| JOHAN DIEDRICH FAHNESTOCK LETTERS |
| (Wirth letter continued from page 1) And now, my dear father and mother-in-law and brother and sister-in-law I heartily greet you. Since you also want to come here I must let you know what is necessary to do. You might bring some butter and a bushel of frying fat, and a bushel of wheat flour and a can or 12 jugs of drinking water, sausages and some bacon which you all can use for nourishment while at sea. Once cannot eat ship's fare all the time. You should not bring much money but rather goods instead, and not too many because you must hide them when yoiu reach England, so pack them carefully in the bottom of your chests. Your money will be stolen from you because it is worth 36 stueber more here than there, and the value of silver money does not change. As far as the goods are concerned please bring with you some cloth very finely woven and with small stripes close together, also some tablecloths with small stripes and also white linen which must be finely and closely woven, and also broad striped colored linene, the brighter the better, because here the women folk put on much style. The cloth must be wide. Bring also double cotton neck scarfs which are expensive here, and some drapes. They must be a good length. The linen here is also dear. Tulle and lace borders are also quite dear, particularly when colored. The chest must be large, at least 4 or 5 1/2 feet long, and its sides must be studded with copper. One which costs 5 reichsthaler over there costs at least 12 here. Bring me a pair of scales like the one you hve. I will of course reimburse you for everything. Whatever is not in this letter is in Conradus Balthaus's letter. People here shoot a great deal of game. There are so many pigeons that they break the small branches off the trees. I have killed as many as 62 pigeons, with one shot. Every man is allowed to bring two guns with him. My father-in-law 2, and Wilhelmus 2 and Pieter 2. Bring also copper kelltes. One pound of copper here costs 54 stueber. You must also ring copper candlesticks, for people here burn nothing but candles. Bring with you a cross saw of good quality because there is a great deal of timber, of all kinds of wood not to be found in Germany. Also bring woolen clothes, because clothes here are very dear, and also shoes which are worth 2 reichsthaler and 12 stueber. Those from Filberfeld are no good, but those made in my town are better. My children earn here 48 stueber a day, and a woman for outdoor work 36 stueber, for indoor work one shilling and her keep. Nobody who works here supplies his own food, but where one works he gets fed. A carpenter earns 1 reichsthaler a day, a tailor 36 stueber, Shoemakers earn a great deal of money but there are too few of them here. A blacksmith also earns a great deal of money, and for that reason ironwork is very expensive. When you come over to us I should be very glad if you would bring me 2 branding irons which weigh about 30 pounds, and also a bellows which costs 10 or 12 shillings, and a big doorlatch nicely made. I will pay you back for all this. Well my friends, I cannot bescribe this country for it is a very fertile land, many crops grow here, much wheat and also Indian corn, rye, oats and barley. Not much barley, however, for the people make bread only of wheat which can be finely ground and salted. The crops here are a better buy than the purchase of land in which there is a great difference, one is dear the other cheap. In Radentantz 100 acres are worth 400 reichsthaler and more. Also bring with you some scissors from Solingen, which are good, and also pewter. From England bring with you bowls and dishes and plates and spoons for the people here use only pewtr-ware for eating. Now, God be with you, I want to let you know that my sister Anns Catrina lives with me. I send you heartfelt greetings and wish you God's blessing. Before all things see that your whole heart and spirit be committed to God, that He may lead you according to His holy will so that we may have salvation and happiness. For faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Amen. Remember me to all the children who try to live according to God's will. Johannes Dierich Fahrenstuck Bring with you two big old travel books. I live at Radentatz close to the Evangelical Church. 25th october anno 1728. Radentantz in America (Written in margin) We very much like to have people come over here. This letter to be sent to Wilhelmus at the Wirdts, Caterbergh. |
| Anwill 17 april 1734 Heartily beloved brother Johan Henrich Fanestuck and the two surviving sisters Elisabetha and Gertraut. I an my wife and our sister Catrina together with her husband Henrich Dierdorff, send you all our best greetings and wish for you all God's grace and blessing. We have written to you without receiving a reply and do not know if the letter was delivered to you or not. We should very much like to know how you are, whether you are all still alive and what you are doing. Regarding ourselves we are, thanks to the Almighty, in good health and live in peace, and are in a good country where everyone can live well. I, your brother Dietrich Fahnstuck, and my wife Margrethe with four sons, and I Catrina and my husband Henrich with trhee children, one son and two daughters, love close together. Everything goes well with us and we hope it goes well with you. We hear that there is war in Germany, we still have peace. We beg you should you receive this letter to write again and send the letter to Kollenbusch in Elberfelt who will forward it to Johannes Laubach in Creyvelt, in which way we should receive it. Dear brother Johan Henrich when you have read this letter please send it to our two sisters so that they may also hear where we are in America, Between Neu Jorck and Filadlfia in Anwill (Amwell) in the county called Hunterdann (Huntingdon), so they can write to us. If you my dear brother and yours should care to come to us, or our sister should care to come we should love it dearly. And if we should not see each other again in this life we wish you again God's mercy and blessing so that you will come to your God Almighty and with all your hearts find Him in good time and eternity. Amen. Dieterich Fahnstuck, your dear brother, faithful unto death Henrich Dierdorff, Catrina's husband, your unknown brother-in-law |