The following text and dates and ship names are from the book Pennsylvania German Pioneers by Ralph B. Strassburger and William J. Hinke, published in 1934 by the Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, PA.
There is still one more question to be discussed--the relation of this publication to the earlier editions of these lists. What is it that justifies the present publication?
Reference has already been made to the fact that the oath of allegiance as well as the oath of abjuration were signed in the Court House at Philadelphia. Hence, the Clerk of Council copied the signatures to the oath of allegiance into the minutes of the Council. In this way the first forty-three lists, from September 18, 1727, to October 19, 1736, found their way into the minutes of the Council. They were published by the State of Pennsylvania in 1852, under the title Colonial Records. The lists appear in Vols. III-IV of these records.
It was most likely this publication in the Colonial Records that drew the attention of I. Daniel Rupp, the well-known historian of Pennsylvania to the lists. At any rate, in 1856, he published a book, entitled A Collection of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776, etc. It contained the names of all the males of sixteen years and upwards, in the body of the book, the children's names being given in an appendix. In 1875 and later, other editions appeared, which Rupp calls "carefully revised and much improved." The improvement consisted in the fact that the names of the children under sixteen years were inserted, in the case of each ship, with which children are given, immediately under the names of the adults. Rupp also added sixteen appendices and an "Interpretation of the Baptismal Names." |Pxl|p
There are two main criticisms to be made of the publication of Rupp. In the first place, he was too arbitrary in his treatment of the lists. In not one case did he reproduce the lists exactly as he found them in the originals, but he radically changed the lists in everything that allowed of change. He changed the headings, he changed the arrangement of the names and he changed the spelling of the names. Secondly, he misread hundreds of names.
The headings were made up by Rupp from the Colonial Records, or condensed from the actual headings as found on the lists. In this attempt to condense many slips were made, only a few of which need to be mentioned, by way of example. Occasionally he omitted the name of the ship. Thus in No. 43, he states that 110 persons were imported in the brigantine Perth-amboy, which should be, in the brigantine John, of Pertham-boy. In list 141, he omits both the name of the ship as well as the captain, the ship was Lydia and the captain John Randolph (See our No. 142).
More frequently he misreads the names of the ships. Richmond and Elizabeth (No. 33) should be Richard and Elizabeth. Virginus Grace (No. 46) should be Virtuous Grace. The name of ship No. 58 should not be Nancy and Friendship, but Friendship; while the name Nancy belongs to No. 59. The ship Bawley, No. 188, should be the ship Rawley, see our list, No. 191. Robert and Oliver (No. 55) should be Robert and Alice. Instead of Morton Star (No. 296) we should read Morning Star (see our list, No. 301).
A number of captains' names are also misread and mis-printed. Thomas Arnt should be Thomas Arnot, William Mc-Nair should read William Muir, Captain Lickey should be changed to Captain Lickley.
The dates of the ships are frequently misprinted: October 25, 1748 (No. 123) should be August 24, 1749 (see our No. 124). September 17, 1750 (No. 156) should be October 17, 1750 (our No. 158). For Jan. 23, 1767 (No. 258) read Jan. 13, 1767 (our No. 263). October 30, 1770 (List 277) should be October 3, 1770 (our No. 282). Instead of June 21, 1774 (No. 314) read Sept. 29, 1774 (our No. 319). |Pxli|p
Even worse than this is the fact that Rupp dropped occasionally the whole of the heading and thereby merged two passenger lists into one. Thus list 148 (our list 149), dated August 15, 1750, giving the passengers of the ship Royal Union, extends in Rupp's book to the second column of p. 230.|R32|r With the name Jacob Crebler a new list, our list 150 C, begins, which contains the passengers of the ship St. Andrew. They arrived on the same date, August 15, 1750.
In Rupp's list, No. 159, dated August 26, 1751, two lists have been merged, by dropping out several pages of manuscript. What Rupp prints is the first part of the passengers of the ship Anderson, and on p. 247, beginning with Michael Barle, the last part of the passengers of the ship Elizabeth (see our No. 162 C). He also overlooked our list, No. 84, although it is found in three forms (No. 84 A, B and C), and he omitted two later lists, No. 229 A and 233 A, as printed in our edition.
Another objectionable feature of Rupp's lists is that he rearranged the names in all the lists. Instead of following the order of the names as given on the originals, he rearranged them, apparently without any order and plan. In some of the lists, as for example on pp. 188--189, he printed the short names first, and placed the long names, consisting of three elements, at the end. As a result, it is difficult to identify his lists, when we compare them with the originals.
