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 30
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years, in consideration of the good services he has done among the new : settlers of those parts as well as to the Indians, whose town is very near to his dwelling. A warrant for said grant is signed dated Dec. 11, 1716, for 300 acres, and for 200 acres.
1718-Maryland Encroaches on Our. German Land.
In the Sec. Ser. of the Penna. Arch. Vol. 19 (p. 625) it is recorded that, Mathias Van Bebber from Maryland. 1718-Christian Schlegel's Old Mill Site Granted to Edmund Cartlidge. taking with him Henry Hollingsworth surveyed a considerable tract near head of Pequea, including in same In the same book (p. 644) we find Edmund Cartlidge having purchased old Sawannah town, by virtue of war- rants from Maryland and offered the a pretended right of Christopher people settled there under this gov- ernmnt to sell lands in right of
Schlegle to a tract of land and ordi- nary grist mill on a branch of the Maryland and make good titles. An- Conestoga, which the said Christopher dros issued proceedings to dispossess them and ten pounds reward to any one apprehending the surveyor. by not complying with the terms on which it was granted, became void. But the said Edmund having since James Steel was ordered to Cones- toga to present like orders there. built and erected a good mill on the same land, the grant of 400 acres to
At the same time 500 acres near the be laid out to him, including his Old Sawannah Town on the Pequea buildings and improvements for 10 pounds 100 acres and 1 shilling quit rent and was signed Oct. 1, 1717, for 400 acres.
1718-Nathaniel Christopher's Tract Above Conestoga, Granted to Peter Bizalion.
In the same volume of the Archives it is stated that Peter Bizalion, hav- ing purchased a small improvement made by Nathaniel Christopher, on the Susquehanna River above Con- estoga, desires to purchase 700 acres of land to include the said improve- ment, the whole being for Nathaniel
Creek was surveyed to Col. French. for the interest he took in keeping Maryland people from taking up land in the Pequea Valley, that was in- tended for our Germans. These oper- ations took place evidently near the head of the Pequea Creek in Salisbury township. There was such a town there. It was the town the Shawanee Indians. There as also one of their towns on the Octorara. near Christiana. and another at the mouth of Pequea called Sequehan.
1718-A Few Pequea Settlements.
This year, according to the same and his wife, daughter of John Comb, book. there were additional warrants late of Philadelphia. It is agreed that, for land on the Pequea, some to the 700 acres be laid out to said Martha, Swiss and some to the English. the wife of said Peter Bizalion, in the Thre was a patent to Ezekial Kennett place aforesaid, in a regular tract for 200 acres (p. 625)-one to Wil-
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212
SUSQUEHANNA, PEQUEA AND STRASBURG ADDITIONS.
liam Middleton for 100 acres, (p. 640) -warrants to - Owen O'Neil, John Blake and David Jones each 100 acres (p. 621)- and, also, (p. 650), there is a record of a warrant to Michael Donnager for 300 acres, near Pequea Creek, and he was to pay one shilling sterling per 100 acres year- ly, quit rent. The same year a war- rant was given to Thomas Edwrad for 250 acres "back in the county of Chester" (p. 651). There is a fur- ther record about the John French tract, (p. 681) the same year.
1718-Land Taken About Strasburg This Year.
In the same book (p. 628) three hundred acres were granted to Isaac Lefever at Strasburg anl the patent was granted to Hans Hawry (Howry) for 300 acres at Strasburg and fifty acres land (p. 632)-and at the same page. there is a record of a patent to Wendell Bowman for 250 acres at Strasburg, and it stated to be "part. of the land granted to the Palatines in 1710"-at the same page also are re- corded a patent to Hans Moyer at to Strasburg for 350 acres- one Melker Prenneman for 500 acres and a warrant to Jacob Hockstatter for 250 acres at the same place and also a warrant to Jacob Kryter for 250 acres, (p. 633)- a warrant for 200 acres to Christopher Franciscus -. (p. 639) a patent to Hans Graeff for 300 acres-one to Christopher Franciscus for 150 acres and one to Hans Snyder for 200 acres, all at Strasburg and (p. 640) there is recorded a patent to Abram Herr for 600 acres at Stras- burg; and (at p. 642) a warant to Hans Line, Strasburg, for 900 acres; and also a warrant to Hans Graeff for 1100 acres at Strasburg. All these warrants and patents in and about Strasburg were granted by Penn's land authorities, in the year 1718.
