsylvania. This interesting relic of the early days, now some- what modernized, is owned by Mrs. Margaret Glatz Mathews, of Baltimore, in whose family, the Hiestands and Glatzs, it has been for many years, and by the courtesy of whom I am enabled to present a representation of the building as it stood before it was repaired twenty-eight years ago.
Gibson, in his history of York county, referring to this old house, says : "It was, so far as known, the first large stone house erected within the limits of York county. It was built by John Schultz and his wife Christiana in the year 1734, at a time when there was doubtless no other two-story houses west of the Sus- quehana. It was in Hellam township. Since the formation of Spring Garden it is located within that township."
"'This house is in use, in excellent state of preservation, even though it is now (1885) one hundred and fifty-one years old.
"In its early history it was one of the old-time public inns, and if it could speak might tell many an interesting story of our colonial days, as well as of revolutionary times. A well authen- ticated tradition asserts that on the 30th of September, 1777, the members of the Continental Congress, while on their way to York to make that place the seat of government during the British invasion of Pennsylvania and occupancy of Philadelphia, stopped at this house for rest and refreshment. They were traveling on horseback and the saddles used by those distinguished patriots greatly excited the curiosity of the surrounding populace. who were then unaccustomed to seeing such expensive luxuries.
"The house is quaint and antique in design, though yet a con- venient and comfortable residence. One of the walls contains the following words carefully carved on a sandstone tablet : '17 ano 34. Habich. Johann Schultz, vnd Christiana Seine frav disses havs bavt." "Translation-In the year 1734, John Schultz and his wife Christiana built this house."*
Rupp, in his history of York county, says : "About the year 1735 John and Martin Schultz each built a stone dwelling house on Krentz Creek." While the house built by the first-named as *This inscription is carved on a large white stone tablet over the front door- way.
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stated, still exists, and from its appearance looks as though it may continue to do so for another one hundred and sixty years, there remains no trace of the house built by the latter, the great grandfather of the present writer.
Nearby the house we have been describing is the site of the prison in which British and Hessian prisoners were confined during the Revolutionary War.
"In 1781, an act of Congress directed that the British prisoners confined at the barracks in Frederick and Winchester should be removed to York, Pennsylvania, from fear of rescue by Cornwal- lis. Twenty acres of woodland near this house was cleared and cultivated by the prisoners. Huts, mostly of stone, were erected and surrounded by a picket fence fifteen feet high. Some of the timber of the fence and stones of the huts yet remain. While there, a plague of some kind broke out among them, and a large number, computed by some at a thousand of them died. Their graves are still visible marked with stones."-Address of John Gibson, Esq., at Centennial Celebration at York, July 4th, 1876.
As the section of country in which this old house is situated was claimed by the Maryland authorities to be within their prov- ince, forming a part of Prince George (afterwards Frederick) and Baltimore counties, also that it was the scene of much of the dis- orders and conflicts which took place about the time of its erec- tion, growing out of the dispute over the boundary line between Maryland and Pennsylvania it was thought the foregoing as well as the following, quoted from both sides of the controversy might prove of interest to the reader.
Glossbrenner, in his history of Lancaster and York counties, says: "The first settlements in the present York county were made on Krentz Creek and in the neighborhood of where Hanover now stands. Before the erection of the county of Lancaster in 1729, a number of persons resided on tracts of land lying on the west side of the Susquehanna, within the bounds of what is now York county. These person remained, however, but a short time on the lands they occupied-were not allowed to warm in the nests on which they had squatted-and may not be looked upon as the progenitors of the present possessors of the soil of York county. They were known only as "Maryland intruders," and were removed in the latter part of the year 1728 by order of the Deputy Governor and Council, at the request of the Indians, and in conformity with their existing treaties."
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This is the Pennsylvania side of the story , but there is another : -a Maryland side-as intimated in the first part of this paper. Lord Baltimore claimed under his charter, all the land and water to the present New Jersey and a strip of land twenty miles wide . above the present boundary line between Maryland and Pennsyl- vania. The 40 degree, north latitude, was, by the charter, granted by Charles I to Cecilius Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, as the north boundary line of the province. Relying upon the validity of their title, the proprietories and their agents issued warrants and leases for lands in what is now York and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. As early as 1722 a warrant was issued for the survey of a Manor to the Lord Baltimore upon the banks of the Susquehanna river, lying in what was claimed to be Prince George and Baltimore counties.
