.^,,m^-^ c V .f?.^?.. -^ ^' * ^<; o o m -5^ ■^, -. . » ' .V M 'V-- '^^ <^%> fJ .^'^ ^1^^ ,:f H q .0^ :^^^&^ \> .v^ •talk. ^ :|^; " o >* ^^ a Dutchman, on condition that they would settle 200 German ^4 families on the land ceded to them. Hite and Van Meeter trav- ersed Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Germany in search of emi- grants and directed them by the road of the Monocacy to Vir- ginia. Charles Lord Baltimore, not to be outdone by the Governor of Virginia, thereupon on the 2d of March, 1732, made the liberal offer of 200 acres of land in fee, subject to a rent of four shillings sterling per year, payable at the end of three years, for every hundred acres, to any person having a family who should withm three years actually settle on the land between the rivers Potomac and Susquehanna, and to each single per- son, male or female, between the ages of fifteen and thirty, one hundred acres of land on the same terms, with the assurance that they should be as well secured in their liberty and property in Maryland as in any part of the British plantations in America without exception. "The Germans, on their way from Pennsylvania to Spottsylva- nia, seeing the rich lands of Frederick county, offered them on such liberal terms (a rental of one cent an acre per annum), did not proceed further, but struck their spades into the ground right there and then, and in a few years there was a prosperous settle- ment in and about Monocacy. From there they spread east, south and west, but for many years the church at Monocacy was their meeting place," and Lutherans and German Reformers scattered for miles in the surrounding country, including tbe sub- sequent settlement at Fredericktown, worshipped therein for a a number of years. SETTLEMENT AT FREDERICKTOWN. In 1735 there arrived about 100 families from the Palatinate Germany by way of Chesapeake Bay, landing at Annapolis or Alexandria (both of which towns were then more important ports of entry than Baltimore.) Their leader or head man was Thomas Schley, "their schoolmaster." This gentleman was the progenitor of the large and prominent family of that name in Maryland, Georgia, and other parts of our country. These settlers located on lands belonging to Daniel Dulaney, of Annapolis, who was a large land owner in that section of 11 e province. Here ten years later (1745) a town was laid out on both sides of Carroll Creek, and three miles from the Monocacy river. In compliment to Frederick, son of Lord Baltimore, then a youth of 14, it was called Fredericktown. y Germans from Pennsylvania, as well as direct from the Palati- nate, continued to arrive, and these being reinforced by settlers of English, Scotch and Irish extraction from the lower counties of the province, the wilderness was soon transformed into cultivated fields. The early German and Swiss sellers were essentially a relig- ious people, and a history of their churches and congregations is a history of themselves. Those who settled at Monocacy and Frederick were remarkably free of the sects, Moravians, Mennon- itesand others, into which the German settlers of Pennsylvania were divided. They were mostly followers of the teachings of Luther and ZwingU, known respectively as Lutherans and Ger- man Reformers, ^^^ It was the invariable custom of the early settlers, when a suffi- cient number located In a neighborhood j to set about the erec- tion of first — a schoolhouse, and then a church, the schoolmaster being regarded but little less an important personage than the pas- tor. Our pious forefathers wisely believed that the intell*"tual improvement of the young was a necessary adjunct to their relig- ious training. They organized congregations, but it was many years before regular pastors were obtained for them. The school- master read printed sermons on Sunday and imparted religious as well as secular instruction to the young. The Reformers around the Monocacy and Frederick settlements mostly occupied the tract of land known as "Tasker's Chance," containing 7,000 acres of land, and, although there were a few scattered settlers who had come from the lower counties, these were undoubtedly the first considerable number of white people to locate in and about the present city of Frederick. In 1748 they built a log church on a lot of ground 62x363 feet, extending from the present Church street to Patrick street, donated by Daniel Dulaney; the church being located on the Patrick street end of the lot. The County Court was for several years held in this building. By the year 1763 this church was found to be inadequate for the needs of the growing congregation, and a substantial stone building was erected, 45 feet wide, 60 feet long and 28 feet high, with a tower and steeple 60 feet high, which was subsequently increased to 150 feet. This church was used by the congregation over three-fourths of a century, until 1848, when a new building of enlarged capacity was built on the opposite side of the street. The corner-stone was laid June 12th of that year in the presence of General VVinfield Scott and a large number of United States Army officers, who were in attend- ance at a Court of Enquiry held at the time. The old church was left standing until 1881, when it was torn down and a chapel built upon its site. The tower and the remarkably graceful spire were fortunately permitted to stand as originally constructed. Among the early membership of this church are found the names of Adams, Baltzell, Brunner, Baer, Cramer, Getzendan- ner, Michael, Ramsliurg, Holtz, Kemp, Sinn, Stull, Schley, Steiner, Thomas, Wolff and others, descendants of some of whom are living on lands originally settled by their forefathers. At later periods came from the Pennsylvania settlements as well as direct from the fatherland, the Baers, Bantzs, Gepharts, Buckeys, Bren- gles, Dolls, Mantzs, Hauers, Lingenfelders, Schwartzs, Shrivers, Stulls, Schriners, Schultzs, Rohrs, Kunkles, Kunlzs, Faubles, Weavers, Wipperts, Webbers, Witmans, Albaughs, Derrs, Bentzs, Dofiflers, Weiss, Wetzel, Huber, Staleys, Devilbiss, Houcks, etc. In 1752 the Lutherans at Frederick commenced the building of a stone church upon a lot of ground deeded to the congregation for a nominal consideration by Daniel Dulaney. The foundation was dug and the walls^ reared to the height of five or six feet when the regular pursuits of the town were thrown into confusion by the French and Indian war, which now broke out in great fury. The formerly well disposed Indians, instigated by French money and influence, set the midnight torch to the homes and barns of the peaceful settlers of Frederick county. The women and chil- dren, as a protection from the tomahawk and scalping knife ot the infuriated savages, were removed to places of security, and instead of the plough, the men took guns and swords into their hands. Many of the more timid abandoned their homes and barns and sought safety by flight to distant points. So great was the desertion on the frontier that Washington wrote in August, 1756: "The whole settlement of Conogocheague has fled and there remains now only two families from there to Frederick- town. That the Maryland settlements are abandoned is cer- tainly a fact, as I had the accounts transmitted to me by several hands and confirmed yesterday, 28th, by Henry Brinker, who left Monocacy the day before, and who affirms that 350 wagons had passed \\\dX place within the space of three days." "It was in these troublous tmies that the famous Indian fighters, the Prathers, Pohs (Poes), in Maryland, and\he Weitzels, in Vir- gmia, all German settlers, first became -known. Colonel Thomas Prather lived two miles from Conogocheague and was the com- mander of the Frederick county militia. The old stockade fort, near the present town of Clearspring, was rebuilt at an expense of £6,000 and named Fort Frederick. It was quadrangular in form, 120 yards each way, with heavy stone walls, with bastions, and contained barracks sufficient to accommodate 300 persons. It was for a time under the command of Col. F. Haldiman, a Ger man Swiss officer, commissioned by the English government. It was garrisoned by Frederick county militiamen, 200 of whom volunteered to strengthen the distant Fort Cumberland, an out- post in this war," The capture of Fort du Quesne (Pittsburg) by the British and Americans in 1758 subdued the Indians, and the farmers returned to their homesteads, peace and quietude following the turmoil of war in Western Maryland, and work on the Lutheran church, as well as on the courthouse at Frederick, which had also been inter- rupted, was resumed, and both were speedily completed. The best accounts we have of the settlements at Monocacy and Frederick, as well as those at Conogocheague and in the valley of Virginia, are from the reports of the Reverends Michael Schlatter and Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg, the organizers respectively of the Ger .nan Reformed and Lutheran Churches of America. - In 1746 Mr. Schlatter was sent by the Reformed Churches of Holland as a missionary to the Dutch and Reformed settlers of this country to organize them into congregations in the various localities where they resided and to bring them into ecclesiastical relations with the churches of the Old World. From Philadelphia and Germantown as a centre, Schlatter made many journeys of one, two, and even three hundred miles, preaching the Gospel and gathering up families and organizing them into congregations. In his journal, Mr. Schlatter says, "on the 29th April, 1747, I undertook a great journey to Monocacy and other places in Maryland." After stopping and holding religious services at Lancaster, York and Conewago he reached Monocacy on May 6th, where on the following day he preached a sermon and baptized twenty-six children, and on the next day, May 8th, he adminis- tered the Lord's Supper to eighty-six members. After Divine Service he read his instructions to the people, and forty-nine heads of families at once offered to raise for the sup- 10 port of a minister, in money and grain, the amount of forty pounds, equal to 266 Dutch guilders. Referring to the Monocacy congregation, Mr. Schlatter says : "It appears to me to be one of the purest in the whole country, and one in which I have found the most traces of the true fear of God ; one that is free of the sects, of which, in other places, the country is filled. For on 7,000 acres of land in that neighborhood there are none but such as are of the German Reformed faith." He intimates that this is the seventh