Early sources shed new light on religious tensions within Meylin, Funk, Bear, Groff, Landis, and Good families of Lancaster County, .

T unnoil in Conestoga by jane Evans Best ,.

onrad Beissel precipitated the first religious crisis others, like Henry Good (?GFl), fluctuated back and forth, in Conestoga, the area whose rains flow into the reluctant to make up their minds and hearts. Conestoga River and its branches in Lancaster The creation of Ephrata as a distinct religious com­ C County, Pennsylvania. This article tells the story munity provided new opportunities for vocational choice, of the effect of this crisis on families in that area, and the artistic expression, and communal living. Here was turmoil created by Beissel's charismatic personality and promised physical and emotional security for the widow, religious teachings before and after the creation of the and orphan, bread for the poor, escape from routine, and Ephrata Cloister in 1732. It will show that this community the opportunity for free spirits to march to a different provided some of its residents a sense of ownership and drummer. While Beissel's excesses and personal weaknesses satisfaction to the end of long lives. After the initial provoked many to grumble, revile him, and leave, many turmoil, it eventually maintained good relations with its returned time after time and received forgiveness and open neighbors. arms. Beissel was one of many factors in a spiritual awakening Contemporary records reveal these pioneers as multi­ among various religious groups, including Pietists, 1 that dimensional individuals whose acts leap from the dusty had begun in Europe and spread to the pockets of pages. They reacted to their lot in life with a combination immigrants who were beginning to construct a new life in a of strengths and weaknesses which we today find all too strange land. Freedom of offered by William Penn familiar. They traveled long distances and visited each other was a new and heady experience for these pioneers, and much more than we might have expected. They revealed many were willing to taste and see for themselves how these emotions and feelings in their writings, even if the only new options could meet their needs. Forced to choose documents that have survived are their wills. Some left between these new concepts and their traditional family behind examples of the earliest fraktur writings in North and religious values, some, likejann Mayle (?ML2722.1), America, which are still valued today for their beauty and rushed to new patterns of thinking and living. Some, like grace. Preacher John Bear (?ML5821.33), reinforced the concepts of their ancestors and died in the Mennonite faith, while 1Donald F. Durnbaugh, European Origins of the Brethren (Elgin, Ill.: The Brethren Press, 1958), p. 32- The Pietist was a person who studied God's Word and sought -to order his or her life by it. 2Brother Kenan's Notebook, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pa,; Register and Death Record, pp. 38-39, Julius Sachse Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa, Copies of both handwritten mss. at Ephrata Cloister Museum, Ephrata, Pa. JTheil eman J. Van Braght, Mirror (Scottdale, Pa,: Mennonite Publishing House, 1951), pp. 1110-1112; Jane Evans Best, "A Bear Saga: The Birmensdorf Connection," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 11 (Apr. 1988): 31-38. 4Clyde L. Groff, Walter B. Groff, and Jane Evans Best, The Groff Book, vol. 1: A Good Life in a New Land (Ronks, Pa.: Groff History Associates, 1985), pp. 2, 3, 287-289. 5John L. Ruth, "Hans Muller, Tracking the Elusive Palatinate In 1745 the Ephrata Cloister in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, published Immigrant," 17th National Conference, Palatinates to America, 18- Urstandliche und Erfahrungs-volle Hohe Zeugniisse ... by Conrad 20 june 1992 (Strasburg, Pa.: Pennsylvania Chapter of Palatines to Beissel, although his name does not appear in the book as author. This America, 1992), p. 23, 28. vase with flowers was an illustration on the half-tide page, Mystische 6Sandra Mackenzie Lloyd, Historic Structures Report, Wyck und Erfahrungs-volle Episteln ... . House, Vol. 1 (Dec. 1986), pp. 37-41.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 2 january 1993 At the Ephrata Cloister Museum in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, the Saal (right) was built in 1741 as a house of worship, and the Saron (left) was tin 1743 as a house for married householders living separately. The latter building was remodeled in 1745 to accommodate the sisterhood. Sigmund Landert was the master carpenter in charge of construction.

One of the primary sources used in this article is Brother On March 2, 1661, an illegal Anabaptist meeting for Kenan's Notebook, kept by Jacob Funk (?ML2675.5) and worship was held in Steinsfurt, . Among those others. His sister Veronica Funk (?ML2675.1) (Sister attending were Hans Mayle (ML27) and his son, probably Efigenia) was a fraktur artist in charge of the Schreibstube Hans (ML272); Martin Mayle's (ML23) son, probably (writing room); the volume of sample alphabets, called the Jacob (ML236); Oswald Bar (BA12) and his wife, Elsi ABC Book, was her work. She also contributed several Lamprecht (ML58); Heinrich Beer, probably their son to the Ephrata collection. 2 His brother Samuel Funk ML582; Michael Mayer (MAl), his wife and daughter, (?ML2675.2) (Brother Obadiah) was a papermaker and who later married Heinrich Beer (ML582); Jacob Groff artist who may have been the scrivener of many of the book (GR3); Hans Jacob Groff (GR5); Rudolf Landis (?LS326); plates done at the Cloister. Marx Oberholtzer (?OA269); and Jacob Nussler (Nissley?). 4 Meylin Connection Katharine Meili (ML26) married Heinrich Funck (FH1) and several of their fourteen children moved to the As I have peered into the past through the windows Anabaptists in the Palatinate. Heinrich Funck (ML263) is opened by investigating one pioneer family after another, I probably the Heini Funck from Mettmenstetten who have become increasingly convinced that the key family in emigrated to Alsace by 1661, and then became an early Lancaster County history and its background in Anabaptist minister in Hasle, near Burgdorf, Canton Bern, Germany and Switzerland was that of descendants of Jacob Switzerland, by 1670. He and his wife were imprisoned in Meili (ML) of Birmensdorf, Canton Zurich, Switzerland. the "Orphanage" in Bern, their property confiscated and In 1610 Hans Meili (ML2) was an Anabaptist teacher sold, and their children placed under a warden. He was and leader whose property at Tagerst, Stallikon, Zurich, taken to the French border, whipped and branded, and by was confiscated in March 1640. He and his sons Martin 1672 had found his way to the Palatinate.5 (ML23) and Hans (ML27) and their wives were im­ In 1688 Hans Millan (?ML272) was the original owner prisoned at Oethenbach, Zurich, on several occasions for of lot 17-W in Germantown, Pennsylvania, and in 1691 their faith. His sister Barbara Meili (ML5), imprisoned in petitioned as a Quaker for naturalization. 6 His son 1639, had a daughter Elsi Lamprecht (ML58) who married Matthias (ML2722) lived on lot 4 in the Cresheim area of Oswald Bar (BA12), an Anabaptist. 3 Germantown about 1700, and his grandson John was In 1647 Hans Meili (ML27) was banished from Canton probably Jann Mayle (ML2722.1), Brother Amos at the Zurich, and in 1650 he and Hans Muller (?MR15) were Ephrata Cloister. Jann Mayle was one of the earliest invited by the Barons von Venningen to move from Alsace Brethren (Dunker) converts in 1723, and in 1739 sold the to Diihren, Germany. tract of land he had warranted in 1737 (and on which the

