THE MORAVIANS
NORTH CAROLINA.
AN AUTHENTIC HISTORY.
Rev. levin T.^REICHEL,
OP SALESf, N. C.
SALEM, N. C:
0. A. KEEHLN.
PHILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT AND CO.
1851.
A^^O^
CONTENTS
PAGE
1.
North Carolina in 1752
. 13
2.
Wachovia
. 22
3.
First Settlement at Bethabara, 1753 .
. 28
4.
Indian War. Bethania, 1759
. 42
5.
F. W. DE Marshall ....
. 56
G.
Salem, 1766
. 61
7.
Friedberg, 1772
. 69
8.
Frieoland, 1780
. 73
9.
Hope, 1780
. 77
10.
Revolutionary War . ' .
80
11.
Half a Century, 1803 ....
96
12.
Salem Female Academy, 1804
113
13.
Indian Mission, 1801 ....
132
14.
Negro Mission, 1822 .
139
15.
Home Mission, 1835 ....
142
16.
New Congregations, 1830 . . . ,
149
17.
The older Congregations, 1806 — 1856 .
154
IV CONTENTS.
PAGE
18. List of Ministers and other brethren in the
SERVICE OF the PROVINCE IN GENERAL, AND
OF the Salem Congregation in particular 165
19. Ministers of the Country Congregations . 1G9
20. The Brethren's Unity 172
APPENDIX.
1. First Settlers 179
2. Churches and Public Buildings . . . 191
3. Houses built in Salem 196
4. Additions and Notes 200
THE
MORAVIANS K NORTH CAROLINA.
I.
NOETH CAROLINA IN 1752.
In 1749 the British Pariiament passed an act
by which the TJnitas Fratrum, or Unity of the
Brethren, was acknowledged as a Protestant
Episcopal Church. By this act the free exercise
of all their rights as a church was secured to the
Moravian Brethren throughout Great Britain and
all her colonies, a privilege which they did not
then fully enjoy in any other European kingdom,
and which is still denied to the church in certain
other countries, even to the present day.
During the protracted deliberations of the
Parliament, which lasted from February 20th to
2
«
14 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA,
June 6th, and by means of many public documents
collected in a folio volume as Acta Unitatis Fret-
trum in Anglia, the attention of members of the
Parliament, and other men of high standing, was
repeatedly drawn to the Moravians, both as a
church organization and as a social body. The
■testimony which Thomas Penn, proprietor of
Pennsylvania, had given them in 1141, when the
first act of Parliament was granted in their be-
half, was abundantly confirmed, that they had
conducted themselves as a sober, quiet, and reli-
gious people, and had made many improvements
in their settlements which eventually would prove
beneficial to the whole colony of Pennsylvania.
Hence it seemed desirable to induce them to
make settlements in other countries also, and in-
vitations and ofi'ers of various kinds soon came
in greater numbers than could be complied with,
for want of means and men. Some of these,
referring to Nova Scotia and Maryland, were not
entertained at all. Another one of the Duke of
Argyle, who wished a settlement of .the Brethren
in Scotland, led to no results ; another of Lord
O'Neil led, in It 64, to the settlement of Grace-
NORTH CAROLINA IN IT 52. 15
hill, in Ireland. But, for the present, the most
acceptable offer seemed that of Lord Granville,
President of the Privy Council, who was the
owner of a very large tract of land in North
Carolina, of which he offered Count Zinzendorf
100,000 acres on very reasonable terms.
At a conference of the Brethren, held in Lind-
say-house, London, November 29th, 1*751, it was
resolved to accept this offer. The leading idea
of Count Zinzendorf was the following : He de-
sired that his Brethren might not only have an
opportunity to be of spiritual benefit to such
persons as in process of time might settle in
their neighborhood, as well as to gain access to
various tribes of Indians, such as the Cherokees,
the Catawbas, the Creeks, and the Chickasaws,
but his main object was to acquire the possession
of a larger tract of land where the Moravians
might live undisturbed, having the liberty of ex-
cluding all strangers from their settlements. For
this purpose it was resolved not to make the
good quality of the land the principal object, nor
to buy detached parcels of the best land, but
rather to select an undivided tract of about
16 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
100,000 acres. In the centre of this territory of
the Brethren a town was to be laid out, contain-
ing the choir-houses for single brethren, single
sisters, and widows, the educational institutions,
and mercantile establishments. In this central
place were also to be located a preparatory school
for ministers and missionaries, and the directing
boards for the outward and spiritual affairs of
the Brethren in this their own and independent
country. Besides this one town, the rest of the
territory was to be parcelled out to farmers be-
longing to the Brethren's Church. According
to an old plan in our possession, the little capital
of this new Moravian country was to be built in
a circular form, the eight-cornered church to form
the centre, to be surrounded, in a large circle, by
six choir-houses, an apothecary-shop, and a Mo-
ravian inn ( Gemein Logis), between which build-
ings were to radiate eight streets, each with
twenty town-lots, to be interspersed with gar-
dens and rows of shade-trees in double circles.
This was the plan made in London by Count
Zinzendorf and other Brethren, to whom North
Carolina was terra incognita — an utterly unknown
NORTH CAROLINA IX It 52. IT
country. In order to select a tract suitable for
the intended settlement, Brother Spangenberg,
who was well acquainted with American alfairs,
was sent in IT 52 to reconnoitre the country and
act according to his own judgment. But before
we accompany him on this journey, we will add
a few words concernino:
THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CONDITION OF
NORTH CAROLINA IN 1752.
North Carolina may justly be called the Old
North State, containing within its borders the
spot on which the first Anglo-Saxon ever landed;
for in July, 1584, two ships fitted out by Sir
Walter Raleigh, and commanded by Philip Ami-
das and Arthur Barlow, dropped their anchors
on the sandy beach of Roanoke Island (now Cur-
rituck County, Xorth Carolina), and the land
was formally taken possession of in the name of
''Elizabeth of England, as rightful queen and
princess of the same." It was called Virginia,
in honor of the virgin queen. The first settle-
2*
18 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
ment on Roanoke Island, attempted in 1585, was
soon after abandoned, and no permanent settle-
ment established there until 1653.
Before this occurred, however, various parts of
the present State of North Carolina had been
explored by the settlers of Yirginia, and here
and there might be found, in the midst of friendly
Indians, small clearings of the white man, who
had fled the religious persecution of his native
country or the tyranny of a colonial governor.
In 1663, King Charles IT. granted, by a pa-
tent of March 24th, a part of Virginia, viz., "all
the country between the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans, between 31 and 36 parallels of latitude,"
in his honor to be called Carolina, to eight noble-
men. These eight proprietors were —
Edward, Earl of Clarendon ;
George, Duke of Albemarle ;
William, Earl of Craven ;
John, Lord Berkeley;
Anthony, Lord A^shley ;
Sir George Carteret ;
Sir John Colleton ;
Sir William Berkeley.
NORTH CAROLINA IN 1*752. 19
These proprietors for a long time appointed
the governors, by whom the colonies were some-
times well, sometimes ill managed, but still con-
tinued to increase in numbers and to expand
in cultivated lands. By the influence of Lord
Granville, son of Sir George Carteret, who died
in .1696, the General Assembly passed a law in
n04, by which the Church of England was
acknowledged as the established church of the
colony, and received privileges which were de-
nied to all dissenters. This intolerant law pro-
duced frequent tumults among the people. In
the beginning of the next century a new element
was introduced into the colony by the arrival and
settlement of a considerable number of Germans
and Swiss. Of the 30,000 Germans who had left
their own country to seek their fortunes in the
Far West, about 18,000 eventually settled in
North Carolina. About the same time, Christo-
pher, Baron de Graffenreid, received a grant of
10,000 acres of land on the Neuse and Cape
Fear Rivers, and settled there a body of 1,500
Swiss emigrants, by whom the town of New
Berne was founded. The seat of government
20 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
was at that time in Edenton, called so in l'r20 in
honor of Governor Eden.
In 1125 the boundary-line was run between
North Carolina and Virginia, and in 1^38 the
southern borders were more clearly defined, the
people of South Carolina having already in It 19
revolted from the feudal sway of the lord pro-
prietors, and expelled their governor. Westward
the extent of this colony was as yet quite unde-
fined.
Both on account of the rebellion of the South
Carolinians, and also on account of the compara-
tively small revenues to be derived from these
transatlantic estates, the lord proprietors accept-
ed the proposals of the home government, and
in 1129 surrendered their claims to the crown,
receiving in return the sum of 2,500 pounds ster-
ling each. Only John, Lord Carteret, Baron of
Harnes, afterwards Earl of Granville, concluded
to retain his eighth part, which was laid off for
him in 1143, adjoining Virginia. It is rather
doubtful whether Lord Granville ever fully un-
derstood the extent of his American possessions,
which were bounded on the north by the Yir-
NORTH CAROLINA IN 1152. 21
ginia line, on the east by the Atlantic, on the
south by a line in latitude 35° 34" from the At-
lantic to the Pacific Ocean, and on the west by
the Pacific.
The number of inhabitants of North Carolina
in 1Y29 scarcely amounted to 10,000, mostly scat-
tered along the coast, in the three counties of
Albemarle, Bath, and Clarendon.
The immense territory of Lord Granville was
for the most part an uninhabited and utterly un-
known wilderness. In 1U6 Granville County
was formed, and Anson County in 1149, which
two counties contained the greater part of Lord
Granville's vast possessions. In 1*753 Rowan
County was formed from parts of Anson County,
and comprehended most of the western part of
the present States of :N'orth Carolina and Ten-
nessee, covering the valley of the Yadkin, and
extending to or even beyond the Mississippi.
22 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
11.
WACHOVIA.
Bishop Spangenberg having accepted the ap-
pointment of selecting in the trackless wilcls of
western Carolina a tract of land of sufficient ex-
tent for the purposes intended, left Bethlehem, in
Pennsylvania, on the 25th of August, 1152. He
was accompanied by the brethren, Henry An-
tes, Timothy Horsefield, Joseph Miller, Herman
Loesch, and John Merk, all on horseback. In
Edenton, where they arrived September 10th,
they were joined by Mr. Churton, the surveyor-
general and agent of Lord Granville. They di-
rected their course to the Catawba River, which
they reached by the end of October, after great
hardships. They had suffered more or less from
fevers, especially Br. Horsefield, who had to be
left at the last house they met, under the charge
WACHOVIA. 23
of Br. Miller. Br. Spangenberg and his three
companions, the surveyor, and two hunters, were
now at the end of all civilization, but, provided
with bread for fourteen days, they manfully en-
tered the forest wilderness, scarcely, however,
anticipating that they would be wandering about
here nearly fourteen weeks. It would be im-
possible to give an exact account of their wan-
derings in these trackless mountain regions of
western Carolina. Suffice it to say that about
eight weeks were spent in the wilderness, on the
Catawba River, the heads of the New River, the
Mulberry Fields (Vilkes), and the mountains, in
fruitless attempts to make a suitable selection;
for all the tracts which they surveyed proved too
small for their intended purpose. Meanwhile
winter had set in ; their supply of provisions,
though used very sparingly, was entirely con-
sumed, and they had to rely on the exertions of
the two huntsmen who had accompanied them.
But even they, though well accustomed to the
roving forest-life, became discouraged. Game
was not as plentiful as might be expected, and
the pasture for the horses became more scarce.
24 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
After three clays of fasting, two deer were sliot,
whicli revived their strength and courage. Fol-
lowing their compass eastward, they reached the
river Yadkin by the end of December, and wil-
lingly accepted the offer of some white settlers
to spend a few days under their humble but hos-
pitable roof. In their neighborhood, and by their
direction, they found at last what they had been
seeking for too far westward in vain — a larger
tract of rolling woodland, well watered, and ap-
parently v/ell adapted for their plans.
December 2tth, lt52, at the southwest corner
of the Wachovia tract, the surveyors commenced,
and continued to January 13th, 1Y53. The tract,
surveyed in fourteen parcels, contained "73,037
acres. Br. Spangenberg and his companions
having returned to Pennsylvania, Mr. Churton
subsequently surveyed five other parcels, amount-
ing with the other to 98,985 acres. The whole
tract was called Wachovia, or Wachau — the Aue
(meadow-land) along the Wach (the principal
creek) bearing some resemblance, on account of
its watercourses and meadow-lands, to a valley
WACHOVIA. 25
in Austria of the same name, which formerly was
in possession of the Zinzendorf family.
On August Tth, 1153, John, Earl of Granville,
the proprietor, conveyed, according to the desire
of Zinzendorf, by nineteen deeds, the title of this
tract, lying in the forks of Gargalee or Muddy
Creek, Rowan County, to James Hutton, of Lon-
don, secretary of the Unitas Fratrum, or United
Brethren.
By dividing and subdividing the large county
of Rowan, this tract has been successively in
Rowan, IttO in Surry, 1*789 in Stokes, and since
1848 in Forsythe County.
The purchase of Wachovia coinciding in time
with the great financial embarrassments of the
Brethren in England, precluded the possibility of
their paying the purchase-money. In order to
obviate this difficulty, and because the American
Brethren were yet too poor to take the responsi-
bility upon themselves alone, it was resolved to
form a land company, with the view of opening
subscriptions among the members and friends of
the Brethren, in order to obtain funds for the
3
26 MORAVIANS In north CAROLINA.
payment of the land, the discharge of the annual
quitrent, the expenses of the first settlement, the
transportation of colonists from Pennsylvania and
Europe, &c. The subscribers were to be reim-
bursed for their advances by receiving tracts of
land in Wachovia, containing each 2,000 acres,
provided they further bound themselves to con-
tribute, 'pro rata, to the wants of the colony for
five years from the time of its establishment. It
was expected that the enhanced price of the land
would eventually repay the outlays.
On December 18th, 1753, Br, Spangenberg
and Cornelius van Laer in Holland were ap-
pointed directors of this company.
Subscribers were obtained, though not as many
as had been anticipated, and the purchase was
effected. The centre of the tract was reserved
for the Moravian settlements, and the whole plan
gradually carried out in its main features, as will
be shown in the sequel. For this purpose, F.
W. de Marshall came to reside in North Caro-
lina in lt68, as attorney of J, Hutton.
In ltt9, Fy^ed. Will, de Marshall, the adminis-
trator of the estates of the Unity in Wachovia,
WACHOVIA. 27
became the legal proprietor of all the lands of
the Brethren in North Carolina, James Hutton
having by deed conveyed Wachovia to Marshall.
This transfer occurred during the revolutionary
war, and fears being entertained that by the con-
fiscation act of North Carolina (HIT) the legal
title might be invalidated, Hutton being an alien,
tlie General Assembly of North Carolina in 1782
revested in F. W. Marshall, his heirs and assigns
forever, the Wachovia tract and all other lands
in North Carolina which had been acquired by
the Brethren.
After the death of F. W. Marshall, in 1802,
the following Brethren held the ofSce of adminis-
trator of the Unity Estates in Wachovia : —
Christian Lewis Benzien, 1802 — 1811 ;
Lewis D. de Schweinitz, 1812—1821 ;
Theodore Schultz, 1821—1844;
Charles F. Kluge, 1844—1853.
His successor, Emile A. de Schweinitz, is the
present administrator.
28 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
III.
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT BETHA-
BAR A.— 1753.
The necessary preparations for forming a set-
tlement in the distant forest wilds of the South
having been completed, a company of twelve
single Brethren set out from Bethlehem, Pa.,
October 8th, 1^53.^
' Zuvor wurden sie durcli Pr. Petrus (P. Bohler)
der Gemeine segnend empfolilen, und ihneu dabei zu-
gerufen : —
" Willst du kleine Kreuzes Caravane
Wirklicli sclion von liinnen zieli'n,
Nacli dem dir bestimmten richt'gen Plane,
In den Nord von Caroline ?
Willst dii dorten audi das Land erfreuen,
Seel' und Glieder williglicli lierleilieu,
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT BETflABARA — 1753. 29
Among these we mention especially —
Bernhard Adam Gruhe, who was the first
minister of the infant settlement. He had re-
ceived ordination in Germany in 1740, had been
actively and variously employed in Pennsylva-
nia, and, after his return from Carolina, served
there again as minister of different congregations
till 1792. He died in 1808, at the advanced age
of ninety-two years and nine months. As late
as 1806, he expressed, in a letter to the father of
the writer, the great interest which he took in
the affairs of the Wachovia settlements. On his
ninetieth birthday he ventured to walk from
Bethlehem to Nazareth, a distance of ten miles,
and a few days after returned on foot.
Jacob Lbsch^ the great-grandfather of the Lash
family of Forsythe County, born in the State of
Ihm zu bauen eine Stadt,
Nach dem Grundrisz, den er hat ?
Nun so benadige dicli der Vater" u. s. w.
Nach dem Kelch der Danksagung wurde ilmen der
Kuss des Friedens ertheilt, dass sie fiihlen konnten :
"Die Herzen der Gemeine sind wahrhaftig mit ihnen."
3*
30 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
New York, where his father had arrived in It 10,
was intrusted with the management and superin-
tendence of the . colony in its temporal affairs.
He returned to Pennsylvania in 1169, and died
in 1182.
Hems Martin KalherlaJin, a Norwegian by
birth, arrived in Bethlehem in September, having
lived for several years in Herrnhaag, and cheer-
fully accepted the appointment of surgeon and
medical adviser to the first settlers. He died in
1759.
The other nine Brethren were farmers and me-
chanics, mostly immigrants from Europe.
They were accompanied by the Brethren Na-
thaniel Seidel and Joseph Haberland, from Beth-
lehem, and Gottlob Konigsdorfer, who was on a
visit in Pennsylvania from the European congre-
gations.
Their route led through the western part of
Virginia. In a wagon with six horses they car-
ried with them various articles needed on a long
journey over roads seldom travelled. To provide
food for their horses, some of their number would
go to the different farms, sometimes ten miles off
31
their road, and help to thresh the oats, besides
paying its full value. Not unfrequently they had
to unload, and carry a portion of the load over
the mountains. Sometimes the night set in be-
fore this task was accomplished, and thus the
company became separated, some passing the
night in the wagon, others sleeping under their
tent. They generally prepared their frugal mor-
ning meal at three o'clock, and started by the
dawn of day, after their regular morning prayer.
Travelling by Winchester and Augusta Court-
House,^ Ya., a small tow^n of twenty houses in
the mountains, after crossing the Blue Ridge at
Evan's Gap, and passing the Upper Sauratown,
they arrived on the 13th of November on the
northern line of North Carolina. On Saturday,
the l*Jtk of November, at three o'clock P. M.,
they reached the spot where stands to this day
the town of Bethahara, now commonly called
Old Town ; thankful to the Lord for his gracious
help and protection vouchsafed unto them during
' Now Staunton.
32 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA. .
their long and toilsome journey of nearly six
weeks.
Here they found shelter in a small cabin, built
and previously inhabited by a German of the
name of Hans Wagner, but then unoccupied.
Though this cabin was very small, scarcely af-
fording room for all to sleep in (Br. Konigsdor-
fer, in his hammock, being suspended over the
heads of the others), still, they were thankful for
even this scanty shelter, and resolved to remain
here for the present. The daily word of the
church, appointed for the day, seemed very ap-
propriate : I know where thou dwellest, Rev. ii.
13, even in a desert place. To which was added
the admonition. Be ye of one mind. In the eve-
ning, when keeping their first love-feast,^ they
were forcibly reminded that it was a wilderness
' Br. G. Konigsdorfer opened tlie evening meeting
with tlie following verse : —
" Wir lialten Ankunftsliebesmalil
Im Carolin'sclien Lande,
Mit einer led'gen Briiderzalil,
Die Er zum Pilgerstande
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT BETIIABARA — 1753. 33
{ein iv'dster Ort), for they heard the wolves howl-
ing round about their cabin.
The next day, being Sunday, was a real day of
rest to the weary pilgrims ; but on the following
day they cheerfully went to work, some sharpen-
ing their axes and preparing their hoes, others
beginning to construct a bakeoven, one explor-
ing the country to find a mill where they might
buy some corn, &c., whilst the three clerical
Brethren (X. Seidel, Konigsdorfer, and Grube)
were busy in the house, preparing a kind of gar-
ret with rough boards, where they could store
their goods.
Perceiving that the country was very thinly
inhabited, and that they could not rely on others
for provisions for any length of time, they imme-
diately set about clearing some land ; eight acres
having been selected for that purpose on the
GezaMt hat unter Seinem Volk,
Die alle Welt durclizieliet,
Als wie die grosse Zeugenvolk,
Die Niemand, als Er, siehet."
Diary of Bethabara, 1753.
34 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
19th, on the days following the clearing was
effected and the ploughing done, so that on the
4th of December Br. J. Losch was able to sow
the first wheat in this hitherto uncultivated soil.
Four days after their arrival, November 21st,
tho Brethren celebrated the Lord's supper, on
which solemn occasion the Saviour manifested
his presence in their midst so graciously, that
their faith and hope were greatly strengthened,
notwithstanding the prospect of many trials and
difiQculties awaiting them in the prosecution of
their labors. Difficulties of various kinds were
not wanting. The Brethren N. Seidel, Konigs-
dorfer, Haberland, and Lisher having left them
for Pennsylvania, December 19tli, the remain-
ing eleven Brethren made preparations for the
coming winter. One was despatched to bring
salt from Virginia, a distance of forty miles ;
another went to the Dan River to buy oxen
for winter use; while several took a two days'
journey to the Yadkin, to buy flour and corn.
They occasionally supplied themselves with game,
such as the deer and wild turkey, and not un-
frequently the present of a bear w^as received
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT BETHABARA — 1753. 35
from a neighbor. Beaver, though scarce, were
sometimes trapped, aud wolves and panthers
were often heard close by at night. On Janu-
ary 1st, 1754, their little cabin caught tire,
which was providentially discovered, and extin-
guished before much damage was done. A week
later, one of their number was nearly killed by a
falling limb whilst felling a tree. The great-
est difficulty, however, was the want of house-
room in their small cabin, which scarcely sufficed
them, and proved quite too small when travellers
wished to stay over night ; those who were inva-
lids being attracted by the medical and surgical
skill of Br. Kalberlahn, which was soon in great
demand in the whole neighborhood, even to a
distance of sixty miles. Money being scarce in
the country, the Moravian doctor was paid in
provisions of various kinds, or live stock, which
materially assisted them in their general house-
keeping. Their tailor, Br. Peterson, was also
soon brought into requisition by the wants of
the scattered settlers, who hitherto, if not desti-
tute of clothing, were still in considerable straits,
as their original stock was nearly exhausted, and
36 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
the use of the needle and the loom not yet intro-
duced among them. One day, for instance, a
young man by the name of John Williams, living
seven miles distant, brought several deerskins,
instead of linsey woollen, for his needful nether-
garments. In order to be able to afford their
visitors better accommodations, a second cabin
was erected, with a shed of split rails and posts
to serve as general sleeping apartments. The
garden was laid out and fenced in, and roads cut
through the woods. Thus passed the first winter
of the Moravians in North Carolina.
