A 1725 List of Wittgenstein Emigrants

P2KaZNELMMM_MafgMSUIUMENN .S.q Fi§ g ., a wi; The Pennsylvania GENEALOGICAL P3 M 93 63 93 N Magazine 931 o Q2 re M‘MgMMAMAVr.stMiWARMai'MgMM&63MMa9 A 1725 List of Wittgenstein Emigrants HEDVIG MUNDEL Translated and edited by DON YODER rr HE District of Wittgenstein has formed the southwestern corner of present-day Westphalia since 1816. Previously the Counts of Sayn-Wittgenstein had ruled the territory. Their family seat, the Castle of Wittgenstein, is located near the small but ancient city of Laasphe. Not always did the counts live in peace and concord with their city. In the year 1726, Count August of Sayn-Wittgenstein was forced to bring action against the city before the highest court of the old empire, the Reichskammergericht in Wetzlar.' He was of the opinion that the city had been remiss in the fulfillment of certain duties and in showing proper respect toward his person. Through their bad example, the Laasphe citizenry were said also to have stirred up the Wittgenstein peasants, and given "occasion for insubordination ruinous to the country." Among the censured violations of his highness's laws, the count also named the emigration of Wittgenstein subjects some years previously which had taken place without obtaining his permission. As evidence he laid before the court a list drawn up by the county forestry office in 1725, of subjects who had "secretly absconded and afterwards gone to Pennsylvania" [heimlich entwichenund nachher Pen-Sylvanien gezogen]. This list, which includes 389 names, awakens our particular interest in more than one respect. It gives us the first and oldest record of the overseas emigration of a compact group of persons from Westphalia. .Stansarchiv Munster, RKG S 164 133 134 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Otherwise we possess such lists only for the nineteenth century,' but here we have a testimony at hand from a far earlier time. The question can be raised, what may have been the occasion for this emigration movement, and when did it take place? As is well known, toward the end of the seventeenth century there had developed in the Wittgenstein land, furthered and supported by the ruling lords, an uncommonly vital religious life in which, to be sure, excesses were not lacking. Here a sectarianism had made its home, involving pietists, separatists, and fanatics, which bore most remarkable as well as bizarre blossoms. When William Penn, the Quaker founder of the colony of Pennsylvania, traveled through the Netherlands and Germany in 1677 to propagandize his ideas, he remained a while at Berleburg. To this visit the later emigration to "Pen-Sylvanien" can in the end be traced. The immediate occasion, as also the approximate time of the emigration, can now, at any rate, only be supposed. Both could be connected with the expulsion of the Brethren sect (Schwarzenautiufer) who, since 1708, were working in the Wittgenstein territories, but were forbidden in 1719. The Schwarzenau Brethren defied the prohibition, as did the Brethren in the Marienborn area of the County of Isenburg-Bildingen." Naturally the hope for a better economic future may have enticed them abroad also, but essentially it was the wish for religious liberty in William Penn's "promised land" which drove the Wittgensteiners abroad. All this must be thoroughly investigated. It is our hope that the publication of the following fist may be the occasion for further research into this Westphalian migration.