USA > Virginia > Madison County > Madison County > The Germans in Madison County, Va. Documents Bearing on Their History > Part 3
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Schmidt full power to use thy earnest endeavor in taking charge of this church, especially with a view to provide them with divine services as we began the same in the Lord, and if this beloved congregation would call thee as its pastor accept its call, if thou canst do it with a good conscience, therefore as soon as thou hearest from this Michael Schmidt go at once to Philadelphia and assist him, according to the best of thy ability, in bringing him, his and my own goods, as well as two other families going to Virginia, to thy house.
This done send at once a messenger to the other three church wardens of the congregation with the request to come speed- ily to thee to hear the Letters of Attorney, which thou hast received, likewise to listen to my own and Michael Schmidt's account of the whole collection, in accordance with the state- ments entered into the collection books as well as other docu- ments not found in the collection books, but especially in a small Hamburg almanac, in which I entered many large and small sums in the Latin language, all of which belong to the receipts.
Then in the presence of the church wardens determine, ac- cording to the contract, the portions belonging to the congre- gation, to me and to Michael Schmidt and from the 'portion of the congregation assign to each of the church wardens two shillings, Virginia currency, per day. Thou mayest also no- tify the congregation in Virginia that, if they wish to elect severa! persons to be present at the settlement of the collected money, they have liberty to do so, provided it can be done without expense to the congregation. Write at the same time a short letter to my wife and children that they may come along with the church wardens, because thou hast full directions what to give to her and to all my children as their patrimony.
There is in hand in cash money in all eight hundred pis- toles, in four sealed packages, each containing two hundred pistoles. In determining the amount due to the congregation the sums which I and Michael Schmidt have expended for the congregation, must again be restored. Moreover we ought to have our share of the books collected for the congregation,
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of the silver cup and of the small plate. I sent from Hamburg to John Henning N. of London, a large chest full of books. I paid for the chest. Within were ten volumes of Luther's works, printed at Wittenberg, I bought another volume, but the last volume I was unable to secure. There were mary other books in it for the congregation. For my own use there was in it, Spener's Consilia,2º three volumes; many new books unbound, for instance, Pfaff's large Bible,30 a Hebrew Lexicon, Budeus,$1 Morals, in German; Michaelis32 Hebrew Grammar, Langius" Greek and Latin Grammar, and other unbound tracts. This chest had the misfortune to be in a ship that suf- fered shipwreck. But I received letters from London, from the above mentioned, John Henning, that through the grace of God the chest had been saved, but would be sold in a short time, then he would buy it again for me, which he did for about thirty-six shillings, sterling money. This chest is still in Lon- don, write therefore immediately to the aforesaid John Hen- ning, whose sur-name3+ you will find in the letters, asking him that by the first opportunity he would send the chest over to thee with the offer that the one who would bring the chest with him should have all his expenses gratefully repaid to him.
The other books, belonging to the congregation, were all packed up in Michael Schmidt's chest. Furthermore we re- ceived many books from the bookdealers at Leipzig and Strass-
29 Philip Jacob Spener was the great Lutheran pietist, first pastor at Frankfort-on-the-Main, then court preacher at Dresden, and lastly pastor of the St. Nicolai church, at Berlin. He died in 1705.
60The Bible of Christopher M. Pfaff was printed at Tuebingen in 1729 and following years.
31 John Francis Buddeus published his Institutiones Theologiae Mor- alis at Leipzig in 17II.
32This was John Henry Michaelis, a noted Hebraist.
33 Joachim Lange was a prominent Lutheran theologian of the pie- tistic school.
34The English translation in the will book has John Henning Cars- tens.
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burg, but, inasmuch as they were of no value to the congre- gation, I exchanged them with a bookdealer at Frankfort for two hundred Frankfort handbooks, which I and Michael Schmidt had bound for the congregation. Other books, which came from Strassburg, we exchanged at Darmstadt for hymn books with large and readable types for the use of the con- gregation. Regarding these books we ought first of all to be compensated for our expenses and secondly we ought to re- ceive our stipulated portion of the same. This holds good also for the exchanges which we endeavored to make of our money into current money, as I have noted in the collection book at the end of the Hamburg and Lubeck85 account. Like- wise, it is no more than just that, where we were compelled to make advances, we should have the same restored to us. These began as as soon as we came to Leipzig and Lauenburg and ex- tended down to the end of the collecting tour, which advances amounted to at least five per cent.
Finally I and Michael Schmidt bought at Plymouth a hun- dred pieces of cut window glass and packed it in six boxes to- gether with three hundred pounds of putty, with which to fas- ten the glass in the wooden frames. We paid for the same, according to the bill, twenty-five pounds and ten shillings, sterling, which sum must likewise be repaid to us by the con- gregation.
