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 45
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"This you may with your usual Confidence call Duty, Loyalty, and affection to his Majesty, but I am convinced it will not be esteemed such by his Majesty and his Minis- ter, before whom all these matters must be laid, and how the innocent people of this Province may be af- fected thereby Time will show."
And in the same book p. 631 the Assembly reply and say the Gover- nor knows that his charges against them of trying to turn the Germans against the Government is false and that he does not believe the charges himself and knows that no one else believes them.
323
MENNONITE CHURCHES IN CONESTOGA AND PEQUEA VALLEYS.
1755-Primitive Church Properties | veyed on interest to John Burgholder of Conestoga and Pequea Se- cured by Our Early Men- nonite Fathers.
In the Recorder's Office at Lan- caster in Deed Book D. Page 296 there is recorded a Deed dated July 1, 1755, between Stephen Prinnaman & Margaret his wife and John Burg- holder all of Conestoga, in the County of Lancaster and Province of Pa., of one part and John Hare, Charles Christopher and Jacob Beam each of them elders and Trustees of the Mennonist or Baptist Congrega- tion in Conestoga in the County of Lancaster, in which the Grantors sell to the second parties their heirs and successors etc., for ten pounds in trust for the said Mennonist Congregation a certain lot of ground in Conestoga Township.
BEGINNING at a stone in line of lands of Stephen Prinnaman and ex- tending by the same North 16 perches to a stone; thence by same land and by land of John Burgholder East Ten perches to another corner stone; thence by said John Burgholder's land South sixteen perches to another corner stone, thence by same and lands of Stephen Prinnaman West ten perches to the place of BEGINNING. CONTAINING ONE ACRE.
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Being part of the land (viz. part of two tracts)-one of which was granted in fee to Melchor Prinnaman by the late Commissioners of property under William Penn, by Patent dated 30th Nov. 1717 and Recorded in Patent Book A. Vol 5 P. 295 and Melchor and his wife by deed of March 16, 1730 conveyed a part of it to Stephen Prinnaman; and the other a part of a tract granted to Martin Kendig by the said properties by a patent 31st Day of December 1714 entered in Patent Book A. Vol 5 P. 264 and Mar- tin Kendig and wife Elizabeth by Deed May 2, 1729 granted and con- | feverish
who with his wife Catherine by Deed 29th May 1733 granted and conveyed the same to their son John Burghold- er and to hold the same for the Con- gregation "in common whole undi- vided and never to be divided prop- erty forever."
This Deed was acknowledged be- fore Robert Thompson, a Magistrate of Lancaster County. It is witnessed by him and by Geo. Gibson; and was Recorded Sept. 24, 1755.
This is the church property known as the New Danville Old Mennonite Church. It has since been enlarged by additional purchases of land.
The Mennonite Congregation in
Conestoga Township at "River Cor- ner," secured their first burying ground and place of worship, about this same year from Benedict Eshle- man which appears in the Recorder's Office in Book S S pages 110 and 112.
The Mennonite Congregation at Boy- erland formerly in Conestoga Town- ship (but now in Pequea Township) secured their burying ground and place of worship from Samuel Boyer or Hans Boyer about the same time. Hence it was called "Boyerland." See same office in Book R. Vol. 3 P. 549 and also in B. Vol 3 P. 153.
The Willow Street Mennonite Con- gregation now in Pequea Township, formerly in Conestoga Township, se- cured their church property very early, in fact shortly after 1710, from Christion Herr, son of Hans Herr, an original pioneer.
1755 -- Ship Records of This Year.
The ships arriving at Philadelphia this year with Palatines were the "Neptune," George Smith, captain. from Rotterdam, Oct. 3, 1755, and the ship "Pennsylvania," Captain Lyons, Nov. 1, 1755. This indicates that the rush had fallen off. The land was pretty generally taken up now, and a war condition existed in
324
"DUTCH" GRAIN FANS INVENTED-BOEHM SECEDES.
