lancearlysettpg
Lancaster
County
Early
Settlers
Many
foreigners had, prior to the issuing of Anne's proclamation, determined
to seek refuge in America. "The Canton of Bern, in Switzerland, had
employed Christopher de Graffenried and Lewis Mitchel or Michelle, as pioneers,
with instructions to search for vacant lands in Pennsylvania, Virginia
or Carolina. One of these, Michelle, a Swiss miner, had been in America,
prior to 1704 or 1705, traversing the country to seek out "a convenient
tract to settle a colony of their people on." He was among the Indians
in and about Conestogo during 1706 and 1707, "in search of some mineral
or ore," and "it is believed, he and his associates built a fort not far
from Connejaghera, many miles above Conestogo."
In the year 1707 a few Quaker pioneers settled in Kennet, Chester county.
Among others were Vincent Caldwell, Thomas Wickersham, Joel Bailey, Thomas
Hope and Guyan Miller.
No actual settlements had been made prior to 1708 or 1709 in Lancaster
county; but a few whites had abodes among the Indians on the Susquehanna.
These were Indians traders and all Frenchmen. Their names-Bezalion,
Chartier, Jessop and Le Tort. Chartier had, prior to 1704, lived
long among the Shawanah Indians, and upon the Susquehanna.
Of the above Indian traders, Bezalion was the only one licensed.
About the year 1706 or 1707, a number of the persecuted Swiss Mennonites
went to England, and made a particular agreement with the Honorable Proprietor,
William Penn, at London, for lands to be taken up. Several families,
from the Palatinate, descendants of the distressed Swiss, emigrated to
America and settled in Lancaster county in the year 1709.
The traditions, respecting the first visit to the place of subsequent settlement,
are discrepant. From public documents and some private papers in
the possession of Abraham Meylin, and others, residing in West Lampeter
township, we may confidently state that the Mennonites commenced a settlement
in 1709 or 1710, at the place where the Herrs and Meylins now reside, near
Willow Street.
A Swiss company , to emigrate to America, and settle in the wilderness,
had been organized, but who the projector of it was, we cannot state.
The pioneers were Hans Meylin, his son Martin, and John Hans Herr, John
Rudolph Buddely, Martin Kendig, Jacob Miller, Martin Oborholtz, Wendel
Bowman and others, who came to Conestogo in 1709, selected a tract of ten
thousand acres of land on the north side of Pequea creek, and shortly afterwards,
procured a warrant for the same. It is dated October 10, 1710-the
warrant was recorded, and the land surveyed, the 23d of the same month.
The 27th of April, 1711, the Surveyor General, at the request of the first
purchasers, subdivided the said ten thousand acres, "into so many parts
as they had previously agreed upon."
It appears from tradition and other corroborating testimony, that in virtue
of the agreement with William Penn, and by permission of the Deputy governor,
Hon. Charles Gookin, they commenced making improvements before a warrant
had been issued, and that while some were felling trees, removing underbrush,
building cabins, others went to Philadelphia to obtain a warrant for their
choice tract of woods. The following documents strengthen the tradition
to be correct in the main facts:
"By the commissioners of property-Whereas we have agreed with John Rudolph
Bundely, Martin Kendig, Jacob Miller, Hans Herr, Martin Oberholtz, Hans
Funk, Michael Oberholtz and one Wendel Bowman, Swissers, lately arrived
in the Province for ten thousand acres of land, situate on the northwesterly
side of a hill, about twenty miles easterly from Connystogoe, near the
head of Pecquin creek, for which said land, they are to pay the sum of
five hundred pounds, sterling money of Great Britain, in manner following:
that is to say, the sum of one hundred pounds , part thereof in hands,
at ye issuing of these presents, the sum of one hundred pounds more thereof
(together with forty-eight pounds like money, being the interest of four
hundred pounds for two years) at the end of two years and six months, from
the time of the survey of the said lands, (one-half year's interest of
the whole being abated), one hundred and eighteen pounds further, part
thereof with interest, included within one year, then next after one hundred
and twelve pounds (the interest being included) further part thereof, within
