USA > Pennsylvania > Pennsylvania: The German influence in its settlement and development, Pat VII > Part 13
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HENRY MELCHOIR MUHLENBERG'S ACCOUNT.
Pastor H. M. Muhlenberg, who was ever solicitous for the well-being of his misguided and maltreated country- men, as was to be expected, also pays his respects to these Newlanders. In a letter written to a friend in Halle, in 1763, he says concerning them : "I cannot forbear mak- ing some remarks touching Newlanders, in order to caution our German countrymen. I do not speak of such as re- turn to Germany for their patrimony, or to collect money for others, who reside here, and who sometimes use the
119 Es sind dieses Jahr, 130 Neulaender drussen .- CHRISTOPHER SAUR'S Pennsylvania Berichte, September 16, 1749.
120 So haben verschiedene Herrn im Reiche beschlossen dass die boese Neu- laender, oder seelen-verkaeufer, anhalten und verhindern wollen dass ihre unter thanen sollen aus ihren Reiche nicht gekauft werden von den Rotter- damer Kaufleuten. Zu dem ende haben die Herrn im Reiche etliche solcher Neulaender in Gefaengnisse gesetzt in schul-karren geschlossen und dreck fahren lassen .- SAUR'S Pennsylvania Berichte, December 1, 1754.
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THE PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN SOCIETY.
WITMER'S BRIDGE ACROSS THE CONESTOGA RIVER, BUILT 1800.
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Pastor Muhlenberg's Narrative.
money collected to purchase merchandise, which they sell in our markets. This is a lawful transaction. * * * In speaking of the Newlanders I mean such as are not disposed to support themselves honestly. I mean those who solicit powers of attorney to collect money in Germany for others, they having none to collect for themselves-who are a the same time in the service of others-urging upon Ger- mans, till they prevail upon them, by means fair or foul, to forsake their Vaterland and immigrate to the New World. The usual course pursued by them is, first to seek the acquaintance of merchants in Holland, from whom they receive free passage, also a stipulated sum of money, for every family or unmarried person, they can prevail on to leave their homes for Holland. To accom- plish their mission successfully, they resort to various arti- fices. As a studied prelude to the tragedy, they appear gorgeously attired, make an imposing display with their watches, using every means to create the impression that they are persons of immense wealth.
" Thus the credulous are often deceived, become anx- ious to emigrate and live in so prosperous and rich a country as Pennsylvania. By these plausible representations and glowing descriptions of America, the impression is made that in Pennsylvania the Elysian fields are to be found- that every desirable vegetable grows spontaneously ; hills and mountains are pregnant with unalloyed gold and sil-
121 Witmer's Bridge, one of the oldest and most picturesque of the stone bridges in Pennsylvania, spans the Conestoga river a short distance beyond the eastern limits of Lancaster city. A safe crossing over this stream was much needed to accommodate the great volume of traffic carried on between Phila- delphia and the interior of the State. Its erection is due to the energy and en- terprise of a single person of German descent, Mr. Abraham Witmer, who with his own resources undertook the task of construction in 1799, and com- pieted it in 1800. The bridge is in a perfect state of preservation to-day and accommodates a heavy business traffic.
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The Pennsylvania-German Society.
ver; that the fountains gush copious and ceaseless streams of milk and honey. The Newlanders aver that in Penn- sylvania the menial servant becomes the independent lord ; the spinster the perfect lady ; the laborious husband soon plays nobleman at ease; the plodding care-worn peasant and the toiling mechanic are created Lord Barons.
Many are naturally disposed to improve their temporal condition, consequently they desire to live in such a country. In Europe the country is overburdened with people-the labor of the poorer class is not in demand-the taxes are enormous-the service to the lords of the manor intoler- able. Under such circumstances, the Newlander easily prevails with many to leave their hearths and homes. In haste the Germans convert their effects into money, hon- estly pay their debts, if they have any. The balance of the money is placed into the hands of the Newlander for safe keeping. Finally they enter upon their exodus from home. The expenses of the Rhine passage are charged to their account. On their arrival in Holland, if detained there, Dutch merchants advance the poorer classes some money, which is added to the bill for contingencies. The several sums with a poll tax 122 and ocean fare, swell the amount enormously. Before immigrants embark they must sign articles of agreement written in English, and the Newlanders persuade the people that they are their im- partial friends to see that they have justice done them. The more human freight the ship captains can crowd into a ship the more profitable it is for them, if they do not die on the way, otherwise they may lose by it. For that reason the ships are kept clean and all kinds of precautions are taken to keep the passengers in good health, and to bring them to market in good condition. In former years they
122 This is an allusion to the tax levied on foreigners.
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Pastor Muhlenberg's Narrative.