In April, 1^54, quite unexpectedly, in com-
pany with John Lisher (who returned from Penn-
sylvania), Br. John Jacob Fries arrived, being
successor of Br. Grube, who was recalled to the
North. Br. Fries, who was born in Denmark,
where, previous to his emigration, he had ofii-
ciated as an assistant minister, and was known as
an accomplished scholar, especially in the He-
brew language, was nevertheless a very humble
servant of the Lord, ready to do the meanest
service for his Brethren, and peculiarly adapted
for such a station in the wilderness. He often
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT BETIIABARA — 1T53. 37
referred to that time which he spent in this pa-
triarchal housekeeping, amidst many toils and
great privations, as the happiest period of his
life. Utterly averse to all formality, he pre-
ferred to be a free servant of the Lord, instead
of accepting any permanent appointment. lie
assisted in preaching and teaching whenever and
wherever he thought he could be most useful,
even unto his eightieth year. He died in 1793.
One day a stranger arrived, embraced the Bre-
thren most affectionately, and said that he also
was a Brother and a servant of the Lord, Charles
"Wesley by name. Br. Fries had his doubts
about the truth of this story, and, after listening
for a while to his religious professions, advised
him in future rather to make horses and cows
the subject of his conversation, which would suit
him better, and do less harm to others. He had
scarcely gone, when a friend of the Brethren,
from the Yadkin, came to inquire how this pre-
tender had been received by them ; confirming
what Br. Fries had suspected, that he loved
whisky more than his Saviour.
In September, Bishop P. Bohler arrived, ac-
4
38 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
companied by Br. Hoger. During his stay, the
name of Bethahara (house of passage, John i.
28, 2 Sam. xix. 19) was given to the new settle-
ment ; still keeping in view, at a future day, the
founding of a more central settlement, although
it was resolved, for the present, to continue their
present improvements. About this time more
detailed surveys of the different parts of Wacho-
via were made, and on that occasion names were
given to the numerous watercourses, by which
some of them are still known. The Cargel Creek
was called Dorothea, in honor of Countess Zin-
zendorf; the great Lick Fork was called '3o-
hanna, Grave Fork was called Benigna, and the
whole tract in cultivation received the name of
Christiansburg, as most of the settlers had come
from Christiansbrun, in Pennsylvania.
Their number was increased, on October 26th,
by the arrival of seven Brethren, led by Br.
Christensen, who was to superintend the erection
of a mill. A few days after their arrival a gene-
ral muster of the militia took place. By act of
Parliament, the Brethren were exempt from mili-
tary duty, and their not participating caused the
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT BETHABARA — 1753. 39
ill-will of their neighbors to be manifested in
various ways. In order to vex the Brethren,
the piece of meadow-land, just sown with grass,
was selected and used for military exercises,
which compelled the Brethren to repeat their
work upon the land, and even to procure new
seed from Pennsylvania. Some of the horses
became frightened, and were not recovered until
a week after. The Brethren meanwhile con-
tinued their daily labor, and found opportunities
to sell different articles, and thus to create a
market for themselves.
The necessity of erecting a suitable building
having become more urgent by the arrival of
these seven Brethren from Pennsylvania, on the
26th of November, 1754, the corner-stone of the
first house erected by them in North Carolina
was laid with due solemnity, thus providing for
a habitation where these Brethren, all being un-
married, might live together in Christian fellow-
ship. On the 11th of March this building (a
log house) was dedicated, during a visit of Bi-
shop David Nitschman and Christ. Thomas Ben-
zien, and soon after the Brethren moved into it.
40 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
It appearing desirable, according to the then
existing customary division of the country, to
have the district of Wachovia formed into a
separate parish (for a separate county the num-
ber of inhabitants was too small), Br. Christ.
Thomas Benzien, secretary of the Wachovia Land
Company, went to New Berne and obtained an
act of Assembly, by which this district was de-
clared a separate parish, by the name of Dobbs
Parish, which name was retained until the year
In the course of this year (1*755) the number
of inhabitants was increased by the arrival* of
twenty-three single Brethren and seven married
couples, among whom was Clir. Heinr. Ranch,
the first missionary among the Indians, as their
spiritual guide. In the mean time the building
of a grist-mill had been commenced, as well as a
dwelling and meeting-house, the corner-stone of
which was laid on October 25th.
Both buildings were finished in the course of
n56, the former proving of great advantage,
not only to the inhabitants of the place, but to
the whole neighborhood, both then, and subse-
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT BETHABARA — 1753. 41
quently in times of scarcity. The seven married
couples moved into the new building in Febru-
ary, and here, on May 11th, the first child was
born in Bethabara, and in holy baptism received
the name of Anna Johanna Krause. In August,
Bishop M. Hehl paid a visit, and introduced Br.
Christian Seidel as German minister of Betha-
bara, while Br. Gottloh Hofman had the especial
charge of the single Brethren, in Br. Fries's
place, who had returned to Pennsylvania. Br.
C. H. Ranch being appointed missionary for Ja-
maica, Br. and Sr. David Bishop assisted in the
special care of souls among the married people.
The number of colonists was further increased
by new arrivals from Pennsylvania, amounting at
the close of 1156 to sixty-five persons (eighteen
married people, forty-four single Brethren, one
boy, and two infants).
Thus, the first difficulties of a new settlement
in the forest having been overcome, more pros-
perous times could reasonably be expected.
4*
42 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
lY.
INDIAN WAH.— BETHANIA.
1759.
The favoralDle prospects of the colony were
for several years disturbed by the breaking out
of the Indian war generally called the Old French
War. This commenced in the northern colonies
in It 55, and also affected the Brethren, ten Bre-
thren and Sisters being murdered on the Mahony,
November 24th, 1^55. Gradually it spread more
to the south. In 11 bQ it was found expedient to
fortify the new settlement by surrounding it with
palisades, whence it was commonly called the
Dutch Fort. The mill was also fortified in a
similar manner. These fortifications, rude and
imperfect as they no doubt were, soon became
very important for the whole neighborhood.
Many fugitives, even from distant parts of Yir-
INDIAN WAR. — BETIIANIA — 1 750. 43
ginia, there found a place of refuge and a tempo-
rary home, and at the same time an opportunity
to hear the word of eternal life. Some of these
afterwards entered into a more close connection
with the Brethren. As yet there was no real
danger. Occasional detached companies of Che-
rokee warriors, as also several bodies of Creek
and Catawba Indians, passed through the settle-
ment, or encamped near the mill. Receiving
plenty to eat, they behaved very well, and gave
no cause for complaint. Sometimes they were
accompanied by British officers, who paid for
them. At other times, coming alone, with a
passport of the English government, they were
freely received and hospitably entertained (the
government of North Carolina afterwards remu-
nerating the Moravians). In consequence, Be-
thabara became a noted place among the Indians,
as the "Dutch Fort, where there are good people
and much bread." Br. Ettwein, who had come
from Bethlehem on a visit in 1158, took an espe-
cial interest in them, and asked a company of
sixty warriors whether they would like it if some
of our young people should come to their coun-
44 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
try to learn their language ; to which they re-
plied that they would be proud of it, it would be
a very good thing. In HSt and 1^58 more than
five hundred Indians passed through the settle-
ment at various times.
With Br. Ettwein, Br. Jacoh Rogers arrived in
Bethabara in July, n58, having been appointed
the first English minister of Dobbs Parish. He
was a deacon of the Episcopal Church, had come
to this country in 1152, and served as Moravian
minister in Philadelphia and New York, and in
Wachovia till 1162, when he returned to Eng-
land.
In consequence of the war, a famine prevailed
in parts of North Carolina and the adjacent dis-
tricts of Virginia, and many people resorted to
Bethabara (some even coming the distance of
one hundred miles) to purchase flour. The Bre-
thren having, with the assistance of those who
had found a place of refuge with them, cleared
an additional sixty acres of land, were thereby
enabled to supply them at the usual price; while,
at the same time, they omitted no opportunity to
point out to them the necessity of providing for
INDIAN WAR — BETIIANIA. — 1759. 45
the wants of tbeir souls, and seeking to obtain
the bread of life. Some of these refugees, who
had become concerned for the salvation of their
souls under the preaching of the Gospel, applied
for permission to join the church. To accommo-
date them, as well as others of the older settlers,
who would have preferred their own housekeep-
ing to the general family economy, the establish-
ment of a new settlement was resolved upon.
With a view to find a suitable location, Br.
Spangenberg, who had arrived on an official
visitation, June 3, lt59, with several others,
went to the so-called "Walnut Bottom," about
three miles northwest of Bethabara, and there,
on the 12th of June, selected the spot on which
the settlement was to be formed. Thirty town-
lots and two tracts of bottom-land were at once
surveyed and marked off by Br. Renter, as well
as a number of acres of upland for gardens and
orchards, and about two thousand acres set apart
for the use of this congregation, to which the
name of Bethania was given.
It was resolved that eight married couples of
the Bethabara congregation should form the nu-
46 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
cleus of this new settlement, and should be sup-
ported for a year, until their houses could be
built and some land brought into cultivation.
The names of these first settlers, who built the
lower part of the village, were —
Gottfried Grabs, John Beroth,
Balthasar Hege, Adam Kramer,
Charles Opiz, Michael Ranke,
Christopher Schmidt, Henry Biefifel.
They began felling trees on July 10th, on the
15th the lots were distributed by lot, and on the
18th Br. Grabs with his wife occupied the first
cabin erected there ; the daily word on that day
being, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me,
Ps. xxiii., which proved a word of much comfort
to them amidst the horrors of a cruel war, and
the consequent necessity of being on the alert
both day and night.
Besides these Brethren, eight neighbors were
allowed for the present to occupy a number of
lots in the upper part of the new settlement.
These were —
Martin Houser, and his two married sons,
George and Michael Houser ;
INDIAN WAR. — EETIIANIA. — 1^59. 47
Henry Spocnbauer;
John Strup ;
Philip Shaus;
Frederick Shore, a widower, and his son,
_ Henry Shore.
In 1760, Br. D. Bishop moved to Bethania, to
keep the daily meetings.
About the time when the new settlement was
commenced, and all was bustle and activity in
the Black Walnut Bottom, an alarming sickness
broke out in Bethabara, which proved fatal in
many cases. In quick succession were called to
their eternal home, Sr. Mary Rogers, wife of the
English minister ; Sr. Maria C. Seidel, and her
husband, Christ. Gottfried Seidel, the German
minister, only forty-one years old ; Hans Martin
Kalberlahn, the doctor; and five other single
Brethren and one married Sister — mostly after a
sickness of only three or four days. Fourteen
more were very ill, expecting their departure
also, and twenty had a less serious attack of the
same fever. There were but nineteen who en-
tirely escaped this epidemic. As their physician
had been one of the first who departed, Br.
48 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Spangenberg became not only the spiritual, but
also the medical adviser of bis Brethren.
In Br. Seidel's stead, John Ettivein^ who had
returned to Pennsylvania, was recalled to Wacho-
via. Accompanied by his wife, they accomplished
the long and tedious journey on horseback. Dur-
ing the trip, Br. Ettwein suffered much from a
severe attack of fever. For the space of nine
days he was daily compelled to lie upon the
ground five or six hours, losing all consciousness
from the severity of the fever, Sr. Spangenberg
was also sick for several months, which obliged
her husband to remain longer than he had in-
tended. This was very fortunate, as he proved
the very man to advise and direct his Brethren
in the real difficulties and dangers of the Indian
war, which recommenced in October, It 59.
The Cherokees and Creeks having declared
war against all the white people, and murdered
seven persons near Fort Loudon, the North Ca-
rolina militia was ordered to assemble in Salis-
bury, in November, n59. The Brethren being
exempt from military service, remained on their
land, and Br. Losch received a commission as
INDIAN WAR. — RETIIANIA. — IT 59. 40
captain of the " Dutch Fort" and governor of
the watches in Bethabara and Cethania. Almost
daily, either ]3r. Spangenberg or Br. Ettwein,
accompanied by some Brethren, went to Betha-
nia, one going and remaining there, the others re-
turning. "On one occasion," Br. Ettwein relates
(probal)ly in March, 1760), "when early in the
morning the tracks of Indians had been observed,
the accompanying Brethren w^ere rather fearful,
because we generally rode quite slowly, and were
talking among themselves how they might make
Spangenberg ride faster. When they came to
the dense woods, where the most danger was to
be apprehended, Spangenberg said : 'You don't
know how to ride; let me lead.' " Saying which,
he set off at full speed, never stopping till they
came to Bethania. There Spangenberg remained,
whilst he returned to Bethabara, but was treated
with less ceremony. "'It is not yet safe,' my
companions said ; ' we must ride as fast as we
can ; Spangenberg has also done so ;' and thus
we were racing day after day." It was subse-
5
50 MOHAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
quently proved that tliis precaution, as well as
the orders of Br. Spangenberg to have the church-
bell rung every morning at dawn of day, was not
needless. Often in the morning the traces of In-
dians were found quite near the houses, and it
was afterwards ascertained, through some who
had been prisoners among the Indians, that one
hundred and fifty of their warriors had encamped
for nearly six weeks about six miles from Betha-
nia, whilst a smaller camp was only three miles
distant. Several times they \vere on the point
of attacking the Fort of the Dutch, but when
they came near they heard the big bell, a sign
that they had been discovered. Their design of
taking prisoners between the old and new town
had also been unsuccessful ; " for," as they ex-
pressed it, "the Dutchers had big, fat horses,
and rode like the devil." Thus, under the kind
providence of God, no assault was made upon
either of the two settlements ; but still a strict
watch was kept by day and night, the new bury-
ing-ground, which was cleared in December,
1757 (being situated on the top of a very high
INDIAN WAR. — BETHANIA. — 1T59. 51
hill), proving a very convenient place for this
purpose.*
' Hence called the Gutherg.
The following hymn was composed by Br. Ettwein
for the watchman, March 27, 17G0 : —
" Die Loosung hiess : ' Sie liielten "Wacht
Urn's Hause Gott's audi in der Nacht.'
Da fall'n mir die Liturgi ein
Die Briider, die bestellet sein
Zii wachen um uns in Bethabara
Und auch die draussen in Bethania.
" Ich wiinsche Jedem, der da wach't
Um die Gemein', bei Tag und Nacht,
Ein klares Aug', ein leises Ohr,
Ein muthiges Herz, wenn was kommt vor,
Und dass eines der starken Engelein
Mag immer mit ilim auf dem Posten seiu.
" So wird, wenn auch des Satans Heer
Der Wilden zehnmal starker war',
Und Satan kame selber mit
Zu attaquiren unsere Hiitt',
Doch unser Hiiuflein in der Ruh' nicht Sturen,
Dieweilen wir in Jesu Reich gehoren.
52 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
During this time, a man wounded by the In-
dians arrived in Bethabara, with two arrows still
in his body. He had started out, accompanied
by two others, to obtain provisions from some
of the neighbors, but suddenly they found them-
selves surrounded by Indians, who, after dis-
charging their guns without effect, attacked them
with bows and arrows. His two companions
were killed upon the spot; he himself, however,
escaped, and, though thus wounded, reached and
forded the Yadkin River, but, meeting Indians
on the opposite side, recrossed the stream, and,
after losing his way and wandering about twenty-
four hours in the woods, he arrived at the Dutch
Fort, where Br. Lash extracted the arrows, one
of which had nearly pierced him through.
A Baptist preacher, John Thomas, was killed
near Abbot's Creek by the Indians. In a short
" Wenn Gott nur immer mit uns ist,
So kann uns keines Feindes List,
Noch Zorn und Maclit liier etwas tliun,
Wir konnen saiift mid selig riili'n ;
Denn seine starken Helden lialten Waclit
Und unsere Briider geben treulich aclit."
INDIAN WAR. — BETIIANIA — 1759. 53
space of time no less than fifteen persons were
murdered in the neighborhood.
A fall of snow in March caused the enemy
finally to retire, whereby quiet was restored, so
that the blessed season for commemorating the
Saviour's sufferings, death, and resurrection
proved a time of rich spiritual enjoyment. On
Easter-Sunday a company of Orange County
riflemen, sixty persons, arrived, and requested
Br. Spangenberg, as the German preaching was
just closed, to preach again for them, in the Eng-
lish language, with which request he cheerfully
complied, selecting Acts ii. 36 for his text. The
whole company, having laid down their arms be-
fore the house, listened with awe and attention to
the fatherly admonition of the venerable Bishop,
whose words seemed to make a deep impression
on many.
On April 2Tth, Br. Spangenberg finished his
labors in Wachovia, and returned again to Penn-
sylvania. He left for Europe in 1762, where he
served the Brethren's Unity as an active and
influential member of the Unity's Elders' Confer-
ence, nearly thirty years. lie died in Berthels-
5*
54 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
dorf, in Saxony, September 18tb, 1192, at the
advanced age of eiglity-eiglit years.
In n61, the war with the Indians was brouo-ht
to a close. The South Carolina militia having
entered, near Fort Prince George, the country of
the Cherokees east of the mountains, burnt about
eight hundred houses, and laid waste thirteen
hundred acres of Indian-corn, the Indians were
forced to sue for peace, while, at the same time,
the transmontane Cherokees were subdued by
the Yirginians. The latter were assisted by
North Carolina troops, and supplied with large
quantities of flour from the Bethabara mill.
Peace being fully restored, in the following
year (1762) a company of fifteen Brethren and
Sisters arrived from Pennsylvania, by way of
Wilmington, among whom were the Brethren
John Michael Graff (died 1^82 as Bishop) and
Abraham de Gammern, both appointed to offices
in this settlement. They brought with them a
small organ, the first in this place, an instrument
at that time little known in the colony, and also
a bell for Bethania. In July, eight couples were
married, among them L. G. Bachhoff, minister of
INDIAN WAR. — BETIIANIA. — 1750. 55
Betliania. Br. Ettwein undertook a long mis-
sionary journey as far as Charleston, preaching
and holding meetings wherever opportunity of-
fered.
At the close of the year the congregation of
Bethabara numbered seventy-five, and Bethania
seventy-two souls.
58 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Y.
FEEDEIC WILLIAM DE MAE-
SHALL.
In 1163, Br. Marshall was appointed Q^cono-
mius of Wachovia, i, e. superintendent of all the
temporal and outward affairs of the Brethren in
these new settlements, which office he retained
until his death in 1802.
As he has certainly acted the most conspicu-
ous part in the affairs of Wachovia, and may be
called the founder of Salem, a short biographical
sketch may with propriety find its place here.
His father, George Rudolph Marshall, of Ilerrn
Grosserstaedt, was an officer in the Saxon army.
Having lost his right arm in Poland, and thereby
disabled for active service, he became commander
of the garrison of Stolpen, and afterwards of the
fortress Konigstein. In the former town, Stol-
FREDRIC WILLIAM DE MARSHALL. 5T
pen, near Dresden, Freclr. \Yill. de Marshall was
born, February 5tb, 1121. lie and bis tbree
brotbers received a christian, but at the same
time a very strict military education, by which be
in early years was prepared for many hardships,
and acquired those traits of punctuality and me-
thodical order which were essential qualifications
for his future usefulness.
Ilis parents were desirous that he should enter
the military service, or fill some office at the court
of the King of Saxony. But the King of Kings
bad selected him for his service as a soldier of
the cross, and a champion of the truth, as it is in
Christ Jesus. By means of a pious tutor, named
Bretschneider, he was not only led to seek the
Lord, but also became acquainted with the Bre-
thren at Herrnhut. This acquaintance was cul-
tivated and strengthened by a visit which he
made to that place whilst a student at the Uni-
versity of Leipzig. At the latter place he
attended a meeting held by Count Zinzendorf,
in which he felt the inward conviction that he
would serve the Lord in the Brethren's church,
for which purpose he studied the English Ian-
58 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
guage. At the especial invitation of Count
Zinzendorf, he came to Herrnhaag in 1139, and
soon after became a member of the Brethren's
congregation. From this time forward he de-
voted all his talents to the church of his adop-
tion, and proved himself a faithful servant of the
Lord for upwards of sixty-two years.
According to his own calculation, he spent
thirty-one years in the German congregations,
fifteen in England, one and a half in Holland
and Prussia, thirty-two and a half in North
America, and fifteen months at sea.
Concerning the earlier part of his activity in
Germany and England, it will sufBce to say that
preaching the Gospel, attending conferences and
synods, and superintending the erection of large
buildings {e. g. Lindsay-house in London), fully
occupied his time, and often tasked his strength
to the utmost. He took an active part in the
negotiations with the British Parliament, to
which reference was made at the beginning of
our narrative.
In 1^50 he married Hedwig Elizabeth de
Schweinitz, who proved a faithful and efficient
FREDRIC TVILLIAM DE MARSHALL. 59
helpmate, and departed Ibis life in It 05. His
eldest daughter, Maria Theresa, married, in 17 1 7,
Hans Christian Alexander de Schweinitz, the
grandfather both of the present administrator
of the Unity's possessions in Pennsylvania, E.
A. Friiauff, and in North Carolina, E. A. dc
Schweinitz.
After the death of Count Zinzendorf, with
whom he had been in the most intimate con-
nection, and for years in daily intercourse, he
became a member of the first Directorial JBoard
of the Unity, and, as such, in IT 61, visited Penn-
sylvania, to assist in dissolving the family eco-
nomy existing in Bethlehem and Nazareth, and
afterwards to superintend the settlement of the
central town on the Wachovia tract. Being de-
layed by the second Indian war of 1763, he
could not venture to travel south before the fall
of 1764. After returning to Europe, he in 1768
removed with his family to Bethabara.
In 1775 he attended the General Synod of the
church, held at Barby, in Saxony, where he was
detained, on account of the revolutionary war,
60 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
until 1719, when be succeeded in reaching New-
York, and afterwards Salem, in safety.
There he remained, active, energetic, faithful,
and self-denying, in the service of his Lord and
Master, to the day of his departure, which took
place February 11, 1802, six days after he had
finished the eighty-first year of his pilgrimage on
earth.
The 14th of February — the day on which,
thirty-seven years before, he had selected the
site for the town of Salem — the same on which,
thirty-three years before, he had reached Betha-
bara with his wife — was the day of his interment
in the shady grove of Salem's ''acre of God."
SALEM. — 17 GG. Gl
yr.
SALEM.— 1T6G.
Br. Marshall had been appointed director of
the secular affairs in Wachovia, and Br. Ettwein
his assistant until he himself could remove to the
South. It had been recommended by the Gene-
ral Board of the Unity that the place for the
central settlement, Avhich, by direction of the late
Count Zinzendorf, previous to his departure in
May, 1760, was to be called Salem, should be
determined upon as soon as possible. Therefore,
in 1765, during the temporary presence of Br.
Marshall and John Frommelt, a spot was selected
which seemed suitable for the intended purpose.
The situation was nearly central, between the
Middle Fork, or Wach, the Brushy Fork, or
Lick, and the Petersbach. The daily word on
that day, February 14th, was very encouraging :
6
62 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Let Thine eyes be opened towards this house
night and day, even toward the place of which
Thou hast said, My name shall be there. 1 Kings
viii. 29.
Meanwhile the number of inhabitants had been
increased by new arrivals from Pennsylvania and
from Europe. In 1164 two companies arrived
from Pennsylvania, the first consisting of eight
adult persons, the second of twelve youths, led
by Br. Lawrence Bagge, who succeeded Br. Hoff-
man as spiritual guide of the single Brethren.
In January, 1766, the first company direct from
Europe, consisting of one married couple and
eight single Brethren, arrived, by way of Charles-
ton. Four of these and four residents of Betha-
bara removed on the 19th of February to a log
house^ erected in the woods, for which the first
' This log house is still standing, though consider-
ably enlarged, and used as a potter-shop.