We remember that this year, or perhaps the later part of the previous year, there was the first big migra- tion of Swiss and Germans to our county, after the first colony came in 1710 and 1711 and perhaps, 1712, be- tween which two settlements, there was five years of a recess.
1718 - Lands Taken Up at Susque- hanna This Year.
Turning in the same book to Sus- quehanna, we find that a warrant was granted this year to lay out to Peter Carterer, 300 acres on the Susque- hanna "where his father had settled, at his father's request" and (p. 634) a warrant to John Henry Henison for laying out 100 acres at Susquehanna, part of 10,000 acres sold to Redegeldt by his land commissioners, a part of which Redelgeldt transferred to Heni- son.
1719-Mart Mylin's Gun Factory.
Rupp tells us that Martin Mylin, who landed here in 1710, built a gun factory on Mylin's run in Lampeter Township in 1719. (Rupp, p. 74.) It is well known that the gun factory industry was begun in this section very early. In the time of the Revo- lutionary War, there was a gun fac- tory in the neighborhood of Smithville on a run of water there, and in other parts of the county.
1719-Dunkards in Pequea, or Con- estoga,
Kuhns tells us that this year the Dunkards were founded. Alexander Mack of Schwarzenau in Westfalia, be- gan the foundation of that faith as early as 1708. Though they became perfected as an organization about 1719 and on or about the same year twenty of those famileis came and settled in Germantown-on the Skip- pach, Montgomery County-at Oley, Berks County, and on the Conestoga, Lancaster County. (Kuhns, 179.)
213
MILL CREEK GERMAN SWISS SETTLEMENTS.
1719-German-Swiss Properties at Conestoga.
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This year, according to the records 1719-Mill Creek Mennonite Settle-
of Penn's land commissioners, David Powell agreed to take 3,000 acres of
upon which he had settled divers families of Palatines, to whom he sold the whole 3,000 acres. This was for 300 pounds. (Second Series of the Pa. Arch. Vol 19, p. 663.) William Grimpson, "who dwells on the road going to Conestoga," is to have 100 acres that belonged to John Hendricks (p. 690). Hans Weaver was given 500 acres on the Conestoga Creek, four miles above Hans Groff's. James Le- tort who had taken up land between the Conestoga and the Pacstang on the east side of the Susquehanna River, at a convenient place to trade with the Indians, desired 500 acres more laid out, fronting on the river, and a warrant dated Jan. 25, 1719, was granted to him. The price was 50 pounds and 15 shillings quit rent.
1719-New Strasburg Laid Out.
In the same book (p. 652) under this date, it is stated that Edward Ream is given 200 acres of land near New Strasburg, at 20 pounds and 1 shilling quit rent. Just where this is, is difficult to tell. It is well known that Everhard Ream, about 1724, was given the first grant of land, which is now Reamstown.
1719-A Law to be Drawn in Favor of the Mennonites.
On the 11th of February of this year a motion was made in the As- sembly that leave be granted to bring in a bill to settle and confirm the for- eigners in their possessions and to make firm all the sales heretofore made by them. The Assembly ordered that leave be granted to bring in such a bill and David Lloyd should draw
up the same (2 votes of Assembly, p. 253).
ment Begun.
