History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 185

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 185

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"I delivered ... all your other papers into the hands of Henry Antes, Esq., who, being a man of great reputation and influence was attentively heard while he explained the same to the people. After con- ferring a little together they (the Reformed) all melted at once into tears of joy, uttered many thankful expressions, and agreed in Christian barmony in the choice of our Lutheran school-house, and offered also their own school-house, which is only about sixty poles distant."

In 1754 the German settlers of Pennsylvania were accused of disloyalty to the King of Great Britain and of sympathy with the French. On the 20th of No- vember, 1754, the principal German Protestants of the province addressed a letter to the Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, Esq., Lientenant-Governer, affirming their fidelity to the British sovereign. The signers from Frederick township were Henry Antes, George Hüb- ner and Philip Leydich. Antes, who knew the Ger- mans of Pennsylvania better than any other living man, felt keenly the injustice of the accusation and the cowardice of the attack upon the honor of this faithful people, who, by reason of their alien language and social disadvantages, were almost defenseless. To vindicate more thoroughly his countrymen, he wrote a letter to Richard Peters, secretary of the province, making suggestions, viz. :

" To Mr. Richard Peters, Secretury.

" Sir-We have considered further concerning our address to his IIon . Robert Hunter Morris. That as there is a great number of Germans all over ye province of Pensilvania, which might perhaps not have heard nor indeutet any thing, neither of the late accusation against the said Nation in general, and may be less of our late address to his Honor ye Governor concerning ye same, and for ye more satisfaction to them all which is ignorant in it, we thought it proper to put it in public print, hoth in English and Dutch ; if his llonor ye Governor has not already put the copy to the presse, and therefore hope bis Honor will not take it amiss : because it only to that Intent that our Protestant Country people might see all our reason and motive to our actions; Especially in ye Dutch Copy we Intent to make a short introduction to shew them both our concern as also to remind them of their Loyal duty to the Crown of Great Britain, as likewise his Honor's answer to ye s'd address, of which I send you by this ye Copy to correct ; pray do not take it amiss as ; yon have been present you are most able to add where I have omitted, and alter where I might not have used the very same expressions his Honor made to the said Address. I should have nothing against it if his Ilonor ye Governour should see his own anst as much as I could remember thereof, before it is put to print and correct himself what he pleases thereof, and so send it back to Mr. Kepely, in Philadelphia, who is de- sired to forward ye same to print. And with this I remain with many salutations,

"Sir, your Humble Servant, "' HENRY ANTES.

"Frederick Township, December ye 24th, 1754."

We come now to the close of this great-hearted man's busy life. The hardships endured in the over- land journey to North Carolina and the explorations there, as also an injury received whilst snperintending the building of the mill at Friedenthal, near Nazareth, contributed to his decline. He was in an enfeebled state of health until Sunday, the 20th day of July, 1755, when death happily relieved him of his suffer- ings. The death of a man so generally known and so highly esteemed thronghout Pennsylvania produced a deep impressson. The news of his death was conveyed the same day to Bethlehem, and after dinner Bishop Spangenberg and wife, Rev. Abraham Reinecke, Rev. John Bechtel, Rev. Matthew Schropp and eight others set out for Frederick township, with three children of the deceased, who were attending school there. On the following day, at the funeral services, Bishop Spangenberg delivered an address, Rev. Mr. Reinecke read the Moravian burial service, and ten pall-bearers from Bethlehem carried the remains of "the pious layman of Frederick township" to their resting-place in the family graveyard on the farm, close by those of his father. Over six hundred persons attended the solemn services. His grave is marked by a stone of blue marble, bearing these words:

" Hier rubet HEINRICH ANTES : Ein Kleinod dieses Landes Ein redlich kühner

Handhaber der Gerechtigkeit und treuer Diener Vor Welt- und Gottes Leut.

Entschlief In Friedrichs-Town den 20 Julii, 1755 Seines Alters 54 Jahre.

