Johannes Stahler Descendants

By Augustus O. Thomas II BSEE P.E. and Gloria Stahler Thomas

Research on the Stahler family and related names began in 1990 simultaneously with researching information on the Thomas (paternal) and Murphy (maternal) books, which took us from New England to Colorado. The Stahler book took place in the southwest counties of Pennsylvania.

All but two surnames in this volume are from Germany and many names repeated in family stories. Because of this, a superscript was used in discussion to clarify generations (also used for footnotes).

Stories are remembered. One is Jacob Christman was killed on his farm, and another Jacob Christmen was also killed on the same farm. Or that Gloria’s father was the first athlete playing high school football. They played at Pottsville and won 19–13. “The newspaper account pointed out Pottsville hit a pass receiver in the crowd and he scored two touchdowns through this deception.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781984539939

Augustus O. Thomas II BSEE P.E.

Augustus O. Thomas, II, was born November 11, 1927 in Harrisburg and Gloria Jane (Stahler) Thomas was born June 22, 1927 in Allentown, both in Pennsylvania. They have three daughters, Audrey, Diane and Nancy. Tracing their ancestors has been a priority since I retired in 1989 from Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. as a Division Engineering Manager. Gloria was raising our three wonderful daughters. She also was an official in the Daughters of the American Resolution, conducted Acolytes at Church, and played organized bridge.

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1:    Escape Route

Chapter 2:    The Palatinate

Chapter 3:    Worms, Hessen, Gemany

Chapter 4:    Die Ritterschaft

Chapter 5:    Switzerland

Chapter 6:    Württenburg, Germany

Chapter 7:    Of French Origin

Chapter 8:    Another Swedish Family

FIGURES

Fig. 1-1 Peaceful Freinsheim, Germany

Fig. 1-2 The Edict of Nantes

Fig. 1-3 Immigrant Ship.

Fig. 2-1 Germany and Other Adjacent Countries.

Fig. 2-2- Profile View of Lambsheim.

Fig. 2-3 Türmchen, City Wall Tower.

Fig. 2-4 Old Street Layout, Lambsheim

Fig. 2-5 Mile Position between Towns.

Fig. 2-6 Zum Hirschen, Stag Inn, Lambsheim.

Fig. 2-7 Pennsylvania Southeast Counties.

Fig. 2-8 Nicholas Stahler 149 Acres

Fig. 2-9 J. Nicolas Stahler Signature.

Fig. 2-10 Ludwig’s Two Properties

Fig. 2-11 Ludwig’s Grave Marker.

Fig. 2-12 Ludwig Stahler Signature.

Fig. 2-13 David Stahler Signature

Fig. 2-14 Dillingersville School & Church.

Fig. 2-15 Daniel Stahler Hotel, Dillingersville

Fig. 2-16 Old Zionsville Reformed Church.

Fig. 2-17 Rudolph Stahler.

Fig. 2-18 Old Coins Valued at ½ cents and 3 dollars.

Fig. 2-19 Rudolph & David Stahler Households, 1880 Federal Census.

Fig. 2-20 Rudolph Stahler Tombstone.

Fig. 2-21 Will of Rudolph Stahler.

Fig. 2-22 David Stahler.

Fig. 2-23 David Stahler – Flutist, Millerstown Band – 1828

Fig. 2-24 Wm Stahler & Cora Ritter, 1897.

Fig. 2-25 126 ½ N. 11th Street.

Fig. 2-26 William F. Stahler Family

Fig. 2-27 Wm. Stahler & Cora Ritter Marriage Fractur – 1897.

Fig. 2-28 Sadie, Clarence and Grace Stahler – ca. 1909.

Fig. 2-29 U. S. Census 1910.

Fig. 2-30 William’s Auto Purchase – 1907

Fig. 2-31 Wm. F. Stahler Signature

Fig. 2-32 Retired Bethlehem Steel Plant. Photo Courtesy of Shaun O’Boyle.

Fig. 2-33 Schoefer Vertical Lime Kilns

Fig. 2-34 Clarence Stahler –Photo Baseball 1917.

