[The source of these comments is a series of articles in "The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" written by Rev. William J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper. The first issue, of a series, was in October 1903. The subject was 'Moravian Diaries of Travel Through Virginia.' The Moravians, with a home base at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, sent out missionaries to surrounding colonies. Typically, the mode of travel was on foot and the men, usually a pair, depended upon finding resources along the way to sustain them. Selections to be presented will emphasize the living conditions in Virginia that the missionaries found. The first trip records the experiences of Brother Leonard Schnell and John Brandmueller who left Bethlehem on October 12, 1749.]
Oct. 26. (Started at Monocacy, MD) In the evening I conducted a song service and baptized a small girl, the daughter of my host, George Gumpf, with whom we were staying the night. Germans I saw during the day included Bro. Rosen, Frederick Ohnsell, Jacob Weller, Adam Gamb.
Oct. 27. (Conococheague Mountains, Antietam River). Germans included Jonathan Haeger, Peter Reusch.
Oct. 28 was a Sabbath (Jewish) and the day was spent at the house of Haeger.
On Sunday, Oct. 29, I preached at Haeger's house and later in the day went a little farther. Saw Hackemeyer and Henry Wehr, who was the host for the night. The family was poor and we had to sleep near the fire, in an uncomfortable manner.
On Oct. 30, we started early and reached the Potomac River for breakfast with Isaac Gerison, a cousin of our Bro. Gerison. For food, we had a fried squirrel, a first for me, which tasted well. With a lighter heart we traveled some twenty miles up along the Potomac, wading through creeks which we had to cross. On the way we came to a German house, where we found the whole family clothed in Indian fashion. The woman complained that she had not heard a sermon for five years. A boy took us past the next creek (Conotowans), using his horse. In the evening we arrived at the house of Carl Bock where we stayed the night. An English schoolmaster was especially friendly because I had promised to assist him in getting his son to Bethlehem where he could study Latin. There was much confusion in the house during the night, because all kinds of young people were there among whom whiskey circulated freely.
On Oct. 31, we passed no house for thirty-five miles, but indescribably high mountains. We started early, having some Johnny cakes in our knapsack. The mountains wearied me but cold water refreshed me along with the thought that Christ sent his blessing. After more creeks (near Cumberland, MD), we came, at night and very tired out, to Colonel Cresop. He received us very courteously and asked if there was any response to his letter to the Brethren notifying them that he had large tracts of land for sale.
[Commentary. One is struck by the primitive conditions of travel and especially of the hardships which a traveler on foot encountered. Generally, there was a welcome mat out for the traveler even when the family had no particular beds or food to offer. Inns are as scarce as hen's teeth. All accommodations were in homes. West of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, there were no churches and all sermons were delivered in homes or outdoors. Notice that communication among people at long distances was common, though not perfect.]
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.