* Introduction to the List DON YODER The emigration from Wittgenstein to Pennsylvania includes not only this early group of 1725, plus the shipload of Schwarzenau sectarians "Westf ihsche Auswanderer inn 19. Jahrhundert," in Beitrige non westfilischen Familienforsebung, Volumes 22-24, edited by Friedrich Mallet (Munster, 1966). The Schwarzenau Brethren, who in Pennsylvania came to be known as the Church of the Brethren, wnat first to Surhuisterveen in Friesland and in 1729, under the leadership of Alexander Mack, came to Pennsylvania. The Marienborn group were in close contact with the Schwarzenau group. They remained Krefeld from 1715 until 1719, when they went to America. For these backgrounds, see Donald F. Durnbaugh, European Origins of the Brethren (Elgin, Illinois, 1958). • The foregoing has been translated by Dr. Yoder from the slightly expanded version secn him by Mrs. Mundel typeset-mt. It includes the text of the original printed article, noted below, plus a f ow sentences which are necessary for American but not for German readers. A 1725 List of Wittgenstein Emigrants 135 who came to Pennsylvania and planted the Church of the Brethren tradition here in America, but other Wittgensteiners who continued to emigrate throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Brethren group under Alexander Mack arrived on the Ship Allen at Philadelphia on 11 September 1729.' Details on the migration and its background can be found in the definitive works by Donald F. Durnbaugh, European Origins of the Brethren (Elgin, Illinois, 1958), and The Brethren in Colonial America (Elgin, Illinois, 1967). For Wittgenstein emigrants during the period 1727 to 1808, by checking the available ship lists in Pennsylvania German Pioneers, one occasionally finds combinations of names similar to those in the 1725 list which probably point to a later emigration from the same area. For a few examples, on the Ship Fane (1749), there appear passengers named Stenger, Marburger, and Zacharias; on the Brig Mary (1796), Afler bach, Strackbein, Sasmanhaus, Spies, and Menn (M5hn?) ; on the ship Holland (1796), Bentfer, Risstein, Pfeil (also Pheil), Stanger, and Sassmannhausz; on the Ship Pennsylvania (1798), Tresbach and Richstein; and on the Fortune (1803), Rischstein (Richstein), Berchelbach, and Imhof.' The most valuable comparative materials on emigration from the Wittgenstein area, however, date from the year 1805 when, on the Ship Three Sisters from Bremen, which arrived at Philadelphia on 30 November 1805, there appear a number of the same family names as on the Wittgenstein list of 1725, with the names of the villages from which they emigrated.' For example, there are Zacharias from Elsoff, Muller from Fischenbach (Fischelbach?), Eckel from Barfeld (Ahrfeld?). In addition, there are the names of Benfer, Weber and Hublitz, similar to those in the 1725 list but from different villages. The village names, most of which can be identified as in the Wittgenstein-Westphalian area, are: Bettelhausen, Fischenbach, Bloorbach, Sassenhausen (Sassmannshausen?), Laasfe, Riestein (Riichstein), Barfeld, Elsoff, Berlenburg, Steinbach, Wilsdorf . (Wilnsdorf?), Wehr, Schwarzenau, and Wevenbach. The entire shipload, in fact, appear to have been from the Wittgenstein area with the exception of a joiner from Miinster and a German waiter from Bordeaux. An additional group of Wittgenstein emigrants appears in the list of passengers on board the Ship Atlantic from Amsterdam, which arrived •William John Hiram, edit., Pennsylvania German Pioneers (Norristown, Pa., 1934), I, 27-31, Lists 10A-B-C. 6 I, 424, List 144C; m, 83-85 1 List 412; III, as - i9, List 413; III, 96-98, List 429; III, 127List 466. 