USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > A history of the Goshenhoppen Reformed charge, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1727-1819) > Part 8
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99 The Lutheran membership of Conrad Weiser has been called in ques- tion recently, see Dubbs, Reformed Church in Pennsylvania, p. 97, note 96, but without sufficient reason. All contemporary writers are agreed that he was a Lutheran. This is the testimony of Boehm and Miller, in the extracts from their writings quoted above. Zinzendorf makes the same statement, see Fresenius, Nachrichten von Herrnhutischen Sachen, Vol. III, p. 710. Weiser took part in a Lutheran communion service, see Hallesche Nachrichten, new ed., Vol. I, p. 202. Muehlenberg reports him as a Lutheran, cf. Hallesche Nachrichten, new ed., Vol. I, p. 362. “ At Tulpe- hocken, many years ago, some Lutherans, among whom was Mr. Weiser, had taken up a piece of land." Finally Weiser himself stated, according to Muehlenberg, that " he held the principles of our Evangelical religion," see Hallesche Nachrichten, new ed., Vol. I, p. 449. The fact that Mr. Weiser acted as trustee of the Reformed Church at Reading (see D. Miller, History of the Reformed Church in Reading, p. 17), proves nothing, for he was also a trustee of the Lutheran Church at Reading, see J. Fry, His- tory of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, 1894, p. 18.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
The account of Peter Miller's activity as a Reformed pastor may fittingly be closed with another account of his conversion, written by himself on December 5, 1790, to a friend:100
your Caulleney's most humble Friend Petr Miller
MILLER'S ACCOUNT OF HIS CONVERSION.
Having officiated among the Germans several years I quitted the ministry and returned to private life. About that time our small state was in its infancy: I never had an inclination to join it, be- cause of the contempt and reproach which lay on the same; but my inward Conductor, brought me to that critical dilemma, either to be a member of this new institution, or to consent to my own condemnation, when also I was forced to choose the first. In my company had been the schoolmaster, three elderlings (Conrad Weiser one), five families and some single persons, which raised such a fermentation in that church, that a persecution might have followed, had the magistrates consented with the generality. We have been incorporated with said congregation in May, 1735, by holy Baptism; When we were conducted to the water, I did not much differ from a poor criminal under sentence of death. Who- ever [!] the Lord our God did strengthen me, when I came into the water and then in a solemn manner renounced my life with all its prerogatives without reservation and I found by experience in subsequent times, that all this was put into the divine records; for
100 First printed in Hazard's Register, Vol. XVI, p. 254 f.
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Dorsius on Miller
God never failed in his promise to assist me in time of need. At that time the solitary brethren and sisters lived dispersed in the wilderness of Canestogues, each for himself, as Heremits, and I following that same way, did set up my Hermitage in Dulpehakin at the foot of a mountain,101 on a limped spring, the house is still extant there with an old orchard. There did I lay the foundation to solitary life, but the melancholy temptations, which did trouble me every day, did prognosticate to me misery and affliction : Who- ever [!] I had not lived there half a year, when a great change happened : for a camp was laid out for all solitary persons at the very spot, where Ephrata stands, and where at that time the Presi- dent lived with some hermits. And now, when all heremits were called in, I also quitted my solitude and exchanged the same for the monastic life, which was judged to be more inservient [!] to sanctification than the life of a hermit, where many under a pre- tense of holiness did nothing but nourish their own selfishness.
The profound impression which this remarkable con- version made upon the Reformed churches is seen by the fact that in popular story the number of converts grad- ually increased until it has reached several hundred. On March 1, 1738, the Rev. Peter Henry Dorsius, who had not been in Pennsylvania when the events took place, wrote to the Synodical Deputies as follows :102
In this connection [I wish to state that] Do. Muller, having fallen away from our faith, has persuaded no less than three hun- dred souls to go over with him to the errors of the Dunkers [Dom- pelaars], whereof very many promise to return to our Christian religion, if only they were deemed worthy, through the providence of God, of being provided with an orthodox minister.
101 The same fact is told, with some additional detail, in the Ephrata Chronicle: "Soon after the Brethren erected a solitary residence for the teacher at the foot of a hill in Tulpehocken, where, however, he lived no longer than till the next November," Chronicon Ephratense, English trans- lation, p. 73.
