USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 8
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 8
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LANCASTER COUNTY.
them, when they found they could no longer support them against the force which the English brought upon them in these parts .*
CHAPTER III.
Augmentation of settlements-Germans and English settle around the Swiss or Palatines-Settlements in different parts of the county-Names of persons naturalized-Notice of Slaymakers-Conestoga Manor sur- veyed-Names of first purchasers-Graff Thal settled-Lancaster and vicinity settled-Squatters on the west side of Susquehanna-Indians at Conestoga address a letter to Logan-Colonel French goes to Conestoga ; holds a treaty with the Indians-Logan meets the Indians on the Susque- hanna-Samuel Robins sent to Virginia.
SETTLEMENTS had now been fairly made amidst the Indians; the hardships that presented themselves in the incipient stage of settling, began to vanish, and almost every discouraging obstacle was surmounted. "Their success, the glowing, yet by no means exaggerated accounts given by them, of the scenery of the country, the fertility of the soil they cultivated, the abundance of game with which the forest teemed, the quantity and delicacy of the fish which the rivers yielded; but above all, the kind and amicable relationship they cultivated and maintained with their Indian neighbors, all conspired to make them the objects of attention, and afterwards one of the prominent points whither emigration tended in an increasing and continued stream."t The perse- cuted of every land, and of different tongues, settled around them, in various directions of the county.
In 1713, Christopher Schlegel, late of Saxony, took up with a view to settle, though he afterwards trans-
*Col. Rec. III. 77. +Geo. Ford's, MSS.
ยท
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ferred his interest in his tract of one thousand acres, to others ;- this land is on a stream flowing into the Cones- toga, "not far from land granted to the Palatines." It was afterwards the place where the Cartliges, Indian agents, resided. Another person, Benedictus Venerick, late of Germany, took up two hundred acres, near the Palatines, in 1715 .* Between the Pequea and Cones- toga creeks, near the Susquehanna, Richard Carter, an Englishman, a wheel-right, located and improved two hundred acres, in 1716. The same year, Alexander Bews, took up four hundred acres on the south side of the Conestoga; Anthony Pretter, of East Jersey, three hundred acres, near Pequea, or south side of Conestoga; and John Gardiner, Jr., from Philadelphia county, two hundred acres, on the same side of Conestoga. About this time, Jacob Greider, or Kreider,t Jacob Hostater,
*In and about Smoketown, in 1715, Peter Bellas, Daniel Harman, William Evans, James Smith, settled.
tThe relentless spirit of persecution, as the number of its subjects of oppression decreased, singled out individual fami- lies ; of these oppressed, were the Kreiders and Hostaters- these fled for life from Switzerland to Wurtemburg; taking nothing with them from their Fatherland, except their families, and small quantities of tow cloth, a few linens, and some wearing apparel. Kreider remained but a short time-but emigrated to America, and in company with Hostater, after paying the brethren of their faith, a visit, at Pequea, settled on the north side of the Conestoga, about two miles south from the present site of Lancaster, where he took up eight hundred acres of land in 1716 or 1717, "among the new surveys at Conestoga."
Here, he erected a temporary shelter, a tent covered with tow cloth brought from Switzerland, which served him and his family till autumn, when the tent gave way to a cabin built of round, unhewn hickory saplings, and covered with bark- both were abundant.
When the weather became cold, his tawny neighbors, the
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Hans Frantz, Schenk, and others, settled on the banks of Conestoga; Joseph Cloud, in 1717, took up 500 acres near Pequea creek. The same year, settlements were began on the banks of Octoraro, William Grimson, constable of Sadsbury township, in 1717, was among the first settlers on the Octoraro; his neighbors were the Cooksons, Mayes, Jervis, Irwins, and some years after- wards, the Pattersons, Darbys,. Mackrels, Leonards, Jones, Steels, Matthews, Cowens, Murrays, Millers, Allisons, Mitchels, and others, all of whom settled on or near Octoraro.
