USA > Virginia > Madison County > Madison County > The Germans in Madison County, Va. Documents Bearing on Their History > Part 2
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At last the gracious God heard their continual prayers and selected me, unworthy servant, after receiving a call and ordi- nation, to be their teacher and preacher. I have also begun public worship among them, in accordance with the grace granted to me by God, by teaching them and administering the sacraments. I have been satisfied with a yearly salary of 3,000 pounds of tobacco (worth about fifty-five rix-dollars). But the joy over the divine worship now established, the zeal of the people in the same, the anxious fear that the light of the gospel, kindled by the grace of God among men, might again be extinguished after my death and thus reduce them to the same former, spiritual destitution, together with the earnest desire to preserve the Evangelical truth to themselves and their descendants and the eager solicitude of that dear, but poor, congregation, all these induced me to undertake this danger- ous and difficult journey in God's name, after having received
10These men were sent in 1725, as the report was printed. in 1737. The two delegates were Michael Cook and Zerachus [Cyriacus] Fleshman. A petition of these two men, laid before the Colonial Council on April 23, 1724 (see Virginia Magazine, Vol. XII, p. 35of), was printed in the Virginia Magazine, Vol. VI, p. 35of. The passage that refers to this trip to Europe reads: "We design to go to England and from thence to Germany, to bring in a minister for us high Ger- mans who are here."
11That is from 1717-1733. This statement fixes the arrival of Mr. Stoever in Virginia as taking place in the year 1733.
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permission from the royal governor12 and taking with me an elder, Michael Schmidt, and a member of this congregation, Michael Hold, the latter returned again to Virginia from Dan- zig. It is our purpose to gather contributions from the Chris- tian friends in Europe, so as to be able to continue our above- mentioned public worship, to build a church and a school and to establish a fund for the maintenance of the ministers, be- cause this congregation is compelled to contribute its share to the support of the English minister and his services. A con- firmation of all this will be found in the original documents, which I have with me from the above mentioned governor, and the German Lutheran ministers in London. God in his abund- ant grace has not left my undertaking without results, but everywhere on my journey has moved many hearts to con- tribute liberally. Reports printed at Leibzig give an account of the liberality of the people at Hamburg, while future contri- butions will be recorded in the original collection book, which I have with me.
Moreover, the power of God, which controls the hearts of men, has induced a candidate of theology, Mr. George Samuel King, born at Elbing, to become a fellow worker in the gospel in this congregation. He has obligated himself to this work by accepting the call extended to him and by receiving ordina- tion through the ministerium at Danzig,13 as has been con- firmed by the testimonial of the aforesaid ministerium. In consequence of this he has actually started on his journey to Virginia.14.
12The certificate of the governor is given later on p. 155.
13 More about this ordination, which took place on August 30, 1736, is found later on p. 156.
14Mr. Klug seems to have been delayed in his journey. He took with him a letter of Dr. Ziegenhagen, from London to Pennsylvania, which was dated September 26, 1738. Hence he left London after that date. It was answered by the congregations in Pennsylvania on Octo- ber 15, 1739. (See Halle Reports, new edition, Vol. I, p. 67.) Hence he arrived before that date. In a letter of Rev. Peter Brunn- holtz, dated July 3, 1749, it is stated that Mr. Klug arrived in Virginia "ten years ago." (Halle Reports, new edition, Vol. I, p. 528.)
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But whereas, for the support of two ministers (who are needed at this distant place to maintain public worship and the school) many things are necessary so that churches and schools can be built and many other things can be secured which are necessary for the church.
Therefore, the Christian reader is requested to take to heart these needs of the church, compassionately to advance this God- Dleasing undertaking, which is for the preservation and spread of the pure Evangelical doctrine in America (in the prosecu- tion of which every effort will be made to lead the heathen, who still walk in darkness, to Christ) and to that end to send contributions across the ocean for the quickening of the poor fellow believers and the conversion of the heathen, in the as- sured confidence that, as God is earnestly invoked to reward men, he, a God rich in blessings, will graciously reward such alms according to his promise with temporal and spiritual blessings.
V.
[LETTER OF THE REV. JOHN CASPAR STOEVER, SR., TO PROF. FRANCKE, DATED JANUARY 17, 1738.]
