USA > Pennsylvania > Historic background and annals of the Swiss and German pioneer settlers of southeastern Pennsylvania, and of their remote ancestors, from the middle of the Dark Ages, down to the time of the Revolutionary War > Part 29
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In this we see that very few of our Mennonite forefathers came over and joined the Colony of 1710 until about the year 1717. They are now coming rapidly as this extract from the re- cords tells us.
An important regulation in the Mennonite migration started from this incident, that is, it was now made the law that hereafter every ship must give an exact list of the Palatines im- ported by them before they will be allowed to land. From this action by the Governor and Council, we have today the complete records of the coniing of these Mennonites, including the times, the numbers, the ships in which they came and the names.
1717-Lands Taken Up By German Swiss This Year.
According to the Penna. Archives (Vol. 19 of Series 2) Dan Morris re- ceived a warrant for 1,000 acres of
.
204
GERMAN-SWISS COMPLAIN OF OUR LAWS.
land at Conestoga, dated Oct. 12, 1717. support of other criminals in jails. (p. 621)-Mart Kendig and Hans We respect your rights-do you also, respect our customs. We demand nothing from you beyond what the word of God justifies." Herr, for 5,000 acres in several par- cels about Conestoga and Pequea Creek, for settlements for several of their countrymen "lately arrived" Since their American freedom of that day and the laws were not sat- isfactory to them, we can easily un- derstand how odious their attitude must have been at home in Berne. In the face of their partial dissatisfac- tion here, they prospered and grew, so that in 1883, they had 3,500 bap- tized members - 41 churches - 47 preachers and eight bishops in Lan- caster County alone. (Müller, pp. dated Nov. 22, 1717, 'the total of which, however, reached 6,675 acres- viz. Hans Mover 350-Hans Haiggy 100-Christ Hearsey and Hans Pru- pacher 700-Peter Lehman 300-Mel- ker Preneman 500-Henry and John Funk 500 - Christopher Franciscus 150-Michael Shenk 200-Jacob Lun- des and Ulrich Harvey 150 -- Abram Herr 600-Emanuel Herr 500-Hans! Tuber, Isaac Kauffman and Milker- 367 and 8.) man 675 and Michael Müller 500 acres (p. 622). These foreigners were 1718-William Penn, Jr., Was a Friend to the Mennonites. informed they should be naturalized if they expect their children to be able to fall heir to this land. (p .. 624.)
In Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., pp. 63 and 64, there is a letter dated in which he first recites (p. 63) the 1718-Our Swiss Ancestors Complain That They Must Obey Laws They Have No Part in Making. views of his father and then says, "I profess myself to be a minister of the Church of England and recommend to be careful of her interest and protect In a letter to Wm. Penn, dated May 20, 1718, the same year he died, our Swiss (Amish) ancestors complain the clergy; but also protect in their possessions such 'strangers' as are settled among us, for the public faith that they are to be subject to laws in is concerned in it." We readily see which they have no share in making,
by the last clause here that the and which they do not want, or avail Junior Penn referred to the Menno- themselves of. In it they say "We are nites as the strangers and he shows that, while his father was a Quaker, he was a member of the Church of England.
subject to the laws of God-you to the laws of men. We do not go to the elections-we do not go to your Courts of Justice-we hold no offices, neither civil or military-we do not refuse to pay for our land, but we re- gard it as a subject for complaint
1318-The First Assessment List.
In the first assessment list of Con- estoga, which included all of Lancas- that we should be subjest to civil and ter County from Strasburg to the military domination. We came to River, and as far North as what is Pennsylvania to enjoy the freedom of now Manheim, the names of the Men- nonite families living here in that expect no other prescriptions of the year (1718) are as follows: our opinions and of our bodies, and laws than such as God has command- Martin Kundig, Martin Milan, Chris- ed. Because we make no debts and tian Heer, John Haer, Wendall Bow- need no laws to collect such, we man, Jacob Miller, Joseph Steman, ought not be compelled to pay for the ; Daniel Harmer, John Miller, John
205
CONESTOGA'S FIRST ASSESSMENT LIST-171S.
