USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > New Hanover > The Lutheran Church in New Hanover, (Falckner swamp) Montgomery County, Penna. Part XXII. of a narrative and critical prepared at the request of the Pennsylvania-German society > Part 6
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1 See SPECIAL NOTE on page 161.
2 According to the statement made by Rev. John Casper Stoever of Virginia, in a publication issued at that time, he came to that section in 1716 and after remaining a year " went to Pennsylvania, his original destina- tion." Apparently his home, for part of the time at least, was in Cole- brookdale Township, not far from the Oley Hill Church. Both his son and namesake, Gerhard Henkel, as well as Valentine Geiger, his son-in- law, owned land in that vicinity. The latter also owned land at New Hanover. The tracts, in all probability, were not more than four to six miles apart.
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Henkel at once took up the work of a minister and preached at the Swamp, Manatawny, Germantown, Oley (i. e., Oley Hills or Colebrookdale), Tulpehocken (Reed's church) and possibly although not certainly, Moselem and Rockland. The writer need not repeat at length what is said concern- ing the application of the term " Anbauer des Amtes " in J. W. Early's "Lutheran Ministers of Berks Co." But every one who has carefully read Mühlenberg's reports will know that Mühlenberg himself explains the term " Amtes " when he tells us he means a township and not a congregation or an office in it. "Valentine Geiger was the oldest inhabitant of the said township (des besagten Amtes)."
Concerning Henkel's relations to the ordination of Van Dieran, or Von Thieren, as the Moravians called him, it will be sufficient to say that Henkel himself says he did not ordain him. Unless we have just reason to doubt the man's veracity that should settle the matter. But even if he had ordained him it would be the part of common charity to say that it was an error of judgment. He would hardly have done it for the purpose of inducting an unsuitable person into the office of the Christian Ministry.
But it may safely be said that the family of no man (not even that of Mühlenberg who himself came to this country from the fatherland) has furnished a longer line of eminent descendants, who both in and out of the minis- try, have exerted a larger or more lasting influence upon the Lutheran Church of this country. Rev. Henkel was the first German Lutheran minister residing in Pennsyl- vania to serve a congregation west of the Schuylkill.
Besides the pioneer himself, there were four sons and a son-in-law active and prominent in the church in eastern Pennsylvania. Paul, a great-grandson, was quite promi-
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nent and active as a Missionary in the South and West. Dr. Solomon and Rev. Ambrose, his sons, established an influential publishing-house at New Market, Va., in 1806. Five sons of Rev. Paul Henkel, viz: Philip, David, Charles of Ohio, Andrew of Indiana and Ambrose of Virginia, were able and active Lutheran ministers. A number of grandsons were also ministers-Eusebius, Dr. P. C., of Conover, N. C .; Dr. D. M., of Catawissa, and Dr. Socrates, of New Market, Va. Several of the Stire- walts were also grandsons-thirteen descendants, ten in the direct male line, in the Lutheran Ministry, and every one, as far as known, of unblemished character and acknowl- edged ability.
SPECIAL NOTE .- The christian name of Gerhart Henkel was "Anthony Jacob." " Gerhart " was the name of his oldest son, and in some unaccount- able way it is attached to the Exile, and he is known as such in history. His name appears as Anthony Jacob in his non-cupative will, in the pur- chase of land (1718), in settlements of estates, etc. In his will, dated August 12, 1728, which has been discovered and is published in "The Pennsylvania-German," it is stated by the witnesses that he fell from his horse in Springfield Manor, near Chestnut Hill, on that day, was carried to the house of Herman Groothausen, where he died the same day. Three men, Herman Groothausen, Hans Mich. Schwenstock and George Ruger, were present, and to them he dictated his will. He mentions all his children in his will, and says: "Gerhart my oldest son." Johanna Fred- rika, the wife of Valentine Geiger, was his oldest daughter.
Rev. A. Stapleton, D.D., a descendant, found the grave of the widow, Maria Elisabeth (who died in 1744), at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Germantown, and concluded, for reasons which we need not now adduce, that she was buried in the same grave with her husband, the Exile. On June 7, 1910, he had the grave opened in the presence of representatives of the family from the South and West. They found his inferences correct; the skeleton of the Exile, Anthony Jacob Henkel, was found under that of his wife. This proves conclusively the place of his burial.