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 3 january 1993 Cloister was constructed) to four members of the Ephrata Two householders at the Ephrata Cloister had daughters Cloister. who married men named Meily. Rachel, daughter of The Hans Groff (E and ?GR343) who purchased lot 1 in Michael Miller (d. 1785), married George Meily who died 1704 in Cresheim was the father of Jacob Groff (E 1), who I in 1797. Catherina, daughter of Johan Nicholaus Zerfuss believe was the early Groff associated with the Cloister and (1720-1784), married Samuel Meily, a clockmaker who the father of Jacob Groff (Ell), the clockmaker from died in Lebanon Township in 1802. Both were sons of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Martin Meily (probably ML2216.1) who in 1724 re­ Martin Meili (?ML2361) was probably the Marten quested land to make bricks and tiles in present Lancaster Mely recorded with Jacob Miller (?ML2311 and MR1521) County. and Hans Weber (WB28) in Friedrichstadt, Germany, in Included in this article are biographies of three Meylin 1693 and 1694, and also the gunsmith who made a rifle in descendants who were associated with the Ephrata com­ Germantown in 1705.7 He apparently served as a scout for munity: Brother Amos,Jann Mayle (?ML2722.1); Brother new opportunities, returning to Germany to spearhead the Kenan, Jacob Funk (?ML2675.5); and Mennonite Preacher emigration of Mennonite families in 1710, and in 1728 he John Bear (?ML5821.33). Other members of their families, led the naturalization effort. On M ay 16, 1715, Martin as well as Groff, Landis, and Good families, are also Meilin, Christian Herr, Dir~k Jansen, Petter Shoomaker, discussed. and Francis Daniel Pastorius were witnesses to the deed Alpha-numerical designations after names of individuals transferring lot 1 in Cresheim from Hans and Susanna refer either to the ML outline at the end of this article or Groff to Gerhard Rittenhuysen. 8 other genealogical outlines of the author. The presence in 1724 in Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, of John Meilin (?ML2722.1), Hans Events before 1732 Milin (?ML2215), Jacob Milin (?ML2215.3), Marcus The next two sections give a chronological narrative of Overholt (?OA2692), and Jacob Overholt (?OA2693) events at the Ephrata Cloister and identify some of the indicates a relationship between that area and early persons involved according to my genealogical outlines. Lancaster County that needs further research. Ludwig The basis for this sequence of events is the Chronicon Blum, early Cloister singing master, moved to that area covering the years 1715 to 1748 written between 1744 and after leaving Ephrata, and died there about 1752. 1748 by Brother Lamech who settled in the Conestoga

Jann Mayle (?ML2722.1), known as Brother Amos, was a baker for over thirty years here at the bake shop on the lower level of the almonry of the Ephrata Cloister, a Protestant religious community in Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1723 he was baptized by Peter Becker and again in 1725 by , the charismatic leader of the Cloister.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 4 j anuary 1993 This page of the letter A in the ABC Book was lettered in 1750 by Veronica Funk (?ML2675.1), known as Sister Efigenia. The book represents the highest expression of cal­ ligraphic artistry at the Ephrata Cloister. She lived at the Cloister from 1744 to her death in 1803. community in 1725. Unfortunately no copy has survived, Wistar, Catherine Jansen (ML 2723.2), was a grand­ but in 1768 it was made available to Henry Sangmeister, daughter of Hans Milan (?ML272) who in 1689 was the Brother Ezekiel, who used it in his Leben und Wandel, original owner of lot 17-W in Germantown. begun in 1754.9 1t was also used by Peter Miller, Brother Matthai advised Beissel to settle among the Swiss Agrippe, in Chronicon Ephratense, first published in 1786 in the Conestoga Valley. In the fall of 1721 at 'Ephrata under the names of compilers Lamech and Conrad Beissel left Peter Becker, made his way to Agrippa. 10 Conestoga, and settled on Mill Creek. He built a house Conrad Beissel was born at Eberbach on the Neckar with Stuntz on Beech dale Road at Mill Creek one half mile River in present Baden, Germany, on March 1, 1691, son of Matthias Beissel (d. Sept. 19,1690) and wife Anna (d. 1699). 11 About 1711 he began his travels as a journeyman­ 7Steven K. Friesen, "Martin Mylin, Gunsmith: Fact or Fancy?" baker through the Palatinate and as far south as , journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society 93/ 1 (1991): now in France. He experienced a spiritual awakening in 16-24. 8Deed D-4-54, Philadelphia County Courthouse, Philadelphia, 1715, and lived for brief periods among the Dunker Pa.; Groff, Groff, and Best, The Groff Book, pp. 29-34; Naaman H. Brethren at Schwarzenau and the Inspirationists in Keyser, C. Henry Kain, John Palmer Garber, Horace F. McCann. Marien born. History of Old Germantown, (Germantown, Pa.: Horace F. McCann, The Schwarzenau under had 1907), p. 42. arisen in 1708, and a branch had settled in the Marien born 9Ezechiel Sangmeister, Life and Conduct of the late Brother Ezechiel Sangmeister, trans. Barbara Schindler (Ephrata, Pa.: His­ district. After three persecutions there, they took refuge in torical Society of the Cocalico Valley, 1986), hereafter Leben und Krefeld in 1715, where a division over marriage outside the Wandel. Part 1 (pp. 13-52), the first of 4 separately paginated parts in sect took place. "In 1719 one group moved to Pennsylvania the bound edition, covers to the end of 1748. I have included material and from then on they were scattered."12 Some settled in from Part 1 of the earlier Chronicon, not Sangmeister's commentary. 10 Germantown with Mack, while others went to Skippack, Lamech and Agrippa, Chronicon Ephratense, trans. J. Max Hark (New York: Lenox Hill, 1889 original, 1972 reprint). Miller was a Oley, and Conestoga. graduate of Heidelberg University and a Reformed minister who had In September 1720 Beissel arrived at Boston, Massa­ come to Ephrata from the Tulpehocken region in March 1735. Also chusetts, with George Steifel and a Stuntz, who had paid known as Brother Jaebez, he lead the Ephrata community after for Beissel's passage, and went directly to Philadelphia, Beissel's death in 1768 until his own death on Sept. 25, 1796. where they landed on October 20. He was apprenticed for a 11James E. Ernst, Ephrata: A History (Allentown, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Folklore Society, 1961), pp. 9-36. year with Peter Becker, master weaver of Germantown and 12Leben und Wandel, 1, pp. 16-17; Chronicon Ephratense, p. 3. 