The Swiss settlement received an augmentation in 1715-16 and 17; besides those already named, were Hans Mayer, Hans Kaigy, Christian Hearsey, Hans
Indians, paid him regular night visits to shelter with him, and sleep by the side of a genial fire. They were on perfect terms of intimacy and friendship; the Indians frequently supplied him and family with fish and venison, which they gave in ex- change for bread. Fish were very abundant in the Conestoga and all the streams of the country; these. they took with nets made of bark, or speared them with a gig made of Ashwood .- The inventive genius of the Indian is known to all who have spent some time among them, or are conversant with their mechanism. Perhaps the reader may wish to know how to make a fish-gig, if he should ever be placed in the Indians' situation, we will tell, as we were told, how the Hickory Indians, on Conestoga, made theirs. Christian Kreider, grand- son of the first settler, says, "The Indians took a very slender sapling of Ashwood,-this kind of wood was preferred on account of its hardness : and burned it to a point at one end ;" this, says the reader, is simple. So it is, just as easy to be done as setting up an egg on the point end, or the discovery of America, after it is known. The reader, especially our young friends, would, we think, be pleased to know how the fish were secured with a barbless, pointed stick. The Indian is never at a loss to take a fish, if he has no net, he takes either his bow and arrow or his spear, such an one one as has just
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HISTORY OF
Graaf, (who afterwards settled Graaf's Thal) Hans Pu- pather, Michael Shank, Henry Pare, Peter Leman, Melchior Breneman, Benedictus Witmer, Henry Funk, Jacob Landis, Ulrich Houry, Hans Faber, Isaac Coff- man, Melchior Erisman, Michael Miller, Jacob Kreutzer, Jacob Boehm, Theodorus Eby, Michael Donegar, and others. .
Down the Conestoga, towards Susquehanna, settle- ments were made between 1716 and 1719-among those who took up lands and settled thereon, were David Jones, Edmund Cartlidge and John Cartlidge. Edmund Cartlidge resided in Darby township, Chester county, as early as 1698, and in 1711, in Philadelphia county,*
been described, and his tiny, barky boat; he glides to a place where, as every skilled piscator knows, fish are; here, through the calm and transparent water he strikes the spear through the body of the fish, passes one hand below, and takes a huge salmon or some other fish.
Qn a certain occasion, as Kreider had the honor of the com- pany of his Indian neighbors, and having that day consulted his almanack to regulate his clock, by its indication of rising and setting of the sun, noticed the moon would, in afew weeks, be eclipsed ; he informed the guests that on a certain evening, a few weeks from that time, the moon would hide her face, just as the clock would strike -; to hear, that the moon would refuse to shine, was nothing new to them, they had seen eclipses before ; but that their white neighbor should possess so much prescience as to know this before hand, was strange to them. At the time specified when the broad-faced moon was to hide her disc, fifty or sixty Indians assembled ; they were all attention ; scarce had the clock struck, to their utter astonish- ment, the moon's face began to lessen. Profound silence pre- vailed. Their spokesman expressed the cogitations of the wonder-stricken visitors, uttered it as their sage conclusion, in these words: 'Tis the white man's God tells him this, else he would not know it before hand."
* Public Rec. West Chester, Vol. A. p. 291.
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John, his brother, for many years an Indian agent, was at one time held in high estimation by the proprietary's agents; but like many others, the day of trouble came upon him "and he was not remembered."* A warrant ' for land' was issued, dated "October 1st, 1718, for him to take up on the north side of Conestoga creek at some convenient place, three hundred acres, and to make. an addition thereunto of two hundred acres, to be by him enclosed and held for the conveniency of pasturage for the term of fourteen years, in consideration of his services among the new settlers."
It was at the house of this gentleman a number of councils were held with the Indians. We have been in the house, built in 1719, in which the councils were held. It is now owned by Benjamin Wright, of Manor township. 4
It appears from the Public Records at West Chester, that John Cartlidge sold liquor by the small, prior to 1718, among the neighbors on the banks of the Cones- toga. It was so reported by his vigilant " fellow inhabi- tant," to the court. Christian and Joseph Stoneman, Sigismund Landart, all late of Germany, took up lands on the Conestoga, prior to 1719, and Francis Neiff on the west branch of Little Conestoga, prior to 1715.
The following persons located lands in 1719: Jenkin Davis, late of Wales, near or on the branch of Cones- toga creek, George Steward, near the Susquehanna, James Le Tort, on or near Susquehanna, where he had his station as Indian trader, and received a warrant for one hundred acres. Le Tort, Bizaillon and Chartier, had resided some years previous to the commencement of Swiss settlements among the Indians; Chartier was
*John Cartlidge was one of His Majesty's Justice of Peace, appointed in 1718, July 4th .- Col. Rec. III. 40.