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3. REV. SAMUEL HESSELIUS.
Rev. Hesselius was one of the Swedish pastors at Molatton. From 1720 to 1723 he served this con- gregation as supply. History does not tell us very much about the man.
We are informed, however, that Charles XII. of Sweden, whose remarkable career has been graphically described by Vol- taire, as early as 1717 appointed him as pastor of the Swedes along the Delaware, but without assigning him the superintendency. In the meantime Jonas Lidman, who was also designated for service in America, was appointed pastor at Wicaco and Hesselius became his assistant, with the expectation of securing the position at Christiana, then occupied by his brother Andrew, as provost or superin- tendent. A short time afterwards Samuel Hesselius re- moved to the Swedish settlement at Manathanim, Bucks Co., twenty miles from Philadelphia. He also served Neshaminy, nearby.
Being a native of Delacarlien, he was called from that place to become a pastor in Pennsylvania. Dr. Jas- per Svedberg, Bishop of Skara, to whom the care of the church in America was entrusted, appointed him as the successor of Sandel. He was ordained April 27, 1718, in the cathedral at Skara. His departure having been de- layed, Lidman was named as pastor at Wicaco and Hes- selius became his assistant. Both arrived at Philadelphia, December 3, 1719. Naturally the assistant cared for the more remote points. At a meeting, March 27, 1720, evidently embracing all parts of the congregation, those
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from the upper section begged tearfully that Hesselius be permitted to take up his residence among them. He did so, serving Manathanim, preaching alternately there and at Neshiminy. Matson's Fort (Swedeland) below Norristown, was added. Then Hesselius, whose mother was a sister of Bishop Svedberg, became the first resident pastor at Molatton. He remained until October, 1723. He then became the successor of his brother Andrew at Christiana. It will be seen from this that he served New Hanover during his entire stay at Molatton.
The Halle Reports further state that he was a man of excellent character, and that upon his return to Sweden he carried with him excellent testimonials from his own peo- ple, as well as from the English pastors. After that he became pastor at Rumfertuna, in the diocese of Westeras.
He was twice married, his second wife being Gertrude Stille. She died at sea on the return trip. He had evi- dently conducted the services both at Molatton and at New Hanover in small log churches, erected a considerable time before he became the pastor. What has become of the records, or whether he never kept any, we are unable to say.
4. REV. JOHN CASPER STOEVER, JR.
This man probably organized more churches than any one else, not even excepting Mühlenberg himself. But before entering upon a sketch of his life and activities it may be well to present his own brief autobiography as prepared by himself a little less than a year before his death.
After placing in his " Record " the names of all his
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children, the date of their birth and baptism, together with the names of their sponsors, he appends the follow- . ing statement.
John Caspar Stoever [he also had a son John Caspar], the father of the children named above, was born December 21, 1707, in a place named Luedorf in Solinger Amt, Duchy Berg, in Unter Pfaltz [Lower Palatinate]. His parents were John Cas- par Stoever, a native of Frankenburg in Hesse, and Gertrude [family name not given] of Amt Solingen. When he was six years of age he learned to read German perfectly in four weeks under his father's direction. After this he also commenced to study Latin under his father's direction. Subsequently he re- ceived private instruction in Latin and Greek from four pastors successively, named H. Nicolaus Muentz, H. Samuel Bratschisch, H. Valentine Kraft and H. Antonius Pfaffman, and later in the languages named, as also in Hebrew and French, and likewise in theology from H. Knabel and finally from H. Spencal [Superin- dendent] Adolph Ruefeld at Brumath, three hours [12 miles] from Strasburg. Journeyed from Europe to America, 1728, on the Rhine and on an ocean vessel, preaching on Sundays. Arrived in Penn- sylvania September 29, and continued to preach; ordained on April 8, 1733, by Christian Schultze, p. t. pastor in Philadelphia, and was married at the same time to Maria Catarina. They be- came the parents of the above named children [eleven]. His wife was born May 14, 1715, at Lambesheim in Churpfaltz. Her sponsor was Catharine Ursula Schmidt. Her parents were Christian Murckling and his wife Catarina, nee Brucher. No- vember 2, 1778. Whilst I am writing this cursum vitæ, my age is by the grace and help of God 70 years, 10 months, 1 week and 5 days.1
1 For reasons not necessary to be mentioned we give the stiffly literal translation furnished in the Record as published by Dr. Egle in "Notes and Queries." We should perhaps add in justice to Dr. Schantz that he published the translation as contained in the copy of " Stoever's Records," placed in the archives at Philadelphia. It will be noticed that this docu-
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In the original record the following was added in a different hand: His full age, 71 y. 4 m. 3 w. and 2 days.