congregation or charge that he had organized, and says, if this congregation was united with the one called Con- ogocheague, lying thirty miles distant, the two would be able to sustain a minister. [Such a union was effected some years later.] After ordaining elders and deacons he returned the same evening to Conowago and arrived at York on the morning of May 9th. Mr. Schlatter did not at this time extend his visit to Frederick town, as some of the church historians have erroniously stated, but exactly one year later he again visited Monocacy, arriving there May 7th, 1748, and on the following day "m Frederick- town," a newly laid out town, preached in the schoolhoube," and on the same day, m company with an elder of the congregation, who offered to accompany him through Virginia, he started on his journey. They arrived at Conagocheague at 2 o'clock the next morning. Here Mr. Schlatter found a German Reformed con- gregation, to whom he preached a sermon. After which he and his companion traveled ten miles to the Potomac river and crossed over into Virginia, and traveled fifteen miles without seeing either a house or human being. On the loth day of May they took dinner at Fredericktown, Virginia (now Winches- ter). In the evening Mr. Schlatter preached to a Reformed con- gregation at Shenandoah (Strasburg). The next day they pro- ceeded forty two miles up the valley to New Germantown (New Market), where Mr. Schlatter preached to a large congregation. He and his companion then retraced their steps to Monocacy, where they arrived on May 12th. The following day Mr. Schlatter preached at Fredericktown, Maryland, '-in a new church which is not yet finished." After the sermon he administered the "Holy Supper" to ninety seven members, baptized several aged persons and children, married three couples and installed elders and deacons. He says: "It is a great advantage to this congregation (Monoc- acy) that they have the best schoolmaster I have met with in 11 America. He (Thomas Schley) spares neither labor nor pains in instructing the young and edifying the congregation according to his ability by means of singing and reading the word of God and printed sermons on every Lord's Day." Mr. Sclilatter found the land fruitful for grain and pasture, pro- ducing "Turkish corn (maize or Indian corn) almost without manure, with stalks ten and more feet long. He found in Virginia "deer in droves" and saw "a fearful rattlesnake seven or eight feet long and five inches thick. This is a dangerous kind of snakes. Still it warns the traveler by rattling when he is yet twenty steps off, so that he has time to avoid it." There were many Indians in the neighborhood of the settle- ments, but Mr. Schlatter found them "well disposed and very obliging, and, when not made drunk by strong drink, friendly towards Christians." Mr. Schlatter, in May, 175 3, again visited Frederick, accompa- nied by Rev. Theodore Frankenfield, whom he installed the first regular pastor of the Monocacy and Conogocheague congrega tions, which, according to Mr. Schlatter's report, July, 1751, were the only regularly organized German Reformed congregations in Maryland. Mr. Muhlenberg arrived at Monocacy, June 24th, 1747, just seven weeks aftef the first visit of Mr. Schlatter. Two men from Maryland met him at Conowago on the previous day to take him to a place thirty-six miles distant. They started in a drenching rain, and, finding no house at which to stay, "they were com- pelled to ride all night through the wilderness with the rain pour- ing down and the poor horses up to their knees in water and mire." By morning, June 24th, they reached their quarters. "This was the place called Monocacy^ ten miles east of Fredericktown, Maryland. Here they found a log church." The members of the congregatiorL_assembled, but "before sermon Mr. Muhlenberg wrote in the English language in the book of church records a number of articles concerning the order to be observed in the congregation." This book is now in the archives of the Lutheran Church of Frederick. On the back is stamped "Ge/niende Manacakee" (^Congregation of the Monocacy. It should be greatly prized by the members of that congregation from the fact that it contains the rules for the governn:ent of their church in the handwriting of the great and good man who labored so faithfully for the establishment of Lutheranism in this 13 country. From the fact that so few of the names attached to the articles in this- charch book are now to be found in the county, it is supposed the most of them or their immediate descendants drifted into other parts of the country. "Mr. Muhlenberg did not find the German Lutherans at Monoc- acy in as good condition as Mr. Schlatter found the Reformers. The Moravians, with their missionaries, George Ninke and his wife, had been among them and made great inroads into the church, causing much bitterness and strife among the members, which he only pirtially succeeded in removing." "Proceeding further, on June 25th, Mr. Muhlenberg and his companions came, after a ten-mile ride, to Fredericktotvn. A number of Lutherans living there, members of the Monocacy congregation, had been prevented from meeting the others on the previous day by reason of the rain." The most of these attached their signatures to the articles in the church book. After admin- istering the Lord's Supper and baptizing some children Mr. Muhlenberg returned the same evening to his quarters at Monoc- acy, and on the following diy proceeded to Conawago, York, Lancaster and to his home, at Philadelphia. Among the early membership of this congregation are found the names of John George Lay, John Krietzraan, John M. Roemer, Peter Axtel, Henry Sechs, Jacob Hoft, Martin Wetzel, George Schweinhardt, John Schmidt, John Verdries, Michael Reisner, Dr. Schney, John Stolmyer, John Sechs, Valentine Verdries, John George Seldner, John Christoph Schmidt, John Vogler, John Davis, Frederick Overdries, Martin VVehel, Jr., Nicholas Wehel, Frederick Willhaut, George Honig, George Rolz, George M. Hoff- man, Peter Apfal, Ludwig Weltner, Frederick Unsalt, Jacob Hoen, Hans Frederick Geyer. These names are attached to the rules in the church book referred to. At later periods came the Applebees, Boyers, Hardts, Fishers, Debruers, Hallers, Homes, Conradts, Ebberts, Jenkins, How- mans, Levys, Englebrechts, Mayheffers, Mayers, Myers, Metards, Nixdoffs, Weltzhimers, Bechtels, Cullers, Anglemans, Metzgers Hoffmans, Dills, Fearhakes, Reichs, etc. Monocacy was not only the earliest permanent settlement of Germans in Maryland, but if the statement of Rev. Dr. Zacha- rias, in his centenary sermon Whit-Sunday, 1848 — that Germans settled between the Monocacy river and the mountains in 1710- 171 2, be correct, Monocacy was the first settlement of white 13 people within the limits of Western Maryland. It was certainly the most important settlement of Germans in the State until the erection of Frederick county, in 1748, when Fredericktown, having been made the county seat, rose into prominence and the headquarters of both churches were transferred to the more popu lous centre; and as Joppa, one of the early county seats of Balti- more county, was absorbed by Baltimoretown, so Fredericktown absorbed ihe more ancient Monocacy. The exact location of the old log church to which Mr. Muhlen- berg refers is not known. The only data that has come down to us is, that it was erected on the west side of the Monocacy river, near where the Virginia road crossed the river and about ten miles above where Fredericktown was afterwards laid out, and about three and a-half miles southeast of the subsequent settle- ment at Graceham. This would locate it a little south of the present Cregerstown. This building is said to have stood until the commencement of the present century, but not a vestige of it remains to mark the spot where the first German congregations in Maryland were organized and where they worshipped for a period of fifteen to twenty years. After the absorption of Monocacy the section of the county known as the Glades became populous, and a log church was built in 1750 upon land ceded by Lord Baltimore. After the Revolution and the confiscation of the property of Mr. Dulaney, who had become possessed of a large portion of the reserved lands of Lord Baltimore, the General Assembly of Maryland passed an act confirming the title for a five-acre lot to the German Church on "Monocacy Manor." For a period of over eighty years the congregation at the <'Glades" was under the pastoral charge of the ministers of the Reformed Church at Frederick, but in 1833 it was detached therefrom and was united with the congregations at Woodsboro, Rocky Hill an Cregerstown. - Between 1748 and 1754, 2,800 Palatinates came into Mary- land by way of Baltimore and Annapolis ; some of whom located in Baltimore and Baltimore county, but the larger part settled in and about Fredericktown. Unfortunately the shipping lists of immigrants to Maryland have not been preserved, but it is known that among the immigrants who arrived during the periods 14 named were Christopher B. Mayer and his son-in-law, Rev. Ber- nard Houseal, who, in i 753, became the first regular pastor of the Lutheran Church at Frederick. Mr. Mayer brought a letter from CeciHus Calvert, Secretary and acting Proprietary of Maryland, to Benjamin Tasker, of Annapolis, president of the Council and one of the original large land owners in Frederick county, requesting him to give the necessary assistance to Mr. Mayer and those accompanying him to forward them to Manockesy, their destination. Mr. Mayer was cousin to Christian Mayer, who settled in Baltimore in 1781.; descendants of both of whom have been among the most promi- nent and distinguished citizens of Maryland, among them the late Brantz Mayer and Mr. Charles F. Mayer, president of the Balti- more and Ohio Railroad; the last named is a descendant of both, his father having been a son of Christian Mayer and his mother a descendant of Christopher. SETTLEMENTS AT CONOGOCHEAGUE AND HAGERSTOWN. The settlement known as Conogochegiie was near the present town of Clearspring and seven or eight miles southwest of Hagerstown. The first settlers, who were mostly Germans and members of the Reformed and Lutheran Churches, it is thought, came soon after 1735. At the time of Mr. Schlatter's visit, in 1 748, and until after the French and Indian war, Conogocheague was the westernmost settlement in Maryland. As has been stated, the settlers built a stockade fort near the settlement. They