USA > Pennsylvania > Historical notes relating to the Pennsylvania Reformed Church, V. I > Part 10
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5. Catharine Leidig, born in April, 1753; married Philip Miller; died August 9, 1823. They resided in Chester county, and are buried at Brownback's Reformed church, in that county.
6. Philip Leidig, born May 21, 1755; married, June 9, 1778, Rosina Bucher; died March 14, 1822. They lived in Frederick township, and are buried in Leidig's graveyard.
7. Leonard Leidig, born ---; married Catharine Nyce, daughter of Zacharias and Christina Margaretha Nyce. He lived at Easton, and died there about 1796.
-------
60
HISTORICAL NOTES.
October 16, 1749, about two years after reaching Philadelphia from Holland, John Philip Leydich purchased one hundred and five acres of land in Frederick township, located upon the banks of Swamp crock. This became the family homestead.
September 13, 1769, he purchased from George Heebner and wife. Susanna, four tracts of land amounting to 175 acres, 64 perches, viz., two tracts (one of 28, the other of 22 acres) in Frederick township, and two tracts (one of 752 acres, the other of 49 acres, 104 perches) in New Han- over township.
Rev. John Philip Leydich died intestate, on January 14, 1784, leav- ing issue three sons and four daug!ters. He owned at this time the real estate purchased of George Heebner, amounting to 175 acres, 64 perches. His son, Franz Leidig, took this real estate, paying to the other heirs £900 Pennsylvania money, therefor, and to the widow, Catharine Leydich, in lieu of dower, five shillings lawful money of Pennsylvania. The widow also stipulated that he should yield and deliver to her every year during her natural life "Six Bushels of Merchantable Wheat, two Bushels of Buckwheat, fifty-eight Weight of good Pork, fifty Weight of good Beef, three Cords of good Firewood, Cut fit for immediate Use for the Stove, and one quarter of an Acre of Flax prepared fit to Swingle, and also when I see occasion for a good milk Cow he is to furnish me with the same, and when required take her back again, and put another in the Place, but the said Cows remain the Property of my said Son, Franz Leydich."
The real estate was conveyed to Franz Leidig, on the 13th of Febru- ary, 1784. The grantors were: Philip Leydich, of Frederick township, and Rosina, his wife; Leonhard Leydich, of Frederick township, single- man; Gabriel Shuler, of Skippack and Perkioming township, yeoman, and Sophia, his wife; Alexander Defenderfer, yeoman, and Elizabeth, his wife; John Nyce, tanner, and Magdalena, his wife; Philip Miller, joiner, of Coventry township, Chester county, and Catharine, his wife. The grantee was: Franz Leydich, of Frederick township, veoman.
Leidig's graveyard, a private burial place, is in part located upon the land originally purchased by Pastor Leydich. The immigrant and his wife, and others of the family, rest here. The words on their gravestones were printed in The Perkiomen Region, Volume One, pages 54 and 55.
NEW GOSHENHOPPEN CHURCH IN 1740.
The elders of the Reformed Church promised that the congregation would contribute £10, Pennsylvania money, towards the support of the minister. Their names are:
Hermann Fischer, Johann Jörg Steinmann, 1
Caspar Holtzhausen, Andres Greber.
61
HISTORICAL NOTES.
A Business Letter of 1754.
The subjoined specimen of the financial correspondence between the Holland patrons of the Pennsylvania Reformed Church and their bankers in Philadelphia, is preserved in the archives of the General Synod in The Hague. It gives a view of the practical, financial side of the missionary work on our shores fostered by the liberality of Holland. The super- scription is simply :
To Gerardus Sandifort @ Hague. The contents, accurately copied, are :
Esteemed Friend,
Philadelphia 19 April 1754
Thy favor of 4 Octo' last in behalf of the Synod of South Holland we have rec" w" Sundry Letters for M. Schlater, Stoy, Wald- smith & others, which have delivered except to one or two who live at a great Distance, we have sent to them & expect to see y" soon -- The Money Wee shall Pay them on demand weh have informed them, & if Wee can at any time render the Synod, or thy Self any Services Please to Command us freely, being on all Occasions
Your Assured Friends
Benj". & Samt Shoemaker.