In June, 1766, the corner-stone was laid for the first
family house, which was finished in August. Br. Prae-
zel put up his loom there, and Charles Holder com-
menced the saddlery business. This house is still
SALEM.— ITGG. 63
tree had been cut clown on January Gth. On the
following clay, the 20th of February, Br. Renter
surveyed the ridge, and laid out the sciuare of the
future town of Salera. The names of the first
settlers were —
Gotfried Praezel, from Europe.
Niels Peterson,
Jens Schmidt,
John Birkhead,
George Holder, from Bethabara.
Jacob Steiner, " "
Michael Ziegler, " "
Melchior Rasp,
Going to their solitary hut in the woods, they
were so fortunate as to kill two deer, part of
which Br. Peterson prepared for dinner. The
first dwelling-house was finished in August.
In October and November of the same year
standing, and may easily be recognized by its dilapi-
dated appearance.
A two-story building, commenced in the same year,
and finished the nest, served as a meeting-house till
1771.
64 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
two companies arrived from Pennsylvania, the
first consisting of eight youths, four single Bre-
thren, and one widower, the latter of sixteen Sis-
ters or girls, accompanied by Br. Bichard Utley,
who now entered as English minister of Dobbs
Parish. Previous to this arrival, Br. M. Schropp
had entered upon his duties as warden, Br. A. v.
Gammern having been called to his eternal home
the year before.
Br. Ettwein, who had continued from time to
time to visit in South Carolina, and embraced
many opportunities for preaching the Gospel in
the vicinity of the Congaree, Saluda, and Broad
Kivers, after serving the Lord faithfully in various
capacities for seven years, now returned to Penn-
sylvania, having been appointed a member of the
General Conference at Bethlehem. At the close
of the year Bethabara contained one hundred and
twenty-two inhabitants, and Bethania, eighty-
seven.
After the death of Br. M. Schropp, in Sep-
tember, 11Q1, the Brn. Graff, Utley, L. Bagge,
and J. Loesch formed a Diaconsis Conference,
and managed the secular affairs of the three set-
SALEM.— 1766. 65
tlcracnts till Br. Marshall arrived, ia 1168, ac-
companied by Trangott Bagge, merchant, and
several other Brethren from Europe.*
Br. Marshall now entered permanently upon
the duties -of his office, and under his energetic
administration of affairs the work of the new
' In 1770 four single Brethren arrived from Europe.
One of these, John Klein, appointed to superintend the
outward affairs of the congregation of Salem as warden,
whilst on a journey to Cross Creek (now Fayetteville),
was drowned in attempting to ford Little River. His
body was afterwards recovered and brought to Salem.
Two others, T. Nissen (afterwards minister in Fried-
land) and A. Brosing, experienced a remarkable pre-
servation of their lives. Returning in a wagon from
Salisbury, they found that the ferry-boat, on which
they hoped to cross the river, had been taken away.
The driver resolved to ford the river, though warned
not to do so, as the water was very deep. They had
scarcely entered, when the horses commenced swim-
ming, and the wagon rolled over twice. The driver
and three horses were drowned, but the two Brethren
succeeded in gaining a footing on the top of the wagon,
and remained in this perilous situation for two hours,
until they were rescued by a canoe.
66 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
settlers progressed rapidly. In Htl Br. Paul
Tiersch arrived as the first minister of the future
Salem congregation. He was soon after followed
by the Brethren John Lorez and Christian Gre-
gor, from Germany, accompanied by Br. Ettwein,
from Bethlehem. These Brethren, with Br. H.
C. A. de Schweinitz, from Bethlehem, had been
commissioned by the General Board of the Unity
to visit the congregations in North America.
During this visit several important changes were
made. The superintendence of the affairs of
Wachovia, hitherto vested in the General Board
in Bethlehem, was transferred to a separate Board
of Directors constituted for this province, con-
sisting of the Brethren Marshall, Graff, Tiersch,
and TJtley ; and the system of common house-
keeping, hitherto maintained in Bethabara, and
partly in Salem, was relinquished. In 1712 a
separation of the two congregations took place,
the majority of the inhabitants of Bethabara re-
moving to Salem, which novf became the centre
of trade and commerce in Wachovia. By these
measures the original design of establishing one
principal central congregation was carried out,
SALEM.— 17 GG. BY
nineteen years after the arrival of the first Bre-
thren in Wachovia.
At the close of 1712 the congregation of Sa-
lem contained thirty-eight married Brethren and
Sisters, two widows, forty-three single Brethren
and youths, twenty-two single Sisters and girls,
and fifteen children — one hundred and twenty
persons in all.
Among the married people were the following,
as first settlers in Salem : —
F. W. Marshall, director of outward affairs ;
Kev. P. Tiersch, minister;
Pvev. R. Utley, warden ;
Pan. Schnepf;
Matthew IMiksch ;
George Holder ;
Jacob Meyer ;
Jacob Steiner ;
Traugott Bagge, merchant ;
John Henry Herbst ;
Charles Holder ;
Yalentihe Beck ;
Philip Meyer ;
Chr. Gottl. Pveuter :
68 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Jacob Bonn, physician ;
J. G. Stockburger;
Gottfried Aust.
In 1T73 Br. Graff moved from Bethabara to
Salem. In June he had been consecrated a
bishop of the Brethren's church in Bethlehem,
by the Bishops M. Hehl and N. Seidel, and in
October he ordained the Brethren L. G. Bach-
hof and J. J. Ernst deacons of the Brethren's
church, the latter being appointed minister of
Bethania, and the former minister of the new
congregation of Friedberg.
FKIEDBERG. — In 2. 69
yii.
FHIEDBERG.— 1772.
In August, 1154, not quite a year after the
arrival of the first Moravian settlers in Wacho-
via, Adam Spach^ settled about three miles from
tlie southern line of the land of the Brethren.
In September (19th) he visited Bethabara for
the first time, to become acquainted with his
nearest German neighbors, and cut a road from
his house to Bethabara. At a second visit, in
December, he requested the Brethren from time
to time to send one of their number to hold
meetings in his house ; but, for various reasons,
' Adam Spach, bom in 1720, in Pfaifenhofen, Alsace,
came in 1754 to North Carolina ; died in 1801, leaving
nine children. His daughter, Johanna, born in 1766,
is still living at Salem.
*rO MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
this request could not be complied with at that
time. During the first alarms of the Indian war,
he and his wife were among those who took
refuge in the Dutch Fort.
At his oft-repeated and urgent solicitations,
Br. Bachhof visited Adam Spach on November
26th, n58, and preached in his house, eight Ger-
man families having assembled there for the pur-
pose. The commencement was thus made, and
preaching at this place continued at intervals,
the number of hearers gradually increasing, and
at one time considerably augmented by the ar-
rival of some families from Pennsylvania, pre-
viously in connection with the congregations at
Heidelberg and York, who now settled in this
neighborhood.
A meeting-house would have been built by
them at once, if they could have received any
promise or assurance of receiving a stationed
minister. Thus matters remained until 1706,
when, in answer to their petition, they received
the promise that a minister should be stationed
among them, which caused them to prepare im-
mediately for the building of a meeting-house.
FRIEDBERG. — 1112. Tl
During the preparations of tlie building, Peter
Frey died, and was buried in the present Fried-
berg burying-ground.
The house being finished, Br. Utley conse-
crated the same on March lltli, 1160, and kept
a love-feast for all those who desired to become
members of the new congregation. On the 12th
he preached publicly, and baptized two children,
viz., Joseph Frey and John Walk.
They now had stated service every four weeks,
and very soon fourteen married couples pledged
themselves to the support of a resident minister.
Their names were —
Valentine Frey, John Nicol. Boeckel,
Christian Frey, Fred. Boeckel, _
Peter Frey, Jacob Graeter,
George Frey, Martin Walk,
George Ilartman, Peter Yolts,
Adam Ilartman, Adam Spach,
John Mueller, Christian Stauber.
On February 18th, 1770, Br. L. G. Bachhof
was introduced as their minister by the Brethren
Graff and Utley.
In January, 1772, this society was formally
12 ^lOllAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
constituted a, INIor.ivian l>retlivcirs CongTcgaiion,
by the name of Friedherg (hill of peace), in
Avliich, besides the preaching of the Cospel and
other means of grace, the sacraments were hence-
forth regularly administered, the first comraunioii
being held January Hth, l'[t2.
In nC)8 (February 19th) the corner-stone was
laid for a larger church, which was consecrated
May 12th, ItSS, and served till 182t, when the
present church was finished and solemnly dedi-
cated.
FRIEDLAND.— 1180. 13
YIII.
FRIEDL AND.— 1780.
In nC9, quite unexpectedly, six German fami-
lies arrived from Broad Bay, in Maine. They
originally belonged to a larger company of emi-
grants from the Palatinate and Wurtemberg,
who, about the year 1138 or 39 had landed near
Broad Bay and the Muscongus River, in the
province of Maine. There they had settled, and
founded the town of Waldoboro', so called in
honor of the principal original proprietor of the
soil. General Waldo. They were Protestants,
either Lutherans or German Reformed, but for
a long while destitute of the means of grace.
Since 1162, Br. George Soelh, who, before he
entered the church of the Brethren, had been a
Lutheran pastor in Denmark, visited them from
time to time. Thus they became acquainted
1
^4 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
with the Brethren, and soon began to build a
meeting-house, with a view of retaining Br.
Soelle there as their resident minister. But as
there were legal difficulties concerning their title
deeds, and they could not enjoy full religious
liberty, they resolved, according to Br. Soelle's
suggestion, to emigrate to North Carolina.
Having been shipwrecked on the coast of Yir-
ginia, they arrived, by way of Wilmington, in
November, n69, on the Wachovia tract, poor,
wayworn, and many of them in ill health.
As the Brethren had not been apprized of
their intentions, no preparations had been made
for them. Some found a temporary home in
Bethabara, others in Salem, where some new
houses were yet unoccupied. In the following
year they were joined by another company of
eight families, with whom. Br. Soelle arrived."^
Not wishing to remain in Salem, they resolved
' The last survivor of these first settlers, Elizabeth
Ilein, late Vogler, died near Friedland, April 7th, 1855,
at the advanced age of eighty-five years and three
months.
FRIEDLAND. — IT 80. tS
to commence a settlement of their own on the
southeast corner of the Wachovia tract, where
nine lots, of two hundred acres each, were sold
to them, and thirty acres in the centre being
reserved for a meeting-house and school pur-
poses. In 1T71 nine houses were finished and
occupied, and the settlement received the name
of Friedland (land of peace).
In February, 1772, the corner-stone was laid
of the house destined for church and school pur-
poses. This house was consecrated to the wor-
ship of the Lord on the 18th of February, 1775,
and Br. Tycho Xissen was introduced as minis-
ter. The names of the members of this society
in connection with the Brethren's church were —
John Peter and Elizabeth Kroehn,
Michael and Catharine Rominger,
Christopher Philip and Barbara Yogler,
Melchior and Jacobina Schneider,
Frederick and Salonn Kuenzel,
Michael and Elizabeth Seiz,
Jacob and Barbara Rominger,
Frederick and Anna Maria Miller,
Jacob and Maro-aret Hein,
1 6 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Peter and Elizabeth Schneider,
John and Catharine Lanius,
Peter and Elizabeth Fiedler,
George Frederick and Gertrude Hahn,
Jacob and Elizabeth Ried.
In September, 1Y80, this society, which had
meanwhile increased to forty persons, received a
regular constitution as a congregation in fall
communion with the Brethren's church.
HOPE. — 1780. 11
IX.
HOPE.— 1780.
As early as the year 1T58, the Brethren Ro-
gers and Ettwein had kept meetings on the
southwestern borders of Wachovia, having been
invited there by Christopher Elrod and John
Douthit, who had enjoyed the protection and
hospitality of the Brethren whilst fugitives to
the "Dutch Fort" during the Indian war. They
repeatedly expressed their desire of entering
into a more close fellowship with the Moravian
Brethren, and soon attached themselves to the
congregation at Friedberg.
But as this was an entirely German congre-
gation, they desired to have an English Brother
residing in their midst. After some years, their
numbers increased by the arrival of several En-g-
T8 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
lish families from Carrol's Manor, in Marjlancl,
where Br. Joseph Powell had preached the Gos-
pel to them for some years. These were followed
by others a year or two later, all settling in the
southwest corner of the Wachovia tract, near
the Muddy Creek. For the time they partici-
pated in the enjoyment of the means of grace at
the neighboring congregation of Friedberg, the
Brethren Utley and Soelle attending to the Eng-
lish part of the congregation.
In 1775 the building of a meeting-house at
Hope was commenced, but not completed until
the spring of 1780.
On the 28th of March, 1780, the house was
solemnly dedicated to the worship of God, and
Br. John Christian Fritz placed in charge of the
little flock of Christ, which was, on the 28th of
August following, fully constituted a congrega-
tion of the Brethren's church. On this day, the
28th of August, 1780, two married couples, viz.,
John and Mary Padgett, and Benjamin and Mary
Chitty, were added to the congregation ; and on
the 24th of September the first children, William
Pettycord and Elizabeth Ellrod, were baptized.
HorE.— ItSO. TO
The holy communion was administered for the
first time on October 14th, to eight communi-
cants.
The burial-ground at Hope was laid out dur-
ing the same year.
80 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
X.
EEVOLUTIONAEY WAR.
The Moravian Church, as a body, has always
endeavored to abstain from any participation in
the political movements of the diiferent countries
to which the Lord in his providence has led
them. Without prescribing anything in this
respect to the individual members of the church,
leaving it to every one to cherish monarchical or
republican sentiments, to be unbiased in his po-
litical views, the church and all its governing
bodies have ever acknowledged and acted upon
the plain Gospel principle of submitting them-
selves to every ordinance of men for the Lord's
sake, 1 Peter ii. 13; and, as faithful and loyal
subjects, conscientiously to obey the laws of the
land in which the Lord has placed them, and to
love and honor their rulers and governors.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 81
Being conscientiously averse to bearing arms
and taking oaths, tliey — in the earlier times of
the renewed Brethren's church — would never re-
sort to violent measures for redressing their own
grievances, nor participate in any measures of
this kind adopted by others.
They therefore endeavored everywhere to com-
ply with the apostolic exhortation, that, first of
all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giv-
ing of thanks be made for all men, for kings and
for all that are in authority, that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and
honesty. 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2.
Moreover, in {jreat Britain and all the English
colonies they received important privileges by
the act of Parliament of 1149. It was then
enacted, "That from and after the 24th day of
June, 1149, every person being a member of
said Protestant Episcopal Church, known by
the name of Unitas Fratrum, or the United
Brethren, and which church was formerly set-
tled in Moravia and Bohemia, and are now in
Prussia, Poland, Silesia, Lusatia, Germany, the
United Provinces, and also in His Majesty's
82 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
dominions, who shall be required upon any
lawful occasion to take an oath in any case
where by law an oath is or shall be required,
shall, instead of the usual form, be permitted
to make his or her solemn affirmation or de-
claration in these words following: 'I, A. B.,
do declare, in the presence of Almighty God,
the witness of the truth of what I say.' Which
said solemn affirmation or declaration shall be
adjudged and taken, and is hereby enacted
and declared to be of the same force and effect,
to all intents and purposes, in all courts of
justice or other places where by law an oath
is or shall be required within the kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, and also in all and
every of His Majesty's colonies and dominions
in America, as if such person had taken an
oath in the usual form."
Furthermore it was enacted, "That every mem-
ber of the said church or congregation, resid-
ing in any of His Majesty's colonies in Ame-
rica, who shall at any time after the said 24th
day of June, 1749, be summoned to bear arms
or do military service in any of His Majesty's
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 83"
said colouies or provinces of America, shall,
on bis application to the governor or com-
mander-in-chief of the said colony or province,
or to such officer or person by whom such per-
son shall have been summoned or required to
serve or be mustered, be discharged from such
personal service : Provided, That such person,
so desiring to be discharged from such per-
sonal service, contribute and pay such sum of
money as shall be rated and assessed on him
in lieu of such personal service, so as such
sum shall be rated, assessed, and levied, and
be in such proportion as is usually rated, as*
sessed, levied, and paid by other persons resid-
ing in the same colony or province, who are
by reason of age, sex, or other infirmity un-
able to do personal service, and who are pos-
sessed of estates of the same nature as the
persons desiring such discharge."
Further it was enacted that this privilege
should be extended only to those who could pro-
cure a certificate, signed by a bishop or pastor,
proving their church-membership.
Now, when in ^768, by the many acts of op-
84 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
pression on the part of Governor Try on, the
associations of the " Regulators" were formed,
the Moravians in North Carolina took no part
whatever in these movements, either for or
against the governor, or the Regulators. Hence
they were looked upon with a suspicious eye by
both parties. In ITH civil war was fully de-
clared. Many deserted their plantations to join
the army, which was collecting near New Garden,
Guilford County, to fight against the governor,
and publicly declared that the Moravians, and all
those who had not assisted them, should after
harvest give the half of their produce to those
who had done the fighting. At the same time it
was insinuated to the governor that the Brethren
secretly supported the Regulators.
On May 16th a battle was fought on the road
leading from Hillsborough to Salisbury, five miles
west of the Great Alamance River, the forces of
the Regulators being about two thousand men,
those of the governor eleven hundred. The
action lasted about two hours, and resulted in
the total defeat of the Regulators.
On his march westward, th% governor reached
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 85
Betliabara on June 4tb, and encamped there
with his army several days. About three hun-
dred horses enjoyed the fine crop of grass in the
hirge fifty-acre meadow, for which, however, the
Brethren were paid.
The Brethren refrained, for conscience sake,
from taking any active part in the struggle for
independence. But, at the samq time, they were
perfectly willing to bear their part of the bur-
den imposed by the troubles of the war on the
land of their adoption.
In the beginning of ITYG some from these
parts joined the army collecting at Cross Creek
(now Fayetteville) to oppose the Highlanders,
who had come to the support of Governor Josiah
Martin. During this time some wagons from
the Moravian settlements were sent to Cross
Creek for salt. Being seen there, the report was
spread that, under the pretence of bringing salt,
munitions of war had been carried up the coun-
try, and secreted in the Moravian settlements.
Thereupon, after the battle of Moore's Creek, in
which the Tory army was defeated, the Com-
mittee of Safety, at Salisbury, sent a commis-
8
86 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
sion, consisting of seven officers and sixty men,
to investigate the trutli of the report. Febru-
ary 14th and 15th the three Moravian towns
were visited, and the officers had abundant op-
portunity of convincing themselves of the per-
fectly peaceful character of the inhabitants. The
Brethren, on their part, gave them a written
declaration that they would submit to all re-
quirements of the existing government of the
province, but should not meddle in any way with
the political movements of the country. The
commissioners, on their part, gave them a cer-
tificate that the rumors referred to above were
ungrounded, and that no one should molest the
Moravians. Soon after. Bishop Graff was cited
to appear before the Committee of Safety, in
Salisbury, to answer for an intercepted package
from Europe; which, however, contained nothing
of a political nature, but only the regular ac-
counts of other Moravian settlements.
In im the Brethren were required to take
part in the military service. They objected,
from conscientious motives, declaring again that
they should not refuse any tax or contribution
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 8T
laid upon them by the existing government.
This tax was a heavy burden, especially as the
price of provisions was very high, corn selling
at eight shillings, and salt at six pounds tea
shillings per bushel.
But still more trying was the so-called " Test
Act," of nV5, requiring of every one an oath of
fealty to the Government of the United States,
and connected with it an oath of abjuration to
King George. In case of refusal, expatriation
and confiscation of property was threatened.
On this account, the Brothers T. Bagge and
Blum were sent in August with a petition to the
State Assembly which held its sessions at Hills-
borough, by which, however, only so much was
obtained, that the enforcement of this act should
be postponed till the following year. A Brother
was sent to Bethlehem to consult with the Bre-
thren there, who were in the same difficulties and
at a loss how to act. Meanwhile many, espe-
cially the younger portion of the Moravians,
voluntarily took the State oath, whilst the older
and most influential members refused to do so.
Some of the neighbors, believing that the
88 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Moravians would surely be driven from the coun-
try, began to enter different parcels of their lands,
supposing that no lawful deeds were in existence ;
and even the town plots of Salem and Bethlehem,
as also the two mills, were entered by some specu-
lating neighbors at the rate of 50 shillings, Con-
tinental money, for 100 acres. That there was
considerable danger of the Moravians losing the
title of their land there is no doubt, especially as
the transfer of the legal title from James Hutton,
of London, to Fred. W. Marshall, a naturalized
citizen of North Carolina, had taken place after
the passage of the Confiscation Act of North
Carolina in 1111, and the legal proprietors were,
at that time, absent in Europe.
But the wisdom of this world is often con-
founded by the simple faith of the children of
God. When the Wachovia land had been bought
from Lord Granville, Count Zinzendorf, against
the advice of learned men of the town, insisted
on it, that the nineteen original deeds should be
given to J. Hutton "in trust for the Unitas
Frafrum,^^ which deed of trust made it apparent
now that the Confiscation Act could not well, in
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 89
right and equity, be extended to the Moravian
lands.
Still, it was a time of perplexity and great
anxiety for those Brethren, who, in the absence
of Brother Marshall, had the management of the
outward affairs of the church. Meanwhile, it
was a matter of great thankfulness that a peti-
tion sent to the State Assembly in Halifax,
handed in by the Brethren Praezel and C. Hecke-
welder, in January, 1179, was favorably received,
and the resolution was passed: "that if the
Moravians would render the prescribed affirma-
tion of fealty to this and the other United States
of America, they should remain in the undis-
turbed possession of their property, also be ex-
empt from all military service, but instead of it
pay a twofold tax."
According to this decision, all the Brethren,
who had not yet taken the Test Oath, by their
solemn affirmation before Justice Dobson, de-
clared their fealty to the United States, and re-
ceived certificates to that effect.
To aggravate their troubles, the seasons were
unpropitious, the price of provisions increased,
90 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
whilst the value of the paper currency was re-
duced to only four pence for the dollar. Apples
and peaches froze in the bud, and the wheat was
greatly injured by mildew, and the corn crop in
some localities totally failed. Salt was sold at
eighty shillings Continental money, or forty shil-
lings, specie, per bushel; iron at sixteen pence
per pound. Besides this, the smallpox spread in
Salem, brought there by a company of cavalry of
the Pulaski Legion, which had remained there
for several days. No less than forty persons
suffered from this disease, of whom, however,
only two died.
In the fall of the year. Brother Marshall ar-
rived, having been detained in Europe by the •
war since lYt5, and was followed in spring of
1^80 by Bishop J. F. Reichel, who was sent by
the General Board of the Unity on an official
visitation of all the Moravian congregations in
North America. By his judicious councils and
fatherly admonitions, the difficulties which had
arisen here, as well as in the congregations at
the North from conflicting political views, were
gradually overcome ; and be it said, in honor of
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 91
tlie German Brotlier, brought up in a monarclii-
cal country, that by his clear perception of the
state of affairs, and sound judgment, he succeeded
in reconciling many whose conscientious scruples
had left them in much perplexity.
His labors were signally blessed by the Lord,
and the harmony was restored, which is so essen-
tial to the welfare of a Christian community.
During Brother Reichel's visit, the monthly con-
ference of the ministers of the country congrega-
tions was instituted at Salem, Sept. 15th, 1*180,
which has been continued ever since. Friedland
and Hope received their full organization as
Congregations of the Brethren.
