The settlement of germantown in 1683, was the initial step in the great movement of people from the regions bordering on the historic and beautiful rhine, extending from its source in the mountains of switzerland to its mouth in the lowlands of holland, which has done so much to give pennsylvania her rapid growth as a colony, her almost unexampled prosperity, and her foremost rank. Since that time, more than eight million germans have emigrated to amerca, more than any other nationality. Genealogy resources the historic 1770 germantown mennonite. Cliveden is the largest house museum in historic germantown. Title stereographs of germantown, philadelphia, pa. In 1701 he moved to dublin, abington township, montgomery county, pennsylvania. Germantown got its start as town 9 washington county, wisconsin territory in 1836. On the 11th of june, 1683, penn conveyed to govert remke, lenart.
The holiday, which celebrates german american heritage, commemorates the date in 1683 when german families from krefeld near the rhine landed in philadelphia. The concord landed in philadelphia on october 6, 1683, a mere seven weeks after setting sail from the town of. The project gutenberg ebook of 16831920, by frederick f. He negotiated with penn for a tract of land northwest of philadelphia on which to build a settlement, which was to become known as germantown.
The germantown neighborhood as it exists today began as german township in 1683, when francis daniel pastorius secured a 5,700 acre tract six miles northwest of philadelphia from william penn. Series swarthmore college monographs on quaker history. Chapter iv, the dutch quaker founders of germantown. History of village germantown, wi official website. Appendix c, dutch and german settlers in germantown, 1683 1709.
Suffering from religious persecution and economic hardships in the old world, the settlers brought with them essential skills in craft industries and a common desire to participate in william penns holy experiment. The flow and the composition of german immigration to philadelphia, 1727177 5 eighteenthcentury german immigration to mainland british america was the only large influx of free white political aliens unfamiliar with the english language. Page 164 the german town of which i spoke before, which is at least in length one mile or more, where lives high german people and low dutch, whose trade in weaving linen cloth is much, there grows the flax, as also you may know that from the same they do divide the tow. The dutch pioneers of germantown appendix c, dutch and german settlers in germantown, 16831709 appendix d, the krefeld marriage certificate of. Conard kunders family history early german settlers. Built by the chew family in 1767, cliveden opened to the public in 1972 and has been interpreted for its role in the 1777 battle, along with its treasured colonial furnishings and decorative arts. The municipality ceased to exist and was incorporated into the city of philadelphia following the passage of the act of consolidation, 1854. Full text of the settlement of germantown, pennsylvania, and. Search germantown mennonite historic trusts cemetery records at by entering a. Historical and biographical sketches01 settlement of germantown. List a is the captains list, the passenger list as prepared by the ship captain.
Early history the founding of germantown concordia trust. The thirteen original settlers of germantown, pa genealogy. Summary photographs show roberts mill built 1683, chews house, main street, and other residences. Six weeks later, on october 6, 1683, the ship concord sailed into philadelphias harbor from germany. Encompassing the contemporary neighborhoods of germantown, mt. Journal of the site and relict society, december 16, 1918. The 1688 germantown quaker petition against slavery. The 1688 germantown quaker petition against slavery historical background pennsylvania was founded in 1682 by william penn as an english colony where people from any country and faith could settle, free from religious persecution. They most likely ganged together to clear enough trees to make space for twelve caves, one for each family.
He was the first recorder of germantown 1691 and was a burgess there in 1692. The municipality is part of german township, which was established in 1803 and was one of the four original townships in montgomery county when ohio became a state. You will also find many immigrants from countries other than germany listed here. History of village originally one square mile, germantown was formed by incorporating seven separate hamlets or towns into the village of germantown as we know it today. Dutch and german settlers in germantown, 1683 1709. Dec 21, 20 historical and biographical sketches01 settlement of germantown. Community and family structure in germantown, pennsylvania, 16831800 princeton, n j. Germantown, ohio, located 15 miles southwest of dayton, is nestled in the picturesque twin creek valley. William penn and the dutch quaker migration to pennsylvania. Germanamerican day is a holiday in the united states, observed annually on october 6. Germantown immigrants35 the germantown immigrants of 1683 by wilhelm hubben in no.