Gerardus Sandifort
The Trappe Reformed Church.
In Rev. John Philip Boehm's reports to the Holland Synods the date of the formation of the congregation is clearly indicated. Mr. Bochm speaks of it as the congregation in Providence township. In a tabular statement showing the communions held in the Spring of 1743, with the number of communicants, is this concerning the Providence congregation:
d" 4. April, im Thounschip Providentz beij einer nou versammelten gemeine, communicirten
Manns Persohnen 19
Weibs Persohmen 13
Gantz Summa 32
On the 4th of April, in Providence Township, in a
newly gathered congregation, communed
Men
19
Women 13
Total 32
62
HISTORICAL NOTES.
In the report for the Spring of 1744, the following appears :
d" 3. Mey. Auff des Herren Himmelfahrt, bey der Nou ver- sammelten Gemeinde auff Providenz, alwo bey dem ersten Abendmahl daselbst d" 5. Ab' 1743, 19 communicirt, com- municierten dissmahl 63
On the 3d of May, the day of the Lord's Ascension, in the new- ly gathered congregation at Providence, where at the first Communion on the 5th of April, 1743, 19 communed, this time the communicants numbered 63
He states that the communion services at Providence on May, 1744, were held in a barn-"in einer Scheuer."
The Philadelphia Church in 1795.
In Edmund Hogan's Directory of Philadelphia for 1795, in a map of that portion of the city, the location of the Reformed Church is given as on the south side of Race street, between Third and Fourth streets ; it has no number, but it occupies the space of numbers 120, 122, 124 and 126.
The compiler of the directory says : The German Reformed Church is built here; it is 90 feet long, 65 feet broad, and 42 feet high. The British made an hospital of it when they took possession of this city. A school-house, nearly similar to that of Zion's Lutheran church, is built on the lot, where the children belonging to the congregation are instructed. The Reverend Mr. Hendel is the officiating minister.
On East side of Fourth street, between Cherry and Race streets ; lived :
No. 39 Reverend William Hendel, German Reformed Minister. No. - (near Race st. ) Arthur Derr, Sexton of the German Reformed Church.
The school house of the Zion's Lutheran church is described thus : It is 37 feet by 34, two stories high, with suitable apartments for the ac- commodation of a schoolmaster and his family.
THE SCOTCH CHURCH IN ROTTERDAM.
During the years of the persecutions in Scotland in the seventeenth century, Rotterdam became the great home of banished Covenanters. Owing to the number of fugitives the congregation became so large that two stated ministers were required. In 1695-7 the present church was erected, the stones used in the building being brought from Scotland. In September, 1893, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the congrega- tion was celebrated by a series of services.
63
HISTORICAL NOTES.
List of Huguenot Galley-Slaves.
RELEASED BY THE KING OF FRANCE IN THE YEARS SEVENTEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN AND SEVENTEEN HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN.
[Continued. ]
NUMERO
NOMS
Temps de Souffrance ANNE'ES
9376
Isaac Apostoly
26
18560
Antoine Aquillon
18
37986
Jean Marteilhe
12
15915
Pierre Peridier
20
37997
Laurens Jacob
.9
21467
Jean Senegat
16
11396
Bertrand Aurelle
21
10964
Jaques Vigne
2.1
15443
Pierre Gay
20
22357
Mathieu Duny
15
11010
Moyse Reynaud
21
10952
David Comte
24
10956
Pierre Valat
8552
Jaques Maurel
27
17271
Jean Pierre
19
15911
Jean Daudet
20
11391
Jean Antoine Pene)
24
10655
Louis Cochet
25
21728
Pierre Roumagcon
15
14080
Pierre Reymond
21
14538
Etienne Arnal
21
12086
Jean Maurin
23
13653
Jean Soulage
22
11680
Jean Genre
24
11670
François Sabatier
24
21848
Antoine Privat
15
28799
Jaques Amentier
8
30318
Jaques Cabanis
7
26591
David Roubeau
10
27972
Jean Roustan
10
26991
Pierre Serviere
11
21782
Pierre Leques
16
SECOND PART. LISTE
Des Protestans qui ont souffert la peine des Galeres de Fran- ec, pour cause de Religion, d' qui en ont été deliverez en
, vertu d'un ordre du Roy, on date du 7. de Mars 17144.
