USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > The German immigration into Pennsylvania through the port of Philadelphia from 1700 to 1775 : part II: The Redemptioners > Part 3
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 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
Another of our historians explicitly states that " from the writings and discourses of William Penn during his German travels they (the Germans) obtained a knowledge of Pennsylvania. Some of them removed to the Province in 1683, others in 1706-1709 and 1711. Their reports in- duced many to follow them in 1717." 11
9 KALM'S Travels in North America, p. 270.
10 PROUD'S History of Pennsylvania, Vol. II., pp. 344-345.
11 GORDON'S History of Pennsylvania, p. 573.
CHAPTER IV.
EFFORTS TO SECURE COLONISTS, SUCCESSFUL .- ALARM CRE- ATED BY THEIR GREAT NUMBERS FROM GERMANY .- SYS TEM OF REGISTRATION ADOPTED .- ARRIVAL OF MANY SHIPS .- THEIR NAMES, NUMBERS AND PLACES OF DE- PARTURE.
"Vaterland ! theurer Freund, lebt wohl ! In dem es nach der Fremde soll : Ein anderes Land, eine and're Luft Die uns mit Ernst entgegen ruft ; Kommt, kommt, hier solt ihr ruhig seyn Ungestört, frei von leibes Pein."
"O Sprecht ! warum zogt ihr von dannen ? Das Neckarthal hat Wein und Korn ; Der Schwarzwald steht voll finstrer Tannen ? Im Spessart klingt des Älplers Horn."
HILE the various mea- sures put into opera- tion by the proprietor to secure colonists were at once active and persistent, the results for a time were unimportant so far as immigration from Germany was concerned. The Crefeld colony under Francis Daniel Pastorius began its settlement at Germantown in 1683. The accessions to that early body were not numerous during the remainder of the seventeenth
( 34 )
35
Early Colony of Mennonites.
century. Still, a few came each year. Johannes Kelpius with his band of 40 pietists appears to have been among the first to arrive after the Crefelders ; he came in 1694. Daniel Falkner brought additions in 1704. " In 1708- 1709-1710 to 1720 thousands of them emigrated. From 1720 to 1725 the number increased and settled principally in Montgomery, Berks and Lancaster counties. In 1719 Jonathan Dickinson wrote, 'we are daily expecting ships from London which bring over Palatines, in number about six or seven thousand. We had a parcel who came out about five years ago, who purchased land about sixty miles west of Philadelphia, and proved quiet and indus- trious.' " 12
This latter colony evidently refers to the little band of Mennonites, perhaps I should say Swiss-Huguenots, who came over in 1708 or 1709 and located themselves in the Pequea Valley, Lancaster county, forming the first settle- ment of Europeans within that County.13 Some members of that colony almost immediately returned to Germany to bring over relatives and friends, and between the years 1711 and 1717, and for some years later there were large accessions to the colony. It was one of the most substan- tial and successful settlements ever made in Pennsylvania. Even then, as in later years, most of the colonists came from the Palatinate, which sent forth her children from her burned cities and devastated fields, theirfaces turned towards the land of promise. Just how many Germans landed at the port of Philadelphia prior to the passage of the regis- try law of 1727. is unknown, but the number was undoubt- edly large as may be inferred from the quotation above from
12 RUPP'S Thirty Thousand Names, p. 10.
13 "Im Jahr 1709 Kamen etliche familien von der Pfalz welche von den vertriebenen Schweizern abstamnten und liessen sich nieder in Lancaster county." BENJAMIN EBY'S Geschichte der Mennoniten, p. 151.
36
The German Immigration into Pennsylvania.
Jonathan Dickinson. It was not until 1707 however that Germans in considerable numbers began arriving. From that time onward the number increased from year to year, and ten years later began to attract the attentiofi of the Provincial Government.
