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 33
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Christian Herman, Philip Mathias Slaremaker, big John Shenk, story of the time when they came to Jacob Churts, Jacob Snevely, Junior; John Woolrick Houver, John Croyder, John Leeghte, Martin Graaf, Peter Smith, Peter Newcomat, Jacob Bare, Junior; John Henry Bare, Jacob Weaver, Henry Weaver, John Weaver, David Longanickar, George Weaver, Abraham Mire, Woolrick Houser, John Mire, Henry Musselman, Michael 1729-Robbers Harass Our Early Ger- man-Swiss Ancestors. Shank, Jacob Miller, Jacob Miller, Junior; Martin Miller, Peter Aybe, A picture of the dangers which our early German-Swiss ancestors here were exposed to (in addition to dan- gers from Indians) is painted in an article found in the Gazette of April 12, 1729, as follows: Hans . Goot, Christian Staner, John Jacob Light, Adam Brand, Christopher Franciscus, Caspar Loughman, Fred erick Stay, John Line, John Shwope, Bastian Royer, Jonas Lerow, Simeon King, John Aybe, Everard Ream, all of Lancaster County and John Negley, Bernard Ressor, John Wister, John Frederick Ax, John Philip Bohm, Anthony Yerkhas and Herman Yerk-
| has, of Phil. County, be and shall be to all intents and purposes deemed, taken and esteemed His Majesty's natural-born subjects of this province of Pennsylvania as if they and each . of them had been born within the said province, and shall and may and every of them shall and may within this province take, receive, enjoy and be entitled to all rights, privileges and advantages of natural-born sub- jects as fully to all intents, construc- tions and purposes whatsoever as any of His Majesty's natural-born sub- jects of this province can, do or ought to enjoy by virtue of their being His Majesty's natural-born subjects of His Majesty in said province of Penn- sylvania." (Passed February 14, 1729- 30.) Apparently never considered by the Crown, but allowed to become a law by lapse of time, in accordance with the proprietary charter.)
"We hear there are associated to- gether a company of Irish robbers, the chief of whom are said to be one Bennet, whom they call their captain : and one Lynch, whom they call their
234
THE EXODUS OF GERMAN-SWISS TO AMERICA.
lieutenant, with Dobbs, Wiggins and | of these immigrants and the ships on many others who skulk about this and which they came are entirely too numerous to set forth in this work as they constitute a complete book in themselves. the neighboring provinces; their vil- lianies being to steal the best horses and load them with the best goods, and carry them off before people's 1729-Temporary Falling Off of Ger- man-Swiss Immigrants. faces, which they have lately done in or about Conestoga. It seems their usual practice has been to steal horses from this province and the Jerseys and carry them to sell in Maryland, Virginia and North Caro- lina. It is said they began to grow more numerous and have a place of rendezvous where they meet to con- sult how to perpetuate their roguer- ies, and to entertain all like them- selves."
This makes it clear that there were many drawbacks in the "good old times" and that the pathway was far from a sunny one with continual fear of savages and robbers and wild beasts uppermost in the minds of all.
1729-Complete Registry Kept of Ger- man-Swiss Immigrants of Penna.
From about the year 1726 onward it was the law that all immigrants into Penna. who were not subject to Great Britain and Ireland were compelled to be registered and their names, dates of arrivals and the ships in which they arrived were all taken down and preserved. Thus we have a list of about thirty thousand or more of the
The real exodus of German-Swiss immigrants into this section occurred a few years after 1729. In the year 172S the immigration was only 152 families, making up 390 persons. In 1729, 243 persons came and yet this number caused the English govern- ment to be much afraid of them. Dur- ing 1729 there were 267 Welsh immi- grants, 43 Scotch, 1155 Irish and only 243 German-Swiss Palatines; and the same year by way of New Castle there was 4500 Irish immigrants. So we can see that the number of Ger- man-Swiss that were coming at that time compared to the Irish was very small. Later, however, the German- Swiss came by thousands. (Rupp 195-196.)
Among the Irish there were some Irish noblemen, as appears in the Penna. Gazette of April 12th this year. An account of the coming about this time of our ancestors is also found in (7 Haz. Reg. 150).