were not so careful, and allowed many to die. When pa- rents died on ship board leaving children behind them the captains and Newlanders acted as guardians of the chil- dren, and took what property was left by the parents so that when the children reached the shore, they were sold to pay their and their parents' passage money. Children un-
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AUTOGRAPH ENTRY OF REV. H. M. MUHLENBERG IN TRAPPE RECORDS, 1742.
der six are gratuitously disposed of. The chests and goods of the deceased are sold ; the money thus realized squares the account. Such heaven-abhorrent deception, led to the formation of an association in Philadelphia to assist as far as was possible, and protect them in their right. So soon as the ships in Holland are fully freighted they set sail. The hardships that must be encountered are made lighter through the sweet hope that they speedily reach the new world and attain their longed for Paradise.
" Finally the ship reaches Philadelphia, where mer- chants and ship owners receive the bills of freight and articles of agreement subscribed by the immigrants. Be- fore debarking, passengers are examined by a medical
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officer, whether they are free from contagious diseases. If all is right the immigrants are marched to the Court House to take the oath of fealty to the King of Great Britain; after which they are taken back to the ship. Public notice is then given that German passengers will be sold for their freight. Those having means to pay are allowed to leave the vessel. To the less fortunate-unbe- mittelte-without means, the ship is a mart. Purchasers make their selections, agree afterwards with their preëmpted servants for a stipulated period of service. Young and unmarried persons of both sexes are sold first and their future condition depends much on their master's disposition, situation and rank in society. Married people, widows, and the infirm are dull sale. If they have children these are sold, and the parents' fare charged to the children's ac- count, and the children are consequently obliged to serve a longer time. Children are in this way not infrequently separated forever from their parents. Some children are sold to English masters and in this way forget their mother tongue. By having their children sold, parents are allowed to leave the ship. Still, their condition is unenviable ; they are destitute, poorly clad, the infirmities of age often weighing them down, making them appear as if they had emerged from a sepulchre.
" Many of them are compelled through their poverty, to beg their bread from door to door from their German countrymen. The English usually close their doors against them, through fear of infectious diseases. These things cause one's heart to bleed, to see and hear fellow mortals, who had been persuaded to leave a Christian country, la- menting, weeping, wringing their hands in sad despair, because of their misery, and the dispersion of their chil- dren. Little did the parents anticipate such things.
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Newlanders and Sub-Agents.
" Some having become exasperated beyond measure, in- voke the angry elements of heaven and conjure up the denizens of hell, to crush to atoms the Newlanders, mer- chants in Holland and ship owners who so grossly deceived them. As those cannot hear the denunciations of their victims, they are of course not moved to compassion. Many of the Newlanders, who both hear and see these things, only laugh at their victims, giving them the taunting comfort which the priests of old gave to Judas Iscariot- ' what is that to us, see thou to it.' The children of poor parents, if kept in hardship, learning that because of the nor-sale of father or mother they have to serve the longer, often became incensed, yea even embittered against their own parents." "' 123
The immigrants that met with the readiest sale and brought the highest prices were mechanics and laboring men. That was the kind of labor most in demand both in city and country. Of course, when these conditions were united with good health and youth, or early middle age, the servant was not long in finding a purchaser and master. Old men and women were not desired, because their days of greatest usefulness were behind them.
There were Newlanders who had still other men or agents under them, engaged in this nefarious practice. Dr. Ernest Otto Hopp, of Germany, in his book on this German slavery in this country, tells of one Heerbrand who achieved unusual notoriety as a procurer of ignorant Germans for America. He had a considerable number of men in his pay who were continually procuring victims, kidnapping beggars and vagrants who had no connections, paying two florins for every one delivered to him. He was also a ship captain and is said to have alone brought six hundred of these people to America.
