Susie and MOYER Gang, Nationalities in early Berks Co., PA >From Morton MONTGOMERY'S History of Berks Co.., PA SWEDES The firt permanent settlement along the Delaware River in PA was effected by a small colony of Swedes in 1638. 10 years prior, the subject of encouraging Swedes to settle in PA, for purposes of trade, had been discussed by the King of Sweden; but this warfare with the Germans during this period and the King's sudden death ended this pursuit, temporarily as the Swedes settling in PA was reconsidered and thankfully revised by his Lord Chancellor under the (now) reign of his daughter, the young Swedish Queen Christina (nice name). The whole number of settlers during this era in the new country (which they called New Sweden) did not even exceed 50 in numbers. The Swedes effected the most of their settlements on the western side of the Delaware River, and extended them along the river and it's prominent tributary "Schuylkill". In 10 years to follow, their numbers did not increase to 100 hundres but, their success in carrying on trade, they could not establish such a firm hold upon the country as to continue their gov't a score of years. So, in i1655 their Govenor surrendered his reign to the Dutch and so ended the rule of the Swedes in Pennsylvania. But, those who had settled (Swedes) taking up lands along the Delaware and Schuykill Rivers did not leave their settlements but rather worked with the help of PENN, upon his arrival 30 years later, as he encouraged the Swedes to move towards the interior, moreso. The English settlers multipled more rapidly after PENN gave a fixed gov't to the province, and toward the close of the 17th century the Swedes began to consider the propriety of accepting PENN'S offer. A small colony, under the leadership of Andrew RUDMAN found suitable land along the Schuykill River several miles above the mouth of the Manatawny Creek. By 1701 the Swedes Settlement had petitioned for 10,000 acres, and pursed land warrants that were issued on certain tracts of land, up to 10,500 ares in all were surveyed andlaid off for the Swedes. The names of the Swedes were: Andrew RUDMAN Andrew BANKSON Benjamin BURDEN Peter, Benjamin BOON Mounce JONES Justa JUSTASON Mounce JUSTICE John, Otto Ernest and Peter COCK Jacob CULINN Matthias HOLSTON Morton MORTON (Shrugging) Richard ROADS And Jonas YOCUM. All of these, except RUDMAN, remained and made permanent settlements. A bldg erected bhy of them in 1716 still stands though now altered in appearance but it is the oldest bldg in the county. Descendants of some of them are still within the Township now called Amity; notable.. The JONES and YOCUMS were very prominent in this area. Amity was the only colony os Fwedes which remained in the twp almost entirely. They were the 1st settleres who erected a bldg for religious worship in this country. They were members of the Lutheran Sect and possessed admirable characteristics so much so that even the local Indians left them alone, unmolested. There were known even then as peaceful people while everyone around them were busy fighting for new lands, religion and laws. The word Amity means peaceful and so it is the township Amity that came to be named in 1720. Berks Co., PA GERMANS: 1710 1st Settlment in Berks Co., PA To follow...;) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Chrystie MYERS, ROOTSWEB LIST ADMINISTRATOR BROOKOVER - KRABAL - MOYERS LIST NEWSGROUPS -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- > From: SusiCP@aol.com > Reply-To: MOYERS-L@rootsweb.com > Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 12:17:51 EDT > To: MOYERS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [MOYERS] RE: Update - Lebanon County, PA MOYER MEYER MIER MYER > Burials > Resent-From: MOYERS-L@rootsweb.com > Resent-Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 10:18:11 -0600 > > Christie, Everytime I start reading this data I am sure they are related. > I just not worked out logistics. THe hair on my arms stands up and waves > sorta my clue to double check. I think this is the family that is related > to mine somewhere back there. Since they supposedly came from Swiss German > border. I have some Mennonite marriages in the family so highly suspect in my > book. > > Thanks so much Keeping this this time. Susi