13 leader of the Dunkers, with whom he lived. 13Ernst, Ephrata, pp. 37-42. Peter Becker (1687-1758) had been Beissel became a disciple of Conrad Matthai, a Swiss baptized at Eppstein, Germany, and had gone to Krefeld from who in 1704 had joined The Woman in the Wilderness, a Dilsheim in 1714 to join the Brethren. Simon Koenig was in Pa. by mystical group under Johann Kelpius. After the death of 1718 and was probably not with Beissel on the 1720 trip. 14Annette Kunselman Burgert, Eighteenth Century Emigrants from Kelpius, Matthai became a leader of the group, with German-Speaking Lands to North America, vo!. 1: The Northern financial support from John Wuester, a rich merchant who Kraichgau (Breinigsville, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Society, 1983), p. was a brother of Caspar Wister. 14 The wife of Caspar 406.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 5 january 1993 north of present Bird-in-Hand15 so that they could live jointly. "Hereafter Isaac von Beeber and Georg Stiefel also came to them and they intended to live fraternally and communally with one another. This did not go well for long. Conrad Beissel put the blame on them and they blamed him for it not working out, which I must leave to them. " 16 Stiefel left to join the Moravians at Bethlehem and Stuntz sold the house to recover ship transportation expenses from BeisselY According to Brother Lamech, The years 1721 and 1722 brought about an awakening among the Mennonites in Conestoga, Falckner's Swamp, and Schuylkill [Coventry Township, Chester County]. One peculiar thing was known to be said about these people: the almost ice-cold Baptists [Anabaptists] were once again awakened and aroused by them. In the fall of 1722 Peter Becker, Brother Seckler, otherwise called [Henry] Traut, Brother Gamerie, and Brother Ganz visited their former Brothers around the land and cleared all the stumbling blocks out ofthe way. Hereafter, they started and held meetings and love feasts. 18 On November 15, 1724, Sigmund Landert and his wife were baptized In 1723 Beissel built a house at Swedes' Spring, south of by Peter Becker at some point along this unnamed tributary of the Mill present Bird-in-Hand, where Brother Agonius (Michael Creek which now crosses under Farmland Road, Maple Avenue, and Wohlfart) came to live with him in 1724 after returning Newport Road in Upper Leacock Township, Lancaster County, from Carolina. In 1725 Beissel and Wolfhart were joined at Pennsylvania. Peter Becker and Henry Traut organized the Conestoga Swedes' Spring by John Stump, "a restless spirit, with congregation here on Landen's tract. unsettled mind, who caused them much trouble." 19 John Stump was baptized by Beissel who later placed the ban on group from Germantown spent the night with John Graff him for marriage too close in his relation. On January 19, in present West Earl Township, Lancaster County, and the 1733, he warranted 234 acres north of present East Eby others went with Jacob Weber.27 John/Hans Groff (E and Road and west of Hess Road in present Upper Leacock ?GR343) was living in Germantown on March 27, 1704, Township, 100 acres of which was sold at his death to when he purchased from Jan Krey 84 acres in lot 1 in Abram Mayer/Myer.20 Stump's will appointed Fildy Beker Cresheim, which he sold on May 16, 1715, to Gerhard (Valentine Becker) and Wolf Neukomer "my only frends" Rittinghuysen. On January 31, 1714, he had warranted (probably relatives) as executors. 21 On December 25, 1723, Peter Becker22 baptized six 15 Conestoga Church of the Brethren, 250th Anniversary, 1724- people in the in present day Phila­ 1974 (Leola, Pa.: Anniversary Committee, 1974), p. 27. They delphia: Martin Urner and wife, Henry Londes apparently had squatted on this land warranted in 1715 to Elizabeth (LS2145.4) 23 and wife, Frederick Lang, and Jann Mayle Whartnaby and transferred to James Gibbons in 1723. (?ML2722.1). That evening they held a love feast at John 16Leben und Wandel, 1, pp. 13-19. 17 Gomorry's place.24 Chronicon Ephratense, pp. 13-18. 18 Leben und Wandel, 1, p. 18. On October 23, 1724, a group left Germantown to visit 19Chronicon Ephratense, p. 19. Brethren at Skippack, Falckner's Swamp, Oley, and 2°Conestoga Church of the Brethren, p. 27. The tract joining on the Coventry on the Schuylkill River. On Saturday, November east was patented in 1738 to Wolf Newcomer. 7, 1724, the Coventry was organized with 21 Will A-1-172 [dated Dec. 28, 1748; proved May 3, 1749), Martin Urner as preacher and nine constituent members: Lancaster. He named wife Maria Catharine and ch. George, Yellis, Peter, Christiana, Stephen, and Maria. Martin Urner and his wife, Catherine Reist, Daniel Eicher 22Peter Becker m. Anna Partman, and had daughters Mary, whom. and wife, Henrich Landes and wife, Peter Hoffley, Owen Rudolph Harley and lived in Skippack, and Elizabeth, whom. Jacob Longacre, and Andrew Sell. 25 Stumpf (d. Mar. 20, 1748). In 1747 Becker moved to Skippack where Martin Urner and Marcus Overhult/Oberholtzer were he d. in 1758. Donald F. Durnbaugh, The Brethren in Colonial on the 1718 tax list of the "Highest district from Skoolkill America (Elgin, Ill.: The Brethren Press, 1967), pp. 176,602, and 606. Martin Grove Brumbaugh, A History of the German Baptist Brethren to Brandywine"; by 1724, when it was called Coventry, in Europe and America (Elgin, Ill.: Brethren Publishing House, 1910), the tax list included Martin Urner, John Urner, Henry p. 195. Landes (LS2145.4), John Meilin (?ML2722.1), Vbirick 23Jane Evans Best, "Swiss Origins of Groff, Hess, Weber, Landis, (Owen) Langaker, Hans Swichser, Jacob ·Overholt and Oberholtzer Families," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 13 (?OA2693), Peter Hoofley, Hans Milin (?ML2215),Jacob (Apr. 1990): 20. 24Chronicon Ephratense, p. 23. 26 Milin (?ML2215.3), and Marcus Overholt (?OA2692). 25Julius Friedrich Sachse, The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania, On Monday, November 9, 1724, those on foot in the 1708-1742 (Philadelphia, Pa.: author, 1899), pp. 99-100.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 6 january 1993 300 acres on Mill Creek in present West Lampeter town. John Mayer (?MB813) 36 was instrumental in Township, and on October 4, 1718, he had warranted electing Conrad Beissel as leader. 1,150 acres in present West Earl Township where he lived Brother Lamech lists the first twelve members of the in 1724.28 Jacob Weber (WB282) had moved in 1723 to community in Conestoga as follows: Brothers Conrad the present Blue Ball area from Weizenthal near Lampeter; Beissel, Joseph Schaffer, Hans Meyer, Heinrich Hahn, according to tradition he married Anna Bowman Sealthiel (Sigmund Landert), and Jonadab; and Sisters (?BU4162.42 and ML2614.2), a daughter of Wynant Migtonia, Christina (Hahn), Veronica (Frederich), Maria, (Wendel?) Bowman.29 Elizabeth, and Franzia. 