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among them before 1704,* and in 1717, upon his request, he received a warrant for three hundred acres, where he "had seated himself on the Susquehanna river, above Conestoga creek, including within the survey the im- provement then made by him, for which he agreed, on behalf of his son Peter Chartier, in whose name he desired the survey to be made, to pay for the same. -
In 1714, Peter Bizaillon, who had license to trade, prior to 1703,t received a warrant from the commis- sioners of property : " We do hereby authorize and allow, Peter Bezaillon, Indian trader, to seat himself at Pash- tang, or any other Indian town or place on Susqua- hannah, in this province, and to erect such buildings as are necessary for his trade, and to enclose and improve such quantities of land as he shall think fit, for the accommodation of his family there, until further order shall be given by the proprietor or his commissioners : Provided, always, That the said Peter shall not actor proceed in any thing under color hereof, but by the free leave and approbation of the Indians amongst whom he dwells or resides."
In various" parts of the county surveys were made, from 1714, to 1718. A. Dubrie, Esq., of Drumore township, kindly furnished us accounts of surveys made in Little Britain and other southern townships.
A survey was made in Little Britain for Alexander Ross-,-warrant dated Nov. 5, 1714-land situated near the middle of the township, on Little Conowingo creek, now held by Christian King, and others. Another survey in part of seven hundred acres was made for Edward Sleadwell, granted to him by warrant dated May 5, 1717, situated in the south west corner of the county, nearly surrounded by Octoraro creek, and con-
*Col. Rec. II. 133 +Col. Rec. II. 100.
..
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LANCASTER COUNTY.
tained two hundred acres, and after his decease was divided between his son and son-in-law, John Priest; and has since passed by the name of "Priest's Neck." There were other surveys made between 1715 and 1720 in the south west part of the township.
" Teague's Endeavor."-A Maryland patent was granted to Mary Graham, June 6, 1715, for one hundred acres, now held by Robert Maxwell.
"Cornwall."-A Maryland patent, granted to Emanuel Grubb, for one hundred acres, in 1716, and and another, 1720, for two hundred acres; now held by Jeremiah B. Haines, Levi Brown and others. Three Partners .- Another Maryland patent, granted to Thomas Jacobs, September 16, 1720, a large tract now held by James Porter and others .* From the foregoing, it is evident, that the Swiss Settlement, with their fine country, attracted considerable attention, while it was yet in its infancy.
Not to weary the reader with general details of individual settlers, we shall present a public document possessing more than ordinary interest to the numerous descendants of those whose names are recorded in it .- They had all come to this country previous to 1718, and had purchased and held lands before 1729. We are indebted to Abraham Meylin, of West Lampeter town- ship, for a copy of it. This document has been upwards of one hundred and fourteen years in the possession of the Meylin family. It is an act passed Anno Regni, Georgii II. Regis Magnae Britanniae, Franciae, et Hiberniae, tertio.t October 14, 1729.
*If the reader will examine the article in the Appendix, A, he will understand these patents fully.
tIn the third year of the reign of George, II. King of Great Britain, France and Ireland.
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WHEREAS, By encouragement given by the Honorable William Penn, Esq., late Proprietary* and Governor of the province of Pennsylvania, and by permission of his Majesty, King GEORGE the First, of blessed memory, and his predecessors, Kings and Queens of England, &c. divers Protestants, who were subjects to the Emperor of Germany, a Prince in amity with the Crown of Great Britain, transported themselves and estates into the province of Pennsylvania, between the years one thou- sand seven hundred, and one thousand seven hundred and eighteen; and since they came hither have con- tributed very much to the enlargement of the British
*William Penn, the Proprietary and Founder of Pennsyl- vania, died July 30, 1718, at Rushcomb, near Twyford, in Buckinghamshire, England, aged about seventy-four years .- In 1612, he had been seized with some fits of the apoplectic kind; which, for the last six years of his life, had so affected his mental faculties, especially his memory, as to render him in a great measure incapable of public business; which, with the gradual decline of his strength of body, continued to increase till the last period of his days. As a leader of a christian sect, he has left no mean name. He was a man of more than ordinary zeal and courage; he was ardent and enthusiastic, yet discreet. As a statesman, he was wise and judicious. As an economist, liberal, even to his own pecu- niary embarrassment. As a writer, much esteemed by his friends. In his demeanor, it is said, he was grave, yet free from moroseness. Christians are not morose. He had been twice married; his first wife was Gulielma Maria Springett, daughter of Sir William Springett, of Darling, in Sussex ; with her he had two sons and one daughter, Springett, William and Letitia. Springett died at the age of twenty-one years, in 1696. William and Letitia, and three grand children, children of his son William, survived him. His second wife was Hannah, daughter of Thomas Callowhill, of Bristol, by whom he had five children, John, Thomas, Margaretta, Richard and Dennis, who, with their mother, were living at their father's death.