Conyngham in Vol. 7 of Hazard's vacant land back of the late survey, Rez., p. 124, says that the word
"Tunkers" was a name given to the sect that broke off from the Baptists in Philadelphia and moved up the country. In the year 1719, about twenty families came to Philadelphia. some settled at Pequea, some at Ger- mantown, some at Skippack, etc. In the year 1729, more than thirty fami- lies arrived within the province, be- longing to the original church of Schwardzenau. The Tunkers were originally Calvanists and were bap- tized in the river Eder by Schwardze- nau. The words, Tunkers in German -Baptists in Greek -- and Dippers in English, have all the same significa- tion. Persecution drove some to Hol- land, and some to Crefeldt. The orig- inal congregation removed from Schwardzenau to Sornstervin in Friez- land, and from thence to Pennsylvania i ._ 1719.
1720-Lands Taken Up in Conestoga and Strasburg by Swiss and Germans.
This year 600 acres of land were warranted to David Lewis on a branch of the Conestoga-in two parcels (2nd Ser. Pa. Arch., Vol. 19, p. 707). The same year Walter Walters and others examined the country back in the Conestoga branches to find a place to settle themselves and their families. where they desired 2,000 acres, above the lands of Evan Jones and others. They were allowed 1,000 acres. This was on the head waters of Conestoga (Do. 708). There were settlements the same year on Octoraro-to James Cotton, 200 acres near Nottingham and to John Matthews, near Mus- grove's 200 acres (Do. 704-708).
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MENNONIST CHILDREN AND INDIAN PLAYMATES.
About the same time, Hans Geo. Shutz and Mathias Reager were given 500 acres of land including the old plantation, where Peter P. Bizalion lived (Do. 626) and Thomas Edwards was given 250 acres "back in the County of Chester" which was the name of this section before Lancaster County was erected (Do. 651).
Page 289 of same book, it is stated that a tract of 30,000 acres in the up- per part of Chester County was laid out soon after it was first purchased in 1686.
We may also note that, in 1686, by Act of Assembly, 20,000 acres of land on the Conestoga were vested in Chas. Reed and others in trust. This, later deeds show, included practically the receive with the utmost complacency. whole peninsula, between Pequea and. I was one day amused by seeing a Conestoga creeks, from the Susque- struggle between an Indian and a hanna River, many miles up said creeks. (Recorder's Office of Lancas- ter Co., Book B, p. 213, etc.)
1720-Mennonite Children Play With the Indians.
A very interesting topic in the life of the Mennonite families in the early times is shown in 7 Haz. Reg., p. 163, in an account given by the ancient Amish-Mennonite of those early times, as follows:
"An aged member of the Amish or Ommish faith relates, that he often heard his grandfather say, that his family was one of the first of the Europeans who settled west of the Conestoga. That the Indians lived near them; and that the German and Indian children would frequently play together in the neighbouring wigwam. Some times you would see them engaged in conests of foot race: in which the Indian lads would excel although the German lads would dis- card their clothes, to put them on an equality of the naked savages. Some- times with the bow and arrow, but of one little white face receiving an here the little Indians would all show injury from their red brethren: that their superiority in skill, and accuracy | is, no intentional injury.
of aim. In wrestling, and in most of their exercises, the Indian boys ex- celled; but in the mechanical arts the little emigrants had the advantage. I have often seen the chiefs reclining on the ground leaning on the arm, looking at the diversions and amuse- ments of the children; and when the little Indian would excel, they would laugh very heartily.
It would not unfrequently happen, that the little Germans would show some degree of anger, when they were unsuccessful, by giving a blow, and taking up a stone and unceremoni- ously hur! it at the head of a competi- tor, which the little Indians would
German, the former was younger, but more active than the latter, and the little son of the forest was evidently playing with the strength of his ad- Versary; the German became heated, and exerting all his strength, en- deavored to throw his adversary with some force upon the ground, but the wily Indian gave a sudden trip, which caused the German to fall beneath: who, rising angrily, seized a stone
and levelled his opponent to the earth. The chiefs who were near laughed very heartily, for the little white faces did not stay to see the result, but ran hastily homewards, dreading the severe catigation. In all and every transaction, we had with the Indians, we found them mild and peaceable; and as just related, not disposed to revenge, when the act ap- peared to be a momentary burst of passion. I have often seen the little Brennemans, children of a Mennonist emigrant, playing in the most sportive and innocent manner with the little red faces, and I never knew or heard
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, GERMAN-SWISS ACTIVITIES HERE.