In his will, written by his own hand on the 20th of July, 1754, precisely one year before his death, is this provision :

" 1 give fiffty Pounds, Pennsylvania money, unto Abraham Bemper Timothy Ilorsefield, or their Succeeding Committees for the Furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to ye use of the Indian Brethren at Guaden- hütten or Elsewhere under the Care of the Unitas fratrum, now in Bethle- hem, in Pennsylvania."

Spangenberg speaks of Antes as "a man well ac- quainted with all the circumstances of the country, being widely and favorably known, and enjoying the confidence and love of many souls." Bœhm, in the heat of controversy, said: "He knows full well how our hearts were formerly bound together in a cordial love for the divine truth of onr Reformed teachings." Johu Antes, his son, after his return from Africa, wrote of his father: "He was beloved and esteemed in the whole neighborhood on account of his upright- ness and impartiality, by which, both as a citizen and a justice of the peace, he was characterized." Chris- topher Saur, the editor of the widely-read Germantown newspaper, in the issue of the 16th of May, 1756, said of Antes : "He died in a state of impartiality ( Unpar- theylichkeit) towards all men and parties. Were such magistrates more numerous, the poor would not have

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FREDERICK TOWNSHIP.

reason to complain and weep over grievous injustice, which they have to suffer because persons are favored." Rev. J. H. Dubbs, D.D., writes :

" He loved the Church of his fathers, And over the stormy sea

He had borne as a precions treasure Their faith to the land of the free : But the flock was without a shepherd, And many had gone asleep,

So he lifted his voice like a trumpet To gather the scattered sheep."

He was a man peculiarly useful in his day and gen- eration. He was a skillful mechanic, a capable builder and an intelligent projector of enterprises and im- provements such as were adapted to the wants of the times in which he lived. The trusts confided to his care were faithfully executed. As a magistrate he commanded universal respect. He was earnest and diligent in the things that engaged his attention ; un- assuming, yet boldly outspoken when occasion de- manded; straightforward and sincere in every act. His opponents never questioned his integrity and purity of motive. His character comes down to us without a stain. He was a just man and " walked with God " all his days.

At the time of his death Mr. Antes owned the farm and mill property of one hundred and seventy-five acres upon which he lived, a tract of about ninety-six acres of woodland in Limerick (now in New llanover) township, a plantation of one hundred and fifty-six acres in New Hanover township inherited from his father, a tract in North Carolina and a large personal estate.

The children of Henry Antes and Christiana, his wife, were Anna Catharina, born November 20, 1726; Anna Margaretta, boru October 6, 1728; Philip Fred- erick, born July 5, 1730 ; William, born November 21, 1731 ; Elizabeth, born February 10, 1734; John Henry, born October 5, 1736 ; Jacob, born September 19, 1738, and died June 6, 1739; John, born March 13, 1740; Mary Magdalene, born October 28, 1742; Joseph, born January 8. 1745, and died August 16, 1746, at Bethlehem ; Benigna, born September 16, 1748, and died, in Bethlehem, December 24, 1760. His widow, Christiana Antes, in 1757, was united in marriage to Bernhard Dodderer, of New Hanover township, who died the year following. Shedied on the 5th of Octo- ber, 1782, in Northumberland County, at the age of about eighty.

Anna Catharina Antes was married four times. Her first husband was Joh. Martin Kalberlahn, to whom she was united July 29, 1758 ; second. Gottlieb Reuter; third, Rev. John Caspar Heinzman ; fourth, Rev. John Jacob Ernst. In 1809 she resided in Bethabara, N. C.