6 Ibid., III, 180-181, List 490. 136 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine in Philadelphia 8 November 1806? Among the emigrants as specifically listed from Wittgenstein are Georg Dreisbach, 40, with wife Margaretha, 32, and nine children; Georg Heinrich Dreisbach, 24, with wife Marie Magdalena, 23, and one child; Phillip Dickel, 26, with wife Christina, 23, and two children, one born at sea; Phillip Strackbein, 24, with wife Christina, 30, and one child; Georg Missen, 33, with wife Anna Maria, 24, and an infant son born at sea. On the Ship William P. Johnson which arrived at Philadelphia 3 December 1807, 8 are listed Jacob Wolf, 33, "farmer, middle sized, flaxen hair & blue eyes," and Henry Aflerbach, 25, "carpenter, middle sized, flaxen hair & grey eyes." Both were described as natives of Wittgenstein and owing allegiance to the Count of Wittgenstein. In analyzing the 1725 list itself, we find its orthography and punctuation indicating that the names are arranged in family groups. The name of the head of the family is in a larger script than the succeeding names of wife and children or accompanying relative. A comma occurs after each of these names until the end of the particular family group is terminated by a period. A possible relationship is indicated where names of persons with different surnames follow a family group, as in Nos. 150-152, and No. 156. In the original list the surnames of the women and girls all end in the German feminine ending of "-in" which has been omitted in the present translation. A few relationships are indicated, usually with persons not accompanying the emigration, such as sons, daughters, widows and hired servants. Information on occupations is sparse; what there is points to some industrial development in the area — iron forges and blacksmithing, dyeing establishments, and glass-works. The majority of persons on the list can be assumed to be farmers or village craftsmen. Unfortunately no ages are given. Among the family names listed, the following are derived from place-names in the area from which the emigration took place: Hesstilbach, Riichstein, Dornhofer, Birckelbach, Dre[y]sbach, Sormenborn, Bariffer (from Banfe), and Marburger (from Marburg in Hessen, a short distance down the Lalm valley from Laasphe and Wittgenstein). Most important to note is the fact that the following list is divided into two sections: (1) Nos. 1 - 243 are listed as "gone to Pennsylvania," while (2) Nos. 244-389 are noted as having been arrested for attempted emigration and released on bail. , /bid•, III, 189-191, List 497. 'Ibid., III, 198-204, List 505. A 1725 List of Wittgenstein Emigrants 137 INDEX OF THOSE SUBJECTS WHO STAVE SECRETLY ABSCONDED FROM THIS COUNTY OF WITTGENSTEIN AND GONE AWAY TO PENNSYLVANIA FISCHELBACH DISTRICT From Fische!bath 1. Henrich Weber, 2. Anna Eilsabetha Weber, 3. Daniel Weber, 4. Conrad Weber, 5. Anna Maria Weber. 6. Johannes Creutz, 7. Catharina Creutz, 8. Johann Henrich Creutz, 9. Paul Creutz, 10. Johann Christ Creutz, 11. Johannes Creutz, 12. Gertraud Creutz, 13. Susanna Creutz. 14. Johann Henrich Creutz, 15. Anna Catharina Creutz, 16. Bernhard Creutz, 17. Dorothea Creutz. 18. Tilemann Burger, 19. Dorothea Burger, 20. 