1:20-Arrival of a Ship-Load of Ger- mans and Swiss Immigrants Not Officially Recorded.
In the American Weekly Mercury, under date of September 1, 1720, there is an item stating that "the ship Laurel, John Cappel from Liverpool, with 240 odd Palatines, who came here to settle" just arrived
This is the only place where a re- cord of this shipload of these people is to be found. It is not in "Rupp's Thirty Thousand Names," nor in any of the ship registers. Pennypacker in his preface to the reprinted first vol- ume of the Mercury says that this is the only place any knowledge of this particular shipment of immigrants is to be found. The "American Weekly Mercury," which began publication on the 22nd of December, 1719, in Phila- delphia, was the third newspaper in United States, in point of time. The first was a newspaper called "Public Occurances," first issued September 25, 1690, in Boston, then the "Boston News Letter," first issued in 1704- then the "Mercury." There was a paper known as the "Boston Gazette," issued on the 21st of December, 1719, but as that was the only issue, we may say it died the day it began, and thus, could hardly be called a news- paper.
1,20-The Absence of Avarice in Early German-Swiss Life.
sume; and as the rules of our Society forbid the disposal of the surplus, I can not accept your liberal offer; but you may divide it among my married children, who at present reside with me." This individual is supposed to have been a man named Kurtz.
1720-Conrad Beissel Reaches America This Year.
According to Harris' Biographical History of Lancaster County, p. 44, Conrad Beissel arrived in America in 1720, and settled at Millport, in Lan- caster County in 1729; where he and a companion built a house. His ser- vices to the early colonists in arrang- ing Indian matters, is one of the greatest instances of life devoted to betterment of conditions to be found. About 1759, as 1 recollect it, there was an attempt to burn his house. Bundles of straws were laid about the doors and windows and ignited, but the fire was extinguished. It is a re- markable fact that nearly 150 years later, a similar attempt to burn that same house resulted in its destruction about 1909 or '10. This Millport, how- ever, is now in Berks County, but was in 1729 part of Lancaster County.
1721-German-Swiss Object to Bear- ing Arms.
In Vol. 2 of the Votes of Assembly, p. 297, it is stated that on the 12th of October of that year a petition of a considerable number of Swiss- Pala- tines, setting forth the reason for removing themselves or their families into this province, and praying leave to bring in a bill for their naturaliza- tion and to be exempt from swearing and bearing arms was presented to the House and read. The Assembly
We are told in an article in Vol. 7 of Haz. Reg., p. 150, of a reply made by a Mennonite in 1720 upon an offer of 1000 acres of land granted to him In the year 1720, a thousand acres were offered to an influential member of the Amish faith by the proprietary agent, but he refused the grant saying ordered the bills to lie on the table so "It is beyond my desire, also my abil- as to be examined by the members of ity to clear; if clear beyond my power , the House afterwards for action upon to cultivate; if cultivated, it would it. This would be an interesting doc- yield more than my family could con- ument of these good people and the
216
CONESTOGA HIGHWAYS TO PHILADELPHIA.
early times if it could be found. cannot find any act passed to relieve them from bearing arms but they were frequently naturalized from time to time as they applied. I am in- clined to believe that they could be relieved from military service only by paying a bounty as has been the law in some later days.
1721-Mennonist Outlet to Philadel- phia.