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Empire, and to the raising and improving sundry com- modities fit for the markets of Europe, and and have always behaved themselves religiously and peaceably, and have paid a due regard and obedience to the laws and Government of this province; And whereas, Many of said persons, to wit, Martin Meylin, Hans Graaf, and others, all of Lancaster county, in the said province, in demonstration of their affection and zeal for his present Majesty's person and Government, qualified themselves by taking the qualification, and subscribing the declara- tion directed to be taken and subscribed by the several acts of parliament, made for the security of his Majesty's person and Government, and for preventing the dangers which may happen by Popish Recusants, &c., and thereupon, have humbly signified to the Governor and Representatives of the freemen of this province, in General Assembly, that they have purchased and do hold lands of the proprietary, and others, his Majesty's subjects within this province, and have likewise repre- sented their great desire of being made partakers of those privileges which the natural born subjects of Great Britain do enjoy within this province; and it being just and reasonable, that those persons who have bona fide purchased lands, and who have given such testimony of their affection and obedience to the Crown of Great Britain should as well be secured in the enjoyment of their estates, as encouraged in their laudable affection and zeal for the English constitution;
Be it enacted by the Hon. Patrick Gordon, Esq., Lieut. Governor of the province of Pennsylvania, &c., by and with the advice and consent of the freemen of the said province, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That Martin Meylin, Hans
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Graaf, Christian Stoneman, Jacob Funk, Francis Neiff,* Francis Neiff, Jr., George Kindeck, John Burkholder, John Burkholder, Jr., Abraham Burkholder, Michael Bowman, John Hess, John Frederick, Christopher Preniman, Martin Harnist, Joseph Buckwalter, Felix Landes, Jr., Adam Preniman, John Funk, John Boh-
*Francis Neff, his sons Francis, Jr., Henry and Daniel, and the sons of Daniel, namely: Henry and Daniel, grandsons of Francis the elder, were all natives of Switzerland. On account of religious persecution, being Mennonites, they fled from their Vaterland, to Alsace, thence they emigrated to America, and settled at a very early date on a small stream, Neff's run, which empties into the west branch of the Little Concstoga, where the great ancestor took up a large tract of land, and which is stiil owned by some of the lineal descen- dants, of the male and female issuc.
As it may be interesting to the numerous descendants of one of the first families, in this part of the county, we insert a brief genealogy of Francis Neff's progeny, as furnished us, verbally, by Mrs. Magdalen Sehner, aged 79, the great grand- daughter of Francis, the elder, and grand-daughter of Daniel Neff, who had four sons and two daughters, viz: Henry, Daniel, John, Jacob, the grand-father of Jacob K. Neff, M. D., of Lancaster; Barbara, who intermarried with Musselman, and Ann, married to Isaac Kauffman. Henry, the oldest son of Daniel Neff, married a Miss Oberholtzer; their children were John, Daniel, David, Jacob, Henry and one daughter, Mrs. Keller, Dr. John Eberle's grand mother.
The original Homestead is now principally owned by Gott- lieb Sehner and Jacob Neff. We seek for the descendants of Francis Neff, in the male lineage, the numerous Neffs in Lan- caster and Huntingdon county, Pa., and in Virginia; in the female, the name of Musselman, Kauffman, Miller, Mayer, Henneberger, Schwar, Sehner, Ruth, Cassel, Florey, Keller, Eberle-the two last named are noticed in the sequel-Bear, Brandt, Shelly, Bowman and others, principally in this county.
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man, John Taylor, Henry Neiff, Michael Mire, Henry Bare, Peter Bumgarner, Melcor Hufford, Melcor Eris- man, John Brubaker, Jacob Nisley, Hans Snevely, Jacob Goot, John Woolslegle, Jacob Mire, Christopher Sowers, Joseph Stoneman, Daniel Ashleman, Christian Peelman, John Henry Neiff,* John Henry Neiff, Jr., Abraham Hare, John Ferie, Jacob Biere, Peter Yordea, Peter Leamon, Hans Jacob Snevely, Isaac Coffman, Andrew Coffman, Woolrich Rodte, Henry Funk, Roody Mire, John Mylin, Jacob Bheme, John Coffman, Michael Doneder, Charles Christopher, Andrew Shultz, John Houser, Christian Preniman, Jacob Miller, black,
*John Henry Neff, known as the " Old Doctor," a brother of Francis Neff, named above. He was undoubtedly the first regularly bred physician in Lancaster county. Who has not heard of Doctor Hans Heinrich Neff? So well was Dr. Neff known, that when the boundaries of townships were fixed upon, June 9th, 1729, one of the lines of Manheim township, is thus defined : "thence down the said creek to the " Old Doctor's Ford." Hans Henry Neff, Doctor of Physic, had taken up land on the Conestoga, a few miles from the present site of Lancaster city. Among his descendants, are, besides the Neffs, Millers, Tchantzs, Kendigs, Weavers, Bears, and others.
