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 34
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There were also Peter Eshleman, Aug. 28, 1733, in ship Hope; Barbara earlier than 1731; and perhaps the Eshleman, and Jacob Eshleman, the chronology of these annals would be same time-and several more in early better preserved, by this item having years. (See Vol. 17 2nd Ser. Pa. Ar- been entered under the earliest date chives pages 13, 16, 17, 29, 30, S5, 86, of any Eshleman arrival here. But as $8, 90, 282, 284, 433, 439, 440 and 494.
But mention is made in European records, of Eshlemans on the move toward Philadelphia and the Susque-
The earliest arrival of an Eshleman hanna Valley much earlier than the in what is now Lancaster County of above dates.
همال فى
241
THE ESHLEMAN FAMILY (SWISS).
In the account given by Melchoir ! Zahler (Zeller) in 1710 of those who were being deported for America in the ship sent down the Rhine that year, he mentions Michael Eshleman, a Mennonist deacon and Margrith Eshleman. (See Ante 159 & 160.) They did not proceed farther than Nimewe. gen in Holland, however.
As to the old Swiss home and an- cestry of the family, it appears from Ernest Müller of Langnau, Switzer- land (a noted historian) that about 1550 the Eshlemans were first known in the Langnau district-a short dis- tance southwest of Berne. In the list of Mennonites driven out of Langnau in 1692 occurs the name Elizabeth Eshleman the old fish woman and her ' two daughters-Magdalena and Elsa and also Ely Eshleman's wife Magda- lena. (See Ante 127.) According to Kuhns in a letter written to Cyrus H. Eshleman of Grand Haven, Michigan, a few years ago, an infant Peter Esh- leman, son of Benedict Eshleman, was baptized in Langnau in 1556. He states that there are few, if any, earlier Eshleman records in Switzer- land than this. The Consul of the United States, at Berne states that there are 20 or more Eshleman fami- lies in Berne; and that the family may be of Bernese origin - that is in western Switzerland.
1731-The Eshleman Family. (Continued.)
But the Eshlemans are numerous throughout the Emmenthal too, which is a short distance northeast of Berne. They are found in Trachselwald, Summiswald and Burgdorf as well as in Langnau. It seems that the family lived earlier than 1550 in the Emmen- thal and embraced the Baptist or Men- nonite faith during the migration of the Zurich refugees into the Emmen- thal about 1530.
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The origin of the Eshleman name is not clearly established. Imobersteg who published a work on the Emnien- thal in 1876 says that the Aeschli- mann (Eshleman) family originates from Aeschlen in "Gemeinde" (con- gregation) of Diesbach, in the Emmen- thal. And a certain Michael Aeschli- mann, nicknamed "der Bergmichael" or mountain Michael Eshleman was one of the leaders of the peasant war against the industrial tyranny and landed tyranny of Switzerland, about Berne, in 1653. This I cite on the authority of Cyrus H. Eshleman of Grand Haven, above referred to. He has a copy of Imobersteg's book.
Authorities give two or more deri- vations of the name "Eshleman." It. is said by them that the name may mean one who came from the village of Aeschlen or. Aeschi or Aeschli, re- ceiving the name Aeschlimann to de- signate them after they removed to. another town to denote their original home. Another theory is that an Aeschlimann was one who was an overseer of an Aesch, a section of cul- tivated land extending around a small town. In the old towns in Switzer- land the land round about them was called the Aesch and the tenants lived in the center in a small cluster of houses. The overseer for the noble- man (owner of all the land the vil- lage was built on and extending some distance about it in all directions) was the Aesch-man. And the "li" is said to be a Swiss localism whose use made the name of the overseer the Aesch-li-mann.