Funk, Henry Carpenture, Henry against the laws of Penn, concerning Hayne. Christopher Franciscus, Peter land, inheritance, etc. We simply
Bellar, Benedictus Venrick. Daniel call attention here to the fact that Ferre, John Ferre, Philip Ferre, Isaac the same protest is found in volume Lefevre, Richard Davis, Thomas Falk- 7 of Hazard's Register, page 151, ner, John Milen, Hans Haure, John where, however, it appears in some- Taylor, Martyn Berr, Imanuel Heer. what different language.
Henry Kundic & Son. Jacob Moyer, Hans Steff, Hans Keague, Jacob Gri- ter, Jacob Highstetter, John Widwer, Andrew Koffman, John Broakpather. Junior, John Broakpather, Jacob Broakpather, Peter Swaor, Abraham Heer. Melchior Arisman. Christopher Hearse & Son, John Toup, Henry Heer. Michael Bowman, Hance Bugy holder, Hans Neicomer, Melchior Prenamon, George Kendrick, John Natts, Junr., Michael Shank, Junr., Jorn Natts. Senr., Henry Funk, Ben- jamin Wilmer, Jacob Lundus, Hance Henry Neff, Michael Miller, Felix Lundus. Jacob Kundrick, Junr., John Frame. Charley Christopher Woolrick Howry, Stoffal Prenaman, Jacob Hoober, Christian Stone, Isaac Fred- erick & Son, Jacob Kundrick, Jacob Lundus, Junr., Martin Boyer, Hance Boyer, John Bowman. Penedictus Brackbill, Christian Shank, Michael Shank, Senr., Rudey Mover, Hance Brand, Hans Graff, Junr., Hans Graff. Senr., Peter Yorte, Torey Ebys, Hans Currick Moyer, Christian Shank, Hans Weaver, Woolrick Hource, Peter La- man.
The original of this assessment list is in the possession of Gilbert Cope of West Chester. As may be seen from the above spelling. the German- Swiss names were not well de- ciphered. In addition to these Dutch- men, as they were called, there were 43 Englishmen settling or owning property there.
1718-The Amish Protest Against Penn's Laws.
1718-The Assembly Take Action on the Growth of Our Swiss Ancestry.
In answer to the Governor's speech, the Assembly in an address drawn up by David Lloyd, say to the Governor that the Assembly feel a great concern at the coming of so many foreigners and that the Royal Charter seems to be taken against them, especially unless they take the proper tests to show that they are not his enemies. The Assembly went on further and suggested that it would be well for the Governor to appoint a Committee of the Council to join a Committee of the Assembly and plan proper methods to remove jealousies already raised in the minds of the inhabitants concerning these foreigners; and also to prevent the inconveniences which may arise from their settlement in one place or some of them settling promiscuously among the Indians.
This conclusion left the Menno- nites very little choice. They were not to be allowed to settle in one place and they were not allowed to settle promiscuously among the In- dians. The Governor replied to this on the 10th of January. two days later and said that he approved of the ap- pointing of a Committee to confer about these foreigners lately trans- ported here; but that he would delay action at present because he had written home to England to find out the King's desire upon the matter.
The upshot of it was that the As- sembly proceeded to introduce a law that the sum of 1 pence per pound
In a previous article we set forth the protest of certain Amish brethren, and four shillings a head should be
206
ACTIVE GERMAN-SWISS INFLUX-1718.
laid upon all those Palatines that are | taxable. This, however, was doing nothing more than putting the same tax on them as the other subjects were taxed. (See Votes of Assembly January 10, 1718.)
1718-Large Additions to the Menno- nite Colony in Lancaster County.
This year, according to the records, a considerable addition was made to the number of Mennonites in our county; but I can not find any men -; tion of a church built by them at this date. It is likely they held their ser- vices in the different homes before they built their church, the whole body gathering Sunday after Sunday at these different places. There is no doubt that they had services because their minister was usually the leading man of the Colony from the beginning.