Fig. 2-35 American Institute of Banking Certificate

Fig. 2-36 Duplex 2118 & 2120.

Fig. 2-37 C.D.H. Stahler Deputy Sheriff Badge.

Fig. 2-38 Clarence & Amelia Stahler

Fig. 2-39 Butch and Blondie Stahler.

Fig. 2-40 Harold & Kit Stahler, 1955.

Fig. 2-41 Gloria Jane Stahler – 1935.

Fig. 2-42 Baptism Record for Gloria Stahler and Louis Helsel.

Fig. 2-43 Rear 2021 Highland Street.

Fig. 2-44 Oh, Playmate - Score Provided by Judy & Tom Shellenberger.

Fig. 2-45 Gloria Jane Stahler – 1945.

Fig. 2-46 Gloria and her Dolls.

Fig. 2-47 Lucille Seibert, Louis Helsel & Gloria Stahler – 1945.

Fig. 2-48 Gloria Stahler & Augustus Thomas Wedding in 1950 – Photo.

Fig. 2-49 Gloria & Bud Thomas Marriage Record.

Fig. 2-50 Sadie Marie Helsel, (nee Stahler).

Fig. 2-51 Grace Irene Seibert (nee Stahler).

Fig. 2-52 Lee, Lucille, Nancy and Jeffrey Seibert.

Fig. 2-53 Philip Stahler Signature.

Fig. 3-1 Manheim to Rotterdam by Rhine River

Fig. 3-2 Balthasar’s Marriage Certificate – 1734.

Fig. 3-3 Communities South of Emmaus and Macungie, Pennsylvania.

Fig. 3-4 Balthasar’s Warrant for 20 Acres.

Fig. 3-5 Balthasar Fetterman Signature.

Fig. 3-6 Daughters of the American Revolution Application

Fig. 3-7 Philip Fetterman 86 Acres Deed to Jacob Fetterman.

Fig. 3-8 Levi Fetterman – 1823 to 1899.

Fig. 3-9 Julia Ann Fetterman – 1823 to 1908

Fig. 3-10 Levi Fetterman Member of Old Zionsville Reformed Church.

Fig. 3-11 Lenni Lenope Indian, Jasper Park, Vera Cruz.

Fig. 3-12 Levi Fetterman Tombstone and Fig. 3-13 1880 Federal Census.

Fig. 3-14 Certified Death of Levi Fetterman on 21 March 1899.

Fig. 3-15 Partial Inventory of Levi Fetterman Estate.

Fig. 3-16 Deed for Three Contiguous Tracts from Executors to Samuel K. Fetterman.

Fig. 3-17 Levi Fetterman Tombstone.

Fig. 3-18 Eliza Fetterman Signature.

Fig. 3-19 Court Assignment of Executors for Eliza Fetterman Estate.

Fig. 3-20 Actual Federal Census—1900.

Fig. 4-1 Immigration Circular

Fig. 4-2 Henry Ritter Signature

Fig. 4-3 Henry Ritter’s Two Tracts.

Fig. 4-4 Western Salisbury Union Church

Fig. 4-5 Northampton County Courthouse – Easton, Pa.

Fig. 4-6 Split Salisbury Township.

Fig. 4-7 Henry Ritter Signature.

Fig. 4-8 Martin Ritter Tavern.

Fig. 4-9 Martin Purchase of 192 Acres Adjacent to Existing Land.

Fig. 4-10 Martin Ritter Tombstone

Fig. 4-11 Martin Ritter Veteran Grave Registration

Fig. 4-12 Two Paths to Revolutionary Veteran.

Fig. 4-13 1810 Federal Census.

Fig. 4-14 1820 Federal Census.

Fig. 4-15 Approved Daughters of the Revolution Application.

Fig. 4-16 Milton Hiram Ritter. And Fig. 4-17 Anna Marie Ritter.

Fig. 4-18 Levi K. Ritter. And Fig. 4-19 Ester (Hettie) Wesco Ritter.

Fig. 4-20 Milton Hiram Ritter Tombstone.

Fig. 4-21 Clarence David Hiram Stahler Signature..

