General Notes

[Sverre Sigurdsson - 1582897.FTW]

In 1709 Hans and seven other Mennonites bought 10,000 acres of land in Pennslyvania from William Penn. They sailed from Gravesend, England in April 29, 1710, landed in Philadelphia, in Sept 1710. Name of the ship : Mary Hope, Mastered by John Annis.

Bishop Hans Herr:

Is described as "of medium height, with long grey hair curled under at the ends and parted in the middle, ...heavy brows, dark hazel eyes, aqualine nose, small mouth with heavy lips, complexion florid, with full beard covering face, the whole lighted by a countenancein wich sweetness and austerity were
gracefully blended. Clad in coursest homespun, his feet shod with wood, he at last arrived in the far off land in wich some strange prophecy told him his people would be prosperous and happy, however poor when arriving.

     The family of Herr descended from a very ancient free family, that is to say of noble origin; likewise from time immorial its Knights were brave and worthy. Possessing in Schaben vasat and rich estates, the name of which was called and written (Herr(n) von Bilried.
     The father or founder of this family was known as the Schwabish knight Hugo the Herr, Lord of Bilried. In the year 1009, this family flourished and was known to all among the Southern Germanic tribes. In the fifteenth century several of the family resigned their nobility due to changing religious beliefs and settled as citizens and assumed the name of Herr (a title of respect in Germany).