This year we find there was a pro- ceeding to improve the road which led from the Mennonite Colony about Conestoga to Philadelphia. The re- cord is set forth in Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 142. The petitioners state that the Judges of the Courts of Chester County lately directed a road to be laid out in the highway to Conestoga, which road runs through uninhabited land quite up to the Mennonite settle- ment on this side of Conestoga and they think that the change that is asked for here is not a good one. These good people had a road of some inferior character as early as 1714 and in a petition filed in the Quarter Ses- sions of Lancaster County in 1734, to improve it, they speak of having used it for 20 years before that date. It was also proposed to make a King's Highway out of it as early as May, 1718, and the Mennonite people around Conestoga were the leaders in trying to get this improvement, for which they signed a petition that same year. This may be seen in Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 43. This road was what is now known as the Long Lane, passing through Conestoga, Pequea and other townships to the East, beginning at Rock Hill and going through Stras- burg. It was the earliest outlet to Philadelphia that these ancient peo- ple had.
1721-The Conestoga Palatines Assist in the Indian Treaty of This Year. In Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 121, it
I |is set forth, under date of July 5th, that year, that the Governor arrived at Conestoga at noon and in the even- ing went to Captain Civility's cabin. The Governor held part of the treaty at the cabins of the different Chiefs' and then adjourned to the house of John Cartlidge and continued the treaty on the 8th of July. It appeared that large numbers of the Swiss Pala- tines were present at this treaty and the Indians told the Governor that they would take very good care that these settlers were not interfered with, and the Governor refers to the town of Conestoga. that is, the Indian town.
We are to notice here that the In- dians' dwellings are referred to as cabins and not tents; so they likely built small houses here. Some light on this treaty and the conditions about Conestoga is given in a small book published on Neath Street, Dublin, in 1723. The publisher there goes on to say that the Indian Village of Con- estoga lies 70 miles directly west of Philadelphia, and that the land there is very rich and is "now surrounded with divers fine plantations or farms, where they raise quantities of wheat, barley, flax and hemp, without the help of any dung." I merely quote this so as to give a picture of the for- wardness of agriculture by our Men- nonite ancestors at this early date of 1723. We must remember that they had only reached this section five or six years before, and thus, that they were good farmers is clearly shown. This was in the neighborhood of what is now Indiantown, in the central part of Manor Township. The account fur- ther goes on to state that the Gov- ernor was attended by between 70 and 80 horsemen well armed and that when they arrived there, great amounts of provisions were provided. Thus, we see that our ancestors were
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217
GERMAN-SWISS CONTINUE TO FLOCK TO CONESTOGA.
ready to co-operate with the projects of Pennsylvania.
1721-The Taking Up of Land in Conestoga.
In the Taylor Papers, No. 3323, there is a paper indorsed "lands in Chester County" and on one of the first pages, this heading, "lands on Pequea and Conestoga, 58937 acres." I cannot tell how early this account was set forth of lands surveyed in Conestoga, for our Mennonite ances- tors; but it is as early as 1721 and perhaps earlier. This shows that at that time, the immense sum of nearly 100 square miles of land was sur- veyed and taken up. In paper 3349, a surveyor renders a bill for surveying Conestoga Manor, which is now Manor Township 16,500 acres. And about the same time, a survey on Chickies is set forth. Taylor sets forth his authority for all of this. I cite this simply to show the activity among our ances- tors at this time and in fact, from 1714 onward, in the Taylor Papers, there are letters upon letters, showing the extreme anxiety for land on the Con- estoga. About this time complaint was made that nearly all the back lands were taken up and there is very. little more to sell.
1721-Ores Discovered in Conestoga.