one year, then next after, the sum of one hundred and six pounds full residue
thereof, that of all interest for the same, within one year, that next
following, so that the said five hundred pounds and interest, as aforesaid,
is to be paid in six years next after the time of survey. And also
that the said purchasers, their heirs and assigns, shall pay unto the proprietary
and Governor, William Penn, his heirs and assigns, the sum of one shilling
sterling aforesaid, quit-rent yearly forever, for every hundred acres of
the said ten thousand acres of land, and that said purchasers shall have
said lands free of quit-rent for the two first years next after the survey
thereof, and the said purchasers requesting of us a warrant for the location
and survey of the said land aforesaid. These are, therefore, to authorize
and require thee to survey or cause to be surveyed, unto the said purchasers,
the full quantity of ten thousand acres of land (with reasonable allowance
for roads and highways) in one entire tract, at or near the place aforesaid
and subdivide the same (if they request it) into so many small tracts or
parts as they shall agree or appoint to each of them his respective share
to be holden by the purchasers, their heirs and assigns, under the rents,
payments and agreements aforesaid, subject to distress for the said rent
in case of non-payment; and of thy transactions and doings in the premises,
by virtue of these presents thou art to make such returns into the Secretary's
office, with all reasonable expedition. Given under our hands and
seals of the province, the tenth day of the eighth month at Philadelphia,
A.D. 1710.
Edward Shippen
Griffeth Owen
Thos. Story
"To Jacob Baylor, Surveyor
General.
"Warrant Book, 1700-1714,
p 229.
On the 23d of October, the land was surveyed and divided among the Meylins,
Herrs, Kendigs and others of the company.
By warrant, dated July 5, 1712, there were surveyed, November 1, 1712,
Pequea, now Strasburg township, for Amos Strettle, 3380 acres, who afterwards
sold it in smaller tracts; the principal persons to whom he sold prior
to 1734, were Henry Shank, Ulrich Brackbill, Augustine Widower, Alexander
Fridley, Martin Miller, George Snavely, Christian Musser, Andrew Shultz,
John Fouts, Jacob Stein, John Hickman, John Bowman, Valentine Miller, Jacob
Hain, John Herr, Henry Carpenter, Daniel Ferree, Isaac Lefevere, Christian
Stoner, John Beiers, Hans Lein, Abraham Smith, John Jacob Hoover, Septimus
Robinson, Samuel Hess, Samuel Boyer, John Musgrove.
The Mennonite settlers having determined to send for their friends in Europe,
a council of the whole society was called, at which their venerable minister
and pastor, Hans Herr, presided, and after fraternal and free interchange
of sentiment, much consolation and serious reflection, lots, in conformity
to the custom of the Mennonites, were cast, to decide who should return
to Europe for the families left behind and others. The lot fell upon
Hans Herr, who had left five sons, Christian, Emanuel, John, Abraham and
one whose name we have not learned. This decision was agreeable to
his own mind; but to his friends and charge it was unacceptable; to be
separated von ihrem prediger, from their preacher, could be
borne with reluctance and heaviness of heart only. They were all
too ardently attached to him to cheerfully acquiesce in this determination.
Reluctantly they consented to his departure-after much anxiety manifested
on account of this unexpected call of their pastor from them.
Their sorrows were alleviated by a proposal made on the part of Martin
Kendig, that, if approved, he would take Hans Herr's place-this was cordially
assented to by all. Without unnecessary delay, Martin, the devoted
friend of the colony, made ready-went to Philadelphia, and there embarked
for Europe; after a prosperous voyage of five or six weeks, he reached
the home of his friends, where he was received with apostolic greetings
and salutations of joy. Having spent some time in preliminary
arrangements, he and a company of Swiss and some Germans, bade a lasting
adieu to their old homes, and dissolved the tender ties of friendship with
those whom they left. With his company, consisting of the residue
of some of those in America, and of Peter Yordea, Jacob Miller, Hans Tschantz,
Henry Funk, John Houser, John Bachman, Jacob Weber, Schlegel, Venerick,
Guldin, and others, he returned to the new home, where they were
all cordially embraced by their fathers and friends.