Whatever else is necessary for thee to know concerning this affair thou canst learn from conversation with Michael Schmidt and from the documents, which will give thee in all things the necessary light. To this end call, with a pure heart, upon the God of wisdom and understanding, that he may plentifully fill thy heart with his heavenly wisdom. When the whole matter has been settled then cause a document to be drawn up by the magistrate or notary public, in the presence of witnesses, so that it may have standing before the whole world. Then give to each one his portion, due to him.
35Lubeck is one of the three free cities of Germany. At one time the head of the great Hanseatic League. It is situated at the Lubeck Bay, a part of the Baltic Sea.
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Furthermore care as much as possible, for this congregation, its preservation as well as its true interests, write in its behalf to the court preacher, Rev. Mr. Fresenius36 and ask him to send if necessary a new minister, also try to keep up a corres- pondence with the ecclesiastical and secular authorities in Germany that they may send over to thee the collections which from there are yet to be expected. I also bought of him ! Fresenius] besides other books Langen's, "Light and Right," one part of which is still wanting. Write to him he will surely send it.
Regarding the goods, which I and Michael Schmidt have bought, the same belong in part to us jointly, some of them to him, but most of them to me alone. Michael Schmidt will no doubt remember it all correctly.
Finally this power of attorney concerns my wife and chil- dren. I nominate thee again truly and faithfully to assign to each the share which I have intended for them. First, con- cerning my dear wife. Her share shall be whatever she has of cattle, horses, hogs and all other living animals, all furniture, bedding, pewter, copper, iron ware and linnen, in short she need not give to any one an account of these things, yet with this condition that during my absence she behaved herself as a good wife and that be she did not slander my office and honor with her wicked tongue and thereby gave great offence. In such a case everything shall be taken from her from the great- est to the least, even including the clothes on her body, since they all came from me, and shall be added to the share of the children. Everything that I leave of money, silver, linnen, clothing, bedding and whatever other goods I have, shall be valued as to their total value and shall then be equally divided among my beloved children, but nothing shall be given into
36 John Philip Fresenius was born in 1705. In 1734 he became court preacher to the Landgrave of Darmstadt, and professor at the uni- versity at Giessen. Later pastor at Frankfort. He took a lively in- terest in the Lutheran congregations in Pennsylvania. He published twenty-four volumes of Pastoral Collections, 1748-1760, in which there are numerous references to the American churches.
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the hands of those of the second marriage, until they have reached the requisite age. Thou, my dear son, shalt heartily assist them in their training in the Christian faith as well as 'in their getting a livelihood. If thou canst not do it in any other way thou shalt give them the yearly interest of their money, which thou hast in hands.
This, my dear Son, is thy full power of attorney, containing what I ask of thee.
May God plentifully grant thee wisdom, understanding and grace for the sake of Jesus Christ and keep thy heart from all falsehood and deceit. Amen, Amen.
That the foregoing was signed by me with a clear mind and in Christian fatherly love, and was written by the school- master, Mr. Johannes Ebert, at sea during my sickness, is testified by my own hand and by the signatures of the fol- lowing witnesses.
JOHANN CASPER STOEVER,
Minister of the Evangelical, German Lutheran Congregation in Virginia.
(L. S.) MICHAEL SCHMIT,
(L. S.) WM. MISSING,
(L. S.) JOHANNES EBERT.
[The original German will is endorsed:]
To be delivered to my dear Son, Johann Casper Stoever, Evangelical Lutheran Minister in Canistoken, with all pos- sible haste.
[The original English translation is endorsed as follows : ]
A. true copie of the last will & testament made upon Sea in his sickness by John Caspar Stover, Senior Minister of the Lutheran Church in Virginia unto John Caspar Stover, Junior, minister of the Lutheran Church in Canastoken as
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to his eldest Son; truly and faithfully translated out of the Dutch Orignal.37
[The will was recorded in Will Book F, pp. 126-128, with the following additional affidavit :]
Philadelphia, March 20th, 1738|9.
There personally appear'd Michael Schmidt one of the wit- nesses to the within written Will & upon his Oath did declare he saw & heard John Gaspr Stover, the Testator within named, sign, seal, publish and declare the same Will to be his last Will & Testament & that at the doing thereof he was of sound mind, memory, & understanding to the best of his knowledge and that William Missing & John Ebert, the two other sub- scribing witnesses did subscribe their names together with this Deponent as witnesses to the same Will in the presence of the Testator.
Coram
PET. EVANS, Rec'r Gen'l.