The order of the names was often of great significance and importance. In many cases the Palatines came over in colonies, with their leader at the head of the list. This is the case in the very first list, headed by the Rev. G. M. Weis, a German Reformed minister. We know definitely from his ordination certificate that he was the leader of this colony of Palatines.|R33|r The two important Lutheran ministers, John Caspar Stoever, father and son, head the eighth list, dated September 11, 1728. Rupp puts their names near the end of the list. The tenth list, dated September 11, 1729, is headed by Alexander Mack, Sr., the leader of this Dunker colony. Rupp puts his name in 14th place. The sixteenth list, dated September 21, 1731, is headed in the original by the Rev. John Bartholomew Rieger. We have definite proof that he came to Pennsylvania at the head of a colony. Rupp gives his name the 36th place in his list. The Lutheran minister, Rev. John Christian Schultz, heads list No. 24. Rupp apparently thought this of no importance, for he puts his name in the 17th place. The sum total of all his rearrangements is, that he has obscured many important historical facts, which lie buried in his lists.
|F|R32|rWe are quoting the second edition, first published in 1875.|f
|F|R33|rThis certificate is printed in the writer's History of the Goshenhoppen Charge, p. 36f.|f|Pxlii|p
The most serious criticism of Rupp's book, is however, that in literally hundreds of cases he failed to decipher the names correctly. It is, of course, true that in some cases no man living can decipher with certainty the awful scribbles of some of the writers. But, when there are several lists of a ship, we can secure much better results by a comparative study of the lists, which Rupp entirely neglected. He has not even copied the baptismal names as he found them in the originals, but substituted in most cases the modern spelling. Moreover, his placing of the sick people at the end of the lists is arbitrary. In the originals they are scattered through the lists.
This careful analysis shows how sadly defective and imperfect is the edition of Rupp. No wonder the State of Pennsylvania felt that these lists should be published in a more complete and perfect form. They were issued in 1890, under the editorship of Dr. William H. Egle, as Vol. XVII of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives. This publication excelled the book of Rupp in completeness. First of all, it added the captains' lists. It is true, not all of them were printed, for out of the 138 captains' lists, which have survived, only 97 appeared in print. Besides, in some cases, as in lists Nos. 1, 58, 60, 61 and 84, the captains' lists were substituted in place of the other lists, although this is not stated by the editor. Thus, the very first list in Vol. XVII of the Archives is the captain's list, while the actual signatures were omitted, much to the mystification of the student, who wonders what has become of the list which Rupp gives as his first list.
Another evidence of the more complete form, in which the lists are found in this edition, is the fact that the later lists, from 1786 to 1808, were included. This has added thousands of names to those of Rupp. But not all of the later lists were printed. For some reason which is not apparent all the lists of the years 1785, 1791 and 1792 were overlooked, so that our edition contains about forty new lists, from 1785 to 1808, which are not found in the Archives. |Pxliii|p
Unfortunately Dr. Egle, who was a good historian but no German scholar, was compelled to take over the names as printed by Rupp, with all their mistakes, except that he corrected most of the headings. In view of these facts, which can easily be verified by any one, qualified to read the originals, we must conclude that the former publications of these lists contain many grave defects, which seriously impair their usefulness. There has been, therefore, a long and persistent demand for a more accurate publication. This demand the present publication seeks to meet.
This new edition has two main objectives. First of all, it aims to present all the lists that are now in existence in full, without any change or abbreviation. There are at present, from 1727 to 1775 three hundred and twenty-four lists in the archives of the State of Pennsylvania. From 1785 to 1808, the number is one hundred and eighty-two. In the first period there are three kinds of lists, as we have seen. These have been distinguished as follows:
1. The captains' lists, marked A.
2. The signers of the oath of allegiance, marked B.
3. The signers of the oath of abjuration, marked C.
In order to present all the evidence now available regarding these lists, extracts from the minutes of the Provincial Council have been added, in the case of the first forty-three lists. In addition, the reports of the health officers on the condition of the health of the passengers are now given for the first time. There are thirty-one such health-certificates, two in 1741 and twenty-nine from 1753 to 1755. Finally, in the notes, the editor has identified quite a number of the passengers. As his studies have been confined principally to the history of the Reformed and Lutheran churches in Pennsylvania, these notes mention only Reformed and Lutheran leaders. There are hundreds of other names that can easily be identified. But that task has been left to later investigators.