Van bebber was pro keith but reverted to mennonites and moved to high street, philadelphia, before 1698. The settlement of germantown, pennsylvania, and the. Hull bulletin of friends historical association, volume 27, number 2, autumn 1938, pp. Genealogy resources the germantown mennonite burial ground contains about 200 graves dating back to the early 1700s. Pastorius was a wealthy aristocrat and lawyer and represented a group of german investors that called themselves the german society. The original thirteen families of germantown, pa genealogy. The area, which is about six miles northwest from the city center, now consists of two neighborhoods. The settlement of germantown, pennsylvania, and the beginning. The first death among the germantown settlers the first settlers of germantown comprised thirteen families thirtythree persons in all who arrived in the port of philadelphia october 6.
Jul 11, 2019 in 1683, very soon after the arrival of this little band, the first friends meeting in germantown was held in the house of thones kunders, and likely was continued there until the first meetinghouse was built in 1686, and it is reasonable to presume that the dignified penn sat in silence under old kunders roof. Pastorius and the founding of germantown by burt froom. The settlement of germantown, pennsylvania, and the beginning of german emigration to north america by pennypacker, samuel w. Full text of the settlement of germantown, pennsylvania.
Historical and biographical sketches01 settlement of. The pioneers were all quakers and mennonites, persecuted sects during the religious upheaval that. Organized german immigration to america began on october 6, 1683, with the arrival of thirteen mennonite and quaker families from krefeld, germany. October, 2014 article 17 download pdf the concord landed in philadelphia on october 6, 1683, a mere seven weeks after setting sail from the town of crefeld pronounced approximately krayfeld in the lower rhine river valley of germany. The original the group of german immigrant families from krefeld and vicinity who settled in germantown, pennsylvania in 1683.
Germantown in so far as he is the father of 12 known survivors to adulthood, of whom 10 maybe 11 emigrated to germantown in 1683 84, and he was the uncle of 4 more. Deitscheschteddel is an area in northwest philadelphia. This webpage contains a directory of links to online transcriptions of passenger lists and other material for immigrants to pennsylvania for the period prior to the lists in pennsylvania german pioneers which covers 17271808. Appendix a, william penns itineraries in holland and germany. Some of the lists in volume 1 of pennsylvania german pioneers contain three slightly different versions of the same list. I am looking for the town of origin of paul kastner. They settled in deutschstadt near philadelphia, incorporated in 1689 as germantown. Encyclopedia of greater philadelphia historic germantown. Counties nc and butler county al is available for download. Will of cecil rhodesracial strains in american lifegermantown settlement of 1683. Founded by german quaker and mennonite families in 1683 as an independent borough, it was absorbed into philadelphia in 1854.
The germantown historical society is an educational and research center dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of the original german township in northwest philadelphia. Many of those buried here were members or relatives of the mennonite congregation, but it was also used by other members of the community. In 2012 two wellrespected institutions of germantown history took a big step toward a united future, when the boards and memberships of historic germantown and the germantown historical society voted unanimously to merge their organizations, combining under the banner of historic germantown. William penn, in the spring of 1683, conveyed to a half dozen residents of crefeld, german about eighteen thousand acres of land in pennsylvania, situated in the neighborhood of germantown. Full text of the settlement of germantown, pennsylvania, and the beginning of german emigration to north america see other formats. We hope that this excerpted sample will encourage you to purchase genealogical data relating to the german settlers of pennsylvania available from the web site. Bleikers, johannes the dutch pioneers of germantown, 1683, pp. The settlement of germantown 16831714 and the beginning. The digital public library of america brings together the riches of americas libraries, archives, and museums, and makes them freely available to the world. The flow and the composition of german immigration to. Germantown township, also known as german township, is a defunct township that was located in philadelphia county, pennsylvania. Publication date 1935 series swarthmore college monographs on quaker history. Complete list of early dutch and german settlers in germantown, with places of origin given. Airy, and chestnut hill, greater germantown is a dynamic and diverse community.
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