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 32
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1727-More Lands Taken Up By Our German-Swiss Brethren in the Susquehanna Valley.
Benjamin Roads, recommended by sundry inhabitants of Conestoga, was granted 100 acres near a branch of Conestoga this year. (Vol. 19, 3rd Ser. Pa. Arch., p. 748.) Henry Bear was given 100 acres, adjoining his other land on .Little Conestoga, (Do. 751). Joseph Hickenbolten and Joseph Ster- man requested a piece of vacant land lying between their plantations near the Conestoga Creek's mouth, (Do.). Anthony Breller requested a piece of land near his own settlement, "near the Dutch Mill" (Do.). Killian Law requested a piece on Mill Creek (Do.). Jacob Rife, Ulrick Sauck, Rudolph Bear, Jacob Lintner, John Snevely, Jacob Snevely, John Long, Casper Hoorn, Derrick Miller and Christian Graybill were recommended by several old settlers to have land to settle upon at Conestoga, (Do). Richard Carter in behalf of his kinsman, Henry Noland, requested 200 acres on the east side of Lewis Lewis', under the barren hills some distance from Con- estoga, (Do.). William Cloud re- quested 300 acres of vacant surveyed land on the Conestoga. Nathan Evans requested 100 acres east of his other land to erect a mill, (Do. 753). John Burkholder requested a grant of 200 acres adjoining Benjamin Hershey's land on Little Conestoga, and it is stated that he is ready to pay cash for it, (Do. 755). All of these persons re-
This year Hugh Morrison requested land on the Octorara, (Do. 745). Al- bert Edwards requested 200 acres ad- joining the old settlement that Fran- cis Warley owned, (Do. p. 747). John Musgrove obtained 300 acres but sold his right to Roger Dyer and George Legerd, (Do. 748). Abraham Emmett requested lands for three settlements on the Octorara, (Do. p. 750). Robert Wright requested land on Octorara, (Do. 750). John Tinner, from Ireland, requested land on the Octorara (Do. 751). John Creswell, for himself and Robert Stewart, requested the same,. (Do.). Robert Evans requested 250 acres on the west branch of the Octo- raa, (Do. 752). Robert Love requested a parcel near Octorara, (Do. 754). Hugh Berkely and George Patterson requested land on Octorara, (Do. 754). All these requests were made in 1727, and in every case the land was granted a little later.
1727-Neighbors on Pequea.
John Barnett desired 200 acres near Joseph Hinkman, (Do. 750) and Pallso Friends (a very odd name) who dwelt with Daniel Ferree, desired a tract of vacant land on the south side of Pequea, (Do. 756) and Peter Ba- zillion requested 200 acres of land ad- joining other lands where he dwells, 100 acres at each end of his tract, (Do. 747). These requests were made in 1727 and were granted.
1727-Grants on Susquehanna.
The Commissioners by their warrant of June 2, 1718, had granted to Peter Chartier 300 acres on Susquehanna, which he afterwards sold to Stephen Atkinson, and in 1727, Penn's land commissioners confirmed Atkinson's title for these 300 acres, (Do. 749). The same year James Moore re- quested land on the .Susquehanna,
227
LANDS TAKEN UP -- NEW HOLLAND FOUNDED.
(Do. 750)-and William Brackin re- mans and Swiss that they bring over. quested land on Fishing Creek near Susquehanna, (Do. 754). Nathaniel Newlin and Joseph Cloud requested 500 acres on the Susquehanna, (Do.). And near Susquehanna, on Chickies, John McNile requested land and has sent another letter that an order be made out to him, which was done, (Do. 747). The commissioners hav- ing prior, by two warrants, granted to Thomas Griffith the right of 1500 acres which on Chickies Creek. Thos. Grif- fith, in 1724, transferred his right to Isaac Norris and in 1727 Isaac Norris was given a deed from the commis- sioners dated April 15th for the same, he to pay 100 pounds, (Do. 719)-and | also on Susquehanna near Donegal, 1727-Pioneers of New Holland. this same year, Richard Allison re- quested a tract above Donegal, called "Cornish's Plains," (Do. 750) - and Jonas Davenport, having purchased certain improvements of Leonard Millborn, an inhabitant of Donegal, requested a deed for 200 acers made to him which was done, (Do. 750). He also requested 300 acres more on the upper side of the mouth of Swatara Creek, (Do. 750)-and John Galbreta requested 200 acres at the same place; and William Alexander, recommended by James Anderson, requested land to settle about Donegal on the Susque- hanna. These requests were all made in 1727 and were granted.
