Col Conrad Weiser

ConradWeiserb

• Death Notes
  • "George Washington in 1793 at Weiser's grave said-- "Posterity will never forget his service."
    
    Indian Seneca George said-- "We are in great loss and darkness since the death of Conrad Weiser as well as you."
    
    (--History of Bethel and Tulpehocken Twps)
    
    
    

• General Notes
  • He in connection with Shikelamy the Indian Chief was instrumental in saving the US for the English instead of the French in the eighteenth century.
    
    Was a mediary between the colonial government of PA and the various tribes and confederations of the Indians and was an agent and interpreter among the Indians from 1731 to 1760.
    
    Perhaps the most fitting accolade bestowed on Conrad Weiser was by an Iroquois, who, speaking to white men upon the death of Weiser in 1760, lamented, "We are at a great loss and sit in darkness...as since his death we cannot so well understand one another."
    
    [page one] John Frederick Weiser's Book
    
    Containing a Summarized Autobiography
    
    Of the Honorable
    
    Conrad Weiser
    
    Together With His Ancestry
    
    From the Year 1696
    
    [page two is blank]
    
    [page three] "On Nov. 2, 1696, I, Conrad Weiser, was born in Europe, in the land of Wurttemberg, in the county of Herrenberg; the village is called Astodt [Astaet], and I was christened at Kupingen, nearby, as my father has informed me. I say that on Nov. 2, 1696 I was born.
    
    "My father's name was John Conrad Weiser. My mother, Anna Magdalena, nee Ublin [Ubelen is the old Swabian name of Conrad Weiser's mother's family. Whoever wrote the copy here assumed that the name was Ubel and added the German feminine ending "-in"]. My grandfather Jacob Weiser, my great-grandfather also Jacob Weiser, magistrates in the village of Grossaspach, inthe District of Backnang, also situated in the country of Wurtemberg. My ancestors, from very old times were born in the above-named village and lie buried there, on my father's as well as my mother's side"
    
    [page 4] Psalm 139:14-17, Is 63:16, Mt 6:9-10 written out, in German of course.
    
    [page 5] "In the year 1709 my mother departed to eternity on the 1st day of May in the 43rd year of her age, when she was with her 16th child. She left the children, Catharina, Margareta, Magdalena, Sabina, Conrad, George Frederick, Christoph, Barbara, Johann Frederick, and was there buried by the side of her ancestors. She was a pious woman, beloved by her neighbors. Her motto was: Jesus to thee I live, to thee I die, thine I am in death or life.
    
    
    
    [page 6] Psalm 25:16-22
    
    
    
    [page 7] "In the above named year, namely 1709, my father moved away from Grossaspach, on the 24th of June. He took eight children with him. My oldest sister Catharina remained there with her husband, Conrad Boss, with whom she had already two children. My father left them his house, fields and meadows, vineyards and gardens. They could raise no more than 75 guilders. The rest amounting to 600 guilders my father was to get later, but it was never done and is now presented to them."
    
    
    
    [page 8] Lamentations 5:19-21, Psalm 106:47
    
    
    
    [page 9] "After about two months we landed in London, England, with a few thousand Germans whom Queen Anna of most honorable mermory received and supplied with food. About Christmas we were loaded, ten ships full, about 4000 souls, for America. On the 13th of June we came to anchor in New York, North America, and in the fall of the same year were placed on Loewenstein's Manor at the expense of the Queen Anna."
    
    [page 10] Ps 107:2-5,8,43
    
    [page 11] "Here in Livingstone or as we High Germans say, Loewenstein's Manor, we were to burn tar and cultivate hemp to renumerate the Queen for the passage from Holland to England and from England to New York. [We were] under the direction of Commissaries as: Johann Cast, Heinrich Meyer, Reichard Seuhot, who were placed over us by Robert Hunter, Governor of New York. Nothing would succeed, however, and the people were declared free and released in one year, 1713. Then the people separated into the province of New York. Many remained there.
    