1.29-Conrad Beissel, the German's Great Friend, Arrives.
About 1720 there arrived in America names of our German Swiss ances- a German native of great usefulness tors largely of this county, but con- and power. He settled at Millport, taining some of adjoining counties. Lancaster County, in 1729, where he and a companion built themselves a house. He gave his attention to re- ligious matters almost entirely. He was the first in America to insist that Saturday was the true Sabbath. He contended, therefore, that the 7th day was the Sabbath. Before he moved to Millport he had published a tract on the subject which caused a great deal And in the Colonial Records these names may be found. Rupp's "Thirty Thousand Names" was made up from these ship lists. By this means, thousands of people today in Lancas- ter County can find the names of the original members of their family who arrived here. They nearly all came from Rotterdam but the ships touched at Cowes or other points in England, of excitement throughout this region. on the way to America. The names (Harris 44.)
235
WILD BEASTS AND DANGERS AT CONESTOGA.
1730-Wild Beasts-The Neighbors of | 1750, January and February fell in Our Early Ancestors.
A graphic picture of the wild ani- mals living plentifully about the resi- dences of our German Swiss ances- tors is given in the American Weekly Mercury of Jan. 14, 1729, and of Jan. 27, 1729. The first is a picture of a panther that was killed near Cones- toga. The article states that he had been among some of the swine in the night and the owner hearing a noise went out with a couple of dogs to drive him away. The animal had got- ten up into a large tree. The farmer did not know what kind of an animal it was. He made a fire under the tree and left the women of his house- hold to watch it, while he went to a neighbor for a gun. They fired at the animal twice and the second shot broke his fore legs. The infuriated animal made a great desperate leap and fell to the ground near the peo- ple who just managed to get out of his way. The dogs seized him and after another shot he was killed. The sec- ond item is also about Conestoga and this item sets forth that at Conestoga the beginning of January, Christopher Franciscus was wakened up in the night by a disturbance among his sheep and he arose and went out and found that a wolf had been in the sheep pen but that in jumping over the fence one of his legs was caught and he could not get away. Francis- cus took a strong grasp upon the wolf's neck and held his leg by his other hand; then he threw him on the ground and forced his knee on his body and called for his daughter, who came with a large knife and ripped him open, letting out his entrails. I put this under the date of 1730 be- cause in the olden times, January and February were the last two months of the year instead of the first two- the first month being March. When 'the calendar was re-arranged about
the following year, so that it was really 1730 in this case.
1730 -- Indians at Conestoga Disap- prove the Great Inrush of Ger- man-Swiss
This year Captain Civility, a chief of the Conestogas, wrote a letter to Gov- ernor Gordon saying that when he was at Lancaster a short time before he heard much talk about the crowds of "Dutch" who were going to settle on the Susquehanna and that the Indian lands were being surveyed there to be sold to the Dutch. This he said gave his tribe much trouble and uneasiness. The Indians' road for hunting would be shut off, he said. The letter is dated September 28, 1730. (1 Pa. Archives. 271.)
1730 - Our German-Swiss Ancestors Not to Be Drawn as Jurors.
According to Hazard (7 Haz. Reg. 150) the sheriffs of Pennsylvania were ordered this year, by Gov. Gordon, not to summon any of the Mennonist peo- ple nor the other non-resistant sect as jurors. This, he says, was done be- cause they held God only could punish man and that the Courts had no right to deprive any one of liberty or life at all. Besides this, an oath was re- quired of a juror and these people would not so qualify (Do. 152). One of the finest characters and purest. minds in Pennsylvania, Emanuel Zim- merman or Carpenter, this year. framed and pushed to adoption a me- morial for the Amish and Mennonists and all plain sects, asking the legisla- ture to provide by a law passed that these people might take an affirmation istead of an oath.
1730-Our Ancestors' Good Character Certified.