1727-Origin of the Hans Graeff Hold- ings.
In the Volume last set out above, p. 746, we find under the date of 1727 that Hans Graeff requested the grant of a piece of land on the Cocalico Creek, a branch of the Conestoga, to build a grist mill for the accommoda- tion of his neighbors. It was granted to him.
1727-German-Swiss Begin to Regis- ter About This Year.
The law was fast requiring ship- owners to take a list of all the Ger-
These lists were carefully kept and preserved and may be found in the Colonial Records from time to time. They have been collected from Rupp in his "Thirty Thousand Names." This resulted from the fact that the government -authorities became frightened at the inrush of so many foreigners. Rupp stated that of course they meant these Non-Resistant Ger- mans and Swiss. Rupp also says that in the year 1727 about a thousand Pal- atines arrived in this province, (Do. p. 193) and we have observed in the items preceeding that a lot of them were coming, which is shown by the land which was taken up.
According to Rupp, about this year the Diffenderfer Brothers, Alexander and John, sailed from Rotterdam in the ship William and Sarah and ar- rived here in the Fall. John settled at SaeueSchwamm, (now New Hol- land) in the woods. His grandson David, who was a son of Michael Diffenderfer, lived to be high in the nineties, and he personally informed Rupp that his grandfather's house- hold goods were brought from Phila - delphia by a brother in the faith, by the name of Martin, who unloaded them under an oak tree, but a cabin or hut was built by the aid of the neighbors in a few days, and thus, settlement began in that comfortable and wealthy section, now known as New Holland, (Do. p. 193).
1727-Copy of the Declaration that the German-Swiss Were Required to Sign.
In Vol. 3, Col. Rec., p. 283, (new series) the paper is set forth which had been agreed upon and was drawn up by the authorities of Pennsylvania, which all the Palatines (and this in- cluded the Swiss as well as the Ger- mans of the Palatinate) were required
228
DORTRECHT CONFESSION OF FAITH IN CONESTOGA.
to sign, if they came with the inten- tion of settling in the province. The paper is in these words :- "We, Sub- scribers, Natives and late Inhabitants of the Palatinate upon the Rhine and desiring to transport ourselves and families into this province of Penn- sylvania, a Colony subject to the Crown of Great Britain, in hopes and Expectations of finding a Retreat & peaceable settlement therein, Do Sol- emnly promise & Engage, that We will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to his present MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE SECOND, and his Suc- cessors Kings of Great Britain, and will be faithful to the proprietor of this province; And that we will de- mean ourselves peaceably to all His said Majesties Subjects, and strictly observe and conform to the Laws of England and of this Province, to the utmost of our Power and best of our understanding." This shows what these good people were required to do; and we may mention here that because they and all their successors were required to sign a similar paper that it explains in a large part the reason why there was opposition among them in the Revolutionary War to fight against the mother country, England. It must be remembered that the other settlers in these pro- vinces did not take any such oath or affirmation or make any such similar promise to stand by the British gov- ernment.
1727-Conestoga Accepts Dortrecht Confession of Faith.