The country seemed to be filling up with Germans, and as a result of the alarm that was caused thereby, Gover- nor William Keith soon after his arrival, on September 7, 1717, observed to the Provincial Council sitting at Phil- adelphia " that great numbers of foreigners from Ger- many, strangers to our Languages and Constitutions, hav- ing lately been imported into this Province daily dispersed themselves immediately after Landing, without producing any Certificates, from whence they came or what they were; and as they seemed to have first Landed in Britain, and afterwards to have left it Without any License from the Government, or so much as their Knowledge, so in the same manner they behaved here, without making the least application to himself or to any of the magistrates ; That as this Practice might be of very dangerous Conse- quence, since by the same method any number of foreigners from any nation whatever, as well Enemys as friends, might throw themselves upon us: The Governor, there- fore, thought it requisite that this matter should be Con- sidered, & 'tis ordered thereupon, that all the masters of vessels who have lately imported any of these fforeigners be summoned to appear at this Board, to Render an acct. of the number and Characters of the Passengers respec- tively from Britain ; That all those who are already Landed be required by a Proclamation, to be issued for that pur- pose, to Repair within the space of one month to some Magistrate, particularly to the Recorder of this City (Phil- adelphia), to take such Oaths appointed by Law as are
37
One of Penn's Publications.
Befchireibung Der in AMERICA nuerfundenen PROVINZ
PENSYLVANIEN. Derer Anwohner / Befen/ Arth / Git ten und Gebrauch : Kuch fåmtlicher Reviren des Landes! Sonderlich Der Saupt- Stadt PHILA-DELPHIA
Hues glaubwürdigft Auf des Gouverneurs darinnen erftatteten nachricht.
'Sn Berlegung ben Senrich Auf an der Banco/ im Jahr 1684.
TITLE-PAGE OF THE GERMAN VERSION OF PENN'S LETTERS TO THE Free Society of Traders. .
38
The German Immigration into Pennsylvania.
necessary to give assurances of their being well affected to his Majesty and his Government; But because some of these foreigners are said to be Menonists, who cannot for Conscience sake take any Oaths, that those persons be ad- mitted upon their giving any Equivalent assurances in their own way and manner, & that the Naval Officer of this Port be required not to admit any inward bound vessell to an Entry, until the master shall first give an exact List of all their passengers imported by them." 1
The Provincial Council perhaps never did an act that so much deserves the thanks and the gratitude of those of Ger- man descent in the State of Pennsylvania to-day as in em- bodying the foregoing views in an Act of the Assembly LOV E a few years later. It re- sulted in the registration of E the many thousands of Ger- man and other immigrants, 13 and these ship masters' lists as we find them to-day in the V Colonial Records, Rupp's Thirty Thousand Names, and Volume XVII. of the Second Series of Pennsylva- GREAT SEAL OF THE PROVINCE. (REVERSE.) nia Archives are a priceless treasure, a veritable store- house to which thousands of people of German ancestry have gone to find information concerning the names, ages and time of arrival of their ancestors. Never was a gov- ernment scare so productive of good results.
The order was immediately acted upon. At the next meeting of the Council on September 9, 1717, Capt. Rich-
14 Colonial Records : First Series, Vol. III., p. 29.
39
Acting on the Governor's Suggestion.
mond, Capt. Tower and Capt. Eyers waited upon the Board with the lists of the Palatines they had brought over from London, by which it appeared the first had carried one hundred and sixty-four, the second ninety-one and the last one hundred and eight.
There is no evidence however, that I am aware of, that anything further was immediately done towards carrying out the order passed in 1717. The minutes of the Council are silent on the subject for ten full years.
On September 14, 1727, again acting on the Governor's suggestion, a resolution was adopted by the Provincial Council holding shipmasters to a strict accountability and ordering an examination into the matter of bringing aliens into the Province. Here is the Resolution : " That the masters of vessels importing Germans and others from the continent of Europe, shall be examined whether they have leave granted to them by the Court of Great Britain for the importation of these foreigners, and that a List be taken of all these people, their several occupations, and the place from whence they came, and shall be further examined touching their intentions in coming hither ; and that a writ- ing be drawn up for them to sign, declaring their allegiance and subjection to the King of Great Britain, and fidelity to the Proprietary of this Province, and that they will demean themselves peaceably towards all his Majesty's subjects, and observe and conform to the Laws of England and the Government of Pennsylvania."15 The arrival of a ship load of German immigrants on September 21, 1727, ap- pears to have recalled to the Council the action it had de- cided upon ten years before. At a meeting held on Sep- tember 21, 1727, the following appears on the minutes :
" A Paper being drawn up to be signed by those Pala-
15 Colonial Records : First Series, Vol. III., p. 283.
40
The German Immigration into Pennsylvania.