Of the incidents of the revolutionary war, the
following interesting particulars have been pre-
served, which, in their details, prove sufficiently
that our fathers conscientiously refrained from
any participation whatever in it.
In June, 1*780, more than a thousand Tories
assembled in the neighborhood of the Moravian
settlements, committing many acts of violence.
To oppose them, the militia was collected every-
where, which scoured the country, taking horses.
92 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
rifles, and provisions at tlieir pleasure. The
Moravian settlements were often visited. Mean-
while, 3000 Continental troops had assembled at
Cross Creek, and were joined by tOOO militia, to
march against the English. For their support,
supplies from the newly gathered v.iieat were
ordered, which, in Salem and neighborhood, were
collected by an officer and sixty men. Wagons
and horses were also taken, to convey the flour to
the army. In the disastrous battle of Camden,
in which General Gates was totally defeated,
some of our wagons and horses were lost, of
which six belonged to the Brethren of Bethania.
In August, several hundred men of the A^ir-
giiria militia, as scouting parties were quartered
at Bethabara. The military possession of the
place lasted three weeks, causing great scarcity
of provisions and suffering to the Brethren.
On Sept. loth, Brother Fritz received at Hope
a visit of sixteen horsemen, who were provided
for by him.
In October, a party of 500 militia made Betha-
nia their head-quarters. Soon after, 300 prison-
ers, anion q; whom were 50 En^-lish taken near
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 93
King's Mountain, were brought and kept there
nineteen days, until all provisions to be found in
tlie place were consumed.
lu n81,the Brethren had abundant cause of
appreciating the truth of the promise : lie shall
deliver thee in six troubles; yea in seven there
shall no evil touch thee. Job v. 19. For when,
in the first months of the year, the theatre of
war came nearer and nearer to the Moravian
settlements, still no actual hostilities occurred on
the Wachovia Tract.
January tth, 22 men, 40 horses, and 2 baggage
wagons of General Greene's division were quar-
tered in Salem, and remained there till February
4th.
January 12th, a committee of four Brethren
was appointed, to care for the military affairs, by
whom a barrack was erected at some distance
from the town, where a military store was kept
for some time. This military store, and a hospi-
tal, which had been erected in Salem, were re-
moved on February 5th, the Friedberg and Be-
thania Brethren furnishing wagons. On the same
94 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
day, General Pickens's corps encamped near Be-
thabara.
February Yth and 8tli, several hundred men of
Wilkes County (N. C.) and of Georgia militia
passed through Salem.
On the 9th of February, the British army
under Lord Cornwallis encamped in Bethania,
and passed the next day through Salem and the
Friedland settlement, which proved a rather ex-
pensive visit, Bethania alone losing 23 horses, 30
head of cattle, and all their poultry. Soon after
the Wilkes County militia paid a second visit to
Salem and Bethabara.
In November, 63 members of the Assembly,
with the newly elected governor, Alexander Mar-
tin, of Guildford County, spent several weeks in
Salem for the purpose of holding, their session,
which, however, failed for want of a quorum.
In January, 1182, this visit was repeated, and
the members of the Assembly had abundant op-
portunity of making themselves fully acquainted
with the religious and social state of the Mora-
vian settlements.
This was important for the Brethren, and
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 95
proved of advantage in obtaining an especial Act
from tlie Legislature of North Carolina assem-
bled at Ilillsboro', by which F. W. Marshall was
duly acknowledged as the proprietor of the Wa-
chovia Tract, and all the lands which had been
acquired by the Brethren in North Carolina.
Brother Traugott Bagge was elected member
of the Assembly, auditor, and justice of the
peace.
In this year the faithful pastor of the Salem
congregation, Brother J. M. Grafl", the first bi-
shop ever residing in any of the Southern States,
departed this life.
In 1783, the solemn thanksgiving day for the
restoration of peace, was celebrated on July 4th
with great joy and gladness of heart, and with
especial gratitude to the Lord for all his mercies
and providential preservations during these try-
96 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
XT.
HALF A CENTURY.— 1803.
Early in the morning of January 31st, HSl,
tlie cry of fire disturbed the peaceful slumbers of
the inhabitants of Salem. The tavern was in
flames, and the inmates. Brother and Sister
Meyer, with their children, and Brother Holland
had barely time to escape. The kitchen build-
ing was destroyed, but the stables and other out
buildings were saved. The timber and other
building materials, which had been prepared for
the erection, during this year, of a building for
a " Single Sister's House," were now used for
the re-construction of the tavern, and the erec-
tion of the sister's house deferred until the follow-
ing year.
In September, 1*784, Br. Jolin Daniel Kohler
arrived from Europe, as minister of the congre-
gation at Salem. He was accompanied from
HALF A CENTURY. — 1803. 9T
Litiz, Pa., by Brother Simon Peter, who took
charge of the congregation at Friedberg.
In company with Brother Kohler from Europe
were also Brother and Sister John and Benigna
de Watteville, who were deputed by the General
Board of the Unity to pay an official visit to all
the American congregations. They sailed from
the Texel (Holland), September 2Tth, 1183, and
arrived off Sandy Hook in November, but a con-
tinuation of severe northwest storms, rendered
all their attempts to land at New York fruitless,
so that they finally resolved, in January follow-
ing, to sail to the West Indies. On the Hth of
February, n84, they stranded on a cliff near the
Island Barbuda, which they reached in boats with
difficulty. The governor of the island assisted
and entertained them kindly. From Barbuda
they proceeded to Antigua, and thence to Phila-
delphia and Bethlehem, which place was reached
June 2d.
After having visited all the northern congre-
gations. Bishop Watteville proceeded to the south
and arrived in Salem October 23d, 1785, where
he remained till April 26th, 1*786. During his
9
98 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
stay, a Board of Directors for this province was
recognized, and called the Provincial Elders' Con-
ference, consisting of the Brethren Marshall,
Kohler, Praezel, and Benzien. This directing
Board resolved to erect at Bethlehem, a new
church building, in connection with a dwelling
for the minister. The site thereof having been
determined upon, the corner-stone was laid on
April 8th, 1*185. The Lord's blessing accompa-
nied this undertaking in such a manner, that,
notwithstanding the apparent insufficiency of
means, through the active Christian zeal of the
people, this church-building was ready for con-
secration before the close of the year, its solemn
dedication to the worship of the Triune God
taking place November 26th, 1788. The daily
word of the church : Thus saith the Lord of
Hosts: My cities through prosperity shall yet
be spread abroad, afforded promise of his aid
and blessing in days to come. A large num-
ber from the other congregations were present
on the occasion, participating in the blessing,
attending the various meetings during the day.
On the following Sunday, tlie 30th, the first
HALF A CENTURY. — 1803. 90
public preacliing was hold in the new church,
Brother Kohler delivering the first sermon in
the German, and Brother Fritz, assistant minis-
ter in Bethabara, preaching in the English lan-
guage. Many of the neighbors were present,
the whole number being about GOO, whose at-
tention during service, and subsequent declara-
tions indicated that the Spirit of God had borne
testimony to the word of the cross.
The General Synod of the Brethren's Unity,
held at Herrnhut, Germany, in 1V89, which Br.
Benzien attended as delegate of the Wachovia
Conferences, resolved upon the establishment of
a Moravian congregation in South Carolina.
This was to be undertaken in compliance with
one of the many invitations which, since the close
of the war, had been extended to the Brethren
to increase the sphere of their usefulness. The
Hon. Henry Laurens, formerly President of Con-
gress, and one of the commissioners for the
United States at the peace of Paris, had long
been well acquainted with the Brethren at Sa-
lem. Whilst visiting in Bethlehem, Pa,, during
the war, he held friendly intercourse with Bishop
100 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Ettwein, and proposed to him an establishment
of the Brethren in South Carolina, for which
purpose he made both verbal and written pro-
mises to convey to them, by deed of gift, two
thousand acres of land in the district of Ninety-
Six.
This district embraced the northwestern part
of the State of South Carolina, deriving its name
from a military fort built in the Indian wars,
about ninety-six miles from Orangeburg. On
its site now^ stands Cambridge, in Abbeville Dis-
trict.
To comply with the direction of the General
Synod, the Brethren Marshall and Benzien un-
dertook a journey to this then wdld and unsettled
region in November and December, 1190. They
first visited Mr. Laurens at his rice-plantation
on the Cooper Eiver, nine miles from Monk's
Corner ; then his partner, John Lewis Gervais,
in Charleston, by whose assistance they were
conveyed to the agent in Abbeville District,
Major Bowie. After a difficult journey through
swamps and over almost impassable roads, they
reached, on December 10th, the wilds of Long
HALF A CENTURY. — 1803. 101
Cane Creek and Reedy Branch, where Major
Bowie assisted them in selecting, from the five
thousand acres belonging to Mr. Laurens, a
tract of two thousand acres which seemed well
adapted for a settlement, distant about twenty-
five miles from the Savannah lliver. As the
season was already far advanced, the survey
could not at the time be made. They thereupon
returned home. Major Bowie promising them
that as soon as practicable he would have the
survey completed. Before this was accomplished,
however, Mr. Laurens died ; and as by his last
will and testament all his property was be-
queathed to a grandchild, without any provision
being made therein for the proposed grant and
settlement, the whole plan had to be abandoned.
On May 31st, 1^91, Salem was visited by the
first President of the United States, George
Washington, then on a visit to Alexander Mar-
tin, Governor of North Carolina. Gen. Wash-
ington spent a day among the Moravians, visiting
the houses of the single Brethren and single Sis-
ters, and in the evening attending service in the
church. The President seemed to take an espe-
9*
102 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
cial interest in the water-works by which the
town was supplied with water.
The following address was presented to him
on June 1st : —
" J(9 the President of tlie United States:
"Happy in sharing the honor of a visit from
the illustrious President of the Union to the
Southern States, the Brethren of Wachovia hum-
bly beg leave, upon this joyful occasion, to ex-
press their highest esteem, duty, and affection
for the great patriot of this country.
"Deeply impressed as we are with gratitude
to the great Author of our being for his un-
bounded mercies, we cannot but particularly
acknowledge His gracious providence over the
temporal and political prosperity of the country,
in the peace whereof we do find peace, and
wherein none can take a warmer interest than
ourselves, in particular when we consider that
the same Lord who preserved your precious per-
son in so many imminent dangers has made you
in a conspicuous manner an instrument in his
hands to forward that happy constitution, to-
HALF A CENTURY. — 1803. 103
getlier with those improvements whereby our
United States begin to flourish, over which you
preside with the applause of a thankful nation.
"Whenever, therefore, we solicit the protec-
tion of the Father of Mercies over this favored
country, we cannot but fervently implore His
kindness for your preservation, which is so inti-
mately connected therewith.
''May this gracious Lord vouchsafe to prolong
your valuable life as a further blessing and an
ornament of the constitution, that by your wor-
thy example the regard for religion be increased,
and the improvements of civil society encou-
raged.
"The settlements of the United Brethren,
though small, will always make it their study to
contribute as much as in them lies to the peace
and improvement of the United States, and all
the particular parts they live in, joining their
ardent prayers to the best wishes of this whole
continent that your personal as well as domestic
happiness may abound, and a series of successes
may crown your labors for the prosperity of our
times and an example to future ages, until the
104: MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
glorious reward of a faithful servant shall be
your portion.
" Signed, in behalf of the United Brethren in
Wachovia,
"FREDERICK WILLIAM MARSHALL,
"JOHN DANIEL KOHLER,
"CHRISTIAN LEWIS BENZIEN.
"Salem, the 1st of June, 1791."
To which the President of the United States
was pleased to return the following answer : —
^^To the United Bretlireii of Wachovia :
" Gentlemen : I am greatly indebted to your
respectful and affectionate expression of personal
regard, and I am not less obliged by the patri-
otic sentiment contained in your address.
"From a society whose governing principles
are industry and the love of order much may be
expected towards the improvement and pros-
perity of the country in which their settlements
are formed, and experience authorizes the belief
that much will be obtained.
" Thanking you with grateful sincerity for
HALF A CENTURY. — 1803. 105
your prayers in ray bebalf, I desire to assure
you of my best wishes for your social and indi-
vidual happiness.
"G. WASHINGTON."
Before the close of the century, during the
latter half of which the Brethren had settled in
this State, the erection of a new and larger
church for the increasing central congregation of
Salem became necessary. The corner-stone was
laid June 1st, 1T98, with appropriate ceremonies.
Br. Marshall superintended the erection of this
building, and had the pleasure of witnessing its
completion in 1800. On November 9th, 1800,
it was solemnly consecrated to the worship of
Almighty God ; the Brethren Benzien, from Sa-
lem, and Simon Peter, of Bethania, officiating
upon this occasion. Br. Kohler, who had during
the space of sixteen years officiated as pastor of
the Salem congregation, and since 1790 as bishop
of the Brethren's church, was prevented from
participating on this joyful occasion, having
already set out on his journey to Europe, to
attend the General Synod of the church at
106 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Hcrnibut, in Germany, in 1801. On the loth
of November, an important memorial day of the
church, the holy communion was for the first
time administered in the new church, the com-
municants of all the neighboring congregations
having assembled for the purpose.
At the General Synod of 1801, Br. C. G.
Reicliel, then minister in IS^azareth, Pa., and
principal of the Boys' Boarding- School at Naza-
reth Hall, was appointed Br. Kohler's successor.
He was consecrated a bishop of the Brethren's
church by Bishop Ettwein, and arrived in Salem
May 31st, 1802. Br: Marshall had departed
this life in February of the same year. Shortly
before his death he wrote a long letter to Br.
Beichel, containing minute directions in refer-
ence to his journey, the provisions and other
needful preparations for "camping out," &c. ; an
interesting document, showing that fifty years
ago a journey to or from Pennsylvania was a
greater undertaking than a voyage across the
Atlantic in our days.
Br. Reichel entered upon his duties as pastor
of the Salem congregation on June 6th, 1802,
HALF A CENTURY. — 1803. 107
and served fuitlifullj till April, 1811. lie was
at the same time president of the General Direct-
ing Board, in which were associated with him
the Brethren Benzien (Br. Marshall's successor
as proprietor and administrator of the "Wachovia
estates) and Simon Peter (minister of Betha-
bara).
In the year 1803, fifty years having elapsed
since the arrival and settlement of the Brethren
at Bethabara, in this State, the event was cele-
brated by a solemn jubilee, held on the Hth of
November at Salem. All the members of this
first congregation, with their children, were in-
vited to repair to Salem, and the same invitation
was extended to the adult members of the con-
gregations at Bethania, Friedberg, Friedland,
and Hope. Contrary to expectation, the wea-
ther on this day proved unusually pleasant for
the lateness of season, so that a large number
were able to attend. These met at half-past
nine o'clock A. M. in the handsomely decorated
church, uniting in rendering thanks and praises
to that unchangeably gracious God and Saviour
whose mercies had never failed throughout the
108 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
half century past. Deeply bowed down before
Him, who had indeed done great things for them,
the voice of gladness and rejoicing broke forth,
and their hearts united in covenanting anew with
the Lord, and with each other, to be and to re-
main His faithful people. At the love-feast,
held in the course of the day (of which upwards
of five hundred and sixty person partook), the
aged Br. John Beroth, of Bethania, one of the
two survivors of the twelve Brethren who com-
menced Bethabara fifty years before, was present,
together with his wife ; Br. Grube, then eighty-
eight years of age, had sent from Pennsylvania,
where he then resided, a congratulatory ode com-
posed by him for the occasion, which we insert
in full :_
BR. GRUBE'S HYMN.
1. Du liebe Wacliauer Gemein' !
Ich stimm' lieut' in dein Loblied ein.
Das du zu deinem Jiibelfest
Frohlich dem Herrn erscliallen liisst,
Fiir alles was Er hat an dir getlian
Seitdem die ersten Briider kamen an.
HALF A CENTURY. — 1803. 109
2. Icli war audi mit in ihrer Zahl,
Und freu' mich noch derselb'geii Wabl,
Da wir zwolf Briider auf dem Land',
Wo eine kleine Hiitte stand,
Den Einzug laielten, voller Dankbarkeit,
Und war'n beisamm'n in Lieb' und Einigkeit.
3. Es war uns freilich alles neu,
Und mangelte uns mancherlei ;
Wir waren aber nicht verlegen,
Und hofften auf des Heilands Segen ;
Man hijrte, denn ein Jedes war vergniigt.
Von keinem auch die mind'ste Klage nicht.
4. Zur Arbeit musst' man sicb gleicb riibr'n,
Um ein Stiick Land zur Saat zu clearn;
Die Kost d^bei war freilicli scbmal,
Allein wir batten keine Wahl,
Als Hominy war unser tiiglich Brodt,
Und wir genossen's mit Dank gegen Gott.
5. Wir gin gen wohl zu manchen Tagen
Aucb aus, um etwas zu erjagen ;
Allein das scblug uns immer feH ;
Bekamen denn zum Welscbkornmebl
Doch ein'ge Kiirb'se, so war's sclion und gut,
LTnd wir behielten immer guten Muth.
10
110 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
G. Pcnn audi an cliesem wiisten Ort
Erquickto uns des Heilands Wort ;
Wir weideten ims immer d'ran,
Und unser "blut'ger Sclimerzensmann
Erwies sicli uns selir freundlicli und voll Huld,
Und liatte mit uns Kindern viel Geduld.
7. Er selbst wusst' uns' audi zu bedcckcn
In mandierlei Gefalir und Sdirecken.
Bei'm Biiumefellen sdiien einnial
Ein Bruder unserer kleinen Zahl
Durdi einen Ast tudtlidi verletzt zu sein ;
Dodi konnt' man siclx bald seiner Besserung freu'n.
8. Als ich ein lialbes Jalir gewest
Bei'n Briidern, ward idi abgeloSt
Durdi unseren sel'gen Bruder Fries,
Der sidi als ein Mann Gott's bowies,
Und sicli zu allem williglich gab lier,
Und wenn's audi nur die Ruli' zu liiiten war'.
9. So wurde der Anfang gemadit.
Man hat's damals wolil nicht gedadit
Was unser Herr in fiinfzig Jaliren,
Darunter manclie scliwere waren,
Zu Seinem Lob und Preis docli liat bcreit't.
Er sei dafiir gelobt in Ewigkeit !
HALF A CENTURY. — 1 803. Ill
10. Icli wiinsclie nun besonders heut'
Dass unser Heiland hiitt' die Freud',
Dass jede Seel' auf diesem Land'
Reclit innig wiird' mit Ihm bekannt ;
0 moclite Jedes ganz fur Ihn gedeih'n !
So wird Er sich, und wir mit Ihm uns freu'n.
11. Gott gebe dass der ganze Sinn
Nur immer geh' auf Jesum liim,
Auf Seine Martcr, Blut und Tod,
Der uns erlust aus aller Noth,
Und dass die Hcrzen bleiben abgekebrt
Von allem, was zur Welt, zum Fleiscli geliort.
12. Mit Jesu Segen geht denn fort,
Rccbt frob, ein Jed's an seinen Ort.
Er sei Eucb alien innig nab',
Ibr mog't sein dorten oder da.
Ja Er erbcbe die durcbgrab'ne Hand
Uber Eucb all' auf dem Wacbauer Land' !
Within fifty years there were baptized l,35t
children of the members of the six congregations,
43 adults, and about 1,300 children of friends
and neighbors ; G66 persons were buried at the
different burial-grounds.
112
MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
The whole number of church-members and
children at the close of the half century pre-
sents the following
SUMMARY.
Communi-
cants.
Non-com-
municants.
Children.
Total.
1.
Salem .
180
27
83
290
2.
Bethabara .
33
16
32
81
3
Bethauia
76
9.1
122
293
4.
Friedberg .
75
10!)
147
231
r,
Friedland
21
72
42
135
6.
Hope
35
66
74
175
420
3S5
500
1305
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY. — 1804. 113
XIL
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY.
1804.
The year 1804 was distinguished in our pro-
vince by the commencement of the Salem Female
Academy, which has since become well known in
the Southern States of the Union, and has flou-
rished more than fifty years. This institution,
now one of the oldest in the Southern States,
kept in grateful remembrance by many Christian
mothers who here received their first and lasting
impressions of eternal truths, and have had the
satisfaction of seeing their daughters and grand-
daughters educated at the same place, and accord-
ing to the same Christian principles. For the
sake of the juvenile scholars of this institution,
we have endeavored, with the kind assistance of
its present principal, to collect all the dates re-
10*
114 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
ferring to the outer history of this institution.
Still more important and more instructive would
be the inner history thereof, embracing the expe-
riences made by the hi:ndreds of little girls and
young ladies who have been its inmates, and of
the influence which their education in the Mora-
vian boarding-school has had upon their after-
life on earth, and upon their dying hour ; but to
trace their inner history would be in most cases
impossible, and we, therefore, leave it to the for-
mer pupils, into whose hands this historical sketch
may fall, to supply this want from their own per-
sonal recollections, feeling confident that they
could do it more completely and more to their
own satisfaction than we can. The following
carefully collected notes, though referring only to
the outer history will, we trust, not prove unin-
teresting.
Before the close of the last century, the wish
had often been expressed by visiting friends and
strangers, when seeing the educational advan-
tages of the youth of this small Moravian town,
that their children might be permitted to partici-
pate in them, and there were among the members
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY. — 1804. 115
of the Salem congregation not a few, who consi-
dered it their Christian duty to serve their friends
in the Southern States, and at the same time to
work in their heavenly Master's cause by raising
the standard of female education.
These petitions became more urgent, and the
plan received a more definite expression, after
Bishop Reichel, the founder, and for seventeen
years principal of Nazareth Hall, ^ had become the
president of the Wachovia Provincial Conference,
the directing Board of the Moravian congrega-
tions at the South. The main difficulties seemed
to be the want of a suitable house for school
purposes, and an adequate number of well quali-
fied female teachers. Brother Reichel's daugh-
ter, educated in the Bethlehem Female Academy,
assisted by M. S. Meinung and J. E. Praezel, who
had given full satisfaction in the day-school for
little girls, sufficed for the present, and among
the older girls who had received private lessons
from Brother C. Th. Pfohl, there also were some
who could be calculated upon as suitable assist-
» History of Nazareth Hall, from 1755 to 1855, p. 29.
116 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
ants for the future. Taking all this into consi-
deration, the Conference resolved, October 31st,
1802, to give to Brother Samuel G. Kramsch^
minister of the English congregation at Hope,
who, as well as his wife, had served as teachers
in boarding-schools, and were well acquainted
with their details, the appointment of commenc-
ing a female boarding-school at Salem.
On October 6th, 1803, the corner-stone for the
building to be erected on the square between the
"congregation house" and sister's house was laid
with appropriate ceremonies, Bishop Reichel
conducting the religious exercises both in the
meeting-hall and out-doors, in the German lan-
guage.
