John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 847

Much of what has been written in the past few notes is summarized by Walter Allen Knittle in " Early Eighteenth Century Palatine Emigration ", which was published in 1937.  Many other people have commented also, and it is worth reading the introductory pages in Hank Jones' book " The Palatine Families of New York, 1710 ".  If you read the latter pages, you are guaranteed to have wet eyes.

Knittle summarizes his reasons for the German emigration in 1709 as war devastation, heavy taxation, an extraordinary severe winter, religious quarrels (but not persecution), land hunger and a desire for adventure on the part of the young, liberal advertising by the proprietors, and a benevolent cooperation of the British government; however, I feel that he could have summarized the reasons in fewer words.

Pure and simple, they wanted a better life for themselves and for their children.  Gary Zimmerman and Johni Cerny found a quote in the Gemmingen death register which tells it all:  (Their translation)

"12 July 1717.  The following listed parents, together with their children, expect to move away from here, wanting to take ship to Pennsylvania, and there in the hardship of the wilderness better their piece of bread than they could here.  Not just from here, however, but many people are leaving other villages as well, with the same intention."

If one had to choose just one word, I would say the word is " economic ".  We can embellish this with more, but this is the essence.  By their hard work, they were hoping to create a better life with more good things, if not for themselves, at least for their children.  For many of our Germanna people, the struggles began before the trip was hardly underway, but they persevered.  The First Colony was deserted by their sponsor, and the Second Colony was shanghaied by the ship's Captain.  Later people may have had their own misfortunes; we just are not aware of them.