64
HISTORICAL NOTES.
NUMERO
NOMS
Temps de Souffrance ANNEES
26216
Isaac Lavenuë
13
11823
Pierre Dedier
24
19833
Pierre Bertaud
18
21482
Pierre Martinenguc
16
25659
Jean Pericz
13
25193
Claude de Beau, ou de Bos
13
11238
Pierre Boyer
25
11690
Jean Musseton
25
11825
André Thier
25
11817
Jean Bautias, dit Estran
25
11819
Jean Gachon
25
25725
Pierre Gaillard
13
11820
Etienne Fer
25
11826
François Augier
25
25712
Mathieu Demars
13
26911
Etienne Vincent .
12
10997
Jean Prunier
25
19316
Jean Galien
19
11829
Etienne Poret
25
11808
Etienne Tardiou
25
7875
Pierre Serres
28
11811
Jean Bancilhon
25
10987
Philippes Tardieu
26
11236
Pierre Blanc
25
37990
François Noireau
13
37996
Daniel le Gras
12
26116
Etienne Mesge
12
11812
Jaques Blanc
25
6446:
Abraham Janoir
10981
Jean Juillen
26
9254
Jean Lardent
27
23522
Daniel Rousselin
17
10991
Philippes Ture
26
26997
Francois Martinel
11
29256
Garein David
9
29292
Louis Bourdariez
9
29095
Henry Leotard
9
29257
André Fraissé
9
29057
Antoine Dansin
0
(To be Continued. )
.
HISTORICAL NOTES
RELATING TO THE
PENNSYLVANIA REFORMED CHURCH.
VOL. I. No. 5. September 10, 1899. $1.00 PER ANNUM. Edited by Henry S. Dotterer.
Perklomen Publishing Co., 1605 N. THIRTEENTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA.
Random Thoughts.
The purpose of Christ's coming to earth was the conversion and salvation of men. This is granted by all who regard Him as the Son of God. The disciples found the new life, were born again, became con- verted men. The grace of God entered their hearts. They found the way of salvation. Then they were sent forth to spread the knowledge of this salvation. The Church is now the means to carry forward this work. Is the Protestant Church faithful to this duty ? Is the Re- formed Church true to this mission ?
The conversion and salvation of men is the primary, central, vital duty of the Church. The pulpit should devote its best energies to this essential object. In some instances this is donc, in others it is lightly passed over or ignored.
The list of Huguenot Galley Slaves, which is concluded in this Number, com- prises the third part of the pamphlet found in Dordrecht. This part gives the rames of the prisoners who were not re- leased by the King of France in 1713 and 1714, but who remained under sentence. The list also contains the names of the vessels upon which they were serving. The publication-to åll appearances at the time of the release of their fortunate fellows-of the names of the men and the ships, is remarkable. Whether this was done by the friends of the Huguenots, or by their enemies, is a matter of con- jecture. From this it would appear that the names of these men, and the ships upon which they suffered, were known to the world, while the victims them- selves were enduring a living death.
The Church at Market Square.
We have a number of copies of this historical paper, (concluded in this Num- ber of Historical Notes, ) in pamphlet form, for sale at 25e cach.
Mr. John Birkinbine, Engineer-in-Chief of the construction of the buildings, and electrical, water and power plants, of the National Export Exposition, to be hell in Philadelphia, in September, October and November. of this year, announces that not one day of Sunday work was done in his department of the vast enterprise.
Mr. Moody is coming to Philadelphia to do evangelistie work. He is not a clergy- man. He has neither Rev. before his name nor D. D. after it ; but he has the grace of God in his heart.
. The lay teacher of the Gospel of Christ brings more sinners to repentance than the best preacher. Where is the parallel to Moody ?
The Philadelphia Reformed Con- gregation in 1734. BY HENRY S. DOTTERER.
[Read at the Commemoration by Philadelphia Classis of the 150th Anniversary of the Organiza - tion of the Reformed Church in the U'nited States, on Wednesday Evening, September 20, 1597.]
