At 12:40 1/31/99, Ann Rickard wrote: >Hi Group, > >In researching German ancestors I've come across some statements and >ideas that I'm wondering if other researchers have read and possibly >checked out: > >2. "It's more difficult to trace the 1700's German emigrants because >they often were "pioneers" in the formation of newer PA counties - >did not have access to schooling and were, therefore, often illiterate, >not showing up in early histories to the extent of 1850 + emigrants >from Germany whose families in Europe had the advantage of earlier >schooling". So the later immigrants would have been more motivated >to higher education - especially if they had arrived in Phila. ???? > This is one statement I *DEFINITELY* disagree with. I think it comes from the fact that many of the 16/1700's German emigrants were persecuted for various reasons in their homeland and had a great distrust of any governmental functions. The less known about them the better; so many "signed" their oaths etc with just the "X" leading to the early assumption that they were illiterate. Also, if they were so illiterate, how come the Germans in PA were some of the first to start schools in the "wilderness"?? They certainly would have to have had teachers, other than their "schooled" pastors - so did they obtain these from these "illiterate emigrants"? I think not; these Germans were very literate and had a very high regard for education, even among their women. The PA Germans were also a major force behind not allowing the Public School Law of PA to pass until (I believe) 1853. They did not want to lose control of the education of their youth. So how can anyone say these people did not value education? These people are hard to trace due to them not wanting to leave much of a trace of themselves due to the conditions from whence they came. But, most all will be found *somewhere* - we just have to find the right document!! Just my "educated guess" based on studying the early schools and people in this area from the 1700's. -Linnea Miller Annville, Lebanon Co, PA