tines, who should come into this Province with an Inten- tion to settle therein, pursuant to the order of this Board, was this day presented, read & approved, & is in these Words :
" We Subscribers, Natives and late Inhabitants of the Palatinate upon the Rhine & Places adjacent, having transported ourselves and Families into this Province of Pennsylvania, a Colony subject to the Crown of Great Britain, in hopes and Expectation of finding a Retreat & peaceful Settlement therein, Do Solemnly promise & Engage, that We will be faithful & bear true Allegiance to his present MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE SEC- OND, and his Successors Kings of Great Britain, and will be faithfull to the Proprietor of this Province ; And that we will demean ourselves peaceably to all His said Majesties Subjects, and strictly observe & conform to the Laws of England and this Province, to the utmost of our Power and best of our understanding."
A signed list was then presented to the Board, on which were the names of one hundred and nine Palatines, who, with their families, numbered about four hundred persons, who had just arrived at the port of Philadelphia, on the ship William and Sarah, William Hill, Master, from Rot- terdam, but last from Dover, England. Captain Hill was asked whether he had a license from any Court in Great Britain to bring these people into the Province and what their intentions were in coming here. He replied that he had no other authority than the ordinary ship clear- ance, and that he believed the immigrants designed to settle in the Province. After this the persons who had come over on the William and Sarah were then called be- fore the Board, and " did repeat & subscribe the fore- going Declaration."
41
Passenger Lists Perhaps Incomplete.
As a matter of interest the names of this earliest impor- tation of Germans under the new regulations are here given. The list is the forerunner of hundreds more which were placed on record during the following fifty years. It has been doubted whether the lists preserved in the State archives at Harrisburg are complete. At all events some years are missing. The war with France put a stop to nearly all this traffic, so that between 1756 and 1763 only one or two arrivals of immigrant ships are recorded; in 1745 none at all.
The result of that action was that thereafter lists were regularly made by the masters of ships bringing passengers to this country, which lists are still preserved in the archives of the State, at Harrisburg. Sometimes triplicate lists were prepared. These were submitted to the Provincial authorities for their satisfaction and guidance, and also be- came of service when contracts between these people and those who hired or bought them were made.16
There are good reasons for believing that the ships lists as we find them in Rupp, in Volume XVII. of the Second Series of Pennsylvania Archives, and of course in the Co- lonial Records from which they were mainly compiled, are in some cases defective, in that they do not in every instance give the full list of those who came. To what extent these omissions have been carried, it is impossible to say from our present knowledge of the subject, but it is possible that later investigations in Germany and Switzer- land may bring fuller lists to light.17
16 RUPP'S Thirty Thousand Names, p. 40.
17 That indefatigable and successful searcher into the early ecclestiastical and secular history of Provincial Pennsylvania, Professor W. J. Hinke, during his researches in Europe, found, as we learn from a recent article contributed to Notes and Queries, a pamphlet printed in Zurich, in 1735, called The Limp- ing Messenger from Carolina, or the Description of a journey from Zurich
42
The German Immigration into Pennsylvania.
I. D. Rupp makes the following remarks concerning these triple lists :
" The master's or captain's lists contain the names of all male passengers above the age of sixteen, and some of them, the names of all the passengers. If any had died, or were sick on the arrival of the ship, they are marked accordingly.
" Another list contains all the names of males above the age of sixteen, who were made to repeat and subscribe the Declaration of allegiance, with their own hands, if they could write, if they could not the name was written by a clerk, and the qualified person made his mark.
" The third list is an autograph duplicate of the second one, signed in the same way, and is preserved in book form." 18
A LIST OF YE PALATINE PASSENGERS IMPORTED IN YE SHIP WILLIAM AND SARAH, WILL'M HILL, MAST'R, FROM ROTTERDAM, PHLID'A YE 18 SEPT'BRE 1727.
