USA > Pennsylvania > The Fatherland: (1450-1700) : showing the part it bore in the discovery, exploration and development of the western continent with special reference to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; pt. I. of a narrative and critical history > Part 9
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
173 Reise-Beschreibung, Des Brandenburgischen Adelichen Pilgers. Otto Friedrich von der Gröben. Marienwerder, Gedruckt durch Simon Reinegern. Anno 1694. (A copy of this book is in library of the writer )
137
Von der Gröben's Expedition.
Von der Gröben, upon his recovery, in pursuance of his original instructions, left the African coast and sailed for America by way of the Flemish Islands (Azores.) It does not appear from his pub- lished report that he made any attempts either to land or colonize in the western hemisphere. He ap- pears to have sailed as far north as Newfoundland, where he traded for codfish. Thence, he headed east- ward, he skirted the coast of Ireland, and arrived at the mouth of the Elbe in October, 1683, the voyage having lasted eighteen months.
The German settlement thus established upon the coast of Africa was subsequently reinforced, and gradually spread along the coast, so that in the year 1687, the flag of Brandenburg waved over four differ- ent settlements and fortified trading-stations in that region. The insalubrity of the climate, and the failure of any requisite pecuniary return, caused these settlements to be abandoned after the death of the Great Elector, which occurred on April 29, 1688.
In looking over this almost forgotten episode in the history of attempted German colonization, one is naturally startled at the thought of how far-reaching the results might have been, if the German comman- der had sailed direct to the American coast and ob- tained a foothold here, instead of wasting his men and resources in the vain attempts upon the Gold coast.
Had he unfurled the standard of the Great Elector upon these shores, where the climate would have been congenial, and had the wise plans of Frederick
Ļ
I38
The Fatherland 1450-1700.
William been carried out, either by treaty or other- wise, with such power as claimed sovereignty over American soil, the thousands of German yeomen who left the Fatherland during the next three decades to be scattered over these shores, and in a great measure developed the British colonies in America, might have been concentrated within a single province un- der the German standard, which undoubtedly would have proven a nucleus for a German empire in the western world.
Here arise possibilities for thought almost too great for contemplation. However, as a matter of fact, the failure of the elector's plans for German colonization must be laid to the avarice or incapacity of those into whose hands was placed the execution of his plans, and not to the wise intentions of the great ruler whose living monument is virtually the great German empire of the present day.
ARMS OF BRANDENBURG.
1450-THE FATHERLAND-1700.
2
1
THE QUAKERS' MEETING HELD AT THE HOUSE OF BENJAMIN FURLY IN THE FALL OF 1677. (AFTER A PAINTING BY EGBERT HEMSKIRCK THE YOUNGER.)
GERMAN EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.
2 E now come to the im- mediate cause of the great emigration to America, the emigration of what was left of the German population within the Palatinate and the Duchy of Würtemberg after the French invasions.
The edict of Nantes, it will ARMS OF WURTEMBERG. be remembered, was revoked on October 18, 1685, by which the exercise of the Reformed religion in France was forbidden, children were to be educated in the Catholic faith, and all emigration was prohibited.
In spite of the latter command, however, many of the persecuted Huguenots flocked across the borders and accepted the shelter offered them by the Palatine Elector.17 This induced the notorious Madame de Maintenon, a narrow minded bigot, to induce the king utterly to devastate the Palatinate, and peremp- tory orders were given through Louvois that the
140
The Fatherland 1450-1700.
Palatinate should be destroyed. In pursuance of this command 100,000 French soldiers were despatched by Louis XIV, to do the work. How well this horde of murderers did his bidding is a matter of history. Even to the present day, after the lapse of two cen- turies, the line of march may be traced from the Drachenfels to Heidelberg. Crumbling walls, ruined battlements and blown-up towers, still remain as mementoes of French vandalism.
The league of Augsburg was formed, but failed to save the fated Fatherland from French pillage and rapine. Hardly had the smoke from the blazing em- bers died away from one invasion, and the fields and vineyards once more begun to show signs of peaceful thrift, than another invasion followed and swept with a frightful desolation over the doomed valley of the Rhine.