'Agnes Burger, 21. Jost Burger, 22. Caspar Burger. 23. Moritz Fischer, 24. Helena Fischer, 25. Johanette Fischer, 26. Alberti= Fischer. From Hesselbach 27. Johannes Schaumarm, 28. Anna Elisabetha Schaumann, 29. Johann Christian Schaumann, 30. Johannes Schaumann, 31. Johann Jost Schaumann, 32. Johann Jon Schaumann, 33. Louise Schaumann, 34. Susanna Schaumann, 35. Anna Elisabetha Schaumann, 36. Anna Catharina Schaumann. 37. Krafft Hofmann, 38. Maria Catharina Hofmann, 39. Johann Henrich Hofmann. 40. Martin Reuter, 41. Catherine Reuter, 42. Johann Krafft Reuter, 43. Johann Christian Reuter, 44. Anna Maria Reuter, 45. Anna Christina Reuter, 46. Anna Dorothea Reuter. 47. Daniel Brass, 48. Anna Elisabetha Brass, 49. Johann Igenrich Brass, 50. Johannes Brass, 51. Maria Elisabetha Brass. 52. Johannes Becher, 53. Magdalena Becher, 54. Johann Friedench Becher, 55. Krafft Becher, 56. Johannes Becher, 57. Maria Elisabetha Becher. From Berntshausen 58. Hermann Reh, 59. Anna Margaretha Reh, 60. Johann Christian Reh, 61. Anna Catharina Rob, 62. Anna Elisabetha Reh. 63. Johannes Grund, 64. Anna Catharina Grand, 65. Anna Grand. From Herbertshausen 66. Jacob Ruclutein, 67. Catharina Riichstein, 68. Catharina Riichstein, 69. Gertraud Riicbstein, 70. Justina Rtchstein. 71. Krafft Riichstein, 72. Justine RUchstem, 73. Johann Jon Riichstein, 74. Johannes Rilbhsteira, 75. Anna Catharina Rfichstein, 76. Maria Elisabetha Riichstein. 77. George Hofmann, 78. Johann Adam Hofmann, 79. Anna Catharina Hofmann, 80. Cathadna Elisabetha Hofmann, 81. Margaretha Hofmann, 82. Magdalena Hofmann, 83. Anna Elisabetha Hofmann. 84. Henrich Hofmann. From Banff 85. Ebert Hesselbach, 86. Simon Stenger, 87. Maria Elisabetha Stenger, 88. Anna Elisabetha Hesselbach, 89. Anna Elisabetha Hesselbach, 90. Anna Catharina Hesselbach. 91. Johannes Hesselbachs 92. Anna Catharina Hesselbach. 138 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine , ga IZAI:Lutstr4, Le7 0.z.- TYPICAL PAGE FROM THE 1725 LIST Otigindis 99991strehi ■ 9459mer, 11.150 9 164 note-Seite—, A 1725 List of Wittgenstein Emigrants 139 From Puderbach 93. Johannes Zeffer, 94. Anna Gertraud Zeffer, 95. Johann Adam Zeffer, 96. Johann Daniel Zeffer, 97. Johann Henrich Zeffer, 98. Catharina Elisabetha Zeffer. From Weydenhausen 99. Ebert Stenger, 100. Anna Catharina Stenger, 101. Johannes Stenger, 102. Jost Stenger. 103. Anna Christina ROchstein, native of Herbertshausen. FEIMINGEN DISTRICT From the Feudingen Forge 104. Frantz Mittelmann. 105. Catharma Mitre!mann, 106. Anna Elisaberha Mittelman From Fendingen 107. Henrich Demant, saltpetre-manufacturer and soldier. 108. Peter Schneider, 109. Anna Catharina Schneider, 110. Johannes Schneider, 111. Anna Elisabetha Schneider, 112. Catharina Elisabetha Schneider, 113. Anna Catharina Schneider, 114. Anna Magdalena Schneider, 115. Anna Gertraud Schneider. 116. Ebert Dreher, 117. Anna Maria Dreher, 118. Johannes Dreher, 119. Johann Arnd Dreher, 120. Anna Maria Dreher, 121. Sophia Dreher. 122. Adam Marburger, Ebert Dreher's son-in-law. 123. Elisabetha Marburger, 124. Anton Marburger. 125. Johann Georg Marburger, 126. Magdalena Marburger, 127. Johannes Marburger, 128. Adam Marburger, 129. Arnd Marburger, 130. Magdalena Marburger. 131. Jost Marburger, 132. Dorothea Marburger, 133. Catharina Marburger. 134. Johannes Dornluifer, 135. Anna Maria Dornhofer, 136. Johann Arnd Dornhofer, 137. Johann Jacob Dornhofer, 138. Johann Jost Dornhofer. 139. limas Henrich Weber, Christ Weber's son. 140. Jost Birckelbach. 