This is a great story. I love these stories. They tell so much of the lives of our ancestors. As valuable as a birthday or place. From: "J. R. Carpenter Jr." <gra_jrc@shsu.edu> To: ehoward@conknet.com I got to thinking about sonme of the stuff you have posted, especially on how people got here. I posted this some time back to the Surber-L list. It echoes what you have said about the horrible sea voyages. You may wish to post it to the SWVA list, even though it is about a voyage to Pennsylvania. My Surbers did end up in SWVA, as you know from my conversations with you and postings to the list. Use it if you wish... Rick - - - - - Goetschy. They were on the ship Mercury with the Surbers. Maurice was a disgraced pastor in Canton Zurich who fathered an illigitimate child with a church maid. He was relieved of duties, but tried to remain living with his family in Zurich city. He was a teacher, but his past was apparently a heavy burden. When John Conrad Wurtz was trying to get Maurice's daughter Anna Goetschy to marry him and migrate to America, the whole Goetschy family joined in. A large group of Zurichers set out on boats on 4 Oct 1734 from Wallisellen, Switzerland, originally for "Carolina." After many tribulations, among them assaults and robberies by soldiers, extortion by customs people, etc, they made it down the Rhine to Rotterdam. Maurice Goetschy had appointed himself leader of this group. Many were not pleased with him and the "counsellors" and "stewards" he appointed. Some complained bitterly about mistreatment. It was only in Rotterdam that Goetschy decided that the group was going to Pennsylvania rather than Carolina. Pennsylvania was closer. This was all from an account by Ludwig Weber, who was with the group, but had had enough, and he turned back for home after reaching Rotterdam. He says that he heard they left on 24 Feb 1735. Some little groups joined this main group at various times. I do not know when the Surber family first joined in. John Henry Goetschy's letter to Deacon Werdmiller, the assistant at St. Peter's Church in Zurich, tells a harrowing tale of the sea voyage and the landing, but ends with a young man's somewhat boastful optimism for the future: To Rev. Mr. Werdmiller at Zurich, 7-21-1735 Very reverend, very learned Mr. Deacon: I, the most submissive servant of my highly revered and very learned Mr. Deacon, cannot forbear to report to your reverence how we are getting along. After we had left Holland and surrendered ourselves to the wild tempestuous ocean, its waves and its changeable winds, by God's great goodness towards us and a fair wind, we reached England within 24 hours. After a lapse of two days we came to the Isle of Wight and to a little town called Cowes where our captain supplied himself with provisions for the long ocean voyage and we secured medicines against this wild sea. Then we sailed away from there under God's providence with a good east wind. When we had left the harbor and saw this dreadful sea, we had a favorable wind only for the following day and the following night. Then we had to endure a terrible storm and the awful roaring and raging of the waves when we came into the Spanish and Portuguese Ocean. For 12 weeks we were subjected to this misery and had to suffer all kinds of severe and dangerous storms and terrors of death, which seemed to be even more bitter than death itself. In addition we were subjected to all kinds of evil diseases. The food was bad for we had to eat what they call galley bread. We had to drink stinking muddy water full of worms. We had an evil tyrant and rascal for captain and first mate, who regarded the sick as nothing more than dogs. If one said, "I have to cook something for a sick man, " he replied, "Get away from here or I will throw you overboard. What do I care for your sick devil?" In short, misfortune is everywhere upon the sea. We fared no better. This has been the experience of all who have come to this land and even if a king travelled across the sea it would not change. After we had been in this distress long enough, God the Lord brought us out and showed us the land which caused great joy among us. But three days passed, the wind being contrary, before we could enter the river. Finally, a good south wind came and brought us in one day through the glorious and beautiful Delaware, which is a little larger than the Rhine, but not by far as wild as the latter because this country has no mountains, to the long-expected and desired city of Philadelphia. When we reached here, our dearest father, because of the long and tedious journey and the hardships so unbearable to old people, was very sick and weak. On the last day when we were before Philadelphia, the elders of the reformed congregation came aboard to him and showed their great joy over him. They spoke with him as their pastor who had been appointed to that position by the ruling persons in Holland, as was shown by his testimonials which he had with him. They discussed one or other church affair with him and showed their great joy. He spoke heartily with them as if he were well. On the following day, they came and took him ashore, but when he reached the land, he was so exhausted by his illness that he could not walk alone but was carried in a chair to the house assigned to him. When they arrived, the wished to talk with him about some subject or other. Of his own people none were with him but mother, the children were yet on the ship on the water. Then he said, "It is so dark before my eyes. Let me lie down and sleep." As they did not want him to sleep in that room, since people were coming in continually and he would have been unable to sleep, they carried him up to the bedroom. In the middle of the stairway he sat down, lifted his hands to his heart and his eyes to heaven, heaved a sigh, and died. On the third day, a very distinguished funeral took place in the principal English Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia with a large attendance of people. All the members of the Consistory of the Reformed Church and very many of the congregation were present. Now we, his wife and eight poor forsaken orphans are in a strange land among strange people who do not know us, poor and without comfort. We therefore commend ourselves most submissively to all those in Zurich to whom our misfortune may become known and whose hearts may be touched in order that they may graciously grant us their assistance. It can easily be sent into this country if they will only send it through Mr. Wilhelmius at Rotterdam, for which I ask most humbly for the sake of the merciful Jesus. Very Reverend Mr. Deacon, when I showed my testimonials and the people saw that I had been engaged in study, they almost compelled me to preside over the congregation as well as I could. Hence through the goodness of God I preach twice every Sunday and teach two catechetical lessons. For this I make use of the books which I brought with me and through good diligence I am enabled, thank God to perform this service in such a way that each and every person is well satisfied with me. Now the first Sunday I preach in Philadelphia both in the forenoon and in the afternoon and always give catechetical instruction; on the second Sunday, at Skippack which is a very large congregation, a sermon and catechetical instruction in the forenoon; in the afternoon at Old Goshenhoppen, two hours from Skippack, a sermon and catechetical instruction. It is also a pretty large congregation, as large as any in the canton of Zurich. On the third Sunday I preach at New Goshenhoppen in the forenoon and have catechetical instruction there; in the afternoon at Great Swamp which is also one of the large congregations. All this I can do through the strength given me by God's spirit to the great satisfaction of the people. I expect to be ordained next Christmas by the English Presbyterians in order that I may be able to minister the communion, unite people in marriage and baptize the children. With the help of God. I intend to do this. I would be able to do this all the better and put forth greater efforts for the souls of abandoned and confused people, if I had my library which is in charge of Mr. George Kromer. I therefore ask your reverence most humbly, if at all possible, to send it to me very quickly, not only for my sake and the large number of poor orphans left by my sainted father, but also for the sake of the many thousands strayed and shepherdless sheep who go about in error and in a destitute condition, yea for the sake of the many heathen who thereby might be led to the Lord Jesus, as has already been done. Given on the 21st of July Henry Goetschius, Philadelphia in Penna. The account of Ludwig Weber (p. 6-20) and the letter from Henry Goetschy (p. 27-29) is from "The Goetschy Family and The Limping Messenger" by Ruth and William Heidgerd, Huguenot Historical Society, New Paltz, NY, 1968.