Source: Grossgartach Wuerttemberg To Pennsylvania: Some Early
Colonial German Immigrants
by Annette Kunselman Burgert p.2
Lorentz Schweitzer
"1738 was a disastrous emigration year. A detailed account of the
emigration that year may be found in The Report, 40: A Journal of
German-American History, 1986, Baltimore, MD, in an article by Klaus Wust,
titled " The Emigration Season of 1738 - Year of the Destroying
Angels". In this article, Wust quotes from a letter written in
Germantown on 16 Nov., 1738: "There has been a cruel, destroying
angel among the travelers this year for the number of those who died so
far on the voyage and here has reached about 2,000"
"A group of 15 men, leaders in nearby communities who had
gathered in Philadelphia to meet the incoming ships carrying friends and
relatives, witnessed this tragedy as the ships arrived. They banded together to
offer help to the survivors. These participants were:"
1. Heinrich Graff, Anwell, NJ
2. Christoph Sauer, Germantown
3. Johannes Bechtel, Germantown
4. Johann Adam Gruber, Germantown
5. Lorentz Schweitzer, Germantown
to correct some mis information and to question material I have
seen posted, II have the following:
Lorentz Schweitzer m. 1775 to Sybilla Catherine Callum b.
1755 York Co
Source: History of Adams Co. Pa (formed from York which was formed from
Lancaster)
daughter: Elizabeth b. 1775 York m. J.Lehmer
John Sweitzer's research lead him to believe that this Lorentz leaves NY with
his brother Heinrich and comes into Pa. Lorentz settles in around Germantown, in
1714-1716 in Skippack Twp, living in Hanover before 1730, and in Worchester Twp
with son Jacob and Henry. John also thinks this Lorentz was affiliated
with the Brethern group in Chester. He purchased Land, 1200 Acres in Oley
Valley with Peter Wentz on Nov 25, 1738. This record comes from "The
Bretheren in Colonial America" by Donald Durnbaughy p. 53, Alexander Mack
p. 599-600
It is hard to tell exactly which Lorentz is the one from NY as many appear in
the Philadelphia area. Below are a list of some.
A Lorentz Schweitzer d. 1738 Chester Co. Pa
A Lorentz Schweitzer d. 1746 Germantown
A Lorentz Schweitzer d. 1776 who married a Mary Elizabeth His
will lists wife and children
A Lorentz Schweitzer d. April 10, 1749 Pa Chester Co.
A Lorentz b. 1740
A Lorentz b. 1781
A Lorentz b. Aug 26, 1680 Switzerland died at age 95
(1775/1776 death)
Another Lorentz is said to have left for Va to live with
his son Philip. This maybe the son of Heinrich of NY who went south and visited
his uncle Heinrich in MD in 1728. A Lorentz has a son Philip b. 1739
There is a Lorentz Schweitzer m. Sybilla Catherine Callum New
Hanover Luthern Church, Adams Co Pa (probably Lancaster or York at that
time). They have children:
Eva m. David Walknager
Elizabeth m. Johann
Lefever
Johann Heinrich b. Aug
20, 1776 York Co, newhanover Twp. Bapt. Sept 13, 1778
Adams Co., Published 1969 by WEllner
As A personal note* I'm wondering if Lorentz is the Hans Schweitzer of
Chester Co. A Mary Pennock sold 100 Acres to Hans Schweitzer and his
daughter Mary Lefebre of Bristol twp. (Members of Wentz church Vol 5,
Skippack Twp 1730) John lists Lorentz with a son Jacob who married
Mary Haldeman. That Jacob supposedly died one month before his father
Information below from Deb Walsh, Janet and Dave Tice, John Sweitzer
Lorentz Schweitzer b. Oct 11, 1684 c. Germany lived in Philadelphia Co.
d. April 1776 at age 95y 8 mo 5days Will probate May 8,
1776
Will of Lorentz mentions a lost son.
married 2x 1st Sybilla Catherine (lower Burmuda church records) Don't know
that it's this Lorentz since she is born so late.
2nd Mary Elizabeth
children:
Jacob b. 1715c. lived in Loudon Co. Va
d. 1776 (one month before father)
m. Mary Halderman
Lorentz Jr. b. 1714c.
(Johann) Heinrich b. 1720c. d after 1779
(Henry military service 1779 pvt 4th class
Cpt Dull's Co. 1st Bat. Phil Malitia 2
son Henry Sweitzer b. 1740c. m. Cloe Chenoweth
Childre: Catherine, Simon
(Mary) Magdalena b. 1718 d. May 16,
1793 at 74y 6 mo German Ref. Burial Recds.
Yannica
Catherine
Margaret
b.
m. Cornelius Ringo ** This could be daughter of Lorentz d 1746
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