The NEFFS were of those, "who, many years since, came into this province under a particular agreement with the late Honor- able Proprietor, William Penn, at London ; and had regularly taken up lands under him. And who, it appears to me," said Gov. Gordon, January 13th, 1729, "by good information, that they have hitherto behaved themselves well, and have generally so good a character for honesty and industry, as deserves the esteem of this Government, and a mark of regard for them."-Col. Rec. III. 296.
11*
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Henry Carpenter,* Emanuel Carpenter,t Gabriel Car- penter, Daniel Herman, Christian Herman, Philip Fiere, Mathias Slaremaker,; Big John Shank, Jacob Churts, Jacob Snevely, Jr,, John Woolrich Hover, John Croy- der, John Leeghte, John Stampher, Martin Graaf, Peter Newcomat, Jacob Bare, Jr., John Henry Bare, Jacob Weaver, Henry Weaver, John Weaver, David Longan- icker, George Weaver, Abraham Mire, Woolrick Houser, John Mire, Henry Musselman, Michael Shank, Jacob Miller, Jacob Miller, Jr., Martin Miller, Peter Abye, Hans Goot, Christian Staner, John Jacob Light, Adam Brand, Christopher Franciscus, Casper Loughman, Frederick Stay, John Line, John Swope, Bastian Royer, Jonas Lerow, Simeon King, John Abye, Everhard Ream, all of Lancaster county, be, and shall be to all intents and purposes deemed, taken, and esteemed, His Majesty's natural born subjects of this province of Penn- sylvania, as if they, and each of them had been born within the said province; and shall and may, and every one of them shall and may, within this province, take, receive, enjoy, and be entitled to all rights, privileges and advantages of natural born subjects, as fully, to all
*"Henry Zimmerman or Carpenter arrived in Pennsylvania in the year 1698, and returned afterwards to Europe for his family, whom he brought out in 1706, and settled first in Ger- mantown, and removed within the present bounds of Lan- caster county, (then Chester) in 1717." His descendants are very numerous and respectable.
+Emanuel Zimmerman or Carpenter, son of Henry Car- penter, was born in Switzerland, in the year 1702 and died 1780. His influence was salutary and great in the county. He had the unbounded confidence of his fellow citizens, as will appear from the sequel.
#The name was originally in German Schleiermacher.
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intents and constructions and purposes, whatsoever, as any of his Majesty's natural born subjects of this
The subjoined communications will be read with more than ordinary interest. The first is from H. F. Slaymaker, Esq., and the other from John Slaymaker, Esq., both written in reply to several queries previously proposed touching the ancestors of this highly respectable family :
" Mathias Slaymaker emigrated from Strasburg, in Germany He was born and bred in Hess Castle, and came to this coun- try about the year 1710. He settled on what is called the " London Lands;" a tract of 1,000 acres, near the present residence of Peter J. Eckert, in Strasburg township, which is supposed to have been named by him; he was at that time surrounded by Indians ; their names are not known.
He had two brothers ; one of whom was a clergyman, and settled in the Emperor's dominion, high up in Germany ; he was appointed Secretary of Legation from that Government to the Court of St. James; afterwards, Charge d'Affairs, and there married. President John Adams, when minister to the Court of St. James, resided with one of his descendants .- His oldest son was Governor of an Island.
The other brother was major in the King of Prussia's full regiment; and afterwards, it is probable, his son was one of the officers (a Major) in the Hessian troops-as one of that name was confined as a prisoner of war in the Lancaster jail.
The first named, Mathias, had five sons, Lawrence, Mathias, John, Henry, Daniel and two daughters, Margaret and Bar- bara Eeckman. He was married before he came to this country-and Lawrence and Margaret were born in Germany. Lawrence married a sister of Jacob Pfautz, and had one child who married a person by the name of Lefevre, and moved to Cumberland county.
Mathias married a Miss Smith, and had two sons and three daughters, John, William, Rachel, Rebecca and Elisabeth.
John married Elisabeth White, and had Mathias, John, Wil- liam and Alexander, and five daughters, Jane, Elisabeth, Mary, Kitty and Ann.
Henry married Faithful Richardson, and had three sons, Amos, Henry and Samuel, and six daughters, Mary, Hannah,
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province, can, do, or ought to enjoy, by virtue of their being His Majesty's natural born subjects of His Majesty's said province of Pennsylvania.
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