In January this year the governo" of Pennsylvania came out and certifie I
236
IMMIGRATION TAX-CHURCHES AND SCHOOL HOUSE.
to the sterling qualities of the early Germans and Swiss here on the Sus- quehanna in a message to the Assem- bly. All sorts of rumors had been afloat as to them for several years-to the effect that they were an unpatrio- tic and disloyal people. Thus when · they petitioned for naturalization he made a careful investigation into their character, customs, etc. And on this point he says to the assembly: "Upon application made to me in behalf of several Germans, now inhabitants of the County of Lancaster, that they may enjoy the Rights & Privileges of English Subjects, & for that End pray- ing to be naturalized; I have made Enquiry & find that those whose names are subjoyned to a Petition that will be laid before your House are principally such who many years since have come into this province under a particular agreement with our late Honourable Proprietor at London & have regularly taken up lands under him. It likewise appears to me by good Information, that they have hith- erto behaved themselves well, and have generally so good a Character for Honesty and Industry as deserves the Esteem of this Government, & a Mark of its Regard for them. I am therefore inclined from these Consid- erations to favour their Request, & hope you will joyn with me in passing a Bill for their Naturalization."
1730-Our Ancestors Pray that Immi- gration Tax Against Them Be Removed.
In Vol 3 Votes of Assembly, p. 99, there is a minute account of the peti- tion and application presented by our German-Swiss ancestors to have the immigration tax removal which dis- criminated against them. They failed in this, however, as the English gov- ernment felt a jealousy against Ger- many and Switzerland on account of the strong and influential foothold
they were securing in the English government in America, especially in Pennsylvania.
1730-German Swiss Immigration into Pennsylvania This Year.
In 1730 the list of immigrants was small, there being only three ship loads consisting of 147 persons or 440 all told (3 Colonial Records, 385, 386. 289, Vol. 17 Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd. Series, pp. 20 and 22). The names of the women and children are given in the last ship load and the ages of the entire lot. The oldest person was Christian Miller, 60 years old. There was another Mike Shever 50 years old and Margaret Miller 50 years old. The ages of the others would average about 20 or 22 years. The greater number by far of them being between 20 and 35 years. This shows that they were mostly the middle aged peo- ple that were coming across at this time. Among the prominent families that came this year we find 3 Bairs- 2 Burgers-3 Hoffmans-3 Hesses-2 Hartmans-3 Hertzlers-6 Millers-4 Myers-4 Schaeffers and 2 Smiths. There were also one each of the fol- lowing prominent families: Ammon - Good - Gross - Kellar - Kep- linger - Leaman - Minnich - Ober- holtzer - Shultz-Bitner and Bricker.
1731 - Our German-Swiss Ancestors Succeed in the Right To Hold and Transfer Land.
After a hard struggle lasting through several years, our German-Swiss an- cestors succeeded in having a law passed allowing them rights in real estate the same as other people. The law was passed Feb. 6, 1731 (4 St. L. 20S). The Act sets out that at their own cost they purchased small pieces of land in Pennsylvania and erected churches and other houses of religious worship and school houses and alms- houses thereon, and enclosed burying
PARTICULAR LOCATION OF OUR ANCESTORS IN THE PALTINATE. 237
grounds. It then goes on and allows tions above Manheim in the Palatinate them the rights they prayed for. It in the year 1731: also allowed their religious societies to hold property for religious, educa- tional and charitable purposes.
1731-Our German-Swiss Ancestors Build Many Churches and School Houses.
The Act of Assembly last referred to shows plainly that our German-Swiss forebears built churches and schools as soon as they arrived.
1731-Residence of Our Swiss Ances- tors in the Palatinate at This Time.
Müller (p. 209-212) gives us an adequate idea of where the Swiss (who came to the Rhine Valley earlier) lived in that Valley at this time. He says there were in the con-' gregation at Friedelsheim (about eight miles from Neustadt) forty families. The ministers were Hanz Boechtel
Tchantz (Johns) and Hans Jacob Schneider. In the congregation six miles south of Worms 40 families, whose ministers were Hans Burk- holder, Christian Burkholder, Chris- tian Stauffer,-the last named a dea- con of Ober Sultzheim. Of the con- gregation of Ibersheim near Worms, the minister was Hans Jacob Heist- and and the deacon Abram Burk- holder. In the Tribbach congregation, John Neff was minister and Hans Longanecker deacon. Altogether, says Müller, there were in the Palati- nate (or Rhine Valley) 458 families of Swiss below Manheim and 160 families above Manheim-in all 618 families.