America at the time. This cause may have had the effect of checking the immigration.
The number of immigrants in 1755 arriving here was 106-90 on the first named vessel and 16 on the second.
Among the common Lancaster County names we find the following:
Acker, Barr, Bausman, Bauman, Bertch, Buch, Dietz, Deitrich, Funk, Fisher, Gast, Henckel, Klinger, King, Keller, Kraus, Kauffman, Leity, Moser, Metz, Mayer, Miller, Messner, Reingier, Schaeffer, Shock, Schneider, Steinman, Shaub, Seitz, £ Scheidt, Schmidt, Schindel, Ulrich, Weise,
Weninger, Wertz and Weber.
1756-"Dutch" Grain Fans First Manufactured Here.
In the Pennsylvania Gazette of July 8, 1756, the following appears:
"Notice is given that Adam Acker makes all kinds of Dutch Fans for cleaning wheat, rye and other grains. It will take cockle, etc., cut and clean 200 bushels a day."
The grain fan or cleaning-mill here referred to was the kind used in Switzerland long ago. Thus we see it was introduced among us 160 years ago. The type is still in use, though they are made much lighter now. And besides fans are attached to thresh- ers now. In earlier times these fans were heavy to turn and it took fully grown up men to do it. One could hear them running whole days in the barns. In some sections even these heavy fanning mills were not known 75 years ago, not even 50 years ago; but men threw up the grain by shovels and let the air clean out the chaff, etc. Now all this is changed.
1756-Ship Records of This Year.
Only one vessel of Palatines is re- corded as arriving in Philadelphia this year, the "Chance," under Cap- tain Lawrence, Nov. 10, 1756. Only 42 heads of Palatine families were on l
board. Among the common Lancas- ter County names were: Conrad, Derr, Bernhart, Klunck, Hengel, Mül- ler, Schmidt, Schoff, Haas, Wagner, Fulweiler, Kamp, Dall, Eberle, Kuhn, Weytzel, Karner, Weber, Zimmerman and Eplinger.
After this date (1756) there are no vessels carrying Palatines or Ger- mans recorded as entering for five years, viz: until 1761. The German and Swiss immigration had truly be- come slack at this time.
1757-Martin Boehm Secedes from Mennonists.
This year according to Harris (in his biographical history of our coun- try, page 49) Martin Boehm, a father of the Mennonist faith, left that sec- tion; and in conjunction with other strong religious characters laid the foundation of the United Brethren Church. Later, says Harris (page 50), Boehm's son helped to found the first Methodist Church in Lancaster Coun- ty. that of Boehm's Methodist Church in Pequea Township near Baumgard- ner's Station, which simple but solid stone building is still standing.
1758 - Lancaster County Mennonites Sponsor the Cause of Their Vir- ginia Brethren, in an Appeal to Holland.
Among the "Dutch Copies," before referred to, is a letter dated Sept. 7, 175S, in which representatives of the Mennonist Colony in Virginia de- scribed their sad condition and hard- ships because of Indian slaughter; and ask Holland for help. They send John Schneider to Holland for help; and the Lancaster County brethren appoint Martin Funck one of their ministers to go with him. A very lovely lesson in service for others is here shown.
The letter, for which I am deeply indebted to Bishop N. B. Grubb, of Philadelphia (as well as for Holland's
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LANCASTER COUNTY MENNONITES ASSIST VIRGINIA BRETHREN. 325
response, both of which he translated), [ brother will give you a better report is as follows:
"The grace of God and the love and peace of Jesus Christ, is our wish to all God-loving souls and especially to our brethren in the faith in Holland or Netherlands. Greeting :-
Today, the 7th of September, 1758.
Herewith we authorize our brother and co-fellow in the faith, Johannes Schneyder, who until now has been a good friend to the poor, and who con- templates a journey to the friends and brethren in Holland on account of the dark times in which we find ourselves at this time, owing to the tyrannical or barbarous Indians who have al- ready killed so many people, and have taken many prisoners and carried them away; others were driven from their homes and lands, so that many people are now in great poverty and distress.