Fig. 4-22 Anna Maria Ritter Obituary.

Fig. 4-23 Birth Fraktur for Cora Agnes Ritter.

Fig. 4-24 Limeport Hotel.

Fig. 4-25 Cressman Home in Limeport.

Fig. 4–26 Abe and Amanda Cressman.

Fig. 4-27 Grace, Clarence & Sadie – 1906.

Fig. 4–28 Sadie, Clarence & Grace – 1909.

Fig. 5-1 Switzerland, France & Germany

Fig. 5-2 Lehigh County and Townships.

Fig. 5-3 Jordan Lutheran Church.

Fig. 5-4 Land Draft #1168.

Fig. 5-5 Albright Tavern, Henry Leiser Innkeeper

Fig.5-6 Benjamin Leiser ca. 1890.

Fig. 5-7 Little Church Around the Corner, New York City

Fig. 5-8 Home at 831 Tilghman Street.

Fig. 5-9 Waldheim Park Plot Plan.

Fig. 5-10 Bertha, Amelia, Warren & Benjamin

Fig. 5-11 Waldheim Park Tabernacle.

Fig. 5-12 Amelia and Waren – 1910

Fig. 5-13 Liberty Bell Limited Trolley.

Fig. 5-14 PP&L Headquarters, Allentown.

Fig. 5-15 Gloria, Mae, Bertha, Amelia & Barbara

Fig. 6-1 Map of Wurttenberg Dutchy.

Fig. 6-2 Jacob Christman Signature

Fig. 6-3 Penn Warrant of 150 Acres to Jacob Christman.

Fig. 6-4 Jacob Christman’s 150 Acres, Courtesy of Charles F. Kerchner, Jr.

Fig. 6-5 Famous 5-Point Road Intersection.

Fig. 6-6 Philip Cristman’s Two Parcels.

Fig. 6-7 Christman’s Mill.

Fig. 6-8 Most unusual Property Lines-1849

Fig. 6-9 Aaron Christman

Fig. 6-10 Amelia (Walbert) Christman

Fig. 6-11 Aaron Christman’s Death Certificate.

Fig. 6-12 Christman Properties Along Mountain Road

Fig. 6-13 Distelfink

Fig. 6-14 Typical Dutch Barn & Hex Signs.

Fig. 6-15 Wennersville Community, Lehigh County.

Fig. 7-1 SAR Application

Fig. 7-2 104 Acres Wesco Sold to Heiser.

Fig. 7-3 Complaint by Francis Wesco

Fig. 7-4 Wescoville Hotel, Built 1797. Courtesy Lower Macungie Township Historical Society.

Fig. 7-5 Two Warrants Returned for Philip Wesco.

Fig. 7-6 Solomon’s Reformed Church, Macungie.

Fig. 7-7 Solomon Wesco Tombstone.

Fig. 7-8 Elizabeth Wesco Renounces as Administrator.

Fig. 7-9 United States 1810 Census.

Fig. 8-1 Swiss Flag.

Fig. 8-2 Ottenbach, Switzerland.

Fig. 8-3 Berks, Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

Fig. 8-4 Rough Plot of Warrant Neglect.

Fig. 8-5 Listing for Warrant to Mikchior Baer.

Fig. 8-6 Northampton County Courthouse.

Fig. 8-7 Map to Slossher’s Church

Fig. 8-8 Northampton County 1786 Census

Fig. 8-9 United Union Church, Neffs, Lehigh County.

DEDICATION

GLORIA%20JANE.jpg

This book is dedicated to co-author GLORIA JANE STAHLER THOMAS who departed this world for Heaven to be with her Lord and Savior on April 10, 2016.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

F AMILY MEMBERS ARE first acknowledged for contributions on where earlier generations lived and worked in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. Gloria Stahler had the benefit of her parents, Clarence and Amelia Emma (nee Leiser) Stahler, where she learned about her recent family history. Personal relations for two generations earlier included her grandmother, Grammy Ritter who greeted Gloria with nee busku, Gloria. She did not speak English.