Hans Jerrick Swaess, Hans Michle Siell,
Benedice Strome, Jacob Josi,
Hans Jerrick Shoomaker, Daniel Levan,
Hans Martain Shoomaker,
Andr" Simmerman,
Hans Michle Pagman, Hans Jerrick Wigler,
Johan Ilabaraker,
Johan Wester,
Hieromnius Milder,
Hans Adam Milder,
Henericus Bell,
Henrick Mayer,
Hans Seri Seigler,
Jacob Gons,
to Rotterdam, by Ludwig Weber, from Wallisellen, in which is given a list of the Swiss emigrants to Pennsylvania on the ship Mercury. This list contains a number of names not given in Rupp's list or that of Vol. XVII. of the Ar- chives. Better still, it gives the name of the place from which each one of the colonists went. These colonists left Zurich in October, 1734, and reached Philadelphia May 29, 1735, having been more than six months on the way.
18 RUPP'S Thirty Thousand Names, p. 40.
Immigrants on the Ship William and Sarah.
43
Sebastian Vink, Jacob Swicker,
Hans Bernard Wolf,
Ann Floren, Hans Jacob Ekinan, Hendrick Wiltier, Jacob Pause,
Sebastian Creek,
Hans Jerrick Wolf,
Hans Jerrick Bowman,
Hans Jerig Anspag,
Casper Springler, Michael Peitley, Jno. Barne Levinstey, Johannes Jlon,
Christ' Milder, Patrick Sprigler, Joh Tobe Serveas,
Hans Michle Weider,
Johannes Eckman,
Will™ Turgens, Will™ Tleer,
Andrew Haltspan,
Anspel Anspag,
Adam Henrick,
Hans Jerrick Schaub, Christian Snyder,
Ulrich Sieere,
Johannes Bartelme,
Junicus Meyer,
Johannes Dübendöffer,
Hans Jorg Glergelf,
Joseph Aelbraght,
Steven Frederick, Philip Feruser,
Jacob Meyer, Johannes Balt,
Hans Filkcysinger,
Christopher Walter,
Hans Jerrick Hoy, And™ Saltsgerrer,
Hans Martin Wilder,
Jacob Wilder,
Hans Jerig Arldnold,
Johannis Stromf,
Hans Jerig Reder, Hendrick Gonger,
Philip Swyger, Elias Meyer
Hans Jerig Roldebas,
Martin Brill,
Christopher Wittmer, Clement Eirn, Johannes Mich1e Peepell,
Peter Leyts,
Johanes Hendk Gyger, Johannes Berret,
Jacob Swartz,
Hans Mich1 Phauts,
Bastiaen Smith,
Philip Siegler, Rudolph Wilkes, Abraham Farn,
Hans Mart" Levisbergn, Jan. Hendª Scaub, Abraham Beni, Frederick Hiligas,
Alex. Diebenderf, Johan Will™ May,
Leonard Seldonrick,
Christº Layhengyger,
Hans Adam Stall,
44
The German Immigration into Pennsylvania.
Tobias Frye,
Albert Swope,
Jacob Mast,
Diederick Rolde,
Nicholas Adams,
Hans Adam Biender,
Johanes Leyb,
Hendrick Hartman,
Conrad Miller,
Philip Jacob Reylender,
Ulrich Hertsell,
Ernest Roede,
Hans Jerick Guyger,
Philip Roedeall,
Hans Jerig Viegle,
Hans Jerig Milder,
Hans Jerig Cramen,
Uldrick Staffon.
While this German immigration was considerable in some years prior to 1727, it was irregular and seemingly spasmodic. Apparently it was gathering strength and courage for the half century of irrepressible exodus which was to follow. In the fall of 1727, five ships laden with German immigrants reached the wharves of Philadelphia. It was no doubt these numerous arrivals that alarmed the
A PIONEER GERMAN HAMLET.
Provincial government anew and led to the imposition of the 40-shillings head tax on all aliens. From that time on the record of arrivals is almost continuous, and although there are several short breaks in it, we are enabled, nevertheless,
45
Arrivals from 1727 to 1775 .
to get a fairly accurate idea of its extent and also of the manner in which it was carried out.