We were thirty-nine Mennonite families living together in Virginia. One family was murdered and the re- maining of us and many other fam- ilies were obliged to flee for our lives, leaving our all and go empty- handed.
Last May the Indians have mur- dered over fifty persons and more than two hundred families were driven away and made homeless.
We come, therefore, with a prayer to you, brethren and co-fellows in the faith for help, by way of chari- table aid, if your love will persuade you to show mercy to us, so that we may with God's help, and the aid of good friends, be guided through this Valley of Grief; the dear Lord will reward you for it, here in this life and finally in eternity for what you will do for us.
Further, I do not deem it neces- sary to write much, as our friend and
than I could in my simple and imper- fect writing, for, he too, had been in danger of his life with his wife and four children, and was compelled to flee and leave his all behind. He had been so situated that he could make a comfortable living. He had a nice little farm, and besides he had begun the distilling of - and turpentine oil. He was always a good friend to the distressed in times of need.
Further we request you to remem- ber us in your prayers, as we are likeminded toward you, that we may have the comfort of good old Tobias, with which he comforted his son, when he said, "Even though we are poor, but if we fear God, we shall re- ceive much good.
P. S. This our friend desired a traveling companion from the con- gregation to accompany him on his journey, as he deems it best not to go alone. Upon our advice and with our Best Wishes, our minister and elder, Martin Funck, has consented to go. Until now he was found true and honest in all things by all. He is, however, still a single man, and by occupation a miller. He, too, was compelled to flee and leave all he had behind. This man was found by the grace and help of God, and will be a true traveling companion to our brother, Johannes Schneyder, on his journey to Holland.
Further, in my simple-heartedness, [ do not know what more to write, only to greetings from us all to all the brethren and congregation in Holland.
Signed by us and many others, Michael Kauffinan, Jacob Borner, Samuel Bohm, Daniel Stauffer.
Written by Benedict Hirsche, one mile from Lancaster town, Mennist Minister."
326 HOLLAND'S FRIENDLINESS TO VIRGINIA MENNONITE SUFFERERS.
1758-Holland's Answer to the Appeal [ God who makes this impression on of the Virginia Mennonists, Which our bowels and gave us the power to assist you. the Lancaster County Breth- ren Sponsored. "Amsterdam, Holland, December 27, 1758.
Michael Kauffman, Jacob Borner, Samuel Bohn, Daniel Stauffer:
Dear Friends: We have received your letter dated September 7th, but without denomination of the place out of which it is written, by the hands of your deputies, Johannes Schnyder and Martin Funck, who have given us an ample account of the calamities you had suffered, which moved our hearts with due compas- sion, and since we do not doubt but their narration of your troubles were true and faithful, we have opened our hands to your assistance with fifty pounds English Sterling which ac- cording to the value of your money amounted to the sum of seventy-eight pounds, eleven shillings and five pence, Philadelphia money, which you may receive upon the enclosed Cred- itive from Messrs. Benjamin & Sam Shoemaker in Philadelphia.
We hope that this sum will be suf- ficient to help and assist you until it pleases the God of Peace to restore the desired peace in America, as well as in Europe; and that you get resti- tution at the hands and properities you are driven out and enjoy there the same prosperities as before for ye sustentation of your families and the assistance of the Poor, which the Almighty will grant you out of his all sufficient Grace!
In the meanwhile we recommend you highly to keep fast the confes- sion of your Holy Faith in our Sav- ious Jesus Christ, and be always thankful for the Goodness of God be- stowed upon you by our compassion- ate hands and hearts: for as we were unknown to you, it was only the good
We hope the bearers of these, the above mentioned Deputies, will return soon and in good health to you, and find you and the other friends in a good condition. We have provided them all the necessities here and for their return till London.