This devastation extended into the Duchy of Würtemberg, and it may be said that in the years 1688-9 the whole of southern Germany was overrun by the French and completely paralyzed with the fear of the hireling murderers. The tale of this devasta- tion of the fertile Schwabenland has been ably set forth by one of Würtemberg's most learned histor- ians, upon the occasion of the bi-centennial anniver- sary.175
The chief factors in this blot upon civilization were
174 Penna. Mag. of History and Biog. vol. vi, p. 318.
175 Württemberg und die Franzosen im Jahr 1688, von Theodor Schott, Stuttgart, 1888.
The Burgomaster's Wife at Schorndorf, before the Council. After an oil painting by Hæberlin, at Stuttgart.
14I
The Burgomaster's Wife of Schorndorff.
the French ambassador at the court of Würtemberg, D'Invigney, and Melac, the commander of the mili- tary forces ; and in so great detestation is the name of the latter held, that even to the present day, "Melac" is one of the favorite names for Suabian dogs.
The story of how this unaccountable fear of the French was eventually overcome, and the period of German inactivity terminated, is a well-known epi- sode in German history. Allusion is here made to the Burgomaster's wife at Schorndorff, Anna Barbara Walch, a small courageous woman, who, when she received an intimation that the Stadt-rath or council were considering a demand of surrender by the French, went to the town-hall, called her husband out and threatened him with death if he dared to vote for surrender. She then assembled a number of equally brave women, who armed themselves with forks, broom-handles, and other domestic weapons, surrounded the town-hall, and by main force pre- vented the council from surrendering the town.
The denouement of this uprising is also well known. Schorndorff was saved, the French were de- feated, and eventually driven out of Würtemberg.
This incident is purposely introduced here, as there were many Frankish and Palatinate women of equal courage who came here to Pennsylvania and helped to make this Commonwealth : women whose descend- ants are now members of our society : men who have lost none of the courage, bravery or patriotism im- parted to them by their German maternal ancestors.
Without going into further particulars regarding
.
I42
The Fatherland 1450-1700.
the succeeding conflicts that rent the Fatherland, suffice it to say that it was this ruthless desolation of the valley of the Rhine, more than any other cause, that started the great and steady stream of German blood, muscle and brains, to Pennsylvania's sylvan shores.
At this period of the Fatherland's helplessness and desolation, the darkest days of Germany's humilia- tion, messengers were again sent forth to the vari- ous towns and in the valley of the Rhine, bearing the news that the scheme of William Penn, the Quaker, was a successful one, and that the Province or the Quaker-valley (Quackerthal ) was open to all persons who refused to conform to the requirements of the orthodox religion as by law established.176
The chief promoter of this scheme for German emigration was the same Benjamin Furly, the Eng- lish Quaker and merchant at Rotterdam, whose ac- quaintance we have previously made as the compan- ion and interpreter of William Penn during the lat- ter's visit to Germany and Holland in 1677.
It is at this point that a special tribute is due to Benjamin Furly for his efforts to throw safeguards around the German emigrant who was not conver- sant with either English language, customs or laws.
William Penn, in drafting the fundamental laws
1764 Spener, in his Freyheit der Gläubigen, Franckfurth-am-Mayn, 1691, enumerates the following sects of Separatists (Chap. viii, p. 118) Weige- lians, the Rosicrucians, Arminians, different kinds of Syncretists, Osi- anderians, those who could not bear religious vows ; Pseudo-Philoso- phers, Anti-Scripturalists, Latitudinarians, Chiliasts and Böhmists.
Safeguards for German Emigrants. 143
of his Province, submitted the various drafts to Benjamin Furly and possibly to others. Furly not only compared the different "Frames of Govern- ment," "Fundamentall Constitutions," and laws pre- pared for the Province; but offered substitutes and suggestions to the Proprietor, containing provisions for the protection of such as were about to transport themselves and their families to Pennsylvania at the latter's solicitation. He even criticized the Proprie- tor, where, in the proposed laws, changes were made which did not meet with his approval. Two of these documents, in Furly's handwriting, have been found among the Penn papers, now in the collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. One is en- dorsed :
"For the Security of Foreigners who may incline to purchase Land in Pennsylvania, but may dy be- fore they themselvs come to their inhabit."