Clarence Butch Stahler died in 1951 and consequently Amelia was the source of information when our genealogy interest began in 1989, and is the first person to be acknowledged. We have learned that most people doing genealogy research always wait until the living with information pass away before beginning; this complicates gaining pertinent information about the recent generations, but more important, stories about family members that make reading interesting and exciting.

Our thanks to Aunt Grace (nee Stahler) Seibert who provided stories of current and earlier family as well as locations of residences, employment and burial cemeteries. She traveled throughout Lehigh County showing us where and when, and thus deserves our gratitude.

Gloria’s brother, Harold, contributed information along with his wife, Catherine (nee Beierschmitt). Actually, they were an integral part of family history and deserve our appreciation.

And not to be forgotten were the librarians graciously helping to locate pertinent volumes on local, township and county history in their genealogy research sections. The same applies to courthouse clerks assisting in our scouring of Deed and Will Books for related information. The Shwenkfelters Library and Family History Center is noted for assistance locating practically all the surnames in this book in German Pastor’s records providing births, baptisms, marriages and deaths, most translated from German.

INTRODUCTION

I T WAS THE year 1990 when Gloria (nee Stahler) and Augustus Thomas commenced genealogy research on her surname beginning in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, where she was born and raised. Her ancestors emigrated from the Palatinate area of Germany to Philadelphia in the mid-1700s and thereafter. These ancestors settled in the present day counties of Bucks, Berks, Northampton, and Lehigh, and most remained within a 50 mile radius of Allentown through ten generations.

The Stahler family genealogy chart was established from exhaustive investigation back to Johannes Stahler, born in the 1630’s, without any established genealogy data or chart available. This project began an exciting, and at times, a thrilling experience of discovery not only in Pennsylvania but also in Germany. A special thrill was standing in front of the formerly owned Stag Inn, in Lambsheim, Germany, constructed in the late 1500s, now a home with the arched doorway for horse-drawn carts, cleanly painted and superbly maintained.

Our research quickly spread to surnames related by marriage to include Christman, Fetterman, Leiser, Ritter, and Wesco. During our twenty-five years pursuing genealogy many wonderful people assisted our endeavors, some known by name and others anonymous, but all receiving our gratitude and thanks. We especially thank Aunt Grace Irene Seibert for her considerable help in showing us where ancestors had lived, various cemeteries, and telling family stories that enhance this book. That is not to limit our thanks to mother Amelia Leiser Stahler, brother Harold Stahler, and other family members.

Because all of the families in the book came last from Germany, the common story of leaving that country, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, and settling in America is written in Chapter I to avoid repeating pertinent information applicable to all.

We state here that some land deeds were chosen for inclusion, but the Deed Book Indexes list many land transactions between siblings, children and others as grantors and grantees. This applies to most of the surnames herein.

One important system in this genealogy is the use of superscripts; they are used for both footnotes and generation identification. The latter use is unusually extensive in the written stories because given names repeat frequently through the generations, and identifying them by generation is necessary to grasp the time frame and genealogy sequence, within each surname. Keep in mind that each surname begins its own sequence and marriages are by generation, not by actual surname generation.

An item of warning to genealogist when using event dates prior to the year 1852, after the year 1752. Pope Gregory XIII ordered that the ten extra days that crept into the Julian calendar, established by Julius Caesar, would be corrected with the new year beginning on January 1 instead of March 25.

However, by the time the Gregorian calendar was officially accepted by England and its colonies in 1852, another day had crept into the old calendar. The official change to the Gregorian calendar caused the day after September 2, 1752, to become September 14, to make up for the 11 days difference.¹

Genealogists must remember the difficulty in determining dates; often the year is written as 1701/2 reflecting both the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

Material quoted from other sources is noted in several ways: first, when used with regular text in appears in quotation marks, and second as stand-alone text double indented in smaller font without quotation marks.

The symbols used in family text and charts are:

CHAPTER I

Escape Route

T HIS GENEALOGY OF family and stories encompass a common thread for immigrants from Germany. Those born in France, Netherland, or Switzerland, sojourned in Germany, and then emigrated among the Germans from there. The Rhine River valley, and particularly the Palatinate area became the escape route to Netherlands seaports. But what caused a mass exodus from Germany and other countries during the middle of the seventeenth century?