TABLE SHOWING THE ARRIVAL OF GERMAN IMMIGRANTS DURING THE SPACE OF 44 YEARS, AND COVERING THE PERIOD OF THAT IMMIGRATION'S GREATEST ACTIVITY.
The following is the number of immigrant ships that reached the port of Philadelphia in the period between 1727 and 1775, both years inclusive, of which records have been preserved.
Year.
Number. Year.
Number. Year.
Number.
1727.
5
1743
9
1759
.none
1728
3 1744
5
1760
.none
1729.
2 I745
none
1761.
I
1730
3
1746 2
1762.
none
1731
4
1747
5
1763.
4
1732
II
1748
8
1764.
II
1733
7
1749 21
1765.
5
1734
2
1750
14
1766.
5
1735
3
175I
15
1767.
7
1736
3
1752.
19
1768
4
1737
7
1753
19
1769.
4
1738 1 6
1754
17
1770
7
1739
8
1755
2
1771
9
1740
6
1756
I
1772
8
1741
9
1757
none
1773.
15
1742.
5
1758
none
1774
6
1775.
2
In all, 321 ships in 44 years : 43 in the first ten years, 67 in the second ten, 121 in the third decade, and 88 dur- ing the last eighteen years.
From the foregoing table it will be observed that the tide of immigration ebbed and flowed by years and periods. Sometimes these variations can be accounted for and then
46
The German Immigration into Pennsylvania.
again they appear inexplicable. It is reasonable to sup- pose the 40-shillings law was responsible to some extent for this fluctuating immigration, as so onerous a head tax as $10 would be likely to exercise a restraining effect on the poorest class which was already compelled to endure severe financial strains. It may be that some other cause, the nature of which has not come down to us, was operative in producing this result. At the same time it is well to re- member there seems to have been a natural ebb and flow in the numbers without any plausible reason for the same.
The 1,240 arrivals in 1727 were succeeded by 152 fam- ilies numbering only 390 in 1728, and by only 243 in 1729.19 An improvement began in 1730, when the number increased to 458, and they were succeeded by 631 in 1731. In 1732, no fewer than 2,093 were landed; that was high-water mark for a number of years, but in 1738 the number ran up to 3,115. The numbers then proceed with considerable regularity until 1745, when no ship with immigrants was registered. Whether none arrived or whether the records have been lost or mislaid I do not know; most likely the latter, as we are in possession of no information that might suggest a cause for this stoppage. Besides, there were no other years without arrivals until 1757 ; during that and the succeeding three years immigration ceased entirely. That was due to the breaking out of hostilities between Great Britain and France, which, as a matter of course, also in- volved the colonies of the two powers on this continent, and which became known in America as the French and Indian War; the Six Nations having united their fortunes with France and her important colony of Canada. All
19 During the year 1729, there were of English and Welsh passengers and servants, 267, Scotch servants 43, Irish passengers and servants 1,155, Palatine (alien, or 40 shilling) passengers 243 ; by way of Newcastle, chiefly passen- gers and servants from Ireland, 4,500 .- HUGH'S Historical Account, p. 163.
GERMAN IMMIGRATION INTO PER8SYZUASIA
SIMONIS.
·
DC
1
46
The German Immigration into Pennsylvania.
again they appear inexplicable. It is reasonable tu sup- pose the 40-shillings law was responsible to some extent for this fluctuating immigration. as so onerous a head tax as $10 would be hkely to exercise a restraining effect on the poorest class which was already compelled to endure severe financid stratus je may be that some other cause, the nature of which has not crune down to us, was operative in producing this may Ar ise Miroy time it is well to re- member there seemskt , fare for o matural ebb and flow in the numbers withnat ant prawie mason for the same.