This paper was published in full, with an intro- duction, by Frederick D. Stone Litt. D., to the Sketch of Benjamin Furly by the writer, in the Penna. Magazine of History and Biography, October, 1895.177 The other paper is a comment on "The Fundamentall Constitutions." The manuscript of which was found among the "Penn Papers" in posses- sion of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and published by the Society in October, 1896.178
177 Penna. Mag. of Hist. and Biog. vol. xix, p. 295.
178 "The Fundamentall Constitutions of Pennsilvania. Ibid vol. xx, p. 283, et seq.
144
The Fatherland 1450-1700.
These papers show the intimate concern Furly felt in the laws and government of the new province and the welfare of the German settlers. The former document is a valuable one to every student inter- ested in the development of our country, but especi- ally for Pennsylvania Germans, as it shows how earnestly Furly stood up for their ancestors' per- sonal rights and estate.179
Then again, his suggestions and advice to Penn as to the course to pur- sue in regard to a possible attempt to Brought im Finally, of Virginia, Manyle introduce negro slavery into the Province, is of great interest, as the first public protest against this evil in America was made at Germantown in 1688 by some of the German pioneers who came to Penn- sylvania under his FAC-SIMILE OF ANTI-SLAVERY CLAUSE IN FURLY'S SUGGESTIONS TO PENN. auspices and bounty.
- constitution file
179 See Articles I and II. I bid vol. xix, p. 297.
LITERATURE USED TO INDUCE GERMAN EMIGRATION.
The various pamphlets and tracts issued by Penn and Furly, were :
" A | Letter | from | William Penn | Proprietary and Governour of | Pennsylvania | In America, | to the | Committee | of the | Free Society of Traders { of that Province, residing in London, | etc.180 Printed and Sold by Andrew Sowle, at the Crooked-Billet in Holloway-Lane in Shoreditch, and at several Station- ers in London, 1683." (Appendix plate XIX.)
This pamphlet was quickly translated and issued in low Dutch, German and French :
" Missive | van William Penn, \ Eygenaar en Gouverneur van | Pennsylvania, | in America. | Geschreven aan de Commissarissen van de Vrye Socie | teyt der Handelaars, op de Provintie, | binnen London resideerende. | etc.181 Amsterdam Gedrukt voor Jacob Claus, Boekverkooper in de Prince-straat, 1684. (Appendix plate XX.)
146
The Fatherland 1450-1700.
Beschreibung | Der in America neu-erfundenen | Provintz | Pensylvanien. | Derer Inwohner, Gesetz, Arth, Sit | ten und Gebrach : | Auch samtlicher Reviren des Landes | Sonderlich der Haupt-Stadt | Phila-delphia | Alles glaubwürdigst | Auss des Gov- erneurs darinnen erstatteten | Nachricht. \ In Verle- gung bey Henrich Heuss an der Banco | im Jahr 1684. 182 (Appendix plate XXI.)
Recueil | de | Diverses | pieces | Concernant | la | Pensylvanie. \ A la Haye, \ Chez Abraham Troyel, | Marchand Libraire, dans la Grand Sale \ de la Cour, M.DC. LXXXIV.183
(Appendix plate XXII.)
The above three tracts in addition to Penn's letter to the "Free Society of Traders," contained Holme's description of Philadelphia, and Thomas Paskel's letter dated February 10, 1683, 1. s.
180 Originals in Historical Society of Penna., New York Historical Society, and Philadelphia Library. Six different editions were issued during the year. This tract contains the first printed account of Phila- delphia by the founder of the Colony.
181 Copies of this tract are in Collection of Hist. Soc. of Penna., and Carter Brown Library of Providence. This tract is also exceedingly rare, and contains a letter from Thomas Paschal, dated Philadelphia Feb'y 10, 1683 The first dated from that locality. Two editions were printed in low Dutch, with some variation in the title page ; it contains the imprint Den Tweeden Druk 1684. It also contains a plan of the City.
182 One of the scarcest Pennsylvania pamphlets. The only known copy is in the Carter Brown Collection of Providence from which the fac-simile in Appendix is made.
