PennaDutch@aol.com wrote: > > "There seemed to be but one remedy; and that was to appeal to the Board of > Trade through personal representatives. On this errand, Weiser, Scheff and > Walrath were secretly sent in 1718. Captured by pirates in Delaware Bay, they > were robbed, and Weiser thrice tied up and cruelly beaten. After a long delay > reaching England, Pastor Boehme's influence at length secured for them a > hearing before the Board; but not until they had been imprisoned for debt, > and Walrath had started for home and died. The following is the petition of > Scheff and Weiser: > > That in the year 1709, the Palatines and other Germans, being invited to come > into England about four thousand of them were sent to New York in America, of > whom about 1700 died on board, or at their landing in that Province by > unavoidable sickness. > > That before they went on board they were promised, those remaining alive > should have forty acres of land and five pounds sterling a head, besides > clothes, tools, utensils and other necessities to husbandry to be given on > their arrival in America. > > That on their landing they were quartered in tents, and divided into six > companies, having each a Captain of their own nation, with a promise of an > allowance of fifteen pounds per annum to each commander. > > That afterwards they were removed on lands belonging to Mr Livingstone, where > they erected small houses for shelter during the winter seasons. > > That in the Spring following they were ordered into the woods to make pitch > and tar, where they lived about two years; but the country not being fit to > raise any considerable quantity of naval stores, they were commanded to > build, to clear and improve the ground belonging to a private person. > > That the Indians having yielded to Her late Majesty of pious memory a small > tract of land called Schorie for the use of the Palatines, they, in fifteen > days, cleared a way of fifteen miles through the woods, and settled fifty > families therein. > > That in the following Spring the remainder of the said Palatines joined the > said families so settled therein Schorie. > > But that country being too small for their increasing families, they were > constrained to purchase some neighboring land of the Indians, for which they > were to give three hundred pieces of eight. > > And having built small houses and huts, there about one year after the said > purchase some gentleman of Albany, declared to the Palatines, that themselves > having purchased the said country of Schorie of the Governor of New York, > they would not permit them to live there, unless an agreement was also made > with those of Albany; but the Palatines having refused to enter into such an > agreement, a sheriff and some officers were sent from Albany to seize one of > their captains, who being upon his guard, the Indians were animated against > the Palatines; but these found means to appease the savages by giving them > what they would of their own substance. > > " That in the year 1717 the Governor of New York having summoned the > Palatines to appear at Albany, some of them being deputed went accordingly, > where they were told that unless they did agree with the gentlemaen of > Albany, the Governor expected an order from England to transport them to > another place, and that he would send twelve men to view their works and > improvements to appraise the same, and then to give them the value thereof in > money. > > But this not being done, the Palatines, to the number of about three > thousand, have continued to manure and sow the land, that they might not be > starved for want of corn and food. > > For which manuring the gentlemen of Albany have put in prison one man and one > woman, and will not release them, unless they have sufficient security of One > Hundred Crowns for the former. > > Now in order that the Palatines may be preserved in the Land of Schorie, > which they have purchased of the Indians, or that they may be so settled in > an adjoining tract of land, as to raise a necessary subsistence for > themselves and their families, they have sent into England three persons, one > of whom is since dead, humbly to lay their case before His Majesty, not > doubting but that in consideration of the hardships they have suffered for > want of a secure settlement, His Majesty's ministers and Councils will > compassionate those His faithful subjects. > > Who, in the first year after their arrival willingly and cheerfully sent > three hundred men to the expedition against Canada, and afterwards to the > assistance of Albany which was threatened by the French and Indians, for > which service they never received one penny, tho' they were upon the > establishment of New York or New Jersey; nor had they received one penny of > the five pounds per head promised at their going aboard from England; neither > have their commanders received anything of the allowance of fifteen pounds > per annum; and though the arms they had given them at the Canada expedition, > which were, by special order of Her late Majesty, to be left in their > possession, have been taken from them, yet they are still ready to fight > against all enemies of His Majesty and those countries, whenever there shall > be hearty endeavor for the prosperity of their generous benefactors in > England, as well as in America. > > ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== > Forgot how to SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE? 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