BE IT REMEMBERED That on the twentieth day of March, 1738|9, The last Will and Testament of John Casper Stover, Deceased was proved in due form of Law and probated and Letters Testamentary were granted to John Casper Stover, Executor therein named, being first solemnly swor according to Law well and truly to administer the said Deceased's Es- tate and to bring a true and perfect Inventory"8 thereof into
37The English translation of the will in Will Book F, pp. 126-128 has this affidavit as to the old translation. "I have examined the fore- going with the original in the Dutch language and believe the same a true translation of the original to the best of my knowledge as witness my hand this 20 Day of March, 1738. Christian Grassold, Philad'a.
March 20, 1738. The above named Christian Grassold, upon his solemn affirmation according to law did declare that the foregoing is a true translation of the original will of John Caspar Stoever, written in the Dutch language, according to the best of his knowledge, coram Pet. Evans, Rec. Gen."
In spite of this affidavit the translation is very poor and confused. For this reason I preferred to make a new translation throughout of the German, not Dutch, original.
¿8No inventory of the estate can be found.
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the Register General's Office at Philade at or before the twen- tieth Day of April next and a true and just account when thereunto lawfully required. Given under the seal of said Office.
PET. EVANS, Rec'r Gen'l.
IX.
[EXTRACTS FROM THE COURT RECORDS OF ORANGE CO., VA., 1739.]
The Rev. John Caspar Stoever exhibited into court a Ger- man copy and English translation of the last will and testament of John Caspar Stoever deced, with a certificate, dated the 20th day of March, 1738, under the hand of Peter Evans, Reg- ister General at Philadelphia, sealed with the seal of his office. That the original of said copy was proved in his office by the oath of Michael Schmidt, one of ye evidences thereto. And the said Michael Schmidt being called appeared & on his oath declared that at ye af'd office of ye Register General in Phila- delphia was sworn as an Evidence to the Original will of John Caspar Stoever, dec'd, and that he believes that the translation of copy presented into court by John Caspar Stoever, ye son of ye dec'ed, was a true translation and copy of ye original will. Thereupon its ordered that the said copy and translation be- longed in the Clerk's Office.
Dated March 20, 1738.
Michael Cook complains of John Caspar Stoever, Executor of the last will and testament of John Caspar Stover, dec'ed in custody, yt for that, to-wit, whereas the said testator in his life time, to-wit, the first day of December, 1738, at the parish of St. Mark in the County aforesaid, was indebted to the said Plaintiff in two thousand pounds of Tobacco for certain ser- vices as Clerk or Reader in the German Chapelle to the congr. of the sd testator, then being minister to the said congr. at the parish & county afores'd, etc.
Entered ye 27th day of June, 1739.
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THE GERMANS IN MADISON COUNTY, VA.
Mary Pool complains of John Caspar Stoever, Executor of the last will and testament of John Caspar Stoever, dec'd, in custody yt for that to-wit, whereas the said Testator in his life- time, to-wit, on the tenth day of May, 1734, at the County aforesaid, in consideration that the said pet'r at the special instance and request of the said Testator would come over to Virginia from North Carolina where the said pet'r then dwelt, and live and reside in Virginia with the said Testator & his wife, the daughter of ye sd pet'r or some other place in Vir- ginia, he, the said Testator, in his lifetime undertook and then faithfully promised that he, the said testator, would pay her yearly for her maintenance five pounds current money Vir- ginia, and the said pet'r in fact saith that she trusting to the promise and assumption of the said Testator in form aforesaid made, did on the fifteenth day of May, 1734, aforesaid, come over to & hath ever since dwelt & resided in Virginia with the said Testator & her Daughter aforesaid. Yet the said Testator in his life time or the said Def't, his Executor since his Death, tho often required, have not nor either of them hath yet paid the said pet'r yearly five pounds as aforesaid due for her main- tenance, but the same to pay have refused, the said Def't still doth refuse to the Damage of the said pet'r thirty pounds cur- rent money, & thereof she brings suit.
[Court ordered John C. Stoever to be produced, but the Sheriff reported that he could not be found as he was living outside of the bounds of the province.]
X.
[EXTRACT FROM ACTA-HISTORICO-ECCLESIASTICA, Vol. V., p. 893, Weimar, 1743.]
Of the Christian congregation in Spotsilvania we have al- ready given an account in Vol. III., of these Acts, p. 1094f. We have now heard that their minister, Mr. Stoever, who made a trip to Europe, died at sea on his return journey. The new minister, Mr. George Samuel Klug, has safely arrived in
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Orange County, also called Spotsilvania, together with his other companions. They thereupon sent a writing to their benefactors in and outside of Germany, from whom they re- ceived contributions. This was published in the "Hamburger Berichten," 1741, No. LXVI, p. 558f., and we shall also insert it here:
Orange County in America, August 29, 1740.