This year, as shown in volume 19 of the Second Series of the Pa. Arch., p. 626, there is considerable set forth showing the activity of these Menno- nite forefathers. It is stated that the late settlements on and near the Con- estoga Creek have made it necessary that the Indian fields about the town should be enclosed by a good fence to secure the Indians' corn from the horses, cattle and hogs of the new settlers. A patent was also granted to Isaac Lefever for 300 acres at Strasburg. And Pupather, Hershey, Shenk and Henry Pare were given patents for the land which they took up last year (p. 628). Matrin Kendig was given a patent for his 800 acres. Wendell Bowman also got a deed or patent this year for his part of the Mennonite tract which he first took up in 1710; and so did Hans Moyer, Melker Preneman, Jacob Hochstater, Jacob Kraytor and Christopher Fran- ciscus, the land being all about Stras- burg. According to Rupp, these par- ties all joined one another and lived in and about the neighborhood of
Strasburg. The same year land was also taken up by Theodorus Eby at Conestoga. His land it seems. was located on Mill Creek, and when the road was laid out from the junction of the Cocalico and the Conestoga, down to what is now Dowingtown in 1726. it speaks of the same running by Dorus Eby's mill on Mill Creek, (Do. p. 632). Later in the year 1718, patents were granted to Hans Graeff and Christopher Franciscus. (Do. p. 639). Abram Herr also got his deed or patent-Henry Pare got his deed for 300 acres at Conestoga and Hans Shenk took up 200 acres at the same place, (Do. p. 640).
This same year, Hans Graeff took up 1100 acres more near Strasburg by a new warrant, (Do. p. 642). The same year Michael Danager, late of Germany, was given a warrant for 300 acres of land near Pequea, Joseph Stehman 100 acres near Conestoga and Christian Stone 100 acres, (Do. p. 650). This is the record as far as the Land Commissioners' books show the state of the land taken by our Mennonite forefathers at this time.
We notice at this time that a con- siderable number got their warrant or rights to land in 1710, nearly all about the neighborhood of Strasburg and a few about the same time along the Conestoga, near where the Little Conestoga and Big Constoga come to- gether, which is in the neighborhood of Rock Hill; and no patents or deeds were given, with perhaps a very few exceptions, until 1718, in which year the patents or deeds were signed and delivered, and we find many of them so recited in our records in the Record- er's Office; and also that in this lat- ter year of 1718. a new lot of appli- cations for land were made and a new lot of warrants given. This shows that there was a second incoming of Palatines in 1717, and between the two dates, there is no record of very
207
EMANUEL ZIMMERMAN'S GREAT CAREER.
many having come. The Colonial Records do not contain accounts of any arriving between these two dates. Those who took up their land in 1717 did not get their deeds or patents until about 1734.
As to the Mennonite population in Lancaster County in 1718, there is no record except the assessment list of Conestoga Township, which I have found in charge of Gilbert Cope at West Chester. This list contains 86 Dutchmen and 43 Englishmen, as being assessed in Conestoga at this time.
Therefore, averaging these early Mennonite families at six in a family, including parents. it would seem as if there were fully 500 Mennonites in Conestoga, at this date. As Conestoga, at that time, included what is now Strasburg and Pequea, we may say that it included all of the settled part of Lancaster County. Thus in the first : eight years, from 1710 to 1718, the Mennonite population of Lancaster County reached perhaps the neigh- borhood of 600 persons. There were practically no other inhabitants in the Conestoga and Pequea Creek valleys at this time, as the Scotch- Irish had not yet come up to the Donegals. So that Lancaster County, at that time, was wholly a Mennonite settlement.
1718-Emanuel Zimmerman-A Won- derful Amish-Mennonite Boy.