Very reverend and devout, very learned Professor, most hon- ored and noble patron :
If I did not know your Reverence's untiring zeal in the propagation of the gospel, I would not dare to trouble you with this letter, the less, since at my departure from London I promised his Reverence, Mr. Ziegenhagen,15 not to become burdensome to you. This promise kept me last summer, when I was in Leipzig, from paying my respects to you. To this was
15Rev. Frederick Michael Ziegenhagen was court preacher at the chapel of St. James, in London. He was born in Pomerania in 1694. He came to London in 1722. It was through him that Muehlenberg, the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America, came to this country. He died in 1776. For a picture of this great man, see Dr. Schmauk's History of the Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania, facing p. 13.
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added the fact that different friends in Prussia and Pomerania, who assisted my collection in those districts, earnestly advised me, since I had not received a royal permit for the purpose of collecting money, to stay away from the royal lands for fear of complications arising from my visit and also to spare our benefactors there. But inasmuch as I have now returned to my trunk, in which were both the original recommendation from his Reverence, Dr. Arnold, of Koenigsberg, as well as the "programmata,"16 given to me by him, I venture to send them to your Reverence with the submissive request to be pleased to send to Prof. Baumgarten,17 Rev. Prof. Freylinghausen,18 and the Rev. Mr. Meyer, the letters enclosed for them, to show them the original letter of recommendation and to forward the same, together with the other enclosures, to his Reverence, Provost Rolof. Your Reverence will remember that in answer to the request of Councillor Koehler, of Colberg, for an assist- ant in my congregation you were pleased to answer and coun- sel the same, under date May 23, 1736, that, inasmuch, as it was difficult to secure some one in Halle, I should not disre- gard any opportunity, if during my travels I should find a suitable person. Now, through divine providence, such a per- son has been found, in whom I place full confidence (as can be seen from the printed report which is enclosed with the other documents). The same arrived in London in January, 1737, provided with recommendations and letters from me to his Reverence, Dr. Ziegenhagen. But the latter was unwilling to take up this matter, nor did he answer my letter in reference to it, although in the month of May last year I sent some
16What these "programmes" were does not appear from the context. They may have been a university disce tation of Doctor Arnold on the Lutheran Churches in America.
17 Prof. Siegmund Jacob Baumgarten was an eminent German theo- logian. Born March 14, 1706; was made professor of theology at Halle in 1734. He died 1757. His writings are chiefly historical and exegetical.
18John Anastasius Freylinghausen was the son-in-law of Dr. Francke. He was director of the Halle orphan home. He died in 1739.
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money to my colleague, Mr. Kluge, and requested him to let me know when ships left London for Virginia, so that I could arrange my journey to Virginia and go with him thither. I wrote on this account several times after that to him, as well as to the Rev. Mr. Palm, with whom he lodges, but thus far I have received no answer from London, although I earnestly long for it, so that I do not know the exact state of this matter. If your Reverence have any news I would humbly ask you to communicate the same to me. My address is noted at the end of the printed documents.
Furthermore I take the liberty to ask your Reverence kindly to send a list of the books which you forwarded at the request of Mr. Ziegenhagen, for the congregation, as well as for the congregational . library. Also be pleased to mention what moneys have been sent for this purpose by kind-hearted per- sons, and were transmitted through you to London, so that I may be governed thereby. If your Reverence can do anything else for the establishment of this congregation through your far-reaching influence, it will not remain unrewarded by the Most High. I am convinced that your Reverence will not omit anything which can contribute to the growth of the church of God.
Recommending you with all devotion to the gracious divine providence I remain with submissive obedience,
Your Reverence's, My much honored Professor's, submissive servant, devoted to you, through prayer and service,
JOHANN CASPAR STOEVER, pastor, of this congregation in Virginia.19.
Darmstadt, January 17, 1738.
19 Prof. Francke answered with much reserve. He told him that no collection could be taken in Prussia without a royal permit, but that fifty "Thaler," which Captain du Rosay, of Freyenwalde, had sent in July, 1736, for Virginia and Philadelphia, had already been announced to Ziegenhagen, and would be placed at his disposal. (This was done in May, 1738, together with forty "Thaler," which court preacher, Al- lendorf, of Koethen, had sent to Councillor Cellarius in April, and which had been expressly designated for Rev. Mr. Stoever's congrega-
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[ EXTRACT FROM THE ACTA-HISTORICO-ECCLESIASTICA.' Vol. III, p. 1094, Weimar, 1738.]