In a copper case — inserted into the corner-
stone, at the northwest corner of the building —
the following inscription was deposited in the
German and English languages: —
In tlie name of God,
the Father and the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
in the year
after the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
one thousand eicht hundred and three,
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY.. — 1804. 117
on the sixth day of October,
in the twenty-seventh year
of tlie Independence of the United States of America,
when Thomas Jeflferson was President of them,
in the fiftieth year
after the settling of the first members of the Cliurch
of the United Brethren in North Carolina and
the beginning of building Bethabara,
in the thirty-eighth year
since the beginning of building Salem,
the foundation-stone of this house
for a BOARDING SCHOOL of Girls
was laid in a solemn manner,
in the presence of the whole Congregation,
with fervent Prayer to our Lord,
that by the School, to be established in this House
His name may be glorified,
His kingdom of Grace be enlarged in this Country
and the Salvation of Souls
of those, who shall be educated therein, be promoted.
The daily word avas :
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house. Acts xvi. 31.
A dying, risen Jesus,
Seen by the eye of faith,
At once from danger frees us,
And saves the soul from death.
118 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
The doctrimal text :
He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in
his mouth. Is. liii. 9.
May our mind and whole hehaviour
Bear resemblance to our Saviour
And his sanctifying merit
Hallow body, soul, and spirit.
Among some other papers preserved iu the
corner-stone is also a list of all the little girls
belonging to the Salem congregation under 12
years of age. They were 42 in number, 23 at-
tending school. Of these 42 girls and infants,
12 have, in the course of time, become teachers
in the academy, and one of them is teaching to
this day, and well remembers how she and her
companions were standing by and watching fa-
ther Reichel, Benzien and Kramsch, each in turn,
strike three times with a mallet the stone in
which the copper case was inclosed, where also
her name was recorded,- how Brother Reichel,
standing upon the corner-stone, implored the
blessing from on high upon the building under-
taken in the name of the Lord for the promotion
of His glory and the spiritual and eternal well-
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY. — 1804. 119
being of many immortal souls. Among the
strangers attending these impressive ceremonies
was a gentleman from Georgia with his little
daughter, who two years after entered as the first
pupil from that State.
Before the house could be finished, on May
16th, 1804, four pupils were brought from Hills-
borough, and, for the present, received in some
rooms of the " Congregation-house," tempora-
rily arranged for the purpose. These were,
Misses Elizabeth Strudwick, Ann and Elizabeth
Kirkland, and Mary Philips. Soon after four
others came, Anna and Felicia Norfleet from
Halifax, Anna Steirs from Fayetteville, and Re-
becca Carter from Caswell Count}^, all from this
State. To these were added Anna Pauline Sho-
ber and Mary Steiner from Salem, of which the
former, Mrs. Herman, is still living here, and the
latter, Mrs. Dencke, still teaches in the academy.
The first teachers, Sophia Dorothea Reichel
(Mrs. Seidel), Maria Salome Meinung (Mrs.
Ebbeke), and Johanna Elizab. Praezel (Mrs.
Meinung), are still living, the two former in
Bethlehem, Pa., and the latter in Salem.
120 MORAVIANS IN NORTH t!AROLINA.
The new bouse having been finished in a year
and nine months, the 16th of July, 1805, was set
apart as the day of its solemn consecration. The
boarders, village girls, and the ministers of the
different congregations having assembled at one
o'clock in the prayer-hall of the congregation-
house, a procession was formed by the scholars,
headed by the clergy, and followed by the teach-
ers. When leaving the house, a choir of trom-
bones performed a solemn tune, and, entering the
new house, another choir of trombones received
them in a similar manner. The whole company
assembled in the sleeping-hall (being the largest
room in the house), in two large semicircles, the
pupils all being dressed in white, and the musical
choir, accompanied by a pianoforte and other in-
struments, sang —
Peace be to this habitation,
Peace to every soul therein ;
Peace which flows from Christ's salvation,
Peace, the seal of cancelled sin ;
Peace that speaks its heavenly giver,
Peace to earthly minds unknown ;
Peace divine, that lasts forever,
Here erect its glorious throne.
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY. — 1804. 121
To which all assembled there responded —
This habitation,
And all who dwell therein,
Fill with salvation ;
0, may in each be seen
True grace
And lovely childlikeness.
After a fervent dedicatory prayer by Br. Rei-
chel, a love-feast was held, according to the well-
known and time-honored custom of the Brethren,
in which also participated some strangers from
Camden, S. C, who on that day brought their
two daughters, the first pupils from South Caro-
lina, which, next to our own State, has sent the
most scholars to our academy.
The first inmates of the new house were Br.
and Sr. Kramsch and their two daughters (still
living), twenty boarders, and four teachers. After
the usual evening meeting of the congregation,
the scholars assembled once more before the
house, surrounded by the whole congregation, to
offer hymns of thanksgiving, praise, and prayer.
In 1806 the first printed circular was issued,
11
122 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
containing the "Terms and Conditions of tlie
Boarding-School for Female Education in Salem,
N. C," from which it appears that the age of
admittance was between eight and twelve years,
and the age of fifteen terminated the stay of pu-
pils at school. The yearly expenses were calcu-
lated at about $160; entrance-money, $5.
The branches taught were : Reading ; gram-
mar; writing; arithmetic; history; geography;
German, if desired ; plain needlework. Extra
branches : Music, drawing, and ornamental nee-
dlework.
In 1806, Br. Sam. G. Kramsch was succeeded
by Br. Abraham G. Steiner, who for ten years
presided over the institution as its inspector or
principal. The number of scholars increasing,
a third room had to be arranged in 180t, and
a fourth in 1811 ; when a new building was
erected, as the dwelling-house for the principal
and his family, and thus some room gained in the
academy building. This, however, not proving
sufficient, a number of boarders had to lodge in
private families, which was continued for some
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY. — 1804. 123
years, until, by additions to the old building,
more house-room could be gained. In 1814,
seventy-four of the pupils were ill of the measles,
which then was extensively prevalent in the place,
in no case, however, proving fatal.
In 1816, Br. Steiner was compelled, by the
failure of his health, to resign his charge, and
Br. G. Benjamin Reichel, son of Bishop lleichel,
entered as the third principal, and served the in-
stitution faithfully till his death, in December,
1833. During his term an addition was made to
the academy building in 1824, containing, besides
some school-rooms, a chapel, which was solemnly
consecrated on September 24th, and gave rise to
the so-called "chapel festival," which no doubt
many scholars remember as a time of rich and
lasting spiritual blessings. In 1826 the number
of room companies had increased to six, repre-
senting six of the Southern States of the Union.
A few years later the number had considerably
decreased, partly owing to the great money pres-
sure at the South, the erection of other boarding-
schools, and the failing health of the principal.
124 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Br. Iveichel breathed liis last December 20th,
1833, having beeu shice 1816 inspector of the
academy, and since 1829 also pastor of the Salem
congregation.
In 1834, Br. J. C. Jacohson, minister at Betha-
nia, was appointed principal of the academy, and
filled the station for ten years. During his time
the number of boarders again increased, and
reached in 1838 one hundred and eighty, in-
structed by nineteen teachers. To make more
house-room, a new chapel was built in 1835, and
gradually one room after the other taken pos-
session of in the old " congregation-house," until
in 1841, after a new chapel for the congregation
and a minister's dwelling had been built, the
whole house, with its premises, was appropriated
to the purposes of the school.
In 1844, Br. Jacobson accepted an appoint-
ment as principal of the Boarding- School for
Boys at Nazareth Hall, Pa., and Br. Charles A.
Blech entered as the fifth principal.
He was succeeded, in December, 1848, by Br.
Emil A. de Schweinitz as the sixth, and in Feb-
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY. — 1804. 125
ruary, 1853, by his brother, tlie present well-
known principal, Br. Robert de Schweinitz. It
will hardly be necessary to say anything abont
the present state of this institution, so exten-
sively and so favorably known in the Southera
States, and so fully patronized by the daughters
and granddaughters of former pupils. But, for
future reference, we will mention two dates, viz.,
August 9th, 1854, on which day the corner-stone
of the neiu academy huilding^ was laid with ap-
propriate religious ceremonies, and March 24th,
1856, on which day the beginning was made of
removing from the old to the new house. As the
old building required extensive repairs, all the
scholars, 216 in number, lived within the walls
of the new building, besides which about 75 day
scholars attended the school.
' For a description of the new academy building,
see Appendix — Public Buildings.
11*
126
MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
The following is a list of the
RESIDENT TEACHERS OF THE SALEM FEMALE
ACADEMY;
including the teachers of the village girls' school,
with the time of their service. Those marked
thus (f ) have since departed this life. Those in
Italics are still in service.
Enter-
ed.
Left.
Remarks.
1.
Sophia Dorothea Reichel
1804
1809
Mrs. Seidel.
2.
Maria Salome Meinung .
1804
1807
Mrs. Ebbeke.
3.
Johanna Elizabeth Praezel .
1804
1808
Mrs. Meinung.
4.
fJoh. Sophia Shober
1805
1806
Re-entered
1807
1809
Mrs. Zevely.
5.
tJoh. Elizabeth Reuz .
1805
1816
Ee-entered
1811
1814
"
1816
1820
Mrs. Ochmao.
6.
fAgnes Susanna Praezel
1805
1816
Mrs. Petersen.
7.
tMr.s. M. E. Praezel, assisting
in town school
1805
1813
8.
tBarbara Leiubach
1806
1807
9.
fPhilipina Christman .
1806
1820
Mrs. Summers.
10.
tKebecca Hartman
1806
1812
11.
Mary Walk . . . .
1806
1809
Mrs. Curtis,
Norfolk.
12.
Susanna Elizabeth Peter
1807
1827
Mrs. Zevely.
13.
fElizabeth Danz
1807
1807
Mrs. Winkler.
14.
Johanna Elizabeth Nissen
1808
1811
Mrs. Fries.
15.
Salome Fetter ....
1809
1814
Re-entered
1815
1817
" . . .
1818
1819
Mrs. Friday.
16.
Maria Steiner ....
1811
1820
Re-entered
1824
1828
3Trs. Denke.
17.
fHenrietta Fried. Fierling .
18U
1814
Mrs. Reichel.
18.
Anna Paulina Shober .
1812
1817
Re-entered
1819
1820
Mrs. Herman.
19.
jMaria Eliz. Kummer, assist-
ing in town school
1814
1814
20.
tAnna Rebecca Holder .
1814
1815
Re-entered town school
1821
1822
Mrs. Zevely.
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY. — 1804.
121
Enter-
ed.
Left.
Remarks.
21.
Charlotte Louisa Kramsclx .
1814
1831
Re-entered
1833
1837
Mr.s. Blickens-
dorfer, Ohio.
22.
Christina Christman, town
school
1814
1820
23.
tElizahpth Transou
1814
1816
Mrs. Sen.seman.
24.
"fJoh. Salome Christman
1816
1820
Mrs. Wohlfarth.
25.
Christina Caritas Schneider .
1817
1824
3frs. Benzien.
26.
fMaria Theresia Shober
1817
1819
Mrs. Wolle.
27.
•j-Maria Cath. Transou .
1817
1818
28.
tMaria Fetter ....
1817
1818
Died in the Aca-
demy.
29.
Ruth Montgomery Rhea
1818
1820
Mrs. Levering.
30.
Susanna Elizabeth Loesh
1819
1820
Mrs. Crause.
31.
Henrietta Kluge
1819
1821
Mrs. Moore.
32.
fMaria Belling
1820
1821
33.
fMaria Gambold .
1820
1824
Mrs. Copeland.
34.
fCaroliue Eberhard
1820
1828
Mrs. Eder.
35.
fMary Towle ....
1820
1823
Mrs. Wellfare.
36.
fSarah Louisa Towle .
1820
1825
Mrs. Vierling.
37.
fWilhelmina Boehler .
1820
1823
Mrs. Lash.
38.
Sibylla Dull ....
1820
1824
Mrs. Reich.
39.
fCathar. Reich
1821
1827
Mrs. Clewell.
40.
Johanna Eliz. Schulz, town
school
1822
1824
41.
Caroline Schulz
1822
1823
Mrs. Steiner.
42.
Lydia Stauber
1824
43.
Regina Lcinbach .
1824
1827
Re-entered
1829
1842
44.
fEliza Bagge ....
1824
1827
45.
Mariam Erenstine Benade
1825
1829
46.
fSophia Christ. Kitschelt
1825
1827
47.
Charlotte Friedrica F/ohl
Re-entered
1826
1854
1852
48!
f Henriette Boelow .
1826
1827
Mrs. Christman.
49.
Eliza Wilhelm. Vierling
1826
1829
Re-entered
1831
1832
Mrs. Kremer.
50".
Anna Abig. Leinbach .
1826
1827
Re-entered town school
1829
1844
" academy .
1844
1844
" town school
1845
51.
Anna Elizabeth Christ .
1827
1839
Mrs. Boner.
52.
Gertraut Spach
1827
1829
Mrs. Mflcke.
63.
Lucia Theophila Benade
1827
1829
54.
Sophia Dorothea Bvliaa
1827
1830
Mrs. Boner.
65.
Doroth. Sophia Ruede .
1827
1832
Re-entered
1834
1839
Mrs. Vogler,
56.
Lisette Schulz
1828
1839
57.
M. Louisa Reich
1829
1835
Mrs. Vogler.
58.
fLisette Meinung .
18.30
1836
Re-entered
1837
1844
128
MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Enter-
ed.
Left.
Remarks.
59.
Martha Blum . . . .
1830
1832
Mrs. Griflin.
60.
Clara C. Reichel .
1833
1834
Re-entered
1836
1841
Mrs. Hagen.
61.
Theresia Willi. Biilow .
1831
1810
Mrs. Siddal.
62.
tMaria Lavinia Blum .
1835
1841
Died in the Aca-
demy.
63.
Dorothea Matilda Schulz
18.35
1836
Mrs. Clewell.
64.
Henriette Schnall .
1835
65.
Louisa Hagen . . . .
1836
1839
Mrs. Susdorf.
66.
Henriette Shober
1837
1838
67.
Louisa Bulnw ....
1837
68.
Louisa Riide . . . .
1837
1840
Mrs. Rogers.
6f>.
Rahel Byhan.
1838
1839
Mrs. Lineback.
70.
Theresa Petersen .
18.38
1843
71.
Luciuda Paulino Blum .
1839
1840
Mrs. Zevely.
72.
Henriette Reich
1839
1844
Mrs. Biilow.
73.
Melinda Senseman .
18.39
1847
Mrs. Hewitt.
71.
Susan Rights ....
1839
1842
Re-entered
1813
1816
Mrs. Keehln,
75.
Joh. Sophia Zevely
1839
1844
Re-entered
1815
1851
1850
1856
76.
Anna Aurelia Herbst
1810
1841
Mrs. Reich.
77.
Miranda Rosalia Keehln
1810
1845
Mrs. Christ.
78.
fLouisa Lauretta Vogler
1811
1844
Mrs. Senseman.
79.
Sarah Ann Elvira Lineback .
1841
1843
Re-entered
1844
1845
Mrs. Fulkerson.
80.
fAntoinette Bagge .
1841
1812
Mrs. Brietz.
82.
tHonriette L. Petersen .
1812
1843
Mrs. Friebele.
S3.
Emma Aurelia Senseman
1842
1843
Mrs. Steward.
81.
Lucinda Bagge
1842
1843
Re-entered
1844
1814
8.5.
Liseite, Brietz
1843
86.
Caroline M. Levering
1843
1845
Mrs. Riide.
87.
Julia Blum ....
1843
1844
Mrs. Boner.
88.
Paulina E. Vogler, town school
1844
1844
89.
Caroline B. Burkhard .
1844
1845
Mrs. Rude.
00.
Charlotte Smith
1844
1850
Mrs. Reinke.
91.
Angelica Reichel
1844
1819
92.
Olivia S. AVarner .
1844
1844
Re-entered
1845
1850
1852
1849
1851
1856
93.
Emma Lineback
Re-entered
1814
1856
1852
91.
Augusta M. Hagen .
1815
1847
95.
Maria L. Haman .
1845
1848
Mrs. Christ.
96.
Francisca Benzien .
1846
1848
Re-entered
1851
1854
Mrs. Fisher.
97.
Amelia C. Reichel .
1847
1847
Mrs. Kummer.
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY. — 1804.
129
Enter-
ed.
Left.
Remarks.
9S.
Eliza Senseraan
1847
1847
Mrs. Senseman.
Re-entprcd
1855
18.56
99.
Augusta Hall . . . .
1847
1852
Mrs. Swink.
100.
Clementina I'fohl .
1847
1849
Mrs. Meiuuug.
101.
Harriet Buttuor
1847
1848
102.
Sophia Foltz . . . .
1847
18.55
103.
Ernestine T. Reicliel
1848
104.
Elizabeth Haiues .
1848
18.52
Mrs. Rights.
10.i.
tEllen Welltare
1848
1849
106.
Jane Well/are
1849
107.
Hermina Benzien .
1849
lOS.
Emma Pfohl . . . .
1849
1851
Mrs. Grunert.
109.
Louisa Herman
Re-eutered
1849
1856
18.1
no.
Adelaide Herman .
1850
111.
Sophia Krenier
Ke-entered
1851
1854
1853
112.
Emma Sensemaa .
1851
1852
113.
Adelaide Banner
1851
1852
Mrs. Everhart.
lU.
JIargaret Jlorrow ,
1852
1852
115.
Theophila Well fare
1852
116.
Lisette Van Vleck .
1852
1854
117.
Caroline Viewers .
1853
118.
Ellen Blickensdorfer
1852
1855
Mrs. Starbuck.
119.
120.
Louisa Van Vleck .
Maria Yogler . . . .
1851
1854
1851
121.
Anna Deniuth
1855
1855
Mrs. Regenass.
122.
Elizabeth Sieioers .
1855
123.
Elizah. Chitiy . . . .
1856
124.
Gertrude Fant
1856
Of these 124 teachers, two have died in the Aca-
demy. Of the 3,470 scholars who entered the Institu-
tion, according to the following tables, only 12 have
departed this life while at school.
In reference to the fourth column, showing the num-
ber at the close of the year, it is to be remarked that
this is near the highest number of the year, as always
more or less left the school at that time. The highest
number of boarders, at one time in the house, was 230.
The whole number of scholars during the year 1856,
was 315, instructed by eighteen resident, and eleven
non-resident teachers.
130
MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
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at the
close
of the
year.
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No.
left
during
the
year.
No,
entered
during
the
year.
S?;5g5E;;^ss?2SSSgSj^s^S5S£2§
c3
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aOQOc«ooooc»cocoacoooo<»ooco(»coascococoQO
SALEM FEMALE ACADEMY. — 1804.
131
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1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
132 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
XIIL
INDIAN MISSION.— 1801.
From the very commencement of the settle-
ment of the Moravian Brethren in North Caro-
lina, it was their desire to resume the missionary
labors among the Indian tribes of the South, for
which in 1734 the first, though unsuccessful, at-
tempts had been made in Georgia. During the
Indian wars, when detached companies of Che-
rokee warriors enjoyed the hospitality of the
" Dutch Fort," several chiefs expressed a de-
sire of receiving teachers from the Moravians.
Among the latter, Br. Ettwein especially took a
deep interest in the spiritual welfare of these
wild sons of the forest; and when taking his
daily ride from Bethabara to Bethania, fraught
with peril for life and limb, he in his silent medi-
tations and communions with his Heavenly Mas-
INDIAN MISSION. — 1801. 133
tcr dedicated himself anew to His service, wher-
ever it might be ; and would have felt quite
resigned to the will of the Lord, if through his
Ijeing taken prisoner by the Indians he could
have been enabled to proclaim to them the glad
tidings of salvation. Nothing, however, could
be done at that time. In 1775, a Cherokee chief,
passing through Salem, assured the Brethren
that they would be welcome amongst his nation,
if they would instruct their children. After the
close of the war, in 1784, Br. Martin Schneider
paid a visit to the towns of the Cherokees on the
Tennessee River. War, however, breaking out
again soon after, for fifteen years nothing was
heard directly from the Indians.
Meanwhile, a missionary society had been
formed in Bethlehem in 1787, for propagating
the Gospel among the heathen, and more espe-
cially the Indians of this continent. This so-
ciety was joined by many Brethren in Salem, and
thus the missionary spirit kept alive and fostered
for more favorable times.^
• In the shadj grove of the Bethabara graveyard is
to be found the grave of one of tjie first missionaries
12
134 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
In October, It 99, at a meeting of the mem-
bers of this society, several Brethren, and among
them especially Br. Abraham Steiner, spoke very
warmly for the so long neglected Indians. It
was thereupon determined to visit them again,
and the Brethren Abraham Steiner and F. C. de
Schweinitz went in November to Tillico, a mili-
tary station on the Tennessee, to have a talk
with their red brethren in tliat vicinity. This
visit was repeated in August, 1800, and, after
many difficulties, the chiefs of the Cherokees
gave a formal consent to the establishment of a
school and mission station.
In 1801 this mission was commenced by Br.
A. Steiner, assisted by G. Byhan, who, settling
of the Brethren's cliurcli, Mattheio Stack, wlio liad gone
^ to Greenland in 1733, and commenced tlie mission
there. He came to Bethabara in 1772, spending there
in retirement his last years. January 19tli, 1783, lie
was invited to Salem, to participate in the semi-cent-
enary jubilee celebration of the Greenland mission,
and in the love-feast gave an animated account of his
experiences and trials in the missionary service. He
died in 1787.
INDIAN MISSION. — 1801. 135
in July at a place called "The Springs," named
this first missionary station Springplacc. In
1802, Br. Steiner was succeeded by Br. Jacob
Wohlfahrt as missionary, who remained till 1805,
Br. Byhan serving as assistant till 1812.
In 1805, Br. John Gambold entered the Che-
rokee country as missionary, and served there
with great fidelity for twenty-two years, closing
his labors in Oo-yu-ge-lo-gee, the second mission
station, commenced in 1821, where he departed
this life, January 20th, 182T. His first wife,
Anna Bosina Kliest (who died in 1821), had
been sixteen years teacher in the Female Acade-
my at Bethlehem, and was a very efficient help
in the missionary labors of Br. Gambold. "When
they came to the Cherokee country (within the
borders of Georgia, North Carolina and Ten-
nessee), they found the prospects not very en-
couraging. The Cherokees, though taking the
first steps towards civilization, seemed utterly
averse to accepting the Gospel message ; and
though they could not but esteem the white
stranger and his devoted wife, yet five years
more elapsed until the widowed Cherokee Sister,
136 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Margaret Yaun, on August 13tb, 1810, by holy
baptism, was received into the communion of
the Christian church, as the first visible fruit of
nearly ten years' anxiety and toil. She was fol-
lowed, in 1813, by Charles Hicks (by his bap-
tismal name called Renatus), a man of influence
among his nation. Gradually the number of
believers increased, and in 1819 a meeting-house
was built in Springplace.
In 1830 there were thirty-one baptized Indians
belonging to the congregation of Springplace,
and twenty at Ooyugelogee. At the former place
Br. G. Byhan was stationed ; at the latter, Br. H.
G. Clauder. Both, however, were obliged soon
after to leave the country, as they would not take
the part of the Georgians against the Cherokees.
Springplace and Ooyugelogee were abandoned in
1838. The Cherokee nation, and, with them, the
Christian Indians, were compelled to emigrate.
The Brethren J. K Smith (who had served as
missionary), Miles Yogler, and Herman Riide
accompanied them westward. On September
16th, 1838, the Mississippi River was reached,
and there, in a solemn manner, the teachers of
INDIAN MISSION. — 1801. 13T
their flock closed with prayer their labors this
side of the Father of Rivers. In the far West,
in Arkansas Territory, the scattered remains of
this mission were gradually collected again, and.
