George Lang/Long Recently there was a brief discussion of George Lang/Long. I assume, and it is a big assumption since the name Lang (or Long in English) is a common name, that we are talking about the early Robinson River settler. His story has some complications but I think we can make it meaningful. He originated in Sulzfeld (see the Sulzfeld Ortssippenbuch). He, along with Christofle Uhl and Frederic Kabler (three consecutive names), petitioned the English government when he was in England for funds to return to Germany. This was in September of 1717. It would appear that he did not make to Virginia in 1717 but was delayed. In Virginia, the head application of George Long was made October 7, 1729, and he stated he came in 1717 on the ship Mulberry. His first and only land patent was in 1731. The head right application mentions only two people while the petition in London says that his party consisted of four people. So the evidence seems contradictory but I believe we can sort it into a meaningful pattern. First, I would note that no other German applied for head rights on the same day as he did. George Long may have misunderstood the question as to when he landed on English soil and he may have been thinking of setting foot in England, not Virginia. If this were the case, then the ship Mulberry would the ship that brought the Second Colony from Rotterdam to London. As to the difference between four people in his party in the petition and the two people for whom he claimed head rights, it may be the case the original party did include four. They returned to Germany and George Long and his wife came again without any others. Or the other two may have died. All of this shows that we must be careful in interpreting documents. Sometimes a missing piece of information may help to clarify the situation. In this case, the petition for funds to return to Germany is a help. And one could easily be confused about the question of when one stepped onto English soil. -- John.Blankenbaker@comcast.net

I had posted the information recently, as I had not seen George Lang/Long given as born in Bonfeld before until I look at the Settlers List that is newly revised. I think something must have become connected by mistake in the copying and pasting. So my confusion at least on that point has been clarified. Thanks John for your posting the information regarding George Lang. I recall this information being posted by you sometime ago or printed in something of yours. Do the records show his wife's maiden name? I have seen it as Motz, but not connected with any proof of where the Motz came from. Cary