    [page 12] "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: and the high German people in New York. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me. They have ploughed upon my back; they have made long their furrows. Ps 129:1-3. Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it. Ps 127:1
    
    [page 13] "Nearly 150 families resolved to move to Schochary, a place about 50 English miles to the west of Albany. They sent deputies to the Maqua Land to confer about it with the Indians, who allowed them to settle at Schochary because of their Indian deputy, who was in England while the German people lay in tents on the Black Heath, had presented this Schochary to Queen Anna to settle this people on it. The Indian Deputies were sent to direct the Germans to Schochary. My father was the first among the German deputies.
    
    [page 14] Ps 61:8,10 In November 1713, after the above mentioned deputies returned from the Maqua Land to the Lewenstein Manor, the people moved the same fall to Albany and Schenectady, so as to move to Schochary the next spring. Bread was extraordinarily expensive. The people worked hard to earn their daily bread, but the inhabitants were
    
    [page 15] very sympathetic and did these newly-arrived Germans much good although the evil-minded were also not lacking. My father arrived the same fall in Schenectady and stayed during the winter with a man by the name of Johannes Meinderten. A chief of the Maqua Nation by the name of Quainant visited my father, and they decided that I should go with Quainant into his land in order to learn the Maqua language.
    
    [page 16] Ps 41:1, 42:2-4
    
    [page 17] "I went with him and arrived toward the end of November in Maqua Land and had to lodge with the Indians. I had to suffer much from the severe cold for I was but poorly clothed. Toward spring I suffered much from hunger because the Indians had nothing more to eat. One bushel of corn costs from 5 to 6 shillings. The Indians were at that time also very cruel in their drunkenness, so that I often had to hide myself from fear of the drunken Indians.
    
    [page 18] Ps 44:17-18,25-26
    
    [page 19] "In the spring my father moved from Schenectady to Schohary with about 150 families in great poverty. One borrowed a horse here and another borrowed a cow there, a harness for plow, with it they hitched together and broke up so much land so that the next year they had almost corn enough to eat. During the year we suffered much hunger, however, and the people made many a meal with wild potatoes and strawberries which grow there in large quantities. Potatoes are called by the Indians ochnanada, and strawberries, otgraquara.
    
    [page 20] "Who cut up mallows by the bushes and juniper roots for their meat. They are driven forth from among men, they cried after them as after a thief. To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth and in the rocks. " Job 30:4-6 "In those days there was no king in Israel; but every man did that which was right in his eyes." Judges 17:6
    
    [page 21] "If we wanted flour we had to go about 35 or 40 miles for it and to get it we had to beg it on credit; then one got a bushel or two here and the other there of wheat and often had to be three or 4 days from home before we arrived with our own people, who waited meanwhile with pain and tears for bread. The people had settled in villages of which were seven. The first and nearest to Schenectady was called 1.Kneskerndorf. 2. Gerlachsdorf 3.Fuchsendorf. 4. Hans George Schmidsdorf. 5. Weisers or Brunnendorf. 6.Hardtmansdorf. 7.Oberweisersdorf. After the deputies who were sent from Lovenstein's Manor to the Maqua Land.
    
    [page 22] Ge 11:5-8
    
    [page 23] "Towards the end of July I came again from the Indians to my father. I had made a good beginning, or had learned the greater part of the Maqua language. One English mile from my father's house lived some Maqua families. Then there were often some of the Maqua on their hunting trips in trouble and there was much to interpret but without pay. There was no one else to be found among our people who understood the language. I therefore mastered the language completely, as much as my years and other circumstances permitted.
    
    "Here the people lived for a few years without preacher and without government, generally in peace. Each one did what he thought was right.
    
