USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > A history of the Goshenhoppen Reformed charge, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1727-1819) > Part 16
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After the war he again entered upon his duties as pastor at Longswamp. There he had served a second pastorate from 1762 to 1774. His last baptism was on October 23, 1774. A third pastorate began there in January, 1781, and ended sometime in 1785. A baptism on De- cember 25, 1785, was probably performed by Heinrich Hertzel, his successor. His will is dated May 6, 1786, and was probated at Reading, June 17, 1786.186 Between these two dates he must have died. His will shows that he was the owner of 94 acres of land, situated partly in Rockland and partly in Longswamp township. He left to survive him a widow and five children.
The last will and testament of Mr. Michael is an in- teresting document, which deserves preservation. It reads as follows :
194 Helffrich, Geschichte, p. 43.
195 Pennsylvania Archives, 2d Series, Vol. XIV, p. 257. The name given there is Jacob Michael, but that is in perfect harmony with German custom, which uses the second Christian name as a call name, dropping the first entirely.
196 Pennsylvania German, Vol. VIII, p. 191.
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Last Will of Michael
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE REV. PHILIP JACOB MICHAEL, MAY 6, 1786.
(Register of Wills Office, Reading, Pa.)
In the name of God, Amen. I, Philip Jacob Michael, of Rock- land township, in the County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, Minister of the Gospel, Being of an old age and weak and sick in Body, but of a Good and Sound mind, memory and understanding, Thanks be to Almighty God, and Calling in mind the Mortality of my Body, I being willing to make this my Last Will and Testa- ment, In manner and form following:
First of all, I recommend my Immortal Soul into the Hands of Almighty God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Precious Lord and Saviour, and my Body to be Buried in a Christian like, decent manner, at the Direction of my Dear Wife Sara.
It is my will and I do Order that my said Dear Wife Sara shall hold and Enjoy free and Clear Dwelling abode in my Present Dwelling house, undisturbed and unmolested During her Natural Life, if she remains a Widow, and also such Proper Pieces of Ground and of the Garden as she will Properly want to and for her use near the said dwelling abode. And so much of my mova- ble Estate as will be Necessary to and for her use in housekeeping, and so much Income of my Estate that will Properly be sufficient to and for her Livelihood, support and maintenance during her natural life, if she remains a Widow aforesaid, But in case she should Marry again, all aforementioned shall be disallowed unto her and she shall then receive nothing out of my Estate.
It is my will that all my Messuages or Tenements and Lands I hold and possess, situate Partly in Rockland and Part in Longswamp Township, in the County of Berks aforesaid, Consisting in two Parts, Containing in the Whole Ninety-four Acres of Land, or there- abouts, be the same more or less, Shall after my decease within the time of one Year, be appraised by three honest, reputable free- holders at a Reasonable rate and value thereof, and such Proper
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
Terms as may seem meet, having Regard to such Reservations for my Dear Wife aforesaid, And it is my will That then my oldest son John Michael shall have the first Choice to hold and Enjoy for him, his Heirs and Assigns forever my said Real-Estate, with all and every the appurtenances, at and for said sum, as the same will be appraised aforesaid, And in Case he should not except [!] thereof, then It is my will that my son Moses Michael shall have the next choice for him, his Heirs and assigns forever as aforesaid, And in case he would not except thereof, then it is my Will that it shall come to the choice of my son Philip Michael, to have and to hold the same unto him, his Heirs and Assigns forever as afore- said, Provided that such of my said three Sons aforenamed, who shall or will hold my said Real Estate as aforesaid, shall out of such appraised valuation Pay all my just Debts and then the Re- mainder sum It is my will shall be equally divided to and among all my Children, to wit, John Michael, Moses Michael, Philip Michael, William Michael, And Sara Michael, share and share alike.
Item. It is my will that such of my Sons aforesaid as will hold my Real Estate aforesaid, Shall also hold my Wagon, Horses & Mares, with the Geers, Ploughs and Harrows and the Stock of Horned Cattle by the Appraisement, if he Chooses, and It is my will that my said five children shall have due regard for their said Mother, after my decease, and for her Livelihood, Support and Maintenance as herein aforesaid, And I give and Bequeath unto them my said five above named Children (observing my directions aforesaid) Equal shares and Portions, Share and Share alike of my whole Estate, And I do hereby ordain, Constitute and appoint my Trusty Friend Paul Grosscup, Esq. to be the Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, and I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills and testaments by me made, Hereby Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Tes- tament.