In the second place, this new edition aims to justify its existence by greater accuracy in reproducing the lists. This we aim to do by printing the names in the exact order as found in the originals. The printed book is meant to offer as exact a transcript of the lists as can be made, with the exception of some details, as will appear in the following rules, which have been observed in editing the text: |Pxliv|p
1. The lists have been numbered by the editor, the numbers being placed in square brackets.
2. Most of the lists have headings in the originals. But when no heading was given, the editor has added a heading, enclosed in square brackets.
3. The headings of the lists are unpunctuated in the originals. Punctuation marks have been added by the editor.
4. In many of the captains' lists, the names are numbered. These numbers have been omitted.
5. Unusual arrangements of the names in the captains' lists have been disregarded. The names have been printed in the usual arrangement.
6. Capital letters have been substituted for all small letters used to begin Christian names as well as surnames.
7. The surnames have always been spelled as in the originals. Only in a few cases has the correct spelling been added by the editor in square brackets.
8. Names that are spelled wrong have not been corrected, even though the error appeared plainly through the other lists.
9. The phrase "Sick on board" is always given in the correct English spelling, instead of the many varying spellings that occur on the originals. They can be seen on the facsimiles.
10. Other phrases, as "der Alt" or "der Jung," have been changed to the corresponding English "Senior" and "Junior."
11. Initials and marks of persons who could not write have been enclosed in round brackets ( ), to distinguish them from the signature made by the clerk.
12. The phrase "his mark" which often accompanies the mark made by the signer, has always been omitted, as its insertion between the lines would have disfigured the text.
13. Many of the curious and strange marks of the signers have not been imitated, but ordinary marks have been substituted. The original marks can be seen on the facsimiles.
14. The line, placed by many signers above their "m" or "n" to indicate that they are to be doubled, has not been inserted, but instead the letters have been doubled.
|Pxlv|p The main emphasis of the editor has been laid throughout upon the proper decipherment of the names of the passengers. Wherever there was more than one list of a ship, the names on the different lists have been carefully compared. From this comparative study of the lists, many new and better readings have been obtained. There are, however, many names which defy all pain and patience to read them correctly. In these cases a question mark, enclosed in square brackets, indicates the uncertainty in the reading.
But the chief distinction of the present edition is the fact that all the lists of signatures are reproduced in facsimiles in Vol. II. These facsimiles comprise all the signatures on the B and the C lists. The captains' lists have been omitted, as they are written in English characters. These facsimiles will enable the student who can read the German script to test the accuracy of the decipherment. It is this feature of the new edition, which will give it permanent value and importance.
This fine result could not have been secured without the whole-hearted co-operation of the authorities of the Pennsylvania State Library and Archives, Captain Frederic A. God-charles, the Director of the State Library and Dr. Hiram H. Shenk, the State Archivist, who supplied most cheerfully pho-tostats for all the lists and information, whenever it was needed. The editor wishes to thank them heartily for all their valued assistance, without which the lists could not have been printed.
Other persons who gave assistance in this work were Mr. H. S. Borneman, the Secretary of the Society, who gave his wholehearted support to the work, Mr. H. W. Kriebel of Pennsburg, Pa., who prepared the first copies of the lists, Mr. Frederick S. Fox, who acted as representative of Mr. Strassburger, and finally Mr. Strassburger himself, who has shouldered the large, financial burden, to make this edition a reality.
WILLIAM J. HINKE.
Auburn Theological Seminary, Auburn, New York. |P1|p
OFFICIAL LISTS OF PERSONS
ARRIVING IN THE PORT OF PHILADELPHIA
PRESERVED IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NOW PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR ENTIRETY
Volume I
Colonial Period
1727-1775 |P3|p
OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE AND ABJURATION
On September 14, 1727, Patrick Gordon, the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, called together the Provincial Council, and |Qacquainted the board, that he had called them together at this time to inform them that there is lately arrived from Holland, a Ship with four hundred Palatines, as 'tis said, and that he has information they will be very soon followed by a much greater Number, who design to settle in the back parts of this province; & as they transport themselves without any leave obtained from the Crown of Great Britain, and settle themselves upon the Proprietors untaken up Lands without any application to the Proprietor or his Commissioners of property, or to the Government in general, 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 & Laws, & settling in a body together, make, as it were, a distinct people from his Majesties Subjects.|q
The Board taking the same into their serious consideration, observe, 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's 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 & obedience to our Established Constitution; And therefore, until some proper Remedy can be had from Home, to prevent the Importation of such Numbers of Strangers into this or others of His Majesties Colonies. |P4|p
'TIS ORDERED, that the Masters of the Vessells importing them shall be examined whether they have any Leave granted them by the Court of Britain for the Importation of these Foreigners, and that a List shall be taken of the Names of all these People, their several Occupations, and the Places from whence they come, and shall be further examined touching their Intentions in coming hither; And further, that a Writing be drawn up for them to sign declaring their Allegiance & Subjection to the King of Great Britain & Fidelity to the Proprietary of this Province, & that they will demean themselves peaceably towards all his Majesties Subjects, & strictly observe, and conform to the Laws of England and of this Government.