Ne^o Springplace and Canaan are the places
where the mission work of the Moravians among
the Chcrokees is continued to this day.
The following Brethren have served success-
ively as missionaries among the Cherokees: —
Abraham Steiner, 1801.
Gottl. Byhan, 1801—1812; 182t— 1832.
Jacob Wohlfahrt, 1802—1805.
John Gambold, 1825—1827 ; 182t.
John Ren. Schmidt, 1820—1828; 1838—1839.
George Proske, 1822—1826.
Francis Eder, 1828—1829.
H. G. Clauder, 1828—1837.
Miles Yogler, 1837—1844; 1852— '54; 1854.
Gilbert Bishop, 1841.
D. Z. Smith, 1841—1849.
Ediuard MocJc, 1847.
Alanson Wellfare, 1847—1855.
Samuel Warner.
12*
138 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
In 1807 an attempt was made to carry the
Gospel to the Creek nation, the Brethren Peter-
sen and Burkhardt having been sent from Eu-
rope for this purpose. They, however, met with
many obstacles, and some severe trials, amidst
which Col. Hawkins, then the government agent,
showed them much friendly aid. Suffering se-
verely from fever, they were visited in 1810 by
two Brethren from Salem, one of them. Dr. Shu-
man, affording them medical aid. Though the
Indians along the Flint River received them
kindly, still the main object of their mission was
not attained ; and the breaking out of the war
obliged them to return to Salem, without having
seen any fruit of their spiritual labor. Br. C.
Petersen is still living in Salem, well stricken in
years.
NEGRO MISSION. — 1822. 139
xiy.
NEGHO MISSION.— 1822.
In February, 1822, a missionary society was
organized among the Sisters of the Salem con-
gregation, called " The Salem Female Missionary
Society," for the purpose of aiding the missions
of the United Brethren, and also to provide for
the spiritual instruction of the Africans among
and around us. The first officers of this Society
were : —
Mrs. Susannah Elizab. Kramsch, President.
Sister Mary Steiner, Treasurer.
" Louisa E. Kramsch, Secretary.
" Susan E. Peter, Collector.
" Hedwig E. Shober, "
" Rebecca Holder, ''
" Sarah Steiner, "
The formation of this society led to a resolu-
140 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
tion on the part of the Provincial Board to insti-
tute regular preaching for the colored people in
and around Salem, and to form from amongst
them a separate congregation. Br. Abr. Steiner
kept the first service on March 24th, attended by
about sixty hearers ; ten of these formed the nu-
cleus of the new congregation. Among these
vf^ere four communicants. In 1823, a separate
place of worship for the negroes was built near
the old parish burial ground, and solemnly con-
secrated on the 28th of December. Here, all
people of color have an opportunity of regularly
hearing the preaching of the Gospel on the Lord's
day ; and the sacraments are also administered
from time to time.
From the " Church Book for the people of
color, in and about Salem, commenced 24th
March, 1822, as the day on which it was first
essayed to form them into a separate Christian
Church," we have gleaned the following statis-
tics : —
From 1822—1856, lU children have been
baptized, and 14 adults ; ^9 persons were buried,
among these, 3 negroes above 80, 2 above 90,
NEGRO MISSION. — 1822. 141
and 1 above 100 years of age ; 10 marriages
took place with the consent of the owners. The
present number of communicant-members is 15.
The following brethren have had the pastoral
charge of this small congregation : —
Brother Abr. Steiner, 1822—1832.
J. R. Smith, 1832—1838.
S. Th. Pfohl, 1838—1841.
G. Byhan, 1842—1852.
J. A. Friebele, 1853.
In December, 184Y, Br. Jacob F. Siewers, of
the Salem congregation, accompanied by his wife,
set out on a new field of labor which seemed to
open in East Florida at Mr. Alberti's^i^lantation
on the St. Mary's River, called Woodstock Mills.
Though received with great kindness and libe-
rality, supported by Mr. Alberti, still he soon
found his position a very trying one, and that
freedom of action was impeded by many obsta-
cles. Not able to overcome these, he left in the
fall of 1850, and Br. J. A. Friebele, who, at Mr.
Alberti's urgent desire, had been sent there in
1851, also returned after remaining not quite two
years.
142 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
XY.
HOME MISSION.— 1835.
Would to God that all the Lord's people
were prophets, and that the Lord would put his
Spirit upon them ! (Numb. xi. 29), was the an-
swer of Moses, the man of God, when his ser-
vant Joshua in a complaining spirit told him that
Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp.
The Spirit of God had come upon them and
they could not and would not resist. In a simi-
lar manner the Spirit of God came upon one of
the working-men of Salem, a cabinet-maker by
trade, who, in 1^98, had assisted in the building
of the Salem church. He felt an irresistible de-
sire to go out of the camp, to seek the destitute
and neglected, to go to the haunts of the intem-
perate and profane, to visit the hovels and cabins
of those for whose souls' salvation no one seemed
to care. A more destitute and forsaken reo:ion
HOME MISSION. — 1835. 143
could hardly be imagined than was to be found
in the Blue Ridge on the northern border of our
State, twenty-five years ago. Drunkenness and
gambling, sabbath-breaking and swearing, igno-
rance and vice reigned there supreme. No church,
no schoolhouse was to be found far or near.
Thither, following the divine impulse, and trust-
ing to the guiding care of his Ijord and Mas-
ter—but still, with fear and trembling, Br. Yan
X. Zevely bent his steps in 1839. He was re-
ceived with open arms by some, but on the ma-
jority his simple Gospel message seemed to make
no impression ; he was ridiculed and hooted at
by the ignorant and vicious, and if he had gone
to seek his own glory, he would have never gone
again. But his heavenly Master had sent him,
and in his own time he opened the hearts of those
so long neglected mountaineers, and gradually
the object of his visit was understood and appre-
ciated.
Meanwhile, these missionary visits were exert-
ing a silent but steady influence at home. A
number of brethren and sisters, already inclined
to do something in the cause of the Lord, readily
144 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
responded to the call of forming a Home Mis-
sionary Society, and on Nov. 11th, 1835, this
society was organized by the adoption of a con-
stitution, of which the following is the pream-
ble :—
" Whereas we, as members of the TJnitas Fra-
trum, or Church of the United Brethren, in con-
formity with the spirit and purposes of our bre-
thren, generally, throughout the world, feel it
both as a duty and a warm desire of our hearts,
to exert ourselves in promoting the spread of the
saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Je-
sus Christ amongst our fellow-men, especially in
such places as appear to be more destitute of
Christian instruction than others ; and
" Whereas, we feel ourselves encouraged by
the abundant success which has crowned the
endeavors of our brethren in other parts of the
world, in attempting to benefit our Christian
fellow-sinners, by sending unto them devoted
and experienced men, in order to instruct and
exhort, advise, and direct them ; that, by the in-
strumentality of such friendly messengers of sal-
vation, under the blessing of God, the ignorant
HOME MISSION. — 1835. H5
may be tauglit, the careless roused, inquirers
directed, the wavering established and strength-
ened, the thriving encouraged and confirmed ;
and all this in the simplest, plainest, most un-
obtrusive, but, at the same time, most affection-
ate and fervent manner — in imitation of Ilim,
who went about doing good, and seeking to
save that which is lost;
" Therefore, we the subscribers have resolved,
in the name of God, to form ourselves for the
attainment of the above-mentioned words, into
a Society, under the name of the ' United Bre-
thren's Home Missionary Society of North Ca-
rolina.'"
This society numbers at present about 200
members.
At the first meeting of the Board, of which
Bishop Bechler was President, Br. Zevely was
regularly commissioned as Home Missionary of
this society both for the mountain region of Yir-
ginia and some counties of North Carolina,
south of Salem. He continued his visits from
year to year. Especially along the road to the
Volunteer Gap, a work of God became manifest.
13
146 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
A meeting-house was erected by the mountain-
eers, which, though destitute of architectural
beauty, still answered all the purposes intended,
and showed their willingness to receive the mes-
sage of the Gospel. A number even applied
for closer church-fellowship in 1838, which, how-
ever, was denied at the time, the German Dias-
pora* ideas still prevailing, and the consequence
was, that others reaped where the Moravians had
sown.
Meanwhile, Br. Zevely continued his labors,
partly alone, partly in company of other Bre-
thren, among which we name Br. John Yogler,
and persevered, amidst no small occasional ob-
stacles, until the infirmities of advanced age ad-
monished him to intrust the main burden of the
work to younger shoulders. Still, he continued
to visit his children from time to time till 1856,
when he, nearly seventy-six years old, bade them
1 In Germany, the Diaspora laborers visit numbers
of the established churches, not to proselytize, but to
evangelize. In the United States, one cannot be sepa-
rated from the other.
HOME MISSION. — 1835. 14T
an affectionate adieu. About this time there
were several of the families heretofore visited by
Br. Zevely who desired to have their children
baptized. As Br. Zevely was not an ordained
minister, Bishop W. H. Yan Yleck, at his solicita-
tion, visited the mountain field, accompanied and
conveyed thither by the before-mentioned Br.
John Yogler. These three Brethren spent seve-
ral weeks in the mountain trip, Br. Yan Yleck
preaching and baptizing, and all exhorting, en-
couraging, distributing religious tracts, &c. They
were everywhere kindly received, even roads were
especially opened for their carriage to pass, and
many precious meetings held, to the edification
of both parties.
Since 1845, the Brethren Rights, Riide, and
Hagen successively attended to this work, preach-
ing partly in meeting-houses, partly in private
dwellings, and also administering the holy sacra-
ments to such as had become members of the
church by baptism or confirmation.
It now became desirable to have a permanent
station, where regular service might be held, and
the holy sacraments be administered. After
148 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
several attempts, a suitable locality, on ''Ward's
Gap," about nine miles north of Mt. Airy (fifty
miles from Salem), was found ; and, by the kind
aid from Salem and the neighborhood of the
place, means were raised for building a conve-
nient church, which was solemnly consecrated to
the Lord, by Bishop Herman, on November 24th
and 25th, 1852. On the second day the mem-
bers of the congregation now formed at this
station, called Mount Bethel, partook, for the
first time in the new church, of the holy com-
munion.
In the spring of 1854, the missionary, Br. Jacob
Siewers, removed to this station with his family,
and found a temporary dwelling in the church,
until, in June, 1855, the log house at the foot of
the hill was so far completed that it could be
occupied. Since then, a Sunday-school has been
opened, and there is reason to hope that this
work of the Lord will bear blessed fruits for
eternity. The number of members at the close
of 1856 was thirty-seven, of which twenty-seven
are communicants.
NEW CONGREGATIONS. — 1830. 149
XYI.
NEW CONGREGATIONS.— 1830.
Previous to 1830, the "Western fever" had
spread among many of the settlers on the Wa-
chovia tract. Hearing of the rich soil of the
far West, and looking upon their own poor,
worn-out fields, and the innumerable gullies,
washed out by the rains, gradually overspread-
ing the arable land, many desired to better their
temporal condition, and, forgetting for a while
the higher wants of the soul, sold their planta-
tions, and bent their steps to the untrodden
wilderness of the far West. Thus especially the
congregations of Hope and Friedland were con-
siderably reduced in number. Among the wan-
derers was Br. Martin Hauser, a descendant of
the first settlers of Bethania, hence often called
Hausertown. After five weeks' toilsome journey,
13*
150 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
he reached Bartholomew County, in Indiana, in
1829, and found there some of his former neigh-
bors, who, settling near each other, naturally de-
sired to hear the preaching of the Gospel again,
now more valuable to them than formerly, when
within the sound of a church-bell. After some
correspondence with the Provincial Helpers' Con-
ference at Salem, Br. Hauser was appointed to
hold meetings for the settlers. In 1830 a tract
of two hundred and forty acres was bought, and
the town Hope laid out. Br. L. D. de Schwei-
nitz, then living at Bethlehem, visited the settlers
in the same year, and on June ITth organized
them into a Moravian congregation. In 1832
they were cheered by a visit of Br. Bechler, from
Salem, and in 1838 the church erected there was
solemnly consecrated by Bishop A. Benade, the
President of the Northern Conference, and this
congregation has ever since remained in connec-
tion with the northern section of the American
Brethren's Church.
A similar settlement was commenced, about
ten years later, in Edwards County, Illinois, whi-
ther some families from this neighborhood had
NEW CONGREGATIONS. — 1830. 151
emigrated. A year after its commencement, in
1846, Br. M. Hauser took charge of the gradu-
ally increasing congregation, as their minister ;
the place being now constituted as a separate
Moravian congregation, by the name of New
Salem, which, however, has since then been
changed into West Salem, there being another
New Salem in that State. In 1849 this congre-
gation gained considerable accessions in numbers
by a company of emigrants, who, having been in
connection with the church in Germany, sought
and found a welcome reception among their Bre-
thren in this country.
This congregation, since 1851 under the pas-
toral care of Br. E. T. Senseman, remained in
connection with the North Carolina section of
the church till 1855, when, with the consent of
all parties, it was transferred to the charge of
the Northern Conference, and, with it, the home
missionary work at Olney and other places.
Some members of the Bethania and other con-
gregations had settled, twelve or fifteen years
ago, and some even longer, in the neighborhood
of a school-house six miles west of Salem. Dif-
152 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA,
ferent Brethren kept occasional services there
until 1846, when a separate congregation was
organized, called New Philadelphia, under the
pastoral charge of Br. S. B. Hiibner, of Salem.
After the call of Br. Oerter to Bethabara, the
care of this little flock devolved upon him for
some time. Subsequently, steps were taken to
erect a separate place of worship, with a burial-
ground attached to it ; and a convenient frame
building was constructed during the year 1851.
On the 31st of October and 1st of November of
the same year, this building was solemnly dedi-
cated as a house of God. Br. Siewers, after his
return from Florida, served as pastor of this
congregation until he removed to Mt. Bethel.
Br. Bights, of Friedland, then attended to the
spiritual wants of this small flock till the fall of
1854, since which time several Brethren at Salem
have been preaching there at stated times, and
administering the holy sacraments.
Within the last few years two new stations
have been commenced by the pastor of the
Friedberg congregation, at Muddy Creek and
Macedonia. The former is situated west of
NEW CONGREGATIONS. — 1830. 153
Friedberg, two or three miles on this side of
the Yadkin River, and the latter in Davis Coun-
ty, the same distance on the other side, having
received its name from the circumstance that a
Macedonian cry came thence to the minister at
Friedberg : Come over and help us. This cry
was responded to by Br. Hagen, and his suc-
cessor continues the work commenced by him at
both places. At the old school-house. Muddy
Creek, a congregation was organized in 1853,
with seventeen communicant members, and in
1856 fifteen communicants were added to the
Brethren's church at Macedonia, after the newly-
erected log meeting-house had been solemnly
dedicated to the service of the Triune God on
May 25th and 26th of the same year.
154 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
XYII.
THE OLDER CONGREGATIONS.
1806—1856.
Concerning these last fifty years not mucli
need be said, as many of the older members of
the different congregations well remember the
transactions in which they took part. But as
dates are easily forgotten or misplaced, we add
a short sketch.
In 1806 and 180Y a visit on the part of the
Unity's Elders' Conference in Germany took
place in our congregations, the Brethren J. R.
Yerbeek and Charles de Forestier, members of
that Board, accompanied by their wives, having
arrived for that purpose. These were present
at the anniversary celebration of the congrega-
tion at Bethahara, N'ovember Itth, 1806, on
which occasion a memorial-stone was placed,
THE OLDER CONGREGATIONS. — 180G — 1856. 155
with solemn ceremonies, on the spot where the
first twelve Brethren had found the cabin which
afiforded them shelter on their arrival. The in-
scription, "Wachovia settlement, begun lYth
November, 1*753," was cut upon this stone, which
has since then been set up at the southeast cor-
ner of the Bethabara church.
In October of the same year, the corner-stone
was laid for a new church at Bethania, and the
building advanced, under the blessing of God,
in the course of the two following years, so that
the solemn consecration of it could take place
on the 19th of March, 1809 ; the following day
(20th) being set apart for the celebration of a
semi-centenary jubilee in memory of the com-
mencement of this congregation fifty years ago.
Many Brethren and Sisters from the other con-
gregations, as well as many persons from the
neighborhood, shared in the solemnities of these
days, which were principally conducted by Bishop
Reichel, from Salem. It is worthy of remark,
that of the original settlers six were present :
Henry and Barbara Shorr, G. Michael and Eli-
zabeth Ranke, and John and Catharine Beroth.
156 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
For several years, Brethren from Salem had
preached occasionally in Germantown and Lex-
ington, in the German and English languages, as
also in Surrey County, in a Baptist church. In
1810, Br. Gottlieb Shober, since 17tO a member
of the congregation at Salem, formally entered
into the service of the Lutheran Church, as or-
dained pastor of several Lutheran congregations
in the vicinity, and, for a time, also as president
of the Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, still
retaining his membership as a communicant of
the Moravian Church.
In 1811, Bishop Loskiel, in Bethlehem, having
been recalled to Europe, Bishop C. G. Beichel,
of Salem, was appointed his successor by the Su-
preme Board of the Unity, and Br. Jolm Herhst,
of Litiz, Pa., received the pastoral charge of the
Salem congregation. Having been ordained a
bishop of the Brethren's church, he arrived in
Salem in June, 1811 ; but in January, 1812, he
was called home by his Heavenly Master, in the
seventy-sixth year of his age. Though his min-
istration had been short, the sermons of the
venerable bishop made a lasting impression on
THE OLDER CONGREGATIONS. — 180G — 185G. 157
many. Br. Benzieu had departed this life the
November preceding, so that for a while Br.
Simon Peter attended to the spiritual concerns
of the Salem congregation.
In the fall of 1812 the vacancies were filled
again, Br. Jacob Van Vleck, from Bethlehem, en-
tering as president of the Provincial Board and
pastor of the Salem congregation, and Br. L. D.
de Schweinitz, who had resided some years in
Germany, took the management of the financial
affairs of the province. In 1815, Br. Yan Yleck
was ordained a bishop of the Brethren's church
by Bishop Reichel.
In 1816 the congregation in Salem celebrated
the semi-centenary jubilee of the commencement
of this congregation, which at that time counted
374 members.
Towards the end of 1817, and more especially
in the course of 1818, our settlements were visit-
ed by fevers, Salem and those south of it suffer-
ing most; in the former place, those attacked by
the disease amounted to 160, several of whom on
this occasion finished their course through time.
This was also the case in Friedland, whereas Be-
U
158 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
.thabara and Bethania continued almost free from
.the epidemic.
In 1822, Bishop Van Yleck resigned his offices,
,and retired from active service, and Br. A. Be-
nade,^ of Litiz, was appointed his successor, and
consecrated a bishop of the Brethren's church.
A boarding-school for boys was commenced at
■Salem in 1826, the former single Brethren's
house being used for that purpose, but, how-
ever, for want of scholars, it was maintained
less than two years.
On June 21st, 1828, the Stokes County Sim-
day- School Union was organized in Salem, under
the presidency of Pastor Shober, and established
;Sunday-schools at Brushy Fork, Pleasant Hill,
and elsewhere, which were numerously attended.
In the following year, on March 29th, a great
Sunday-school celebration took place in Salem,
about six hundred children having assembled
there from the neighborhood, with their teachers.
The church being too small for the assembled
• Bishop Benade still resides at Betlilelicm, aged
Dearly ninety.
THE OLDER CONGREGATIONS. — 1806 — 1850. 159
multitude, the love-feast, prepared for the child-
ren, was held in the square. Since then, an an-
nual sermon has been preached in reference to
the Sunday-school cause, either in Salem or in
one of the other congregations.
About the same time, the Salem Tract Society
was formed, auxiliary to the American Tract
Society. In 1829, also, the first sermon was
preached in Salem in the temperance cause, and
ten years later the Stokes County Bible Society
was organized.
Bishop Benade having returned to Pennsylva-
nia in 1828, was succeeded by Br. J. C. BecHer,
from Litiz, as president of the Provincial Board.
After the death of Br. G. B. Reichel, the pastor
of the congregation, in 1834, Br. Beckler also
served as minister of Salem. In 1835 he was
ordained a bishop of the Brethren's church, and,
as such, attended the General Synod of the
church, held in Herrnhut, Germany, in 1836.
In the fall of 1836, Bishop W. H. Van Vlech
entered here as president of the Wachovia Pro-
vincial Helpers' Conference, and pastor of the
Salem congregation, faithfully discharging his
IGO ^lORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
manifold duties until failing strength compelled
him to apply for assistants. During his term, a
pulpit was erected in the Salem church in 1838,
and used for the first time on Palm-Sunday; and
in 1841, December 12th, the new chapel was con-
secrated, the last meeting in the old "congrega-
tion-house" having been held on December 9th.
The Young 3fen^s 3Iissionary Society was also
organized in that year.
The year 1843 was remarkable on account of
the many cases of sickness. In the spring, 114
children in Salem (including about tO boarders
in the Female Academy) lay ill of the measles.
In the fall, about 100 persons suffered from inter-
mittent fevers ; in the Friedberg neighborhood,
about 350 cases of this sickness were counted ;
and afterwards the influenza prevailed to a consi-
derable extent. Twenty-four funerals took place
in Salem in that year.
After the General Synod of 1848, which Br.
Yan Yleck had attended, infirm health compelled
him to resign his offices. They were divided
between Bishop /. G. Herman, from Germany,
and Br. G. F. Bahnson, from Lancaster, both
THE OLDER CONGREGATIONS. — 180G — 185G. IGl
entering in 1849, the former as president of the
Provincial Board, the latter as pastor of the Sa-
lem congregation.
In the year 1849 important changes were com-
menced in the outward concerns of the Salem
congregation. By a resolution of the Congre-
gation Council, the monopolies existing hitherto
were abolished, and free trade established. In
the same year, the division of Stokes County was
resolved upon by the inhabitants of the county,
and, with the permission of the church authori-
ties, fifty-one acres of Moravian lands were sold
to the new county of Forsythe, and the new
county-town of Winston took in a few years the
place of the woods north of Salem, and the latter
increased rapidly, till the boundary-line of Win-
ston was reached.
In the course of time it became more and more
evident that the former so-called "lease system"
could not be longer maintained, according to
which only members of the Moravian Church
could be holders of real estate in the town of
Salem, and, after mature deliberation, it was
abolished on November ITth, 1856. By legis-
14*
1G2 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
lative enactment, soon after, a charter was ob-
tained for the now incorporated borough of Sa-
lem, by which it has, outwardly, fully entered
the ranks of other American towns, without,
however, changing in the least the ecclesiastical
connections of the congregation.
In 1853, on November l*7th, the Centenary
Jubilee of the Wachovia congregations was cele-
brated at Bethahara. Many Brethren and Sis-
ters from the congregations of Salem, Bethania,
Friedberg, Friedland, Hope, and Philadelphia
having assembled, as well as a large number of
friends and neighbors, the services of the day
had to be conducted in the open air, for which
the weather proved very favorable. In the eve-
ning a large number of persons marched, in
solemn procession, by torchlight, preceded by
the choir of trombones, up the adjacent hill, to
the hurial- ground, around which one hundred
torches had been placed, which, surrounded by
the forest-trees, afforded an impressive view.