Now we must return from our wander- ings in these historie lands, and come back to our own city of Brotherly Love. Shall we take an American steamer at South- ampton, and swift as the wind skim the
.
YTRTH
89
66
HISTORICAL NOTES.
broad ocean, reaching home in six days ? Very pleasant would it be thus to make our homeward journey. But this is im- possible. We are, in imagination at least, in the distant past. It is, let us say, the year 1734. Steam is not as yet known as a motive power. We must make our way to Rotterdam, from which port commu- nication with Philadelphia is quite fre- quent, if not regular. There we go to the Haringvliet, a gracht or mooring, in which lie several vessels ready to sail as soon as Palatines in sufficient munnber present themselves as passengers. If Captain John Stedman is in port we shall secure passage with him, for we have heard that he carries a greater number of emigraris to Pennsylvania than any other ship- master. His business house is beside the Haringvliet. Let us hope that we have sufficient means to prepay our passage in full, with enough to spare to buy from the stewards such supplies as we shall need during the long, trying, dangerous voyage. Some of our fellow passengers, among the impoverished and down-trod- den Palatines, will, we may be sure, have insufficient means, and will have to re- deem themselves from indebtedness to the ship by selling themselves and their services upon arrival at Philadelphia to a farmer or other employer for a period of time varying with the sum of money due and the value of the emigrant's ser- vices. The passengers thus situated, our companions for the voyage, are known in Pennsylvania history as Redemptioners. No disgrace attaches to them ; they are as worthy as their richer fellows; they are the blameless victims of the desolating wars waged by France upon western Germany. In the New World they will work out their indebtedness, become owners of Jaud, supporters of churches, founders of estimable families, and help- ers in the building up of a noble com- mon wealth.
After many weary weeks we shall enter Delaware bay, and a few days later our vessel will ride at anchor before the young city of Philadelphia. And now, having landed, let us inquire for the Ro- formed Church here. We shall be told
that there is a congregation. One will say it is the Palatine Church, another will speak of it as the Calvinist. From this we shall gather that it is a congregation accepting the Heidelberg Catechism. We shall further learn that its pastor is John Philip Belum, who resides out in Whit- pain township ; that its services are hell alternately with the Lutherans, in an old frame building on Mulberry ( Arch ) street, near Fifth, adjoining the Friends' bury- ing ground. The history of that congre- gation, which is the same as that now worshiping within these walls, has been related here during the past three days. To what has been said I will but add a statement of the circumstances attending Mr. Boehm's assumption of the pastorate in 1734, which came to my notice in the Holland archives in January, 1896. On the 24th of April, 1734, the Philadelphia congregation, after a short and unhappy experience with Mr. Rieger as pastor, gave a formal call to Rev. Mr. Boehm, who preached to congregations in the vicinity of his home. He accepted the call and in November of the same year the frame building just mentioned was rented for use in common with the Luth- eran congregation. The call to Bolun was signed by forty-two members of the congregation, a large number for that. early date. But though numerous they were poor ; for it must be remembered that they had not been long enough in the province to accumulate any consider- able means. The names of these, our ancestors, were :
Bernhard Siemundt, Stephan Greitt,
-
John Jacob Orner.
Henrich Schasier,
Joh. Ulrich Gaull.
Daniel Steinmetz.
John Jorg Balz
Frantz Stlettell, freimult
Johannes Jork.
Hans Joerg Kremer,
Reichert Vetter.
Ulrich (Ellen.
Lorentz Kunts.
Johannes Scherer,
Andreas Klemmer,
Jacob Utter.
Joh. Jerg Senek
Abraham Kintzing
Rutolff Welllecken.
Wendel Brechbie!,
Joh Jacob Senze holtzer
Johann Michel Diel,
Johann Adam Klamaber,
Conrad Sattier.
Johann Michel Feder. Jacob Mueller,
Johann Casper Ulrich, Jacob Zetel
larenta Hartmann
Zneharias Schuckert,
Rudolf Messerschmidt.
Elias Strecker,
Johann Engelbert Jack.
Johannes Schmiet,
Valentine Beser.
JJoh. Niclas Ewly,
Gerhard Cafferoth, Fr. (frlend).