He and his father came to America in the ship " James Goodwill," arriving at Philadelphia, September II, 1728. Evidently in preparing his autobiography he wrote from memory and put a wrong date, or possibly the passengers may not have been brought to land at once.
The son is recorded as a " Theol. Stud.," and the father as "Missionaire." To show that there should be no doubt as to the proper relationship of these two men we quote an extract from the diary of Bishop Spangenberg, of July 28, 1748. This was ten years after the father's death. He [Spangenberg] records the fact that he and Matthew Rentz crossed the Blue Ridge to go to the Great Forks of the Rappahannock. "Beyond the mountains there is a prosperous [starkes] settlement of Germans and English. Here there is a regularly organized Lu- theran congregation. Its pastor is Rev. Klug. His pred- ecessor was the father of our [the ] well known Stoever." This shows that at that day those even outside of the Lu- theran Church knew that these men were father and son. This is taken from Moravian " Records " at Bethlehem.
We will not repeat here what was published in the Lu- theran Church Review during 1908, viz., that the elder Stoever's will was presented both at Philadelphia and in Virginia, and that the younger Stoever there made oath that he was the son and heir of the deceased. In other words, Rev. John Caspar Stoever, Conestoga, declared that the document presented by him was the last will and
ment too declares indirectly that John Caspar Stoever, of Pennsylvania, is the son of John Caspar Stoever of Virginia. For unless there were two Rev. John Caspar Stoevers living at the same time in Germany, the Rev. John Caspar Stoever who came to America with this one must have been his father.
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testament of his father, John Casper Stoever of Virginia.
It will also be needless to repeat what has also been stated in regard to his ordination-whether that occurred in a barn or a tavern, whether at the Trappe or at Muddy Creek, or at some other point. It will be sufficient to say that the matter certainly is involved in considerable obscur- ity. Whether there ever was a respectable tradition that it took place in a barn or in a tavern at the Trappe that was not directly traceable to "The Confusion of Tulpe- hocken," is certainly very doubtful. That this is a very poor authority, certainly should be known to every one. For its very evident purpose was to defame and to dis- credit Stoever, without very much regard to truth. The only real fact that stands out unchallenged is that he was ordained April 8, 1733, and that he was married at the same time (zugleich). Another fact which we believe is also unquestioned is that within six month after that ordination he settled right in the midst of his congrega- tions. Still another fact is that the man who ordained him baptized some of the children of one of his congrega- tions in the same month, or about the same time he was ordained and married.
" It would be impossible in a brief sketch to recount all the labors and activities of the man. Although the Halle Reports tell us that he settled at New Holland immedi- ately upon his arrival in this country, his labors were evi- dently distributed almost equally between the churches in the vicinity of Philadelphia and those west and south of the Schuylkill " during the first five years of his residence in America. If this be correct-and we are not calling it into question-did his father live there too, or did he not? Would it not seem to fit in with the circumstances of the case, to suppose, that being less than twenty-one years
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of age when he came to this country, being still unordained, he remained a member of his father's family until the father moved to Virginia ?
" Only after his ordination did he seem to confine him- self almost entirely to Lancaster County and the territory south and west of it. At first he apparently acted as as- sistant to Rev. Schultze, and possibly also to his father, of whose field of labor up to the time of his settlement in Vir- ginia, we have thus far found no account." Would it be presumptuous to suppose, especially as Dr. Schmauk asserts that the handwriting of the two is very hard to distinguish, possibly cannot be distinguished, that many of the bap- tisms of those early years, some being performed in Eu- rope and some on the ocean, were those of the elder Stoever. As Stoever, jr., dates nearly all his church records and his own baptisms 1733 or after 1733, were not all those prior to that time possibly performed by Stoever, sr .?