Authors in the "Pennsylvania Ger- man" at different places give inter- esting history relative to the Eshle- man family. In the number for June 1910, page 373, Kuhns, commenting on [mobersteg, says that Aeschlimann comes from the parish of Aeschli in Diessbach-he also says in number for Oct. 1906, page 311, that there are
242
THE ESHLEMAN FAMILY-IMMIGRATION OF 1731.
many Eshlemans in Langnau to this day-under Oct. 1906, page 610, he says he found Aeschlimanns also in the district of Meilin in Canton Zur- ich, etc. But the name does not ap- pear in the Lexicon of Leu (Switzer- land).
There is an Eshleman family coat- of-arms too. Ernest Müller, of Lang- nau, Switzerland, has considerable knowledge upon it. The description of the coat-of-arms given, is as fol- lows: There is shown upon it a man and an Eschbaum (ash tree); but it
seems that in other instances there is described a man and a fish "Aeschi." The name, however, seems to be older than the coat-of-arms. The Eshleman family hold family reunions annually. Mrs. John Flaharty, of Plains, Lu- zerne County, Pennsylvania is the Secretary of the association.
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Hon. W. U. Hensel, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, states that, heading the list of those who died in the old Switzerland wars, in long columns on tablets on Memorial buildings in Berne, the names of several Aeschli- manns stand at the top of the lists.
In the County of Lancaster there are 180 of Eshleman adults and heads of families noted, and in the city di- rectory 53 heads and adults, total 233. ---
In America at large today there are perhaps four or five thousand of them. They are found, according to Cyrus H. Eshleman, of Grand Haven, Michigan, in the following large American cities: Boston, New York, 1732-German Swiss Immigration into Pennsylvania This Year. Rochester, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Memphis, Washington, D. The year 1732 records the beginning of a new inrush into Pennsylvania, of German Swiss or Palatines. Accord- ing to Colonial Records, (3 Col. Rec. C., Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Minneapolis, Chica- go, Springfield, St. Louis, St. Joseph, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Sioux City, 429, 31, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 5S. 65 and Seattle and Los Angeles, etc.
1731-German Swiss Immigration into Pennsylvania This Year.
According to the Colonial Records and other records this year, 4 ship loads of the German-Swiss or Pala- tine-Swiss reached Pennsylvania. (3 Col. Rec. 410-13-14-16.) The number of male heads of families of these four shop loads was 235; and the total number of immigrants was 638. Of the most general families residing in Lancaster County we find the follow- ing: 2 Huberts-2 Leamens-3 Kee- seys-2 Ritters and 6 Smiths.
One representative of each of the following families were among these immigrants: Albert - Bumgartner - Bauman - Bender - Cramer - Die- trick - Eshleman - Frey -- Frieman - Fisher - Hiestand - Myers - Metzgar - Roth - Rohr - Seyler - Shultz - Snyder - Vogell -- Wana- maker and Wald.
The women and children's names are given in most instances and fre- quently there were more women than men. In the ship-load of the vessel called "Pennsylvania Merchant" qua !- ified at Philadelphia Sept. 11, 1731, there were 56 women above 16 and 58 children under 16. (Second Series Pa. Archives, Vol. 17, page 25.) In the ship load coming in the ship Brit- tania Sept. 21, this year, the ages are given and they average about 22 years, women, men and children. One child, only 5 weeks old, is reported. It was born in passage. Another child landed 15 days old. That is about all that we can collect of interest in the immigration of 1731.
66) eleven vessels of these people ar-
243
IMMIGRANTS OF 1732 TO SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY.
rived this year, making a total of 762 were not many old people, as far as ages are given, among these immi- heads of families and a total cargo of about 1950 persons. The first vessel ; grants. The ages of the men average arrived on May 4, this year-the sec- ond in August-the next seven in Sep- tember and the last one in October.
