In a message dated 11/12/1999 5:08:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, ds082@freenet.carleton.ca writes: << Greetings all, May I make a few observations on the very good short history of the immigrant family posted by Karen, Thu Nov 11, 1999. We need to refine a couple of points she made to help us understand the familys situation at the time. 1. When the Protestant Palatinate came under the domination of the Catholic French army, a good deal of conversion went on. Wilhelm Henneschied had been a lapsed Catholic. So his Lutheran wife brought up their eight children in her faith. However, the Franciscan monks doing the local conversions considered that half of the youngsters should be Catholic. They took the four youngest and indoctrinated them so thoroughly that after they returned home, their mother complained bitterly that there were constant arguments about religion. 2. Indeed, Michaels family embarked on a ship in 1709, but the captains did not want to sail the cold north Atlantic during the winter season of savage storms. In any case they were being paid "pro-rata" for every day the passengers were on board. So the German emigrants were more or less hostages. The owners and captains of the fleet of ships were "getting fat", while their passengers were suffering from the miserable crowded shipboard conditions as the ships road at anchor offshore. They finally set sail in May, and I believe took six weeks to cross the ocean. During the whole time on board, it is reckoned that one out of every seven passengers died. As far as I know, the name of the ship which the family travelled on has not been discovered. Certainly the "Lyon" was in the fleet, but I think no document actually specifies that they were aboard it. Regards John Ruch >> Hi Cousin John; I want to thank you so much for adding to the historical information that I quoted from William E. Hendershot book. This is exactly the type of event that I hoped would happen. When we are able to have such an expert as you comment on items here on the Hendershot List we are very priviledged. I am thinking of scanning pages 2-15 of Wm.s historical information from the book and would like very much for you to also add your comments to them . I hope Frank will soon decide to join the list. He is missing some interesting lines. I'm sure he must be away since as of today he has not joined the list. If you have not do it yet, I would like to invite you to participate in the ROLL CALL by listing your line.... names, dates, places, etc. Thanks again for your very welcome additions. Best regards to you and Sherry, Cousin Karen in Pa.