    [page 24] "And the Canaanite was then in the land." Ge 13:7
    
    "About this time I became very sick and thought I had to die and would gladly have died, for my stepmother was a stepmother indeed. On her representation I was treated very severely by father, had besides no other friend, and had to suffer hunger and cold. I had often decided to run away but by this sickness the bridle and bit were laid in my mouth, I was bound as it were with a rope to obedience and to stay with my father. I said above that my father migrated as a widower from
    
    [page 25] Germany and landed with 8 children in New York in 1710. There my two brothers George Frederick and Christopher Frederick were bound out by the Governor to Long Island, with permission of my father who was sick at the time. The following winter, namely in December, my youngest brother Johann Frederick, died about the sixth year of his age and was buried in Lovenstein's Busch as we said then. He was the first who was buried in the church yard where the Reformed church now stands.
    
    [page 26] Job 33:23-24, 27-28 Ps 38:9
    
    [page 27] Ps 119:9, 28, 52, 176 Job 19:7
    
    [page 28] Ps 129:3 Hosea 13:9
    
    [page 29] "In the year 1711 my father married my stepmother of whom I have just written. It was an unfortunate marriage and caused that my brothers and sisters were all scattered. And at last I was alone with him, besides the three children he had with my stepmother, namely John Frederick and Jacob Weiser and Rebecca. Everything else went backward too and one misfortune after another came over our family, of which I took my share at all times. Often I knew not where to go and I learned to sigh to God and the Bible became to me a very acceptable book.
    
    
    
    [page 30] "To come back to Schohary, the people had taken possession of it without informing the Governor of New York, who after he showed them his disapproval, sold the land of Schohary to seven rich merchants, of whom four lived in Albany and the other three in New York. The names of those in Albany were: Meindort Schyler, John Schyler, Robert Liwingstein, Peter von Brughen. Those in New York were: George Klerk at the time Secretary, Doctor Slands, Kip von Dam; whereupon arose a great cry in Schohary and Albany because in Albany many people desired that the poor people should keep the land.
    
    
    
    [page 31] "The people in Schochary divided into two parties, the strongest party would not submit but preferred the land, and sent deputies to England therefore to obtain from King George the First not only Schochary but more land for the other High Germans. It did not go according to their wish, for first the three deputies had to depart secretly. They took ship therefore in Philadelphia in 1718 and as soon as they got on the open sea ran into the hands of pirates, who took their money as well as that of the people of the ship, and then let them go. My father, who was one of the deputies, was bound three times and but
    
    
    
    [page 32] would confess to no money. At last William Schaf, the other deputy, said to the pirates: you men, this man and I had one purse and I have given it to you, he can give you nothing, thereupon they let him in peace. They had to run into Boston to buy provisions in the place of those which the pirates had taken from them. When they arrived in England they found the times changed, nor did a Queen Anna rule any more, but they found a very few of the old benefactors, among whom were two gentlemen, Boem and Robert, Preacher of the German Castle Chapel.
    
    
    
    [page 33] "These did all they could. The matter of the deputies came at last before the Lord Commissioners of Trade and Plantation. The governor of New York, Robert Hunter, was cited home; in the meantime the deputies got into debt. Walrach, the third deputy, got homesick, boarded a ship for New York and died on the ocean. The other two were thrown into prison. They wrote in good time for money but the lack of understanding, and dishonesty of those who should forward the money which the people had brought together, caused the money to come to England very slowly. Meanwhile Robert Hunter arrived in England, settled his difficulties, and had ac-
    
    
    
    [page 34] counted for what he had done to Schohary before the Lords of Trade. His opponents were in prison, had neither friends nor money. When at last a draft of 70 pounds sterling arrived they wre released from prison again and renewed their appeal. At last they effected an order on the newly arrived Governor of New York, by the name of Burnet, to give to the High German people who had been sent to New York by Queen Anna of blessed memory the land which had not yet been given away.
    