also built another on the Potomac river, in which their families sought refuge when the Indians became hostile. The site of the log church at Conogocheague, in which Mr. Schlatter preached in 1748,15 now occupied by a stone church, built in 1795, known as St. Paul's, distant about one and a-half miles from Clearspring. It is now and always has been a "Union Church," both Lutherans and Reformers worshipping therein. The first regular German Reformed pastor was Theodore Frank- enfield, who served this as well as the congregation at Frederick- town from 1753 to 1755. It was, perhaps, during the pastorate of this gentleman that Monocacy lost its prestige, as after 1755 I was unable to find any allusion whatever to the place, settlement or church called by that name. Jonathan Hager, a native of Germany, emigrated to America some time prior to 1739, for on December i6th,. of that year, he 15 obtained a patent for 200 acres of land in Washington, then Prince George, and subsequently Frederick county. At later periods he took out other patents, aggregating in all 2,500 acres. In 1762 he laid out a town which he named "Elizabeth," in honor of his wife, but it was subsequently changed to Hagers- town. It soon became flourishing, and by 1775 it contained over 100 houses, which, by 1807, was increased to 300, besides a court- house, jail, schoolhouse and four churches. Mr. Hager was accidentally killed November 6th, 1775, by a large piece of timber rolling upon and crushing him while superintending the erection of the German Reformed Church at Hagert^town, of which he was an active and zealous member. Among the early German settlers at Conogocheague and Hagerstown were the Prathers, Poes, Burkhardts, Startzmans, Snevelys, Stubs, Wolgamotts, Hausers, Elwicks, Kendrick'^, Shryocks, etc. SETTLEMENT AT GRACEHAM. Between 1745 and 1749 a number of German families belong- ing to the sect of Moravians setiled at what is now the village of Graceham, on the Western Maryland Railroad, Frederick county, twelve miles northwest of Frederick city. A number of these had removed from Monocacy, others from the Pennsylvania settlements. Among the fiist settlers were the missionaries, George Ninke and Lorenz Nyberg, who, as, we have seen, had been among the Lutherans at Monocacy, and various parts of Pennsylvania, creating dissensions among them. In 1768 they built a log church on a ten-acre lot donated to them by James Carroll, a large land owner in that vicinity. The church soon gave way to a more substantial structure, which stood until 1822, when a third church was built, which is stdl standing. Graceham is the seat of the first Moravian church in Maryland, and for a long time was a noted centre of religious worship. Its earliest settlers were Germans, or descendants of Germans, who drifted into Maryland from the Pennsylvania settlements. Among them were the Harbaughs, Boilers, Hens, Ebenhards,, Kreigers, Reinekes, Lydricks, Seiss, Schmidts, Utleys, Williards, Zahns, Herzers, Rosens, Renzands, Schaafs and Richters. SeTTLEMENT AT FLEECY DALE. In 1784 John Frederick Amelung came from Bremen with a colony of 300 to 400 persons, among whom were bakers, black- 16 smiths, doctois, shoemakers, tailors, etc., and settled on Bennett's Creek, near the Monocacy, in what is now the Urbana district of Frederick county. Here they erected a factory for the making of glass, and it is said to have been the first works established in America for the manufacture of hollow glassware. President Washington, in a letter to Jefferson referring to these works, says : "A factory of glass is established upon a large scale on Monocacy river, near Frederick, in Maryland. I am informed it will produce this year glass of various kinds to the amount of ten thousand pounds." Amelung manufactured and presented in person to Washington "two capacious goblets made of flint glass, exhibiting the gen- eral's coat of arms." The story goes, that Amelung, armed with these goblets and dressed in full court costume, proceeded to Mount Vernon. Crossing the lawn, he accosted a man in his shirt sleeves mounted on a ladder fixing the grape vines, and was greatly astonished to find that the person addressed was the great Washington himself A large number of pieces of the glassware made by Amelung are still in the possession of the Masonic Lodge at Alexandria, of which Washington was a member and its first master. The old Holland Masonic Lodge, of New York, also possesses a number of decanters, punch and wine glasses made by this factory, pre- sented to it by John Pintard, of Baltimore; and a gentleman of Baltimore county, who married a granddaughter of Amelung, has quite a collection of the glass made by Amelung, consisting of mirrors, goblets, wine glasses, etc., the quality and workmanship of which cannot be surpassed at this day. These works were brought to Baltimore in 1789 and occupied the site of the present glass works of Charles J. Baker & Sons, on the south side of the basin, under the north side of Federal Hill. The Amelung colonists established a Masonic Lodge, of which Abram Few, who was one of the Maryland delegates to the con- vention that framed the Constitution of the United States, was master. Members of this lodge, in 1799, assisted in the organi- zation, of the first Masonic Lodge, Hiram, No- 27, held at Fred- ericktown. Before the close of the war of the Revolution there were also large settlements of Germans at Middletown, Creagerstown, 17 Sharpsburg, Tanneytown, Tom's Creek, Point Creek, Hauvers, Owens Creek, Median icstown, Union Bridge, Emmettsburg and AVoodsbourgh, all then in Frederick county. Many of the descendants of the early German settlers of Mary- land were our Western pioneers, and their lamilies are now found in every Western State up to the Pacific coast. Tiffin and Day- ton, Ohio, were long the favorite points for emigration by the Germans and their descendants of Frederick county. Many of them extended their pilgrimage to Indiana and Illinois, and until as late as the commencement of the second third of the present century this was termed "Going to the //E Yard CREACFRSTO^ S&^P-^l GPAVFS/ / ,# .v^tiT ^ -^41 ^\ T^.^^r, «a\ i-/. -\ 1 M v. <•', \ ^>o'-{:*5? .<.^/ TREDBRICH. \ )iag:ram showing the location of "Monocacy" and sites of the old log ehurch, fn, grave yards, etc. • • • • old houses. SUPPLEMENTARY. THE VILLAGE MONOCACY. Since the completion of the foregoing pages I have been con- tinuing my investigation with a view to more definitely locate the ancient Monocacy, without doubt the first, and for some years the most important settlement of white people, (with the exception perhaps of Montgomery county,) in any part of Western Mary- land. The result of this investigation has almost certainly con- firmed the opinion I expressed that Monocacy was located near the present village of Creagerstown. Rev. George A. Whitmore, of Thurraont, Frederick county, who has charge of the Reformed Church at that place and Crea- gerstown, has taken great interest in my investigations and most kindly aided me therein, writes me as follows: "I have also been diligent in my enquiries concerning the location of the 'Old Log Church,' and for reasons which may interest you also in the future. The informaton which I have been able to gather from the oldest and most reliable citizens here, one of whom is now 90 years old, and a man remarkably preserved in mind, Mr. W. L. Grimes, Sr., also Mrs. Michael Zimmerman and Miss Melisia Myers— both of them bordering on 80 years, and others— it seems that the present Creagerstown is the site where the old church stood. These good people, who are all connected with the oldest and most reliable families, remember quite well tie old weather- boarded log meeting //^z/j^ which preceded the present brick church in 1834. Mr. Grimes helped to tear down the old building and purchased some of the logs and boarding, which he used in the construction of some houses in the village, and they are there to- day. From what I can Ikarn from them, the church was orign- ally built simply of logs, and that the weather-boarding was sup- plied many years afterwards. The new brick church was erected a few rods north of the old site on a new lot containing one and a-half acres, which, together with the old location, is covered with graves. The first graveyard lay immediately in the rear of the old church, and contains also an acre and a-half, but not a tombstone can be found, only the indenture of graves covered with a mat of broom sage, under which no doubt much history is hidden. 21 ' doubt the largest in the county outside of Frederick City. "Then again I have found traces in two instances, p/ain am^ unniistakcable, of the 'Old Monocacy Road," of which you speak, passing just below the village in a southwestern direction and crossing Hunting Creek, where, according to tradition, there was an old tavern, and where there are ndw three or four old dwellings. "Tradition also says the Monocacy road crossed the river at Foe's Ford, which has not been used for over a century, but corresponds with the two points to which you refer. The road on both sides of the creek lies in timber land of old sturdy oak. "The distances also which you have indicated point to that spot, viz: a short distance southeast of Creagerstown. The location of the place, elevated, affording a fine view, and sur- rounded by beautiful sipping lands, all are m evidence." This statement of Mr. Whitmore, agrees in every particular with the data we have heretofore been able to obtain, and I therefore believe that the few old houses and the old graveyard are perhaps all that remains of the ancient village Monocacy- Although it never reached the dignity of a laid-oflftown as its later and more successful rival Frederick did, yet, as we have seen by the journals of the Reverends Schlatter and Muhlenberg, as well as the reference Washington makes to it in one of his letters, it was a point of some importance in Colonial days. But there are other and much earlier references to this place than those referred to. As early as 1729 Charles Carroll, the elder, located a tract of 10,000 acress of land on Pipe Creek and Conowago and Codorus Creeks, lying partly in what is now York and Adams counties, Pennsylvania, but then all claimed by the Maryla nd authorities to_he within their p roy|nce. In 1732 Mr. Carroll, in company with a Mr. Ross, visited these lands the better to inform themselves how to finish a survey of the same. In his complaint to the Pennsylvania authorities of