102 The letter of Dorsius was spread upon the Minutes of the Deputies, under date June 16-20, 1738.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
Mr. Boehm gives as usual the best survey of this period in the history of the congregation. In his report of Oc- tober, 1734, he gives the number of members at Goshen- hoppen (presumably New Goshenhoppen), "according to the statement of some members as about 40." Of the charge as a whole he writes:103
BOEHM'S ACCOUNT OF GOSHENHOPPEN IN 1734.
A fourth minister would greatly be needed at Goshenhoppen, about thirty-six miles from Philadelphia.104 He might conduct services there every three weeks, and use the rest of the time to feed the poor sheep at the end of the wilderness, in the above mentioned Saucon, Macungie, Maxatawny and Great Swamp, who thirst for the hearing of God's word as the dry earth for water. Many people of these regions have already been to see me in great sadness, and complained of the pitiable state of their souls. There were also some, who being able to make the journey, have come at vari- ous times to communion in the congregation entrusted to me at Falkner Swamp, a distance certainly of twenty-five to thirty miles, and brought children to baptism, which journey, however, is im- possible for old persons and weak women, so that it is not to be wondered at (especially when one remembers that there are chil- dren who for lack of a minister cannot be brought to baptism until they are several years of age) that my heart breaks and my eyes are full of tears about this condition. But I cannot accomplish this work alone, for my years are beginning to accumulate, and my poor body is also getting feeble, since I must not only make long
103 Minutes of Coetus, p. 2.
104 This statement refers to New Goshenhoppen, as can be seen from a quotation of Thomas F. Gordon's Gazetteer of Pennsylvania, 1832 (quoted by Mr. Dotterer in his Perkiomen Region, Vol. I, p. 14) : “ New Goshen- hoppen, a post town and village in Upper Hanover township, Montgomery County, situated in the forks of Perkiomen creek, 37 miles northwest of Philadelphia, and about 21 northwest of Norristown." The same authority states of Upper Hanover township: " The central distance from Philadel- phia is 35 miles northwest," I. c., p. 12.
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Tombstone of Miller
journeys and preach, but also, because these poor people are not able to support me, must support my large family with manual labor.
After being for many years the moving spirit in the Ephrata community, Miller died there and was buried in the little cemetery belonging to the cloister. His tomb is next to that of Conrad Beissel, the founder of the so- ciety. It bears the following inscription :
Hier Liegt Begraben PETER MILLER Gebuertig im Oberamt
Lautern in Chur Pfalz Kam als Reformirter
Prediger nach America
Im Jahr 1730. Wurde
Unter die Gemeine in
Ephrata getaufet im Jahre 1735 und genant Bruder Jaebez. Auch ward
Er nachmals ihr Lehrer Bis an sein Ende. Entschlief
Den 25sten September, 1796. Alter 86 Jahr und 9 Monath.
In English it would read: "Here lies buried Peter Mil- ler, born in the Oberamt Lautern in the Electoral Palati- nate. He came as a Reformed preacher to America in the year 1730. He was baptized into the congregation at Ephrata in the year 1735 and was called Brother Jabez. Became afterwards their teacher until his end. Fell asleep the 25th of September, 1796. His age 86 years and 9 months."
MANOS
CHAPTER III.
MINISTRY OF JOHN HENRY GOETSCHY, 1735-1740.
FTER the departure of Peter Miller, Gosh- enhoppen remained without a pastor for nearly a year. In the summer of 1735, however, a new minister appeared in the person of young John Henry Goetschy.605
On May 29, 1735, the ship Mercury, William Wilson, master, from Rotterdam, landed in Phila- delphia with 186 passengers. Among them were Esther Goetschy, aged 44 years and her eight children: Henry, 17 years; Rudolph, 12 years; Mauritz, 10 years; Anna, 24 years; Barbara, 18 years; Esther, 16 years; Beat, 8 years; Magdalena, 6 years. With them came also Conrad Wuertz, who had married Anna Goetschy, and like John Henry Goetschy became a minister of the Reformed Church.106
These people, who arrived in Philadelphia on May 29, 1735, with the ship Mercury, formed a colony from Swit- zerland, and, as it is one of the few colonies whose his-
105 For earlier accounts of John Henry Goetschy see Harbaugh, Fathers of the Reformed Church, Vol. I, pp. 292-296; Good, History of the Re- formed Church in the United States, 1725-1792, pp. 171-189; Dotterer, " Goetschy's Colony," in Historical Notes, pp. 171-173, 179-186; Dubbs, Reformed Church in Pennsylvania, pp. 104-110; Corwin, Manual of the Reformed Church, 4th ed., pp. 489-492; also Life and Letters of Boehm, PP. 51-54.