Fig.%201-1%20Peaceful%20Freinsheim%2c%20Germany.jpg

Fig. 1-1 Peaceful Freinsheim, Germany

Two major events were responsible for making the dangerous voyage to other countries look enticing for hundreds of oppressed or poverty stricken people: (1) the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in France and (2) the Thirty Years’ War.

The Edict of Nantes was the first official recognition of religious tolerance by a European country, and signed by King Henry IV of France in the city of Nantes on 13 April 1598. Strife and 50 years of warfare and religious division existed in France. The Edict allowed French Protestants, called Huguenots, freedom of conscience, social and political equality with the Roman Catholic majority and a certain degree of freedom of worship.² The Edict was revoked by King Louis XIV in 1685, and resulted in approximately 200,000 Huguenots fleeing France to the Netherlands, Germany, and some to England, with many eventually sailing to America.

Fig.%201-2%20The%20Edict%20of%20Nantes.jpg

Fig. 1-2 The Edict of Nantes

This Edict was of inestimable importance, but being of great length only a portion pertaining to the protestant Reformed religion is copied since Catholicism was dominant::

The realm was so torn by innumerable factions and sects that the most legitimate of all the parties was fewest in numbers. God has given us strength to stand out against this storm; we have finally surmounted the waves and made our port of safety—peace for our state…

…leave no occasion for troubles or differences between our subjects, we have permitted…those of the said religion called Reformed to live and abide in all the cities and places of this our kingdom…without being annoyed, molested, or compelled to do anything in the matter of religion contrary to their consciences…

We also forbid all our subjects…from carrying off by force or persuasion, against the will of parents, the children of the said religion…

However, the more important cause of emigration was the Thirty Years’ War begun in 1618. This war had many facets designated by participants as Bohemian, Danish, Swedish, and Swedish-French, and eventually became a struggle between French Bourbons and Austrian Hapsburgs. The war began from old deep-seated hostilities between German Protestant and Catholics, and continued for thirty long years until peace was signed in 1648.

Many persons had been killed. Those who survived saw nothing but ruin wherever they looked. Whole cities, villages, and farms had disappeared, and much property had been destroyed. Art, science, trade, and industry declined. It took almost two hundred years for Germany to recover from the effects of the Thirty Years’ War. Thousands of persons left Europe, especially Germany, and went to America to build a new life.³

[The Thirty Years’ War was so thoroughly devastating it drove] people to carry out the long, dangerous trip across the sea. Perhaps the years of suffering from hunger, lack of available land and paying high taxes to both church and state caused sufficient desperation to make the trip look worthwhile. Then there was the lingering issue of their lack of freedom to practice religions other than Lutheran or Catholic. Perhaps it was becoming increasingly clear the reformed religion of Württenberg would eventually be pressured from the Lutherans. Match all this against the optimistic stories of abundant land…⁴

Most of the German immigrants to America, and all the surnames in this volume, left the Rhine valley or Palatinate section. The Rhine valley was ideal in many respects, and often called the garden spot of Europe. With its scenic beauty, rich vineyards, and historic grandeur, it should have been the home of happy people. This, however, was not the case. Lack of organization in government, tyrannical foreign enemies, and religious persecution contributed to the causes which brought unbearable want, suffering, and bloodshed. For hundreds of years, prior to William Penn establishing the Pennsylvania Colony in America, there were wars—endless wars—between the Germans and French for possession of the Rhine River valley. When these wars paused, the Palatines were fighting the German emperors.

The political situation further aggravated the economic depression resulting from financing wars. Germany consisted of many states controlled by independent rulers. The petty princes levied exorbitant taxes to maintain their armies and extravagant lifestyles. Years of devastation made it increasingly difficult for their subjects to meet these demands.

