USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 123
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In April a number of refugers arrived from Donegal, the Indians having again threatened hostilities.
April 20. The saw-mill on Lititz Creek went into operation and worked well.
April 27. Frederick Weiser and family arrived as refugees from Tulpe- hocken.
June 7. The corner-stone of the Single Sisters' House was laid by Bishop Spangenberg.
In August and the following months an epidemic fever and dysentery prevailed. Ton persons died.
Oct. 15. The class of the single Brethren was organized with six mem- bris. They ocenpied the house east of the village which had been used by the mill workmen.
Nov. 5. The child, John Baumgartner, the first child born in Lititz (September 26), died, and was the first one to he interred in the new graveyard, which was laid out on the hill to the sunth of the present church. The congregation assembled before the Pagerhuns, where Bishop Hehl made an address, and then went in processton to the place of burial. After the Litany had been prayed he fell on his knees, und in a solenin prayer dedicated the new cemetery.+
3 In the church settlements, such as Lititz was, the membership wae divided into classes (in German " choirs"), according tosex and condition in life ;- the children, the older boys and girls, the numarried mien and women, the married people, widows und widowers. For each class fre- quent special services were held in order that it might keep in mind the special privileges and duties which belonged to it, and for the fur- therance of spiritual fellowship among the members and a close over- sight over them one of the unnisters was assigned as its Pfleger or pas- tor. The uumarried men had their own Pfleger, who lived in the house, as did also the unmarried women one of their own sex. In the cuse of both the latter no vows were taken, as is popularly supposed, and no obligation in the least resembling this was assumed. The whole plan proceeded from the idea which from the very beginning characterized the ently Moravian Brethren of the imjan tance of the individual sonl and the need of close spiritual sympathy in a fiving church of Christ,- two principles which have not lost and never can lose their importance and appleation. At first these class divisions prevailed also in the country congregations, and they were each, even in the case of the children, frequently visited by various Pflegers at Lititz. Here the sys- tem remained in operation until the beginning of the present century, in the case of the unmarried Brethren ; in the case of the Sisters until the year 1840. In a very much modified form the arrangement still subsists.
In the Brethren's House varions mechanical occupations were pur- sued. The inmates bad n common table and slept together in a laige dormitory, as was the caso also in the Sisters' House. The older huys and girls of the village had a room in the respective houses for their special use, and were under the care of the Pflegers. In the evening Si hool was kept for them, and religious instruction was also imparted. These houses for the Brethren and Sisters afforiled a safe and comfort- ublo home for the mumates at almost nominal rents, afforded a means of livelihood for them, und wore a sufeguard and help spiritually and morally. By and by the necessary restraints became distasteful, and the Bystetn wus abolished.
+ Intorments after this date were made indifferently, apparently nc- cording to individual preferences, etther in the graveyard at St. James' Chutch or in the new one, until the year 1779, when the terms " the graveyard for uutsjde Brethren" and " the Warwick graveyard," came into uso, nud residents of latitz propor were buned nitogether in the new graveyard. In the first years the funeral invariably took place the day after the death. "The ohl graveyard is still preserved and kept under fence, but is other wise in a much neglected condition. Many at the fiist sottlets of Lititz und several of its mynisters nte buried herr. Iu the new graveyard the same thvisions were made as in the old one, in- ter ments being according to "classes." The first two grave-diggers were the Brethren Heil and Baumgartner.
1084
HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
Nov. 10. Baumgartners occupied their new house.
Nov. 11. The statutes for the government of the community were pub- Jicty read.
By the end of this year the Sisters' Hunge was furnished as far as the third story, and Cassler's house was almost ready to be occupied.
1739, April 14. Easter, Emily in the morning a htuigy was held, first in the graveyard at St James' Church, and immediately after wards In that at Lititz.
May 4 Lewis Cussler and family, from Philadelphia, occupied his new house.
Muy 14 Bishop Spangenberg announced that hereafter the two con- gregations of Lititz and Warwick wrie to be united into one.
July 4. The corner-stone of the Single Brethren's House was laid by Rev. Gottlieb Petzoll, the architect and superintendent, after an address by Bishop Bophler.
Aug. 6. The Brethren from Heidelberg brought two thousand shingles for the Lititz choir hutter.
Aug. 7. The residents in Lititz subscribed the statutes and their lenses and bonds.
Aug. 22. The rafters of the Sisters' House roof were raised All the Warwick Brethren who were not stk (an epidemic fever was prevailing) assisted.