106 Penna. Archives, 2d Series, Vol. XVII, pp. 113-117.
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John Henry Goetschy
tory can be told with some detail, it will be interesting to trace them in their journey from Zurich, Switzerland, until they step upon the shores of the New World.
The leader of this colony was the Rev. Maurice Goetschy, whose son, John Henry, became pastor at Gosh- enhoppen in 1735.
The members of the Goetschy family had been for many generations citizens in Zurich, Switzerland. The first person of that name who is mentioned in the genealog- ical records of the city was Henry Goetschy, who in 1315 A.D., was mayor of the city. Maurice Goetschy was born in 1686.107 On December 4, 1702, he matriculated in the Latin school at Zurich. On February 24, 1710, he married Esther Werndli, and was in the same year ad- mitted to the ministry. In 1712 he became first deacon at Bernegg in the Rhine valley (Canton of St. Gall), and in 1720 pastor at Salez. In 1733 he was deposed from the ministry. On March 8, 1718 his son John Henry was born. The younger Goetschy matriculated in the Latin school at Zurich on March 23, 1734. But before he had spent half a year at school, his father with his whole family left for Pennsylvania.
On October 7, 1734, the Nachrichten von Zürich, a newspaper of the city, published the following account of the departure of the colony of Maurice Goetschy :108
DEPARTURE OF MR. MAURICE GOETSCHY FROM ZURICH, OCTOBER 4, 1734.
The past Monday [October 4th], Mr. Maurice Goetschy, to- gether with his wife and children and with a considerable number
107 The statements regarding Maurice Goetschy and his family are taken from the Lexicon Geographico-Heraldico-Stemmatographicum, zusammen- getragen von Johann Friedr. Meyss, Aº. 1740, Vols. I-VII, manuscripts in the city library of Zurich (Msc. E. 54), Vol. II, Letters D-G, p. 806.
108 Printed by Mr. Dotterer in Historical Notes, p. 172.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
of country people, old and young, took passage on a boat, and started for the so called Carolina island, in the hope of meeting there with better fortune than he had found in his native land. He was urgently dissuaded by our gracious Lords [of the govern- ment] and by the local clergy, but he persisted in his resolution, and took his departure. Shortly afterwards another boat followed him with like, we must say, silly people, making a total of 174 persons for that day. Many thousands saw them depart with great pity for them, especially because they were undertaking so thought- lessly, with wife and child, and but poorly provided for, the dan- gerous journey of 300 hours in cold, rain and wind, now, when the days are getting shorter. Nevertheless, kindhearted and dis- tinguished persons supplied them with all kinds of articles, such as bread, shawls, caps etc. The following day the third boat started off. These were liberally provided, from the office of charities, with a large amount of bread, flour, stockings and other supplies. Especially the neighborhood of the exchange showed itself deeply sympathetic; nor will they be likely to forget what was given to them at the Salthouse for bodily refreshment. In like manner many merchants assisted them. Upon the last boat were 82 persons, who would have been worthy of more considera- tion if they had been compelled to leave for the honor or the truth of God. They must bear the consequences of their act, be they good or ill. At the same time, upwards of 20, induced by the wise representations of worthy gentlemen and citizens, changed their intentions, choosing the better part. They remained here and will be very kindly returned to their homes. Meanwhile we should pray God that the great number who have gone on this journey, may either soon return or reach the destination they so much wish for. May He fill their hearts with patience, and, as many sad hours are likely to embitter their voyage, may He comfort them with the thought that, if they remain faithful, a far better life is reserved for them.
The journey of the colonists from Zurich to Basle down the Rhine is told at length in a pamphlet which Ludwig
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Departure from Zurich
Weber, one of the emigrants, who returned to Zurich from Holland, wrote and published at Zurich in 1735 as a warn- ing to later venturesome spirits.109 We shall follow his story in tracing the movements of the party.
The emigrants turned from Zurich northward till they reached the Rhine at Laufenburg. Then taking a boat on the Rhine they came, on October 5, to Rheinfelden, where they had to show their passports. Towards evening of the same day they reached Basle. There they had to wait until a passport could be secured from Comte du Jour, the commanding general of the French army at Strassburg. It cost 44 guilders, which some gentlemen at Basle paid for them. After securing this passport they waited two days longer for the ships that were to carry them down the Rhine. Meanwhile several became impatient at the de- lay. A tailor from Lichtensteg advised them to take the road through France, claiming that he knew the way and was able to speak French. Thirty-one persons followed him, but nothing more was heard of them. From forty to fifty others resolved to travel through Lorraine by way of Namur to Rotterdam. They were fortunate enough to secure alms at several places along the route and, although they had many quarrels and difficulties, they finally reached Rotterdam eight days after the main party.