Letter of Thanks of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Orange County, Virginia, in America, to all our benefac- tors, high and low, in and outside of Germany :
The remarkable liberality to which persons of high and low birth, in Germany, Prussia and other places were impelled towards us, their poor fellow believers, living in a distant part of the world, in order to improve by their kind contributions our hitherto poor spiritual condition, due to the lack of the necessary temporal means, such liberality puts us and our descendants under lasting obligations to them. Reverence, love and gratitude are the feelings with which our hearts are filled towards our dearest benefactors. We remember them at all times in our daily prayers and are confident that God, who hears when the poor call upon him, will graciously hear our prayer, remember them in mercy and reward here temporarily, and yonder eternally the kindness shown to us, which will only redound to the advancement of his glory and his service. The Lord, whose mercy reaches as far as the heavens, and whose truth as far as the clouds, increase their possessions ten, yea a hundred fold! And may eternity give to them the most per- fect increase of that which they have loaned to the Lord. We shall tell it to our children what the Lord has done to us through them and they will tell it to their children so that their memory will be preserved as a continual blessing among our descendants. When at last, on the great day of resurrection, the books will be opened the names of our most valued bene- factors, whom we love heartily, revere with due reverence, and for whom we pray, will be found written in the book of life. The Lord, dwelling in heaven, add to our weak wishes his powerful amen, gather us all who are separated in body, into
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his eternal kingdom and into the company of the most perfect and righteous spirits.
This is the wish and prayer to God of the congregation in Virginia, accepting the unchanged Augsburg Confession.
GEORGE SAMUEL KI.UG, pastor. MICHEL KOCH, MICHAEL SCHMIT,
MICHAEL HOLLT,
MICHAEL KLAR, GEORG UTZ.
XI. [EXTRACTS FROM THE HALLE REPORTS, 1749] [EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF THE REV. PETER BRUNNHOLTZ, JULY 3, 1749.]39
When we returned from Lancaster, we received a visit from Rev. Mr. Kluge, of Virginia, three hundred and thirty miles from here, who had settled there ten years ago. He wished to see and become acquainted with our organization. We received him kindly. He went away quietly and well satisfied. May God bless this journey to him.
[EXTRACT FROM REV. JOHN FREDERICK HANDSCHUH'S DIARY OF 1749.]40
On June 9, [1749] several members of the Consistory brought Rev. Samuel Kluge, pastor in Virginia, to me, who stayed long with me to my great delight, and who was accom- panied by me back to town [Lancaster].
[June 11] third Sunday after Trinity. At noon Rev. Mr. Kluge took dinner with me, who had spent yesterday almost the whole day with me. In the afternoon I asked him to preach for me. On the following day he bade me farewell & continued his journey to Philadelphia.
#9Taken from Halle Reports, new edition, Vol. I, p. 528.
40 From Halle Reports, new edition, Vol. I, pp. 539-540.
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June 23. Yesterday Rev. Mr. Kluge stopped again on his return from Phila. and to-day he took leave from me.
XII.
[EXTRACT FROM MUHLENBERG'S DIARY OF 1749.]41
In this month of June [1749] Rev. Mr. Klug visited us, who for a number of years has been officiating to a German Evangelical congregation in the province of Virginia. From this country, Virginia, also called Spotsylvania, several years ago, a few German men, among whom one named Stoever is specially to be mentioned, went through Germany to collect money. They collected a sum of almost 3,000 pounds, the third part of which they received for traveling expenses and for their labors, for the rest they built a frame church, bought a tract of land and a number of negro slaves. From this land and slaves the minister derives an ample income, so that he is not in the least burdensome to his congregation on account of his support. He [Kluge] complained that he was alone in this extensive district, most of the inhabitants being English- men, and that he had no opportunity of being encouraged and edified by intercourse with German associates in the ministry. He also said, that several of the Zinzendorfians had passed through his congregation,12 without being able to gain a firm foothold ; nor could they well find an entrance in the province. because its laws were severe against such vagrants,43 who could not show a legal call and valid testimonials. He pro- mised to visit us more frequently, if God should grant him life, because he felt stimulated by it, although he was living three hundred miles away from us.
"From Halle Reports, new edition, Vol. I, p. 493f.
42For the visits of these Moravian missionaries see Virginia Maga- zine, Vol. XI, p. 24of; Vol. XII, pp. 70-72.
"See proclamation of Governor Gooch in Virginia Magazine, Vol. XI, p. 228, note t.
NOTE .- In note 3, page (42, the second and third lines were transposed.
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