Community Records

Items

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  Letter of manumission for Magdalena (formerly Beulah)

  Letter of manumission for Magdalena (formerly Beulah) by Charles Brockden in Philadelphia, March 3, 1752. Part of a folder of various papers regarding enslaved people owned by the Moravian congregation in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
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  Ann Cherry Bill of Sale

  Agreement between the freed slave Christian Anton in Emmaus and August Spangenberg and Peter Böhler to pay off the purchase price for his future wife, the slave Ann Cherry (formerly Margaret), June 8, 1762. Part of a folder of various papers regarding enslaved people owned by the Moravian congregation in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
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  Tschoop: The Converted Indian Chief.

  Tschoop: The Converted Indian Chief is a book written in 1842 by the American Sunday School Union. The book tells the story of Tschoop, a Native American chief who converted to Christianity in the mid-18th century. The book follows Tschoop's life, from his early days as a hunter and warrior to his conversion to Christianity and his eventual role as a missionary to his own people. The book also explores the challenges and struggles that Tschoop faced as a Christian Native American, including discrimination and mistrust from both his own people and the white settlers who were colonizing their land. Digitized from text held by the Reeves Library, Moravian University & Theological Seminary, 2000.
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  Joseph Oerter (1764-1841)

  This is the notification in the church register of the death of Joseph Oerter, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1841. The entry contains a biography. German transcription: Joseph Oerter, ein verwitw. Brüder. Er war geboren hier in Bethlehem, d. 25tn July, 1764. Seine Eltern waren Christian Friederich u. Anna Oerter, geb. Boolen. Er erlernte zuerst die Sattler Profession, u. spaterhin die Buchbindery. Auf letzterem Geschäft etablierte er sich, u. trat in den Ehestand mit der led. Schwr mit der led. Schwr Maria Justine Hasse, den 16tn July, 1793. In dieser Ehe schinkte ihnen Gott 4 Kinder, davon 3, neml. 2 Söhne u. 1 Tochter noch am Leben sind. viz. 1, der verh. Br. John Oerter, Buchbinder allhier 2, der verh. Br. Lorenz Oerter, Missionar in West Indien 3, die verwitw. Schwr Lydia Rice, geb. Oerter Von 11 Enkelkindern, sind noch 7 am Leben. den 21st. Juni, 1818 wurde er in den Witwerstand versetzt Seit schon 30 Jahren litt er an rheumetischen Beschwerden olt sehr schmerzlich, genoß aber in der Zwischenzeit gute Ge- sundheit. Am 17tn dieses Monats wurde er von einem hitzigen Fieber befallen, trug sein Leiden mit xxxischer Geduld u. Ergebenheit in dem Willen des HErrn, u. entschlief ganz sanft mit dem Segen des Hl. u. der Gemeine, am [Samstag], d. 24tn um 3 Uhr P M. seines alters 76 J 9 M. weniger 1 Tag. English translation: Joseph Oerter, a widowed Brother. He was born here in Bethlehem on the 25th of July, 1764. His parents were Christian Frederich and Anna Oerter, born Boolen. He first learned the saddler’s trade and then later bookbinding. He established himself in the latter business and entered into the state of marriage with the Single Sister Maria Justine Hasse on the 16th of July, 1793. In this marriage God granted them 4 children, of which three, namely 2 sons and 1 daughter, are still alive, viz., 1. the Married Brother John Oerter, bookbinder here; 2.the Married Brother Lorenz Oerter, a missionary in the West Indies; 3. the Widowed Sister Lydia Rice, born Oerter. Of 11 grandchildren, 7 are still living. On June 21, 1818 he became a widower. For the last 30 years he has suffered from rheumatic troubles, often very painful, but in the mean time he has enjoyed good health. On the 17th of this month he was stricken with a high fever, bore his suffering with christian patience and resignation to the will of the Lord, and fell asleep [died] quite peacefully with the blessing of the Savior and of the congregation on Saturday the 24th at 3 o’clock P.M. at the age of 76 years and 9 months, less 1 day.
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  Philadelphia Burials of Moravian Indians in 1764

  This is an itemized list of the names of the Moravian Indians of Philadelphia who were buried in 1764.
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  Eleonora Elisabeth von Seidlitz (1724-1789)