the interference he received from some of their people, he refers to a certain John Tradane, a Marylander, and a resident at Monochasie . And in Kercheval's history of the settlements in Shenandoah Valley, it is stated that among the early settlers there, was Benja- min Allen, Riley Moore and William White who had come from Motwcacy in Maryland in the year 1734. These facts incontesta- bly show that as early as 1732 and 1734 Monocacy was a place of some prominence. Although as stated it never reached the dignity of a "laid off town," it wonld seem, however, that even as late as 1747, it pos- sessed better accommodations for strangers than did the "laid-off" town of Frederick, for on neither of the visits of Mess. Schlatter and Muhlenberg to that town did they ever stop there over night, but always returned to "their quarters" at Monocacy. It was such a village as one may see today in sparcely-settled countries, containing perhaps a public house, a blacksmith sliop, a store, a few dwellings and a church nearby, where the people living for miles in the surrounding country, congregate as occasion requires. Although I have been unable to locate any settlers in the vicin- ity of Monocacy prior to 1732, there are reasons to believe that tkers were some in t'hat vicinity prior to that year. But it is^ known that before the year 1750 a large number of Germans an their descendants had found their way into Maryland via the set- tlements in York and Lancaster counties and sertled on the lands contiguous to the settlement of Monocacy. Among these were the Zimmermans, Kolbs, Hoffmans, Beckenbaughs, Bickels, Tra- danes, Devilbiss, Wetzels, Eckmans, Cramers (Kramers), Brinkers, Crise (Krise), Gushorns, Dohlmans, Blumingshiue, Protsmans, Shrumps, Stulls, Cullers, Creigers (Kriegers), Poes (Pohs), Eich- elbergers, Shrivers, Weinbrenners, Shryocks, Wilhides and many others. There were also a number of settlers of English extraction, among these were the Beattys, who were large landholders in that section, the Campbells, Grimes, Hammetts, Heads and others. John Cramer, a German, or a descendant of a German, be- tween 1760 and 1770, laid out a village on grounds belonging to him, which was named in his honor, "Creagerstown. The site selected was a few rods north of the Old Log Church, and a little less than a mile from the first settlement. The site selected for the new village was on more elevated ground, which fact doubtless caused it to expand to the detriment of the older village. It 33 ^^ is to be regretted that the new village did not retain the ancient name Monocacy, as Creagerstown then could claim the honor of being the oldest town in Western Maryland. The Albaughs, Zollers, Harbaughs, Stauffers, Stimmels, Smiths, Cronises, Millers, Derrs, Delaplanes, Shanks, Hauvers, Dudderers? Fogies, Adams, Weavers, Barracks, Hedges, Crimms, Wiers, Kellers, Snooks, Reamers, Snyders, Clems, Ramsbergs, Shaefers, Lettermans, Wormans, Houcks and Heffners were also settled in what is now Hauvers, Lewistown, Woodsboro, Liberty and Me- chanicstown Districts prior to 1 760. CONOWAGA. The place or settlement Cotiowaga, where Mr. Muhlenberg preached "in a large barn, because of the large numbej of peo- ple," was not the Conowaga where Mr. Schlatter preached in the same and following years. The first mentioned was near Hano- ver, Adams County, Pennsylvania, and the present St. Matthew's Lutheran Congregation at that town, is the lineal descendant of the one to whom Mr. Muhlenberg preached, June 23, 1747. It was or- ganized. May, 1743, by Rev. David Chandler, of York, who, in the same year, organized the "Evangelical Lutheran Congrega- tion at Monocacy," of both of which he became pastor, and served as such until his death in the following years. Rev. Lars Nyberg then became pastor of both congregations, but being charged with a leaning to Moravianism he was soon removed. There was not at that time more than a half dozen either Lutheran or German Reformed ministers in the country, and as there was an urgent demand for them by the largely increasing numbers of German immigrants coming to the settlements, the cupidity of some unscrupulous persons was excited to assume unlawfully the sacred office of Ministers of the Gospel. Among these was one Carl Rudolph, Prince of Wurtemburg, as he styled himself. By means of forged papers, letters and documents, he succeeded in obtaining the charge of the Conowaga and Monoc- acy Congregations. In this capacity he also ministered to the part of the Lutheran Monocacy Congregation residing at Fred- ericktown, but his dissolute and immoral character soon became known, and he was dismissed. A certain Mr. Schmidt, a dentist, and a Mr. Streiter, a school- master, neither of whom, it was said, were regularly ordained ministers, for a time succeeded in obtaining the charge of these congregations. An aged minister, Valentine Kraft, a Moravian, 24 also had for a time a following in both congregations. He re- moved to Frederick in 1749, where he died m 1751. During the incumbancy of this gentleman, the Conowaga Congregation was separated from that at Monocacy. It was not until 1753, when Rev. Mr. Hauseal removed to Fred- erick,- and was installed pastor of the Lutheran Congregation, that peace, harmony and regularity was established in the Mo- nocacy Congregation, about which time its headquarters were per- manently transferred to Frederick, where it has since had a peaceful and prosperous existence. The site of the log meeting house at ('onowago, where Mr. Schlatter preached in May, 1747 and 1748, is now covered by Christ's German Reformed Church, a short distance from Littles town in the same county, and distant about six miles from Han- over. This congregation was organized by Mr. Schlatter May 6th, 1747, who, two days later, May 8th, 1747, organized the Reformed congregation at Monocacy by ordaining Elders and Deacons. These congregations were united under one charge until about the year 1760. I have been unal)le to trace the visit of a Reformed minister to either Conowago or Monocacy until that of Mr. Schlatter, although doubtless both had been visited at irregular times by one or other of the few ministers residing in Pennsylvania, but there is no known record of any such visitations. At the time Mr. Schley was schoolmaster at Frederick and Monocacy to the Reformers a Mr. Otto Rudolph Crecelius was acting in that capacity for the Lutherans at the same places. From all that has been said I think the Lutheran congregation may safely date from the year 1743, when it was organized by Rev. David Chandler, of York. And that the Reformed congre- gation may date its organization from May 8th, 1747, when Rev. Mr. Schlatter ordained Elders and Deacons at Monocacy. Although, as stated, both lead an irregular organization for some years previously. 25 PULPIT OLD GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH, Rev. Daniel Zacharias, D. D. 26 THE OLD GERMAN REEORMED CHURCH. The engraving facing the title page of this work gives a view of the tower of the Old German Reformed Church erected in 1763 and 1764, which, including the steeple erected at the same time, was sixty feet high. This structure is without doubt the oldest church tower standing in our State. In a letter written by a resi- dent of Frederick in 1773, the writer states, "we have the only church with a steeple in the Province." The graceful spire shown in the engraving, was erected in 1807 upon the orignal stone-work by Stephen Stoner (Steiner), archi- tect and contractor. The original bells, which had been procur- ed from London at a cost of £130, were superseded by two larger bells cast in New Haven, Connecticut, but it was said they were inferior in chime to the first ones. The town clock was constructed and placed in the steeple about this time by Frederick Heisely. For nearly a century therefore this clock has been tolling the hours of passing time to the good people of Frederick. The tower, as originally constructed, stood out from the wall- entrance into the church being through a large door in the tower. The recesses between it and the end wall of the church were occupied by one-story frame buildings, in one of which was kept the biers and grave-diggers' implements, in the other was housed the engine of the Independent Fire Company. These buildings were standing within the recollection of the writer. But in 1836 they were removed and the recesses were built up on either side even with the roof of the church, as shown in the engraving, and the stairways to the gallery were constructed therein. The old pulpit, a partial representation of which is given on the preceding page — with the beloved pastor Rev. Dr. Daniel Zacharias, who served the congregation from 1835 to 1875, standing therein, was erected in 1822-1823. It is to be regretted that the engraving does not show the entire pulpit, which was quaint and quite picturesque. The railings and banisters were uiade of solid mahogany. In 1 88 1, as stated elsewhere, all the old church except the tower and steeple were removed, and the present Trinity Chapel built upon the site. It is much to be regretted that an engraving was never made of the Lutheran Church built in 1752 1758, and enlarged in 1824. It was very similar in size and construction to that of the Reformed Church, except that the steeple was not so high, and had but one belfry. This venerable building was removed in 1854 to make way for the present two steeple church. 27 The Old Glatz (Schultz) House. The first StoiU'-HoiiSL' built West of the Susquehanna River. Anno 1734. 