At a Council held at the Courthouse of Philadelphia, September 21st, 1727, Present: The Honble Patrick Gordon, Esqr, Lieut. Governor. James Logan, William Fishbourn, Esq'rs. Richard Hill,
A Paper being drawn up to be signed by those Palatines, who should come into this Province with an Intention to settle therein, pursuant to the order of this Board, was this day presented, read & approved, & is in these Words:
We Subscribers, Natives and Late Inhabitants of the Palatinate upon the Rhine & Places adjacent, having transported ourselves and Families into this Province of Pensilvania, a Colony subject to the Crown of Great Britain, in hopes and Expectation of finding a Retreat & peaceable Settlement therein, Do Solemnly promise & Engage, that We will be faithful & bear true Allegiance to his present MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE SECOND, and his Successors, Kings of Great Britain, and will be faithful to the Proprietor of this Province; And that we will demean ourselves peaceably to all His said Majesties Subjects, and strictly observe & conform to the Laws of England and of this Province, to the utmost of our Power and best of our understanding.|R1|r |q
This declaration of allegiance is found at the head of all the papers, bearing the signatures of immigrants, marked B in the following pages. Beginning with August 19, 1729, the immigrants were required to sign two additional declarations, which were entered in a bound book. The latter in course of time became a series of bound books, to each of which these two declarations were prefixed. The signatures to these declarations are marked C in the following pages.
|F|R1|rSee Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, p. 282 f.|f|P5|p
The two additional declarations, to which the immigrants affixed their signatures in the bound books, were as follows: I A B do solemnly & sincerely promise & declare that I will be true & faithful to King George the Second and do solemnly sincerely and truly Profess Testifie & Declare that I do from my Heart abhor, detest & renounce as impious & heretical that wicked Doctrine & Position that Princes Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be deposed or murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever. And I do declare that no Forreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Power Jurisdiction Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within the Realm of Great Britain or the Dominions thereunto belonging. |P6|p
I A B do solemnly sincerely and truly acknowledge profess testify & declare that King George the Second is lawful & rightful King of the Realm of Great Britain & of all others his Dominions & Countries thereunto belonging, And I do solemnly & sincerely declare that I do believe the Person pretending to be Prince of Wales during the Life of the late King James, and since his Decease pretending to be & taking upon himself the Stile & Title of King of England by the Name of James the third, or of Scotland by the Name of James the Eighth or the Stile & Title of King of Great Britain hath not any Right or Title whatsoever to the Crown of the Realm of Great Britain, nor any other the Dominions thereunto belonging. And I do renounce & refuse any Allegiance or obedience to him & do solemnly promise that I will be true and faithful, & bear true allegiance to King George the Second & to him will be faithful against all traiterous Conspiracies & attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his Person Crown & Dignity & I will do my best Endeavours to disclose & make known to King George the Second & his Successors all Treasons and traiterous Conspiracies which I shall Know to be made against him or any of them. And I will be true & faithful to the Succession of the Crown against him the said James & all other Persons whatsoever as the same is & stands settled by An Act Entituled An Act declaring the Rights & Liberties of the Subject & settling the Succession of the Crown to the late Queen Anne & the Heirs of her Body being Protestants, and as the same by one other Act Entituled An Act for the further Limitation of the Crown & better securing the Rights & Liberties of the subject is & stands settled & entailed after the Decease of the said late Queen, & for Default of Issue of the said late Queen, to the late Princess Sophia Electoress & Dutchess Dowager of Hannover & the Heirs of her Body being Protestants; and all these things I do plainly & sincerely acknowledge promise & declare according to these express Words by me spoken & according to the plain & common Sense and understanding of the same Words, without any Equivocation mental Evasion or secret Reservation whatsoever. And I do make this Recognition Acknowledgement Renunciation & Promise heartily willingly & truly.|q |P7|p
Get your own Free Homepage
This page was last updated on Tue, Oct 30, 2001.
Page created by: DTBost@aol.com