We find besides another Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in America, which since 1717 has been settled there; but now has again become known to us. In the above mentioned year, 1717, a number of Evangelical persons, from the Alsace, the ·Palatinate and neighboring districts, emigrated from there, because of the then well known, severe persecutions. They went to England, intending to go to Pennsylvania. But since the captain, who took them on his ship before his departure was arrested in London for several weeks, because of his debts, most of the victuals were consumed so that many people died of hunger during this voyage. The rest were sold by the cap- tain to Englishmen for their passage-money. Said Evangeli- cal congregation was settled, especially by the then governor Spotswood, who treated them very harshly, in the province of Virginia, more particularly in the county, named after him, Spotsilvania, which is at the extreme borders of this province, twelve German miles20 from the ocean. There they suffered
tion in Spotsylvania.) Francke then continues : "His Reverence, court preacher, Ziegenhagen, has expressed his surprise for some time past in his letters to me that your Reverence can stay away so long from your congregation in Virginia, because it is known to you that a con- siderable contribution has been given to the congregation at different places, and because such a long delay is contrary to your agreement, made in London with his Reverence. Regarding Mr. Kluge, whom you have accepted as your colleague, the missionaries, leaving in the beginning of last year for Trankebar, have reported from London that they had met there the aforesaid Mr. Kluge, but I have no news whether he has really left for Virginia since that time." He then refers to the books sent to Ziegenhagen, and closes: "In conclusion, I heartily wish that your plans and efforts for the evangelical congrega- tion in Virginia will redound to their blessing and best interests." (Muehlenberg's Autobiography, Allentown, 1881, p. 225f.)
20There is considerable discrepancy between this statement and the one on page 148. Neither is accurate. From Madison, in Madison county, to the mouth of the Potomac, is 120 miles by air line. A Ger- man mile is about four-and-half English miles.
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great hardships, for the first eight years, but they are now suf- ficiently provided by God with temporal blessings, although they cannot dispose of their crops, except the tobacco, which they exchange for clothes, because of their great distance from the ocean. This congregation, which now consists of 300 souls, suffered especially during the first years, a great want in spiritual things, although they sent for this purpose, twelve years ago, two men to their people in Europe, in order to se- cure a minister. Nevertheless they were for sixteen years without public worship and a minister, until at last Mr. John Caspar Stoever, born at Frankenberg in Hessia, after being called and ordained, was given to them by God as their first pastor. He has thus far administered the office of an evangeli- cal pastor among them, being satisfied with receiving instead of salary 3,000 pounds of tobacco, which is worth about 55 [German] Thaler. Since, however, the congregation earnestly desires not to lose the Evangelical truth with his death, but to preserve it to them and their descendants, the said Rev. Mr. Stoever, together with an elder, Michael Schmidt, and a mem- ber, of the congregation, Michael Hold, has started on a journey to Europe, intending to collect money for the contin- vation of divine worship, for the building of a church and school and for the establishment of a fund for the support of their pastor.
In testimony whereof we shall insert the certificate of the present governor of Virginia, which he gave to him for his journey.
William Gooch, Esq., Vice-governor of his Royal Majesty and Commander-in-General of the land and province of Vir- ginia,
Sends Greeting to all, to whom these presents may come.
At the request of Michael Hold and several other German Protestant inhabitants, at the great mountains in the County of Spotsilvania, of this government, I testify herewith, that the said inhabitants keep and maintain, out of their own means, an Evangelical minister of their religion, namely the
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Reverend Augustin21 Stoever, for whom they have already. acquired a certain tract of land2ª and have built a parsonage and are now about to build a church for their meetings23 of which circumstances I have not only received credible evi- dence, but also know that they have very slender means and are altogether unable to bear the expenses of their undertak- ing without outside assistance. Hence, in order that they may receive help and assistance in Germany from their country- men, to carry on the building of their church and to main- tain and support their minister, they are now sending the above mentioned minister, Rev. Mr. Stoever, together with Michael Hold and Michael Schmidt to that country. In order that full credence may be given to these delegates in Germany, in all their endeavors and undertakings, I have given them this written testimonial and have caused the seal of this province to be affixed to the same.