183 Copies of this excessively rare volume are in the Carter Brown Library and the Library of a Philadelphia collector. The copy in the British Museum lacks the title page The important parts of this book "collection of various pieces concerning Pennsylvania" were translated by Hon. Sam'l W. Pennypacker and printed in the Penna. Mag., of Biography and History, vol. vi, pp. 311-328.
147
Some Rare Tracts.
A later French edition, printed at Amsterdam, 1688, also contains Penn's "Further Account" of 1685, Turner's Letter, and :---
"Explanations of Mr. Furly to purchasers and renters upon certain articles concerning the establish- ment of Pennsylvania. Rotterdam, 1684.181 (Ap- pendix plate XXIII.)
The above issues offer an interesting study, as they were supplemented to at this time by some ac- counts written by actual residents in Pennsylvania, and thereby went far to stimulate the German emi- gration. The earliest of these pamphlets appears to have been a single sheet or two leaves quarto; it bore the following title :
Twee Missiven geschreven uyt Pennsilvania a' Ene door een Hollander woonachtig in Philadelfia, d' Ander door Switzer, woonachtig in German Town, Dat is Hoogduytse Stadt. Van den 16, Maert, 1684. Nieuwen Stijl. Tot Rotterdam, Anno 1684. 2 leaves small 4to.185
This tract is an exceedingly scarce one. The copy examined by the writer was in the Archive of the City of Rotterdam.
184 No English edition of Furly's "Explanations" is known to the writer. A translation into English from the French Edition, 1684, by Hon. Sam'l W. Pennypacker will be found in Penna. Mag. Biography and History, vol. vi, p. 319, et seq.
185 Copy in Archief der Gemeente Rotterdam, Holland. There is also a copy in the Library of Congress (which unfortunately was not available : at the time our appendix was prepared). This interesting pamphlet was translated by Hon. S. W. Pennypacker. See "Hendrick Penne- becker, Surveyor of Lands for the Penns," by Hon. S. W. Penny- packer, privately printed, Philadelphia, 1894. Chapter iii, pp. 27-39.
148
The Fatherland 1450-1700.
The next important work upon the list is Thomas Budd's "Good Order Established ;" this was printed by Bradford in Philadelphia :186
" Good Order Established | in | Pennsilvania & New Jersey | in America, | Being a true account of the Country ; | With its Produce and Commodities there made, etc. . . By Thomas Budd. Printed in the year 1685." (Appendix plate XXIV.)
Another account, a more pretentious one, was by Cornelis Bom, a Dutch baker, who came to Philadel- phia at an early date and here plied his trade. This book was published at Rotterdam, 1685, by Pieter van Wijnbrugge, a Dutch Quaker and Publisher : 187
Missive van | Cornelis Bom, | Geschreven uit de Stadt | Philadelphia, | In de Provintie van | Pennsyl- vania, | Leggende op d' Oostzyde vande | Zuyd Revier van Nieuw Nederland. | Verhalende de groote voort gank | van de selve Provintie, | Waer by komt | De Getuygenis van | Jacob Telner | van Amsterdam. | (Appendix plate XXV.)
These publications were followed by :
A Further Account of the Province | of Pennsyl- vania, and its Improvements. | For the Satisfaction of those that are Adventurers, and | Inclined to be So.188 (Appendix plate XXVI.)
This Account was signed " William Penn " and dated at the end-" Worminghurst Place" 12, of
186 Original in Historical Society of Penna.
187 Originals are in collection of Hist. Soc. of Penna., and in the
archives of the Moravian Church at Bethlehem, Penna.
188 Copy in Hist. Soc. of Penna.
Edicts Against the Quakers. 149
the roth month, 1685. Two editions of it are known to have been published.
A Dutch translation was published early in the following year, this tract is exceedingly rare :
Tweede | Bericht ofte Relaas | Van | William Penn, | Eygenaar en Gouverneur van de Provintie van| Pennsylvania, | In America, etc. Amsterdam by Jacob Claus, Boekverkoper in de Prince-straat.169 (Ap- pendix plate XXVII.)