In Witness Whereof I, the said Philip Jacob Michael, have
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Jacob Riess
hereunto set my Hand and Seal the sixth day of May, In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty-six.
Signed, sealed pronounced and declared by the said testator as his last will and testament in the pres- ence of us, who at his request have hereunto set our names as witnesses to the same.
PHILIP JACOB MICHAEL (SEAL)
HENRY HOFFMAN GEORGE BOWER
Register of Wills Office, Reading, Berks County, June 17, 1786.
Personally appeared Henry Hoffman & George Bower witnesses to the above written will and upon their oaths did severally Depose and say that they were present and did see and Hear Philip Jacob Michael, the Testator therein named, sign seal pronounce, Pub- lish and Declare the above Writing to be his Last Will and Testa- ment, and that at the time of Doing thereof, he was of sound mind, memory and understanding, as they verily believe, and further that the names of said Deponents by them respectively subscribed there- unto as Witnesses, are each of his own handwriting, done in the presence of each other at the request and in the presence of the said Testator.
Coram me
HENRY CHRIST, Register.
His ministry at Goshenhoppen probably did not last longer than a year. In 1765 a new minister had come into the charge.
3. MINISTRY OF JACOB RIESS, 1765-1766.
The next minister of Goshenhoppen is introduced to us by the Coetus minutes of May 8 to 9, 1765. Here we read :
Goshenhoppen, about which your Reverences inquire, has taken an old, ordinary man, a shoemaker [Jacob Riess] for their minis-
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
ter, because we could not provide the members with some one to their satisfaction.
Not much is known about Jacob Riess. It is probable that he is identical with Johan Jacob Riess, who on Sep- tember 24, 1742, qualified at Philadelphia.
We first find Riess as minister at Tohickon. There he opened the first church record in 1749 :
Church Record for the Reformed Congregation on the Tohickon in Bedminster township, in which I have recorded those children which I, Jacob Riess, have baptized as Reformed preacher from the year 1749.
The first baptism was entered by him on August 27, 1749, the last on March 28, 1756.
At Indian Field, Bucks County, Jacob Riess opened the first record on June 3, 1753. The first baptism recorded by him took place on July 14, 1754. From that date till August II, 1766, he entered nearly 250 baptisms into the Indian Field record.
At Springfield, Bucks County, Jacob Riess opened the church record on August 24, 1760. From that date till December 18, 1763, he entered forty-seven baptisms into that record.
At New Goshenhoppen Riess began the second record book, but the exact time cannot be determined. The bap- tisms are entered by families and he evidently made it a point to enter all the children of the families in which he performed any baptisms. Thus of the Cunius family he probably baptized himself only the last child, born on October 7, 1765. The children born before July, 1761, were baptized by Mr. Weiss. Some of them are actually found in the first volume. His last baptism at New Gosh-
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Riess at Goshenhoppen
enhoppen was that of two negroes, father and son, brought to baptism by Thomas Mabry on January 26, 1766.
The elders at New Goshenhoppen during the ministry of Mr. Riess were Johann Ehrhart Weiss and Michael Moll, the deacons Ulrich Greber and Peter Hillegas.
At Old Goshenhoppen the oldest record book, now in possession of the congregation, was also begun by Mr. Riess. Here again earlier baptisms were entered by him. The first baptism which he himself may have performed is dated June 5, 1764, although the baptism which is actually placed first took place on January 22, 1765.
The elders during his ministry at Old Goshenhoppen were Jacob Hauck and Johannes Goetz, the deacons Isaac Sumne and Andreas Ohl.
It may be that David Schultz had this minister in mind when he wrote, on February 3, 1776, to Daniel Rundle :
Anno 1761 in August, their said minister, Geo. Michael Weiss died, and though the said congregation got another in his stead, yet out of compassion to the deceased's widow, allowed her to live on the land with her negro family, and left her the full use thereof without demanding a penny rent of her for it. They rented another house for their new accepted minister to live in, until the year 1765, June 2nd, the said relict widow Anna Weiss, died also, having no children, only her said negro family, he died without a will, but she made a will, whereupon she gave all her estate to the said negro family and also her right to the improvements, if any she had.187
The last baptism by Jacob Riess at Old Goshenhoppen took place on March 15, 1766. After that he disap- peared. His tomb is in the graveyard adjoining the To- hickon church. His tombstone bears the following in- scription :
187 See above, p. 186.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
Jacob Riess Gewesener Reformirter Prediger Geboren den 10. April 1706. Gestorben den 23. December 1774.
