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 39
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278
SUSPICION UPON THE GERMAN-SWISS.
meeting and made a representation | by the "stately mansion" and organ- to the Governor and assembly in 1741 in part in the following words:
"Who they are that look with jeal- ous eyes at the Germans, but the Governor has not been pleased to in- form us, nor do we know. Nothing of the kind can be justly attributed to us, or any preceding Assembly, to our knowledge. The Legislature of this province has generally, on applica- tion made to them, admitted the Ger- mans to partake of the privileges enjoyed by the King's natural sub- jects; and as we look upon them to be a laborious, industrious people, we shall cheerfully perform what can be expected from us for their benefit, and for those who may hereafter ar- rive."
To allay unfounded prejudices, the Mennonites gave a decided proof thereof in 1742, in convoking a church council, consisting of elders, preach- ers and the bishop, and meeting at the house of Martin Meylin, in Lam- peter Township.
Martin Meylin, grandfather of Mar- tin Meylin, Jacob Meylin, John Mey- lin and Abraham Meylin, all at pres- ent residing in West Lampeter town- ship, built what was then called a palace, of sandstone. It was, in 1742 one of the most stately mansions in the country; and as the Mennonites were a plain people, and Martin Mey- lin an active member, the house was not only considered too palace-like, but the appearance of it might, as they reasoned, strengthen their ene- mies in prejudicing the Government against them-they had been virtually charged with disloyalty-"determined not to obey the lawful authority of government-that they were disposed to organize a government of their own."
The bishop, Hans Tschantz, with his elders and assistance, having re- paired to the humble log cottage hard
ized the meeting, himself presiding over the deliberations of the asseni- bled. Martin was first questioned,
upon conscience, to openly declare what his intentions were in erecting so large, so gorgeous a dwelling- reminding him of the rumor some twelve or thirteen- years ago; and lately, of the prejudices excited against the Germans. He stated. he consulted only his comfort. and that he had no sinister views. Next he was reminded that, in their view, the house was rather too showy for a Mennonite. The question was, wheth- er he deserved severe censure. if not suspension from church privileges, for this oversight. After some con- cessions, and mutual forbearance, by the parties, it was resolved that Mar- tin be kindly reprimanded: to which he submitted-thus the matter ended, and all parted as brethren. (Rupp 286 and 7.)
We cannot tell at this date whether the meeting was held for the purpose of re-assuring the Government that they were a humble people and not ambitious for political power; or whether it was held for the purpose of cautioning brother Mylin that he was in danger of violating the rules of the church.
1742-The Case of Jealousy Against the German Swiss (Continued).
Governor Thomas in his address to the Assembly, concerning the suspic- ions that the German Swiss settlers had inspired among the early political powers of Pennsylvania, says, in Vol. 4 Col. Rec., pages 507 and 508, "Ser- eral of the most substantial Germans, now inhabitants of this province, have joined in a petition to me, setting forth in substance, that for want of a convenient house for the reception of such of their countrymen as, on their arrival here, laboured under
279
GOVERNOR DEFENDS CHARACTER OF THE SWISS.
diseases contracted in a long voyage they were obliged to continue on board the ships which brought them, where they could not get either at- tendance or conveniences suitable to their condition from whence many have lost their lives; and praying that I would recommend to the As- sembly the erecting of a proper build- ing at the public expense, not only to accommodate such as shall arrive hereafter under the same circum- stances, but to prevent the future importation of diseases into this City, which has more than once felt the fatal effects of them.
The numbers of people which I ob- served came into this province from Ireland and Germany, pointed out to me the necessity of an hospital or pest-house, soon after my arrival here; and in 1738 I recommended it to the Assembly of that year, who seemed so far from disapproving it that they gave me hopes of building one so soon as the circumstances of the province should admit. I very heartily wish for the sake of such families, inhabitants of this City, as suffered in the late mortality by the loss of some who were their chief support, and will therefore feel it for years to come, and on account of the Irish and German strangers, that it had indeed been done so soon as the circumstances of the province did ad- mit of it. But as it can profit nothing to bewail evils past, I hope you will now make the proper use of them by doing all in your power to prevent the like for the time to come.