Anna Margaretta Antes was partly educated at Bethlehem. On January 9, 1743, she was one of the company of Moravians who sailed in the ship " Jacob " from New York for England, having been sent to complete her education at a school of the

United Brethren in London. Here she met and married, in 1766, Rev. Benjamin La Trobe. Their children were Christian Ignatius, author of a "Jour- nał of a Visit to South Africa in 1815 and 1816," a work of four hundred pages, published in London in 1818; Benjamin Henry, who came, in 1795, to the United States, achieved a brilliant career as an archi- tect and civil engineer, and was the father of Hon. John H. B. Latrobe and Benjamin H. B. Latrobe, eminent citizens of Baltimore ; John Frederick, who took the degree of Doctor of Medicine at Jena, and established himself at Dorpat, in Livonia, Russia ; and a daughter wbo married - Foster.

William Antes married Christiana, daughter of Jacob and Barbara Markley, of Skippack and Perk- iomen township. Their children were John ; Chris- tina, married Jacob Markley and lived in Northum- berland County; Elizabeth, born February 17, 1757, and married, April 4, 1775, John Shuler ; Sarah, born October 12, 1762, and married Samuel Gardner ; Mary, born August 17, 1768; William, born March 15, 1776, and died at Canandaigua, December 21, 1841. William Antes was a sub-lieutenant of Phila- delphia County during the Revolutionary war. After the war he settled in Northumberland County, and held offices of responsibility there.

Elizabeth Antes was married (first ) to George Philip Dotterer, of Frederick township. Their children were Benigna, born February 17, 1753, married JJohn Yost; Anna, born December 21, 1756, married John Bern- hardt, and died August 21, 1837; Elizabeth, born May 7, 1759, married Henry Dukehart, and died Sep- tember 24, 1840, at Baltimore ; Henry, born July 25, 1762, married Anna Davis, of Limerick township, and died April 28, 1836, in Camden County, N. J. ; Mary. born December 24. 1764, married George Freyer, and died August 25, 1856; Frederick, born September 13, 1769, and died in Limerick township December 23, 1829. George Philip Dotterer carried on the business of inn-keeper in Limerick township. He died August 23, 1771. His widow was married, on the 28d of April, 1772, to Rev. Nicholas Pomp, a minister of the German Reformed Church. They had one child,-Thomas, born February 5, 1773, a prominent divine of the same denomination as his father. Elizabeth Pomp (maiden-name Antes) died May 20, 1812, at Easton, Pa.

John Henry Antes was married, May 11, 1756, to Anna Maria Pawling. Their children were John Henry, born April 17, 1757 ; Maria, born July, 1758; Philip, born August 26, 1759; Elizabeth, born Decem- ber 7, 1761; Frederick, born July 19, 1764; Anna Maria, wife of John Henry Antes, died in March, 1767. He married, December 8, 1767, Sophia Snyder. Their children were John, born January 7, 1769; Mary Catharine, born September 30, 1772; Anna Maria, born March 6, 1775 ; William, born January 18, 1777; Jacob, born December 3, 1778; a daughter born August 21, 1781; Joseph, born March 16, 1785;

850

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Sophia, born March 20, 1790. John Henry Antes moval to Bethlehem. He had some variance with the lived in Frederick until about the beginning of 1775, brethren in this position. He was next selected to go when he removed to Northumberland County. He to Germany, which, being a man well advanced in was an Indian scout, captain of militia, Indian fighter, | years, he felt disinclined to do; but his objections sheriff and mill-builder. He died at Antes' Fort on the 13th of July, 1820.

Maria Magdalena Antes, ninth child of Henry Antes, married - Ebbing. She died at Herrnhut, Germany, April 17, 1811.

The Antes name we find, in the successive gener- ations, ever in the van of enterprise. They are a race of builders ; mechanism is their birthright. As we look upon the long line of honorable names we find many of them to excel as engineers, architects, inventors and manufacturers; and when they turn from these pursuits to bear arms, to engage in the legal profession, or to assume the sacred office, they still hold a foremost position. When we contemplate the great number of the descendants of " the pious layman of Frederick township," scattered broadcast over the globe, the mind turns instinctively to the promise made to the patriarch of old : " I will make thee ex- ceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee."