The minutes of the Coetus, held September 3 to 4, 1766, at Reading, inform us that
Old and New Goshenhoppen, as well as Great Swamp have dis- missed their shoemaker, Ries by name. They earnestly request that we provide them with a minister. Resolved that they be taken under the care of Coetus, and that they shall have one of the first new ministers.
At Great Swamp Riess has left no traces, but the above extract shows that he preached there as well as in the two Goshenhoppen churches. But while at Goshenhoppen Riess was preceded by Michael and Leydich, this does not seem to have been the case at Great Swamp. Tradition as well as direct evidence point to another pastor at Great Swamp, filling out the interval between the death of Weiss and the coming of Riess into the field. It was the Rev. John Rudolph Kittweiler.
4. MINISTRY OF JOHN RUDOLPH KITTWEILER AT GREAT SWAMP, 1762-1764.
On September 28, 1749, Hans Rudolph Kittweiler ap- pears as one of 242 immigrants, brought to Philadelphia in the ship Ann, John Spurrier, master. The immigrants are described as " foreigners from Basel, Wirtemberg, Zweibrücken and Darmstadt."188 Kittweiler belonged to the first group, for later he was known in his congregations as the "Schweitzer Pfarrer."
According to recent investigations, carried on at the 188 Rupp, Thirty Thousand Names, p. 214.
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John Rudolph Kittweiler
request of the writer by Mr. Fritz Hensler, assistant in the University Library of Basel,189 "Johann Rudolf Kind- weiler" (this form or Kindwyler is the one commonly used at Basel) was born (or perhaps baptized, which took place at the latest eight days after birth) on May 26, 1716, at Basel, as son of Hans Jacob Kindweiler and his wife Catherine, née Spörlin. This baptism, together with that of several other children, is entered into the church record of the St. Elizabeth congregation in Basel.
There is no evidence that Hans Rudolph Kindweiler studied in the University of Basel or was an ordained min- ister in Basel, as is stated by Rev. William A. Helffrich.190
From documents in the state archives at Basel it appears that in the year 1749 three hundred persons emigrated to Pennsylvania from villages, then belonging to the terri- tory of the city of Basel. The first of such emigrations from Basel had taken place in 1738. When the new movement began in 1749, the government wanted to know what induced the people to leave. They gave poverty as the reason of their desire to leave for Pennsylvania.
The name Kindweiler does not appear in the lists of emigrants at Basel, probably because he was a free citizen of Basel. But when they arrived in Philadelphia, we find him as one of a company of Swiss emigrants.
Mr. Kindweiler (or Kittweiler as he was known in Pennsylvania) appears first as pastor of the Weisenberg congregation, in the northwestern corner of Weisenberg township, Lehigh County, where he organized the congre- gation and was present at the dedication of the first church
189 The following facts were communicated to the writer by Mr. Fr. Hensler, assistant librarian in the University Library at Basle, in a letter, dated February 10, 1914.
190 Helffrich, Geschichte, p. 26.
I5
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
in 1754. Rev. Wm. Helffrich gives the following account of these events in his "History ":191
The organization of the congregation took place about the year 1747. Divine services were held in private houses as elsewhere. From 1749 that was done by Rev. Kitenweiler, who was known as the "Swiss Preacher" and resided within the congregation. John Holben is named as an elder of the congregation at that time. The building of the first church took place in June 1754. The church was, as everywhere else at that time, a log church; but it was built better than others. . . . As the Rev. Daniel Schumacher testifies, the church was dedicated by Rudolph Kitweiler and Jacob Frederick Schertlein, the first pastors of the congregation. . . . Both preachers, Kitweiler and Schertlein, were ordained ministers.
He was pastor of the Weisenberg church till about 1761, when he was succeeded by Philip Jacob Michael.
Kittweiler also appears at Longswamp. The church record there informs us that "when the above mentioned preacher [Michael] had made his farewell, they accepted, about the middle of May, 1754, Mr. Rudolph Kiden- weiler, who preached 71/2 years to the congregation. When he could not gain his purpose, he left the congre- gation defiantly." That must have been about the close of the year 1760.
In 1759 Kittweiler was present at the dedication of the Eastern Salisbury Church, also called " Die Morgenland Kirche," Lehigh County. The Rev. Daniel Schumacher, first Lutheran pastor of the congregation, has preserved the following record of it in the old Lutheran church book :192
191 L. c., p. 39.
192 Hallesche Nachrichten, new ed., Vol. I, p. 593; and " History of the Jerusalem Church. Eastern Salisbury," in Proceedings of the Lehigh County Historical Society, Vol. II (1910), p. 72.