123 Hallische Nachrichten, pp. 997-1012.
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Ship captains had a lien on their passengers until the ships' charges were paid, and Professor Kalm in his travels tells that when he reached Philadelphia in September, 1748, on the ship Mary, upon going on shore with the captain, the latter turned to his mate and charged him "not to let any one of the twenty-three Germans and their families go out of the vessel unless he paid for his passage, or some one else did it for him." 124
Gottlieb Mittelberger also pays his respects to these ras- cals in his usual vigorous and off-hand manner. After saying that the large emigration to America is due to the persuasions and deceptions practiced by the Newlanders, he says :
"These men-thieves inveigle people of every rank and profession, among them many soldiers, scholars, artists and mechanics. They rob the princes and lords of their subjects and take them to Rotterdam or Amsterdam to be sold there. They receive there from their merchants for every person of ten years and over 3 florins or a ducat ; whereas the merchants get in Philadelphia 60, 70 or 80 florins for such a person, in proportion as said person has incurred more or less debts during the voyage. When such a Newlander has collected a 'transport,' and if it does not suit him to accompany them to America, he stays behind, passes the winter in Holland or elsewhere; in the spring he again obtains money in advance for emigrants from his merchants, goes to Germany again, pretending that he had come from Pennsylvania with the intention of purchasing all sorts of merchandise which he was going to take there.
"Frequently these Newlanders say that they had re- ceived powers of attorney from some countrymen or from
124 PETER KALM'S Travels in America.
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Kalm's Book on North America.
kiefa
Sporra AMERICA, På Rongl. Gmenta Betenffaps Academiens Defallning,
Publics foffitab,
PEHR KALM, Weconomia Profefor i Åbo, famt. Ledamot af Rongl Emenffa Betenflaps Academien.
Tom, II.
Hled Rongi Maj:to Zillern&digfte Privilegio
TOCKHOLM, LARS SALVILi ffund, 1755.
FAC-SIMILE OF TITLE-PAGE OF PETER KALM'S TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA.
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The Pennsylvania- German Society.
the authorities of Pennsylvania to obtain legacies or in- heritances for these countrymen ; and that they would avail themselves of this good and sure opportunity to take their friends, brothers or sisters, or even their parents with them ; and it has often happened that such old people followed them, trusting to the persuasion of these Newlanders that they would be better provided for.
" Such old people they seek to get away with them in order to entice other people to follow them. Thus they have seduced many away who said if such and such rela- tives of theirs went to America, they would risk it too. These men-thieves resort to various tricks, never forgetting to display their money before the poor people, but which is nothing else but a bait from Holland, and accursed blood- money.
" When these men-thieves persuade persons of rank, such as nobles, learned or skilled people who cannot pay their passage and cannot give secu- rity, these are treated just like ordi- MERCY nary poor people, and must remain TAY on board the ship till some one AA comes and buys them from the cap- BIVSTICE tain, and when they are released at last from the ship, they must serve their lords and masters, by whom LESSER SEAL OF PROVINCE (Used by Supreme Court). they have been bought, like com- mon day-laborers. Their rank, skill and learning avail them nothing, for here none but laborers and mechanics are wanted. But the worst is that such people, who are not accustomed to work, are treated to blows and cuffs, like cattle, till they have learned the hard work. Many a one, on finding himself thus shame- fully deceived by the Newlanders, has shortened his own
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Mittelberger Denounces Newlanders.
life, or has given way to despair, so that he could not be helped, or has run away, only to fare worse afterwards than before.
" It often happens that the merchants in Holland make a secret contract with their captains and the Newlanders, to the effect that the latter must take the ships with their human freight to another place in America, and not to Pennsylvania where these people want to go, if they think they can elsewhere find a better market for them. Many a one who has a good friend or acquaintance, or a relative in Pennsylvania to whose helping care he has trusted, finds himself thus grievously disappointed in consequence of such infamous deception, being separated from friends whom he will never see again in this or in that country. Thus emigrants are compelled in Holland to submit to the wind and to the captain's will, because they cannot know at sea where the ship is steered to. But all this is the fault of the Newlander and of some unscrupulous dealers in human flesh in Holland.
" Many people who go to Philadelphia, entrust their money, which they have brought with them from their homes, to these Newlanders, but these thieves often re- main in Holland with the money, or sail from there with another ship to another English colony, so that the poor defrauded people, when they reach the country, have no other choice but to serve or sell their children, if they have any, only to get away from the ship.
