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 8
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Immediately upon his arrival he was employed as a preacher at Philadelphia. During 1746 and 1747 he also served as deacon or catechist at Somerset (Raritan), N. J. He received very detailed instructions-to preach not over half an hour, to catechize the young, the instructions not to exceed half an hour at a time. He was also au- thorized to baptize children and to solemnize marriages.
In the spring of 1748, the congregation at York being vacant, he was sent there, and remained seven years. He was ordained in 1749 at Lancaster. The service closed
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with the Lord's Supper. In 1755 he removed to To- hickon, serving it with several congregations in the vicinity. In 1759 he went to New Hanover, and assisted Dr. Mühlenberg every four weeks, besides preaching in his own congregations at Oley Hills, Pikeland and Upper Dublin, the latter being twenty-seven miles from his residence. Not long after his home was at Pikestown, apparently the same as Pikeland. In 1763 he had taken up his residence at Weidenthal, not Whitehall, as stated by Schierenbeck. It is not known that he ever served any congregations in that section. Weidenthal (Willowdale) is now known to have been only another name for Oley Hills. Rev. D. Schumacher so designates the place where some of his baptisms were performed, and where some of the confirmations took place. In one case he says simply at Weidenthal or Oley Hills, in another at Weidenthal, alias Oleyer Gebirge. Some of the people yet living also recall the fact, that even within the memory of the present generation the plateau from Lobachsville to Hill church was known by that name. He also served Moselem, Ontelannee (although possibly this is meant for the same congregation, or for Moselem and New Bethel in Albany Township), Maxatawny, now Kutztown, and Rockland, where he finally took up his residence and died.
December 4, 1750, he married Anna Eve, daughter of Balthaser Pickel, an elder of the church at Raritan. She and her only child died in 1752. August 7, 1753, he married a second time, Mary Dorothea Stumpf, Lancas- ter, Pa.
During his troubles at York, Pa., he had proposed to return to Germany, but was kept from doing so by the advice of Mühlenberg and others. His troubles were probably increased by his bodily infirmities. He never re-
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covered his health and vigor after his exposure at Raritan during his trip to the church dedication there. Upon this occasion his first marriage occurred. It was during this trip that he was compelled to spend an entire night in the open forest during December. The bodily infirmities brought on by this exposure-we presume it would be called sciatica now-always hampered him in his work. He died January 26, 1778, leaving a widow and six chil- dren. He was buried under the pulpit of the old church at Rockland.
14. REV. JOHN WILLIAM KURTZ.
Rev. John William Kurtz is almost universally known simply as William Kurtz. The writer himself did not know that his full name was John William until he acci- dentally came across the absolute proof of the fact. Being a younger brother of J. Nicholas Kurtz, he often went by the name of "the younger Kurtz." He came to America at the request of his older brother and with the approval of Dr. Francke.
He taught school at York in 1756, and also supplied the pulpit of that congregation. In 1757 he was em- ployed by H. M. Mühlenberg as his assistant. In 1758 he was assigned to Tohickon. Here he seems to have re- mained until 1760. October 20 of that year, upon the ur- gent request of several congregations in Heidelberg (Berks and Lebanon most probably), who desired him to become their pastor, he was examined by the ministerium. No license is mentioned. Presumably, however, that was granted, although possibly it was not, as it was resolved to ordain him. The ordination took place at Lancaster in May, 1761, and he became the adjunct of his brother in the Tulpehocken parish. In 1763 he accepted a call
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to Earlingtown (New Holland) and Conestoga. The location of this latter point is uncertain. It might be in- tended for Robeson, or Allegheny, where there were Lu- theran congregations at the time, which for many years were connected with New Holland. But it might also be Bergstrass, or even Morgantown, Churchtown or Centre Church, where the Lutherans certainly held services if they did not have regularly organized congregations. In this field he remained until 1779. Possibly too, as sug- gested by the Halle Reports, Vol. I., p. 232, during the last few years he again assisted Mühlenberg at New Hanover. In 1780 he seems to have been without con- gregations. In 178 1 he settled at Lebanon, serving it and congregations west of it, i. e., Hill Church and Bindnagel's most probably, until 1794. Rev. Snyder, pastor at Hum- melstown, says he also served that congregation, 1781- 1795. Schierenbeck, who is probably nearer correct, makes it 1781-1799. He probably also served the Sand Hill Church, about three miles south of Hummelstown, during the greater part of this time, as well as Jonestown, which was the Swatara Church transferred to the town in 1765. He also was pastor of St. Jacob's, about two miles west of Pinegrove, from the time of its organization until 1795. In 1794 he took up his residence at Jonestown, where he died, May 27, 1799. He is buried there.