We leave you to the Almighty Prov- idence of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, and we are with tenderest affection, Dear Friends,
Your well-wish, in Friends,
The committee of ye Baptist Congregation in Holland.
P. S. When occasion offers we de- sire your answer that we may be sure that you have duly received the above mentioned money, and please to di- rect your letter to Mr. Hendrick Kops, Amsterdam."
1758-Müller's Observation on the Vir- ginia Situation.
In Müller's "Wiedertaufer," etc,, page 365, he gives us the following account of the Virginia Mennonists' troubles and the sympathy of their Lancaster County brethren:
"In Virginia to which colony the Mennonite colonization had extended, nineteen families were attacked and ransacked by the Indians, and re- turned in flight to their Brethren in Pennsylvania; but here, too, the In- dians surprised and attacked the col- onies. Two hundred families were robbed of their possessions, and fifty people were killed. In consequence thereof, two envoys, Johannes Schnei- der and Martin Funk, arrived in Am- sterdam December S. 1758, and pre- sented to the Commission for Foreign Aid a request for assistance which was undersigned by Michael Kauff- man, Jacob Borner. Samuel Bohm, and Daniel Stauffer. It may be as- sumed with certainty that among the
327
GERMAN-SWISS AND FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
inhabitants of the Palatinate who had emigrated to Pennsylvania were a large number of brethren expelled from Berne.
1
At this time, about the middle of the last century, brethren of Berne did not only emigrate from the Palati- nate to America, but also from the Jura and Emmenthal direct. After a sea voyage of two months they ex- perienced all the discomforts and dangers of the first settlers. Ulrich Fugel, Christian Brechbuhl and Isaac Neuenschwander write under date of December 7, 1755, from "Donigall" in Pennsylvania that Hans Jacob König, or the dyer from Souceboz, had left his wife and the younger children with a certain Abraham Herr in "Canenstogen," but that he himself with son and daughter and "Odina of Dramlingen" went up as a hired man, and together with several other households (or families) settled down on the borders of the savages, at a place called "Schamogen" (now pre- sumably Shamokin in Northumber- land County)."
175S-German-Swiss Suffer from In- dian Attacks.
The sufferings of the Mennonist Communities spoken of in prior items, are further illustrated in the follow- ing news items from the Pennsylva- nia Gazette of June 29, of this year.
"Advice from Swatara, in Lancaster County, is to the effect that on Tues- day 20th a Dutchman was shot and scalped by Indians; and that the next day a man named Samuel Robinson was also killed by them.
Also "A letter from Fort Henry in Bucks County dated 19th giving an account of the wife of John Frantz and their children being carried off by Indians. The woman was found murdered. A son of Jacob Snavely was also killed."
The non-resistant sects being least ready to defend themselves were more
frequently the victims of these out- rages than they would have been, had they been always armed and ready.
1758-Swiss Settlers Help in French and Indian War.
It is stated by Rupp (p. 87) that Colonel Bouquet, a Swiss, in the em- ploy of the English during the French and Indian War, visited Daniel Zim- merman in 1758, while his detach- ment of men was quartered at Lan- caster.
This visit was made at or near Big Springs near "Lampeter Square," the ancient "capital" of West Lampeter Township. Zimmerman bought of Christopher Franciscus, who was one of those original Swiss-Mennonite Colony who took up 6400 acres in 11 big farms, near Pequea Creek, in the fall of 1710, their combined tracts reaching from West William to Stras- burg, 5 miles from east to west and being about two miles in width, north to south.
1758-Mennonists of Pennsylvania First Opposes of Slavery.