Jacob Walter,
Hans Joerg Strohhauer, Peter Heut *
Caspar Heyderich,
Hans Adam Ribertus
*For two Illegible letters.
1
67
HISTORICAL NOTES.
Holland and Pennsylvania. III.
THE TRANSMIGRATION FROM EUROPE TO AMERICA.
The time of the States (Legislature) of the Province of Holland was frequently taken up with matters pertaining to the passage through Holland of the emigrants eager to reach the Promised Land. Here follow a few examples :
1722. The pensionary informed the as- sembly that again a great number of fam- ilies from Germany had arrived in ves- sels for the purpose of being transported via England to the colonies of that king- dom, but that no preparation had been made for them ; that they had come with- out invitation, but that on the contrary the King of Great Britain had advised his ambassador to this country ( Holland) that an order had been issued to forbid their entrance to his colonies.
1734, Dec. 11. In the meeting of the noble and mighty Lords on the 11th of December, 1734, it was stated to the as- sembly that from time to time large num- bers of persons from the Palatinate and other parts of Germany have come to the Netherland provinces with the intention of sailing by way of England to the American colonies of Great Britain ; that at this time divers persons from the can- ton of Zurich, having this purpose, have come here, who having been robbed by wicked persons in Germany of the little they had when they left home, have in consequence asked for assistance in Rot- terdam and elsewhere, and that in the towns and places along the Maas fear is entertained that these people, after spend- ing what they may have brought with them, may remain hi great part and be- come a charge upon the communities. The resolution of June 12, 1722, for the prevention of the inconveniences from the influx of large number of these peo- ple, was renewed.
1735, April 20. The deputies from Gel- derland to the States-general made a proposition concerning the provision made in that province against the late influx of
emigrants intending to sail to England, and thence to America.
April 20, 1735. Archibald and Isaac Hope, merchants of Rotterdam, repre- sented that they had advice from their London correspondents that 300 to 400 persons from Switzerland desired to pass through this country on their way to the English colonies, for whose free passage they requested permission ; that the peti- tioners will undertake to care for these emigrants while in this country, and that petitioners have two ships lying at the bounds of the city of Rotterdam, ready to sail with the least delay. The same day, the same firm, Messrs Archibald and Isaac Hope, made similar representations to the Their High Mightinesses the States General : They stated that the emigrants were described as well-to-do persons from Switzerland, that information had come from the upper Rhine that they have ap- proached the frontiers of this State, where they have been detained by the officers of Their High Mightinesses with express orders to permit none to travel through the Province of Holland ; that they im- agined the orders for this detention arose from the frequent coming from Germany of indigent persons ; that the petitioners venture to take the liberty of inform Their High Mightinesses that these three or four Iumdred persons from Switzerland are not composed of this undesirable class, but on the contrary they are not needy. The merchants asked permission to bring these emigrants over the soil of the State, and transport them to the English colon- ies, promising to give proper attention to them npon arrival, and agreeing to give a special obligation of their persons and property that the emigrants shall depart without expense or injury to the State. Their Iligh Mightinesses granted this re- quest, and directed the deputies from the city of Rotterdam to communicate this action to their principals.
April 20, 1735, the prime minister com- municated to the States-General the decla- ration of Willem van Walsem, Rhine ship captain, trading between Cologne and Rotterdam, that he came from Cologne with his vessel, a dugout, flat-bottomed
68
HISTORICAL NOTES.
boat, having aboard forty-five families the words on a few of them and enclose from the duchy of Zweibrnecken, who them. The descendants of these carly worshippers have long since forgotten their ancestral language, and there is not one to-day who could read these not yet old epitaphs."
intended to travel across this country to go to the English colonies in America, but that at Schenkenhaus he was hinder- ed from passing, and that the skipper re- quested permission to come to Rotterdam with these passengers. This request was granted.