The great concensus of opinion is to the effect that Hans Herr and Martin Mylin, Dr. Hans Neff and a few others were the leading spirits of the early Mennonites in Lancaster County and there is no doubt that these elderly fathers were the very back bone of the first Mennonite set- tlers; they managed the spiritual, financial and business affairs for their brethren. But in 1717 there appeared within what is now the bounds of
Lancaster County, an Amish-Menno- nite boy, 15 years of age, who was gifted with a wonderful intellect, re- ligious spirit and strong constitution. At the early age of 16, in the year of 1718, it is asserted he drew the memorial we have just referred to, for his brethren, addressed to William Penn. He lived to be seventy-eight years of age, dying in 1780, after hav- ing served as Justice of the Peace, Judge and Member of Assembly many years. Mr. Conyngham has the fol- lowing to say of him, as may be seen in Vol. 7 of Haz. Reg., p. 152:
"Henry Zimmerman arrived in Pennsylvania in the year 1698, and returned afterwards to Europe for his family, whom he brought out in 1706; and settled first in Germantown, and removed within the present bounds of Lancaster County (then Chester County) in 1717.
Emanuel Zimmerman, son of Henry, was the most distinguished of all the early settlers. He possessed from na- ture, an ardent love for liberty in every form, zealous and active in every pursuit. His mind was finely organized; and he enjoyed an un- bounded influence over the whole set- tlement. Tunkers, Aymenish, Luth- erans, Calvanists, and Mennonites, all applied to him in any emergency. He possessed as strong a constitution as intellect. He was born in Switzer- land in the year 1702, and died in the year 1780. He lived beloved, and died lamented, by all denominations. He was in every sense an honest man- always just. liberal and tolerant. He was arbitor in all matters of dispute among his neighbors; and from his decisions, they never appealed; such was the confidence in his integrity.
The memorial of the Aymenish and Mennonites, breathes the spirit of a William Tell. It was written prob- ably by Emanuel Zimmerman, as his
208
AMISH SETTLEMENTS IN LANCASTER COUNTY.
name is attached to it, on behalf of | long beards of the men and the short the Mennonites, Amish. etc.
The memorial is dated May 20, 1718. William Penn died on the 30th of July of the same year, in England. Sir William Keith was deputy gov- ernor; and it does not appear, from any record that I can trace, that he ever acted upon the memorial." The later services of Emanuel Zimmer- man I will mention under later dates.
1718-Danger from the Wild Beasts in the Mennonite Country
In the same book and page last spoken of. the following appears from the pen of Conyngham:
When the Amish Mennonites first settled on the Pequea, its woods were infested by wolves and panthers. These animals committed great depre- dations, especially among the sheep. The hunters would laugh at the Amish, because they would not at- tempt to destroy them. The Amish said in justification, "That they con- sidered it a crinie to deprive any of God's creatures of life, except those which God gave us for our use; and that to instruct youth in the use of firearms, would be to lead them to eternal ruin." "You," said an. old Amish to a hunter, "pursue the deer, the fox and the squirrel, and neglect not only your farm, but your family. We give your children bread, when you leave them destitute. You are improvident-we are provident. Your race will be short-ours will be long. In the eye of the Almighty, who dis- charges his duty? You or I?"
171S-Customs of Early Amish- Men- nites.
Mr. Conyngham in Vol. 7 of Haz. Reg., p. 150, speaks thus of the early dress of the people saying that the practises."
petticoats of the females, just cover- ing the knee, attracts the attention of the English settlers. He further says, "The men wore long red caps on their heads; the women had neither bonnets, hats or caps, but merely a string passing around their head to keep the hair from the face. The dress of both male and female was domestic, quite plain, made of a coarse material, after an old fashion of their own.
Soon after their arrival in Philadel- phia, they took a westerly course in pursuit of a location, where they could all live in one vicinity. They selected a rich limestone country, beautifully adorned with sugar maple, hickory, and black and white walnut on the border of a delightful stream, abounding in the finest trout - here they raised their humble cabins. The water of the Pequea was clear, cold and transparent, and the grape vines and clematis, intertwining among the lofty branches of the majestic button- wood, formed a pleasant retreat from the noon beams of a summer sun.