This year the Dortrecht Mennonist Confession of Faith (promulgated at Dortrecht, Holland, in 1632) was adopt- ed in America by formal action. The fifteen Mennonist ministers of Ameri- ca in Conference, signed an Article of its approval and adoption here.Among these ministers, so signing and thus binding themselves and their congre- gations to that confession of faith
were Hans Burkholder, Christian Herr, Benedict Hearshey, and Martin Baer (Bar) of Conestoga - Daniel Longanecker from Manatony. These are all of Berne ancestry. There was also a Henry Hunsecker and other of the Germantown Congregation.
1727-Comment on the Dortrecht Con- fession.
In a previous article. we noticed how the Mennonists of Conestoga this year accepted the ancient Dortrecht confession of faith, adopted in 1632. A writer of note says that the Menno- nists and Aymenists refer for their principle and usages to their confes- sion of faith, published in Philadel- phia in 1727. This writer makes note of the fact that this year, to wit, 1727, they changed the method of baptism from immersion to affusion and that thereafter they were no longer known as Baptists or Anna-Baptists. It is not known generally that before that date the Mennonists believed only in immersion as the efficient form of baptism. This writer goes on to say that Aymenists or bearded Mennonists are the Amish of today (7 Haz. Reg. 124.) He also says that the Menno- nists used later another confession of faith, one composed by Cornelius Riss, which was published in Hamburg in 1726 (do. 129). He gives a succinct history of the rise of the Mennonists at the page last mentioned and states that it arose largely out of opposition to infant baptism-that their main in- crease was along the Rhine and West- phalia, Holstein and the Netherlands. He tells of their rising and complete control of Munster, the capital of Westphalia. He speaks of the twenty- six missionaries sent out and notes that Melchior Hoffman was one of the strongest of them. He also says that in early days in Moravia, these peo- ple divided into three branches; one called the "buttoners" because they
229
GERMAN-SWISS IMMIGRATION TO SUSQUEHANNA.
wore buttons; one called the "pin-' Archives), and none except the names ners" because they used wire pins and of the men are given-that is only 272 another the "hookers" because they of the 1,000 persons. Beginning about wore hooks and eyes to fasten their 1730 we frequently find the ages clothes. He also mentions two or given, names of women and children three other classes.
1727-German Swiss Immigration into Pennsylvania This Year.
In the year 1727, as we have already stated, the German and Swiss were pouring in so rapidly that the Gov- ernment determined that they should be put under an oath or promise of allegiance. Ship owners were re- quired to make accurate lists of all of these people who came over to Penn- sylvania. Many came before 1727 as
In the year 1728 there was consid- erable falling off of German Swiss who came into our province. Only three ship loads are mentioned in the the County was pretty largely filled : records in the Archives (3 Colonial, up before that time. But accurate and reliable information as to just how many there were, is to some extent wanting; but from 1727 onward we
have reliable information. The Colo- the total number was 390. Among nial Records show, that in 1727, five : ship loads of these people came mak- ing a total of about 1,000 persons of - whom 270 were male heads of fami- lies (3 Colonial Records 284, 287, 2SS, 290).
The names of the most familiar families that came over during this year are: 2 Martins-4 Bowmans-2 Bairs -- 2 Graybills-5 Hoffmans-2 Hiestands-4 Leamans-10 Millers-3 Sieglers-2 Siegrists-2 Stauffers-2 Snavelys-2 Swartzes and 2 Zuggs. In addition to that, there were one of each of the following prominent Lan- caster County families in this year: Bixler - Diffenderfer - Frey - Funk - Gross - Good - Habecker - Host- ler - Keener - Kendig -- Longe- necker - Landis - Oberholtzer Swabb - Seitz - Shertz - Snyder - Strickler - Shultz - Schaeffer -- Wolf - Weaver and Zimmerman.
As to the ages of these people noth- ing is set forth in the Pennsylvania Archives (Vol. 17, 2nd. Series Pa.
also and from the ages given in the lists, that are set out in full, we find that a great many of them were be- tween 20 and 40 years old; but a great many of them were very young chil- dren also.
1728-German Swiss Immigration into Pennsylvania This Year.