ANDREW FREY in his day enacted a part in the early history of Pennsylvania which will preserve his name to the end. His conscientious nature and his devout piety-qualities which deserve and receive the esteem of all good men-were the occasion to him of great crosses and severe self-examination. With him, to do what was right was everything. His ingenuous heart could neither compromise nor temporize with wrong, if to his understanding it was wrong. And so | his life, which might have been a smooth and unevent- ful one had he been more world-wise and less sincere, was marked by fierce controversies, long journeys and broken friendships " for conscience' sake."

Andrew Frey was originally of the Dunker faith. He was never married, and he was not related to William Frey, who owned the property adjoining his in Frederick township.

August 5, 1718, he bought from David Powell two hundred acres of land located in Frederick township, On May 1, 1728, he sold this to the following per- sons : Ludwig Engelhart, one hundred acres; Henry Stadler, fifty acres ; George Grouse, seventy-two acres ; Christopher Sheagle, twenty-eight acres.

In 1742, when the movement for church unity was inaugurated hy Henry Antes, with the powerful sup- port of Count Zinzendorf, Andrew Frey entered it with all the enthusiasm of his nature. In the second conference, held at the house of George Hübner, in Frederick township, on the 14th and 15th of January, 1742, he was a participant. He was also at the third conference, held at Oley on the 10th, 11th and 12th of February the same year, and was chosen (by lot) one of three presidents and directors of conferences. After this he was chosen, in the same way, to be elder over the unmarried brethren. This required his re-

were overruled, and on the 9th of January, 1743, he sailed in the ship " Jacob " from New York for Eng- land, in a company composed of Count Zinzendorf himself, a daughter of Henry Antes, a daughter of William Frey and others of the society, which had now come to be regarded as a Moravian or Herrnhuter organization. In five weeks the ship reached London, a fortnight after the party came to Amsterdam, and three weeks afterwards to Herrndeik. They next went to Marienborn, whence, after a stay of four weeks, they proceeded into Saxony to Hirschberg, where they held conferences during nine days; and then to Herrnhut. The manner of life there did not commend itself to Andrew Frey's approval. What he saw and heard seemed to him irreligious and sinful. He says : "The other brethren and sisters which were come from Pennsylvania having once a love-feast, the count (Zinzendorf) told every one of them his thoughts of them, and when he came to me he said, 'Brother An- drew has, indeed, an open countenance ; but, mark me, there is something amiss in his mind which hin- ders him having any settled quiet.'" At the end of three years he desired to return to Pennsylvania; twelve months later he came back.

Of course he withdrew from the Moravian Society. This act caused widespread comment in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Much warm discussion ensued between the society and Andrew Frey and their respective friends. This resulted in the publication written by him in 1748, entitled, "Andreas Freyen (Pred. in Falkners Schwamm) seine Deklaration oder Erklä- rung, auf welche Weise und wie er unter die sogen- annte Herrenhntergemeinde gekommen ist." This was issued from the press of Christopher Sauer, of Germantown, in a volume of eighty-eight pages 12mo. This book was translated into English and issued, in 1753, at London.

As late as April 20, 1750, Andrew Frey published a lengthy communication in Sauer's Germantown paper contradicting a report, which had spread through the rural sections of Pennsylvania, that he had re- united with the Moravians and had recalled his book ; and he took occasion in this article to reiterate the accusations as contained in the book. As giving us an insight into the manners of those times, the first paragraph of this communication is given herewith :

"William Frey recently had business in Great Swamp, at several houses, with trustworthy people, who asked him seriously to tell them truly whether Andrew Frey had again united with the Moravians, and whether he had recalled his little book, the Declaration ; for they had, in a roundabout way, heard this to be the fact ; indeed, by the Moraviaus themselves it had been said, Andrew Frey was their dear brother ; they bore him great love. A teacher of the Mennunites told him, 'he had read my little book, and that, proved by their life and conduct, what I wrote was true; and if I recalled all this, he would regard me as # fickle, nuworthy man ; ' thus one does not know whom one may be- lieve."