Ang. 23 Dr. Selunidt, from Bethlehem, arrived to look after the sick. Nov. 14. Brother Golkowsky arrived from Bethlehem to revise ail renew the lines of the Lititz land, and to lay ont the out-lots. (The draught of the land and town made by him is still in existence ) .
Dee. 24 The children had their first Christer is-eve service.1
1760, Oct. 16. Brother Haller moved into the new farm-honse and across the creek, and the house at the spring vacated by him was oucu- pied by Dr. Frederick Otto, the fist physician of Lititz.
Dec. 23. Melchior Conrad, entponter and wagoner, accepted a call to the mission on the island of St. Thomas.
1761, Feb. 25. The new road from Reading to Anderson's Ferry ou the Susquehauna, which passes through Lititz, was laid out.
May 3. Mention is made of Mr. Bullit's clerk, the tailor.
Muy 21-24 A Provincial Synod was held on the second story of the Brethren's House, the first use to which it was put, although not in a finished condition, only the flour being lund.
June 20, The single Brethren removed from their temporary quarters ubove mentioned into the new house, one of them bwing David Zeis- berger, after wards the famous missionary among the Indians.
Nov. 19. The new organ arrived from Bethlehem. (It had been bought with the voluntary contributions of the members for forty pounds.) Brother David Tauneberger put it up in the meeting-hall on the first floor of the Sisters' House, which was used for the general meetings of the congregation for atthe time ( until September, 1763). The organ was used for the first time on December 1, the organist being Brother Jolin Thomas.
Der. 5. The Brethren's House was consecrated 2
Dec. 8. A " Committee lor Temporal Affairs, or a " Committee of Ar- bitrators," as it was also culled, was appointed, consisting of nine mem- burs.
Dec. 15. Bishop Hehl moved out of the Pigerhuns and occupied rooms on the first floor of the Sisters' House, and Sister Hannah Sperback, the superintendent of the class, unoved into a room on the second floor.
1762, Jun. 8. First comuunion in the chapel of the Sisters' House. The surplice used for the first time.
Feb. 2. Brother Horn received his license from the court as innkeeper. The inn was kept at first in the Klines' stone house (the Payer hans).
March 29. John George und Christina Margaret Kiesel celebrated their goblen wedding-dny.
Muy 14. Seveu single Sisters arrived from Bethlehem, but one re- turned inimmediately.
March 17. The corner-stone for the Gemeinhaus (the present pursumage) was laid by Bishop Hehl, assisted by Bishops Boehler and Spangenberg. The document placed into the stone makes amention of the Sules Episco- puls Ignatiana, and is dated " the second year of the reign of the most glorious George III. of Great Birtam, and the three hundred und sixth year after the bunhling of the Ancient Brethren's settlement of Lititz, in Bohemia."
June 26. Dr. Otto ocenpied the apothecary's huttse, the building of
1 The custom of presenting each child with a lighted wax-taper was introduced la 1765.
" In 1763, twenty-two single Brethren, six youths, and six boys were inviates of the house.
which was commenced by Brother Neibert, but finished by the Economy (the church authorities).
Oct. 14. The root of the Gemeinhuus was raised.
1563, Ang. 9. The day of thanksgiving appointed by the civil author- ities, in Mew of the conclusion of peace (with France), was duly ob- served, many of our neighbors being present. .
Aug. 22. Bishop fehl ocemjaed the Gemeinhans, and on the 24th his assistant, Rev. John C. Kranke, also moved into it. 1 The latter also acted as physician, Dr. Otto having returned to Bethlehem,
Sept. 16 The first meeting was heldl in the Gemeinhans, and the organ was removed to it from the Sisters' House, On the Isth the house was consecrated, three hundred persons being present.
Sept. 26-30, Raising of the roof of the new inn (a log house, on the present site).
Ort. 30. The mulatto-girl Margaret+ entered service with Brother llorn's family, at the iun.
Dh c. 15. Received the terrible news of the massacro of the Mauorland Indians by white men, first at theit settlement, eight miles from Lan- caster, and then in the work-house at Lancaster.
1764, Jan. 3. Brother John Thomas received permission to commence a bakery.
Jun. 4. At the day of appeal at Lancaster we presented a memorial against our excessive taxation. In consequence two-thirds of it were remitted, and the whole ot Lititz is hereafter to be taxed as one family.
Feb. 2. Received the news of the dangers threatening our Indians in the Imriacks at Philadelphia at the hands of the Paxton Boys.
April 6. Andrew loin and John klein went to Philadelphia to be nat- uralized.