May 13, 1738, was the presented a peti- tion from the sheriff and court of Kralin- gen, a suburb of Rotterdam, concerning a party of two hundred persons who ar- rived on their way to Pennsylvania. [Re- queste van Schout en Geregte van Cralın- gen weegens een troup van twee honderd Persoonen aldaar aangekoomen, om na Pensilvanien over te gaan. ]
One of the principal shipmasters of this period was John Stedman. In the pro- ceedings of the States General permission was granted to him to transport emigrants to Pennsylvania amounting to thousands, viz : August 13, 1739, request for permis- sion to bring 1000 emigrants from the upper Rhine across Holland for shipment to the English colonies ; February 14, 1747, consent was given under a resolu- tion of February 25, 1745, to his request to bring 2000 German emigrants, in par- ties of 40, 50, 60 and more, from the up- per Rhine across Holland for transporta- tion to the English colonies ; March 11, 1749, for 3000; July 4, 1749, for 3000 ; April 30, 1750, for 3000; April 7, 1751, for 3000; February 2, 1752, for 3000.
The Hopes, Ward Stanton, John Dun- lop & Co., Daniel Havart, Pierre Benezet and Daniel Cromwell, were also consider- able carriers.
Frankford Reformed Churchyard.
A friend at Frankford, Mr. George W. Geist, who is a member of the Presby- terian congregation which succeeded the Reformed, as shown in a recent number, kindly sends us copies of inscriptions on the headstones which mark the graves of several of the members of the original congregation there. Mr. Geist says : There are a half a dozen or so old grave- stones in the graveyard. I have copied
Hier Ruhet in Gott Jacob Neff, Ist. Gestorben den Sten September 1793, Seines Alters 67 jahr und 6 monat.
Hier Ruhet in Gott Maria Ax Gewesene Ehefrau des Conrad .Ix
Hier Rnhet in Gott Selig Entschlafen Die Gebeine Des Philip. Folckroth Er War Gebohren im Jahr 1717 den 16 October Und Vollendet Dieses Leben Den 27 Augustus Anno 1785 Seines Alders 67 Jahr 8 Monat Und 2 Wochen.
Dieser Leib Liegt Hier in Ruh In Der Erden Kanner Seine Sele Ist in Got Frey von Allem Iammer.
Reformed Church Literature.
In Pennsylvanische Staatshote, Novem- ber 8, 1774, appeared this advertisement : Es ist in der Press, und wird chestens her- aus kommen, mer den Verfasser : Kurzgefasste Pruefungen der Lehre von dem Ewigen Evangelium. AAuf Be- gehren vieler Freunde zu Druck Wxhver- dert von N. Pomp, V. D. M.
A copy of Pastor Pomp's book is own- ed by the German Society of Philadel- phia. It is described by Professor Os wald Seidensticker, in The First Century of German Printing in America, as a dio- decimo, having as preface 16 pages and text 200 pages. It was written to reinte P. Siegvolek's arguments for universal salvation. The full title of the volume is : Kurzgefasste Pruefungen der Ichn. des Ewigen Evangeliums: Womit dentlich gozeiget wird, dass man die Wiederbrin- gung aller Dinge in der Heiligen Schrift vergeblich suchet.
69
HISTORICAL NOTES.
The Church at Market Square. BY HENRY S. DOTTERER. [Concluded.]
Now the unthinking people allowed themselves to be led captive by Bech- tel. He promised in future to teach faithfully the Reformed doctrines by conforming to the Heidelberg catechism in every respect. With this under- standing they engaged him on the 27th of January, 1743, to be their minister for the term of one year, making a written contract. But scarce- ly a week elapsed before he requested the four chosen wardens of the con- gregation to subscribe to a letter omitting the 80th and the 114th ques- tions* from the Heidelberg Catechism. Asked why ? he replied: The 80th question is not needed in this country, and the 114th (said he) was not true, because those who had become converted to God cease to commit sins, and can not only keep the commandments of God, but that it was very easy for them to do so. Whereupon the greater part of the congrega- tion became dissatisfied; but as they had made a written agreement they had to submit until the expiration of the year. In the course of the year a gallery was built in the church, and an organ was purchased for sixty pounds and placed in the gallery. At the end of the year which the con- traet covered, on the 27th of January, 1744, the membership again became masters and Bechtel was discharged, and he left the church; but for the expense of building the gallery and for the cost of the organ they are responsible, and the sums paid on account or contributed for the pur- pose they must restore. How this can be done I cannot figure out.
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