" The following remarkable case may serve as an ex- ample. In 1753 a noble lady, N. V., came with her two half grown daughters and a young son to Philadelphia. On the trip down the Rhine she entrusted more than 1,000 rix-dollars to a Newlander who was well known to her. But when the ship on which the lady had taken passage,
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started from Holland, this villain remained behind with the money ; in consequence of which the lady found herself in such want and distress that her two daughters were com- pelled to serve. In the following spring this poor lady sent her son to Holland to search for the embezzler of her money, but at the time of my departure, in 1754, nothing had as yet been heard of him, and it was even rumored that the young gentleman had died during his voyage." 125
It is not easy to tell of all the hardships, indignities and injustices that were practiced upon these people, not always, it is true, but often. Many to whom they were indentured were wholly unscrupulous, and intent upon getting every- thing possible out of them, no matter what the terms of the indentures were. When possible such papers were treated as if they did not exist. They were kept beyond the time of service agreed upon. They were not sent to school ac- cording to promise, and although both German and Eng- lish were to be taught them, only the latter language was employed. Sometimes they were restrained from attend- ing church. Hard masters there were who often treated them cruelly, requiring labor at their hands which they were not bound to perform. The avarice of the masters fre- quently kept them from providing the necessary sustenance and clothing for their helpless servants.126
125 MITTELBERGER'S Reise nach Pennsylvanian, pp. 38-41.
126" Die Berschwerungen armer Knecht sind mannichfaltig. Oft wollen die Meister ihre verbundenen Knecht über die zeit behalten. Oft versagen sie ihnen den in Fall, dass sie als Kinder verbunden wurden, mit ausgehalte- nen unterricht. Oft geben sie denselben nur im Englischen wenn er auch im Deutschen ausgedungen war. Oft halten sie sie von ihrem Gottesdienste zurreck. Oft behandeln sie dieselben mit Wuth und Grans amkeit. Oft weisen sie ihnen Arbeit an dazu sie nicht verpflichtet waren. Oft ver- bietet ihnen der Geiz den gehoerigen unterhalt und Kleidung zurechen."- PROF. KUNZE'S Rede vor der Deutschen Gesellschaft zu Philadelphia, 1782.
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CHAPTER V.
THE TESTIMONY OF THE NEWSPAPERS CONCERNING THE TRAFFIC IN REDEMPTIONERS IN THE EIGHTEENTH CEN- TURY .- A MERE ARTICLE OF MERCHANDISE IN THE MAR- KET AND DISPOSED OF TO THE FIRST BIDDER READY TO PAY THE PRICE DEMANDED.
"Ein armer Wand'rer bin ich hier, Und oftmals Schwer die Noth ; Oft weh und einsam ist es mir- Denn Wieb und Kind sind tod ! So singe ich das Trauerlied- Und Sehnsucht drück't mich sehr, Und in mei'm Hertz schläft Weib und Kind, Wie Perlen tief i'm Meer !"
C HE Redemptioners never had a more sincere, able or faithful friend than Christopher Saur the elder, the famous Germantown printer and publisher. He was one of the most prominent of all the Germans in the Province during many years. A godly man, his heart was alive to the wrongs and indignities that were ARMS OF ROTTERDAM. tunate countrymen. heaped upon so many of his unfor- His presence in or near the city of Philadelphia made him acquainted from day to day with what was going on among these unfortunate people. As the publisher of a German newspaper, he took occasion to
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The Pennsylvania-German Society.
keep this human traffic and everything connected with it before the public in the columns of his paper, Der Hoch Deutsche Pennsylvanische Berichte. Almost every number during the seasons of arrival, had paragraphs relating to the coming of vessels, the condition of the immigrants, their treatment, their wrongs and of much else which he no doubt hoped would have a salutary effect upon the public con- science, and in that way lead to the amelioration of the hard conditions under which they voyaged and their treatment upon their arrival.
Not only as throwing much light on various phases of the Redemptioner traffic, but also as showing Saur's un- wearied assiduity in stirring up the public to better the con- dition of the German Redemptioner immigrants, a series of extracts from his newspaper are here given, and also some from The American Weekly Mercury, an English newspaper.127
From The American Weekly Mercury, Philadelphia, September 1, 1720 :
" On the 30 (arrived) the ship Laurel John Coppel, from Leverpool and Cork with 240 odd Palatinate Passengers - come here to settle."
The above is the earliest record of any ship carrying Palatines I have met. Additional interest attaches to its arrival as it is most probably the vessel on which the well- known clergyman, Rev. J. Ph. Boehm, came to this coun- try, August 30, 1720.