At a meeting of the commissioners, Sept. 10, 1712-the late commissioners
having granted 10,000 acres of land to the Palatines, by their warrant
dated 6th, 8th, 1710, in pursuance thereof there was laid out to Martin
Kendig, besides the 2,000 acres already confirmed and paid for, the like
quantity of 2,000 acres, towards Susquehanna, of which the general Surveyor
has made a return. The said Martin Kendig now appearing desirous
that the said land may be granted and confirmed to Maria Warenbuer, for
whom the same was taken up, or intended, and who is to pay the consideration
of it. But upon further consideration of the matter, it is agreed
among themselves that the said land shall be confirmed to Daniel Fire and
Isaac Lefevre, two of the said widow's sons, and the consideration money,
viz: £140 at £7 per 100 acres, by agreement having been for
some time due, but is now to be paid down in one sum. "Tis agreed-that
they shall only pay £10 for interest, that is £150 for the
whole."
"The said Martin Kendig now (Sept. 10, 1712) appearing desirous that the
said (2000 acres) land may be granted and confirmed to Maria Warenbuer,
for whom the same was taken up or intended, &c."
This
tract was then in Chester county, Conestoga township, now East Strasburg,
in this county. It composed the farms now (1844) owned by Henry A
Carpenter, Ferre Brinton, John C. Lefevere, Joseph L. Lefevere, Jacob Hershey,
Christian Leman, Henry and Jacob Brackbill, Theo. Sherts, Isaac B. Burrowes,
Jacob Eshelman, Christian Hershey, Messrs. Witmer, R. Conyngham, Esq.,
R. Taggart, Philip Foster, Henry Shertz, John Shertz, F. S. Burrowes, D.
Lefevre.
In 1713, Christopher Schlegel, late of Saxony, took up with a view to settle,
though he afterwards transferred his interest in his tract of one thousand
acres, to others-this land is on a stream flowing into the Conestoga, "not
far from the land granted to the Palatines." It was afterwards the
place where the Cartlidges, Indian agents, resided. Another person,
Benedictus Venerick, late of Germany, took up two hundred acres, near the
Palatines, in 1715. Between the Pequea and Conestoga creeks, near
the Susquehanna, Richard Carter, an Englishman, a wheel-wright, located
and improved two hundred acres, in 1716. The same year, Alexander
Bews, took up four hundred acres on the south side of the Conestoga; Anthony
Pretter, of East Jersey, three hundred acres, near Pequea, on south side
of Conestoga: and John Gardiner, Jr., from Philadelphia county, two hundred
acres, on the same side of Conestoga. About this time, Jacob Greider,
or Kreider, Jacob Hostater, Hans Frantz, Schenk, and others settled on
the banks of Conestoga; Joseph Cloud, in 1717, took up 500 acres near Pequea
creek. the same year, settlements were begun on the banks of Octoraro,
on the Octoraro; his neighbors were Cooksons, Mayes, Jervis, Irwins, and
some years afterwards, the Pattersons, Darbys, Mackrels, Leonards, Jones,
Steels, Matthews, Cowens, Murrays, Millers, Allisons, Mitchels, and others,
all of whom settled on or near Octoraro.
The Swiss settlement received an augmentation in 1715-16 and 17; besides
those already named, were Hans Mayer, Hans Kaigy, Christian Hearsey,
HANS GRAAF ,
(who afterwards settled Graff's Thal) Hans Pupather, Michael Shank, Henry
Pare, Peter Leman, Melchoir Breneman, Benedictus Witmer, Henry Funk, Jacob
Landis, Ulrich Houry, Hans Faber, Isaac Coffman, Melchoir Erisman, Michael
Miller, Jacob Kreutzer, Jacob Boehm, Theodorus Eby, Michael Donegar, and
others. ......
During the year 1727,
more than a thousand Palatines arrived in Pennsylvania; among these were
the names of Diffenderfer, Ekman, Meyer, Bowman, Eberlee, Zug, Shultze,
Funk, Frantz, and others. Two brothers, Alexander and John Diffenderfer,
sailed from Rotterdam, arrived at Philadelphia in the month of September;
Alexander settled in Oley, now Berks county, and John as Säue Schwamm,
now New Holland, in the woods.
Authentic History of Lancaster County
by J I Mombert (1869)
© Brenda Creasy