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Archiver > BRETHREN > 2010-08 > 1281745606


From: "William Thomas" <>
Subject: Re: [BRE] Why did Rev. Michael Frantz need help in 1727?
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:26:46 -0400
In-Reply-To: <p06240815c88aaa30d9ff@[192.168.1.4]>


Re: Swiss Brethren

Just to clarify to those who are reading this that the term 'Swiss Brethren'
has nothing to do with the 'Church of the Brethren'. That was a term used
by Dutch Mennonites regarding Swiss Mennonites.

The first known migration of Swiss Mennonites to the Palatinate was in 1657,
to Kraichgau in modern Northern Baden. They fled Switzerland because of
religious persecution. However, they had to pay a hefty tax to stay in the
Palatinate. By 1672, there were over 600 Swiss Mennonites in the
Palatinate. Most came without money or possessions. The Dutch Mennonites
formed a relief committee for Swiss Mennonite refugee in 1660, which is what
Dwayne is referring too. Mennonites first came to Pennsylvania about 1683,
but the first significant migrations began in 1707. Between 1717 and 1732,
more than 3000 immigrated to PA. One of the peak years was 1727. These
migrations were not encouraged by the Dutch Mennonites, who termed this
'America Fever'. By 1732, the Palatinate was almost devoid of Swiss
Mennonites. (Source: Bernese Anabaptists and their American Descendents)

Bill Thomas

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
On Behalf Of
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 3:56 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [BRE] Why did Rev. Michael Frantz need help in 1727?

Dwayne:

It is strange that the relatives on board that ship Molly that I am
following were from Baden, though I suppose they could have
temporarily moved to the Palatinate. I know they were Mennonites
originally, though a lot of them later joined the Brethren
denomination in PA. So the indication that they were "Swiss"
Mennonites may mean they came from Switzerland several generations
prior to their residencies in German principalities.

Richard




>Richard,
>
>The Frantz immigrants (Michael on the Molly, 1727, Christian on the Samuel,
>1732) were among the Swiss Mennonite refugees in the Palatinate who
required
>and received financial aid from the Dutch in Amsterdam in order to pay
their
>"freight" to Philadelphia. They needed help because they were poor.
(There
>were 13 in Christian's family.) They received help from the "Mennonites'
>Amsterdam Committee of Foreign Needs." Somewhere in my attic I have a copy
>of "The Records at Amsterdam, Dutch Aid to Swiss Brethren." Perhaps this
is
>what MacMaster was referring to.
>
>Dwayne Wrightsman



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