…Indeed, as a rule, princes were not disposed to permit their subjects to be enticed from their obligations to them (the princes). For this reason open invitations apparently were not issued. It can be concluded that the large German emigration of the second decade of the eighteenth century was due in a general way to these causes: (1) war devastation, (2) heavy taxation, (3) an extraordinarily severe winter, (4) religious quarrels, but not persecution, (5) land hunger on the part of the elderly and desire for adventure on the part of the young, (6) liberal advertisement by colonel proprietors, and finally (7) the benevolent and active cooperation of the British government.⁵

Added to this was the discontent from religious strife between the Roman Catholic religion and the Reformed and Lutheran Protestant religions, dictated by each succeeding ruler’s affiliation, or with changing political fortunes. The Reformed movement, stemming from Martin Luther’s Reformation base, developed largely from teachings of Huldreich Zwingli in Switzerland and John Calvin in France. Both urged more radical reforms than did Martin Luther when he posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittemberg, in 1517, criticizing certain abuses in the established church. The result was a schism between Luther adherents and the Catholic Church. Luther believed that salvation was justified by faith in Christ alone, while the Church doctrine was by God’s grace and by their good works.

Emigrating was sometimes difficult because the Elector Palatine was of a mind to lose none of his subjects…Among deterrents he published was the edict threatening death to all who should attempt to emigrate from his dominions."⁶ Thus, they had to travel secretly to the sea port of Rotterdam, or another coastal town. The threat fizzled out with hundreds leaving. The outward flow was so great that resources were overburdened to care for the people while waiting for ship passage. Sailing to America was even more risky.

The colony that William Penn established with his Royal Charter, dated March 4, 1681, specifically stated extremely important facts that enticed immigration to the Pennsylvania Colony, which cannot be overlooked when questioning the fervor of those leaving their homeland.

The Charter of Privileges. Granted by William Penn, Esq. to the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania and territories.

First.

BECAUSE no People can be truly happy, though under the greatest Enjoyment of Civil Liberties, if abridged of the Freedom of their Consciences, as to their Religious Profession and Worship: And almighty GOD being the only Lord of Conscience, Father of Lights and Spirits, and the Author as well as Object of all divine Knowledge, Faith and Worship, who only doth enlighten the Mind, and persuade and convince the Understanding of People, I do hereby grant and declare, that no Person or Persons, inhabiting in this Province or Territories, who shall confess and acknowledge One Almighty GOD, the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the World, and profess him or themselves obliged to live quietly under the Civil Government, shall be in any Case molested or prejudiced in his or their Person or Estate, because of his or their conscientious Persuasion or Practice, nor be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious Worship-place or Ministry, contrary to his or their Mind, or to do or suffer any other Act or Thing, contrary to their religious Persuasion.

Secondly

FOR the well-governing of this Province and Territories, there shall be an Assembly yearly chosen, by the Freemen thereof, to consist of four Persons out of each County, of most Note for Virtue, Wisdom and Ability (or of a greater Number at any time, as the governor and Assembly shall agree) upon the First Day of October for ever; and shall sit on the Fourteenth Day of the same Month, in Philadelphia, unless the Governor and Council for the time being shall see Cause to appoint another Place within the said Province or Territories: Which Assembly shall have power to chuse (sic) a Speaker and other their Officers; and shall be Judges of the Qualifications of their own members; sit upon their own Adjournments; appoint Committees; prepare Bills in order to pass into Laws; impeach Criminals, and redress Grievances; and shall have all other Powers and Privileges of an Assembly, according to the Rights of the free-born Subjects of England, and as is usual in any of the King’s Plantations in America, AND…

Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

The parting with family and friends without ever expecting to see them again was one of many traumatic experiences prior to reaching America after scrounging for enough money to make the trip. The journey can be described in three phases: first, sailing down the Rhine with stops by custom officials, second, obtaining sailing passage to an English port to clear customs, and third, crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The following is a description by Gottlieb Mittelberger of his journey to Pennsylvania in 1750:

…Rhine River boats have to pass by 26 custom houses…the ships are examined, which is done when it suits the convenience of the customhouse officials. In the meantime the ship…is detained long, so that the passengers have to spend much money…The trip down the Rhine lasts…four, five and even six weeks. When the ships come to Holland, they are detained there likewise five to six weeks. Because things are very dear there, the poor people have to spend nearly all they have during that time.