1731-Names of Swiss Mennonites in Upper Rhine Valley This Year.
(1) The congregation on the Zieh- merhof one hour (4 miles) from the city of Wimpfen on the Neckar, to the northwest. The heads of the family are Ulrich Steckley, Nich. Schnepach, Hans Loscher, Hans Wittmer, Jacob Lehmann's widow, Chr. Hodel, Jacob Kauffman, Hans Wittmer, Hans Bloet- scher, Peter Gran's widow, Uirleh Gletler, Nich. Neukomn, Nich. Ploet- scher. Minister of the congregation: -- Ulrich Neukomm of Griembach,- Markus Frantz, and Hans Baechtel Deacons.
(2) The congregation on the Büech- elhoff two and one half hours from Wimpfen on the Neckar to the northwest: Christian, Hans and Dan- iel Neukomm, Peter and Jacob Kraeh- enbuehl, Henry Engersten's widow, Nich Wagner, Hans Horsch, Peter Brand, Hans Kuendig, Tob. Hodel. Minister of the Congregation Samuel at Unter-Gambfer, Nich Krahenbuhl,-deacon at Dreschkilng- en.
(3) The congregation at Hassel- bach one hour from Bischofsheim to the South Kaspar Rasy, Hans Hecht, Hans and Peter Witmer, Melchoir Bauman, Melchoir Huersch, Henry Vol Weiters (Vollen Veider's) widow, Hans and Jacob Schenk, Oswald Hofstetter, Samuel Lierstein, and Samuel Dier- stein's widow, Hans Ringstbacher's (Rindlisbacher), Chr. Gaumann, David Kauffman, Peter Rasch's widow. Min- ister of the congregation :- Abr. Zer- sert on the Rauhof, Valantine Wagner. -deacon at Haselbach.
(4) The congregation at Halmstad one hour from Bischofsheim to the north, Ulrich Iseli, Henry and Hans Wagner, Christian Kleh, Andr. Diter.
Müller (page 209 et seq.) give the Andr. Schmits, Peter Neuenschwan- following persons as those constitut- 'der, Peter Aebi, Nichlaus Strahm, Val. ing the Swiss Mennonite congrega- Schmitz. Minister of the congrega-
238
PARTICULAR HOME OF OUR PALATINE ANCESTORS.
tion: Hans Schmitz at Halmstad and Chr. Schmitz of the same place.
(5). The congregation of the Bok- schaft, two hours from Ebingen to the northwest: Hans Landis, Hans and Chr. Brand, Hans Dierstein Peter Moser, David Kobel, Ulrich Burkhal- ter, Chr. Martin, Hans Schaerer's widow, Samuel Nysli, Samuel Hess, Samuel and Martin Meyer, Hans Hu- ber, two Hans Schaerer, Hans Graf, Chr. Shenk, Chr. Kraitter, Chr. Ober- holtzer, Peter Graf. Minister of the congregation: Heinrich Ķuendig in Grambach. Martin Kreiter, deacon in Zetlingen.
(6) The congregation on the Strei- genberg, one hour from Ebingen east- ward: Heinrich Beer, Samuel Funk, two Hans Frei, Hans Baehr, Fr. Rohrer, Hans Hodel, Hans Funk, Jost Glnecki, Hans Mueller. Ministers of the congregation, Chr. Janw. on Strei- genberg, Hans Funk in Richen, Hans Heinrich, Mueller,-deacon in Ebin- gen; Peter Plaettle, deacon in Strei- genberg.
(7) The congregation in Wesingen two hours from Durlack eastward, Hans Chr. Ruth (Rupp?), Samuel Kraehenbuehl, Nich. Hassler, Hans Eschbacher, Hans Gut, Hans Bauman, Phil. Schneider. Minister of the con gregation; Chr. Eschbacher in Wes- ingen, Ulrich Schneider,-deacon in Kraetzingen. (Rupp 209.)