851

FREDERICK TOWNSHIP.

It is not desirable that the positions taken by the opposing parties in this controversy should be re- peated here. The disputants have long since gone to their reward, aud the subjects at issue are forgotten.

Of the after-life of Andrew Frey nothing further is known. It is presumed that he was a preacher among the Dunkers, or German Baptists, the remainder of his days. Ile was far advanced in years and already weak in body when the events above narrated occurred and he probably died soon after.

REV. JOHN PHILIP LEYDICH came to America in 1748. He was accompanied by his wife, Maria Cath- arina (maiden-name Hammichhaus), his two chil- dren, Franz Leydich and Elizabeth Leydich, and by two sisters of his wife, one of whom afterwards mar- ried Caspar Achenbach, and the other Andreas Sassa- man.

Having been settled as pastor of the Falkner Swamp and affiliated Reformed congregations, Pastor Leydich at once looked about him for a suitable property for a home. On the 16th of October, 1749, he bought of Conrad Frick, of Germantown, a tract of one hundred and five acres in Frederick township. This was the tract bought, on May 1, 1728, by Ludwig Engelhart, of Andrew Frey, and sold by him, on November 2, 1748, to Conrad Frick. It was a suitable spot for the young minister's home, in the midst of his largest congregation, upon the banks of Swamp Creek.

Mr. Leydich labored as pastor of this congregation until 1765, when he was succeeded by Rev. Nicholas Pomp; but he lived here until the close of his life. A number of his descendants are residents of the town- ship at this time.

Rev. John Philip Leydich and Maria Catharine, his wife, had born to them the following children : Franz, born in Holland, March 26, 1745; Elizabeth, born in Holland, October 10, 1746, married Alexander Dieffenderffer ; Leonhard, married Catharine Nyce, daughter of Zacharias Nyce; Philip, married Rosina Bucher, daughter of George Diedrich Bucher ; Maria Magdalena, married John Nyce : Catharine, born April, 1753, married Philip Miller, died August, 1823; Sophia, married Gabriel Schuler.

Rev. Mr. Leydich and his wife are buried at Lej- dig's graveyard, in Frederick township. The stone erected to mark his resting-place bears these words :

" JOHANN PHILIP LEYDICH. Reformierter Brediger war gobohren, 1715, den 28 April, ist gestorben 14 January, 1784, ist alt 69 yahr den 2 Tim, am 2 ten Cap, vers 3. Leide dich als ein guter Streiter Jesu ('liristi."

COLONEL PHILIP FREDERICK ANTES, son of Henry and Christiana Antes, was born in Frederick township on the 5th of July, 1780. He was united in marriage, May 1, 1755, to Barbara Tyson. Their children were

Christina Elizabetha, born January 22, 1757, and died October 13, 1763; Anna Maria, born February 14, 1760, married Christopher Dering, and died November 22, 1822, in Northumberland County, l'a .; a son, born October 25, 1762; John Henry, born February 13, 1766. Barbara, wife of Frederick Antes, died February 6, 1775. He married, on the 17th of August, 1775, Catharine Schuler, and they had one child, Catharine, born July 3, 1777, who became, on July 12, 1796, the second wife of Simon Snyder, afterwards Governor of Pennsylvania.

November 19, 1764, Frederick Antes was appointed a justice of the peace for Philadelphia County, and May 23, 1770, and April 27, 1772, he was reappointed to the office.

