I've seen this before, it should be titled "what could happen". The Irish complained of bad conditions on board ships up to 1900 when they had steamers. Many of them badly wanted to turn around and go home, but for the rest of their lives they would retain this fear of ships and the oceans. However, many of the German ships were chartered and only correct numbers were allowed to board. Many young men purposely came over with the intention of indenturing themselves because they knew this was a way to get land and a new start. The farms in Germany were crowded as down through the years the farms were split up among the family, each son who came of age would be given some acres until finally youngest sons would have nothing to inherit snf his only choice was to emigrate. Believe it or not many went to Poland and Russia, Turkey, Austria, even Africa and India, they didn't all come to America. I don't know if I've ever told you the story of Michael Keinadt, but he came to America in 1747 on the Ship "Restauration", and the story is that his sister Elizabeth came with him. She had a lovely singing voice (she was also over 30) and intended to sing in America (church choirs). But, there was an awful storm at sea and Michael was forced to throw over his cargo to lighten the ship and his sister was washed overboard and drowned. This was supposedly his 5th trip and the German family swears this is true, although he was only 25, to sell his families jagers (guns). Evidently his passage depended on the sales of his jagers and when he lost them he was penniless. It is possible Casper Diller bought his indenture as he did for Johann Swiegert Imboden, for Michael married Margaret Diller 2 years later when she was 16 - but - their first child was born in 1751, this child died, but George Adam was born in 1753 - so if they had a biological reason for marrying there is no record. Thanks for this, Diana, I wanted to save it the first time I saw it and lost it. Hope you all had nice holidays! Norma Angel329@prodigy.net wrote: > > I thought this would be of interest to most on our list. > Diana Kinzer Heath > > American at 1750 by Richard Hofstadter > > In 1750 Gottlieb Mittelberger, a simple-organist and music master in the > Duchy of Württemberg, <snip>