April 12. Our new (recast) bells was hung on a scaffold before the Brethren's House.
May 24 Two families arrived here from lebron with all their effects, the Indians having made an attack only mix miles from Bethel, muur- dered thiee persous, and carneil off two boys.
May 25. Brother loin moved out of the stone house, where the inn had been temporarily located, to the new inn, Zum Auker (Anchor Inn), 6 out on the Lancaster road (the present site).
July 15. Regular Suntlay collections were instituted, the boxes beiug placed at the doors ut the chapel.
Brother Westhoefer was made Fremdendiener (his office being to con- duet visitors about the place).
Sept. 1. Christmau Fenstermacher arrived from Philadelphia in order to open a store.
Srpt. 21. John Brown, from Philadelphia, became assistant to Brother Horn at the inn.
Nov. 24 David Zelsberger gave an account of the massacre of the Indians ou the Mahony, of which he had been a witness.
1765, Jun A boys' and guls' school; were commenced.
Feb. 21. The Brethren Grosch and Thomas were appointed fire in- spectors.s
" For several years three ministerial families occupied this house and had a common housekeeping.
4 She was after wards received into the church.
" We find no previous mention of a bell
6 In Scribner's Magasme for January, 1890, in a paper based upon the diary of the Hon. William Ellery of his Journey, in the year 1777, on horseback from Inghiton, Muss., to York, where Congress was then iu session, Mr. Ellery being a member, the diary has this notice of Lititz :
" Nov 14 Crossed the Schuylkill, dined at Shiller's, news the town of Ephrata, al. die. [alir dicunt alias] Dnukard's Town, and lodged at Ledita, a little Moravian settlement, where we lodged in clover.
" We lodged in cabins [no doubt the old-fashioned German . bux-beds'] about three feet wide. A straw bed was at the bottom, a feather bed on that, sheets, a thin soft feather bed supplied the place of blankets, and a neat calico coverlid covered all ; and our lodging room was kept warm during the night by a neat earthen stove, which in form resembled a case of drawers. "
: This appeals to have been in addition to the school in the ohl War- wick Gene inhaus, which was probably now intended only for children from the neighborhood. In May, 1769, the corner-stone of a separate school for girls was land, which was ovenpied in November of this year. Before this the girls had had school in the Sisters' House.
d In April, 1790, a subscription paper was circulsted, at the instance of the church authorities, in which the necessity of having a fire-engine was stated, and donations were sobrested. The cost was estimated at from seventy to eighty pounds. It was to be procured from Brother
1085
WARWICK TOWNSHIP.
March 22, 23. Snow fell without interruption, so that it was impossi- ble to get from one house to another, and only one service could be hell on the latter day (Sunday towards evening.
Marek 28. The ground was staked off for out wool-carding null1 on the creek. (Work was commenced immediately. In June the mill was put into operation )
April 7. The Easter sermon was preached in St. James' Church.
June 4. Brother Grosch was appointed steward for the Sisters' House.
June 27. There was so hard a frost that guiden vegetaldes and fruit were much daumged.
June 30. The subscription towards paying the debts of the Unity was opened. There seems also to have been some difficulty in making up the expenses of the church here ..
July 3. The rye butvest commenced, and the single Sisters were busy cutting it (with sickles).
S. pt. 3. Various gentlemen were here, among the rest Col. Clayton, who bad had rauch to do with our Indian affairs, and found much to talk about with Brother Gruber (who had been a missionary among the Indiaus)
1766, Oct. 1. Several of our Brethren went to Lancaster to the election, which, thank God ! turned out peaceably.
Oct. 14. A large bear was seen in the evening in the yard of the Brethren's House. It was followed, Imt not caught.
Nov. 11. On this day town lots were to be sold on Jacob Huber's land, immediately adjoining ours, but the project came to nunght.
Dec. 25. An unusual crowd of persons was present at the Christtuas sermon, mostly young people.
1767, Feb. 2. The wish was expressed by the conference that our peu- ple might be more attentive to strangers present at our services, and in general to our neighborhood.
May 21. Ou a pastoral visit in the country, Brother Grube lost his way neur Manbeim, and came upon an old Halian woman (her husband was absent), who was happy as a child that Brother Grube could sprak the Delaware language, n little of which she mudeistood. Tins pair are reumants of the Cottestoga Indians
Od. 16. Brother Payne, from Bethlehem, moved into the Fenster- macher house and took charge of the store, which is henceforth to be the property of the church.
1768, Oct. 2. Brother Francke went to Lancaster to get the loan of household utensils and furniture for use during the approaching Synod.