Early in the fall of 1733 he settled at the Conestoga, near New Holland, and confined his labors almost entirely to that section from that time on. He commenced church records at Philadelphia, Trappe, Lancaster, New Holland, Muddy Creek, Hill Church (near Annville), Christ (Lit- tle Tulpehocken), York, Bindnagel's, Lebanon. He had charge of all these churches at one time or another, and organized a number of them. He organized the church at York and served it ten years, 1733-43. He was also pastor of the Swatara Church, afterwards transferred to Jonestown, twenty to thirty years. He served the Sand Hill Church about three miles south of Hummelstown a number of years. 'Apparently he also organized and served the Robeson and Allegheny churches in Berks County. " He also travelled beyond the Susquehanna in
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a southwestern direction, penetrating almost to the center of Virginia via the Shenandoah Valley, stopping in Mary- land on the way, preaching to the scattered Lutherans and baptizing their children."
About 1760 he moved to Lebanon, the township, about two miles west of the city. After that he confined his labors mostly to that section, giving up most, if not all of the congregations south of the present Lebanon County line.
In 1763 he was admitted into the Ministerium. Al- though cordially received, and the connection was con- tinued, his relations to the synod sometimes were rather strained, as shown by entries in some of the " Records " as well as by statements of the Halle Reports.
The fact that he had been involved in the " Confusion of Tul- pehocken " and made very prominent in it, not only in the pam- phlet, but in the strife itself, would naturally, perhaps uncon- sciously, weaken the confidence of the parties in one another, especially in view of the fact that efforts were made to bring him back and that he did afterwards serve his original congregation at Little Tulpehocken for several years.
" His death occurred on Ascension, May 13, 1779, while confirming a class of catechumens at his own home at Sunny Side (then known as Stoever's Mill), nearly two miles west of Lebanon, about a mile south by east of the Hill Church." His widow survived until October, 1795, when she died at the advanced age of eighty years four months and twenty-three days. The "Hill Church Rec- ord " says that besides the children still surviving, at the time of her death there were 75 grandchildren and 52 great- grandchildren-a total of between 130 and 140 descen- dants. One of his descendants, Prof. M. L. Stoever, was
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for many years Professor of Latin in Pennsylvania Col- lege. A monument has been erected to the memory of John Casper Stoever at Hill Church.
It might perhaps even be questioned whether J. C. Stoever, jr., had any direct connection with this congrega- tion at all. The records do not show such a connection. Bearing in mind the fact that he was still in his minority when he arrived here, and that he was not ordained before April, 1733, it is but natural to ask again whether the baptisms recorded at Moselem, at Oley Hills and other points before 1733 were performed by him, or were they his father's acts ?
There is nothing to justify the assumption that from 1727, when he was but a mere boy, less than twenty years of age, he went about for five or six years, baptizing with- out warrant, and in defiance of all order performing the functions of a minister more than a year before he attained his majority.
It is probably the statement of the Halle Reports, Vol. I, rev. edit., p. 36, which has led some, we might say almost every one, to speak of him as if this had been the case. Speaking of Rev. John Christian Schulze, the Re- ports make this statement :
Before this he had ordained John Caspar Stoever, who with his relative, a namesake, who moved to Virginia, had come to this country in 1728, at Providence [The Trappe]. He [evidently meaning the John C. Stoever here mentioned and who was now ordained] served Philadelphia, Providence as well as New Han- over, but in the fall of the year he moved to New Holland, Lan- caster Co., Pa.
The writer is absolutely convinced that the man who moved to New Holland in the fall of 1728 was Rev. John
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Caspar Stoever, sr. Of course John Caspar Stoever, jr. settled there too, but as a member of his father's family, and not as a minister of the Gospel. All this would lead to the conclusion that the ministerial acts performed in these congregations, viz., New Hanover, Trappe and so on, prior to 1733 were those of John Caspar Stoever, sr., and that he was the man who officiated in those churches at that time.