327, 328, 331, also Vol. 17, 2nd. Series Pa. Archives, pp. 12 to 15). The num- ber of the heads of families was only 152; including women and children
them occurred the following promi- nent names: 3 Dinkelbergs - 2 Den- lingers-3 Grosses -- 2 Groffs -- 2 Kee !- ers-4 Millers-2 Myers-2 Mussers- 2 Shirks-3 Stauffers-2 Engels-2 Schmidts (Smiths) and also one each of the following representative fami- lies: Bair - Bixler - Dumbach - Ebersole - Eshleman -- Frey - Hen- sel - Hoffer - Newcomer - Forrey - Hellar - Neff - Pheffley - Ritter - Strickler - Sellers - Schumaker and Ranch. Nothing is known of the ages of these immigrants.
1728-German-Swiss Arrivals in Lan- caster County.
This year Johannes Kitzmiller of Germany, having purchased the con- sent of Nathaniel Evans, was given a license to build a mill on a vacant piece of land on the Little Conestoga Creek, and he was granted 400 acres there (Sec. Ser. Arch. Vol. 19, p. 757), and Jacob Huver reported 150 acres of vacant land on the west side of the Conestoga Creek, which he desired
230
GERMAN-SWISS LAND OCCUPATION.
and it was granted to him (Do. 760). 18th of April last. Nor does this The same year Hans Hess was given arise, as I conceive, from any Dislike 50 acres additional to his settlement, to the People themselves, many of near Conestoga (Do.) ;- and John whom we know are peaceable, indus- Burkholder was given 200 acres ad- joining Ben Burkholder's land on the
trious and well affected, but it seems principally intended to prevent an Little Conestoga (Do. 755). We find in English Plantation from being turned these names the beginnings of the into a Colony of Aliens. It may also require our Thoughts to prevent the Importation of Irish Papists and Con- victs, of whom some of the most no- torious I am credibly informed, have of late been landed in this River." (3 Col. Rec. 342.) It is rather annoying Burkholder and Hess and Hoover families, who now inhabit the Con- estoga locality so numerously. Kitz- miller is not so numerous a name at present; but the name is found fre- quently in Berks and adjacent coun- ties. Pequea, in the region adjacent at this late day to have the ancestors to New Holland, received some addi- tional settlers this year, as well as did the Strasburg section; and on the Sus-
of our good German-Swiss people of this county classed with criminals or convicts. The growth of Papacy we quehanna. George Stewart obtained can here also see was struck at in '200 acres, being a part of the land these earlier times. All these obstruc- owned by Isaac Taylor, between lands tions put in the way of the earlier of John Gardner and Robert Wilkins settlers add additional luster and (Do. 759). About the same time, glory to their pluck in continuing to Joseph Jones was given the right to come and settle the land. settle on the Conowingo Creek.
1728-England Opposed to Further Swiss Settlement Here.
1728-German-Swiss Actively Trading With Philadelphia.
It is interesting to note the extent We have noticed that the proprietor of Pennsylvania and the English in- habitants and owners of the province of Pennsylvania, several times became frightened less the Germans should completely crowd them out. The fear seemed to have reached England this year, because this year governor Gor- don stated to the House of Repre- sentatives of Pennsylvania, in his ad- dress to them, that Great Britain de- manded these people should not be allowed to come into Pennsylvania hereafter. Part of his message on this subject is as follows: "I must make use of this Opportunity to acquaint you, that I have now positive Orders from Great Britain to provide by a proper Law, against these crowds of of the commercial and industrial ac- tivity at different stages of our local historical development. The year 1728 was the year before Lancaster County was formed, and according to Witham Marsh, was the year that the first house was built in the location, which is now Lancaster. Samuel Blunston, who lived on the Susque- hanna, in writing a letter to James Logan, dated the 12th of May 1728, among other things, states that "there are a great many wagons going down this week to Philadelphia, and it is needless now to engage any more for you may have your choice." He also states that provisions were very scarce in this section. (1 Pa. Arch. 216.) The reason I mentioned the Foreigners who are yearly pour'd in extracts from this letter is that it upon us, of which the late Assembly , shows the activity of our German- took notice in a message to me of the Swiss ancestors in trading with Phil-
1
231
FEAR OF GERMAN-SWISS INFLUX.
adelphia. So many wagons moving at |1728-Swiss and German Brethren that time between Philadelphia and Allowed to Come Into Penna. from New York. the Conestoga Creek was to give, as he says, in his letter, any one a choice of going down by one of the several wagons continually on the move.