37 In December 1724 a love feast was On Tuesday, November 10, 1724, both groups united held at the home of Brother Sigmund Landert38 with Beissel nearby at the home Rudolph Nagele30 who at that time was officiating for the first time. It included the breaking of a Mennonite leader. In May 1725 Nagele was baptized by bread and footwashing. Beissel and in October 1739 joined Ephrata as Brother The Mennonites, who had been accused of coldness and Jehoiada, following Beissel until his death on April1, 1765. apathy, responded to this Brethren awakening with a Peter Becker, Henrich Traut, and several others visited with conference of Mennonite ministers in 1725, which included Beissel and Wohlfart at Swedes' Spring and lodged that from Conestoga John Bauman (?BU4162.3), Christian night with Stephen Galliond. Heer (?HH12), and Martin Bear (BD12). They reaffirmed On Thursday, November 12, 1724, seven people were their faith by signing the Dordrecht Confession, originally baptized by Peter Becker in the Pequea Creek at Henry adopted in 1632 at Dordrecht, Holland, and in 1660 was Hahn's residence: Hahn and wife (Christina), 31 John attested to in Ohnenheim, Alsace, by ministers and elders, Mayer and wife, Joseph Shafer, Veronica Frederick, 32 and including John Rudolph Bumen (BU4162), Jacob Beissel. This began their existence as a society. 33 The first Gochnauer (GJ39), and Ulrich Hauser (HD5). It had been love feast at Conestoga was held that evening at Hahn's translated into English in 1712 and was printed in 1727 by residence. On November 13 they visited Isaac Frederick's Andrew Bradford of Philadelphia. 39 mill on Mill Creek. 34 In 1742 Christopher Sauer printed in Germantown the On the following Sunday, November 15, 1724, at a Ausbund (a songbook) with an appendix containing the meeting held on Sigmund Landen's land, Peter Becker accounts by Martin Meylin (ML23) and others of the baptized Sigmund Landert and wife in a dammed-up dirty sufferings from 1635 to 1645 of Anabaptists in Zurich, body of water; "they ought to have had a washing many of them members of the Meylin and Muller afterwards." 35 Peter Becker and Henry Traut organized the families. 40 In 1743 Sauer printed a Luther Bible in German congregation and on November 19 returned to German- for the Mennonites, the first Bible printed in North

26J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, nchronicon Ephratense. pp. 25-31, notes her as wife of Isaac Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: Louis Everts, 1881), p. 172; Best, "Swiss Frederick; she was more likely the Faney, wife of Isaac's son John in Origins," p. 25. Deed W-55-1076 [dar. May 11, 1726, recorded Jan. 16, 1984], 27Chronicon Ephratense, p. 24; Sachse, Sectarians, pp. 100-101. Lancaster. Isaac Frederick's 250 acres in the London Tract were sold by 28 Groff, Groff, and Best, The Groff Book, pp. 29, 313-324; Best, his heirs, which included widow Mary. Daughter Barbara made her "Swiss Origins," pp. 13, 18. mark as the wife of Hans Jacob Ber (BA5182). JJDurnbaugh, The Brethren in Colonial America, p. 114; 29 Jane Evans Best, "Bauman and Sauter Families of Hirzel, Brumbach, German Baptist Brethren, pp. 298-317. Switzerland," Mennonite Family History 9 (Apr. 1991): 57-58. 34Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, 2215 Millstream Road, Wyant Bauman immigrated in 1707 to Germantown with his wife Lancaster, Pa., is located on this tract. and 3 ch. He may be the same person as Wendel Bowman who ,3 5Taylor Paper no. 2344, Historical Society of Pa., shows the warranted land on October 10, 1710, in present West LampeterTwp. survey of Sigmund Landrick's 203 acres, but no. 2436 shows that tract 30 His 200-acre tract was south of Balmerstown Rd. and west of S. surveyed to Sigmond Londus north of Eby Rd. and west of Farmland Farmersville Rd. He later traded this land with Henry Grebil for land Rd. near the present village of Monterey, Upper Leacock Twp. It was between Stevens and Denver in present East Cocalico Twp. A Rudolf patented in 1741 to James Miller; quotation from Chronican Nageli, Anabaptist, was recorded in 1633 in Kilchberg, Zurich, as a Ephratense, p. 26. son-in-law of the miller of Adliswyl. A Hans Rudolf Naegelin was 36Best, "Martin Kendig," p. 13. listed as an Anabaptist at Schriesheim on July 30, 1717, with 37Leben und Wandel, 1. p. 19; Chronicon Ephratense, pp. 25-26. Christian Neukommeter and Hans Guth (GAl). See Hermann and 38He was probably the Sigmund Landen of Tossrieden, Eglisau, Gertrud Guth and J. Lemar and Lois Ann Mast, Palatine Mennonite Zurich, Switzerland, son of Joseph Landen, mentioned in 1719 in the Census Lists, 1664-1793 (Elverson, Pa.: Mennonite Family History, baptismal book (Taufbuch) of Rinklingen, near Bretton, Germany. 1987), p. 22. Karl Diefenbacher, Hans Ulrich Pfister, and Kurt H. Hotz, Schweizer 31 Henry Haines/Hahn (d. 1750, Lancaster Twp.) purchased 200 Einwanderer in den Kraichgau nach dent Dreissigjiihrigen Krieg acres from Jacob Miller (?ML2311 and MR1521), possibly his father­ (Sinsheim: Heimatverein Kraichgau, 1983), p. 107. A Josef Landert in-law, north and west of Pequea Lane at Pequea Creek in present (b. Jan. 24, 1660) lived in Tossrieden in 1678, 1697, and 1701, but his West Lampeter Twp. which he sold in 1739 to Rudolph Haines; his children in the census of 1697 and 1701 did not include a Sigismund. wife Christiana d. between Ocr: 14, 1757 and Dec. 29, 1757. The 39J. C. Wenger, History of the Mennonites of the Franconia Henry Haines who was bap. in 1724 with his wife Christina d. in Conference (Telford, Pa.: Franconia Mennonite Historical Society, 1744 in Ephrata, and may have been a son by an earlier marriage. His 1937), pp. 92-93, 435-463; Irvin B. Horst, "The Dordrecht wife Christina, originally a Quakeress, d. at Ephrata on Feb. 2, 1769. Confession of Faith: 350 years, "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage This corrects Jane Evans Best, "Marrin Kendig's Swiss Relatives," (July 1982): 8. Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 14 (Jan. 1992): 12. 40Groff, Groff, and Best, The Groff Book, p. 80.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 7 january 1993 America in a European language, some of it printed on and old widow Becker and her children. Luy immediately paper made at the Ephrata Cloister. The translation and moved into the Conestoga community and Beissel and printing of a German and other Mennonite ]ann Mayle built him a house. "Luy kept the community literature at Ephrata in 1745 and the complete Martyrs busy with his offensive life and conduct."47 In August Mirror in 1748 were .a culmination of their efforts to 1727 Israel Eckerlin and Henry Miller (?MR136c.2) came bolster their traditional faith. 