Nov. 17. Various musicians from Lancaster came to inspect Brother David Tannelonger's" new organ (built for a church in Maxatany).
1769, Merck. A smallpox epidemic broke out, prevailing mostly among the children, so that the girls' school was closed for several months.
In April. Brother Sproge mide under the steps at the Gemeinhaus, by which the mnle portion of the cubigregation entered, a vault for the le- ception of dead bodies until the funeral. (This vault still remains under the present parsounge.) The builder's body was the first to be deposited in this " corpse chapel," as it was called, in the next month, (Such an arrangement was probably occasioned by the smallness of the houses or their crowded condition in many instances.) When the present cor pse- house was built could not be Jenined.
Wabl, in Neuwied, a famous maker. It was, however, nudle by Brother Schniz, of the same place, was finished in August, 1792, at a cost of three hundred and forty-five florins. The hose cost seventy Botins, and packed in the same box, in a wax-cloth bag, were half a dozen silk neckerchiefs, which cost sixteen florins. The engine was shipped, " by the grace of God," as the bill of lading reads, in September, reached New York in January, 1793, Philadelphia in February, the whole freight amounting to £10 19s. 91 ud. It needed extensive repars already in 1795. It is still in existence.
1 In 1771 the St. James' Church, a log structure, being unused and ont of repair, was removed to the carding-mill, to serve as a house for the millet. A portion of the mill is still standing.
" Tanneberget was a skillful organ-builder, and bud quite au extended reputation as such. Besties Vutrods places mu Pennsylvania, we find from a loose memorandum his organs were sent to Baltimore, Madison, Va., Salem, N. C. He also made planos, the cost of one being £22 10s. le built the organ for the new church, which was built in 1786. This organ was used until 1880; its,cost was three hundred and fifty pounds (about one thousand dollars). Tanneberger was the designer of the next steeple of the present church.
1770, Sept. 28. A church council resolved that each bonseholder should lay a pavement of some kind before his house 8
Der 3. The printing+ of a gation of the smaller hymn-book for the use of the children was ordered at Ephinta.
The en Brother Bill Homy (justice of the prace) spont the day here, und attended to the aleuturing of six boys as apprentices.
1773, July 1. The church council resolved that it should not be per- untted to our young people to wander around on the farms in finit- time, as they are in the habit of doing, often without any companions or older persons; and that dining harvest no improper conduct shall be allowed.
1774, January. As there had been trouble in meeting the interest on the loan made for building the Gemeinhuns, the pastors had a consultu- tion with ten of the laymen on the sutgect, who expressed their withng- ness to attend to this matter, in conjunction with the other Brethren.
Mur. k. A quantity of yarn and wash, which had been left to dry over night in the yard of the Sisters' House, was stolen, and It was recom- mended that a watch be kept on suspicions persons who are passing to and fio.
.April. Sister Polly Pemy went to Lancaster to learn the art of making some new kind of embroidery.
A meeting of the Brethren was held to consider the question whether anything could be done to prevent the running at large in the streets of cows
Mr. Rebsdouff, formerly Governor of the Island of St. Croix, and Capt. Barge, arrived bere ou their way from Chartertown, via Salem, N. C., to Philadelphia. They were well acquainted with our missionaries on that island, and spoke of them in high terms.
May 3, 4. From six to eight inches of show fell, followed by severe frosts during the next two nights. Much damage was done to finit- trees, and grain and grass.
July 7. A public advertisement having summoned all the freeholders of this county to meet at Lancaster on the ninth for an election of a com- mittee and deputies to Congress, in Philadelphia, a meeting was held with all our freeholders to consult what should be out position in the serious conjuncture which has misen between the colonies of the mother country. The conclusion reached was that Brother Horn should be our representative; that we would seek to be quiet and not permit party- spirit to come up among us, and that we will answer those who wish to know our ferlings that we desire prace to be maintained. (The Brethren, like their neighbors, the Donkards and Mennonite-, were non-jurors aud non-combatants, and had been recognized as buch by the British Pai- liament.)
July 20. A printed notice was received that at the meeting of the free- holders in Lancaster it had been resolved, in order to assist the army jo Boston, that a collection should be taken up in this county in order to purchase supplies for at, and that a collector would shortly arrive to re- ceive our contributions. After a good deal of discussion in the council it was determined that each Brother should give or not give as he felt dis- posed, or lind the means, and that no Brother should enter into any argu- meot with the collector concerning Ins giving or not giving, for we will not make cause with either party.
