Palatines to America Immigrant Ancestor Postings Index

ìIn 1731 there were 15,000  members of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania from the Palatinate. Up to 1776, when the importations ceased, 39,000 German emigrants had arrived and settled mainly in Lancaster, York, Berks and Northampton counties. As early as 1790, when the population of this State did not exceed 435,000 there were already 145,000 Germansî Edward W. Spangler. The Annals of the Families of Caspar, Henry, Baltzer and George Spengler. York, Pennsylvania: The York Daily Publishing Co., 1896. page 324
 

" Said Robert Proud, the early historian of Pennsylvania in regards to the Germans of Pennsylvania: "They are more adapted than any other nationalities to agriculture and the improvement of the wilderness." This opinion was fully justified by events, for the wilderness was not only heroically invaded, but subdued and improved; the home of the Indians soon became dotted with the dwellings of the immigrants, the rude log house was followed by the substantial stone dwelling, and this  again by the stately mansion of brick, until the dense forest has been converted into beautiful gardens, towns and cities, and literally made to blossom like the rose of the Scriptures.
Let us hear what a jovial stranger thought and said of the Pennsylvania Germans who wrought this transformation:
            "I have lately passed through the Dutchiest part of Pennsylvania, and have observed some new and instructive points I never
             thought of before. Apparently said Dutch are a sedate people. They are as religious as New Englanders were fifty years ago.
             They are as sharp as Yankees after money, more saving and more generous. They are more intelligent, independent and happy
             than they appear, and bashful before strangers, especially the ladies. These and other traits make them appear exclusive and
             clanuish, yet they are the most social and comical people in America. Among them (if one understands their glib dialect) one can
             hear more words, jokes and hearty laughs in a minute than ever the modern Greek or neu hoch Deutsch. I now have learned that
             the Pennsylvanians, who are well acquainted in English, cling to their dialect in small rapid talk and the firing of a multiplicity of
             jokes. They laugh oftener than do the Yankees, their women can deliver four words to a Yaukee woman's one in English, and
             more when excited. Therefore, Pennsylvania Dutch is a phonetic dialect. I patent this idea, and say to those who make fun of it
             that they can find more comical, witty characters--real Yankees--in Pennsylvania than in New England." Edward W. Spangler. The Annals of the Families of Caspar, Henry, Baltzer and George Spengler. York, Pennsylvania: The York Daily Publishing Co., 1896.p 322-323
 

St. David's (Sherman's) Church West Manheim, Hanover, PA

   The early history of the church states that in 1750 or 1751 a congregation came together and built a small church which was also used as a school on week
 days. Two of the teachers were John Martin Hass and Johann Henrich Keller. The school and church services were conducted in German for about 75 years.
 This early church was of one story and built of logs and according to George R. Prowell's "History of York County", the first burial is dated 1752 with the first
                                               tombstone inscriptions being in German. http://www.usgennet.org/usa/md/county/carroll/Genealogy/St%20David's.htm

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