I am not insensible that some look with jealous eyes upon the yearly concourse of Germans to this prov- ince, but the Parliament of Great Britain see it in a different light, and have therefore given great encourage- ment by the late act to all such for- eign Protestants as shall settle in his majesty's dominions; and indeed every
man who well considers this matter must allow that every industrious labourer from Europe is a real addi- tion to the wealth of this province, and that the labour of every foreign- er in particular is almost so much clear gain to our Mother country."
In this we see very plainly that while some of the English inhabitants settled here and holding offices were jealous of the growing power of the German Swiss people, that the Gov- ernor of the province was favorable to them. More than that it is evi- dent, from what he says, that the Par- liament of Great Britain had great faith in them, as a proper people to develop the resources of this rrov- ince .. The Assembly in their answer to the Governor, state, that a great many of these Germans and Irish are afflicted with the contagious diseases, that that is a cause to make us more cautious, and that it makes a quaran- tine building a great necessity.
In the last pargraph, the Assembly also tried to make it appear that they are also favorable to the Germans, for as we said in the former item, that the Governor did not tell them who the people are that are jealous of them; and further, that they, the As- sembly, look favorably upon them.
This will suffice to show, that while at present the line of jealous powers of the two nationalities in this coun- ty and in southeastern Pennsylvania, has died out, that in early times there was great danger of friction. We shall trace up this growing power of the German Swiss people in southeastern Pennsylvania as these articles pro- ceed.
These proceedings may also be found in Vol. 2, Votes of Assembly, pages 48-49 etseq.
1743-The Governor and Assembly Divide On the German Question.
The feeling against the German Swiss coming into Pennsylvania grew
280
QUARANTINE FOR SICK GERMAN-SWISS.
stronger in the Government of the | found in Vol. 3, Votes of Assembly province about this time. Turning to 451-2-2; also the same Volume, pages 472-500 and 501 and other places in Vol. 4 Col. Records. Vol. 4, Col. Rec., pages 526-27, we find, that a committee of Assembly really made charges against the Gov- ernor and the Council.
The Assembly ask the Governor why, if he has full power to employ a Doctor to examine the condition of the sickly palatines that arrive-why he asks help of them. They charge that the governor is not vigilant enough concerning these people in restraining the ships from landing for they will spread unhealthy dis- eases over the City.
The Assembly also discharged the quarantine doctor, so that the Gov- ernor had no physician to examine these passengers. The Governor complained that without examining these passengers and proving them dangerous, he would admit them. The Governor also observes, that the As- sembly try to accuse him of arbitrary power; but he states, that the law gives him the authority to examine these vessels and he has the right to employ physicians to see whether any disease is found in them or not. He complains that they refused to pay the doctor he employed.
Further on, the Governor proceeds to consider what he calls the facts and says on page 529, that doctors appointed to examine these Germans acted diligently and that in 1738 there was a Palatine vessel with sick pas- sengers arrived and the Assembly spread the fear that dangerous epi- demic diseases were being brought but the doctor found nothing more than a common ship distemper among them. Afterwards it turned out that they had a very malignant disease.
1743-Further Naturalization of Ger- man and Swiss.
One of the results of landing a for- eigner, was that such person still in Pennsylvania, could not will their land to their heirs, the same as nat- ural born subjects could. For this and for other purposes, it was made necessary to naturalize them and this subject came up again in 1743. (See Vol. + Col. Rec., page 627.)
The proceedings to have the law passed also appear in 3 Votes of As- sembly, page 505. A law was passed also enabling these people to devise their real estate to make wills, etc. (See 3 Votes of Assembly, page 514- 15.)
1743-Law Passed to Establish Hos- pitals for German and Swiss Immigrants.
This same year a law was passed to establish hospitals for the sick im- migrants. . It is found in Vol. 4 Stat- utes at Large, page 382, the law states that as there had been a law before not allowing vessels with sick- ly immigrants to come nearer than one mile of any town or port, with- out a bill of health; but that no place was provided for the sick passengers that were on these vessels, and there- fore, they started to land them se- cretly and they got into Philadelphia and spread diseases.