He was unusually well versed in the ancient languages. It is stated that at his examination he was directed to turn to the third chapter of First Corinthians, and render it in Latin, which he did without hesitation. He was then directed to read two Psalms in Hebrew. This he did, rendering them fluently and correctly in Latin. The Swedish Provost then examined him in regard to some doctrinal points, also in Latin. All these he answered
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clearly and satisfactorily in the same language. It was thereupon agreed that he should be ordained at the next convention of the ministerium.
Notwithstanding all this he does not seem to have been very successful as a pastor, and his later years were embit- tered by the knowledge that he was not wanted by some of his congregations. This may possibly have been owing to the fact that he obtained his early training in the almost cloistered solitude of the orphans' home, and not among the people in the everyday walks of life.
15. REV. JACOB VAN BUSKERK.
This man and Rev. Christian Streit seem to have been the first two native ministers of the Lutheran Church of this country besides the sons of Mühlenberg. Both were natives of New Jersey. The statements of the Halle Re- ports indicate that Rev. Buskerk was born February 9, 1739.
As his name indicates, he was of Dutch descent. Be- tween 1680 and 1690 a colony of Hollanders had settled in that vicinity, generally known as the Raritan. They soon organized a Lutheran congregation. At the present day some Lutheran churches are to be found in that section -New Germantown and German Valley. The Van Bus- kerks were among the most prominent and influential families at that early day. The father of Rev. J. Van Buskerk, residing in the vicinity of Hackinsack, was a man of considerable means.
For four years the young man studied under Rev. J. Albert Weygand, who had charge of the Lutheran churches in that part of New Jersey. October 12, 1763, he was ordained by the Swedish Provost Wrangel, and became
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an assistant of Mühlenberg at New Hanover; Schieren- beck says, as pastor. We confess we cannot explain to our own satisfaction why this man was ordained by the Swedish Provost, when others were ordained by and before the assembled synod.
He served New Hanover and acted as Rev. Mühlen- berg's substitute at the Trappe and at Zion, generally known as Pikestown, Chester Co., until 1765. Then he was called to Germantown, where he remained until 1769. Having received a call to Macungy, he removed thither, serving Salisbury, Saccum (Saucon) and Upper Milford in connection with it. Here he remained until 1793. He purchased a large tract of land near the Macungy Church, also a tannery. A large part of it is still in the possession of some of his descendants, the Singmasters.
In 1793 he resigned this charge and removed to Gwyn- edd, serving it, Whitpain and Upper Dublin. Here he bought another farm. But in 1795 he returned to Ma- cungy, Salisbury and Saucon. He however continued to serve the Gwynedd charge in connection with that at Ma- cungy. He preached in the so-called Yellow Church, just beyond the limits of the village of North Wales, on the Sunday before his death, which occurred August 5, 1800. He was but sixty-seven years, five months and twenty-six days old. He was the father of twelve children.
He made a copy of the liturgy or form of service then in use with his own hands. This and an imperfect copy made by Peter Muhlenberg are said to be the only origi- nal copies in existence.
16. REV. JOHN LUDWIG VOIGT (FOCHT).
Rev. John Ludwig Voigt was born at Mansfield, Ger- many, November 9, 1731. After a regular course of
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training for the ministry he was employed for a time as a teacher at Halle. He finally became inspector of the German school there. He was then examined and ordained at Wernigerode and started with Rev. Krug for America, via Holland and London, where they arrived, November 14, 1763. They landed at Philadelphia, April 1, 1764.
Rev. Voigt at once took charge of Germantown and Barren Hill. He left this field, December, 1765, and re- moved to New Hanover, and with it served the Trappe and Zion's, then known as Vincent, near Phoenixville. He seems to have remained here about twenty years. During the earlier part of his ministry here he apparently took care of the Hill Church likewise, which seems generally to have been connected with New Hanover, until about forty-five years ago.