Upon the approach of the Revolutionary struggle Frederick Antes, and his brothers William and John Henry, promptly took a firm and positive stand on the side of the colonies. Frederick Antes boldly pro- claimed his devotion to the effort for the independence of his native country, and actively entered upon the performance of responsible and hazardous duties in connection with the inauguration and prosecution of the war. This required no small degree of courage and sacrifice on his behalf. He was a man of con- siderable property, and, moreover, he held the com- mission of an officer of the crown,-justice of the peace. These considerations, however, did not daunt him in his burning zeal for the cause of American liberty. The British commander, at an early stage of the war, laid a reward on his head, but though sometimes dangerously near to the emissaries of the King, Antes eluded them to the end. His conspicuous and out- spoken position must have exercised a great influence upon the community in which he lived and held office, and history shows that that section of country way notably faithful to the cause of freedom during the long years of strife which ensued.

Frederick Antes brought to this task rare qualifica- tions,-ability and intelligence; the mechanical skill inherent in all of his name; high standing in the community and inflexible strength of character; un- flinching courage and enthusiastic, heroic patriotism. All these qualities at once had full play, but not alone in the limited field afforded by the neighborhood of his home. He was called into the counsels of the State and the country at large. Much that he did- and that the most daring and effective-is doubtless unrecorded and buried in oblivion. As may be snr- mised, many delicate and dangerous services were rendered by him that required the utmost caution, sound judgment and profound secrecy. Of these we may never know. But of those of his public acts, notice of which is scattered through the pages of the records of our commonwealth, a brief summary is presented. On the 3d of February, 1776, upon appli- cation of Mr. Antes, an order was granted to Mr. Towers to deliver to him six pounds of powder, to repay that quantity borrowed by him to prove a can-

852

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

non made,by himself and Mr. Potts at the Warwick Furnace. Under date of 14th of Angust, 1776, there was paid Frederick Antes, Esq., twenty-five pounds for an experiment made on an eighteen-pounder can- non, by agreement of the late Committee of Safety. He was appointed a member of the provincial confer- ence of committees of the province of Pennsylvania, held at Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, June 18-25, 1776. He attended the sessions. On Sunday, June 23, 1776, he was appointed a judge of election in Philadelphia County, to be held on Monday, July 8, 1776, to elect representatives to the convention to forni a new government for the province. He was returned by the judges of election as one of the members elected to the convention of the State of Pennsylvania, on July 15, 1776, the opening day of said convention. On Monday, August 15, 1776, he was appointed by the convention one of the committee to bring in an ordinance for regulating the militia of the State, so as to render the burdens and expenses of the associators and non-associators as nearly equal as possible. On Tuesday, September 3, 1776, in the forenoon, by ordi- nance of the convention of the State, he was appointed a justice of the peace for the county of Philadelphia. October 28, 1776, accounts were passed for blankets, attested by Frederick Antes, lieutenant-colonel of Colonel Potts' battalion, Philadelphia County militia, to be charged to the Flying Camp,-€21 78. 6d.

Frederick Antes was a member of the General Assembly of the commonwealth for the county of Philadelphia. This body met on Thursday, Novem- ber 28, 1776. He was chairman of the committee on grievances. December 5, 1776, he was appointed chairman of a committee to bring in a draft of a militia law. On Tuesday, December 10, 1776, the House was requested to appoint a committee out of their body to join General Mifflin in a tour through the several counties in the State, in order to stir up the freemen thereof to the immediate defense of the city and country. On the next day Frederick Antes and Colonel Curry were appointed to accompany General Mifflin through the county of Philadelphia for the purpose stated. January 18, 1777, an order was made on Mr. Nesbitt to pay Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Antes, Third Battalion Philadelphia County militia, forty-three pounds ten shillings for drum- major's and fife major's wages. On Monday, March 3, 1777, in General Assembly, Colonel Antes voted nay on the proposition "That the members of Assembly be exempted from military duty as militia." On Tuesday, March 4, 1777, he voted in favor of in- serting the following words in the militia bill : " And no militia othicer shall be required to take and sub- scribe an oath or affirmation at this time to quality him to receive a commission to act in the character to which he shall be. elected." On Thursday, May 29, 1777, in the afternoon, was read in the Assembly a petition from the officers and privates of Captain Reed's company of Colonel Antes' battalion of Phil-

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 185

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534