Here, in the stillness of a calm night, solemn
hymns were sung, expressive of the happiness to
be at home with the Lord, and in remembrance
THE OLDER CONGREGATIONS. — 1806 — 1850. 103
of those who, within the eenturj past, had fallen
asleep in Jesus, and whose mortal remains were
here deposited ; after which, all returned to the
church, where, as the closing solemnity of the
day, prayers were offered up and praise rendered
once more unto Him whose mercies had been
unfailing during the century past.
On the second day of this jubilee, besides other
meetings, a solemn love-feast was kept in which
about 1200 persons participated.
In 1854, soon after Easter, Bishop Herman
left his home and family in Salem to make an
oflScial visitation to our mission among the Che-
rokee Indians in the Indian Territory. Having
accomplished the object of his mission, he had
gone several days on his homeward way when he
was arrested by the hand of the Lord. A ma-
lignant fever, after a few days' illness, terminated
his pilgrimage here below, and his services in the
church militant. He departed this life on the
20th of July, about 1100 miles from his home,
in Greene County, State of Missouri, in the 66th
year of his age.
In December of the same year, his office, as
164
MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
President of the Provincial Board, was filled
again by the writer of this historical sketch,
Levin T. Reichel, formerly stationed as pastor in
Litiz, Pa.
SUMMARY AT THE CLOSE OF 1856.
Communi-
cants.
Non-com-
muuicauts.
Children.
Total.
1.
Salem .
430
59
209
698
Betliabara .
36
32
31
99
8.
Bethimia
137
62
108
307
4.
Friedberg
164
114
151
429
.').
Muddy Creek
23
2
9
34
6.
Macedonia
lo
15
7.
Hope
33
10
18
61
S.
Friedlaud
47
5S
66
171
9.
Philadelphia
17
8
24
49
902
345
616
1863
MINISTERS OF SALEM CONGREGATION.
1G5
XYIIL
MINISTERS AND OTHER BRETHREN IN THE SER-
VICE OF THE PROVINCE IN GENERAL, AND OP
THE SALEM CONGREGATION IN PARTICULAR.
1. DUEING THE TIME OF THE BETHABARA ECONOaiY.
1
From
To
1.
Bcruh. A. Grube .
1753
1754
2.
Jacob Loesh, superintendent
of plantations
1753
1769
3.
John Jacob Fries .
1754
1755
4.
Gottlob Hoffman .
1755
1764
5.
Christ. H. Kauch .
1755
17.56
6.
David Bishop ....
1756
1760
7.
Christian Seidel, German min-
ister
1756
1759
Died
in office.
8.
J. M. Sauter . , . ;
1757
1760
Died
in office.
9.
Jacob Rogers, English minis-
ter of Dobbs' Parish .
1758
1762
10.
John Ettwein, German minister
1759
1766
11.
John Mich. Graff .
1762
1773
12.
Abrah. de Gammern
1762
1765
Died
in office.
13.
Lawrence Bagge
1764
1769
14.
Matthew Schropp .
1766
1767
Died
in office.
15.
Richard Utley, English minis-
ter of Dobbs' Parish .
1766
1770
16.
F. W. de Marshall .
166
MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
2. BISHOPS AND MEMBERS OF THE PROVINCIAL HELPERS
CONFERENCE.
(The Provincial Board. Nearly all living in Salem.)
'From
To
.
1.
Fred. Will, de Marshall, S. C.
Pi'esideut ....
1772
1802
Died
in office.
2.
John M. Graff, Bishop, 1773 .
1772
1782
Died
in offlce.
3.
PaulTiersch ....
1772
1774
Died
in office.
4.
Rich. Utley ....
1772
1775
Died
in office.
5.
John Daniel Koehler, Bishop,
1790
1785
1800
6.
Gottfried Praezel .
1785
1788
Died
in office.
7.
Christ. Lewis Benzien .
1785
1811
Died
in office.
8.
Charles G. Eeichel, Bishop,
President ....
1802
1811
9.
Simon Peter, Bethabara .
1803
1819
Died
in office.
10.
JohriHerbst, Bishop, President
1811
1812
Died
in office.
11.
Lewis D. de Schweiuitz .
1812
1821
12.
Jacob Va7i Vleck, President,
Bishop in 1815
1812
1822
13.
Christ. Fr. Schaaf .
1819
1841
Died
in office.
14.
Theodor Shultz
1821
1849
15.
Andr. Benade, Bishop, Presi-
dent .....
1822
1829
16.
John 0. Beckler, President,
Bishop in 1835 .
1829
1836
17.
Will. H. Van Vleck, Bishop,
President ....
1836
1849
18.
John C. Jacohson .
1841
1844
19.
Charles F. Kluge .
1844
1853
20.
John G. Herman, Bishop, Pre-
sident
1849
1854
Died
in office.
21.
George F. Balmson .
1849
22.
Emil. A. de Schweinitz .
1853
23.
Lewis T. Beichel, President .
1854
3. MINISTERS OF SALEM.
1.
PaulFiersch .
1771
1774
Died in office.
2.
John M. Graff, Epis.
1774
1782
Died in office.
3.
John Fr. Peter
1782
1784
4.
John Dan. Koehler, Epis
1784
1800
5.
Chr. Benzien .
1800
1802
6.
Charles G. Reichel, Epis
1802
1811
7.
John Herbst, Epis. .
1811
1812
Died in offlce.
8.
Simon Peter .
1812
1812
9.
Jacob Van Vleck, Epis.
1812
1822
G. Ben]. Reichel, assistan
; 1819
1829
10.
Andr. Benade, Epis.
1822
1829
MINISTERS OF SALEM CONGREGATION. IGT
MINISTERS OF SALI,M— Continued.
From
To
11.
G. Bouj. Keich.'l, minister .
1829
18.33
Died
in oflico.
12.
John C. Becklcr, Epis. .
183.3
1836
14.
Will.' H. Van Vleck, Epis. .
1836
1849
Henry A. Shultz, a.ssistant
1839
1842
Charles A. Bleck, "
1842
1844
Saial R. Iluebner, "
1844
1849
Died
in office.
A. A. Reinke . "
1848
1849
1.5.
George F. Bahuson .
1S49
4. WARDENS OF SALEM CONGREGATION.
(Having the management of the outward
ordained brethren.
Not all of them
1
John Klein ....
1770
1770
Died in office.
2.
Richard Utley ....
1771
1774
8.
J. G. Wallis ....
1774
1776
4,
C. G. Renter, surveyor .
1776
1777
Died in office.
o.
J. H. Herbst ....
177S
1780
6.
Jeppe Wiclsen (two weeks) .
1780
1780
Died in office.
•7
G. Praezel ....
17S1
1788
Died in office.
s,
J. H. Herbst ....
1788
1790
ft.
Abrh. Hessler ....
1790
1791
10.
Samuel Stotz ....
1791
1820
Died in office.
John Gambold, assistant .
1802
1804
Mast. Schneider, "
1804
1806
11.
G. Byhan ....
1820
1827
12.
WiU. L. Benzien .
Vacancy.
1827
1832
Died in office.
13.
S. Thomas Pfohl .
1837
Besides these brethren (and the administrators
and principals of Female Academy mentioned,
ch. II. and XII.), there have been a number of
Brethren, some of them ordained as Deacons
of the Brethren's Church, who, from ltG9 to
1823, attended more especially to the spiritual
168 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
and temporal concerns of the single Bretbreu's
establishment. In a similar manner Sisters have
been in the service of the church as superintend-
ents of the choir house of the single Sisters.
There were brethren, also, occasionally ap-
pointed as superintendents of the Salem boy-
school, among whom we name, because he has
not been mentioned elsewhere, C. Th. Pfohl, who
served in that capacity from 1^91 to 1802.
Since 1849, the boys' school has been placed
under a committee consisting of the ministers
and wardens of the congregation, and three bre-
thren elected by the congregation council.
The number of scholars at the close of 1856
was fifty.
There is also, since 1836, an infant school esta-
blished in the now so-called "Widows' House,"
managed by a Sister, averaging about thirty
children.
MINISTERS OF COUNTRY CONGREGATIONS. 169
XIX.
MINISTERS OF THE COUNTRY CONGREGATIONS.
(Only the resident ministers are mentioned in the following lists.)
1. BETHABARA.
f iFrom
To 1
1.
; Lawrence Bagge
1773
1784
2.
, John Jacob Ernst .
1784
1791
3.
Abraham Hessler .
1791
1800
Died in office.
4.
i John Jacob Ernst .
1800
1S02
5.
C. D. Buchholz. June to Oct.
]802
1802
6.
Simon Teter . . . '.
1802
1811
7.
j J. P. Kluge, assistant in 1S07
1811
1813
S.
! J. L. Strohle ....
Vacant.
1813
1827
Died in office.
9.
G. Byhan ....
Vacant.
1832
1837
10.
J. R. Schmidt ....
Vacant.
1839
1847
11.
L. T. Oerter ....
Attended to by the minister
of Bethania.
1849
1854
2. BETHANIA.
1.
David Bishop ....
1760
1763
Died in office.
2.
L. G. Bachhof .
1761
1770
3.
John J. Ernst .
1770
1784
4.
Valentin Beck
1784
1791
Died in office.
>')
Simon Peter .
1791
1802
6."
Christ. Th. Pfohl .
1802
1823
7.
J. P. Kluge, assistant
1813
1819
8.
Peter WoUe, "
1819
1822
9.
Charles A. Van Vleck
1822
1826
10.
J. C. Jacobsou
1820
18.34
11.
G. F. Bahnson
1834
1838
12.
Julius T. Beckler .
1838
1844
1.?.
F. F. Hagen .
1S44
IS.jl
14.
E. M. Grunert .
1851
15
no
MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
For a time two ordained Brethren were sta-
tioned at Bethania, and Brother C. Lash had the
management of the temporal affairs of the con-
gregation, which was to be placed on the same
footing as Salem, as a so-called "Place Congre-
gation," with lease system, etc. The place was
finally abandoned in 1822.
3. FRIEDBERG.
From
To 1
1.
L. G. Bachhotf
1770
1776
Died in oflice.
2.
Valent. Beck .
1776
1784
3.
Simon Peter .
17S1
1791
4.
Martin Schneider
1791
1804
5.
John Gambold
1804
1805
6.
C. D. Buchholz
1805
1806
7.
C. H. Rude .
1807
1822
8.
C. F. Denke
1822
1S32
9.
H. A. Schultz .
1832
1839
10.
S. R. HLibner ,
1839
1844
11.
E. T. Senseman
1844
1851
12.
F. F. Hagen .
1851
1854
13.
Lewis Rights .
1854
4. iiorE.
J. Chr. Fritz .
J. Jac. Wohlfert .
Samuel G. Kramsch
Abrah. Steiner
J. Jac. Wohlfert
J. L. Strohle .
Samnel G. Kramsch
C. F. Deuke .
The place -was considered
too unhealthy, and no
minister resided there till
1838. In 18.39 a new min-
ister's house was built, but
abandoned in 1841.
1780
1787
1787
1792
1792
1802
1802
1806
1807
1807
1807
1813
1813
1819
1820
1821
Died in office.
MINISTERS OF COUNTRY CONGREGATIONS. 17 1
B.OV'Er-Conti7iued.
H G. Glau.lor ....
Adam llamaa ....
This congregation is at pre-
sent under the pastoral
cliargo of the ministers at
Friedberg.
1838
1839
1839
18il
FKIEDLAXD.
1.
Toego Xisscn .
.
o
John Casper Heinzman .
3.
Fetor Goetje .
4.
J. Martin Schneider
;').
J. J. Ernst
6.
J. Jacob Wohlfert .
C. D. Bnchholz
8.
J. J. Wohlfert . .
9
C. D. Buchholz
10.
S. R. Hiibner .
11.
S. Thomas Pfohl .
12.
G. Bvhan
13.
Adam Haman .
Jfon-resident minister, at-
tended by S. R.
Hiibner,
from Salem.
14.
Lewis Rights, assistant in 1846
l;j.
F. F. Hagen .
16.
Lewis Rights .
Vacant.
17.
J. C. Cooke
177.5
1780
1780
1783
178.5
1786
1786
1791
1791
1800
1801
1802
1802
180.)
1805
1806
1807
1823
1823
1827
1827
1837
1837
1841
1841
1843
1847
ISol
1351
1851
1851
1854
1856
Died in office.
Died in office.
1V2 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
XX.
THE BRETHREN'S UNITY.
Before closing this historical sketch, it wiL
be necessary to make a few remarks iu reference
to the ecclesiastical connection of the Wachovia
Moravian Congregations with the other congre-
gations of the Brethren's Unity. By capital
from abroad the land was bought, the forests
cleared; by emigrants and colonists from Europe
and Pennsylvania the settlements were com-
menced, and though their descendants are now
fully able, by native talent and their own re-
sources, to maintain what their self-denying
grandsires have established for them, still not
only they are gratefully remembered by every
upright Moravian, but the connection hitherto
existing with the other parts of the Unitas Fra-
trum, is cheerfully maintained, with such modifi-
THE brethren's UNITY. ITS
cations as altered circumstances necessarily re-
quire.
Whilst formerly ofTicial visitations on tlie part
of the governing Board of the Unity were deemed
indispensable to maintain the connection, in mo-
dern times this object has been gained by the
occasional visit of Brethren from our parts as
deputies to the General Synods, hitherto always
held in Germany. These delegates were, on for-
mer occasions, elected or appointed by the Pro-
vincial Board or the Congregations of the Pro-
vince. By the last General Synod of 1848, an
alteration has been resolved upon, according to .
which two brethren, elected by the Province itself
through its representation assembled at a Pro-
vincial Synod in 1856,* are to go to the General
Synod of the Unity to be convened in Herrnhut,
June 8th, of this year, with the following decla-
ration : —
" Whereas, the Brethren's Unihj is composed
of very different parts, which, however, all be-
^ Vide Digest of tlie Provincial Synod at Salem, lield
April 28th to May 13th, 1856.
15*
174 MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
long either to the Brethren's Church or to the
Brethren's Congregation ; and
"Whereas, we are, nevertheless, all built on
the same foundation, that of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner-stone;
'' Therefore resolved, that, though belonging to
different nationalities, speaking different lan-
guages, living under different forms of govern-
ment, cherishing different political views, and hav-
ing different social habits, still a Bond of Union,
connecting the different branches of the Unitas
Fratrum, can be, and we hope and pray may be
maintained also in future years, and we continue
to be 'the Brethren'' s Unity, even without uni-
formity.' "
This union feeling has been strengthened and
nourished by the celebration of our memorial
days, both annually and centenary. Thus, in
June, 1822, the several congregations of this
province, in spiritual union with our other con-
gregations in the four parts of the globe, cele-
brated the Centenary Jubilee of the Reneiced
Church of the Brethren ; the Itth of June, 1722,
THE brethren's UNITY. 175
being the day, from which dates the beginning of
Ilerrnhut, the mother congregation of the re-
newed church. Ten years later, in 1732, a simi-
lar festive commemoration was held of the first
attempt of the church in August, 1732, to go
forth in the faith and strength of the Lord, to
proclaim the glad tidings of salvation to the be-
nighted heathen.
And being descendants of the old church of
martyrs, which was established in the mountains
of Bohemia in 1457, the oldest of the protestant
churches, we this year celebrate, with fervent
gratitude to the Lord, the Fourth Centenary of
the Unitas Fratrum.
March 1st, 1857.
APPENDIX
APPEXDIX Xo. I.
FIRST SETTLEPvS AND HEADS OF
FAMILIES.
Tuis list lias been carefully extracted from the
church records of the different Moravian congregations
in North Carolina ; and many of the present members
of the church will, no doubt, be gratified to find on
record here, when their ancestors arrived in this coun-
try, and where their burial places may be found.
AcKERMAN, John, bom in 1756, near Eisenach, Germany ;
came to North Carolina in 1785; died in
1791 in Bethabara.
Bagge, Traugott, born in 1729 in Gottenburg, Sweden ;
came to North Carolina in 1768 ; died in
1800 in Salem.
Bacmgakten, John George, born in 1722 in Hesse Cas-
sel ; came to North Carolina in 1755 ; died
in 1779 in Salem.
Beroth, Jacob, born in 1740 in York Co., Pa. ; came to
North Carolina in 1772 ; died in 1801 in
Salem.
Beroth, John, bom in 1725 in Oppen. Palatinate, one
180 APPENDIX.
of the first settlers of Betliabara in 1753,
and of Betliania in 1759; died in 1817 in
Friedland.
Blum, Jacob, born in 1739 in Saucon, Northampton, Pa. ;
came to North Carolina in 1768 ; died in
1802 in Salem.
Blum, John Henry, born in 1752 in Bethlehem, Pa. ;
came to North Carolina in 1766 ; died in
1824 in Salem.
BcECKEL, John Nicolaus, born in 1741 in Heidelberg,
Pa. ; came to North Carolina in 1767 ; died
in 1822 in Bethania.
BoECKEL, Fred., born in 1742 in Pennsylvania ; came to
North Carolina in 1765 ; died in 1802 in
Friedberg.
BuLow (Belo), John Fred., born in 1780 in Herrnhut,
Saxony; came to North Carolina ii; 1806;
died in 1827 in Salem.
Boxer. Joseph William, born in 1747 in Pennsylvania ;
came to North Carolina in 1769 ; died in
1785 in Hope.
Briez, Christian, born in 1772 in Lower Lusatia, Ger-
many ; came to North Carolina in 1806 ;
died in 1845 in Salem.
BuKKHAKDT, John Christian, born in 1771 in Tanger-
miinde, Alt Mark, Prussia ; came to North
Carolina in 1806 ; died in 1846 in Salem.
APPENDIX. 181
BuTTNER, Thomas, bora in 1741 in Monocasy, Maryland ;
came to North Carolina in 17G8 ; died in
1780 in Hope.
Byhan, Gottlieb, bora in 1777 near Herrahut, Saxony ;
came to North Carolina in 1796.
Chitty, John, bora in 1766 in Maryland ; died in 1825
in Bethabara.
Christ, Rudolph, born in 1750 in Wurtemberg ; came
to North Carolina in 1765 ; died in 1833 in
Salem.
Christian, Balthasar, born in 1760 in York Co., Pa. ;
came to North Carolina in 1780 ; died in
1797 in Bethabara.
Clauder, Charles Gottlieb, born in 1765 in Zwickau,
Saxony ; came to North Carolina in 1797 ;
died in 1843 in Salem.
Conrad, Christian, born in 1744 in Pennsylvania ; came
to North Carolina in 1768 ; died in 1800 in
Bethania.
Cook (Koch), George, born in 1771 in Lancaster, Pa. ;
came to North Carolina in 1806 ; died in
1822 in Friedberg.
DouTiiiD, John, born in 1709 in Coleraine, Ireland ; came
to North Carolina in 1750 ; died in 1784 in
Hope.
Eberhardt, John Lewis, born in 175S in Thuriugia,
16
182 APPENDIX.
Germany ; came to North Carolina in 1799 ;
died in 1839 in Salem.
Ebert, Jolin Martin, born in 1727 in Anspacli, Germany ;
came to North Carolina in 1774; died in
1792 in Friedberg.
Elrod, Christian, born in 1721 in Pennsylvania ; came
to North Carolina in 1751 ; died in 1785 in
Hope.
Fetter, Jacob, born in 1781 in Lancaster, Pa. ; died in
1856 in Salem.
FiscHELL, John Adam, born in 1730 in Palatinate, Ger-
many ; came to North Carolina in 1779 ; died
in 1802 in Friedberg.
Fisher, Melchior, born in 1726 in Heilbron, Wurtem-
berg ; came to North Carolina about 1770 ;
died in 1798 in Friedberg.
FocKEL, Gottlieb, born in 1724 in Peilau, Silesia, Ger-
many; came to North Carolina in 1755;
died in 1778 in Bethabai-a.
Frey, Peter, born in 1689 in Alsace, Germany ; came to
North Carolina in 1765 ; died in 1766 in
Friedberg.
Fries, John Christ William, born in 1775 in Barby,
Germany ; came to North Carolina in 1809.
Grabs, Gottfried, born in 1716 in Silesia, Germany;
came to North Carolina in 1756 ; died in
1793 in Bethania.
APPENDIX. 183
Greter, Jacob, born in 1708 in Alsace, Germany ; came
to North Carolina in 17G8 ; died in 1788 in
Friedberg.
Hagex, John Joachim, born in 1771 in Brandenburg ;
came to North Carolina in 1814 ; died in
1844 in Salem.
Ha>'ke, John, born in 1750 in Nazareth, Pa. ; died in
1823 in Bethania.
Hamilton, Horatio, born in 1756 in Frederick Co., Mary-
land ; came to North Carolina in 1775 ; died
in 1840 in Hope.
Hartman, George Fred., born in 1724 in Palatinate;
came to North Carolina in 1755 ; died in
1788 in Friedberg.
Hauser, Martin, born in 1696 in Miimpolgard, Switzer-
land ; came to North Carolina in 1753 ; died
in 1761 in Bethania.
Hege, John Balthasar, born in 1714 in "Wurtemberg ;
came to North Carolina in 1757 ; died in
1785 in Bethania.
Heix, John Jacob, born in 1713 in Dilleburg, Germany ;
died in 1795 in Friedland.
Heix, John, born in 1749 near Dilleburg, Germany ;
died in 1806 in Bethabara.
Herbst, John Henry, born in 1727 in Hanover ; came to
North Carolina in 1762; died in 1821 in
Salem.
184 APPENDIX.
HcEHN, Marcus, born in 1719 in Zweibriicken, Germany;
came to Nortli Carolina in 1774 ; died in
1797 in Friedberg.
Holder, Greorge, born in 1729 in Oley, Pa. ; came to
Nortli Carolina in 1755 ; died in 1804 in
Bethabara.
Holland, John, born in 1743 in Cliesliire, England;
came to Nortli Carolina in 1773 ; died in
1811 in Salem.
Kapp, John Jacob, born in 1729 in Switzerland ; came
to Nortli Carolina in 1754; died in 1807 in
• Betbabara.
KoRNER, Joseph, born in 1769 in Black Forest, Germa-
ny ; died in 1830 in Friedland.
Krause, Matthew, born in 1720 in Upper Silesia, Ger-
many ; came to North Carolina in 1755 ;
died in 1762 in Bethabara.
Kr(en, Peter, born in 1722 in Eichfeld, Franconia ; died
in 1798 in Friedland.
Keehln, Christian David, born in 1793 in Niesky, Ger-
many ; came to North Carolina in 1818.
KiiNZEL, John Fred., born in 1737 in Konigsbach, Ger-
many ; died in 1802 in Friedland.
Lagenour, Jacob Fred., born in 1751 in Duiiach, Ger-
many ; died in 1843 in Friedland.
Lehman, John Christian, born in 1770 in Lnsatia, Ger-
many.
APPENDIX. 185
Leinbach, Lewis, born iu 1743 in Oley, Pa. ; came to
Nortli Carolina in 1765 ; died in 1800 in
Betliabara.
Leinbach, Frederick, bom in 1737 in Oley, Pa. ; died in
1821 in Salem.
Lick, Martin, born in 1726 in Neuwied, Germany ; came
to North Carolina in 1758 ; died in 1760 in
Bethabara.
LoEsn (Lasli), John Jacob, bom in 1722 in Scbobarie,
N. Y. ; came to Nortli Carolina in 1753 ;
died in 1782 in Hope, N. J.
