Gottlieb Mittelberger's journey to Pennsylvania in the year 1750 and return to Germany in the year 1754 : containing not only a description of the country according to its present condition, but also a detailed account of the sad and unfortunate circumstances of most of the Germans that have emigrated, or are emigrating to that country
Gottlieb Mittelbergers Reise nach Pennsylvanien im Jahr 1750.
Place of Publication
Philadelphia
Publisher
J.J. McVey,
Date of Publication
1898.
Physical Description
129 p. : facsim. ; 21 cm.
Notes
With facsimile t.p. of original German ed.: Stuttgard : Gedrukt ben Gottlieb Friderich Jenisch, 1756.
Summary
"Mittelberger's travelogue provides a firsthand historic account of the misery and exploitation of German immigrants during the US colonial period. In his work, he tries to convince his fellow Germans not to immigrate to the American colonies, as the forfeiture of freedom, cost of money, lack of health, and loss of life are too exorbitant to risk and sacrifice. Although never an indentured servant, Mittelberger's written testament is one of several surviving historic works describing the hardships of the redemption system. His meticulous account of his sea voyage to the British Atlantic colonies and subsequent experiences in Pennsylvania has become academically notable, due to the scarcity in primary source material concerning several of the issues he details. Such topics include religious practices in colonial Pennsylvania, European passenger fares for children and adults, as well as the nature and consequences of epidemics on colonial era ships.The work is also noted for its lengthy discussion of sexuality and social mores, including an account of a bigamous threesome and the status of illegitimate children, as evidencing the religious and sexual tolerance of colonial America. Gottlieb Mittelberger traveled to Pennsylvania from Germany in 1750 on a ship primarily filled with poorer immigrants who would become indentured servants upon arriving in Philadelphia. Mittelberger was not a servant, and worked as a school master and organist for three years before returning to Germany in 1754." [from Wikipedia]
William Rittenhouse and Moses Dissinger, two eminent Pennsylvania Germans. William Rittenhouse, America's pioneer paper manufacturer and Mennonite minister
Contents : INTRODUCTION - THE INDIGENES --- CONRAD WEISER'S REMOTE ANCESTRY AND NATIVE PLACE --- CONRAD WEISER'S PARENTS-HIS FATHER AND MOTHER --- THE EXODUS OF CONRAD WEISER'S FATHER --- CONRAD'S FATHER CHIEF OF THE COLONY AT LIVINGSTONE MANOR --- CONRAD'S FATHER CHIEF OF THE COLONY AT SCHOHARIE --- CONRAD WEISER"S FATHER THE DEFENDER OF THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES OF HIS COUNTRYMEN AT SCHOHARIE--- CONRAD'S FATHER LEADS A COLONY TO TULPEHOCKEN , PENNSYLVANIA , HIS RETURN AND WANDERING, HIS VISIT TO TULPEHOCKEN , HIS DEATH --- JOHN CONRAD WEISER JUNIOR, HIS NAME, BIRTHPLACE, BAPTISM -- CONRAD'S ARRIVAL IN AMERICA - HIS STAY WITH THE MAQUA INDIANS --- CONRAD WEISER AND HIS STEPMOTHER --- CONRAD WEISER'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS, HIS OCCUPATION, HIS MARRIAGE, HIS DEPARTURE FOR PENNSYLVANIA --- CONRAD WEISER'S ADVENT IN PENNSYLVANIA , THE BEGINNING OF HIS OFFICIAL HISTORY --- CONRAD WEISER PROVINCIAL INTERPRETER, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE 1732 to1743 --- TEN MORE YEARS OF INDIAN INTERCOURSE , MISSIONS AND DUTIES1744 to 1754 --- THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, CONRAD WEISER SUPERINTENDENT OF THE INDIAN BUREAU, COLONEL, HIS DEATH ANNOUNCED 1754 to 1760 --- CONRAD WEISER'S FAILING HEALTH, HIS DEATH, HIS BURIAL PLACE --- CONRAD WEISER AS A RELIGIOUS FIGURE --- CONRAD WEISER's WILL , HIS POSSESSIONS , HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS,HIS POSTERITYALSO, WEISER's LETTERS AND JOURNALS