in the list: 16 Albrights-4 Breckleys -5 Bairs (Bears)-3 Bumgartners-5 Bergers-3 Brickers-5 Benders-4 Brandts-7 Brackbills-2 Balmers-2 Berntheisels-4 Burkholders-2 Bol- lingers-2 Buchers-3 Basslers-6
Beavers-7 Cramers-12 Crists-6 Ebermans-3 Freys-11 Frantzes-6 Fishers -- 3 Gerlachs-3 Groffs-9 Hoff- mans-4 Hartmans-7 Hostetters-S Kieffers-2 Kreiders-2 Harniches-2 Hoaks-2 Hoffers-2 Keeseys-4 Kel- lars-2 Keplingers-2 Kolbs-7 Kuhns -2 Kauffmans-4 Klings-3 Longs- 18 Myers-7 Mumaws-48 Millers=24 Mussers-4 Peters-2 Pickels-2 Ack- ers -- 2 Andrews -- 2 Abels-4 Rupps-2 Ritters -- 6 Seylers-10 Stauffers-3 Snyders -- 8 Steinmans-2 Sanders-4 Saddlers-3 Schuymeyer-3 Strauss- 2 Schlaughs-2 Spanglers-6 Schocks -- 2 Sigmans-3 Wolfs-6 Weavers and Webers-7 Wagners-17 Zimmermans and 4 Zieglers.
There also appears one each of the following families: Sprecher - Schu- man - Shaub - Shilling - Berger - Gochenaur - Gerhart - Gable - Kleinhous - Keeler - Kline - Mose- man - Byerly - Brenner -- Bechtold - Reinhart -- Shearer - Landis - Pellman - Albert - Hostetter - Frank - Brackbill - Gerlach - Her- man - Kreider - Moseman - Burk- holder - Kellar - Kolb - Lehman - Zircher - Meck - Oberholtzer - Rohrer - Smith - Snyder - Schuyl- hunger and thirst in one night; and er -- Wendel - Weaver - Ziegler - Crist - Capp and Christian.
A large number of women and chil- dren came with the immigrants on the ships that arrived in the fall. There
28 years-that of the women 27 years and of the children 7 and one-half years.
Turning to the names we find the In some of the earlier immigrations following persons of familiar names the people that came were older per- sons; but it seems that in later years the spirit of immigration, into the Susquehanna Valley, was taken up by the younger people as the above de- tails seem to show.
1732 - Hardships of Our German- Swiss Ancestors on the Sea,
In the Pennsylvania Gazette, the fourth newspaper published in Amer- ica (which was begun by Benjamin Franklin in 1728, and which exists to this day in the form of the Saturday Evening Post) there are set forth the following accounts of hardships en- dured by our early German Swiss local ancestors in coming across the sea.
The first item is found in the issue of February S, 1732, and is as follows: "There is a letter in town from some Palatines who embarked at Rot- terdam in June last in a ship bound for this place, but instead arrived at Martha's Vineyard, an island on the coast of New England-containing an account that the ship, being four and twenty weeks in her passage, their provisions fell short, and in the last eight weeks they had no bread; but a pint of grouts was all the allowance for five persons per day. They ate all the rats and mice they could catch, and the price of a rat was 1Sd. and of a mouse 6d. and water 6d. a quart. That seven persons died of
of 150 passengers, which came on board at Rotterdam, over 100 were miserably starved to death. When at length it pleased God that a sloop should meet them and conducted the
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244
HORRORS OF SEA VOYAGES OF OUR ANCESTORS.
ship into Homes-Hole, a harbor of the | relieve and protect the first, it will above named island. In the first be no less a necessary act of justice to call the last to strict account. That if he cannot acquit himself of what is laid to his charge, he may reap the just reward of his oppression and cruelty. three days after their arrival fifteen more died, who had been reduced so low by famine that it was impossible to recover them. They write further that they think if they had continued at sea three days longer, they should "'I am with much respect, sir, etc. "'Philadelphia, February 9, 1732.'" all have died, no one being able to hand another drop of water. But the good people of the island are very charitable to them and do everything in their power to refresh them; so that many who were famished and near death began to revive, but none are yet strong enough to travel."