It is not to be assumed that the efforts upon the part of Penn and Furly, followed by the willing re- sponse of so many German yeomen, were left un- noticed by the authorities, both religious and secular, of the German provinces affected, which were already so depleted by the successive wars.
Numerous edicts were issued by the ruling Princes, in such a manner that they included Pietist as well as Quaker within their scope. The most important anathemas at this period are the following : 190
Sr. Chür Furstl. Durchl. zu Sachsen, Joh. Georg des Dritten, Befehl wider die neuerlich angestellten Conventicula oder Privat Zusammenkünffte. Publiciret den 25, Martii 1690.
Der Durchlauchtigsten Fürsten und Herren, Herr Rudolph Augustus, und Herr Anthon Ulrichs, Gebrüdere, Hertzogen zu Braunschweig und Lüneburg, Edict und Verordnung, wegen der hin und wieder sich erreigenden Neuerungen und Sectareyen. Publiciret den 2, Martii, Anno 1692.
189 The only known originals are in the Carter Brown Library of Providence and collection of Historical Society of Penna.
190 Copies of the following Edicts, are in the collection of the His- torical Society of Penna., and in the Library of the writer.
150
The Fatherland 1450-1700.
Ihrer Küniglichen Majestät in Schweden Caroli, des XI. Edict, wegen der in Teutschland einschleichenden Schwerme- reyen vom 6, Octobr, 1694.
Hoch-Fürstl. Durchl. Hertzog Eberhard Ludwigs von Wür- tenberg, Edict und Verordnung, wegen der Pietisterey. Pub- liciret den 28. Februarii, Anno 1694.
Hoch-Fürstl. Durchl. Hertzog Friederichs zu Sachsen-Gotha Manifest und Verordnung wegen der so genannten Pietisterey. Publiciret den 4. Februarii, Anno 1697.
Desgleichen Hoch-Furstl. Durchl. zu Sachsen-Gotha gnä- digste Resolution, auff Dero hochlöblichen Land-Stande des Furstenthums Altenburg bey dem Anno 1698 den 3 Nov. angestellten Land-Tage unterthänigst gethanen Proposition, die heimlichen Conventicula betreffend, und Ausschaffung der neuen Schwärmer oder so gemannten Peitisten.
Hoch-Fürstl. Durchl. Hertzog Georg Wilhelms zu Braun- schweig und Lüneburg, Edict, und Verordnung wegen des Sectarischen Pietismi, Quackerismi oder anderen gefährlichen Irrthümern. Publiciret den 7, Jan. 1698.
Hoch-Fürstl. Durchl. der Frau Abbatissin zu Quedlinburg, gnädigste Verordnung wider die Verächter des öffentlichen Gottesdienstes, Beicht-Stuhls und Hochwürdigen Abendmahls. Publiciret den. I, Aug. Anno 1700.
These edicts were afterwards published under a collective title :
Quäcker-Greuel | Das ist : | Abscheuliche | auffrü- rische | verdammliche Irthum | Der neuen Schwermer Welche genennet werden | Quacker | Wie sie dieselbe in ihren Scartecken | Allarm | Standarte | Pannier | Königreich | Eckstein | und sonst schrifftlich und mündlich mit grossem Ergerniss ausgebreitet. | Auf Anordnung Eines Edlen Hochweisen Raths | Der Stadt Hamburg | Den Einfaltigen zu treuhert-
15I
Vindication of Wm. Penn.
ziger Warnung kürtzlich gefasset | gründlich wider- leget und in Druck gegeben | durch | Etliche hierzu verordnete | Des Ministerii in Hamburg | Auf Be- gehren hoher Personen auffs neue gedruckt | Im Jahr Christi 1702. (Appendix plate LIII.)
In addition to the above official proclamations, there were also issued a number of books, pamphlets and broadsides about and against the Quakers and their scheme for colonization. We have here but a repetition of what had been the case in England, and called forth such works as :
"A Vindication of William Penn, | Proprietary of Pensilvania, from the late Aspersions |spread abroad on purpose to Defame him. With | an Abstract of several of his Letters since his | Departure from England.
Philip Ford,191 London, 12th, 12th month, 1682-3. (Appendix plate XVIII.)