41 to their good friend Conrad Matthai who advised them to In 1725 "Brother Lamech, who already was with the leave Germantown and go to Conestoga. Baptists, came to the community. " 42 In early 1725 Beissel In 1726 Anna and Maria Eicher, who had fled from went to Coventry on the Schuylkill and Germantown and their father Daniel's house, put themselves under Beissel's "one of their proselytes, ]ann Mayle, went over to the new guidance, an act "which caused much remark in the congregation." In May 1725 a meeting was held at the country, especially since he had to be with them very home of John Landes where Beissel for the first time held a much. The congregation built them a house on Mill Creek , immersing seven persons. They were probably in which they lived there four years. " 48 At Easter 1726 Hans Mayle (?ML2722.1), Hans Landis (?LS3264) 43 and Henrich Landis (LS2145.4) and Daniel Eicher from his wife, Hannseli Landis (?LS3264.1) and his wife, Coventry on the Schuylkill were present at a love feast at Rudolph Nagele, and Brother Agonius (Michael the home of Rudolph Nagele. Landis and Beissel quarreled Wohlfahrt).44 Michael Wohlfart built a house on land of over the salvation of infants. Later in 1726 Henrich Landis Casper Walter (d. 1734), north of present Route 23 and died at Coventry on the Schuylkill, unreconciled with east of Glenbrook Road. Beissel. In the spring of 1727 Daniel Eicher moved into the Beissel left his house at Swedes' Spring to John Stumpf Conestoga community. in 1725 and moved to Nagele's place. He stayed in In the summer of 1726 Johannes Hildebrand journeyed Nagele's house over the winter. He secretly built a new to Conestoga from Germantown. "Since he allowed house on Nagele's land and moved into it in the spring. It himself to be taken by the nice appearance of the is probably here that Beissel began the school that Sister community and he said that the Baptists [Anabaptists] had Jael, Barbara Meyer (?MB8131), attended. She was born only an empty shape and form, he bought a plot of land about 1712, daughter of Johann Myer, and died January near the community and hereafter settled on it. " 49 In 1733 14, 1786, at Ephrata, aged 74. About 1785 Peter Miller he patented 166 acres at South Groffdale Road on Mill wrote that "There is still a person in the Sisters' Convent Creek, part of the 500 acres warranted to Simon Koenig, who in her childhood had gone to school to him, and had who was in the area by 1718. Koenig retained 83 acres, become so enamored of his angelic life that she became his sold 200 to John Child, 5° and 50 acres on the western edge steadfast follower, and has now for almost sixty years were surveyed in 1726 for Christopher Sauer. 51 . endured all the hardships of the Solitary and of the The Sauers lived on present Musser School Road from communallife."45 Sachse wrote that "Sister Jael was one 1726 to 1731, when he and his ten-year-old son returned of the rulers of the Sisterhood, and was generally beloved to Germantown. His wife Maria Christina had left her for her amiable disposition. She was one of the most active husband in 1730 to join Beissel's group and served at the nurses in Zion during the Revolution. " 46 Ephrata Cloister as sub-prioress. Christopher Sauer be­ In the fall of 1725 Michael Eckerlin's widow and four came a clockmaker under Dr. Christopher Witt and in sons came to North America. Her traveling companions 1739 was the first German printer in North America. were Abraham Debois from Crefeld, a man named Luy, Responding to the urgings of their son, she returned to her

4 1Karl J. R. Arndt, et a!., eds., The First CentUiy of German Nagele's wife, but misses Hannseli Landis and wife. Language Printing in the United States of America. Vol. 1 (1728- 45 Chronicon Ephratense, p. 16. A Hans Meyer had warranted 150 1807), (Birdsboro, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Society, 1989), pp. 14, acres, including the present village of Groffdale on Route 23, which 23-24, 36-39; 54-57; Gerald C. Studer, "A History of the Martyrs was later patented in 1739 to Philip Shieffer. Mirror," Mennonite Quarterly Review 22 (July 1948): 173-175; 46Register and Death Record, p. 37. Theophilum, the translator of the 1745 abbreviated version, was 47Leben undWandel, 1, pp. 20-21. John Miley warranted 150 acres probably Peter Miller, not Alexander Mack, Jr. (Brother south of Zeitenreich Rd. and west of Centerville Rd. in present Upper Thimotheus), who left Ephrata on Sept. 4, 1745, for New River, Leacock Twp. on Feb. 25, 1734, and patented it on May 13, 1735. In N.C., and later became a Dunkard bishop. 1735 he and his wife Barbara sold the northern third to Luiy Beinony. 42 Leben und Wandel, 1, p. 20. Lamech may have been the Brother East of this tract is the 300 acres warranted to John Frederick and later Ganz of Faulkner's Swamp who visited Conestoga with Peter Becker patented to Adam Miller and Andreas Seldenridge. and others in the fall of 1722. He included in his Chronicon minor 48 details from that time and later. Brother Lamech d. at Ephrata on June Chronicon Ephratense, p. 34. 49 13, 1763. A Friderich Gass owned land in Cocalico Twp. near Henry Leben und Wandel, 1, pp. 22-23. 50 Hageman and Hemy Grebill in 1742. See Deed DD-2-484, Lancaster. John Child immigrated Oct. 24, 1682, on the ship Bristol Factor, 43 His 200-acre tract in present West Earl Twp. was north of Peace and m. Elizabeth Evans, daughter of Nathaniel Evans, who purchased Rd. and west of Brethren Church Rd. The father d. 1727 and the son land in present Chester, Chester Co., on Mar. 14, 1682. John Child's apparently inherited the property. 200 acres were patented in 1736 by Lawrence Richardson. 44Chronicon Ephratense, pp. 32-35, 65, names only Nagele and 51 Sachse, Sectarians, p. 124-127. Sauer had immigrated in 1724, Wohlfart; Leben und Wandel, 1, p. 20, includes Mayle's wife, but and lived in Germantown in 1725, working as a tailor, clockmaker, misses Nagele; Sachse, Sectarian s, p. 119, includes Meyli's wife and and tinker; Durnbaugh, The Brethren in Colonial America, p. 37.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 8 january 1993 funeral the next Sabbath her parents were baptized. Beissel published his Ninety-Nine Mystical Sayings, including an explanation of why he observed the seventh day as the Sabbath. The congregation adopted his Sabbath as the day for divine services. Peter Bucher, Michael Wohlfarth, and Jann Mayle spoke for Beissel. Beissel spoke against Henry Hahn.56 · It was clear from the tension between the group around Beissel at Conestoga and the Germantown Brethren, which came to a head in 1728, that fundamental differences of belief existed. Despite a common origin in Radical , the Brethren could not accept the Conestoga emphasis upon personal revelation above Scripture, celibacy above marriage, Judaizing tendencies above Christian, and adulation of a human leader above In 1728 the first wife of Sigmund Landert was buried in the Geoff­ Hershey Cemetery, probably this one west of the barn of Aaron S. reverence for ChristY Miller, 96 Farmland Road, Leola, Pennsylvania, in 1993.1t is located on the 203-acre tract surveyed to Sigmund Landert in 1719, but In 1729 Alexander Mack (1679-1735) left Friesland, patented to James Miller in 1741. Holland, and moved to Germantown, Pennsylvania, with husband in 1744. She died on December 14, 1752, in most of his congregation. Attempts were made to reconcile Germantown. the two groups and "although its effort failed, it did show 58 In August 1727 at Conestoga, Henry Traut and the Brethren concern for peace within their ranks." 