28 AN HISTORIC OLD HOUSE. The engraving on the preceding page is a representation of one of the first two stone houses erected on the west side of the Sus- (juhanna river, either in Maryland or Pennsylvania. It is located on Krentz Creek, about four-and-a-half miles northeast of York? Pennsylvania. This interesting relic of the early days, now some- what modernized, is owned by Mrs. Margaret Glatz Mathews, of Baltimore, in whose family, the Hiestandsand (rlatzs, it has been for many years, and by the courtesy of whom I am enabled to present a representation of the building as it stood before it was repairedtwenty-eight years ago. Gibson, in his history of York county, referring to this old house, says : "It was, so far as known, the first large stone house erected within the limits of York county. It was built by John Schultz and his wife Christiana in the year 1734, at a time when there was doubtless no other two-story houses west of the Sus- quehana. It was in Hellam township. Since the formation of Spring Garden it is located within that township." "This house is in use, in excellent state of preservation, even though it is now (1885) one hundred and fifty-one years old. "In its early history it was one of the old-time public inns, and if it could speak might tell many an interesting story of our colonial days, as well as of revolutionary times. A well authen- ticated tradition asserts that on the 30th of September, i777' ^^e members of the Continental Congress, while on their way to York to make that place the seatof government during the British invasion of Pennsylvania and occupancy of Philadelphia, stopped at this house for rest and refreshment. They were traveling on horseback and the saddles used by those distinguished patriots greatly excited the curiosity of the surrounding populace, who were then unaccustomed to seeing such expensive luxuries. "The house is quaint and antique in design, though yei a con- venient and comfortable residence. One of the walls* contains the following words carefully carved on a sandstone tablet : '17 ano 34. Habich. Johann Schvltz, vnd Christiana Seine frav disses havs bavt." "Translation — In the year 1734, John Schultz and his wife Christiana built this house."* Rupp, in his history of York county, says : "About the year 1735 Jf>hn and Martin Schultz each built a stone dwelling house on Krentz Creek." While the house built by the first-named as I'This inscription is carved on a large white stone tablet over the front door- way. 29 stated, still exists, and from its appearance looks as though it may continue to do so for another one hundred and sixty years, there remains no trace of the house built by the latter, the great grandfather of the present writer. Nearby the house we have been describing is the site of the prison in which British anfi Hessian prisoners were confined during the Revolutionary War. "In 1 781, an act of Congress directed that the British prisoners confined at the barracks in Frederick and Winchester should be removed to York, Pennsylvania, from fear of rescue by Cornwal- lis. Twenty acres of woodland near this house was cleared and cultivated by the prisoners. Huts, mostly of stone, were erected and surrounded by a picket fence fifteen feet high. Some of the timber of the fence and stones of the huts yet remain. While there, a plague of some kind broke out among them, and a large number, computed by some at a thousand of them died. Their graves are still visible ma'-ked with stones." — Address of John Gibson, Esq., at Centennial Celebration at York, July ^th, 1876. As the section of country in which this old house is situated was claimed by the Maryland authorities to be within their prov- ince, forming a part of Prince George (afterwards Frederick) and Baltimore counties, also that it was the scene of much of the dis- orders and conflicts which took place about the time of its erec- tion, growing out of the dispute over the boundary line between Maryland and Pennsylvania it was thought the foregoing as well as the following, quoted from both sides of the controversy might prove of interest to the reader. Glossbrenner, in his history of Lancaster and York counties, saysj ''The first settlements in the present York county were made on Krentz Creek and in the neighborhood of where Hanover now stands. Before the erection of the county of Lancaster in 1729, a number of persons resided on tracts of land lying on the west side of the Susquehanna, within the bounds of what is now York county. These person remained, however, but a short time on the lands they occupied — were not allowed to warm in the nests on which they had squatted — and may not be looked upon as the j)rogenitors of the present possessors of the soil of York county. They were known only as '^Maryland intruders,'" and were removed in the latter part of the year 1728 by order of the Deputv Governor and Council, at the request of the Indians, and in conforinit}' with their existing treaties." 30 This is the Pennsylvania side of the story, but there is another : — a J/'/a«c/side— as intimated in the first part of this paper. Lord Baltimore claimed under his charter, all the land and water to the present New Jersey and a strip of land twenty miles wide . above the present boundary line between Maryland and Pennsyl- vania. The 40 degree, north latitude, was, by the charter^ granted by Charles 1 to Cecilius Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, as the north boundary line of the province. Relying upon the validity of their title, the proprietories and their agents issued warrants and leases for lands in what is now York and Adami. counties, Pennsylvania. As early as 1722 a warrant was issued for the survey of a Manor to the Lord Baltimore upon the banks of the Susquehanna river, lying in what was claimed to be Prince George and Baltimore counties. In 1727 John Digges, a resident of Prince George county, ob- tained a warrant from the Maryland authorities for 10,000 acres of land known as "Digges' Chance" in the neighborhood of the present Hanover. And as mentioned elsewhere Charles Carroll, the elder, in 1729 located a warrant for 10,000 acres vacant land lying on Pipe Creek and Conowaga and Codorus Creeks, all of whicii were held to be within the bounds of the Province of Maryland. The earliest settlers, under Maryland grants and leases, were Irish and Scotch, but these were soon followed by large numbers of Germans, who, for the most part, settled on Krentz Creek. As Glossbrenner states, "about 1729 the Pennsylvania authorities commenced to issue warrants for land on the west side of the Sus- quehanna, and took measures to resist by force the attempts of the Marylanders to survey and grant warrants for land in that sec- tion. I'his brought on a conflict, and for some years there was great disorders in that section, resulting in several instances in bloodshed. The celebrated Thomas Cressup, father of the no less celebrat- ed Michael Cressup, took an active part in these border troubles. He formed, with the knowledge of Governor Ogle, an association of fifty men for the purpose of driving out the (Germans on the west side of the Susquehanna, who had located on Pennsylvania varrants: in the prosecution of their designs they killed one man. An attack was then made on Cressup',s residence by a body of irmed men from Pennsylvania, who set fire to his house, in which himself and family and others had taken refuge. One of Cres- 31 sup's men was killed and he himself was wounded and made prisoner and carried to Philadelphia, where he was confined for nearly a year. "This fierce border warfare at length attained to so alarming a character tliat the Governor and General Assembly of Maryland deemed it necessary to make a true representation to the King and Proprietary of the impious treatment which this Province in general and more particularly your Majesty's subjects residing on the northern borders thereof have of late suffered from the Gov- ernment and inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania. "From this address it appears that the German settlers of whom so much has been said, had in the first place applied to the authorities of Maryland for permission to settle on the land in dispute, that considerable quantities of land had been allotted to them (in what is now York county, Pa.,) and that for a time they had paid taxes to the Government of Maryland, and in every way acknowledged its jurisdiction. The address charged, how- ever, that they had been seduced from their allegiance by emissa- ries from Pennsylvania, who promised them lighter taxes under that province, and that they had accordingly refused to yield further obedience to Maryland. It was to reduce these people to submission and to maintain the proper authority of Maryland that Cressup's association was formed, and it was in the attempt to defend her territory that he was subjected to the violence and imprisonment for which the Governor and Assembly now sought redress. This address had the effect of drawing from the King an order in Council dated August i8, 1737, in which the Govern- ors of Maryland and Pennsylvania were commanded on pain of his Majesty's highest displeasure to put a stop to the turmoils riots and outrageous disorders on the border of their [irovinces." —{Scharfs IV. Md. Vol. I, page 115.) We now give the Pennsylvania version of the story : "About fifty or sixty persons, heads of German families, ad dressed Governor Ogle August 11, 1736, complaining of the op- pressions they had met with from Maryland — different from the Maryland tenants — which made them conclude that the Governor and Magistrates of Maryland themselves did not believe them to be settled in their province, but that they had been seduced and made use of, first by promises, and then by threats and punish- ment, to answer purposes which were unjustifiable, and would end 33 in their ruin; wherefore they, with many of their neighbors, being at last truly sensible of the wrong they had done the Pennsylvania proprietors in settling on their lands without paying obedience to their government, did resolve to return to their duty, and live under the laws and (jovernment of Pennsylvania, in which they believed themselves seated; and that they would adhere to, till the contrary should be determined by a legal decision of the dis- puted bounds; and their honest and just intention they desired to be made known to the Marvland Governor. "Two days after writing to Governor O^le, forty seven of them signed and sent a petition to Mr. Logan, President of the Council, at Philadelphia, setting forth that they had been de- ceived through their ignorance, to settle under Maryland; and that the river was the division — that they had been illy used — that they were now informed that not the river, but an east and west line across the river must be the division; and observing that the people on the east side of the river, inhabitants of Pennsylvania, who live much more southwest than they, enjoyed their possess- ions peaceably without any claim from Maryland, they saw they had been imposed upon, to answer some purpose from Maryland, and that they were not settled within that Province, as made to believe; from a sense whereof, and of the wrong they were doing to Pennsylvania, they resolved to return to their duty and prayed the President of the Council to impute their late errors to their want of better information, and to receive them into the protec- tion of Pennsylvania laws