141. Johannes Claus, the elder. From the Hof Schi'mstein 142. Johann Jost Gabel, native of Wahlbach, 143. Susanna Gobel, 144. Jacob Gobel. From Grosses:barb 145. Hanns Wilhelm Dresbach, 146. Anna Gertraud Dresbach, 147. Johann Henrich Dresbach, 148. Anna Elisabetha Dresbach, 149. Maria Elisabeth Dresbach. 150. Hanna Jost Gerhard, 151. Johann Georg Gerhard, 152. Agnes Gerhard. From Ermiebriick 113. Manna Georg Wirsing, 154. Anna Catharina Wirsing, 159. Johann Krafft Pfeiffer, 136. Anna Margaretha Wirsing. 157. Johann Jost Claus, 158. Anna Elisabetha Claus, 159. Anna Barbara Wald, 160. Johann Henrich Wald. From Amtshausen 161. Harms Henrich Strack, 162. Anna Maria Strack, 163. Johann Jost Strack, 164. Johann Henrich Stuck, 165. Anna Maria Strack. 140 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine AHRPELD DISTRICT From Ahrfeld 166. Henrich Bornmann, blacksmith from the Ahrfeld Forge, 167, Maria Magdalena Bornmann, 168. Catharina Bornrnann. 169. Christoph Feyge, 170. Catharina Elisabetha Feyge, 171. Johann Jost Feyge, 172. Johann Christ Feyge. 173. Henrich Schneider, 174. Anna Maria Schneider, 175. Johannes Schneider, 176. Hieronymus Schneider. 177. Johannes Engelbach, dyer, 178. Johannette Engelbach, 179. Johannes Engelbach, 180. Wilhelm Gottfried Engelbach. From Riichstein 181. Johannes Muller, 182. Anna Ehsabetha Muller, 183. Johannes Muller, 184. Krafft Muller, 185. Johann Henrich Muller. 186. Anna Gertraud PREFECT'S DISTRICT From Elsoff 187. Johann Krafft Horn, 188. Catharina Elisabetha Horn, 189. Johannes Horn, 190. Matthias Horn, 191. Anna Maria Horn, 192. Christina Horn. 193. Matthaeus Zacharias. 194. Johann Krafft Zacharias, 195. Catbarina, Henrich Zacharias' widow, 196. Catharina Elisabetha Zacharias, 197. Johannes Zacharias. 198. Johannes Gicker, 199. Catharina Gicker, 200. Johannes Gicker, 201. Henrich Gicker, 202. Hermama Gicker, 203. Maria Elisabetha Gicker. 204. Henrich Hublit., 205. Michael Hubhtz, 206. Maria Fritz. 207. Wilhelm Spins. 208. Johannes Did. 209. Gertraud Weber. 210. Jost Stoltz. 211. Christina, the late Henrich Zacharias' daughter. 212. Christina, Johannes Sittler's daughter. From Schwartzenau 213. Tilemann im Hof, 214. Anna Gertraud im Hof, 215. Joharmette im Hof, 216. Maria Elisabeth ins Hof, 217. Anna Catharma Belt; widow. 218. Thomas Muller, 219. Anna Elisabeth Muller, 220. Johann Jacob Muller, 221. Johannes Muller, 222. Johann Henrich Muller, 223. Anna Maria Milner, 224. Anna Elisabeth Muller. From Christianseck 225. Frantz Latsche, 226. Catharina Latsche, 227 - 232. 6 children. From Laasphe 233. George vom Hof, the younger, assessor, 234. Anna Elisabeth Tom Hof. 235. Johann Christ, Jacob Hod's hired man. 236. Johann Hernich, hired man. 237-. Anna Maria, Jacob Hof's lured girl. 238. Catharina Elisabeth, Hufnagel's widow's hired girl. 239. Georg Friederich vom Hof, a single shoemaker's apprentice. From Wittgenstein 240. Job: Martin Muller, town locksnuth, 241. Anna Catharina Muller, 242. Anna Eliebeth Muller, 243. Christian Conrad Muller A 1725 List of Wittgenstein Emigrants 141 CONFESSED AS ON THE POINT OF SECRETLY GOING AWAY, THEREFORE ARRESTED AND RELEASED ON BAIL: FISCHELBACH DISTRICT From Fischelbach 244. Andreas Miller, 245. Gertraud Muller, 246. Christian Miller, 247. Peter Midler, 248. Dorothea Milner. 249. Conrad Weiss, 250. Christina Weiss, 251. Johannes Weiss, 252. Ludwig Weiss, 253. Susanna Weiss, 254. Louise Weiss, 255. Agnes Weiss. 