In 1727 John Digges, a resident of Prince George county, ob- tained a warrant from the Maryland authorities for 10,000 acres of land known as "Digges' Chance" in the neighborhood of the present Hanover. And as mentioned elsewhere Charles Carroll, the elder, in 1729 located a warrant for 10,000 acres vacant land lying on Pipe Creek and Conowaga and Codorus Creeks, all of which were held to be within the bounds of the Province of Maryland.
The earliest settlers, under Maryland grants and leases, were Irish and Scotch, but these were soon followed by large numbers of Germans, who, for the most part, settled on Krente Creck. As Glossbrenner states, "about 1729 the Pennsylvania authorities commenced to issue warrants for land on the west side of the Sus- quehanna, and took measures to resist by force the attempts of the Marylanders to survey and grant warrants for land in that sec- tion. This brought on a conflict, and for some years there was great disorders in that section, resulting in several instances in bloodshed.
The celebrated Thomas Cressup, father of the no less celebrat- ed Michael Cressup, took an active part in these border troubles. He formed, with the knowledge of Governor Ogle, an association of fifty men for the purpose of driving out the Germans on the west side of the Susquehanna, who had located on Pennsylvania warrants: in the prosecution of their designs they killed one man. An attack was then made on Cressup's residence by a body of trmed men from Pennsylvania, who set fire to his house, in which himself and family and others had taken refuge. One of Cres-
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sup's men was killed and he himself was wounded and made prisoner and carried to Philadelphia, where he was confined for · nearly a year.
"This fierce border warfare at length attained to so alarming a character that the Governor and General Assembly of Maryland deemed it necessary to make a true representation to the King and Proprietary of the impious treatment which this Province in general and more particularly your Majesty's subjects residing on the northern borders thereof have of late suffered from the Gov- ernment and inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania.
"From this address it appears that the German settlers of whom so much has been said, had in the first place applied to the authorities of Maryland for permission to settle on the land in dispute, that considerable quantities of land had been allotted to them (in what is now York county, Pa.,) and that for a time they had paid taxes to the Government of Maryland, and in every way acknowledged its jurisdiction. The address charged, how- ever, that they had been seduced from their allegiance by emissa- ries from Pennsylvania, who promised them lighter taxes under that province, and that they had accordingly refused to yield further obedience to Maryland. It was to reduce these people to submission and to maintain the proper authority of Maryland that Cressup's association was formed, and it was in the attempt to defend her territory that he was subjected to the violence and imprisonment for which the Governor and Assembly now sought redress. This address had the effect of drawing from the King an order in Council dated August 18, 1737, in which the Govern- ors of Maryland and Pennsylvania were commanded on pain of his Majesty's highest displeasure to put a stop to the turmoils riots and outrageous disorders on the border of their provinces." -(Scharf s W. Md. Vol. I, page 115.)
We now give the Pennsylvania version of the story :
"About fifty or sixty persons, heads of German families, ad dressed Governor Ogle August 11, 1736, complaining of the op- pressions they had met with from Maryland-different from the Maryland tenants-which made them conclude that the Governor and Magistrates of Maryland themselves did not believe them to be settled in their province, but that they had been seduced and made use of, first by promises, and then by threats and punish- ment, to answer purposes which were unjustifiable, and would end
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in their ruin; wherefore they, with many of their neighbors, being at last truly sensible of the wrong they had done the Pennsylvania proprietors in settling on their lands without paying obedience to their government, did resolve to return to their duty, and live under the laws and Government of Pennsylvania, in which they believed themselves seated; and that they would adhere to, till the contrary should be determined by a legal decision of the dis- puted bounds; and their honest and just intention they desired to be made known to the Marvland Governor.
"Two days after writing to Governor Ogle, forty seven of them signed and sent a petition to Mr. Logan, President of the Council, at Philadelphia, setting forth that they had been de - ceived through their ignorance, to settle under Maryland; and that the river was the division-that they had been illy used-that they were now informed that not the river, but an east and west line across the river must be the division; and observing that the people on the east side of the river, inhabitants of Pennsylvania, who live much more southwest than they, enjoyed their possess- ions peaceably without any claim from Maryland, they saw they had been imposed upon, to answer some purpose from Maryland, and that they were not settled within that Province, as made to believe; from a sense whereof, and of the wrong they were doing to Pennsylvania, they resolved to return to their duty and prayed the President of the Council to impute their late errors to their want of better information, and to receive them into the protec- tion of Pennsylvania laws and government, to which they promised all faithful obedience for the future."