and government, to which they promised all faithful obedience for the future." "They were according to their petition received as tenants of Pennsylvania. "This course exceedingly exasperated the Marylanders— they now resorted to sterner measures for the purpose of ejecting the miscreants from their possessions." — {Rupp, 551.) Then ensued the disorders to which I have referred. The order of the King met with a ready compliance, and an agreement was made in 1738 providing for the running of a pro- visional line between the provinces which was not to interfere with the actual possessions of the settlers, but merely to suspend all grants of the disputed territory as defined by that line until the final adjustment of the boundaries, of which was not effected until 1763. Among the Calvert papers recovered through the instrumental- 38 ity of the Maryland Historical Society a few year since was found a false map, made, it is presumed, at the instigation of the Penns; on which Cape Henlopen, the beginning of the east line of Lord Baltimore grant, was placed twenty miles further south than it is in fact. The production of this map, it is sup[)osed, caused Charles Lord Baltimore to enter into an agreement by which he conceded nearly everything deminded by the Penns, at least referring to the north boundary. When he discovered that the map was a fraud and protested, the court having the subject under advisement, decided that as he had entered into it he must abide by it. By the loss of this strip of twenty miles of territory from the northern boundary of the province and the whole of the State of Delaware, which was occasioned by equally as unjust means, the Lords Proprietories were, as stated, shorn of between three and four millions of acres of their territory. ANCIENT COMMUNION SERVICE. 34 AN OLD COMMUNION SERVICE. Through the courtesy of Rev. Abdial Connor, pastor of the Olades German Reformed Congregation near Walkersville, Fred- erick county, 1 am enabled to present a representation of a flagon and chalice, parts of an old communion sen«ice, now in his cus- tody. These interesting relics vf&re discovered a few months since by Rev. George M, Zacharias, of Baltimore, in the garret of the old school-house belonging to the Glades Church, and are thus described by him, in an article entitled "Schlatter's Relics," published in the Frederick City Daily News, December 21st, 1895: They are made of German silver — the flagon, which is very heavy, is about 15 inches high, and has engraven upon it the fol- lowing initials and date: V, w. V. G. R. 1747. These are encircled by a wreath of leaves tapering at top and forming a bow at bottom. The chalice is about 12 inches in heighf, but has no inscription upon it, and Mr. Zachanas is of the opinion that it is of later date than the fligon, although it is possible, he says, it may have been a separate gift made at the same time. Quite naturally, as Mr. Zacharias says, this flagon, with the date 1747, "gives rise to much historical research and thought." Among the inferences he draws therefrom, is that there mast have been a '-Monocacy Manor Congregation and a Monocacy Frederick Congregation," and that the former was located within the bounds of the present Glades and Mount Pleasant charges. But I have shown that the earliest congregation formed in the Glades district was in the year 1750, three years later than the date on the flagon. He, as well as others who have investi- gated the origin and history of the Lutheran and Reformed Con- gregations of Frederick, recognize the fact that there was a building — '-a union church" — in which both congregations wor- nipped, antedating the visits of Revs. Schlatter and Muhlenberg n 1 747, but neither of them appeared to have been able to locate it. This is somewhat surprising, because Mr. Muhlenberg clearly and distinctly states that he and his companions found ^'a log church at the place called Monocacy, which is ten miles from Fred- ericktown." Mr. Schlatter also clearly states that he preached to a congre- 35 gation at Monocacy, and we know that it was in the log church belonging to the Lutherans, for in the articles written in their Church book, it is expressly stated that the Reformed ministers are permitted to use their church. The readers of these pages have seen, that, by means of the valuable researches of Rev. Mr. Whitmore, we have been able not only to locate the "place called Monocacy," but are also able to point out the actual site of the log church, in which Revs. Muhlenberg and Schlatter preached, and where the present Luth- eran and Reformed Congregations of Frederick were organized. And, furthermore, that there are now at least three persons living who saw the old church and were within its walls. There can be no doubt whatever, 1 think, that these venerable relics (the flagon at least j were used by the Monocacy Reformed Congregation, and perhaps by Mr. Schlatter himself at the ad- ministration of the "Lord's Supper" to the 86 members of the congregation. May 8th, 1747, at Monocacy, and also to the 97 members of the same congregation at Fredericktown, May 14th, 1748. The suggestion therefore that Mr. Zacharias makes is a good one, viz:— that this venerable flagon shall be used in administer- ing the "Holy Supper" at the Schlatter memorial services to be held during the year 1897, being the Sesqui Centennial of his missionary labors in Maryland and Virginia. ARTICLES For the government of the Lutheran Church at Monocacy, written in their Church hook by Rev. Mr. Muhlenberg, June 24, 1747. "Whereas, we, the subscribers, enjoy the inestimable liberty of conscience under the powerful protection of our Gracious Sover- eign King George the Second, and his representatives, our gra- cious superiors of this province, and have used this Blessed liberty since our first settling here at Manakasy till this day in worshiping God Almighty according to the Protestant Lutheran persuasion grounded m the Old and New Testaments and in the Invariata Augustana Confessions, certerisque libris syinbolicis, we will pray for our most gracious sovereign, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in Godliness and honesty. And whereas, we are several times disturbed by pretended min- isters that style themselves Lutherans, but cannot produce any ;5() lawful certificate or credentials of their vocation or ordination of a lawful consistory or ministry, and cause strife, quarrels and dis- turbance among the congregation, we the subscribers, and the church wardens and members of the protestant Lutheran con- gregation erect and agree and bind ourselves to the following articles, in primis — 1. The Church we have erected and built at Manakasy and used hitherto shall stand and remain and be for the worship of our protestant Lutheran religion according to our confession and oeconomic as long as the blessed acts of tolerance and of our liberty stand for ever. The Reform congregation shall have liberty for their lawful minister. 2. No minister shall be admitted to preach, or administer the holy ordinances in our church, without a lawful call and certificate of his lawful Lutheran ordination and examination by a Lutheran congregation or ministry, and without consent of the church wardens. 3. Every year shall be chosen four or more blameless members of our congregation forchurch wardens, and they shall be chosen by per plurima vota. 4. The church wardens shall hold and preserve the key of the church, the vessels and ornaments that belong to the church and congregation, and deliver every piece in time of worship or when necessity requireth it. 5. Two of the church wardens shall keep an exact account of the alms and be ready to lay at the end of the year the reckoning before the rest of the church wardens and the congregation. 6. Whenever a member or church warden should turn to another persuasion or lead a notoriously sinful life against the ten commandments, the constitution and laws of our most graci- ous superiors, he or they shall not be accounted for a member of our congregation, but be excluded. To these before mentioned articles, which only tend to promote peace and quietness we set our hand this 24th day of June, 1747, in the 21st year of the reign of our most gracious sovereign King George the Second, whom the Lord preserve." Signed by the six Wardens and twenty-six other members of the congregation residing at Monocacy and Frederick and vicini- ties. (For the signatures attached to this paper, see page 13). 37 THE FIRST GERMAN SETTLERS IN THE VICINITY OF FREDKRICK CITY. It has been the general belief that John Thomas Schley, accompa- nied by ICO Palatinate families, came from Germany in 1735, and settled in the neighborhood of where Frederick City now stands, and that these were the first Germans who settled in that locality. But there is evidence to show that there were a number of Ger- mans located on lands in that vicinity prior to the date assigned for the coming of Thomas Schley. In Rupp's lists of 30,000 German, Swiss and French Immigrants, as well as in the lists published in the Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, are found ^^ the names of Joseph Brunner and his three sons, Jacob, John '^ and Henry, Christian Getzendanner, Stephen Ramsburg, Conrad >^ Kemp and his sons. Christian, Gilbert and Frederick, Ludwig ■ ' and Johannes Bentz, Sebastian Derr, Jacob Stoner, Ulrich Staley, >=- Hans Martin Wetzel, Nicholas Adams, and many others, the ( paternal ancesters of the families of those bearing their names in Frederick county who arrived at Philadelphia between the yexrs 1727 and 1734, and who, it is reasonable to suppose, found their way into Maryland shortly after their arrival in this country. From the fact that Schley's name is not found in Rupp's lists or in the Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, it is supposed, that he and those who may have accompanied him, came via Annap- olis or Alexandria, and that they were the first Germans to come to Maryland by way of the Chesapeake Bay. The favorite route of the German immigrants was to the port of Philadelphia, thence to Lancaster county, where large settlements were made at an early period. From here they spread into other sections of Pennsylvania, and into Maryland, Virginia, and as far south as North Caroliria and Georgia. It is possible that there may have been as many as one hundred German families settled between the Monocacy river and the Catoctin mountains in 1735, or shortly thereafter, but that so large a number came at that