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18th Century German Palatinate: A Perspective on the Life and Trail to America

18th Century German Palatinate: A Perspective on the Life and Trail to America.

Life in the German Homeland and Why Immigration?

The winter of 1708-1709 was very long and cold in the Rhineland. It was a very bleak period. People huddled around their fires as they considered quitting their homes and farms forever. By early April, the land was still frozen and most of the Palatines' vineyards had been killed by the bitter weather. Since 1702 their country had been enduring another war and there was little hope for the future. The Thirty Years War (1648-1678) and the Augsburg War of 1688-1697 still lay heavy on their minds as a period in which one out of every three Germans had perished in western Germany.

The Palatines were heavily taxed and endured religious persecution. As the people considered their future, the remaining older ones remembered that in 1677, William Penn had visited the area, encouraging the people to go to Pennsylvania in America, a place where a man and his family could be free of the problems they were now encountering.

To go to America meant a long, dreadful ocean voyage and a future in an unknown land, away from their past, their family and heritage. Everyone knew that the German Elector would stop any migration as soon as it was noticed. Only a mass exodus from the Palatinate could be successful. Many wondered how they could ever finance such a journey even if they wanted to attempt it. Small boats, known as scows, would have to be acquired for the long ride down the Rhine River. (Which is actually towards the English Channel, as the Rhine River flows north). Then there was the price for the ocean voyage. Many who could not afford the fare, were sold by the ships captain as indentured slaves to cover the cost of the voyage. While some of the people had relatives that could assist them financially, many were very, very poor or destitute. To try and stay another year meant almost certain death by starvation, disease, more war or some other malady. Soon enough, their minds were made up for them as France's King Louis XIV invaded their land, ravaging especially the towns in the Lower Palatinate 1709.

In masses, the Palatines boarded their small boats and headed down the Rhine for Rotterdam. It was April 1709 and the first parties were afloat on the Rhine, many with only their most basic goods and their faith in God as their only possessions. The river voyage took an average of 4-6 weeks through extremely cold, bitter weather with twenty-some stops at custom houses. Each custom house required an examination and its accompanying expensive delay. By the time Rotterdam was reached, funds of many of the passengers may or were nearly exhausted and another five or six weeks layover was experienced.

By June 1709, the people began to stream into Rotterdam at a rate of one thousand per week. The Elector, as expected, issued an edict forbidding the migration, but almost everyone ignored it. By October 1709, more than 10,000 Palatines had completed the Rhine River journey and were trying to survive at camps in Rotterdam. These Germans were not entirely welcome in Rotterdam by the locals. Times were not good there either.

The Duke of Marlborough was assigned by Queen Anne to transport the immigrants to England. British troop ships were also used. The Queen assumed these Protestants would help fuel the anti-Roman feelings developing in England. The ships from Rotterdam landed in part at Deptford and others at Cowes or Plymouth. The refugees were sent to one of three “refuge camps” at Deptford, Camberwell, and Blackheath outside the city wall of London. Many Londoner's welcomed the Palatines, but the poor did not, as they felt their English food was being taken from them to feed the Germans. British newspapers published mixed accounts of the Palatines, some praising them while others cursed them. This was a sorry start in preparation of the last part of their voyage. But they were alive.

Over 3,000 of these Palatines were sent to Ireland, again to reinforce the Protestant faith in that land. The trip from England to Ireland was short, taking only about 24 hours. Today, there are still many Irishmen with a German surname, which originated in the German Palatinate homelands.

Meanwhile, streams of Palatines went to America, with most going to New York and some to Pennsylvania. Ten ships made the ocean voyage which was harsh, with over-crowded, under-supplied and extremely unsanitary ships. What provisions supplied were generally the least expensive available to the ship's master. Water frequently ran out, as did food. Dreadful mortality occurred on many of these voyages. In addition to those woes, the Palatines faced robbery, deception, and worse from those transporting them. We are very lucky that our ancestors were of a strong character to make this voyage, yet survive. But even when in America, not all was rosy for these luckless people.

Estimates on the number of Germans in America during this period varies from author to author, but a common estimate is 10,000-15,000 by 1727 and 70,000-80,000 by 1750. A good source for reviewing German arrivals to Pennsylvania is Rupp's " Thirty Thousand Immigrants in Pennsylvania " which contains numerous ship passenger lists and has an excellent surname index. Another good resource is Walter Knittle's " Early Eighteenth-Century Palatine Emigration ".

Immigrants not only came from Germany, but also Bohemia and Switzerland. Most were Lutheran, Reformed, or Mennonite in religious belief. They were religiously prosecuted mostly by the Catholics at this point in time. Basically whoever was in power at the time, is the religion many were forced to adhere to. There were 10 ships that brought the first true Palatines to the colonies. We know of only five; Palatine Lyon, Globe, Berkeley Castle, Bedford and the Herbert.

A letter presented by these people requesting assistance from Governor Hunter in New York. This was later to be known at the Hunter Ration list. To get assistance, everyone's name was carefully take down.

The State of the Poor Palatines as Humbly Represented By Themselves Upon Their First Arrival In This Kingdom, About June, 1709 (from London, England). We the poor distressed Palatines, whose utter Ruin was occasioned by the merciless Cruelty of a Blood Enemy, the French, whose prevailing Power some years past, like a Torrent rushed into our Country, and overwhelmed us at once; and being not content with Money and Food necessary for their Occasions, not only dispossest us of all Support but inhumanely burnt our House to the ground, where being deprived of all Shelter, we were turned into open Fields, and there drove with our Families, to seek what Shelter we could find, being obliged to make the cold Earth our Lodgings, and the Clouds our Covering. In this deplorable condition we made our Humble Supplications and Cries to Almighty God, who has promised to relieve them that put their Trust in him, whose Goodness we have largely Experienced, in disposing the Hearts of Pious Princes to a Christian Compassion and Charity towards us in this miserable condition, who by their Royal Bounties and large Donations, and the exemplary Kindness of well-disposed Nobility, Gentry, and Others, We and our poor Children have been preserved from Perishing; specially since our Arrival into this happy Kingdom of Great Britain. While not only like the Land of Canaan, abounds with all things necessary for human Life, but also with a Religious People, who as freely give to the Distressed for Christ's sake, as it was given to them by the Almighty Donor of all they enjoy. Blessed Land and Happy People! Governed by the Nursing Mother of Europe, and the Best of Queens! Whose unbounded Mercy and Charity has received us despicable Strangers from afar off into Her own Dominions, where we have found a Supply of all things Necessary for our present Subsistence; for which we bless and praise Almighty God, the Queen's most Excellent Majesty and all Her good subjects, from the Highest Degree to those of the meanest Capacity; and do sincerely and faithfully promise to all our utmost Powers, for the future, to render ourselves Thankful to God, and Serviceable to Her Majesty, and all her Good Subjects, in what way soever her goodness is pleased to dispose of Us: and in the mean time be constant in our Prayers, that God would return the Charity of well disposed People a thousand fold into their own Bosoms, which is all the Requittal that can present be made by us poor distressed Protestants.