Given at Williamsburg, September 18th (st. v.) in the eighth year of our sovereign, George II, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith annoque Domini 1739.24
(L. S.)
WILLIAM GOOCH.
Thus they came to England and received there not only a good contribution, but also a letter of recommendation 10 Germany and Holland from the German Evangelical Luth- eran ministers in London, Rev. Frederick Michael Ziegen-
21This is a mistake .. It ought to be John Caspar Stoever.
£2In 1733 the Lutheran settlers acquired 193 acres in the first fork of the Rapidan river for church and school purposes. See Slaughter, History of St. Mark's, p. 104.
23The Hebron church, in Madison county, was built in 1740. It is
still standing. (See picture in Dr. Jacob's German Emigration to America, in Proceedings of Pennsylvania German Society, Vol. VIII, p 61.)
24This date is wrong. It ought to be 1734. In September, 1735, the delegates were in Germany. Moreover, George II, followed his father in June, 1727, hence his eighth year began in June, 1734.
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hagen, Rev. Heinrich Alard Butjenter, court preacher at the German court chapel of St. James, Rev. D. Heinrich Walther Gerdes and Rev. Heinrich Werner Palm, pastor of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church in Savoy.
In Germany they came, among other places, in September 1735, to Hamburg, where they received a rich harvest of alms. This money was immediately sent through merchants to Eng- land and through bills of exchange to the elders of this con- gregation in Spotsilvania. The above mentioned Mr. Stoever has also collected a small library of all kinds of spiritual and unobjectional books, especially of the writing's of Luther, which are to remain the property of the church. In Elbing-3 they have been fortunate enough to find a candidate of theo- logy, Mr. George Samuel Klug, who, especially on the ad- vice of Rev. Mr. Daniel Rittersdorf, pastor primarius of the church of St. Mary and Senior of the ministerium at Elbing, accepted the call, extended by the congregation to an assistant. This new co-laborer was, therefore, after the usual examina- tion, publicly ordained in the principal church of St. Mary on August 30, 1736 and a testimonial was given to him by the Evangelical Ministerium there. At the same time a cer- tificate about this was also given to Rev. Mr. Stoever. The above mentioned Mr. Klug immediately proceeded from Dan- zig to England and from there to Virginia, in company of Mr. Michael Schmidt. Mr. Stoever, however, continued his jour- ney in Germany and stayed till the spring of 1738 at Darm- stedt with the court deacon Fresenius, a relative of his, after which he started on his return journey to his congregation. Meanwhile Mr. Fresenius assures persons, who desire to send a contribution to this congregation, that he will send it safely to America and will state in public print for his own vindica- tion, how these moneys have been used.
23 Elbing is a city of the province of West Prussia, whose capital is Danzig.
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VII.
[LETTER OF REV. JOHN PHILIP FRESENIUS, TAKEN FROM FRESENIUS PASTORAL-SAMMLUNGEN, VOL. XII. 361-364.]
He [Stoever] had so much confidence in me that he asked me for instruction. I took him willingly into my house and devoted to him every hour, which I could spare from my of- ficial duties. Although he was more than fifty years of age, yet he studied untiringly night and day, so that within half a year he had penetrated farther into the Christian Science than I anticipated at first. His growth in the active Christian life became evident to me to my greatest joy and I had hope that he would become a very able worker among his flock in America. He himself hoped that he would now be able to administer his office, under divine blessing, better than before. But he died on his return journey and was buried at sea.
VIII.
[WILL OF THE REV. JOHN CASPAR STOEVER, SR., RECORDED AT PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 20, 1739.]
In the name of the Most Holy Trinity, Amen.
Although the Great God has appointed to all mankind an end, whose manner and time are known to none, yet he sends at times his messengers of sickness, through whom he admon- ishes us, saving : "Set thy house in order for thou shalt die." I also have experienced this upon my sea voyage to Pennsyl- vania and thence to Virginia, I have to set in order two im- portant affairs, namely, both of the house of God as well as of my own house. I shall begin with the most important, the house of the Lord.
The agreement with my congregation as well as the cer- tificate of the Royal Britannic Governor in Williamsburg test- ify by whom I was engaged and what I and my companions shall receive, upon the completion of the collecting tour, as a
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return for our faithfulness and fidelity, exhibited during this long and most dangerous journey.