period at one time, is very doubtful. That number of families would represent at least two hundred, more likely two hundred and fifty or three hundred persons, and if so Urge a number had arrived at either Annapolis or Alexan- dria at one time, some evidence of the fact other than mere tradition would, I thini?, have been preserved. It is true, there are other names found on the early records that do not appear in the Pennsylvania lists. The names also of 38 Jonathan Hagar, and others who settled at Conococheague and Hagerstown at that period, are not found in those lists, and it is possible that some of them may have come with Schley, but still there is nothing to warrant the belief that as many as one hun- dred families came at anyone time into Maryland. It would appear from all the available data at hand that the first of these German immigrants to settle in the vicinity of the present Frederick City were the Brunners, Getzendanners and Kemps ; the followy^g facts, therefore, referring to the coming of these fi^st settlers, may prove of interest : THE BRUNNER FAMILY. Jacob Brunner, eldest son of Joseph Brunner, of the city of Schiefferstadt, Manheim, Germany, arrived at the Port of Phila- delphia on the ship "Morton." August 24th, 1728. He evidently came to 'wn of Liberty. He also owned land on the east of l^Vederii k, subsecjuently owned by the late Captain Edward Schley, now by George Cline, as well as some town lots. His son, John Wdliam Albaugh, was a piominent citizen, being one of the Committee of Safety for Frederick county during the Revolution. His family, as well as the German settlers of Fred- erick county generally, were warm friends of the patriot cause, and rendered valuable services in the defense of the liberties of their adopted country. His son Abraham, it is said, was the first person of German descent to hold office in Frederick county, that of magistrate and United States Marshal. Among other known early settlers are the following: Nicholas Adams, the ancestor of the family of this name in Frederick county, came to America prior to 1727, and sometime thereafter took up lands on Israel's Creek, now owned by E. Lewis Cramer. Sebastian Derr (Durr) arrived at Philadelphia, September nth, 1728. From here he went by water to Alexandria, where he purchased lands in that vicinity, which he gave to his son Thomas. Some time prior to 1753 he removed into Maryland and purchased the tract of land "Dearbought," from Stephen Ramsberg, which is still in the possession of his descendants. Jacob Stoner (or Ste.ner) came from Germany in 1731. He was born in 1713, and died in 1748. His tombstone is one of the few preserved in the old graveyard in the rear of the old log 42 church of the Reformers. He was the paternal ancestor of the late Dr. Lewis H. Steiner and Bernard C Steiner, Libra[rian of the Enoch Pratt Library. Hans Frederick Geyer, born in 1696, died at Frederick in 1775. His grandson, Henry S. Geyer, removed in early life to Missouri, where he became a prominent lawyer, and in 1851 was elected United States Senator to succeed Senator Thomas Ben- ton, serving until 1857, and died 1859. I was not able to find any warrants issued for land to any of the persons named earlier than the year 1742. It is evident, therefore, I think, that these first settlers were squatters. Or, as in the case of Christian Getzendanner, they may have purchased their lands froui the Indians. They probably did not know that any one had other or better title to the lands than the Indians. When they discovered that the authorities at Annapolis had a say in the matter they applied to them for war- rants, but, as stated, this was not done until 17-12, and in many cases not until a much later date. The following is a list ot some of the earlier warrants issued for lands in the vicinity of Frederick: Christian Kemp took out patents as follows: February loth, 1743, for 230 acres, called "Despatch." February 20th, 1743, for 100 acres, called ""Kemp's Delight." February 20th, 1743, for 150 acres, called "Good Luck." March, 1746, for a resurvey ol "Kemp's Delight.'' June 20, 1753, for a resurvey of "Crood T.uck," 539 acres. August 4th, 1752, for Kemp's Long Meadow, 600 acres. October 31st, 1754, for 25 acres, called "Meadow Recovered." June 20th, 1753, 82 acres, called "Great Desire." Conrad Kemp took out patents as follows: March 12th, 1745, for 30 acres, called "Wilber Sign." March, 1746, for 50 acres, called "Peace and Quietness." September 19th, 1750, 100 acres called "Kemp's Delight." July 30th, 1750, 10 acres, called "Kemp's Lot." This appears to have been for a tract of land lying between his land and Frederick Kemp's, for which the yearly payment was five pence Sterling in silver or gold. Gilbert Kemp took out patents as follows: July 30, 1750, 50 acres, called "Kemp's Discovery." November 10, 1752, 150 acres, called "Home House." 43 Frederick Kemp took out a patent, August 14, 1754, ior 55 acres, called "Kemp's Bottom." George Shley (Schley), took out a patent, June 21, 1755, for 104 acres, called "Shley's Discovery." William Albaugh took out patents as follows: May 25, 1750, 50 acres, called "Albaugh's Choice." June 29, 1754, resurvey < ^755' ^i^d is still in the possession of his descendants. To Nicholas Fink, June 22, 1754, part of Tasker's Chance, containing 120 acres; consideration 50 pounds. To Abraham Lingenfelter, August 3, 1779, a tract on Israel's Creek, containing 100 acres; consideration two pounds annually. Lingenfelter was to erect a house and plant an apple orchard of 100 trees. This property came into the possession of Valentine Adams, a son in law of Lingenfelder, at whose death it was sold for Con- tinental money, which proved to be almost worthless. Jacob Bentz owned a large tract of land, also a part of Tas- ker's Chance, immediately on the west site of the toT\n. It ex- 50 tended from Bentztown, of which it was a part, beyond the Hamburg road. In 1775, Jacob Bentz deeded to the German Reformed Church the ground now the old graveyard of that con- gregation. The father of this gentleman was probably Jacob, and the paternal ancestor ot the family in Frederick county, and not Ludwig or Johannes, as I intimated on page 38. The town of Frederick was laid out in September, 1745, on a part of Tasker's Chance, lying on both sides of Carroll creek. The lots were laid out 60 to 63 feet wide, and from 355 to 393 feet deep. The rate paid for them was 2 pounds 10 shillings and the further yearly payment of one shilling for 21 years, and after that time two shillings yearly. To the year 1781 Dulaney and his son Walter sold about two hundred of these lots, when the successful termination of the Revolutionary \\'ar, terminated all their rights, not only to the remaining lots in the town of Frederick, but also to the vast tracts of land owned by them in various parts of the county. Among the earlier names of those taking up lots in the town, I find in the records of Prince George and Frederick counties the following : Robert Debutts (two lots), Robert VVickham, John Carey, Michael Stumpf, Valentine Black, Thomas Schley (four lots), Mrs. Walling, Peter Rench, Mrs. Everton, Peter Butler, Ludwig Young, Samuel Beal, Rev. Bernabus Hauseal, John Biggs, James Brandt, James Dickson, Susannah Apple, Jacob Schisler, Chris- tian Scholl, Jacob Swearinger, George Dickson, Daniel Schultz (four lots), Theobald Mertz, Jacob Schley, Michael Latz, Nicholas Hauer, Daniel Hauer, Peter Wearry, John Kephart, John Jacob Schley, George Burkhart, Michael Raemer, Jacob Marshall, Jacob Sproul, Demorest De la Vincindier and Samuel Duval. May ID, 1750, there was deeded to the commissioners appoint- ed by the Legislature to purchase lands for building a court house in Frederick, six lots numbered 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78. Consideration 18 pounds. The Dulaneys owned other tracts in various parts of the county, as we have seen by the Getzendanner patent. They also had a tract of over 8000 acres on Monocacy Manor, north of Frederick. Charles Carroll, Dr. James Carroll, George Steuart, and others, also took up large tracts in various parts of what is now Frederick and Washington counties. In the latter. Lord 51 Baltimore had reserved a tract of 10,500 acres, called Conago- cheaque. Leases were made of these lands at from two to six pounds per 100 acres annually. It would appear that land had considerably advanced over price paid by the first settlers, but it must be borne in mind that these payments were in Maryland currency, which was then greatly depreciated. As Frederick City as well as some of the largest and finest farms in its vicinity are located on "Tasker's Chance," it was thought it might be of interest to publish its courses and distances which are as follows : COURSES AND DISTANCES OF TASKER's CHANCE. "Beginning at a bounded beech, bounded with nine notches, standing about two perches from the bank of Monocacy river or creek, and about six perches from the mouth ot a large run called Beaver run [now known as Carroll creek], and from thence run- ning north, eighty degrees west, thirty seven perches; then south, fifty five degrees west, fifty-two perches; then south, sixteen de- grees west, eight perches; then south, seventy-five degrees west, sixty-six perches; then south, forty-five degrees west, eighty-six perches; then south, sixty-five degrees west, one hundred and forty-five perches; then south, forty degrees west, one hundred and six perches; then south, fifty-nine degrees west, two hundred and forty-seven perches; then north, fifty six degrees west, four hundred and forty-six perches; then north, twelve degrees east, four hundred and nine perches; then north, thirty-one degrees west, one hundred and forty perches; then north, forty-six degrees east, one hundred and sixty perches; then north, thirty degrees east, one hundred and sixty perches; then north, fifteen degrees east, one hundred and eighty perches; then north, thirty six de- grees east, five hundred and forty-six perches; then south, seventy- seven degrees east, three hundred and sixty-nine perches to the side of Monocacy river or creek; then bounding by and with the side of the said river or creek as said river runs then foll'g courses (viz.)south, twenty degrees east, fifty-six peri lies; then south, thirty- seven degrees west, seventy perches; then south, twenty-three de- grees west, one-hundred and twenty perches; then south, fifty- six degrees west, one hundred and thirty perches; then south, thirty degrees east, eighty perches; then south, sixty degrees east, 52 eighty-four perches; then south, forty-six degrees east, sixty perches; then south, eighty degrees east, one hundred and twelve perches; then south, sixty-five degrees east, seventy-four perches; then south, twenty degrees east, one hundred and sixty- eight perches; then sou'h, twelve degrees west, forty perches; then south, sixty-four degrees east, one hundred and thirty perches; then south, forty-three degrees east, forty perches; then south, twenty-seven degrees west, sixty perches; then south, sixty-six degrees west, one hundred and twenty perches; then north^ thirty-nine degrees west, forty four perches; the west, forty perches; then north, fifty-five degrees west, thirty perches; then west, two hundred and four perches; then south, forty-five degrees west, forty perches; then south, four degrees west, fifty perches; then south, thirty-six degrees east, forty perches; then south, sixty degrees east, twenty-one perches; then south, forty-three degrees east, seventy perches; then south, seventy degrees east? one hunered perches; then south, thirty-six degrees east, thirty-six perches; then still bounding by and with the side of the said river or creek to the beginning tree," containing, Jec, &c. Surveyed 15th April, 1725. Patented 9th June, 1727. Land Office of Maryland, Set.: I hereby certify that the aforegoing is a true copy of courses and distances of <'Tasker's Chance," 7,000 acress, as recorded in Liber P. L., No. 6, folio 559, &c., one of .he Record Books of this office. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and (^n:r\ affixed the Seal of the Land Ofifice of Maryland, this 6th (^^^ day of February, 1896. Philip D. Laird, Commissioner of the Land Office. It is stated in the records of the Land Office, that this entire tract of 7,000 acres was conveyed, January 3oth,i744, to Daniel Dulaney for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand pounds, but the consideration named in the Records of Prince George County was about 1682 pounds. 53 The Old "Washington" Tavern— [front view.] The Old ''Washington" Tam-.k.n— |_rvL.n,x > ie\v.] 54 AN HISTORIC OLD TAVERN. On the preceding page is a front and rear view of an old build- ing standing on west All Saints' street. It was formerly an inn or tavern, and a well-founded tradition asserts that here in 1755 Washington and Franklin met for the first time, and were called into consultation with Governor Sharpe and General Braddock, in regard to the campaign for the reduction of Fort du Quesne. This venerable relic of the early days is now occupied by several colored families, and, as will be noticed, is in a delapida- ted condition. It sets back about fifty feet from the street, the rear grounds sloping down to the bed of Carroll Creek, upon the margin of which was, and is still a fine spring of water; this fact doubtless had some influence in the selection of the site for the building. The old road to Virginia and the South passed along All Saints' street in front of this building, thence by way of Prospect Hill, and through the mountains to the south. The original road to Virginia from the Pennsylvania settle- ments, as I have shown, was by the way of the old settlement of Monocacy, and then through Catoctm Mountains at Fishing Creek Gap, thence down the Middletown Valley and through South Mountain at Crampton's Gap. According to Scharf there were three taverns in Frederick in 1750, and this, doubtless, was one of them. Frederick was on the only direct road from the New England States, as well as from New York and Pennsylvania to the South; as travel between these points increased, a large number of taverns were erected in the town, as well as along the roads. These all did a thriving business until the introduction of canals and railroads, when the trade was diverted into other channels. Frederick itself had for many years a thriving trade with Georgia and other Southern States. Within the recollection of the writer there were fifteen or six- teen of these taverns still in operation on Market and Patrick streets, and several in other parts of the town, besides which there were several public houses dignified by the title, "Hotel." All of them had ponderous swinging signs planted in front with expressive designs. The mournful creaking of these signs on their rusty hinges on windy days and nights gave due warning to the pedestrian to quicken his steps until he had safely passed them. 55 The Old Barracks as they were before 1869. THE OLD BARRACKS. Many of the residents of Frederick have been under the im- pression that the Old Barracks were erected during the time of the French and Indian wars, but this is not the fact. The Bar- racks, as shown in the engraving, were built under Chapter X, Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland, passed in 1777. There is ground for the belief, however, that there was a stockade fort, or something of that character, on or near their site at the time of the French and Indian wars, similar to those erected by the early settlers near the present Clearspring and Williamsport, to which the women and children retreated when the Indians became troublesome. The Act of the Assembly referred to, provided for "the erection of Barracks to remove as far as possible the necessity of quartering troops in private houses." Under this act there was "to be erected, in or near Frederick- town in Frederick county, a number of fit, convenient and proper barracks of plain brick or stone work, with a block-house 56 at each corner and ditched and palisaded in, sufficient for the reception of two batalions, with officers." The act also provided for the erection of similar buildings at Annapolis and head of Elk. Within the recollection of the oldest inhabitant of Frederick, the barracks presented the form and appearance as in the engraving of two L-shaped structures of stone two stories high, with walls three feet thick. The longest part of each L was 140 feet, the shortest parts being 60 feet long. But I am of the opinion that originally there was a fourth side completing the parallelagrani. This opinion is strengthened if not actually confirmed by the following among the items of in- terest referring to the old town quoted by Scharf: "June 26, 1797, the right wing of the barracks entirely destroyed" (by fire it is presumed). Such a structure with "a block house at each corner and ditched and pallisaded" would form what evidently it was intended to be (besides quarters for troops) a fortress and a place of defense and security against attacks by Indians as well as trained soldiers. During the War of the Revolution the barracks were used as a place of confinement for the British and Hessian prisoners cap- tured in the battles at Saratoga and Trenton, and afterwards at Yorktowh. It is said that there was at one time as many as 1000 Hessian prisoners confined there and in huts erected on the sur- rounding grounds, which cover ten acres. Th;y were also occupied "by the French prisoners of L'lnsur- gent captured by the Constellation in the guasi-wdx with France," also the prisoners captured in the 181 2 war with England. These barracks were for many years used for the storage of arms be- longing to the Stale. An armorer was regularly appointed, who had the charge of them and the care of the buildings. An old cannon, eight or nine feet long, from Revolutionary times, laid upon Barrack hill for many years. On the occasions of 4th of July and other celebrations this old cannon would be raised from the ground into which it had sunk since last used and fired. Upon the election of General Harrison to the Presidency in 1S40 some of his admirers raised the old cannon, one of whom, in the exuberance of his feelings, rammed it with clay, in consequence of which it exploded and he paid the penalty of his indiscretion with his life. 57 By an Act of the General Assembly passed January, 1869, the State Grounds at Frederick, together with buildings thereon, were set apart for the use of the "Maryland School for the Deaf and Dumb." The school was opened in one of the buildings, but in a few years the needs of the institution requiring better accommo- dations, the present large, handsome and commodious buildings were erected. Unfortunately a portion of the old and venerable barracks had to be torn down to make room for the new build- ings, the east wing now alone remaining. Old Court House, 1785. 58 The old court house. By the act of 1748, creating Frederick county, the commis- sioners therein appointed were authorized to purchase three acres of land in or near Fredericktown whereon to erect a court house and prison. In accordance therewith the commis- sioners purchased from Mr. Dulaney, in Frederick, six lots num- bered from 73 to 78. These lots were each 62 feet wide and 393 feet deep, extending from Church Street to Second Street; the price paid to Mr. Dulaney for the same was 18 pounds. Work on the court house was at once commenced, and it was nearly completed when the French and Indian War broke out, the exigencies of which caused labor thereon to cease, and it was not completed until 1756. This building, which was one and a half stories high, and built mostly of wood, was located in what is now the bed of Counsel Street, and stood until 1785, when the building of which a representation is presented, was erected. This quite an imposing structure for that time, was modeled after ihe court house of Dublin, Ireland, by Andrew McCleary, descendents of whom still reside in Frederick. It was built about 20 feet south of the first building, and stood until 1S61, when it was destroyed by fire, and the present building was erected upon its site. The present Court House Square is much curtailed from its original dimensions. The bed of Counsel Street, as well as the Frederick College, and the residences of Messrs. Charles Ross and David Weinbrunner, has been taken therefrom. The first jail, a rude structure, stood near the present residence of Mr. Ross, and the whipping post stood on the southeast cor- ner of the lots opposite the present Central National Bank. Before the erection of the first court house the courts, as else- where stated, were held in the log church of the German Reformed Congregation on Patrick Street. They were held also for a time at Mrs. Charlton's tavern, southwest corner of Market and Patrick Streets. 59 H ri -o. ^/^ .^ /-. >• (V'' 0' = ••'WiS^ ' ■^f/h^^^ U^,^ ' /^!^'/'^ ^ • .<^ '^<, X^"' ^...<-^ \^i^^_^^ t,. ^v '^ 'V '^'^ ^^ A fi''!p:fi<: '■ <. 4 a ^o C^ 4^ '^