256. Henrich Wieck, the elder, 257. Anna Elisabeth Wieck, 258. Johann Henrich Wieck, 259. Tobias Wieck, 260. Margaretha 137ieck. 261. Hennch Hayn, 262. Sophia Hayn, born Wieck, 263. Margaretha Hayn. 264. Henrich Wieck, the younger, 265. Anna Elisabeth Wieck, 266. Christian 'Cock, 267. Anna Elisabeth Wieck. From Hesselbach 268. Peter Muller, 269. Henrich Muller, 270. Paul Miller. 271. Hanns Hermann Daum, 272. Johann Christian Daum, 273. Cadaarina Daum, 274. Anna Catharina Daum, 275. Anna Maria Reuter. 276. Jacob Miller, 277. Gertraud Miller, 278. Johann Christian Miller, 279. Johannes Miller, 280. Conrad Miller, 281. Michael Muller, 282. Anna Catharina Muller, 283. Anna Elisabeth Muller. 284. Paul Dreysbach, 285. Catharina Dreysbach, 286. Johannes Dreysbach, 287. Hermann Dreysbach. 288. Catharina Dreysbach. From Banff 289. Frieclerich Milan, 290. Anna Catharina Maim, 291, Johann Jacob Mahn. 292. Johannes Kramer, 293. Francisca Kramer, 294. Anna Catharina Kramer. From Puderbacb 295. Henrich Schreiber, 296. Anna Gertraud Schreiber, 297. Conrad Schreiber, 298. Johann Henrich Schreiber, 299. Wilhelmina Schreiber, 300. Margaretha Schreiber. 301. Hanns Henrich Schreiber, 302. Margaretha Schreiber, 303. Anna Gertraud Schreiber. From Stfintzel 304. Johannes Schreiber, 305. Anna Gertraud Schreiber, 306. Johann Christian Schreiber, 307. Johannes Schreiber, 308. Anna Catharina Schreiber, 309. Anna Maria Schreiber. FEDDINGEN DISTRICT From Feudingen 310. Jacob Dornhifer, 311. Elisabeth Dornhofer, 312. Wilhelm Dornhofer, 313. Jacob Dornh8fer, 314, Johannes Dornhofer, 315. Anna Catharina Dornhi5fer, 316. Magdalena Domhafer, 317. Barbara Elisabeth Dornhofer, 318. Anna Elisabeth Domhofen 319. Friederich Weber, 320. Maria Elisabeth Weber, 321. Johannes Hesselbach, 322. Juliana Hesselbach, 323.. Anna Catharina Hesselbach, 142 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 324. Anna Catharina Hesse1b4h, 325. Anna Maria Hesselbach, 326. Elisabeth Hesselbach, 327. Peter Hesselbach, 328. Jon Hesselbach. 329. Philipp Dulling, 330. Magdalena Dilling, 331. Wilhelm Dilling, 332. Georg Adam Dining. 333. Tobias Panffer, 334. Maria Elisabeth Binffer, 335. Johannes Banger, 336. Conrad Banffer, 337. Maria Elisabeth Blinffer, 338. Juliana Banffer. 339. Johannes Sonnenborn, 340. Margaretha Sonnenborn, 341. Johann Henrich Sonnenborn, 342. Johannes Sonnenborn, 343. Maria .Juliana Sonnenborn. 344. Philipp Dieterich, 345. Anna Justina Dieterich, 346. Gerhard Philipp Dieterich, 347. Regina Dieterich. From the Glass-works 348. Johannes Birckelbach, 349. Elisabeth Birckelbach, 350. George Birckelbach, 351. Eva Elisabeth Birckelbach. From Oberndorff 352. Hermann Marcus, Johann Jost Wiedt's hired man. AIIRFELD DISTRICT From Ahrf rid 353. Johannes Claus, 354. Margaretha Claus, 355. Maria Elisabeth Claus, 356. Johann Henrich Clam. 357. Christ Eckel, 358. George Eckel, 359. Anna Gertraud Eckel. 360. Jost Garte, 361. Elisabeth Garte, 362. Johannes Glirte. From Tieffenbach near Schwartzenau 363. Johann Henrich Pfeil, 364. Elisabeth Pfeil, 365. Johannes Pfeil, 366. Conrad Pfeil, 367. Maria Elisabeth Pfeil, 368. Anna Maria Pfeil. From Luttersbach 369. George Pfeil, 370. Anna Margaretha Pfeil, 371. Elisabeth Pfeil, 372. Dorothea Elisabeth Pfeil, 373. Sophia Pfeil, 374. Johannes Pfeil. PREFECT'S DISTRICT From Elsoff 375. Johann Krafft Zacharias, 376. Anna Barbara Zacharias, 377. Matthaeus Zachanas, 378. Catharina Elisabeth Zacharias. 379. Matthaeus Gernandt, chief shepherd. 380. Johannes Gicker, single, under shepherd. 