In his "Mennonite Year Book for 1914" Bishop N. B. Grubb quotes the following article from our our de- ceased mutual friend, James M. Swank:
"Lucy Foney Birttinger copies the following incident from the journal of John Woolman, in 1758, which illus- trates the continued aversion of the Mennonites to negro slavery: "A friend gave me some account of a re- ligious society among the Dutch, called Mennonists, and among other things related a passage in substance as follows: One of the Mennonists having acquaintance with a man of another society at a considerable distance, and night coming on, he had thoughts of putting up with him, but passing by his fields, and observing the distressed appearance of his slaves, he kindled a fire in the woods hard by and lay there that night. His
328
GERMAN-SWISS ALLOWED TO MAKE WILLS.
said acquaintance, hearing where he had lodged, and afterward meeting the Mennonist, told him of it, adding that he would have been heartily wel- come at his home, and from their ac- quaintance in former times wondered at his conduct in that case. The Men- nonist replied, "Ever since I have lodged by thy field I have wanted an opportunity to speak with thee. I had intended to come to thy house for en- tertainment, but seeing thy slaves at work, and observing the manner of their dress, I had no liking to come and partake with thee." He then ad- monished him to use them with more humanity, and added: "As I lay by the fire that night I thought that, as I am a man of substance, thou wouldst have received me freely; but if I had been as poor as one of thy slaves, and had no power to help myself, I should have received at thy hands no kinder usage than they."-James M. Swank on "Negro Slavery in Penna."
1759-Efforts Made to Allow German- Swiss to Make Wills.
We have seen that the law of Penn- sylvania did not allow the German- Swiss, who were foreigners, to will any real estate at their deaths to any one, nor if such persons died inte- state, would lands be allowed to go to the children of such foreigners. Of course if these persons were natural- ized, then they could so · dispose of their lands. Several acts were passed to naturalize them. It always re- quired a special act in each case. In 1759 such an act was passed by our assembly. It is found in Vol. 5 of the Statutes at Large, page 444; and it provides that as it has happened that these people born outside of the Brit- ish Empire were induced to come to Pennsylvania and here purchased lands, and died without being natural- ized, therefore further provided that if they died without being natural- ized, yet if any deed or will made by
them in the presence of two wit- nesses were so executed, such deeds. wills, etc., should be good and valid, same as in case of natural-born cit- izens; and further if any such un- naturalized foreigner purchase such lands and die without a will the lands should go to his heirs the same as naturalized or native born cit- izens.
The King in Council however re- pealed the act, so that what Penn- sylvania lawmakers did, the King undone. This he did September 2, 1760.
The King's objections are found in Vol. 5 St. L. 669 and are in substance as follows: "This act is the most in- famous attempt to cast a reflection upon the proprietors that ever was invented. It supposes that the heirs and devisees of persons dying unnat- uralized have suffered for the want of such act-for though estates of per- sons dying unnaturalized do by law escheat to the proprietors yet there is no instance found where the pro- prietors have refused to grant the lands to the heirs or devisees, and this is the constant well-known cus- tom in Pennsylvania. It is therefore abominable in the assembly to at- tempt to take away a right in the pro- prietors, and is an evidence that they are so desirous of stripping the pro- prietors of every legal power and au- thority whatever, that they would debar him from the power of doing good."
"The proprietors are determined, strenuously, to oppose the law, but would consent to an act for this pur- pose, imitating the Legislature of England who confined naturalization to Protestants, whereas this will be an encouragement to Papists to set- tle in Pennsylvania in hopes of sim- ilar acts."
This sentiment, which was ad- vanced by the proprietors, was ap- proved by the King's Council and the
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GROWTH AND PROGRESS OF GERMANS IN SOUTH EAST PENNA.
act failed. Today, with the wicked- ness and greed there is extant in high places, we would not be any more content than our humble ancestors, to have a dangerous and impoverishing engine of power hanging over us, simply upon the excuse that while it could be used, it never would be used. We have learned too well the lesson of the need of placing an effective check on every dangerous official power.
1760-Growth and Progress of Ger- man and Other Counties Com- pared.
In Volume 5 of Votes of Assembly, page 120, may be found a table show- ing the progress of Pennsylvania by counties in acres of cleared land, taxables and amount of taxes paid, in 1760. The table is as follows:
Acres of No. of Land Taxables
Counties
Philadelphia Co.