"They were according to their petition received as tenants of Pennsylvania.
"This course exceedingly exasperated the Marylanders- they now resorted to sterner measures for the purpose of ejecting the miscreants from their possessions."-(Rupp, 551.)
Then ensued the disorders to which I have referred.
The order of the King met with a ready compliance, and an agreement was made in 1738 providing for the running of a pro- visional line between the provinces which was not to interfere with the actual possessions of the settlers, but merely to suspend all grants of the disputed territory as defined by that line until the final adjustment of the boundaries, of which was not effected until 1763.
Among the Calvert papers recovered through the instrumental-
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ity of the Maryland Historical Society a few year since was found a false map, made, it is presumed, at the instigation of the Penns; on which Cape Henlopen, the beginning of the east line of Lord Baltimore grant, was placed twenty miles further south than it is in fact. The production of this map, it is supposed, caused Charles Lord Baltimore to enter into an agreement by which he conceded nearly everything demanded by the Penns, at least referring to the north boundary. When he discovered that the map was a fraud and protested, the court having the subject under advisement, decided that as he had entered into it he must abide by it.
By the loss of this strip of twenty miles of territory from the northern boundary of the province and the whole of the State of Delaware, which was occasioned by equally as unjust means, the Lords Proprietories were, as stated, shorn of between three and four millions of acres of their territory.
ANCIENT COMMUNION SERVICE.
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V.G.R (1747
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AN OLD LAMMENION ERVICE.
Through the courtesy of Rev. Abdial Connor, pa tor of the Glades German Reformed Congregation near Walkersville, Fred- erick county, I am enabled to present a representation of a flagon and chalice, parts of an old comminion service, now in his cus- tody. These interesting relics were discovered a few months since by Rev. George M. Zacharias, of Baltimore, In the garret of the old school-house belonging to the Glades Church, and are thus described by him, in an article entitled "Schlatter's Relics," published in the Frederick City Daily News, December 2 rst, 1395:
They are made of (rerman silver-the flagon, which is very heavy, is about 15 inches high, and has engraven upon it the fol- lowing initials and date :
V. W. V. G. K.
These are encircled by a wreath of leaves tapering at top and forming a bow at bottom.
'The chalice is about 12 inches in height, but has no inscription upon it, and Mr. Zacharias is of the opinion that it is of later date than the flagon, although it is possible, he says, it may have been a separate gift made at the same time.
Quite naturaliy, as Mr. Zacharias says, this flagon, with the date 1747, "gives rise to much historical research and thought."
Among the inferences he draws therefrom, is that there must have been a "Monocacy Manor Congregation and a Monocacy Frederick Congregation," and that the former was located within the bounds of the present Glades and Mount Pleasant charges.
Bit I have shown that the earliest congregation forned in the Glades district was in the year 1750, three year, later than the date on the flagon. He, as well as others who have investi- gated the origin and history of the Lutheran and Reformed Con- gregations of Frederick, recognize the fact that there was a building-"a union church"-in which both congregations wor- shipped, antedating the visits of Revs. Schlatter and Muhlenberg in 1747, but neither of them appeared to have been able tolocateit.
This is somewhat surprising, because Mr. Muhlenberg clearly and distinctly states that he and his companions found " loo church at the place callel Monocaci, which is ten miles from Fred- ericktown."
Mr. Schlatter also clearly states that he preached to a congre-
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gation at Monocacy, and we know that it was in the log church belonging to the Lutherans, for in the articles written in their Church book, it is expressly stated that the Reformed ministers are permitted to use their church.
The readers of these pages have seen, that, by means of the valuable researches of Rev. Mr. Whitmore, we have been able not only to locate the "place called Monocacy," but are also able to point out the actual site of the log church, in which Revs. Muhlenberg and Schlatter preached, and where the present Luth- eran and Reformed Congregations of Frederick were organized. And, furthermore, that there are now at least three persons living who saw the old church and were within its walls.
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