.The first public notice of the Redemptioner traffic that
127 I am under many obligations to my learned and courteous antiquarian friend, Prof. W. J. Hinke, of the Ursinus School of Theology, for valuable aid along this line of my researches.
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THE PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN SOCIETY.
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DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES.
MILK' CELLAR AND SPRING.
SHED FOR FRUIT DRYING (SCHNITZ-HOUSE).
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Testimony of the Early Press.
I have found is in The American Weekly Mercury, pub- lished in Philadelphia in 1722 ; it reads as follows :
"Thomas Denham to his good country friends adviseth : That he has some likely servants to dispose of. One hun- dred Palatines for five years, at £10 a head."
From The American Weekly Mercury, November 7, 1728 :
" Those Palatines who have hitherto neglected to pay for their passages in the ship James Goodwill, are to take notice that if they do not pay me on board of the said ship, or to Charles Reid of Philadelphia the sum from them respectively due, the 20th day of this Instant No- vember, they will be proceeded against according to Law by David Crocket."
From The American Weekly Mercury, November 7, 1728 :
" Just arrived from London, in the ship Borden, William Harbert, Commander, a parcel of young likely men ser- vants, consisting of Husbandmen, Joyners, Shoemakers, Weavers, Smiths, Brick-makers, Bricklayers, Sawyers, Taylers, Stay-Makers, Butchers, Chair makers, and sev- eral other trades, and are to be sold very reasonable either for ready money, wheat Bread, or Flour, by Edward Hoone, in Philadelphia."
As the above ship is not listed among those enumerated in Rupp's Thirty Thousand Names nor among those in Vol. XVII. of the second series of Pennsylvania Archives it is most probable that they were Irish, Scotch and English im- migrants who, as has already been stated, were compelled to pass through all the conditions of servitude imposed upon the Germans, and who came under like impoverished circumstances, but not to be registered.
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From The American Weekly Mercury, February 18, 1729 :
" Lately arrived from London, a parcel of very likely English Servants, men and women, several of the men Tradesmen ; to be sold reasonable and Time allowed for payment. By Charles Read of Philadelphia, or Capt. John Ball, on board his ship, at Anthony Millkinson's Wharf."
From The American Weekly Mercury, May 22, 1729: "There is just arrived from Scotland, a parcel of choice Scotch Servants; Taylors, Weavers, Shoemakers and ploughmen, some for five and others for seven years ; Im- ported by James Coults, they are on board a sloop lying opposite to the Market Street Wharf, where there is a boat constantly attending to carry any one on board that wants to see them.
. " N. B. The said James Coults is to be spoke with, at Andrew Bradford's, at the sign of the Bible, in Second Street."
From The American Weekly Mercury, May 22, 1729 : "Just arrived from London in the ship Providence, Capt. Jonathan Clarke, a parcel of very likely servants, most
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Tradesmen, to be sold on reasonable Terms; the ship now lies at Mr. Lawrence's Wharf, where either the Master or the said Lawrence are to be spoke with."
From The American Weekly Mercury, August 28, 1729. " Lately arrived from Plymouth in the ship John and Anne, Thomas Warcut, Master, a parcel of likely servants
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Testimony of the Early Press.
on board the said ship, to be sold reasonable for money or country produce ; credit given if required.
" The above named ship is now lying at William Fish- bourn's Wharf and will be ready to sail for Plymouth in three weeks after."
From The Pennsylvania Gazette, June, 1742 :
"To be sold. A likely Servant Woman, having three years and a half to serve. She is a good spinner."
From Der Hoch Deutsche Pennsylvanische Berichte, Philadelphia, February 16, 1745 :
" We have heard of the ship Argyle, Captain Stettman, from Rotterdam for Philadelphia, with Germans. It was one hundred hours distant from England when it met two Spanish war ships which put the Captain and some passen- gers on a Holland ship by which they were put on shore in England. Another ship, the H. Andra, Captain Braum, bound for Philadelphia with 300 Germans, who reached Charleston, Carolina ; some of the passengers have arrived in Philadelphia who each had still three doubloons to pay ; others reached New York who had money and some of these are still expected here. It seems that while the ship is again being loaded it is convenient for them to journey here. These people say the Captain offered in case they would sign a new contract, he would convey them to Charleston within four days ; but in case they refused then they must travel eight weeks more to Philadelphia. But if they insist in going direct to that city he would let them go hungry, he not having enough food to feed them.
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