What was done for their relief ap- pears in an article in the same paper, dated February 22. It is as follows:
"Governor Gordon has been pleased to write a letter to the Governor of Boston, in behalf of the distressed Palatines on Martha's Vineyard as follows:
"'Sir -- On the application of several Germans and others from the Pala- tinate, now inhabiting this province, I am to address you on behalf of their unhappy countrymen, who, after a passage of twenty-four weeks from Rotterdam, are lately arrived at a port in your government, near R. I., as I suppose. £
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The enclosed being an exact translation of
a letter from them to a Dutch Minister here, sets forth fully their calamitous circum- stances, and the horrid barbarity with which they have been treated by Lohb, the master of the vessel, who seems to have formed a design to de- stroy them, in order to posses himelf of their effects, which are said to have been very considerable, when they embarked. A gentleman of your goodness and humanity cannot but be moved with pity, for the miserable conditions of these poor wretches, and with a just indignation against the author of their misfortunes. And as it will be an act of great charity to
And in the issue of May 18th we have a brief account of the slow progress of these suffering people on their toilsome journey from Boston to their final home with their brethren here in this land of Pequea and Con- estoga.
It is as follows:
"Philadelphia, May 18. - Saturday last arrived here 34 Dutch passengers, being those who came into Martha's Vineyard half starved in December last. They have since been in Bos- ton, where they say the people took them into their houses and used them very kindly, so that many of them were at no charge, all the while they waited for passage; and, moreover, a collection was made among the in- habitants for their relief, by which 200 pounds was gathered and given to them. The Captain who brought them from Holland was prosecuted there on their account; but the accusations against him were not made good and he was acquitted and has since ar- rested those five who signed the let- ter for damages, and they are forced to remain behind to answer his ac- tion. 'Tis said the people who arriv- ed here complain almost as much of being abused by those five, who were the chief persons among them. as they in their letter did of the Cap- tain."
It may be that some of our town ancestors were among that desolate body of men and women, fleeing to this land to escape persecution and poverty at home in Europe.
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245
MORE SUFFERING UPON SEA VOYAGES.
1732-Another Picture of Suffering Nicholas Boshung and Philip Mel- and Hardships.
Another picture of the dreadful ex- periences which ignorant Palatines subjected themselves to in their tedi- ous journey to our land is shown in an item of the same paper of October 19, 1732. It is as follows:
"Sunday last arrived here Captain Tymberton, in 17 weeks from Rotter- dam, with 220 Palatines-44 died in their passage. About three weeks ago, the passengers dissatisfied with the length of the voyage, were so im- prudent as to make a mutiny, and, being the stronger party, have ever since had the government of the ves- sel, giving orders from among them- selves to the captain and sailors, who were threatened with death in case of disobedience. Thus, having sight of land, they carried the vessel twice backwards and forwards between our
May, and eight of them took the boat by force and went ashore; from whence they have been five days com- ing up by land to this place, where they found the ship arrived. Those concerned in taking the boat are com- mitted to prison."
Those indeed were times that tried men's souls.
choir Meyer and John Peter Appel, and Laurens Kieffer, and Baltzer Gerlach, and Stephen Matz and John George Martin, and Ludwig John Herr and Sebastian Druckmiller, and John Shock and Conrad Getz and Mathias Musser and John Vogel and John Michael Hoffman, and John Jacob Scherr and Joseph Houbley and Mi- chael Miller and Mathias Mentzer among the list.
We recognize all of these as com- mon Lancaster County names. It is indeed interesting to contemplate that these persons (ancestors no doubt of present families of the same name now in our county) suffered such a discouraging experience on their journey here. What a fascinating story they must have told their chil- dren and grandchildren of their des- capes and Virginia, looking for a perate plight, at sea. No wonder they place to go ashore, they knew not, mutinied! Ordinairly 10 to 12 weeks where. At length they compelled the were quite sufficient to make the pas- sailors to cast the anchor near Cape sage. But these people saw no land
after 12, 13, yea 14 weeks of patient sailing. Then they became frightened -horror stricken. They felt that they were lost-lost on the great Atlantic Ocean, with no land in sight any- where. They threaten the master and seamen and take charge of the ship. This they did at the end of 14 weeks or as the account states, about 3 weeks before landing.