At Basle eighty refugees from Piedmont joined them in a separate ship. The main party, consisting of 194 per- sons, embarked in two ships. They suffered intensely on the ships through rain and cold, against which they were but poorly protected with scanty clothes and provisions.
109 The title page of this pamphlet reads: Der Hinckende Bott von Caro- lina oder Ludwig Webers von Walliselen Beschreibung seiner Reise von Zürich gen Rotterdam, mit derjenigen Gesellschaft welch neulich aus dem Schweizerland nach Carolinam zu ziehen gedachte, Zürich, MDCCXXXV, pp. 32. Only known copy in the city library at Zürich.
L
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
After leaving Basle their first encampment was upon an island, covered with trees and shrubs, in the middle of the Rhine. Such continued to be their night quarters, although the nights were wet and cold. Moreover the ships were crowded so badly that there was hardly enough room to sit, much less to lie down. There was no opportunity for cooking on the ships; and as they were sometimes com- pelled to stay days and nights on the ships, the cries of the children were pitiful and heart-rending. Whenever they could get ashore they cooked, warmed themselves and dried their clothes. Many would have liked to return home, but as the armies of the French and the Austrians lay on both sides of the river, they did not dare to risk it. Quarrels among men and women were frequent. Mrs. Goetschy, the chronicler tells us, often quarreled with her husband, called him all kinds of names and one morning tore a cane from his hand and belabored his back soundly.
At night they saw the camp fires of the imperial troops on one side and of the French on the other, which terrified them by their ghostly appearance. As they were afraid of an attack from one or both armies almost at any time, they refrained carefully from making the least noise, so as to pass by unnoticed. Nevertheless, they were stopped repeatedly. At Old Breysach, in the Breisgau, all their chests were opened and examined. Goetschy, who called on the commandant of the fort, was advised to leave im- mediately, as the French on the other side of the river were aiming three field pieces at the boats. Of course they made off with all possible speed. At Ketsch, near Schwetzingen, west of Heidelberg, the dragoons of the imperial army stopped the boats and compelled Mr. Wirtz of Zurich, who acted as self-appointed commissary, to go to Heidelberg and secure a passport for 30 guilders, from
IOI
Journey down the Rhine
the Duke of Wurtemberg, the commanding general of the imperial army. They were also forced to make an extra payment of two ducats for each vessel.
Nine miles below Mayence the dragoons again rode after them and would not have allowed them to pass on, if their leader had not been of the Reformed religion. They took the meat away from Goetschy's plate with their sabers, which they swung about his head, so that he quite lost his appetite. Shortly before reaching Mayence from forty to fifty men had exhausted all their money, so that they did not even have enough to pay their boat fare. They were compelled to continue the journey on foot.
At Mayence they were delayed four days because they could not agree with the captain of the boats about the passage money to be paid to Rotterdam. Finally they agreed on three guilders for adults and half fare for children.
After leaving Mayence their journey was a little more comfortable, for they had at least a chance to cook on the ships. Their spiritual needs, however, were sadly neg- lected, for, if we can believe the chronicler of the journey, the pastor, Mr. Goetschy, always had the pipe or the wine- glass near his mouth. Mornings and evenings, one of the men, Heinrich Scheuchzer from Zurich, read a prayer. When Goetschy actually did preach a sermon, in which he compared some of the leaders of the company to the fol- lowers of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, he almost caused a riot.
When they reached Neuwied four couples were mar- ried by a Reformed minister :
I. Hans Conrad Wirtz and Anna Goetschy.
2. Conrad Naff, of Walliselen and Anna N .-
3. Jacob Rathgeb and Barbara Haller, both of Walliselen.
4. Conrad Geweiller, a gardener.
IO2
History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
The Count of Wied desired them to remain in his terri- tory, offering to give them houses and land, but as he did not promise as much as they expected to receive in Caro- lina, they did not accept his offer, but left.