The 1, 240 arrivals in (747 were wwwneeded by 152 fam- ilies numbering only (oooin 1258, cor ley, saly 5a3 in 1729.19 An improvement beganto trao. sile bir ingpeaked
10 458, and they work printsis 50 60Fin ants no fewer than 2 b-water mark for a limmo . die number ran up
to 3,135 mbers Lax proceed with considerable regularity .ovet 1743 when ho ship with immigrants was registered. Whether none arrived or whether the records have been lost or mislaid I do not know; most likely the latter, as we are in possession of no information that might suggest a cause for this stoppage. Besides, there were no other years without arrivals until 1757 ; during that and the mitFeeding three years inymigration ceased entirely. That was due to the breaking out of hostilities between Great Britain and France, which, as a matter of course, also in- volved the colonies of the two powers do this continent, and which became known in Amirvel as the French and Indian War: the Six Nations having united their fortunes with France and her important colony of Canada. All
1" Timing the year 1729, there were of English and Welsh passengers and servants, 20), Scotch servants 43, Irish passengers and servants 1, 155, Palatine (alien, or 4 shilling) 1 singers 243; by way of Newcastle, chiefly passen- gers and servants from Ireland, 4.500 -HUGH'S Historical Account, p. 163.
GERMAN IMMIGRATION INTO PENNSYLVANIA.
MENO
SIMONIS.
ÆILXVI
M.D.C.L
GIIIX
CHRIS
X
HISH
XH.)
NATUS
delvis
dige do so fin hay faile der MESNED for yearsfor Y Alos you whose mul lins kiffes johan Jehin
The window milit Fing con Trap+ Ciones mento Das dufine martin Means thatation zu frieden
47
The Arrivals in a Single Year.
manner of hostile French sea craft swept the Atlantic, depredating on English commerce, and however desirous Germans may have been to come to America, the danger of capture by the enemy's ships was a contingency that had to be considered.
After peace was concluded the tide once more began coming in a very steady stream until 1773, when it reached the highest point attained since 1754, and from which time it gradually dwindled until it no longer remained so promi- nent and distinctive a feature in the colonization of the State and Nation.
As throwing much light on the general question, as well as a matter of interest and curiosity, I here give the names of the ships, the dates of their arrival and the number of persons who came on them, during the period of a single year-that of 1738 :
ARRIVALS IN A SINGLE YEAR.
Name of Ship.
Date of Arrival.
No. of Passengers.
Catharine.
. July 27
15
Winter Galley
Sept. 5
252
Glasgow
Sept. 9
349
Two Sisters. Sept. 9
IIO
Robert and Oliver
Sept. II
320
Queen Elizabeth
Sept. 16
300
Thistle
Sept. 19
300
Nancy and Friendship
Sept. 20
187
Nancy
Sept. 20
150
Fox
Oct. 12.
95
Davy
Oct. 25.
180
Saint Andrew
Oct. 27 300
Bilender Thistle.
Oct. 28
152
Elizabeth.
Oct. 30
95
Charming Nancy
Nov. 9. 200
Enterprise. Dec. 6.
120
48
The German Immigration into Pennsylvania.
Very frequently two ships came into port on the same day. On September 3, 1739, and again on September 16, 175I, and September 27, 1752, three of these vessels sailed into port. The latter year is noted for its double arrivals, there having been two on the 22d of September, two on the 23d and three on the 27th. September 30, 1754, beat all records, no fewer than four immigrant ships having come into the port of Philadelphia on that day.
From 1737 to 1746, sixty-seven ships arrived bringing nearly fifteen thousand Germans, nearly all of whom sailed from Rotterdam. Of the first 100 ships that came with immigrants, four came in the month of May, one in June, one in July, fourteen in August, fifty in September, nine- teen in October, five in November, four in December, and one each in January and February-the latter doubtless delayed by contrary winds or storms beyond their usual times. Among that 100 were seventy different ships. Some made a regular business of this kind of traffic and came a number of times. The Samuel has six voyages to her credit ; the Saint Andrew four, the Royal Judith five and the Friendship five. Many names continue on the lists for many years. Some of these craft were called vessels, others ranked as ships, while there were still others known as " snows," " brigantines," " pinks," "brigs " and " billenders," names apparently applied to small craft, and which nomenclature, in part at least, is no longer current among ship-builders and sea-faring men.
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.