These emigrants were neither stim- ulated by the desire of distinction, or the love of wealth. They approved of an equalization of rank and property. All they required was sufficient land, from which by their own industry. they could raise produce for the sup- port of their respective families. Tea, coffee, West India sugar, and spiritu- ous liquors, were not considered by them. either as useful or necessary. The sugar tree supplied them with sugar and molasses. They had, there- fore, no want but what they could gratify.
As land was easily acquired, it was in the power of each individual to be a large proprietor but this neither agreed with their professions and
209
EARLY FORMS OF BAPTISM AND SACRAMENT.
1718 -Earliest Form of Administer -; and breaks it, then hands it around
ing Sacrament, Baptism, etc.
Mr. Conyngham in the same book last referred to, p. 131, gives this as the early form of baptism, which he says they had brought over from the old country. "In administering the right of baptism the following rule was observed: The person to be bap- tised being an adult kneels; a preacher holds his hand over him or her while the deacon pours water into the hands of the preacher, which runs on the head of the person to be bap- tised. after which prayer accompanied by the imposition of hands closes the ceremony."
-----
Conyngham then goes on and gives the form that another sect practised on the same page, as follows: "One of the Mennonist sect baptise after this fashion; the person to be bap- tised is accompanied to a stream of water by a large number of people. attended by persons playing on vari- ous instruments of music and some singing. The preacher stands on the bank and pours water on the head of the person, who is in the stream, say- ing "I baptise thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
What sect of them followed this custom, I can not tell. As to the early mode of sacrament, the form was this, says Conyngham, on the sime page: "The principal ancient Mennonists pursue the mode pointed out in the New Testament, in admin- istering the sacrament. See the eighteenth verse of the twenty-sixth chapter of St. Matthew. The preacher on that list:
the table saying "Take, eat, this is my body;" then taking up the pitcher, he returns thanks to God, then hand- ing the pitcher to the congregation. he says "Drink ye all of it." The peo- ple partake of the Holy sacrament whilst walking around the table, talk- ing with each other sociably; and after having finished the bread and wine, sing a hymn and then return to their respective dwellings."
1718-The Mennonite Settlement, the Thickest Settlement in the Inter- ior of the Province.
In Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 37, un- der the date of the 13th of February,. 1718, Governor Keith acquainted the. Board of certain dangers at Conestoga by Maryland people and he says that. they were surveying land not far from Conestoga, "near the thickest of our settlements" to the great disturb- ance of the neighborhood there. I simply quote this item to show that the Governor called this the thickest of our interior settlements.
1718-Swiss and Germans Who Came to Lancaster County Prior to This Date.
In Vol. 4 of the Statutes at Large (p. 147) there is a list of persons who came from Switzerland and the Palat- inate to Lancaster County, prior to 1718. The list in part is the same as the assessment ?'list of Conestoga Township of 1718, "which we have given; but there are the following names in addition to those appearing
sends a message to a member-"Make Martyn Mylin, Jacob Funk, Fran- ready for the passover." In the even- ciscus Neiff, Sr,, Franciscus Neiff, Jr., ing the congregation collect; and on .Abraham Burkholder, Michael Boh- a table are placed small loaves of man, John Frederic, Martin Harnist, bread and a pitcher of wine, and as Michael Mire, Henry Bare, Peter they eat, the preacher blesses the Bumgartner. Melcor Erishman, Jacob V bread (see the twenty-sixth verse) Goot, John Woolslegle, Jacob Mire. V
210
GERMAN-SWISS IMMIGRATION AND LAND GRANTS.