(8) The congregation in Meeke- sheim, two hours from Neckarsmond, southward: Samuel Ploetscher, Jas. Huersch, Nich. Brand, Peter and Hans Bueller, Hans and Jacob Zety, Hans Rohrer, Nich. Myer's widow, Benj. Nich. and two Hans Musselman (Mos- imann?), Hans Jacob and Hans Kauffman. Minister of the congrega- tion: David Kauffman in Dasbach, Hans Bresler in Langzael, Hch. Lan- dis, deacon in Zutzenhausen.
(9) The congregation on the high
Eckerhof one hour from Wersloch eastward. Jacob Shallenberger, Chr. Wenger's widow, Hans Gleller, Peter Allenbach, Nicholaus Gutzler, Jost Gutzler's widow, Chr. Fuchs, Nich. Bachtel, Daniel Hattel, Hans Fallman, Nat. Schenk's widow. Minister of the congregation: Christian Bachman, in Wersloch, Hans Meyer in convent Logefield, Hans Plaetcher, deacon in Mechersheim.
(10) The congregation on the Haschlof one hour from Neustadt, north ward. Peter Schneider, Chr. Frantz, Andreas Moeselmann, Peter Kunzi, Daniel Gran, Ulrich Neukomn. Minister of the congregation: Chr. and Nath. Moeselmann.
(11) The congregation on the Im- melthaeuserhof, one hour from Sintz- helm, southward, Chr. Buenkeli, (Binggeli) Samuel Frei, Hans Baehr, Hans Brand, Heinrich Mueller, Hein- rich Schab, Peter Gut, Claus Gerber, Hans Lienhard, Jacob and Samuel Schneider, Martin and Jacob Ober- holtzer, Chr. Huber. Minister of the congregation: Chr. Ficher on the Im melhaenserhof, Rudolph Linhard at Rohrbach, Peter Moser, deacon in Logefield, Hans Plaetcher, deacon in Mechersheim.
(12) The congregation in Thern- heim, one half hour from Sintzheim southwestward: Jacob Meyer, Chr. Herr, Rudolph Plaetscher, Peter | Brand, Hans Wisler, Hans Pfaeffli, Hans Herr, Nich. Kratter, Nich. Meii, Hans Jacob Santer, Bend. Wiss- ler. Minister of the congregation: Rundolp Linhard of Rohrbach, Sam- uel Meyer, -- deacon at Dirnheim.
(13) The congregation on
the Rohrhof, two hours from Mannheim eastwards, Hans Schwarz, Wolfgang Hall, Hans Rudolph Schneebeli, Hans Jnerg Bachstel, Hans Meyer's widow, Hans Bachman. Melch. Hanri, Hans
-
239
CONESTOGA FOREST FIRES.
Wegner, Peter Burchdalff, Hans Jacob nagel, Cressman, Funk, Schrack, Schneider, Hans Saurer, Greg. Stoe- Seltzer, ger's widow. Ministers of the congre- gation: Jost. Eschbacher, in Oelbel-
lenheim, Melchoir Foelmann in Bruchhausen, Chr. Neukommer,-dea- con in the Rohrhof making together 160 house fathers or families.
1731 - Additional German Swiss Set- tlements in Our County.
Rupp says, page 78, Mart Kendig built a walnut log house on his large tract of 1060 acres. This tract, as we have seen before, included all the land between Willow Street pike and the West Willow road on the east and west and extended from the property of William G. Mellinger to John Rush on the north and south.
According to the Colonial records, Volume 3, page 381, seven shiploads of German-Swiss arrived at Philadel- phia this year and nearly all came to the Conestoga Valley, (See page 417). Several Acts of Assembly were passed concerning these people. They laid a duty or tax upon them because they were foreigners, (See 4 Statute at large, 135). Laws were also passed naturalizing them and enabling them to hold land. (See same book, page 20). The discussion concerning this right to hold land, as it took place in the Assembly of Pennsylvania may be found in Vol. 3 votes of Assembly, page 131. Many of them were naturalized by a later act, this same year. The naturalization is found in 4 Statutes at Large 147. We have discussed under the date of 1729. Those naturalized under the act 1731 (Page 219) were German Swiss who settled in Philadelphia County and city and Bucks County and Chester County. Some of the names promi- nent in the list are: Ziegler, Detweil- er, Hunsecker, Zimmerman. Schmidt, Mayer, Bowman, Swartz, Andrews, Levand, Kauffman, Shenkel, Hoff-
Pennypacker, Hollanbiak, Reiff, Peters, Kline, Snyder, Kosdorf, Sander, Bauchman, Roth and Acker. None appear in the list as Lancaster County settlers.