Therefore, Fisher's Island in the Delaware River was to be henceforth called Province Island, containing 340 acres, with buildings erected, and that this island together with the buildings should be under trustees to be used as a quarantine or hospital for these sick people. The buildings should be put on it for these pur-
The Governor here says that he acted as diligently as was needed and the Assembly publicly thanked him for the care he took. In this manner, the contention kept on during several years. The same subject may be poses and that the buildings and
281
PARLIAMENT PROVIDES MEANS OF NATURALIZATION.
fences and other improvements on it | mans in Pennsylvania and in other shall always be kept in repair; and parts of America. The complete act is found in a pamphlet known as the General Magazine and Historical Chronicle, a monthly periodical, pub- lished by Benjamin Franklin about 1740.
that the Governor or two Justices of the Peace shall have the right to or- der and direct all persons brought into this province, who have infec- tuous diseases to go to that island and remain there until the physician says that they are free of disease. Their nursing and maintenance must be paid by the master of the vessel, that the sick people were brought in and the expenses of the master was put to, must be repaid out of the goods and property of the passengers, if they had any.
And for this purpose, the Justice of the Peace have the right to send for the master of the vessels and oblige them to give a bond that they will find proper food and nursing for the sick people, before they could land them. The law further pro- vides, that a book must be kept in which the persons' names are en- tered, as sick persons. It is also pro- vided that after the persons have re- covered, they could be discharged only under the seal and certificate of two Justices.
It is further provided that no inn keeper or other inhabitants shall re- ceive in their house, any of these persons who are known to be afflict- ed with any of these contagious dis- eases, until after discharged. A fine of ten pounds is provided for such persons.
Therefore, we can readily see that there were many difficulties to be en- countered.
1743 .- An Unusual Naturalization of Germans.
We have heretofore seen, that the Germans and Swiss in Pennsylvania, were naturalized by virtue of acts passed by the Assembly and the Gov- ernor of Pennsylvania, but finally, Great Britain herself passed an Act of Parliament to naturalize our Ger-
The January number of 1741, con- tains this Act of Parliament. This shows another event of Benjamin Franklin's activity. The pamphlet may be found in the Philadelphia His- torical numbered Api. 228.
In conformity with that act of Par- liament, the Pennsylvania Gazette re- ports, under the date of April 14, 1743, that "at the Supreme Court held here (Philadelphia) on Monday, Tues- day and Wednesday last, 304 Germans Protestants were naturalized by vir- tue of a late act of Parliament, hav- ing resided in this province upwards of seven years." It would be inter- esting to know the names of these Germans who were naturalized; but there seems to be no list in exist- ence. There is no record in the Statutes at Large of such naturaliza- tion about this date. But there is, however, in the Statutes at Large, Vol. 4, page 391, an act passed in February 1743, allowing Protestants settled in Pennsylvania, not Quakers, to be naturalized on an affirmation instead of oath. And the introduction of the act recites, that there was an act of Parliament passed, in the 13th year of King George II, which is likely. The one above referred to, for naturalizing Protestants, states that after June first, 1740, all persons who have resided for seven years or more in American colonies, and shall not have been absent more than two months at a time, and should take an oath and repeat the declaration of al- legiance and subscribe and set forth their Christian belief before the Judges, shall be adjudged to be the same as his Majesty's natural born subjects.
282
GERMAN NEWSPAPER-ENABLING ACTS.
This Act goes on to say, that any foreigners who were not Quakers; but who conscientiously refused to take an oath, desired to be naturalized, and therefore, this Act allows them to be naturalized on an affirmation instead of an oath, if they have lived here seven years. But it further pro- vides, that after the affirmation is ad- ministered, and entered in the Secre- tary's Office, the names of these per- sons naturalized must be transmitted to the Commissioners for trade and plantations in England yearly, in the same manner as the Act of Parlia- ment is directed.
1743 .- A German Paper Began Publi- cation.
In the Pennsylvania Gazette, on the June 2, there is a notice as follows: "WHEREAS, the Subscriber has be- gun to publish a weekly newspaper in the German language for the car- rying out of which he has received good encouragement from his coun- try men, the Germans, in all parts of the province, So if all merchants who want ads inserted, send them to the subscriber or David Doshler, they will be faithfully translated and in- serted.
Signed, J. CRELLIUS."
This was no doubt a Philadelphia publication; but at any rate, it is pretty early and deserves mention, as one of the marks of German enter- prise in an English Colonial history.
1:43 .- German Quarantine Again.
In Vol. 4 Statutes at Large. (382) the final steps, as to the German Quarantine building is taken. This is in the shape of an Act of Assembly to secure the title of Province Island and the buildings thereon, for a hos- pital for the sick passengers. to pre- vent the spread of contagious dis- eases.
