The Historic Mansions and Buildings of Philadelphia by Thompson Westcott

Author:Thompson Westcott [Westcott, Thompson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Geschichte
Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag
Published: 2017-12-06T23:00:00+00:00

THE WISTER HOUSE, GERMANTOWN.

ON the 21st of September 1727, the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania, in session at the old court-house in the middle of Market street at Second, received a list of one hundred and nine Palatines (or Germans) who, either on that day or shortly before, had been imported into the Province. The ship William and Sarah, whereof William Hill was master, brought this human freight. The first place of clearance was Rotterdam, but the vessel had touched at Dover, England, and had clearance there by the officers of His Majesty's customs. There were one hundred and nine heads of families in this party, and with their wives and children they numbered over four hundred persons.

The coming of so large a company of foreigners into the Province attracted the attention and demanded the consideration of the Council, because there might be danger if the new-comers were vicious or inclined to be mischievous. Lieutenant-Governor Patrick Gordon deemed the matter of sufficient importance to call the board together, stating that it would be highly necessary to concert proper measures for the peace and security of the Province, " which may be endangered by such numbers of strangers daily poured in, who being ignorant of our Language and Laws, and settling in a body together, make, as it were, a distinct people from His Majesty's Subjects." The board, which, besides the governor, was composed of James Logan, Richard Hill, Isaac Norris, William Fishbourne, and Clement Plumstead, took the same into their serious consideration, and observed " that as these People pretended at first that they fly hither on the score of their religious Liberties, and come under the protection of His Majesty, it is requisite that in the first Place they should take the oath of Allegiance, or some equivalent to it, to His Majesty, and promise Fidelity to the Proprietor and obedience to our Established Constitution." The master of the ship was sent for, and being asked "if he had any license from the court of Great Britain for transporting those people, and what their intentions were in coming hither, said that he had no license or allowance for their transportation than the above clearance, and that he believed they designed to settle in this Province."

Fifty of these Palatines over the age of sixteen signed a declaration of allegiance and obedience, and their names are to be found in the Colonial Records. Several of them were said to be sick, and never came to be qualified. Rupp gives the names of the remainder of this party, which the printed Colonial Records do not have. The principal man among them was the Rev. George Michael Weiss, the first minister of the Reformed Church who came to Pennsylvania. He it was that founded the first German Reformed congregation in the city of Philadelphia, which met for some time in a barn in Arch street, in which primitive building the first German Lutheran church was also formed. Among the companions of Weiss were several who were probably the founders of families, conspicuous in after years.

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