1731 - Early Forest Fires and Other Items.
In the American Weekly Mercury under the date of April 15, this year the following items appear, "Last Monday (April 12) a number of wa- gons, coming from Conestoga to the city of Philadelphia laden with flour and hemp, etc., were set afire by burn- ing bushes along the road. The hemp burned with such violence, that it was with great difficulty that they saved the wagon. They lost all their hemp, four bags of flour and six bags of pro- vender."
This item shows that there was a trade between Conestoga and Phila- delphia, in the hemp and flour busi- ness. The mills on the Conestoga and other Lancaster County places were manufacturing flour for Philadelphia and growing hemp. Hemp raising was so general, among our Germans, that in fact, Hempfield Township was named from it. Another thing made plain is that there were evidently, much wood and underbrush along the road in these early times, nearly 183 years ago or more.
From the Pennsylvania Gazette, under the date of May 6, 1731, there is an item reported as follows: "From Lancaster County, we hear that on the 18th past the woods being afire some people fearing that their fences would be burned, went out to save them, when a child following them wandered along the rails and being surrounded by fire the flames seized her clothes and she was burned to death." This is not an unusual item especially; but it gives some light
240
THE ESHLEMAN FAMILY (SWISS).
upon the early condition in and about' whom there is reliable proof, is that Lancaster.
Another item of early German Swiss
days, of Lancaster County, is that, naturalization which embraced him, surrounding the name of Mary Ditch- er, in Volume 9 of Hazzar's Register, page 119. Mr. Conynghgam, proficient before 1718 and as a native of Lan- writer, states that, land back to the caster County. (See also Rupp 125.) Susquehanna river, was settled in the Neighborhood of Columbia, by Far- ricks, Strickler, Garbers, and others; and that they purchased their first right from Mary Ditcher, an old Ger- man woman who went about making what she called, improvements. This consisted of a few sticks put together and a fire kindled and a kettle hung over it, which constituted her claim. She would sell out her claim for a trifle and then move and take up an- other claim. The article continues and says that she wandered through woods leading her horse, which was her only property, with her knitting in her hand and clad in sheep skin. The writer gives a good description of the founding of Columbia, also.
1731-The Eshleman Family.
The following receipt is found in Rupp page 75, "Received September 29, 1731 of Martin Mylin, S pounds, 11 shilling and S pence for passage and head money of John Eschellman.
,Signed Thomas Lawrence."
This suggests that an item on the Eshleman Family might properly be entered at this point.
The Eshlemans arrived in America and in the Susquehanna Valley, much that was omitted, this item may as properly be entered now as at any other time.
of Daniel Ashleman, who came be- fore 1718, as set forth in the Act of recorded in Vol. 4 St. L. 147. He is stated there as one of those who came
John Eshleman, above named, ar- rived in Philadelphia as one of a ship load of 269 Palatines, (Swiss Pala- tines) from Rotterdam by way of Lon- don and Cowes on September 21, 1731, in the ship Brittania and signed the declaration of fidelity to the Govern- ment of Pennsylvania that day. (3 Col. Rec. 414 and 415.) He lost no tinie in reaching Lancaster, for as we have stated, 8 days later Martin Mylin settled his passage and head money. Mylin lived on Pequea Creek near Willow Street. According to the same record page 367 and 368, Jacob Eshle- man arrived about Aug. 19, 1729, with a ship load of Palatine Swiss of 180 persons in the ship Mortonhouse, from Rotterdam by way of Deal; and sign- ed the promise of fidelity, etc.
And Hendrick Eshleman (Ishelman) arrived about Aug. 24, 1728, in the ship Mortonhouse from Rotterdam by way of Deal, with a ship load of 200 Palatine Swiss immigrants (See Do. 327 & 328). It is evident, therefore, that the pioneers of the family here. go back to the days of the first open- ing up of civilization in our Susque- hanna Valley-near year 1710.
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