As it was said before, this Island is situate "on the southerly side of the mouth of the Schuylkill River in the County of Philadelphia, adjoining on Delaware river, before known as Fisher's Island; but afterwards known as Province Island. Containing 342 acres of land and buildings," etc. Full provisions are made in the Statutes at Large, for the maintenance and regulations of the hospital. The act was passed February 3, 1743.
1743 .- Act to Enable Germans To Make Wills and Give Legacies.
We have seen before that these Germans and Swiss, until they were naturalized, could not make wills, de- vising their lands to their descend- ants. Further it was (not apparently until 1743) lawful for any person to whom a legacy in money or goods was given to sue and prosecute an action to recover the legacy in Court. Therefore, particularly to assist the Germans and Swiss, an act was passed. to enable them to get prop- erty by will, and to accept it.
1743 .- Crash Over Conflicting Land Grants.
In Vol. 4, Col. Rec., page 648, we have another picture of the trouble Qur German Swiss had to encounter, concerning their lands along the Sus- quehanna River. This time the In- dians were mixed in the difficulty, and one of the chiefs of the five na- tions, made a speech to the Governor of Pennsylvania, and said that "the Dutchmen settled on southeastern Pennsylvania lands, claimed the right to the land simply because he gave a little victuals to the warriors of the Indian tribe, who were very often in need of it. The Indian then went on in his speech and said, this string of wampum serves to take the Dutch- men by the arm and throw them over the big mountains beyond the bor-
283
INDIANS AND LAND TITLES-SHIP RECORDS.
ders. The Indian chief also said, that they had given these valleys over to their cousins the Delaware Indians and to their brothers the Shawanese, and reserved some rights there to live themselves. Therefore, he re- peated that the Indians will demand the Governor of Pennsylvania to re- move immediately by force, all of those Dutchmen that are living on their lands. It appears, however, that this concerns lands further up the Susquehanna River, in the neigh- borhood of the Juniata River.
However as it is the same question of the Germans looking for further settlement, and coming in contact with the native tribes, this item has a place in this article.
This orator then goes ,on to say that he now lives on the River Ohio, harmless as a child. He could do nothing and is weak and does not in- tend any mischief; but that he looks for the Governor to have charge of this. He. therefore, went on to say, that the place where he lived, is over shadowed by a great cloud, that he looked with pitiful eye on the poor women and children, and then looked on the ground all along for sorrow; because of these poor women and children.
He states further, that the people were given to lies and raise false stories, and they asked the Governor to stop up their mouths, as he could do it with one word.
1743-Ship Records of 1743.
During this year we find eight ship loads of these German Swiss people. Among the common Lancaster County names, we find the following: 3 Benders - 3 Bakers - 2 Good- mans - 2 Gilberts - 2 Harts - 4 Kauffmans - 2 Hermans - 2 Krafts -- 1 Kleins - 4 Kellars - + Myers - 13 Millers - 2 Snyders - 4 Smiths - 2 Stamms - 4 Swartz - 2 Shaubs | "inhabitants are high Dutch, Scotch
- 2 Wagners - 2 Webers - 2 Hel- lars - 2 Youngs.
We also find one each of the follow- ing:
Albright -- Appel - Bumgardner - Beyer - Brunner -- Burkhart -- Cas- par -- Eckert - Eberhart - Fisher - Frey - Good - Garber - Huber -- Hellar - Kuhn - Koch - Krei- der - Leinbach - Lehman - Lan- dis - Neffs -- Root - Sherts - Soutter - Shoemaker -- Walters - Wolf - Wise and Zimmerman.
These German Swiss people came in the ship "Francis and Elizabeth," George North master - "Snow Char- lotte," John Mason master - "Lydia," James Abercrombie master -- "Rosan- na," James Reason master - "Phoe- nix," William Wilson master - "Rob- ert and Alice," Martley Cusack mas- ter -- "St. Andrews," Robert Brown master - and "Snow Endeavor," Thomas Andrews master.
1744-Lancaster and Its Germans This Year.