Under the date of the 17th of Feb- ruary, 1721, No. 2-22 Taylor, Paper No. 2975, the following letter is found: "Isaac Taylor, Esteemed Friend :- These inform thee yt there has come into this province from New England a gentleman named John McNeal and he hath been with me and hath view- ed ye iron ore and matter yt we laid out. I suppose yt I will sell to them as I have advised him to note how we shall ye most easy way come at ye land, if we conclude with business for if any old rights can be had, I in- cline most to make a purchase yt
way; however thy opinion in yt mat- ter is what is desired by me, and a line or two from thy hand to advise, till an opportunity present a conver- sation and consultation yt best mea- sures further about ye same, which is all at present. Respectfully from the true and loving friend, John Car- tlidge." The sense of the above let- ter is that ore was found about Con- estoga, and John Cartlidge wanted to find out whether he could buy some of the land that contained the ore de- posits.
1721-The Road From Philadelphia to Conestoga, Spoken Of.
In 3 Col. Rec. p. 142, is given some light on how the country was devel- oping around Conestoga. In a petit- ion signed by a considerable number of those people, setting forth that a new road was lately laid out and cleared in the highway to Conesto- ga; which "runs all along through uninhabited and unsettled lands, quite up to the Palatine settlements on this side of Conestoga"; and they then go on and ask to have certain changes made on this road and view- ers are appointed etc., for that pur- pose. I quote this simply to show the activity of that time.
1721- Palatines Tell Why they Left the Palatinate.
In Vol. 2, Votes of Assembly, p. 297, under this date, the Palatines set forth that for religious reasons and financial difficulties, etc., they left the Rhine valley and came to Co- nestoga Country, where greater lib- erty of conscience was allowed them.
1722-Activity on the Conestoga River
In Vol. 9 of the Penna. Arch., p. 714, there is a record of 200 acres granted near Stephen Atkinson above Conestoga Manor to Edna Dougherty
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GERMAN-SWISS GENEROSITY TO INDIANS.
and (at p. 718) a return made of an | estoga originally, included all the re- additional grant. Page 720 "Casper the Smith" having desired a tract of land, is given 100 acres" where some Indians settled on Conestoga Creek, this year, asked for 200 acres, two near Atkinson's mill." On the same page it is recorded that "Stephen Atkinson requests the grant of a par- cel of land lying in the barrens be- hind his plantation for erecting a mill and that "Logan has writ tơ Isaac Taylor about it; Vide book of letters." The land was given to him.
1722 -- Settlement Activity on Ooto- raro
In the same book, p. 714, John As- ler or Hassler, a tailor, is recorded as having made a settlement near Arthur Park on a branch of Octoraro -about the same time John Seager asks for a tract (p . 710),-also on the Susquehanna, Gordon Howard, the old Township.
two miles from Garlbseath's Mill to
Most of the inhabitants in the new the northward and about four miles section were Scotch-Irish; but a few back of Susquehanna River (p. 713) Germans were also in that section, -- -also Pat Cammel wants land on Ephraim Moor, Jos. Woork, John the Suspuehanna River (p. 715).
and
1722-Mennonite Hospitality Charity towards Indians.
In Vol. 3, Col. Rec. p. 153, we find it recorded that this year the Pala- tines undertook to bring corn to the Indians at Conestoga as their stock seemed to be exhausted. It seems, however, there was to be a small payment for the same. This was the season of hard times-the first panic in Pennsylvania. We are told also in the same book, p. 179 and 180, that there was great scarcity of bread at Conestoga and the Governor went up sing the need was, (p. 181).
1723-Conestoga Township Divided.
gion from the Susquehanna River almost to the Octorara-particularly all of the great middle belt of our County. It extended south to present Drumore, east to the Gap, including the Earls, Leacocks, etc. In 1720, Salisbury and Gap and adjacent sec- tions were organized into Pequea Township. Our present Pequea Town- ship is no part of old Pequea Town- ship. The inhabitants were the Davises, Powells, Galts, Clarks, Mor- gans, Cooksins, Collins, and others. The Lefevers and Ferrees are also mentioned; but they lived farther north than we now think. (Cope and Futhey.) This section was not really a part of old Conestoga proper.
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