172S-Swiss Brethren Again Ask Hol- land's Aid.
This year the Swiss brethren suf- fering for religious sake and desiring to emigrate to America, asked Hol- land again to aid them. There was great poverty among these suffering people at this time. But they were not all honest in their poverty-not only beggars; but also impostors. A lowed to do. (3 Col. Rec. 325.) certain Rudolph Agh, a teacher in the non-resistant church was deposed from his office for imposing on the charitably inclined. A Daniel Landes was found making collections without warrant authority, also. He operated in Germany and Holland. In Gerold-
This year a number of the non-re- sistant brethren, who in the Exodus from Germany and Switzerland unto England in 1709 succeeded in reach- ing New York with the assistance of Governor Hunter, were allowed to settle on Tulpyhocken Creek in Mont- gomery County and surrounding country. There were 3,000 of them who came to New York, where they lived 19 years and then finding the New York policy not to their advant- age, prayed permission to move to Pennsylvania, which they were al-
1728-General Excitement and Alarm Continues in Penna. from the German-Swiss Influx.
The large numbers of our German Swiss ancestors now continually coming to us, increased the general alarm which had excited the people sheim a Hans Burkholder, a teacher for some time. The Assembly noted since 1702, was found soliciting from that "thousands of Palatines" are now coming and held strongly that they "refused to obey" our laws. (3 Votes of Assembly 42.) It is claimed they were unlawfully on Tulpyhocken Creek. This was false (3 Co !. Rec. 325). They were complained against for owning and conveying land, con- trary to law, without being natural- ized. (3 Votes of Assembly 42.) Many applied to be naturalized but were long delayed. (3 Votes of Assembly 43 and 45.) Reports officially made on their citizenship and behavior were good. (Do.) The government of Penn- sylvania appointed a committee with full charge and control of the Menno- nist or Palatinate question. (3 Votes of Assembly 46.) Governor Keith was their friend, however. (3 Col. Rec. 325-325.) More petitions to be allowed to hold land were filed by them -- but the delay continued. (3 Votes of As- the Holland commissioners, a hun- dred guilders and then five hundred for the family of Christian Wenger, impoverished as he said, by reason of the cattle disease. The need was found to be genuine. He asserted that the Mennonist congregation at Geroldsheim were subject to an extra assessment or contribution of 1500 guilders toward the expense of the coronation of the new elector. Com- plaint was made against this by the brethren who felt that Burkholder was urging the government to extract this from his own people, for profit to himself. Numerous complaints were made about this by the brethren, also against the poll tax upon them which was doubled about this time per capi- ta. (Müller 208.)
232
NATURALIZATION OF GERMAN-SWISS.
sembly 435-436.) The subject of the | states that 114 years it was in the treatment of our German-Swiss an- c'estors as to holding of land is com- prehensively treated in Mr. Sache's Works and a succinct write-up of the same may be found in the Philadelphia Bulletin of Jan. 31, 1910, under "Men and Things."
1729-German Swiss Immigration into Pennsylvania This Year.
This is the year that Lancaster County was created out of Chester County. The German Swiss immi- grants this year consisted, as far as the oath of allegiance is concerned, of only 2 ship loads containing 134 heads of families or a total list of 306 (3 Colonial Record 367, 368, also Vol 17, 2nd. Series of Archives, pp. 15 and 18). The ages are not given; but the names of the female passengers who were on the last ship load are given, however. Turning to the names we find that there were 2 Freys-3 Mil- lers-2 Moores-4 Macks-2 Bossarts -3 Snyders and 2 Weavers in the list and one each of the following: Bow- man - Bumgardner - Christ - Esh- leman - Hoffer - Killheffer - Long- enecker - Ranch-Rote and Snavely.