In 1786 he located at Piketown, or Zion's, and St. Peter's, not far distant. The latter congregation he had organized. He also served Pottstown, besides being Dr. Mühlenberg's substitute at the Trappe. December 28, 1800, when in his seventieth year, he died. He is buried close by the church.
He was the seventh man sent from Halle to Pennsyl- vania. He preached Rev. H. M. Mühlenberg's funeral sermon. He was considerably annoyed by being charged with being a tory, having objected to unnecessary desecra- tion of his church when it was seized as a hospital. From Mühlenberg's own statements it is evident that he thought that the charge had no foundation in fact. This may be accounted for from the fact that during his pastorate at New Hanover the present church building was erected, and the same being then new he may have desired to protect its beauty as well as its sanctity, even though no longer the actual pastor of the same.
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17. REV. GOTTHILF HEINRICH ERNST MÜHLEN- BERG, D.D.
This was the youngest son of Dr. H. M. Mühlenberg. He was born at the Trappe, November 17, 1753. At first he attended the schools of Philadelphia. At the age of ten, together with his two brothers, he was sent to Germany to complete his studies at the University of Halle. Here he spent seven years. In 1770 he returned with his brother Frederic Augustus and Dr. Kunze. In October of the same year, at Reading, he as well as his brother, was ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Min- isterium of North America, then the proper legal title of the synod. He immediately became the assistant of his father, as well as third pastor of the congregation at Phil- adelphia. He retained this position, residing at Philadel- phia most of the time, until the British entered the city. His ardent patriotism made it unsafe for him there, and it became necessary for him to leave. In trying to get away in disguise, he came near being betrayed by a tory inn- keeper. He joined his father's family at the Trappe, where he filled the position at New Hanover, of his older brother, who had been elected to civil office. He also supplied Hill Church (Oley) and other congregations in Berks County.
After the departure of the British he seems to have re- turned to the city. In March, 1780, he became pastor of Trinity, Lancaster, as Dr. Helmuth's successor. Here he remained thirty-five years-until his death May 23, 1815, in the sixty-second year of his age. He died of apoplexy, as did his brothers.
He was the only one of Dr. H. M. Mühlenberg's sons
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who made the ministry his lifework, and he seems to have been proud of it. In the minutes of synod and elsewhere, when writing his own name, he was fond of putting it- Mühlenberg, the Preacher (der Prediger).
He was known as a profound theologian-was well versed in the ancient languages, acquainted with medicine, chemistry and mineralogy. He was specially eminent in botany-" one of the foremost men of his day in that science and easily the foremost botanist in America." It is related of him " that on one of his botanical excursions on the mountains, he was stopped by a footpad who de- manded his money or his life. He handed his Bible to the robber, assuring him that it was his greatest treasure." " I suspected you were a priest, and might have known you were too - poor to own a cent," was the response, " and he was left in peace."
He left treatises on theology, morals and botany. The last named is widely known. He also prepared an Eng- lish and German lexicon and grammar of two volumes.
In 1774 he married Catharine, daughter of Philip Hall, of Philadelphia. They had two sons, Henry A., for many years pastor of Trinity, Reading, and F. A., a prominent physician at Lancaster, whose son, also named Frederic Augustus, was equally eminent as a scholar, be- ing professor at Gettysburg, first president of Muh- lenberg College and for years professor of Greek in the University of Pennsylvania. Additional sketches can be found in the " Lutheran Almanac " of 1851; in Schieren- beck's " Biographies of Lutheran Ministers in Pennsyl- vania ;" in Jensen's "Biographies," as well as in Profes- sor Stoever's sketches in the Evangelical Review.
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18. REV. FREDERIC ERNST.