Christopher Somers, Joseph Stone-
man, Daniel Ashleman, Christopher Peelman, Abraham
Hare, Jacob Biere, Peter Yordea, Peter Leaman, John Jacob Snevely, Isaac Coffman, Andrew Coffman, Woolrich Rodte, Roody Mire, Jacob Bheme, John Coff-
man, Michael Doneder, Andrew Shults, Christian Preniman, Mathias Slaremaker, big John Shank, Jacob Churts, John Croyder, John Leeghte, John Hampher, Peter Newcomat,
David Longnicker, Abraham Mire, Woolrich Houser, John Mire, Henry Mussleman, Peter Aybe, Hans Goot, Christian Staner, John Jacob Light, William Loughman, Frederic Stay, John Line, John Shoope, Bastian Royer, Jonas Lerow, Simeon King, Joyn Aybe and Everard Ream. Con- estoga was a large section in those times. This list includes residents of the whole county.
1718-Land Grants and Warrants This Year on the Conestoga.
Vol. 19 of the Sec. Ser. of the Pa. Arch. sets forth the following war- rants for or grants of land in 1718 in Lancaster County. The list for Con- estoga consists of 200 acres to Moses Comb, a brother-in-law of Peter Bi- zalion (p. 625)-patent to Hans Pupa- ther, 700 acres-to Pupather and Her- shey, 1000 acres-to Daniel Herman 450 acres-to Michael Shenk. and Henry Pare, 400 acres (p. 628) -- war- rant to Theodorus Eaby, 300 acres (p. 637)-patent to Thos. Baldwin, 200 acres, stated as a part of the tract laid out to James Hendricks-warrant to Henry Pare, 300 acres-warrant to Hans Shenk, 200 aces, (all p. 640)- warrant to Robert Wilkins 150 acres, above Conestoga (p. 641)-warrant to Thos. Morgan, on branch of the Con- estoga Creek-warrant to Gabriel Davis, 450 acres, same place-warrant to Hugh Hughes, 500 acres same place (all page 642)-warrant to William
Hews, 400 acres near Conestoga, (p. 648)-warrant to Richard Carter, Con- estoga 200 acres (p. 649)-grant to Joseph Steman, 100 acres near Con- estoga-warrant to Christian Stone or Steman, 100 acres near Conestoga (both page 650).
We may say in reference to the tract of Theodorus Eaby that it was a grant on Mill Creek, at the point where the Old Peters Road today crosses that creek, known as the Ress- ler Mill. This mill of Theodorus Eaby is referred to in the laying out of a road in 1726, (the records of which are in Chester County), ex- tending from near Downingtown, orig- inally, to the junction of the Cocali- co and Conestoga Creeks.
We note also that it became neces- sary at this time for Penn's land com- missioners to order James Steele, the surveyor general, to prevent Mary- land from surveying lands about Con- estoga, among our Germans. (Do 625).
1718-The German Cattle and the In- dian Corn Fields at Conestoga.
Vol. 19, of the Sec. Ser. of the Pa. Arch. sets forth that the late settle- ments on or near Conestoga Creek make necessary that the Indian fields about the town should be closed by a good fence to secure the Indians' corn from the horses, cattle and hogs may fence in 200 acres more for con- venience of pasturage; 300 acres were of the new settlers; and the govern ment, therefore, ordered that the fences should be made and that James Logan should pay for the same out of public funds, not over 20,000 pounds.
171S-John Cartlidge at Conestoga Allowed to Fence Off Pasturage.
In the same book, page 644, it is stated that at a meeting of the land commissioners, held Jan. 18th, this year, John Cartlidge, having seated himself between Conestoga Creek and
211
SETTLEMENTS ABOUT CONESTOGA.
the Susquehanna River, desires a' fronting on said river, and to include grant of 300 acres, and also that he the said improvement; to extend as granted to him at ten pounds per far back into the woods as the place hundredweight and one shilling sterl- will bear, for which sald Peter agrees ing quit rent. The 200 acres he is to give 70 pounds and 1 shilling permitted to fence in and hold for yearly, sterling, quit rent to Christo- pasturage for the term of fourteen pher. Warrant signed Jan. 25, 1719. for 700 acres.
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