The second stage of the journey was from Rotterdam to…English ports. Most of the ships called at Cowes, on the Ile of Wight…delays of one to two weeks…waiting either to be passed through the custom house or waiting for favorable winds…unless they have good wind, most often sail eight, nine, ten to twelve weeks before they reach Philadelphia.

…The third stage…marked by much suffering and hardship. The passengers being packed densely, like herrings…without proper food and water, were soon subject to all sorts of diseases, such as dysentery, scurvy, typhoid and smallpox. Children were the first to be attacked and died in large numbers…

The terrors of disease, brought about to a large extent by poor food and lack of good drinking water, were much aggravated by frequent storms though which ships and passengers had to pass…The misery reached the climax when a gale rages for two or three nights and days, so that every one believes that the ship will go to the bottom with all human beings on board. In such a visitation the people cry and pray most piteously. When in such a gale the sea rages and surges, so that the waves rise often like mountains one above the other, and often tumble over the ship so that one fears to go down with the ship…so that no one can either walk, or sit, or lie, and the closely packed people in the berths are thereby tumbled over each other, both the sick and the well…readily understood that many of these people, none of whom had been prepared for hardship, suffer so terribly from them that they did not survive.⁷

Most ships carrying German immigrants stopped at Cowes to prepare for the long ocean voyage. Cowes is on the north coast of the Ilse of Wight, where the River Medina estuary meets the Solent. This port, about 4 miles south of the English coast, is where ships re-stocked food, water, and other supplies. Necessary repairs to the ship were completed. If additional sailors were required they probably were shanghaied from a local bar just before departing for the average six week voyage.

The amount of time spent at Cowes, the obligatory stopover at a British port required by navigation law in order to land in a British colony…this was the standard place to get the ship’s papers certified as having stopped at a British port and to take on additional provisions for the long voyage ahead. It was a point along the way, like a refueling stop…⁸

Crossing the Atlantic in the 1700s was dangerous for many reasons. First, sailing through the doldrums could extend the voyage by several months. Then there was always the danger of depleting food and water supplies, the latter often foul from being stored in used wine casks. Another brief description of the ocean crossing:

Fig.%201-3%20Immigrant%20Ship..jpg

Fig. 1-3 Immigrant Ship.

They were packed into unsanitary vessels where there was not enough food. The drinking water was often filthy. Illness meant almost certain death. Upon occasion pregnant women were thrown overboard. Rats were often eaten by the starving. Two thousand died on the Atlantic in one year. There was riot and madness on board, and madness often led to murder…Many of them were unable to pay their way across. But they wanted the freedom and religious liberty of America.⁹

…But during the voyage there is on board these ships terrible misery, stench, fumes, horror, vomiting, many kinds of sickness, fever, dysentery, headache, heat, constipation, boils, scurvy, cancer, mouth rot, and the like, all of which came from old and sharply salted food and meat—also from very bad and foul water, so that many die miserably. Add to this want of provisions, hunger, thirst, frost, dampness, anxiety…afflictions and lamentations, with other trouble, as for example…the lice abound so frightfully, especially on sick people, that they must be scraped off the body…¹⁰

Because of the great number of German immigrants, three listings of passengers on the ships were written, the first a regular manifest of passengers, the second the Captain’s list, and finally the deportation list; these were known as A, B. and C lists. Passengers in the first ship landings were registered on the C listing, this fortunately was the beginning of 30,000 German names recorded, a unique record of immigrants.

Our ancestors arrived at Philadelphia, although ships also arrived in New York and Baltimore ports.

Upon arrival at Philadelphia, males over the age of 16 were taken to the City Hall for the oath of allegiance, then led back to the ship. Those who had their passage money, or could borrow it, were released. The others were consigned to merchants, and announcements were printed in newspapers. Buyers bargained for the passengers for a stated period of service, and paid the merchant the passage money and any other debts.

Families were often divided upon arrival as children were indentured to pay the family’s passage. Also, passengers who were