Little is known of this man. The Halle Reports, p. 644, state that he had studied at Strasburg, but omit all details. At the meeting of synod held in Tulpehocken, 1779, the minutes inform us that candidate Ernst's license was renewed and he was " exhorted to continue to apply himself to theological studies, and especially the ancient languages." Thus far we have failed to find an account of his first licensure as catechist. In the records of this (New Hanover) congregation we find that on Exaudi Sunday, Rev. Roeller confirmed a class of catechumens in- structed by " the catechist Fredr. Ernst." Evidently he acted as catechist and assistant in it from the time of his licensure until 1780. He was a married man, for his daughter Elizabeth was baptized here, June 18, 1780.1 But during this year he evidently removed to another field, for in 1781 his address is Easton, and for several years thereafter Greenwich, N. J. Here he seems to have re- mained until about 1789-90. For we then find him at Maxatawny, with the Macungie congregation protesting that he should not be allowed to preach at Trexlertown and aid in establishing a congregation there. Conse- quently he left and settled at Hudson, New York. There he served congregations at " Loonenburg," Germantown, Churchtown and Livingston. During this time he also supplied Albany and for a time preached in New York city. Later on he seems to have removed to Cooperstown, whence he was called to be pastor at Elizabethtown, May- town and other congregations in Lancaster County. He preached his introductory sermon, November 28, 1802-
1 One of his sons was the Rev. Wm. Gotthold Ernst, D.D., who was educated at Princeton, and pastor of Salem congregation, Lebanon, be- tween 30 and 40 years. He was also at one time President of Synod.
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first Sunday in Advent. He died at Manheim, Novem- ber 28, 1806. He is buried at Elizabethtown, Lancas- ter County. During his administration the first large brick church was built there.
19. REV. CHRISTIAN STREIT.
Evidently Rev. Christian Streit was the man who suc- ceeded J. Fr. Ernst in the pastorate. This is shown by this burial record: " Mrs. An. Mar. Christina Elizabeth Streit (The Pastor's wife), August 20, 1782."
Rev. Streit was born in New Jersey, June 7, 1749. He studied at the College of Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1768. He pursued his theological studies under Dr. H. M. Mühlenberg. He was licensed in 1769, and ordained with the sons of Müh- lenberg in 1770. It is interesting to note that the first two native Lutheran ministers, besides the sons of Mühlen- berg, came from New Jersey.
Mr. Streit immediately took charge of the congregation at Easton and labored there nearly ten years. He then became pastor of the church at Charleston, S. C. He in- troduced the use of English there. He was taken pris- oner at the sacking of Charleston and held until exchanged. He was now obliged to leave this field, and came to Vir- ginia. In July, 1782, he settled at New Hanover, where he remained until 1785. During this time he also served Hill (Oley) Church and Amityville.
After this he removed to Winchester, Va., serving the congregation at that place with others in that vicinity, ex- tending over a circuit of about fifty miles. At first he preached both in German and in English. In later years he used the English language only. Here he labored
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twenty-seven years. He died March 10, 1812, and was buried in front of the pulpit.
He married, first, Anna Margaret Hoff, Charleston, S. C. The date of her death is given above. He married, second, Salona (Salome?) Graeff, of Philadelphia, Pa., February 19, 1783. She died in 1788. He married, third, Susan Burr, of Winchester. She survived him. By her own exertions she supported a large family, declining the offers of Christian friends to educate her children at their expense.
Rev. Streit is said to have been passionately fond of music, often acting as his own organist. He is also said to have possessed a considerable degree of mechanical skill, and to have built a small organ for one of his congrega- tions. He was one of the men especially appointed by synod to train young men for the ministry. One of his granddaughters was the second wife of Dr. Charles Por- terfield Krauth.
20. REV. DANIEL LEHMAN.
The information concerning Rev. Daniel Lehman in the Halle Reports is quite limited, and no reference is made to any connection with the congregation at New Hanover. But the congregation's record shows that he administered the Lord's Supper, June 10, 1786, May 17, 1787, Decem- ber 8, 1787, and in May, 1788. New Hanover is but eight or nine miles from Oley Hill Church, of which he was the regular pastor at the time.
Rev. Lehman was born at Strassburg, April 15, 1754, came to this country from Germany about 1773. Very little is known concerning his early history. Being unable to pay his passage, he would, in all probability have been
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sold to pay for it, had not Dr. Kunze advanced the amount and thus set him free.
Being pretty well versed in the rudimentary branches, Dr. Kunze employed him as a teacher in his (Kunze's) seminary and at the same time gave him instruction in theology. Rev. Van Buskirk then employed him as a tutor in his family. Lehman also preached occasionally. This proved so satisfactory that some of the outlying con- gregations desired him to become their pastor. He was licensed in 1775 and ordained in 1778. After serving congregations in Lehigh County for some time, he was called to Trinity, Reading, October, 1778. Here he re- mained two years, possibly a little longer. Apparently he continued to supply Trinity about a year longer. It was evidently during his first residence at Moselem that he supplied New Hanover.