'Stephen Koch from Germantown visited John Stump who That summer the Widow Eckerlin and her son Gabriel was under Beissel's ban for marrying too near a relation. moved in with Israel Eckerlin at Jann Mayle's house. She They loosed him from his ban and brought him to Henry died there shortly afterwards. In 1730 Samuel Eckerlin and Hahn's place where there was a general gathering. his wife were baptized. In the fall Samuel moved in with his In 1728 Conrad Beissel published his treatise on the brothers until he built a house near Beissel on Nagele's land. Sabbath which was printed by Andrew Bradford in Beissel took Samuel's wife "and brought her to his side. He 59 Philadelphia. "It caused much tumult and so all those w_ho never got her back, over which she died." 60 belonged to the community from near and far began In 1731 the wife of Hans Landis "tarried more at the observing the Sabbath [Saturday]."52 During the fall of house of the Superintendent that was agreeable to her 1728 the group was almost equally divided, and those who husband," so he commanded his wife to stay home. Several disagreed with Beissel "held a meeting, the first day at times he took her home by force and once had her brought Hansel Landis' place, then at Hildebrand's, at Hahn's, at by the constable. On one occasion he attacked Beissel in his Daniel Eicher's, at Hans Roland's, 53 and at Luy's." Daniel Eicher and Hildebrand presided at many of these meetings. 52Leben und Wandel, l, p. 26; Chronicon Ephratense, pp. 44-48, "Daniel Eicher's daughters, Maria and Anna, at that 94. time had much to suffer from their parents because they 530n May 5, 1736, John Rowland (RH) patented 250 acres in did not want to break their covenant or revolt against the present Upper Leacock Twp. south of Route 23 and west of Heller community with them, but rather they became more Church Rd. On Nov. 20, 1736, John Roland left the Ephrata strongly fixed in their position and witnessed against their congregation. His son Jacob (RH7) moved to Washington Co., Md., in 1766, where his will was proved in 1794 .. His daughter Ann (RH4) parents and the crowds of godless people. Since they dared m. Jacob Funk (?ML2672.4), who moved to the area of Hagerstown, not carry it out in the long run, they moved out in the Md., with his brother Henry (?ML2672.5) before the Revolution. eighth (October) or ninth (November) of 1728 and 54Leben und Wandel, 1, pp. 26-27. This account differs slightly moved in with Brother Lamech. Thus these two were the from the Chronicon Ephratense, p. 34. first Sisters in Ephrata to live in celibacy. When the two 55 0n Mar. 15, 1717, Peter Bellar patented 250 acres in present mentioned Sisters had lived with Lamech for a while, West Lampeter Twp. north of Penn Grant Rd. and east of Lampeter during that time they had a house built in which they have Rd. It was across Penn Grant Rd. from the land of Henry Hahn and lived together for four years." 54 John Funk (?ML2672). A Heinrich Bollar, Anabaptist, was recorded in 1633 in Wadeswyl, Zurich. In 1728 the Brothers still lived alone at different places. 56Chronicon Ephratense, pp. 42-50. 57Durnbaugh, European Origins of the Brethren, p. 86. Beissel was on Nagele's land with him, Wohlfarth with 58lbid., p. 86. Casper Walter, Jann Mayle with Hans Friedrich, and Peter 59Leben und Wandel, 1, pp. 29-30. Bucher with Hansel Landis. Israel Eckerlin and Jacob Gast 60The will of Hans Good (GA2), written on January 23, 1748, gave moved in with Jann Mayle and they lived together for a £30 to daughter Anna, wife of Hans Landis, but she was not to share year. in the rest of the estate with her 7 siblings. Tradition names the wife of this Hans Landis as Anna Nagele, dau. of Rudolph, but I believe it was In December 1728 Jann Mayle rebaptized Beissel who Anna Good (GA21). Jane Evans Best and Howard C. Francis, "Six then rebaptized Mayle, another Brother, and four Sisters. A Good Families of Early Lancaster County, Pennsylvania," Pennsyl­ daughter of Peter Bellar55 was baptized by Beissel and at her vania Mennonite Heritage 12 (July 1989): 12-13.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 9 january 1993 to bottom while the other stationed himself at the door, but Beissel could not be found. "As they departed, however, and were quite a distance from the house, they saw him come out again." In 1731 ]ann Mayle (Brother Amos) lost his reason, came to himself again and filled the position of baker in the settlement for thirty years. He died on August 6, 1783, aged 81. Beissel said "while he could not get other Brethren to work, him he could not get from his work. " 64

Events from 1732 to 1748 Emanuel Eckerlin (Brother Elimalech) was the first to build at Ephrata and he gave his little house on the Cocalico Creek by a spring to Beissel when he fled there in October 1732. From 1725 until 1732 Beissel had lived with Rudolph Nagele on his land. In March 1733 Chaterina Eckerlin, wife of Samuel (Brother Jephune), died and was buried on Sigmund Landen's land65 with widow Ech~ rlin, who had died shortly after her arrival in 1729. Samuel Eckerlin moved onto Nagele's land and in 1734 into the house near the bake house in Ephrata for a while. In the summer of 1734 Israel and Gabriel Eckerlin moved into their new home in Ephrata. After the building of the common bake house and a magazine for the supply The gravestone of Hans Landis (?LS3264) who died on December 2, of the poor, building stopped for awhile. According to 1727, rests in a small unkempt cemetery near Maple Avenue north of Peter Miller: Peace Road in West Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He and his son Hannseli and their wives were converts of Conrad these matters created a terrible stir in the land, especially Beissel in 1725, but returned to the Conestoga Brethren group. Ann among the neighbors, who were partly degenerate Landis (?GA21), wife of Hannseli (d. 1771), moved to the Ephrata Mennonites and partly spoiled church-people. They did Cloister after the death of her husband and died there in 1779. all against these newcomers that one could expect from the kind of people devoid of all fear of God. Then they little house. The fathers of the congregation banned her and began everywhere to warn one another against seduction, she left the congregation until after her husband's death in parents warned their children, and husbands their wives. 1771. 