1729-Naturalization of our German Swiss Ancestors.
As we have written before, the sub- pect of naturalization was a grievance which was continually affecting our ancestors. A great leader in all steps for the advancement of these brethren was Martin Mylin (Rupp 75). He was continually looking out for their wel- fare. This year a large number of these people were naturalized (Rupp 121). The complete act of naturaliza- tion is found in Vol. 4, Statutes at Large, page 147, and, it seems that the original document itself, which Mar- tin Mylin so ably helped to secure, was in the possession of himself and his descendants for many years. Rupp
possession of the Mylin family; and when he wrote his history of the county, Abraham Mylin of West Lam- peter Township near Willow Street had the original naturalization act and showed it to him. The act as set forth in the Statutes at Large, omit- ting such parts as are repetitions is as follows: "An act for the better enabling divers inhabitants of the province of Pennsylvania to hold lands, and to invest them with the privileges of natural-born subjects of the said province.
Whereas by the encouragement given by the Honorable William Penn. Esquire, late proprietary and goy- ernor of the province of Pennsylvania, and by the permission of his late Majesty, King George the First, of blessed memory, and his predecessors, Kings and Queens of England, etc., divers Protestants who were subjects to the Emperor of Germany, a prince in amity with the Crown of Great Britain, transported themselves and estates into the province of Pennsy !- vania between the years one thousand seven hundred and one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, and since they came hither have contributed to the enlargement of the British Empire and to the raising and improving sundry commodities fit for the mar- kets of Europe, and have always be- haved themselves religiously and peaceably, and have paid a due regard and obedience to the laws and gov- ernment of this province.
- (Section 1.) Be it enacted by the Honorable Patrick Gordon, Esquire, (Lieutenant) Governor of the Pro- vince of Pennsylvania, etc., by and with the advice and consent of the freemen of the said Province in Gen- eral Assembly met, and by the author- ity of the same, That Martyn Mylin, Hans Graaf, Christian Stonemen, Jacob Funk, Francis Neiff, Junior;
233
EARLY LANCASTER COUNTIANS NATURALIZED.
Si
George Kindick, John Burkholder, John Burkholder, Junior; Abraham Burkholder, Michael Bohman, John Hess, John Frederick, Christopher Preniman, Martin Harnist, Joseph Buckwalter, Felix . Landas, Junior; Adam Preniman, John Funk, 'John Bohman, John Taylor, Henry Neiff, Michael Mire, Henry Bare, Peter Bumgarner, Melcor Hufford, Melcor Erishman, John Brubaker, Jacob Nisley, Jacob Snevely, Jacob Goot, John Woolslegle, Jacob Mire, Christo- pher Sowers, Joseph Stoneman, Dan- iel Ashleman, Christian Peelman, John Henry Neiff. John Henry Neiff, Junior; Abraham Hare, John Ferie, Jacob Biere, Peter Yordea, Peter Leamon, John Jacob Snevely, Isaac Coffman, Andrew Coffman, Woolrick Rodte, Henry Funk, Roody Mire, John Mylin, Jacob Bheme, John Coffman, Michael Doneder, Charles Christopher, An- dres Shults, John Howser, Christian
We observe in this that nearly all Preniman, Jacob Miller, black; Henry vof these are Lancaster County per- Carpenter, Emanuel Carpenter, Ga-, sons, and the act of naturalization, in briel Carpenter, Daniel Herman, addition to giving them the right to Fiere, hold land, gives us an accurate his- this country, as we observe that the preamble to the act states that they came between 1700 and 1718. In this, therefore, many persons today may ascertain that their first ancestor in this country arrived here before the year 1718.
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