2II
Tombstone of Kittweiler
The Christian Evangelical Lutherans and Reformed, both ad- hering to the Protestant religion, have together erected a church in Salzburg township in Northampton County, in the year of the Lord 1759. This church was built after the Indians had again ceased to burn and kill in this neighborhood, and by poor people only, who were, however, assisted by their brethren with small contributions.
The first preacher on the part of the Reformed congregation, at the dedication of this new church, was the Rev. Rudolph Kid- weiler, popularly known as the Swiss preacher.
How long Kittweiler served this congregation is not known.
The time when Kittweiler came to Great Swamp cannot be determined definitely, but it was probably some time after the death of Weiss, that is, about the year 1762. The evidence of his presence at Great Swamp consists of an entry in the Great Swamp account book and of his tombstone in the graveyard near the church. The inscrip- tion on the tomb reads as follows :
HIER LIEGT BEGRABEN
DER GEWESENE REFORMIRTE PREDIGER JOHANN RUDOLPH KITWEILER SEIN ALTER WAR 47 JAHR 9 MONAT IST GEBOREN DEN 2 JANUAR 1717 GESTORBEN DEN 2 OCTOBER 1764.
The entry in the account book, made March 31, 1766, states :
Of the above mentioned money of Ulrich Spinner there was paid to the wife [widow] of Rev. Rudolph Gittenweiler £1.0.6.
It is probable that during the pastorate of Kittweiler the Great Swamp Church secured a deed for its land. Although printed before, this document is important enough to be given a place here. It reads as follows :193
193 First printed in Dr. Weiser's Monograph, pp. 42-46.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
PATENT OF GREAT SWAMP CHURCH LAND, DECEMBER 16, 1762.
Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Esquires, true and absolute Proprietors and Governors in Chief of the Province of Pennsyl- vania and Counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware, To all, unto whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas in pursuance of Warrants under seal of our Land Office, dated the twenty third day of May, one thousand seven hundred and thirty eight, there was surveyed on the twenty seventh day of September, following, unto Michael and Joseph Everhart a certain Tract of Land situate in Upper Milford Township, formerly in the County of Bucks, now Northampton, Beginning at a marked white oak, a corner of the said Michael and Joseph Everhard's Lands, thence by Land of Bartle Hornberier South-West one hundred and thirty perches to a post, Thence by Land of Lawrence Erb North West one hundred and forty eight perches to a post, thence by Land of Felix Brunner North-East one hundred and thirty perches to a stone in a line of the said Joseph Everhard's Land, thence by the same South-East one hundred and forty-eight perches to the place of Beginning, containing one hundred and thirteen acres and sev- enty perches and the usual allowance of six Acres per cent for Roads and Highways, as in and by the said Warrant and Survey remaining in the Surveyor General's Office and from thence certi- fied into our Secretary's Office more fully appears, And Whereas the said Warrant was granted and the said Tract surveyed thereon at the instance and request and by the direction and at the proper cost and charges of the Minister, Elders and Congregation of the reformed Calvinist Society settled in Upper Milford aforesaid and adjacent Township of Lower Milford, who have now humbly be- sought us to grant unto the said Michael Everhard and to Joseph Everhard, the son of the said first Joseph Everhard, who is since lately deceased, in Fee the said described Tract of Land in Trust for the Minister, Elders and Congregation for the time being of the said reformed Calvinist and their Successors settled and to be settled from time to time in the said Two several Townships of Upper and Lower Milford the said congregation having now
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Patent of Great Swamp Land
erected on the said Tract a Church and School House for the use of them and their successors. And we favoring their request. Now know ye that for and in consideration of the sum of seventeen pounds eleven shillings and seven pence lawful money of Pennsyl- vania to our use paid being the money of the said congregation by the said Michael Everhard and Joseph Everhard their heirs and assigns, the Receipt whereof we hereby acknowledge and thereof do acquit and forever discharge the Michael Everhard and Joseph Everhard their heirs and assigns by these Presents and of the yearly Quit Rent hereinafter mentioned and reserved. WE HAVE given granted released confirmed and by these Presents for us our Heirs and Successors as give grant release and confirm unto the said Michael Everhard and Joseph Everhard their Heirs and Assigns the said one hundred and thirteen acres and seventeen perches of Land as the same as now set forth, bounded and limited as afore- said. With all Mines Minerals Quarries Meadows Marshes Sa- vannahs