381. Georg Weygand, 382. Elisabeth Weygand, 383. Jacob Weygand, 384. Johannes Weygand. From Bettelhausen 385. Hanns Georg Krieger, 386. Anna Margaretha Krieger, 387. Frantz Krieger, 388. Lorentz Krieger, 389. Elisabetha Krieger. Delivered at Wittgenstein, Friday, 15 lame Anne 1725 The Count's Exchequer and Forestry office in this place. Since the lists of arrivals at the Port of Philadelphia, preserved in the Pennsylvania State Archives and made available tn Pennsylvania German A 1725 List of Wittgenstein Emigrants 143 Pioneers, begin with the year 1727, we have no way of knowing how many of the above listed persons actually arrived here unless a search of land and church records reveals some of the names.° It is possible that some of those listed had by 1725 simply moved on to other areas of Europe and later made their way to Pennsylvania. One such possibility is Franz Latsche of Christianseck (see Nos. 225 - 232) ; a Frans Latshow arrived at Philadelphia on the Mortonhouse in 1728.10 At any rate it will be the task of Pennsylvania genealogists and local historians to determine just how many of the 389 persons named in the Wittgenstein list of 1725 actually arrived in and settled in Pennsylvania or in other colonies in British America. One such example is John Lawrence Krieger, born 15 March 1715, at Bettelhausen in Wittgenstein, who emigrated in 1738," and later appears in the register of the Moravian Congregation at Graceham, near Thurmont, Maryland, according to the typescript of the original in the Collections of the Historical Society of York County. He is probably identical with Lorentz Krieger, No. 388 in our list. His wife also was from the area. She was Maria Elizabeth Hahn, born 23 November 1715, at Alertshausen in Wittgenstein. It is hoped that genealogists and local historians who can identify persons in the list, or who have information on the settlement of other Wittgenstein emigrants to Pennsylvania in the eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries, will send the relevant information to the present translator who is preparing a master index of Wittgenstein emigrants to North America. Grateful thanks go to Hedwig Mundel of Munster, Westphalia, West Gerfnany, for permission to reproduce these materials which she discovered in the State Archives at Miinster, and to the Editors of the Bliitter des Wittgensteiner Heimatsvereins, in whose pages ( Jg. 55 [1967], Band 31, Heft 1, 32 - 37) the list first appeared. Thanks are also due to Dr. Donald F. Durnbaugh of Bethany Theological Seminary, Oak Brook, Illinois, for background information on the Brethren emigration, and for a xerox copy of the journal article. 1 The Hester family. not in the present list, with ancestral roots in Wittgenstein, gave Pennsylvania one of its early "Dutch" governors, Joseph Hiester (1732-1832). They were founded in, America by the emigration in 1732 of Johannes }Coster, followed by his two brothers, Jost and Daniel, in 1737, all born in the village of Elsoff. In "The Hiester Homestead in Germany: . published in the TrOHSOCii0la of the Hittorical Society of Berks County, Volume II, No. 3 (1907), 180-188, Isaac Hiester, an American descendant, documents the emigration of the family and describes Elsoff and the Wittgenstein areas as they looked at the turn of the century. 15 Ponnyloonio German Pioneers, I, 18, List 6A. "ibid., I, 237, 238, 241, Lists 62A-5-C. Arriving on the Ship St. 'Andrew 27 October 1738, he signed ha name "Lorrenta Kriger."