Dec. 26. To-day the vigan, lately built by Brother Tanneberger (it has twenty registers) for the Lutheran Church at Lancaster, was con- serrated. Dr. Adam Kubn was here several days ago to ask that our trombone players' might assist on this occasion. Accordingly five Brethren with trombones and hautboys started early in the morning and took part in the tunes at two preaching services.
3 Several of these still remain, if their present broken and uneven state 18 to be taken as an indication of their antiquity. For the rest the sidewalks of the village are very creditable to its people, there bring no compulsion in regard to making them, as it is still unincorporated.
4 Almost every trade except printing was carried on in the village or the Brethren's House. Thete was a smith, tailor, baker, nailmaker, tan- ner, mason, tilemaker, tinsmith, saddler, linen and woul weaver, lock- smith, bouk-binder, potter, shoemaker, carpenter, wheelwright. In the Sisters' house stockings were woven and linen cloth was made, besides uvedlework of various kinds and confectionery
· The first mention of church insteins ocenrs in 176; In 1766 the rendering of a chon-piece is mentioned. Brother Grube, one of the pastors, was director of the choir and orchestra, In 1768 a formal of- gabization took jauce, and a collection was taken thereafter regularly for the purchase of instruments and outsic. In 1775 a new set of trom- bones was received from Europe. The cost was 67 17s Gd, which Was covered by a voluntary subscription.
1086
HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
1775, Feb. 27. In a council attention was drawn to the measure adopted by Congress regarding the use of ten, which is now strictly enforced throughout the land. It was resolved that the sale of tea in om slore shall cease.
June 2. Bishop Seidel wrote from Bethlehem that in the present seri- ous times it became us to be quiet and inactive, but that because of our conscientious convictions reguiding going to war and bearing atmy a declaration had been presented to Congress through Mr Franklin, which had been favorably received.
June 11. The two township committeemen have appointed a meeting at the inn and have asked for the appointment of six advisory member's, the purpose being to promote peace, quiet, and equality among the inhabitants of the township, and to prevent and put down any disturb- ances of thepeace which may oceur or be threatened, Brother Horn was chosen as one of the members. It was understood that those who would personally have nothing to do with the war would pledge theni- selves to assist in gifts of money for the necessary expenses of the country.
July 29. Congress and the Assembly living ordered that non-associa- tors, i.e , those who refuse to bear arms, shall contributo in money to the expenses of the country, the Brethren David Tanneberger, of Lititz, and Christopher Frey, from the country members, were appointed col- lectors.
Aug. 2. The militia company of the township bad this time chosen Lititz as the place to drill, which they did on the Lancaster road near the inn. Everything pissed off in good order.
Oct. 14. The township company, after their drill, made such a disturb- ance that further drills here were forbidden.
1776. The diary, without going into particulars, mentions that a spirit of seducement to evil found entrance into the church, was discovered, and re- moved. It was, no doubt, occasioned by the political excitement of the times. Mention is also made of . nemine contradicente, for a release from the abjuration the rise in prices and the scarcity of many necessaries of life. During this and the following year the mem- bership decreased by fifty-five. Of the events of the year 1777 the diary communicates nothing except the regular church events,
1778. From December 19th of the previous year until August 28th of this year, a hospital for about two hundred sick and wounded American soldiers was established in the Brethren's House, which had to be vacated for the purpose, and various officers and doctors were quartered in houses' in the village. The Brethren and older boys meanwhile took up their abiding-place in the school-house and the store. The
and were directed to consult Dr. Shippen, the gen- eral director of the hospitals, who was at that time in Manheim. A written memorial from here was ad- dressed, to him, to which he replied in very friendly terms, saying that he would spare us as much as por- sible, and that he saw no prospeet at present of any such step becoming necessary. In any case he would first consult with us. Soon after a new source of anxiety revealed itself in the Test Act, which had been passed by Congress the year before, and the conditions of which had now been made very much more severe. It required the abjuring of the king, his heirs and successors, and an oath of allegiance to the new government, under penalty of imprison- ment, confiscation of property, and banishment. In Northampton County the act was carried into exe- cution, and twelve of our Brethren were arrested and thrown into prison, as were also two from Lebanon. Through the intercession of Brother Schweinitz, from Bethlehem, with the Council at Lancaster their release was effected. Place is found in these anxious moments to record the procuring of a spinning-machine by the single Sisters, with which one person can spin twenty- four threads of wool at one time, and which was of excellent service. In May, Bishop Ettwein took a petition, which was accepted by all our members,
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