61 Such were the sorrowful times wherein the foundations of Her 1779 will indicates that when she joined the Cloister Ephrata were laid. 66 she did not leave her creature comforts behind. To her According to Brother Lamech, "And so it increased from granddaughter Sara Reyer she gave her house clock, the iron time to time until it came to be as it is today [ca. 1748]. stove in her dwelling-room, two chests with all their Thereafter the area around Ephrata was also taken in contents, two brass kettles, an iron pot, a copper pot, all her completely by the housefathers, and the heathens were pewter, kitchen furniture, utensils, a complete bed, the banished. " 67 upper bed of feathers with a bedstead, another upper bed of feathers, her flax (if any remained after her death), and all her books. To Sister Martha she gave two petticoats, one 61 Chronicon Ephratense, pp. 59-60; Leben und Wandel, 1, p. 31. brown and one blue. To Brother Ludwick Haker she gave Will C-215 [dat. Nov. 27, 1771], Lancaster. £12 Pennsylvania currency to be "employed for holy uses in 62Will C-1-557 [dated Feb. 16, 1779; pr. Mar. 3, 1779], Lancaster; the Congregation at Ephrata as a mark of my great esteem Brother Kenan's Notebook, p. 27. for said Congregation, of which I am a member." To 63 Chronicon Ephratense, p. 103; Gary T . Hawbaker, Lancaster Brother Eleazar (Christian Eicher) she gave £10; the residue County, Pennsylvania, Quarter Sessions Abstracts (1729-1742) Book 1 (Hershey, Pa.: author, 1986), p. 1. On Aug. 5, 1729, the court of her estate went "to Brother Jacob Neagley for his great appointed Henry Jones in place of Hans Good as the constable for [ ries?] he has done me during the Time of my Leacock Twp. and Marrin Groff (Land ?GR344) as constable for Earl Sickness." Whoever wrote the will for her started to write Twp. "m" for "my" before Brother Jacob Neagly, but crossed it 64Chronicon Ephratense, pp. 58-59; Leben und Wandel, 1, p. 31. out. She signed her mark and died the next day, February 65A small family cemetery exists on the west side of Farmland Rd. 17, 1779.62 in Upper Leacock Twp. on land originally warranted to Sigmund Landen whose first wife d. in 1728 and second wife in 1735; they were On one occasion ''A justice of the peace sent a constable undoubtedly buried here. after Beissel with a warrant; he took an assistant with him, 66Chronicon Ephratense, p. 66. named Martin Graf£."63 One searched the house from top 67Leben und Wandel, l, p. 32.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 10 january 1993 On September 29, 1734, a great religious meeting was left his farm to his children. In 1736 Sigmund Landert held on the farm of "Ephrata" John Landis (?LS3261.1) 68 (Brother Sealthiel), a widower of property in the congre­ where the Cocalico/ Conestoga congregation became gation and a skilled mechanic, offered to build a house of independent from the Beissel group. Michael Franz asked worship adjoining Kedar out of his means, if he and his two the ones who proposed to stay with the church to step with daughters would,be received into the settlement. Built and him to the right side of a fence rail he had placed on the barn used for four years, it was razed to the ground in late 1739 hill, back of the "barn of division" where the meeting was by orders from Beissel who, some said, "made fools of his held. 69 He had been baptized in 1734 by Peter Becker; when people." Landert "rendered good service in building up the Franz took over his call of the church there were probably a Settlement" and died at Ephrata in 1757. His daughters little more than twenty-seven members. Thirteen years later entered the Sisters' Convent where Maria Landert (Sister when he died there were two hundred members. 70 Rabel) died on November 11, 1773, aged 49 years, 9 In July 1735 the building of the first communal house at months. The other one "soon returned to the world," Ephrata was begun and those from Tulpehocken helped. probably the Anna Barbara Leonhardt who was married on Shortly thereafter four Brothers and four Sisters moved into June 19, 1739, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, to the dormitory called Keder. The four Brothers, Agonius John Michael Schreiner. 72 (Michael Wohlfart), Theonis, Just, and Amos {]ann Mayle On June 14,1737, John Miley (?ML2722.1) warranted ?ML2722.1) lived downstairs in the house almost until the 180 acres in present Ephrata Township which was surveyed end of the summer of 1737. Sisters Bernice (Bernice Hyde), on July 1, 1737, and patented to him August 9, 1739.73 On Jael (Barbara Meyers ?MB8131), Maria Statler, and August 13, 1739, John Mayly and his wife Barbara deeded Abigail (Maria Hildebrand) lived on the second floor. the tract to Samuel Eckerling, Israel Eckerling, Emanuel These people had their nightly services, first the Brothers at Eckerling, and Jacob Gasz, but it was not recorded until midnight and then the sisters. "Then the Father managed it June 16, 1764. that they went in together. " 71 In May 1738 the frame of the house on the hill for the In Autumn 1735 all the Solitary of both sexes who had Brotherhood in Zion was erected and in October the first dwelt as settlers through the country moved to Ephrata. In Brethren occupied it. 74 In October 1739 Rudolph Nagele, 1736 John Hildebrand moved to Germantown again and son of Rudolph Nagele, was received as Brother Zephaniah and Samuel Funk (?ML2675.2), son of Martin Funk, was received as Brother Obediah into the solitary life. Their fathers offered in the name of their sons to build a prayer and school house which was raised up in December 1739. They furnished all the material for it and the Brethren did the work. Henry Miller (?MR136c.2) paid for the expenses of the dedication on July 16, 1740. It was "converted into a hospital during the war of the Americans, after which it was never restored again. " 75 In July 1740 Beissel ordered the congregation to build another house of worship and house fathers John Mayer (?MB813),John Merge!, Henry Gut (?GF1), and Abraham

68 0 n Feb. 27, 1734, John Landus warranted 135 acres on the east side of Cocalico Creek where it is crossed by Rothsville Rd. in present Ephrata Twp. It may originally have been the land of Jacob Groff (C), who d. in Cocalico Twp. in 1730, leaving a widow and ch.; Groff, Groff, and Best, The Groff Book, pp. 22-24. 69Durnbaugh, Brethren in Colonial America, p. 180. Franz's group included Emick Reyer, George Reyer, John Landis, Samuel Good, Henry Sneider, and Philip Rouland (?RJ1). 7°Conestoga Church of the Brethren, pp. 28-29. 71 Leben undWandel, 1, p. 32. Maria Hildebrand later m. Valentine Mack. 72 Chronicon Ephratense, pp. 79-80; Brother Kenan's Notebook, pp. 39, 61; David L. Shreiner, "The Life and Times of Hans Adam Schreiner 1686-1744," Lancaster County Connections 1:4 (1984/85): On September 29, 1734, a crucial religious meeting was held here at 42, 45; Debra D. Smith and Frederick S. Weiser, Trinity Lutheran the "barn of division" on the farm of "Ephrata" John Landis Church Records, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, vol. 1, 1730-1767 (Apollo, (?LS3261.1) where the Rothsville Road crosses over the Cocalico Pa.: Closson Press, 1988), p. 47. Creek in Ephrata Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In a 73Survey C-121-114 and Patent A-9-50, Pennsylvania Historical dramatic gesture often recounted in Brethren histories, Michael Frantz and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pa. divided the persons supporting Conrad Beissel from the Conestoga 74 Chronicon Ephratense, p. 108; Lehan und Wandel, 1, p. 35. Church of the Brethren using a fence rail. 7SChronicon Ephratense, p. 119.