Swamps Cripples Woods Underwoods Timber and Trees Ways Waters Water Courses Liberties Profits Commodities Ad- vantages Hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining and lying within the bounds and limits aforesaid. Three full and clear fifth parts of all Royal Mines free from all deductions and Reprisals for digging and refin- ing the same and also one-fifth part of the ore of all other mines delivered at the pitts-mouth only excepted and hereby reserved and also free leave right and liberty to and for the said Michael Ever- hard and Joseph Everhard, their Heirs and Assigns to Hawk Hunt Fish and shoot in and upon the hereby granted Land and Premises or upon any part thereof. To have and to hold the said one hun- dred and thirteen Acres and seventy Perches of Land and Premises hereby granted (except as before excepted) with their appur-' tenances unto the said Michael Everhard and Joseph Everhard- their Heirs and Assigns forever. IN TRUST nevertheless and fon the use of the Minister Elders and Congregation for the time beinon of the said reformed Calvinist Society and their Successors settl er- and to be settled from time to time in the said two several Torser's ships of Upper and Lower Milford and to and for no other us
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
purpose whatsoever TO BE HOLDEN of us our Heirs and Successors, Proprietaries of Pennsylvania as of our Manor of Tamor in the County of Northampton aforesaid in free and common Socage by Fealty only in lieu of all other services. YIELDING AND PAYING thereof Yearly unto our Heirs and Successors at the Town of Easton in the County aforesaid at or upon the first day of March in every year from the first day of Marsh last one-half Penny sterling for every acre of the same or value thereof in coin current according as the exchange shall then be between our said Province and the City of London to such Person or Persons as shall from time to time be appointed to receive the same and in case of non-payment thereof within ninety days next after the same shall become due then it shall and may be lawful for us our Heirs and Successors our and their receiver or receivers unto and upon hereby granted Land and Premises To-Re-enter and the same to hold Possess until the said quit-rent and all arrears thereof together with the charges accruing by means of such non-payment and Re-entry be fully paid and dis- charged.
WITNESS James Hamilton Esquire Lieutenant Governor of the said Province, who by virtue of certain powers and authorities to him for this purpose (inter alia) granted by the said Proprietaries hath hereunto set his Hand and caused the Great Seal of the said Province to be hereunto Affixed at Philadelphia this sixteenth day of December in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty two. The Third Year of the Reign of King George the Third over Great Britain.
...
CHAPTER VIII.
MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN THEOBALD FABER, SR., 1766-1779.
FTER four years of supplies, the congrega- tions were again provided with a regular pastor in the fall of 1766. It was the Rev. John Theobald Faber, Sr.
He was born February 13, 1739, at Zo- zenheim, south of Bingen, at one time in the Palatinate, but now in the archduchy of Hesse. He ma- triculated at Heidelberg University, February 5, 1760, as student of philosophy and theology.
His examination as candidate for the ministry took place at Heidelberg on April 20, 1763. Three years later he left the Palatinate for Holland. At his departure he re- quested and secured the following certificate :194
Inasmuch as the Consistory of the Electoral Palatinate has learned with special pleasure that the Palatine Candidate for the Ministry, Faber of Zotzenheim, according to the commission given to him, intends to go to America as minister, therefore his petition made to us yesterday, namely that his eventual return to his father-
194 The German text is given, with several misprints, in Dr. Weiser's Monograph, p. 63.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
land might not be forbidden to him, is hereby not only granted, but on the contrary in such a case special regard shall be given to his advancement. In witness whereof the large seal of the Con- sistory's Chancery and the usual signatures have been affixed.
Heidelberg, the 28th of April 1766.
Consistory of the Electorate Palatinate
J. W. F. HADS, Antz.
Seal of the {SEAL}
Reformed Consistory of the Palatinate.
On June 27, John Theobald Faber, John George Witt- ner, another candidate from Bellheim in the Palatinate, and Carolus Lange, a third candidate, from Innsbruck, Tyrol, appeared before the deputies, were examined and received their commissions and 250 fl. each as traveling expenses to America. Their ship left Rotterdam for New York on July 10, 1766. They arrived in Pennsylvania in September, 1766.
Shortly after their arrival, Rev. John George Alsentz of Germantown wrote Mr. Faber the following letter :195
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