    "Toward the end of the year 1720 this William Burnet arrived in New York. At the beginning of 1721 I was sent to this above named Governor to give him a peti-
    
    
    
    [page 35] tion. He showed himself friendly and told me of the order of the Lords of Trade he had brought with him, which he had resolved to live up to. Our deputies were yet in England and were not satisfied with the decision, but accomplished nothing more. Toward the end of this year, 1721, Schaff had become dissatisfied with my father and came home since they both had hard heads. At last in November 1723 my father also came home. Schaff had died 6 weeks after his arrival. Governor Burnet gave those few who wanted to settle on land of the Maqua
    
    
    
    [page 36] nation patents, namely for land on Stony Arabia and above the Fall, but none on the river, as the people had hoped. Therefore they separated, most of them moved to the Maqua land or stayed in Schohary and bough land from the above named seven gentlemen. The people received word of the land at the Schwadara and Tolpenhaken in Pennsylvania. Many of them came together, cut a way from Schochary to the Susquehanna and brought their good hither and made canoes and journeyed down to the mouth of the Swatara Creek and drove their cattle overland which happened in the spring of 1723. Thence they came to Tulpehocken and this was the beginning of Tulpehocken and settle-
    
    
    
    [page 37] ment. Later others followed and settled there, at first also without permission of the owner of the land or his commissaries, also against the will of the Indians, for the land had not yet been purchased from them. There was no one among the people who could govern them: each one did as he wished and their stubbornness stood in their way up to this hour. I will now leave them and describe my own circumstances.
    
    
    
    [page 38] "Shall there be evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it?" Amos 3:6 Ps 104:25-27 "Lord in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them." Is 26:16 "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me." Ps 50:15 "Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?" Je 22:23
    
    
    
    [page 39] "In the year 1720 when my father went to England I married my Anna Eva, and the Rev. Johann Frederick Heger, Reformed Preacher, united us on the 22nd November in my father's house in Schohary. On the 7th of September 1722 my son Philiph was born and baptized by Johann Bernard von Dueeren, Lutheran preacher. His sponsors were Philiph Braun and his wife. On the 14th of January 1725 my daughter ANna Magdalena was born and was baptized by Johan Jacob Oehl, Reformed Preacher. The sponsors were Christian Bauch junior and my sister Barbara.
    
    
    
    [page 40] "On the 24th June 1727 my daughter Maria was born and was baptized by Wilh. Christian [sic; should be Christoph] Birkenmeyer, Lutheran preacher. Sponsors were Nicolous Feg and his wife. On the 24th of December 1728 my son Friederich was born. He was baptized by Johann Bernhard von Duhren, Lutheran Preacher. Sponsors were Nicholous Feg and his wife. These four were born to me at Schohary. In 1729 I moved to Pennsylvania and settled at Tulpehocken where the following children were born to me, namely
    
    "On the 27th of February 1730 my son Peter was born.
    
    
    
    [page 41] "The 15th of February 1731 two sons were born to me, who were named Christoph and Jacob: the first lived 15 weeks and the second 13 weeks; when they were released from the evil of this time and departed into blessed eternity. On the 19th of June 1732 my daughter Elisabeth was born to me. On the 28th of January 1734 my daughter Margaretha was born. On the 23rd of April 1735 my son Sameul [sic] was born. On the 18th of July 1736 another son was born to me. I named him Benjamin. When he was three months old the kind Providence of the Almighty God took him away and in the same year my daughter Elisabeth also died. May the merciful God give me them again to the honor of His Glory.
    
    
    
    [page 42] "On the 11th of August 1740 again a son was born to me. We named him Jabez. The mercy of God released him from the evil of this time when he had lived 17 days.
    
    "On the 27th of February 1742 again a daughter was born to me. I named her Hanna. On the following 11th of August she departed into the blessed eternity. On the 16th of March of this same year my beloved daughter Magdalena departed from time to eternity with a gentle death after a long continued sickness. Her faith, trust and confidence was in the crucifed Savior Jesus Christ, to whom she had given herself in healthy days, with body and soul unto eternal chastity.
    
    
    
    [page 43] "On the 12th of August 1744 my son Benjamin was born to me.
    
    [page 44] "In 1749 I, Conrad, the fourth generation from the first Weiser who came here to America from Germany, was born, namely the 30th of August in the year 1749 and baptized the 10th of September of the same year. My sponsors were Mr. Kurtz, then the preacher in Tulpehocken, and my grandmother Eva Weisern, since my grandfather Johan Conrad Weiser was not at home then, but in Lancaster County.
    