From Neuwied they continued their journey down the Rhine until they reached Collenburg (now Culenborg) in Holland. There they were compelled to stop four days because of a strong contrary wind. Goetschy was invited to preach in the principal church at Culenborg, which he did with much acceptance. As a result a collection was taken up by the congregation for the party, so that each received one guilder. From Culenborg Goetschy sent a party of three men to Rotterdam, where he said two Eng- lish ships were waiting for them. The party consisted of Abraham Bünninger, a carpenter of Bachenbülach, Jacob Issler, a tailor, and Abraham Weidman, a black- smith of Luffingen. At Culenborg they also sold their ships, which they must have bought at Basle, for 45 Dutch guilders, apparently a very small sum. Then, contrary to their agreement, they were compelled to take another ship to convey them to Rotterdam. In their hurry to get off several children fell overboard into the water, from which they were rescued with difficulty. Early the following morning they reached Rotterdam.
Having reached Rotterdam they heard to their dismay that no ships were waiting for them. Moreover the cap- tain of the ship with which they had come wished to return at once, so they had to unload their goods quickly and, having no other place, they dumped them on the bank of the river on one heap.
Mr. Goetschy received a letter from a certain Mr. Schobinger, a native of St. Gall, who was living at the Hague, asking him to come to the Hague. So he left the
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Arrival in Holland
emigrants to their own devices and with his son-in-law hurried off to comply with the request.
In a few days Mr. Wirtz returned and comforted them with the news that several oxen would be sent to them from the Hague, that the States General would send them to England at their own expense and that a large sum of money had been collected for them in England. Unfor- tunately none of these statements proved to be true. A few days later Goetschy also returned and reported that the States General had offered him a position as a minister of great importance, that he and his family had thus re- ceived unexpected help and he advised them to secure simi- lar help for themselves.
In this extremity some indeed tried to help themselves by begging, but in that they were soon stopped by the mag- istrate with a threat of a fine of 25 guilders. Meantime some became sick from want and hunger, and two of them died. A tailor from Buchs, Sebastian Neracher by name, who was married in Rotterdam, came to see them. Most of them were in an inn outside of the city. He took care of those from Buchs. He brought with him a Mr. Scha- penhaudt, who interceded for them so successfully that many people took pity on them and distributed food and clothes among them. They also paid for their lodgings at the inn.
Mr. Schapenhaudt presented their sad condition to Rev. Mr. Wilhelmi of Rotterdam, who advised them to go to the Hague and apply there to Mr. von Felss, at the Eng- lish embassy, to present their needy condition to him. Three men were sent to the Hague. When they reached the Hague, they first hunted up Mr. Goetschy and told him of their intention. He was greatly displeased with their plan and told them he had already spoken with Mr.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
Felss, who was sufficiently well informed about their plans and condition. Goetschy entertained the three men at dinner and then offered to send a letter with them to Mr. Wilhelmi at Rotterdam. After waiting an hour for the letter, he sent them word that he had already dispatched it with his boy. Hence they had to return to Rotterdam without having accomplished their purpose.
Meanwhile Goetschy had been very successful in his interview with Mr. Felss, whom he calls an antistes, 110 but who was a prominent statesman, probably the Grand Pensionary himself.
In a letter, dated November 26, 1734, Goetschy gives a glowing account of this interview to Mr. Friess of Zu- rich,111 the city treasurer and a near relative of his. After having related their experiences to Mr. Felss, he answered him (according to Goetschy's letter) as follows:
My dear brother, for six years we have been searching for a man through whom the churches of God in Pennsylvania, which con- sist of more than 60,000 souls, of whom 20,000 have not yet been baptized, could be organized. Divine Providence has sent you to us. Now I shall promote your call as general superintendent of the whole of Pennsylvania, which has more than eight cities and more than 600 boroughs and villages. You shall receive a yearly salary of more than 2000 thalers, until all has been accomplished. I shall see to it that the people get support from the Dutch govern- ment. But first you must write to your government for the requi- site testimonials and then you will be examined before the General Synod.
Consequently Goetschy implored Mr. Friess to help him in securing the necessary testimonials. His son, John
110 Antistes is a term used in Switzerland for the chief minister of a town. It was originally a Latin term, used of the chief priest of a temple, literally it is one who stands at the head, antisto = antesto.
111 A copy of this letter is preserved in the city library of Zürich. De Rebus Saeculi XVII, Vol. XXXV.
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Rev. Maurice Goetschy
Henry, supported his father's request in a separate letter, saying that, if the testimonial from Zurich would be favor- able to his father, Mr. Felss had promised him to send him to the University of Leiden to study there for the ministry, so that he might become the successor to his father.
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