"A | Letter | from | Doctor More, | with | Passages out of several Letters | from Persons of good Credit, | Relating to the State and Improvement of | the Province of | Pennsilvania. | Published to prevent false Reports. | Printed in the Year 1687.192 (Appen- dix plate XXVIII.)
These were followed with :
191 Original in collection of Historical Society of Penna. Philip Ford was also a member of the original Frankfort company.
192 Original in Carter Brown Library. This tract was republished in full in Penna. Mag. of Hist. and Biog., vol. iv, pp. 445-455.
152
The Fatherland 1450-1700.
"Some | Letters | and an | Abstract of Letters from | Pennsylvania, | Containing | The State and Improvement of that | Province. | Published to pre- vent Mis-Reports. | London, 1691. .193 (Appendix plate XXXIV.)
A Dutch version of "No Cross no Crown," a new edition of Penn's "Frame of Government," and of Penn's " Travails " in Holland and Germany,-
" Zonder Kruys, Geen Kroon, etc., door William Penn. Amsterdam 1687.194 (Appendix plate XXIX.) " The Frame of the Government of Pennsylvania In America." London, 1691.185 (Appendix plate XXXIII.)
"An Account of W. Penn's Travails in Holland and Germany, Anno MDCLXXVII. London, 1695.1 198 (Appendix plate XXXIX.)
Among the important descriptive books of the time must be mentioned Richard Blome's "English America ;" this was published in three languages, English, French and German :-- and Gerard Croese's
193 This work, a small quarto, gives a number of extracts from letters written from Philadelphia during the year 1690. The tract was reprinted in the Penna. Mag. of Hist., vol. iv, pp. 189-201. An original is among the Penn Papers in the Hist. Soc. of Penna., and with the exception of one in the Carter Brown Library is the only one known.
194 Original in Hist. Soc of Penna. The first English edition is dated 1669. For various editions of this work, see Smith's Catalogue of Friends' Books
195 Original at Hist. Soc. of Penna. Republished in Hazard's Reg., vol. ii, p. 113. See title of first edition 1682, appendix plate xii. The first Frame of Gov't., being found defective on several accounts, the second " frame " was established and accepted in the year 1683.
153
Important Descriptive Books.
Historia Quakeriana, which was also printed in sev- eral languages :
The \ Present State \ Of His Majesties | Isles and Territories | In | America With New Maps of every Place, | etc. London : | Printed by H. Clark, for Dorman Newman, at the Kings Arms in the Port- trey, 1687.197 (Appendix plate XXX.)
L'amerique | Anglvise, | ou | Description | des | Isles et Terres \ du Roi D'angleterre, \ Dans ' L'amerique. | Avec de nouvelles Cartes de chaque Isle & Terres. | Traduit de l'Anglois. | A Amsterdam, | Chez Abraham Wolfgang, \ pres la Bourse. \ M. DC. LXXXVIII. 198 ( Appendix plate XXXI.)
Richardi Blome | Englisches | America, | oder 1 Kurtze doch deutliche \ Beschreibung aller derer l jenigen Lander und Inseln | so der Cron Engeland in West-In | dien ietziger Zeit zustaendig und | unterthaenig sind. | durch eine hochberühmte Feder | aus dem Eng- lischen übersetzt. | und mit Kupffern gezieret. | Leipzig | Bey Johann Groszens Wittbe und Erben. | Anno 1697. 11 (Appendix plate XLIII.)
Gerardi Croesi | Historia | Quakeriana, | Sive | De vulgo dictis Quakeris, | Ab ortu illorum usque ad recens | natum schisma, | etc. Amstelodami, | Apud Henricum & Viduam | Theodori Boom, 1695. | 200 ( Appendix plate XL.)
196 Original at Hist. Soc. of Penna. The manuscript Journal kept by Penn during this journey, is now in the collection of Charles Roberts, Esq., of Philadelphia. See title supra. The first edition was printed by Sowle, 1694 Subsequent editions were issued from 1714- 1835.
197 Original in collection of Hist. Soc. of Penna. The part relating to Pennsylvania is virtually a reprint of Penn's "Further account." See Wm. Penn in America, Phila., 1888, p. 173-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.