This ship was the "John and Wil- liam" which reached Philadelphia Think of the scene on that ship October 17, 1732, under Captain Tym- from another point. According to the berton from Rotterdam according to Vol. 17, Sec. Series of Pennsylvania Archives, page 72.
record there were 98 women and chil- dren on the vessel when it landed in addition to about the same number of Turning to the list of passengers on men. What terror they must have that ship we find Martin Lorenz, experienced and how the children George Albright, Jacob and Benedict must have cried in terror. How des- and Hans Peter Brackbill, and John : perately in despair were the mothers. Peter Reinhart, and John Martin How helpless all of them! Think too Schaeffer, and Jacob Weber and Gid- of the deaths-44 deaths that voyage. eon Hoffer, and Jacob Henrich and That is, one each third day dies and John George Sprecher, and John is sunk in the sea.
246 BROTHERLY COMMUNICATIONS OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS.
It took brave souls indeed in those | our ministers and elders to you. For days to cross the ocean and found a this purpose Peter Kolb of Knights- theim (Kriegsheim) was appointed, and Hans Bechtel from here, an or- dained Deacon, has been appointed to accompany him on his journey. It is with much love that we send them to visit you and many other places. For the love and great good you have shown by your brotherly love to us new land. This was, no doubt, one of many similar fated ships. And ac- cording to the preceding item, that vessel had a much more terrifying experience. These people were surely persons of grim determination; and it is not a great wonder that they suc- ceeded in establishing themselves comfortably in a little while after they and those in needy circumstances, we reached their new home here on the Jonestoga.
desire hereby to express our grati- tude. Our wish and hope is that the Lord, by his holy angels, may guide them to you and back again in health. That the above may carry more weight we have with our own hands subscribed thereto.
Jacob Landis,
Samuel Meyer,
Christian Bäth,
Jacob Güt,
Hans Heinrich Ber, .
Pieter Bladtli, Michel Meir,
Samuel Meyer,
Ulrich Neiwkomme, Hantz Chenstsy.
We the ministers and elders of the Palatinate, · assembled acknowledge the foregoing to be proper and advis- able, and bear testimony to the same by subscribing to it with our hands. Ubersheimerhoff, March 13, 1709.
Hantz Miller,
Hantz Mayer,
Casper Güt,
Tielman Kolg,
Peter Leman,
Heinrich Hiestant,
Hanz Buszhaler,
Hanz Jacob Schutbly,
Jacob Miller,
Christian Siekommel, Henrich Friedt, Valentine Gütwohl,
Christian Swustut, Hansz Brubaker,
Christian Kruntz,
Hansz Schimmer.
1732 -- Ministers and Members in the Palatinate.
The name Landis appearing in the ship records of this year suggests to us that an important item, that is dated 1709, was omitted. We, there- fore, insert it at this place. It is a greeting and communication from the brethren in Switzerland to the breth- ren in Holland, and it is as follows:
March 3, 1709.
We the ministers and elders of the Mennonite congregations here wish all ministers and elders of the Ana- baptist (Taufesinden) congregation in the Netherlands, much grace, peace and blessing from God, the Father of all Grace, through the comfort and blessing of the Holy Spirit, in Christ Jesus, Amen.
It pleased, God the Lord, by his Al- mighty hand to call our brother Christian Phlein from this world, and thus close his earthly career. Since then his accounts, and some errors and discrepencies have been discov- ered, and this fact has had rather a wide circulation among the people and caused much unpleasant gossip; sev- eral have been gone so far as to enter complaint against us with you, which might cause you sadness.