Lancaster was an English town -- it was founded by the English. It be- gan to be built about 1728, according to Witham Marsh (Marsh's Diary), there was a sprinkling of German Swiss in the town, from its begin- ning; but they resided most numner- ously in the rural sections. An old geography of 1316 calls this, Lancas- ter the "biggest inland town in United States," which it was at that time (Jedidiah Morse's D. D. geogra- phy, published by Thomas and An- drews, Boston, in 1816, p. 171). The County of Lancaster at this date, was given a population of 58.927. But to come back to German Swiss element. in the little Lancaster town, which in 1744, the date of which we are now writing was 16 years old. William Marsh in his diary says, "the town was begun abont 16 years earlier and has one main street." He says the
284
MARSH'S VIEW OF "DUTCH" LANCASTER.
Irish and English, and some unbe- lieving Israelites, who dwell very considerably in this place." Marslı proceeds to say, "that the spirit of cleanliness, has not yet, in the least troubled the major part of the peo- ple; for they are in general very great s ... s and slovens. When they clean their houses, which is very sel- dom, they are not willing to remove the filth away from themselves, for they place it near to their doors, which in the summer time breeds quantities of bugs, fleas and vermin."
We believe that Marsh was very much prejudiced and was telling falsehoods in making these state- ments. The German Swiss who lived here were industrious and were also scrupulously clean, as to the scrub- bing brush and broom and mop, which were almost constantly in their hands.
The leading German churchmen, who lived here, according to Marsh, at this time, were the sect of Luth- erans. He also says the Dutch church was flourishing here, which is to be understood to be the German Re- formed. Evidently in his opinion, the Lutherans were much more prosper- ous in their religious advancement, than the German Reformed people.
The houses of which he called this Dutch town, he says are mostly built with and covered with wood, except a few are stone and brick. He also tells us that he was stopping at War- rall's Hotel, which was the ancient Cross Keys, and when he went to bed he was "attacked by legions of Dutch fleas and bugs which were ready to devour both himself and the minister that he was sleeping with."
fiddle and played for some time un- der the window." Then he says, "the Governor ordered them to come in and amuse us, which they did; but not with the harmony of their music, for it was very uncouth and displeas- ing; that they played a tune of some sort to some young Indian who danced a jig with Andrew Hamilton." He says that the Dutch girls (which he would call females, not ladies) danced wilder than the Indians, that the dancers in the party consisted of Germans, Scotch Irish and some Jewesses, and that the Jewesses were the best dancers. Finally he says, that after the Indian treaty, which he was attending was ended, he and his people mounted their horses and went away from this filthy Dutch town, to a very kind landlord at Not- tingham, by the Gap road. (See Lan- caster County Indians P. 346.)
We believe that this man Marsh, an Englishman from Maryland, was entirely unfair to the German Swiss people living in this town; and it is likely this feeling arose from the fact that Maryland and Pennsylvania, had for a dozen years prior to Marsh's visit, been in grevious dispute, about the boundary line, and the German Swiss people living on the western side of the Susquehanna, as we have shown earlier in these items, were the bone of contention between the two provinces, Maryland, in a very greedy fashion, claimed the Susque- hanna River her northern boundary.
1744-Our German-Swiss Are Victims of Privateers.
In the Pa. Gazette of December 25, 1744, the following item appears: "That Friday last, arrived at Phila- delphia, Captain Duraell, from Hol- land, but the last from Poole, with Palatines after a passage of thirteen weeks. Admiral Davis, with the squadron for the West Indies was at
He also gives us the description of a dance held in the Court House, dur- ing which the Governor of Pennsyl- vania got too much wine and got very merry. He says "during the merri- ment two Germans happened to pass by the Court House with harp and | Spit Head when he sailed, and was to
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285
GERMAN-SWISS IMMIGRANTS AND PIRATES.
sail in a few days. In his passage, | twelve leagues to the west of Sicilly, he was chased by a French Privateer, designed for Philadelphia with Pala- tines, as he sailed from Cowes, the day before he left Poole. But his vessel going very well, he got clear of the Privateer." This article is not very clearly stated in the Gazette, nevertheless serves to show us, that the Palatines, that is our German- Swiss ancestors, had a great deal to contend with besides the rough
storms at sea, which frequently lengthened their voyage from 10 or 11 weeks to 17 and 18 weeks and per- haps 20 weeks. We are here given one of these difficulties, namely: "being chased by privateers." The privateers evidently found profit in robbing these poor people of what lit- tle substance they had.
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