As regards Michael Holt, he accompanied us indeed as far as Danzig, but for the wicked villanies he there practised against us, and for the harm he did to our collection on his return to London, through his influence on the ministry there, he cannot make restitution to this congregation with four hun- dred pistoles :26 indeed through him and his wicked sugges- tions27 the ministry there [secured] a person, sufficiently pre-
26A pistole was a Spanish gold coin, worth about $3.60.
27This seems to be the sense of an exceedingly obscure passage. The verb being omitted it is hard to tell what is really meant. The old English translation, on record in the Register of Wills Office in Philadelphia (Will Book F, pp. 126-128) contains at this point but a confused medley of words: "Yea, how through him and his wicked mouth that blessed Institution when a learn'd man, Master George Samuel Klug, by the heart rending grace of God, hath fully resolved and in Elbingen as a second minister of this congregation the calling accepted, & further in Danzig the confirmation received, for whose maintenance in his journey from thence to London we have paid 400 Elbingish or 200 Dutch Florens according to the currency in the Em- pire & for Reason of the many recommendations from a great many high Lord both spiritual and temporal as from other great Merch'ts our full and abundant confidence was further confirmed. That the great God would prosper our Collections so far, that constantly two ministers without the least charge to the congregation could be main- tained and likewise a church and other unto the worship of God neces- sary buildings would been erected." I would like to offer this expla- nation of the difficulty. Mr. Klug was secured by the machinations of Michael Hold, who thereby tried to supplant Mr. Stoever. I infer that he made false representations to the ministers at Danzig, and on the strength of them Mr. Klug was engaged. When Stoever heard of it he was at first very angry, but finally submitted to the inevitable and gave him money to travel to London. That Mr. Klug was not on the best of terms with Stoever seems to be implied in the attitude of Dr. Ziegenhagen towards Stoever, in the continued silence of Klug, re- fusing to answer Stoever's letters, and in the absence of any reference to him when the older Stoever advises his son about the future of the congregation. In fact it is doubtful whether Klug left England before Stoever did. Both reached Philadelphia in the year, 1739. Not know- ing what had become of Klug it is but natural that Stoever should
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pared, Mr. George Samuel Kluge, who through the overruling providence of God accepted at Elbingen the call of this con- gregation to be its second pastor, received also ordination at Danzig and then started on his journey to London, for which we gave him four hundred Elbingish or 200 German guild- ers. We also have the full and perfect assurance. through the recommendations of many distinguished consistories and mer- chants, that the great God will bless our collection and that two ministers can be maintained continually without the least expense to the congregation, also that a church and other buildings, necessary for the work of the church, can be built. All this has not been mentioned with the intention of myself or Michael Schmidt taking any part of portion belonging to Michael Holt for the time that he was with us, but we feel ourselves compelled through our conscience to deliberate whether or not he should indemnify the congregation for the damage he did to the same. All the tricks he practised to the detriment of the congregation can be sworn to by Michael Schmidt, a conscientious man, and, if I confirm the same with my death, credence will undoubtedly be given to my words as well as to the many letters received from Rev. Mr. Ziegen- hagen.
Now my much beloved son, John Caspar Stoever, minister in "Canastoken,"28 I herewith give unto thee and unto Michael
regard the expenditure of 400 guilders as money wasted, and hence he blamed Michael Hold for this useless expenditure. This, I take to be the force of the above obscure passage in Mr. Stoever's will.
28On September 11, 1728, two persons took the oath of allegiance in Philadelphia, who gave their names as "Johann Caspar Stoever, mis- sionaire," and "Johan Caspar Stoever, S. S. Theol. Stud." Their relation to each other was long unknown. They were usually regarded as uncle and nephew, but it is now certain that they were father and son. (See Virginia Magazine, Vol. XI, p. 241.) The will of Stoever corroborates other evidence on this point. The young Stoever was born December 21, 1707, in the Duchy of Berg. He came to America with his father in 1728. He was ordained on April 8, 1733, by Christopher Schultz, pastor in Philadelphia. He organized many Lutheran con- gregations in the eastern counties of Pennsylvania. He died May 13, 1779, at Lebanon, Pa.
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