In September, 1797, he was recalled to Trinity and con- tinued to serve it until April, 1801. Apparently, however, he seems to have retained some sort of connection with his former field during that time. Then he returned to Mose- lem, where he remained until his death, October 1, 1810, at the age of fifty-six years, five months and sixteen days. He was buried in front of the pulpit in the Moselem Church.
He himself tells us that during 1793 he served Mose- lem, Rockland, Kutztown, Windsor, Hamburg, Bern (i. e., St. Michael's), Braunschweig, two congregations in Albany, and Greenwich. He also served Oley Hill Church a part of the time. The Halle Reports say he also preached at Trexlertown, 1778-1784. Synod after- ward directed him to cease. Dr. Mann also declares that he served Allemaengel during his entire ministry.
His characteristic was great plainness, almost bluntness
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in preaching, and a strong voice, which Dr. Mühlenberg says, he " exercised very freely."
21. REV. JOHN FREDERIC WEINLAND.
The birthplace of Rev. John Frederic Weinland was Roemhild in Franconia. During 1769-72 he studied at Halle. He was a teacher in the orphans' home. He decided to go to America, but bodily infirmities prevented. He returned home, became engaged as private tutor and preached occasionally. After repeated solicitations from Dr. J. Ludwig Schulze at Halle, he finally agreed to come to America.
Ordained at Wernigerode, he came via Holland and reached Philadelphia, August 18, 1786. Elected at Ger- mantown, he served it until 1789. As early as 1787 his name appears as a member of the ministerium. In 1790 complaint was brought against him by a member of the Germantown congregation. Resting on a misunderstand- ing the matter was settled. At this time he resided at New Hanover, serving that congregation and the Trappe, and at the same time was also pastor at Amityville and Hill Church. Later, 1796-99, he served these congrega- tions again, but not the one at New Hanover. In reality he may not have been the actual pastor, but simply the assistant or substitute of Rev. Voigt. But he performed the pastoral work and on January 4, 1796, he calls himself the pastor of the congregation, "Der jetzige prediger."
From 1790 to 1794 he was always present at the meet- ings of synod and took a prominent part in its transac- tions. But for some reason or other there was continued complaint against him. Whether these complaints caused loss of standing, or whether his patience gave way, we shall probably never know, but he continued to absent him-
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self and finally ceased to be a member. It may be that his name was simply dropped.1 But whatever the cause, in 1803 at Baltimore he applied for restoration and again, in 1804, at Easton, where he appeared personally to ask for re-admission. But he appears to have been with- out regular congregations at this time. Although there is no statement to that effect, he seems to have been re-ad- mitted at last. He again acted as pastor at New Han- over and Trappe, and we are told by the Halle Reports that there are many entries in the records there up to 1808. The same authority states that he is buried at the Trappe. Dr. Kretschman says that " Rev. Fred. Lobrecht-Herman, Reformed minister at New Hanover, preached his funeral sermon, which took place on February 7, 1807. He lies buried in the Trappe Lutheran cemetery in a forgotten grave. Five of his children were buried in the graveyard of the Swamp Lutheran Church. His wife, Susanna, sur- vived him, and on October 1, 1807, was married to Jacob Arms at New Hanover."
22. REV. F. W. GEISSENHAINER, SR., D.D.
F. W. Geissenhainer, Sr., D.D., was a son of Henry A. and Sophia J. Geissenhainer. He was born June 26, 17II, at Muehlheim, Germany. He was but three years old when his father died. He first attended a school in his native place, of which his grandfather was the princi- pal. From his youth it was his desire to be a theologian. At the age of thirteen he entered the University of Geissen.
1 The complaints were brought to Synod by Bernhard Gilbert, of New Hanover, who states, among other matters, that it is Pastor Weinland's fault that he was excluded from the Church Council. It is also said that " the weakness to which Weinland succumbed, and which thereby became the ground of the charges against him, was his desire for strong drink."
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At sixteen he had completed his course. Afterwards he spent two years at Goettingen. He then spent a short time as docent (private teacher). He was then called to become the pastor of two country, or village churches. Jensen says he was ordained then and there. After serv- ing these congregations about eighteen months, he came to this country with his brother, Henry Anastasius, in 1793. The next year he applied to synod for admission and received a full license. As his name first appears on the roll of the ministerium as an ordained minister in 1798, it is not at all probable that he was ordained before he came to this country.
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