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. The original thirteen families of germantown, pa genealogy. The settlement of germantown, pennsylvania, and the beginning of german emigration to north america by pennypacker, samuel w. Pastorius was a wealthy aristocrat and lawyer and represented a group of german investors that called themselves the german society. William penn and the dutch quaker migration to pennsylvania. Hull bulletin of friends historical association, volume 27, number 2, autumn 1938, pp.
The digital public library of america brings together the riches of americas libraries, archives, and museums, and makes them freely available to the world. Dutch and german settlers in germantown, 1683 1709. 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. Appendix a, william penns itineraries in holland and germany. The holiday, which celebrates german american heritage, commemorates the date in 1683 when german families from krefeld near the rhine landed in 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. Title stereographs of germantown, philadelphia, pa. 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. Journal of the site and relict society, december 16, 1918.
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. 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. German and swiss settlers in america, 1700s1800s pennsylvania german church records, 17291870 related databases. Some of the lists in volume 1 of pennsylvania german pioneers contain three slightly different versions of the same list.
Historical and biographical sketches01 settlement of. The ship arrived in philidelphia 10th month 6th day 1683. Airy, and chestnut hill, greater germantown is a dynamic and diverse community. 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.
The project gutenberg ebook of 16831920, by frederick f. The original the group of german immigrant families from krefeld and vicinity who settled in germantown, pennsylvania in 1683. Pastorius and the founding of germantown by burt froom. Full text of the settlement of germantown, pennsylvania, and the beginning of german emigration to north america see other formats. They most likely ganged together to clear enough trees to make space for twelve caves, one for each family. Organized german immigration to america began on october 6, 1683, with the arrival of thirteen mennonite and quaker families from krefeld, germany. Full text of the settlement of germantown, pennsylvania. In 1701 he moved to dublin, abington township, montgomery county, pennsylvania. Deitscheschteddel is an area in northwest philadelphia.
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. Complete list of early dutch and german settlers in germantown, with places of origin given. The thirteen original settlers of germantown, pa genealogy. Germanamerican day is a holiday in the united states, observed annually on october 6. 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. The settlement of germantown, pennsylvania, and the. 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. Genealogy resources the germantown mennonite burial ground contains about 200 graves dating back to the early 1700s. Dec 21, 20 historical and biographical sketches01 settlement of germantown. Conard kunders family history early german settlers. The settlement of germantown 16831714 and the beginning.
Genealogy resources the historic 1770 germantown mennonite. Historical and biographical sketches01 settlement of germantown. The concord landed in philadelphia on october 6, 1683, a mere seven weeks after setting sail from the town of. The area, which is about six miles northwest from the city center, now consists of two neighborhoods. 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. You will also find many immigrants from countries other than germany listed here.
Chapter iv, the dutch quaker founders of germantown. Will of cecil rhodesracial strains in american lifegermantown settlement of 1683. Series swarthmore college monographs on quaker history. The 1688 germantown quaker petition against slavery.
Van bebber was pro keith but reverted to mennonites and moved to high street, philadelphia, before 1698. Germantown got its start as town 9 washington county, wisconsin territory in 1836. 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. Community and family structure in germantown, pennsylvania, 16831800 princeton, n j. Search germantown mennonite historic trusts cemetery records at by entering a. Since that time, more than eight million germans have emigrated to amerca, more than any other nationality. Encompassing the contemporary neighborhoods of germantown, mt. The pioneers were all quakers and mennonites, persecuted sects during the religious upheaval that. I am looking for the town of origin of paul kastner. 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. On the 11th of june, 1683, penn conveyed to govert remke, lenart. Encyclopedia of greater philadelphia historic germantown.
Counties nc and butler county al is available for download. The municipality ceased to exist and was incorporated into the city of philadelphia following the passage of the act of consolidation, 1854. Cliveden is the largest house museum in historic germantown. Bleikers, johannes the dutch pioneers of germantown, 1683, pp. 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.
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. Germantown township, also known as german township, is a defunct township that was located in philadelphia county, pennsylvania. 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. Founded by german quaker and mennonite families in 1683 as an independent borough, it was absorbed into philadelphia in 1854. Early history the founding of germantown concordia trust. 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. Appendix c, dutch and german settlers in germantown, 1683 1709. Six weeks later, on october 6, 1683, the ship concord sailed into philadelphias harbor from germany.
Summary photographs show roberts mill built 1683, chews house, main street, and other residences. Germantown immigrants35 the germantown immigrants of 1683 by wilhelm hubben in no. History of village germantown, wi official website. List a is the captains list, the passenger list as prepared by the ship captain. 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. Many of those buried here were members or relatives of the mennonite congregation, but it was also used by other members of the community.
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