    "1751, April 26, my brother Peter was born and baptized May 16 the same year. His sponsors were Petrus Weiser, my father's brother, and his wife.
    
    
    
    [page 45] "He was wounded in the last American war, as the Reverlution arose, on the banks of the Brandywine on September 11, 1777, and died as a Lieutenant on September 4, 1779. He was the first who went out as this war began and risked his life for the so-called American freedom. He went at first to Boston as a sargeant.
    
    "1753, July 3, my brother Jaebetz was born and baptized July 23. The sponsors were Peter Riem and Elisabeth Weisern.
    
    "1761, March 27, my father Philiph Weiser died and was buried at the old Tulpehocken Church.
    
    
    
    [page 46] "1761 December 14, my sister Hanna Philippina was born and baptized the 20th of December.
    
    "1764, October 1, my mother Sophia, born a Rimanin [ie., Riem] died.
    
    "1770, July 25, I, Conrad Weiser, was married to Barbara, born a Beyern, by the English preacher Alexander Mury in Reading Town.
    
    "1771, the 31st of August, my daughter Sophia was born between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon and baptized September 29th. Her sponsors were Johannes Beyer and his wife, the grandfather and [grand]mother.
    
    
    
    [page 47] "1775, October 31, between 12 and 1 o'clock in the morning my son Johann Friederick was born. His sponsors were Johannes Kobel and his wife.
    
    "1777, in September, another son was born to me, but he died right after his birth."
    
    "1779, March 11, between 7 and 8 o'clock in the evening my son Petrus was born. His sponsors were Benjamin Weiser and his wife Ester.
    
    "1782, March 7, between 2 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon my daughter Hanna Philippina was born and baptized March 29. Her sponsors were Johannes Benistch and his wife.
    
    [page 48] "1784, July 21, between or toward 10 o'clock in the evening my daughter Maria Barbara was born and baptized immediately afterwards, namely on July 24. Her sponsors were Benedict Imhoff and his wife.
    
    "1786, September 11, my son Johannes Conrad was born. His sponsors were Conrad Weiser and his wife Elizabeth.
    
    "1789, February 27, my daughter Catharina was born and baptized April 10. Her sponsors were Johannes German and his wife.
    
    [page 49] "1791, May 28, towards 10 o'clock in the morning my son Henrich was born and baptized June 5. His sponsors were Henrich Spiker and his wife.
    
    "1793, July 30, a son was born to me. His sponsors were Johannes Keiser and his wife Sussanna, and give him the name Johannes. Died December 10th, of this year, buried in Mittel Taun [Middletown, now Womelsdorf], Heidelberg Twp, BerksCo, by the honorable Emanuel Schultz, Lutheran preacher. His funeral text was Math. c.17, v.4.
    
    "1795, Ocotber 18, my son Petrus died, buried in Penns Twp, Northumberland Co [now Snyder] on my land. His text is John 16 C., v.28. Hymns sung, in the house 'Gute Nacht' etc. In the Church 'Vallet will ich dir geben.'
    
    
    [page 50] "1796, April 18th, Imoved with my family from Berks Co to NorthumberlandCo, in Penns Township. I had then 8 children living.
    
    "1796, April 23rd, my son Heinrich died, buried on my land by Mr. Fr. John. Kr. [sic] His funeral text was Wisdom of Solomon, 4 C., v.7,10,14.
    
    "1799, January 13, my son Daniel was born at 6:30 in the evening. His sponsors were Daniel ROth and his wife in Penns Twp, NorthumberlandCo.
    
    [page 51] "Conrad Weiser, the 4th generation from the Conrad Weiser who came from Germany, and born into this world in the year of our Lord 1749, August 30th, baptized September 10 in the same year. In the year 1770,
    
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    [page 53] July 25, Conrad Weiser and Barbara Beyern entered matrimony and produced together 12 children. It pleased the Lord of life and death to transfer Conrad Weiser from time to eternity on the 1 day of February 1803.
    
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