315,805
5687
Philadelphia City
2634
Chester
399,674
4761
Bucks
287,868
3148
Lancaster
436,346
5635
York
256,561
3302
Berks
208,925
3016
Cumberland
179,185
1501
Northampton
189,173
1989
2,273,537
31,673
Rate of Land
Counties
Taxable Valuation
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
Philadelphia Co. .. 1- 3-0
6,540- 1-0
Philadelphia City .. 2- 3-0
5,926-10-0
Chester
1- 2-0
5,237- 2-0
Bucks
1- 1-0
3,305- 8-0
Lancaster
1- 2-0
6,198-10-0
York
0-16-0
2,641-12-0
Berks
0-16-0
2,412-16-0
Cumberland
0-16-0
1,200-16-0
Northampton
0-14-0
1,392- 6-0
Total amount -
.34,855- 9-01
Note .- The above is the Report of a Committee appointed at the last sit- ting of tlie Assembly, to apportion the sums to be paid annually by each county for sinking the several late grants from the Province to the King. It will be seen that the total as- sessed value of Pennsylvania was 34,855 pounds at that time; and that Lancaster County was worth more than one-sixth of the whole province; and outside of Philadelphia County and City its land was valued at more than one-fourth of the province. We had 1760 as many people in Lancas- ter County as Philadelphia County and over twice as many as the City of Philadelphia. In fact as figures given in the tables are the number of taxpayers, we had, likely, three times as many people as Philadel- phia City because our families were larger.
The taxables of Pennsylvania in 1760 numbered 31,673. The popula- tion from this was perhaps 6 to 7 times that number, or about 200,000 people. It will be noticed that the average tax was slightly over one pound-$2.66 if a Pennsylvania pound or $4.86 if an English pound.
It will be noted that the rate per head in the City of Philadelphia and in the older counties was higher than in the new counties.
I am indebted to Mr. Morris K. Turner of the University of Penn- sylvania for this table, from the Votes of Assembly.
1760-Emanuel Zimmerman Appointed President Judge of Lancaster Co.
In Vol. 7 Hazard's Register, page 152, note is made that Zimmerman was appointed presiding judge of our court this year. The following sketch of his life which is seen on the same page:
"Henry Zimmerman arrived in Pennsylvania in the year 1698, and returned afterwards to Europe for his
329
330
GERMAN-SWISS FAMILIES SCATTERED.
family, whom he brought out in 1706; |27th of this year there is an item and settled first in Germantown, and stating that: removed within the present bounds of "WHEREAS in June 1759, a wag- oner who lives near Reading ac- quainted the subscriber that he had about Christmas before, lost several bars of steel on the road between Philadelphia and Reading, and the same being advertised in the Dutch News was procured by the subscriber for the owner, who has not since been heard of, notice is hereby given the steel will be sold to defray the charge." Lancaster County (then Chester County) in 1717. Emanuel Zimmer- man, son of Henry, was the most dis- tinguished of all the early settlers. He possessed from nature an ardent ! love for liberty in every form-zeal- ous and active in every pursuit. His mind was finely organized; and he en- joyed an unbounded influence over the whole settlement. Tunkers, Aymenish, Lutherans, Calvinists, and Mennonists, all applied to him on any (Signed) Geo. Absentz. emergency. He possessed as strong 1760 - German-Swiss Families Scat- tered By Being Bound Out. a constitution as intellect. He was born in Switzerland, in the year 1702, and died in the year 1780. He lived The result of binding out the chil- dren of the poor German-Swiss fam- ilies . who came over to this country in the early days is shown by an ar- ticle in the Pennsylvania Gazette Oct. 30, 1760, which is as follows: beloved, and died lamented, by all denominations. He was in every sense an honest man -always just, liberal, and tolerant. He was arbiter in all matters of dispute among his neighbours; and from his decisions they never appealed, such was the confidence in his integrity.
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