Generally following along the theme of reports on the First Colony in Beyond Germanna, we do have an indication of when Rev. Heinrich Haeger decided to go to America. Andreas Mielke found a letter that the son, Johann Friedrich Haeger, wrote to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel who was sponsoring him in New York. The translation of his letter (by Rev. Wm. J. Hinke) appeared in the Ecclesiastical Records of New York , p. 1960ff.
The letter was written 12 July 1712 and refers to letters of May and August of 1711 received by Johann Friedrich Haeger. The son refers to letters from his parents which must have been written before the end of 1711 to have reached the son in New York. Extracts from it read:
"My parents press me hard from hence. I am not able to assist them, it being heavier living the country, for such as must buy everything, than in the city, as I spoke about it also with Col. Heathcock. I recommend to you my parents in case they should come to England, that some provision may be made for them."
The implication of his remarks is that his parents had reached the decision by the end of 1711 to go to America, if possible. It wasn't clear how they were going to finance the trip and the son says that he cannot help them.
It is interesting to see how letters were delivered in that time. J. F. Haeger enclosed a letter to his father in the one he was writing to the SPG. It was to be directed first to Mr. John Behagel, near the Bank, at Amsterdam; and then to his brother Isaak Behagel, at Frankfort (they were former students of the father). As an alternative, the letter could be forwarded to Mr. Langhen at Saxenhausen, near Frankfort, who could send it further to Mr. Nesser at Siegen, who would deliver it without fail to his father.
Johann Justus Albrecht had appeared on the Siegen scene about 1710 to have tools made and to recruit workmen. He appeared in Siegen about the same time that Alexander Spotswood was en route to Virginia to assume his duties as Governor. The recruiting in Siegen could not have been at the instigation of Spotswood as Spotswood had no reason to need any workmen.
Whether Rev. Henry Haeger's desire to go to America was encouraged by Albrecht's appearance is not known. At first the father and mother at Oberfischbach hoped their son in New York would be able to assist them (this in 1711). They express this hope in their letter to the son in New York. For more information, see
Beyond Germanna
, pages 797 to 800, either print or CD media.
(28 Mar 04)
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.