Mack, Jacob, born in 1753 in Reading, Pa. ; died in
1836 in Davidson County.
Meinung, Charles Lewis, bom in 1743 in Oley, Pa. ;
came to North Carolina in 1771; died in
1817 in Salem.
MlicKE, John, born in 1749 near Philadelphia ; died in
1807 in Bethabara.
MiiLLER; Jacob, born in 1721 in Zweibriicken, Germa-
ny ; died in 1798 in Bethania.
Moss, Henry, born in 1751 in Maryland ; came to North
Carolina in 1775 ; died in 1822 in Fried-
berg.
Noll, Jacob, born in 1740 near Philadelphia ; died in
1811 in Bethabara.
NoTHixo, Matthew, born in 1756 in Halifax; died in
1807 in Salem.
16*
18G APPENDIX.
Oehman, John Gottfried, born in 1781 in Weissenstein,
Livonia, Russia ; came to North. Carolina in
1819.
Opiz, Charles, born in 1719 in Silesia, Germany ; came
to North Carolina in 1755 ; died in 1763 in
Bethania.
Padget, John, born in 1723 in Charles County, Mary-
land ; came to North Carolina in 1775 ; died
in 1811 in Hope.
Padget, Thomas, born in 1752 in Carrol's Manor, Mary-
land ; came to North Carolina in 1775 ; died
in 1831.
Petersen, Carsten, born in 1776 near Flensburg, Den-
mark ; came to North Carolina in 1806.
Peddicoart, William Barton, born in 1739 in Prince
George's County, Maryland ; came to North
Carolina in 1775 ; died in 1807 in Hope.
Pfaff, Peter, born in 1727 in Palatinate, Germany ;
came to North Carolina in 1771 ; died in
1804 in Bethania.
Philipps, John Samuel, born in 1776 in Pennsylvania.
Ranke, John, born in 1737 in Lancaster County, Pa. ;
came to North Carolina in 1754 ; died in
1798 in Bethabara.
Reich, John Christoph, born in 1763 in Berks County,
Pa. ; died in 1824 in Salem.
APPENDIX. IST
Reich, Matthew, born in 1764 in Berks County, Pa. ;
died in 1829 in Salem.
Reich, Jacob, born in 1770 in Orange County, N. C. ;
died in 1827 in Friedberg.
Reuz (Rights), John, born in 1752 in Bethlehem, Pa. ;
came to North Carolina in 1764 ; died in
1810 in Salem.
RiED, Jacob, bom in 1735 in Baden Durlach; came to
North Carolina in 1770, from Broad Bay,
Maine ; died in 1819 in Friedland.
RoMiNGER, David, born in 1716 in Wurtemberg ; came
to North Carolina, from Broad Bay, Maine,
in 1769 ; died in 1777 in Bethabara.
RoMiNGEE, Michael, born in 1709 in Wurtemberg ; came
to North Carolina, from Broad Bay, in 1770 ;
died in 1803 in Friedland.
RoTHKOCK, Philip, born in 1746 in York County , - a- ;
died in 1825 in Friedberg.
RoTHROCK, Peter, born in 1746 in York County, Pa. ;
died in 1829 in Friedberg.
RoTHKOCK, Jacob, born in 1770 in York County, Pa. ;
died in 1807 in Friedberg.
ScHAFFNER, John, bom in 1773 in Switzerland ; came
to North Carolina in 1818 ; died in 1854 in
Salem.
ScHAUB, John Fred., born in 1717 in Switzerland ; came
188 APPENDIX.
to North Carolina in 1755 ; died in 1801 in
Betliania.
Schneider, Melchior, born in 1717 in Durlacli, Ger-
many ; came to North Carolina, from Broad
Bay, Maine, in 1770 ; died in 1790 in Fried-
land.
Schorr, Henry, born in 1735 in Switzerland ; came to
North Carolina in 1756 ; died in 1819 in
Betliania.
ScHULz, John, born in 1703 in Basle, Switzerland ; came
to North Carolina in 1769 ; died in 1788 in
Betliania.
ScHUJiAN, Fred. Henry, born in 1777 in Gnadau, Ger-
many ; came to North Carolina in 1808.
Seiz, John Michael, born in 1737 in Wurtemberg ; came
to Broad Bay, Maine, in 1759, and to North
Carolina in 1770 ; died in 1817 in Friedland.
Senseman, John Henry, born in 1786 in Heidelberg,
Pa. ; died in 1854 in Salem.
Shober, Gottlieb, born in 1756 in Bethlehem, Pa. ; came
to North Carolina in 1768 ; died in 1838 in
Salem.
Spach, Adam, born in 1720 in Alsace, Germany ; came
to North Carolina in 1756 ; died in 1801 in
Friedberg.
Spoenhauer, John Henry, born in 1716 in Switzerland ;
APPENDIX, 189
came to North Carolina in 1755 ; died in
1788 in Bethania.
Stauber, Paul Christian, born in 1726 in Frankfurt,
Germany ; came to North Carolina in 1767 ;
died in 1793 in Bethania.
Stockburger, John George, born in 1731 in Wurtem-
berg ; came to North Carolina in 1766 ; died
in 1803 in Salem.
Stolz, Caspar, born in 1753 in Pennsylvania ; died in
1834 in Bethania.
Strup, John Francis, born in 1716 in Nassau, Germany ;
came to North Carolina in 1766; died in
1782 in Bethabara.
Strup, John, born in 1719 in Lauffelfingen, Germany ;
came to North Carolina in 1760 ; died in
1789 in Bethania.
Tesch, Henry, born in 1733 in Palatinate ; came to
North Carolina in 1771 ; died in 1804 in
Friedberg.
Traxson, Philip, born in 1724 in Palatinate ; came to
North Carolina in 1762; died in 1792 in
Bethania.
ViERLiNG, Samuel Benjamin, born in 1765 in Rudol-
stadt, Silesia, Germany ; came to North Caro-
lina in 1790 ; died in 1817 in Salem.
Vogler, Philip Christopher, born in 1725 in Palatinate ;
190 APPENDIX,
came to North Carolina, from Broad Bay,
Maine, in 1770 ; died in 1790 in Betliania.
VoLZ, Peter, born in 1726 in Alsace, Germany ; came
to North Carolina in 1768 ; died in 1806 in
Friedberg.
"Wageman, Andrew, born in 1758 in South Carolina ;
came to North Carolina in 1766; died in
1779 in Salem.
Wernek, Christian Andrew, born in 1768 in Randolph
County, N. C. ; died in 1814 in Betliania.
Wesnek, Matthew, born in 1730 in Stuttgart, Wurtem-
berg ; came to North Carolina in 1772 ;
died in 1806 in Friedberg.
Winkler, Christian, born in 1766 in Switzerland ; came
to North Carolina in 1807 ; died in 1839 in
Salem.
Zevely, Van Naman, born in 1780 in North Carolina ;
came to Salem in 1798.
Zimmerman, Christian, born in 1726 in Nassau, Ger-
many ; came to North Carolina in 1758 ;
died in 1793 in Friedberg.
APPENDIX.
191
No. II.
CHURCHES AND OTHER PUBLIC
BUILDINGS.
Salem.
First meeting liall in Congregation House conse-
crated 13th Nov. 1771.
The house removed in 1854 to make room for the
new academy building.
Church of Salem consecrated 9th Nov. 1800
Chapel built in 1841
Old academy finished . . . 1805
Boys' school-house .... 1794
Single sister's house . . . .1786
Brethren's house .... 1769
Bethabaka.
First meeting house, consecrated 1st Feb. 175G.
Present church,
Bethania.
First meeting house,
Present church
Friedland.
First meeting house.
Second "
Friedberg.
First " "
Second "
Third " "
26th Nov. 1788.
23d June, 1771.
22d Oct. 1806.
18th Feb. 1775.
31st Oct. 1847.
11th March, 1769.
12th March, 1788.
28th July, 1827.
192 APPENDIX.
Hope meeting liouse, consecrated 28th Marcli, 1780.
Philadelphia meeting house, " 31st Oct. 1851.
Macedonia " " " 25th May, 1856.
NEW ACADEMY BUILDINGS.
For future reference, we insert here a full description
of the New Female Academy at Salem, which was pre-
pared for the " Iloravian,^' vol. i. 4, the official organ of
the American Moravian Church.
" The new house occupies the site of the old church
and parsonage (formerly called the ' Congregation
House'), immediately joining the original school build-
ing.
"The dimensions of the main building are 100 feet
front by 52 feet deep, with a wing at the north 70| feet
in length and 34| feet in depth, and another one at the
south 77 by 44 feet. The main building, as well as the
north wing, is four stories on the front, and at the rear
(on account of the descent of the ground) five stories,
including the basement. The fronts of the houses are
of pressed brick, expressly manufactured for our build-
ing, angl are probably some of the first of the kind made
in our State.
" The front is ornamented by a large Doric portico, 50
feet in length and 13 feet in width. It has four Doric
columns, with two pilasters resting against the house.
The height of the whole, including bases, columns, and
APPENDIX. 103
entablatures, is between 30 and 40 feet — the cornice of
the entablature extending three feet above the sills of
the- third story windows. The whole is built strictly
in accordance with the classical Doric order of archi-
tecture. The columns are of brick, stuccoed with hy-
draulic cement in imitation of brown sandstone, as is
also the rest of the portico, excepting the bases and
steps, which are of hewn granite.
"The roof oi the house has but one inclination, from
front to rear, and is covered with tin. The front eleva-
tion is formed and crowned by a very heavy cornice of
blockwork, over six feet in height. In the centre, there
rises above this, a pediment of over fifty feet in length
of base, by about eighteen feet elevation.
" The first and second stories of the main house are
divided into eighteen dwelling and school rooms, with
smaller side rooms attached to each. These side rooms
are fitted up with small closets, wardrobes, &c. All
the rooms are lined, to a height of three feet from the
floor, with panel-work, grained in imitation of walnut.
Passages of 12 feet wide extend through the whole
length of the house in each story, and wide, staircases
run up on both ends of the main house, from the base-
ment to the fourth story. The entrance-hall, on the
first floor, into which the large front door opens, is
about 20 feet square, connecting with the main passage
by an elliptical archway of about 20 feet span. On the
17
194 APPENDIX.
south end the passage connects by a closed and covered
way with the old buildings.
" The whole third floor forms one dormitory. This is
a very large room, extending over the entire house from
wall to wall, without any partitions, the ceiling and
fourth floor being supported by a colonnade of sixteen
pillars.
" ^\\e fourth story is divided into ten rooms ; those on
the front being fine and airy, intended for smaller
classes and music rooms. Those on the rear are
roughly finished, and only intended for trunk and
store rooms.
" The north wing is divided into a large number of
rooms, to be used for various purposes. The whole of
the second story of this wing is devoted to the so-called
' sick-rooms,' with every convenience attached. From
this wing there is also a covered and closed way, lead-
ing directly into our church, and by this passage our
scholars can enter the church under cover at all times.
" The whole rear part of the basement story is taken
up by ' wash' or ' dressing-rooms.' There are eighteen
such wash-rooms, each being furnished with three sta-
tionary basins. Through all these apartments the
water, both hot and cold, is conducted in pipes, with
cocks over each basin. In addition to these rooms
thei-e are a number of bath-rooms, with tub and shower
baths. The head of water is obtained from large water
APPENDIX. 195
tanks, located in the building at the end of the north
wing. The supply of water is procured from a well
and spring at the foot of the hill upon which the build-
ing stands, being driven up to an elevation of some 140
feet by forcing-pumps, which are worked by water-
power. Tlie hot water is generated in a large circulat-
ing boiler, located in the cellar of the front house.
This boiler was made expressly for our establishment
in Auburn, New York.
" There are porches of 12 feet width, extending along
the rear of the house, two stories high on the main
house, and three on the north wing.
*' We have introduced a very complete system of ven-
tilation throughout the whole building. Four main
trunk ventilators run up from the lower floor, extend-
ing above the roof. With these main trunks, the dif-
ferent rooms are connected by branches.
" The south wing is not yet quite completed. The
lower floor of this wing will contain a dining-room,
large enough to seat some 250 persons. On the second
floor, whicbwill be supported by iron pillars, our chapel
will be located."
R. DE. S.
196 APPENDIX,
No. III.
HOUSES BUILT IN SALEM.
1706—1816.
1786. Feb., first house, at present, Schaffner's shop.
Ang., second house, owned by Fries.
** third house, two-story building, since re-
moved, site of Fries's store.
Contained first meeting-hall.
17G7. Fourth house, inhabited by W. Leibech.
Fifth '* inhabited by Hughes.
Sixth " owned by Ebert.
1768. Pottery, inhabited by J. Chitty.
Blacksmith-shop, at present, L. Belo.
Single Brethren's house.
1769. Single Brethren's house, finished in part,
at present, widows' house.
Tannery, at present, Brietz.
1770. Congregation-house, finished in 1771, removed in
1854.
Seventh house, at present, Fischer.
1771. House for skins, at present, Belo's store.
Tavern, burnt in 1784, rebuilt in 1784,
at present, Buttner.
1772. Renter's house, °' J. Vogler.
1774. Store of congregation, " E. A. Vogler.
Triebel's house, rebuilt in 1756. W. H. Hall.
APPENDIX. ISY
1775. Family house.
1783. Family house, afterwards widows' house, since
removed, at present, bank building.
1785. Single Sisters' house.
Family house, at present, Shober's.
3 786. Family house, formerly Huesler's.
Addition to Brethren's house.
1787. Family house, at present, Thos. Boner.
" " inhabited by Mitchel.
1788. " " " " Banner.
1789. Fulling-mill, at present, N. Vogler.
1791. Family house, at present. Boner & Crist's store.
1794. Boys' school-house.
1797. House for warden of congregation, S. Stotz,
at present, S. Th. Pfohl.
C. Vogler's house, " R. Crist.
1800. Dr. Vierling's house, " land-office.
Bakery, " Winkler.
1803. Girls' school-house.
Market-house on the square.
Corpse-house.
1805. SchriJter's house, at present, Fulkerson.
1810. Inspector's house.
1814. Eberhardt's house.
C. Schulz's " at present, Schajafner.
1815. Chr. Reich (copper-smith).
198 APPENDIX.
The above list is not quite complete, for in 1816
there were counted, besides the church, the congrega-
tion-house, the two school and two choir-houses, thirty-
six family houses in Salem, probably including those
built in that year by A. Steiner, Foltz, and Hagen.
In the following years, not all the new buildings
seem to have been recorded in the Memorabilia ; hence
the list is incomplete, but still not without local in-
terest.
1817—1851.
1817. Senseman.
1819. Addition to the Sisters' house, on the south.
John Vogler and Sam. Schulz.
1820. Thomas Wohlfahrt, Charles Levering, and Henry
Herbst.
1821. New grist-mill near Salem.
1822. H. Lienbach, Schaffner, S. Lick, and Ackerman.
1823. A. Steiner, Jr. Cistern in the square.
1824. Philip Reich, Traug. Lienbach, Sam. Schulz.
1826. Three new houses.
1827. Two new houses. Printing-office.
1828. One new house.
1829. " " "
1831. L. Eberhardt, Denke, and Jos. Stauber.
1832. Timothy Vogler.
1834. Jos. Stauber.
APPENDIX. 199
1839. Clewell and Sussdorf.
1840. Wm. Houser, Theopli. Vierling, Clias. Cooper.
18-41. Kramer, F. Fries, Beitel, A. Fishel, second story
on Jac. Blum's store, chapel, minister's liouse
for Bishop Van Vleck, corpse-house.
1842. Theod. Schultz, H. Meinung, A. Steiner, H. Wink-
ler, John Chitty, Traug. Cliittj.
1843. David Blum.
1844. Joshua Boner, J. D. Siewers, F. C. Meinung ; con-
cert hall.
1847. Edwin Beitel; bank building.
1848. Edwin Meinung ; Fries, factory building.
1849. Antoinette Blum, Ed. Belo ; hall of Young Men's
Missionary Society and Sons of Temperance —
the former in 1856 occupied by the post-office.
1851. Wm. F. Schulz.
200 APPENDIX.
No. lY.
ADDITIONS AND NOTES.
1753. The following are the names of the nine Breth-
ren, who arrived as first settlers : —
John Beroth, farmer, from the Susquehanna, Pa.
John Lisher,' farmer.
Herman Loesh, miller, from Pennsylvania.
Jacob Lung, gardener, from Wurtemberg.
Christopher Merkle, baker.
Erich Ingebresten, carpenter, from Norway.
Henry Feldhausen, carpenter and hunter.
Hans Peterson, tailor from Denmark.
Jacob Pfeil, shoemaker, from Wurtemberg.
1757. Among those coming to the Bethabara mill, are
mentioned Mr. Shephard and Mr. Banner.
17G0. Two hives of bees were brought from Tar River,
120 miles, which increased very fast ; in con-
sequence, many bears made their appearance
in the fall.
In December, immense quantities of wild pigeons
made their appearance and roosted near by for
nearly a month. When together, at night,
they covered only a small tract of woods, but
were clustered so thick upon the trees as to
break down the largest limbs by their weight.
The noise made by them in coming to their
camp at night, as well as the fluttering, &c.
APPENDIX. 201
during the night, and thus breaking up in the
morning, was heard at a considerable distance.
The spot was marked for many years.
1761. Jan. very cold, and thick ice on'the mill-pond,
strong enough to drag heavy logs over it to
the saw-mill.
1763. In Bethabara and Bethania wells were dug, and
the first pumps introduced into this part of the
country.
1765. John Leinbach, with his family of seven chil-
dren, arrived from Oley, Pa., and bought lot
No. 1, the so-called "Lineback tract."
1767. The County Court in Salisbury gave permits for
three public roads, one leading from Salem to
the Townfork and Dan River, another to Be-
lo's Creek and the Cape Fear Road, and the
third southward to the Uwharee.
1769. Great abundance of wild grapes ; nineteen hogs-
heads of wine were made in the three settle-
ments.
1770. Abundance of caterpillars, which destroyed much
of the grass and grain. The place for the
burial-ground of Salem was cleared and fenced
in. Roads opened to Salisbury and Cross
Creek.
1771. Much harm done to the com by the squirrels,
also many bears in the woods.
18
S02 APPENDIX.
.1772. A bell of 2758 lbs. weiglit arrived from Pennsyl-
vania ; tbe largest in the neigbborbood ; was
used in Salem for meetings, and also served
for tbe town-clock, to announce tbe bours.
In Oct., Br. Beelitscber finisbed an organ of two
stops for Salem. Trombones bad been pro-
cured from Europe in 1765.
A road was laid out from Salem to tbe Sballow
Ford, wbicb opened communication witb Dou-
tbid's settlement ; an old road to Belo's Creek
was re-opened.
1778. Dobb's Parisb abolisbed by law ; no distinction
of religious denominations bencefortb. Salem
waterworks ; erected by J. Krause.
1780. Coffee tbree sbillings per pound ; sugar four
sbillings.
1781. First inoculation of smallpox in Salem.
1784. One bundred and one persons in Salem bad tbe
measles, only one cbild died ; very bot sum
mer ; severe fresbets ; many sick of fever and
sore tbroats.
1785. Fire engines for Salem brought from Europe.
1786. Wbile digging tbe cellar for addition to tbe Bre-
tbrens' bouse, Br. A. Kremser was covered and
killed by tbe falling ground.
1787. Introduction of ligbtning-rods in Salem.
1789. In Betbabara, English preaching every fourth
Sunday.
APPENDIX. 208
1791. Paper-mill near Salem finished ; town clock in
Salem.
1792. Fourteen persons died in Salem in February and
March of an epidemic scarlet rash.
The mail from Halifax to Salisbury passes
through Salem once in two weeks : G. Shoher,
postmaster.
A double row of sycamores was planted from the
tavern to the bridge on the beach ; still noble
trees.
1795. Great freshet ; the lower part of the mill under
water. Wlieat cost six shillings, corn four
shillings — double price.
1796. Great freshet in January. Will. Hall, whilst
riding to the mill, was drowned.
1797. Preaching places at the Muddy Creek, ten miles,
and at Beaver Dam, thirteen miles from Sa-
lem.
1799. Br. Van Zevely worked a year with Br. Bach-
man, of Litiz, at the organ of the Salem church,
building the outer organ case.
1802. Eighty persons in Salem inoculated with the
cowpox.
1803. One hundred and twenty-five persons in Salem
sick of the measles.
1806. The town-clock improved by Eberhard to strike
the quarters.
20i APPENDIX.
Charles P. Bagge built a storehouse on the road
to Friedlaud, the first house in Charlestown or
Waughtoivn.
1811. March. Consecration of Rippel's church ; cu-
pola and bell on Bethabara church.
1814. One hundred and twenty persons in Salem sick
with the measles.
1815. Mill on the Brushy Fork.
Wool-carding machinery of Br. Zevely, the first
in this State.
1817. Great abundance of peaches and apples.
1828. Improvements in the water-works of Salem.
1831. By legislative enactment, the freedom from mili-
tary service rescinded, which was formerly
granted to the Moravians.
July 4th. Salem volunteer company.
1832. New fire engine from Philadelphia.
1833. Aug. 28th. Very destructive hail-storm ; about
four thousand window-panes broken.
1837. Salem cotton factory commenced operations in
fall.
1840. Woollen factory of P. Fries.
1846. Union meetings in Liberty or Burchrentown.
1849. Emigration to Iowa.
Fifty-one acres of Salem land sold to the county
of Porsythe, for $5 per acre, for the new coun-
ty-town of Winston.
APPENDIX. 205
1850. Aug. 25th. Great freshet ; bridge over the Middle
Fork destroyed.
Court-house in Winston finished.
1854. Plank-road from Fayetteville to Bethauia ;
church in Salem repaired ; third gallery for
boarders of academy.
1857. Jan. 18th. Severe snow-storm and intense cold ;
no mail from the North for nearly two weeks.
Separation of town and church officers in Salem,
and election of the first municipal officers,
January 5th.
At the commencement of the year 1857, the govern-
ing Boards in the various departments (both Church
and State) in Salem were composed as follows : —
Rev. L. T. Reichel, Pres't, ■)
Rev. G. F. Bahnson, I Provincial Board.
E. A. de Schweinitz, J
Rev. G. F. Bahnson, Minister at Salem.
S. Til. Pfohl, Warden of Congregation.
E. A. de Schweinitz, Administrator of Land-Office.
Rev. R. de Schweinitz, Principal of Salem Female Aca-
demy.
Rev. L. T. Reichel, "l
Rev. G. F. Bahnson, '^^^^^^^ °^ ^^^'''^ ^^^^^^^
E. A. de Schweinitz, J Academy.
206
APPENDIX.
E. A. de Schweinitz, Pres't, "
S. Th. Pfolil, Secretary,
H. Leinbach,
Fr. Fries,
E. A. Vogler, j-
C. Cooper,
T. F. Keehln,
Board of Overseers of
tlie Congregation and
Church Property.
W. Petersen,
Rev. G. F. Bahnson, President of Salem Boys' School.
S. Th. Pfohl, 1
Fr. Fries,
} Committee of Salem Boys' School.
E. A. Vogler,
L. Belo,
Charles Brietz, Mayor.
R. L. Patterson, "]
F. Fries,
A. Butner,
J. R. Crist,
E. Belo, I
T. F. Keehln,
S. Mickey, J
[ Town Commissioners.
THE END.
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