The " Confusion von Tulpehocken," being referred to a number of times, it may be well to add an explanation. It seems that some one had published an English letter entitled " A Protestation of the Protestant Lutheran and Reformed Religions, about the bad commotion which hap- pened on Sunday, the 18th of July, 1742." Whilst the writer does not know of the existence of a copy of this document, it is made plainly evident by the statements of the "Confusion von Tulpehocken," that it existed and charged that the Moravians and their adherents were the instigators of the riot which occurred at the Tulpehocken (Reed's) Church on that day. This is emphatically denied by the "Confusion von Tulpehocken," a German pamphlet, of about twelve pages, of which there is a manu- script copy in the archives at Bethlehem, in the " Church Record" of the Reed's Church deposited there. The pamphlet presents the Moravian side of the story. It charges all manner of wrong doing and iniquity upon John Casper Stiever, as it calls Stoever. Its spirit is very bitter and its language very severe. The writer knows of but a single copy in existence in the hands of the family of Frank Reed, who died a few years ago. A reprint may also be found in our archives at Philadelphia, and in the historical libraries at Gettysburg, and the Susquehanna University.
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5. REV. JOHN CHRISTIAN SCHULTZE.
Concerning this man very little is really known. Much that has been written in the Halle Reports, as well as elsewhere, seems to be pure conjecture. Even in regard to his oft-referred to trip to Ger- many to collect funds and to secure the sending of ministers, much that has been handed down in regard to him and his doings, when thor- oughly sifted seems to be lacking in a solid foundation of fact. Indeed many of the statements made are utterly irreconcilable with each other, e. g., it can hardly be pos- sible that if he was imprisoned for embezzlement, he would have gone to the West Indies to establish a publish- ing house with the proceeds of his collections. If he used these proceeds thus, where did Weissiger get the money to cut such a big figure on that trip? Why was Schultze arrested and imprisoned if Weissiger spent all the money ? Where did Weissiger get all the money and the books which he is alleged to have shown up, if Schultze had em- bezzled it and spent it? How did Weissiger manage to become quite wealthy, if he paid out everything to straighten out his own accounts and those of Rev. J. Chris- tian Schultze? The accounts somehow or other cannot be squared with each other.
But the following facts are known: For full details it is only necessary to refer to the Halle Reports, p. 687. John Christian Schultze (or Schulz) was born June II, 1701, at Schainbach, Oberamt (County), Gerabronn, Wuertemberg. His parents were Rev. John Valentine
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Schultze and his wife Anna Juliana. His father was the pastor of the place. The father was twice married. The first wife was the woman named above. She was the mother of two sons and four daughters. He was married again to Frederica Cath. Mar-, who became the mother of five daughters. Of the early training of John Chris- tian Schultze and of the circumstances which induced him to come to America nothing is known. Whether he was influenced by friends in Europe to follow some of his poor forsaken brethren to America to minister to their spiritual wants, or whether he was led by the spirit of adventure to come to this new country and was then picked up by these people, will probably never be certainly known. But his coming to these people seems to be more in the nature of a fortuitous circumstance than that of a deliberate purpose on the part of either.
The place where he ended his days and how they were ended are also matters involved in doubt. According to one version for which his enemies, and particularly the enemies of Stoever, seem to be responsible, he ended his days in a prison cell. According to another version, after being freed from his prison, he made off with some of his supposedly ill-gotten gains and established a store and pub- lishing house in the West Indies. It seems, however, as if both stories were slightly incorrect, and that probably, over- come by the chagrin and the shame attached to the charges brought against him, he dropped out of sight. It certainly would utterly break down any ordinary man to have such charges brought against him, especially if he had become entangled by a friend and fellow traveller. This would prove all the more burdensome if he saw that man profit- ing, and himself impoverished and despised, as the result of the transaction. Whatever may have been his end, his
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pastorate here was brief, probably less than a year's dura- tion, so no great movements were inaugurated nor great results to be expected.
6. REV. GABRIEL FALK.
Another of the Swedish pastors at Molatton who served this congrega- tion was Rev. Gabriel Falk. With the exception of the two years spent in wandering about in the provinces of Georgia and Carolina, he seems to have served this field from 1735 till about the time of Mühlenberg's arrival.
He came to this country as a regularly ordained min- ister. He was selected by King Frederic I. (1720-51) and ordained by Bishop Svedberg in the cathedral at Skara and then furnished with the proper documents. Rev. Falk was a native of West Gothland or Gottland, although his name might indicate that he was of German origin. That he ministered satisfactorily to Germans is shown by the fact that he was pastor or supply of this congregation for more than five years. In coming to this country he had been shipwrecked at Cape Henlopen, barely escaping with his life.
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