. That this might be avoided and that you may be correctly informed, we the undersigned have mutually agreed and thought it well to send several of
·
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247
POVERTY OF MANY OF THE EARLY GERMAN-SWISS.
In these signatures we see a large | John Grey commander, who have number of Lancaster County names of today. This will serve to show where they lived 200 years ago-in what sections our forefathers inhab- ited.
1782 -- Naturalization of the Palatines Under the Year 1;18. (See Ante 209.)
We made note of a large number of Palatines, principally from Lancaster County, who came to the County be- fore 1718 and who were naturalized. We now make note of a company of them who were naturalized about this year. (4 St. L. 219.) The preamble of the naturalization act states that divers protestants, subjects of Ger -; up the money to pay their passage.
many under encouragement given by William Penn, transported themselves to Pennsylvania and have contributed very materially to the enlargement of the British Empire and have always behaved themselves religiously and peaceably, and as they desire natural- ization they are now to be natural- ized.
Most of them were set down as res- idents of Philadelphia County and a few of the city; a few of Bucks ounty and Chester County; but no Lancas- ter County residents are mentioned among them. There are about 100 mentioned in the list. Among them are such names as are now in and about Philadelphia as Kolb, Ziegler, Detweiler, Zimmerman, Bowman, Le- vand. Shenkel, Longenecker, Penny- packer, Reiff and others.
1732-Poverty of Some German Swiss Immigrants.
never paid their passage nor given security for the same; that they are hereby required to come to said John Grey or to Benjamin Shumaker in Philadelphia, and there pay the pas- sage money or give security, or they will be proceeded against according to law."
A similar notice is inserted as to the Palatines who came in the ship Pleasant.
The law which is referred to is the Statute passed by early Pennsylvania giving authority to the ship masters to sell the persons, who did not pay their passage, into servitude to make
According to Colonial Records (2 Col. Records 457) there were 61 Pala- tines on that ship Mary, John Grey commander, and of the common Lan- caster County names we find: Mike and John Eberman, Conrad Miller, Christian Klenn, John Mazer, Henry, George, John and Heinrich Shissler, John Adam Miller, Andrew Mazer, Kasper Meyers, Jacob Walter, George Pickle and others. No one can tell at this late date, whether any of these were among the persons who found such great difficulty and hardship in coming over, whether they paid their passage or not.
It is not, however, to their discredit that the hand of poverty was so heavy upon them; but rather a compliment to their pluck and determination that they would face all these difficulties for the sake of religious and political freedom.
While some of the immigrants from the heart of Europe had means to en- able them to come to this country, yet a great many of them were miserably poor. In the American Weekly Mer- cury, December 26, 1732, there is the following notice: On the ship Pleasant, record of which is found in the same book, page 465, we find there were 42 heads of families and among them, Balzer and Henry Spangler, John Kellar, George Peters, George Bair, Fred Bassler. Henry Eckert, "This is to give notice to all Pala- Jacob Hornberger, John Sickman, Funk Miller, John tines, who came in the ship Mary, Tauber, Isaac Reidenbaugh. John Mi-
248
A CASE OF GERMAN-SWISS LAPSE OF MORALS.
chael Hoffman, Conrad Book and | was sentenced to death, according to others. law. But, it appearing to the Judges that there was great doubt concern- ing the mother's injuring the child and, therefore, the Judges themselves ask the Council to relieve her from the death sentence.
These all sound like Lancaster County names and it is highly prob- able that the ancestors of our Ger- man Swiss people, here in the County today, were among those poverty stricken sufferers, who were mention- ed in the article in the Mercury as having such an unfortunate financial ending of their voyage. The holdings of their descendants, round about us today, very forcibly teach us that they have overcome the obstacle of poverty against which they struggled, in those early times.
1732-Occasional Instances of Low Morals.
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