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 11 january 1993 Paul "went away."76 Peniel Saal was built in the summer form, containing sixteen reams of paper, and the edition of 1741 and dedicated on December 31, 1741. Divine consisted of 1,300 copies. At a council with the Mennonites, service was held here for the community until 1746 and it the price of one copy was fixed at twenty shillings (about £1) which ought to be proof that other causes than eagerness for still stands (1993). 83 In 1741 Daniel Scheibly77 was bought from a ship by the gain led to the printing of the same. Brethren. He became engaged to Anna Margaretha Thoma On December 5, 1747, the mill, which included a grist, (Sister T abea and Anastasia) who broke the engagement oil, and fulling mill, had been destroyed by fire, and rebuilt and later married Johann Wiister of Philadelphia. with such energy that one set of stones was in operation In 1743 Hebron, later called Saron, was constructed to within six weeks. Peter Miller wrote: house married householders living separately, then re­ I must not forget to mention at this place how God modeled in 174 5 to accommodate the sisterhood and is still moved the hearts of the neighbors so that everyone, standing (1993). The sisterhood was divided into seven according to his ability, contributed wood or helped with classes according to occupation at the Cloister. his team. And because these people were mostly people of On March 31, 1746, the convent Bethania was com­ the great religious denominations, their impartiality was menced. Work progressed well, since Sealthiel was an all the more wonderful. The Brethren showed themselves experienced carpenter. All the carpenter work was finished grateful for it in later times and assisted them in every way in thirty-five days and on May 11 it was raised, which took at the building of their church. 84 three days. The chapel was raised in November 1746. In Apparently much of the turmoil in Conestoga had 1746 English families from Chester County joined the subsided by 1750 and the people of the various denomi­ Ephrata Community. 78 According to Lamech twenty-seven nations had learned to live together. The aggressive Brothers and forty-three Sisters from the community had proselytizing of the early years was replaced by a spirit of died by 1748 and were buried in different places.79 tolerance, and mutual self-intereSt resulted in neighborly In 1744 Henry Funk (?ML2641.2) of Indian Creek, cooperation. Montgomery County, published A Mirror of Baptism, and Christopher Sauer printed it, the first book by a Mennonite in the new world. He was involved with the printing in Brother Amos, Jann Mayle (?ML2722.1), and 1745 at Ephrata of Golden Apples in Silver Bowls and the Other Meylins 120-page excerpt from Martyrs Mirror. Not trusting the Jann Mayle (?ML2722.1) was baptized with five other Ephrata Dunkers fully for an accurate version of their people by Peter Becker in the Wissahickon Creek near treasured book, Henry Funk (?ML2641.2) and other Germantown on December 25, 1723. I believe he was a son Skippack ministers appealed on October 19, 1745, to their of Mathias Mallane (ML2722) and grandson of Hans Dutch Brethren for help. After almost a year without word Milan (ML272) who was the original owner in 1689 of lot from Holland, Heinrich Funck and Dielman Kolb seem to 17-W in Germantown. Hans was probably the son of the 80 have decided to accept the offer of the Ephrata Cloister. Hans Mayle (ML27) who attended the illegal 1661 Peter Miller showed Israel Acrelius in 1753 the "History Mennonite meeting for worship with his father in Steins­ of the Persecutions of the Anabaptist" that fun, Germany. Hans Meili (ML27) was an Anabaptist he himself had translated from the Holland into the carpenter who was imprisoned in 1639 with his wife, German language, and had afterwards had it printed there Barbara Bar ( ?BB41). Their escape from Oethenbach in in Ephrata, saying that it was the largest book that had Zurich on Good Friday 1641 is recorded in Martyrs been printed in Pennsylvania, as also that he had labored Mirror. 85 for three years upon the translation, and was at the same time so burthened with work that he did not sleep more than four hours during the night. 8 1 76lbid., pp. 127, 157; Leben und Wandel, p. 43. 77Chronicon Ephratense, pp. 163-164. The paper mill, which had been built at Ephrata 7B{bid., pp. 194-195, 197-198. between 1741 and 1743, 82 was saved from the fire in 174 7 79Leben und Wandel, 1, p. 52. which destroyed other mills on the Cocalico, and printing BOJohn L. Ruth, Maintaining the Right Fellowship (Scottdale, Pa.: began in 1748. Herald Press, 1984), pp. 121-126. Bllsrael Acrelius, "The Visit to Ephrata Cloister as Written by Israel The printing of the Book of Martyrs was taken in hand, to Acrelius, "A Triad of Lancaster County History, (Ephrata, Pa. : which important work fifteen Brethren were detailed, nine Science Press, 1985), p. 24. of whom had their work assigned in the printing department, B2C larence E. Spohn, "The Ephrata Paper Mill," journal of the namely, one corrector who was at the same time the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley 2 (1977): 37-38. translator, four compositors and four pressmen; the rest had BJChronicon Ephratense, p. 213. 84Ibid., p. 212. A weather-boarded log church at Bergstrasse their work in the paper-mill. Three years were spent on this Lutheran Church was constructed in 1753 and the original members book, though not continuously, for there was often a want came from the Lutheran Church in New Holland, See Henry Snyder of paper. And because at that time there was little other Gehman, History of Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran Church 1752- business in the Settlement, the household of the Brethren got 1977 (Ephrata, Pa.: Bergstrasse Lutheran Church, 1978), pp. 10, deeply into debt, which, however, was soon liquidated by the 21-22. heavy sales of the book. The book was printed in large folio ssvan Braght, Martyrs Mirror, pp. 1110-1112.

Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 12 january 1993 The first wife of Mathias Mallane (?ML2722) and "steward for said tools and he shall take care that they be mother of John was Emmetje/Imily Jansen, daughter of kept together." His casks, buckets, funnels, quarts, and Renier Jansen (wp. 1706), Philadelphia printer. 86 The John mugs "shall also be for the aforesaid use, and I constitute Mallane who signed the 1726 marriage certificate of Brother John Frederick overseer over the same and he shall Catharine Janson (ML2732.2) and Caspar Wistar was keep them locked up in the Cellar under my House for probably a son of Engel Millan (ML2721), and was also Public Use." His cash was to be put into the Brethren's the Hans Meilin for whom 700 acres in present West public stock under their steward, and "if any of my Natural Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, was surveyed o