  This is the notification in the church register of the death of Eleonora Elisabeth von Seidlitz, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1789. The entry contains a biography. German transcription: Eleonora Elisabeth v. Seidliz, eine ledige Schwester und ehe malige Vorsteherin des Chores, war geboren 1724 d. 7tn Februar zu Rackau ohnweit Breslau in Schlesien. Ihr Vater war Joachim Friedrich von Seidliz und ihr Mutter Sophia Elisabeth v. Bibran. Im 10tn Jahre ihres Lebens verstarb ihr Vater und hinterließ ausser ihr noch 6 Kinder. Die Mutter heyrathete ao. 1736 einen Baron v. Seidliz auf Conradswaldau, der aber das Vermögen der Kinder meist durchbrachte. Ihre Oncles sonderl. der alte Herr v. Seidliz nahm sich der Kinder väterlich an, u. diese kamen nach und nach zur Gemeine nach Gnadenfrey. Die sel. Schw. Elisabeth und ihre Schw. Sophia kamen am 5tn Oct. 1743 da an. Sie, Elisabeth wurde am 27tn Sept. 1744, nachdem sie sich hatte kennen lernen und Glauben zum Heiland gefaßt, eine Mitgenossin beim Heil. AMhl mit der Gemeine, wurde nachher Vorgesetzte und Mitarbeiterin dasiger ledigen Schwestern, mit denen sie 1748 d. 2tn Jan. das neue Chor- haus bezog. Ao. 1750 kam sie nach London, und ao. 52. als Arbei- terin des Mädgen-Chores nach Fullneck, ao. 54. wieder als Vor- steherin der led. Schwn Oeconomie nach London, nachdem sie vor- her am 11tn Dec. in Lindseyhouse zum Diaconisse eingesegnet worden. Ao. 1761 kam sie als Arbeiterin der led. Schwn nach Ockbrook und 1763 nach Pennsylvanian als Vorsteherin des led. Schwn Chores allhier, wo sie mit Capt. Jacobsens Schiff am 4tn Nov. ankam. Sie wurde d. 7tn Nov. vorgestellt, welches Amt sie bis im July 1781 mit Treue bekleidet, da sie ihrer Kräncklichkeit wegen durch die Schw. Anna v. Marschall in ihrem Amt abgelöst wurde. Ihre Brustbeschwerden, die mit Blut Auswurf ver- bunden waren, continuierten, bis sie am abgemeldeten Tage Morgens 3/4 auf 4 Uhr das Ende aller Noth erreichte ihres Alters 65 Jahr u. 16 Tage. English translation: Eleonora Elisabeth v. Seidliz, an unmarried sister and former warden of the [Single Sisters’] Choir, was born in 1724 on the 7th of February at Rackau, not far from Breslau in Silesia. Her father was Joachim Friedrich von Seidliz and her mother was Sophia Elisabeth v. Bibran. In the 10th year of her life her father died, leaving 6 children besides her. In the year 1736 the mother married a Baron v. Seidliz from Conradswaldau. He, however, went through most of the children’s fortune. Their uncles, especially, the old Mr. v. Seidliz, acted as fathers to the children, and gradually the latter came to the [Moravian] congregation at Gnadenfrey. The departed Sister Elisabeth and her sister Sophia arrived there on October 5, 1743. She, Elisabeth, became a participant in the Holy Communion with the congregation on September 27, 1744, after she had learned to know herself and had accepted faith in the Savior. Thereafter she became the superior and [pastoral] coworker of the Single Sisters there, and on January 2, 1748 she moved into the new choir house with them. In the year 1750 she went to London, and in the year 52 to Fulneck as worker in the Older Girls’ Choir. She returned to London in the year 54 to be the warden of the Single Sisters’ Economy after she had previously been consecrated a deaconess at Lindsey House. In the year 1761 she went to Ockbrook as worker with the Single Sisters and in 1763 to Pennsylvania as warden of the Single Sisters’ Choir here. She arrived with Capt. Jacobsen’s ship on November 4th. She was installed in office on November 7th and carried it out faithfully until 1781 when, because of her ill health, she was relieved by Sr. Anna v. Marschall. Her chest pains, which were accompanied by coughing up blood, continued until, on the above-mentioned day at 3:45 in the morning, she reached the end of all her distress. Her age was 65 years and 16 days.
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  Tschoop (aka Johannes) (d. 1746)

  This is the death notification in the church register for Tschoop, aka Johannes, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1746. The entry contains a short biography.
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  David Tanneberger Sr. (1696-1760)

  This is the death notification in the church register for David Tanneberger Sr., which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1760. The entry contains a biography.
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  Carl Gottfried Rundt (1713-1764)

  This the death notification in the church register for Carl Gottfried Rundt, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1764. The entry in the register includes a biography.
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  Owen Rice (1751-1820)

  This is the death notification in the church register for Owen Rice, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1820.
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  Elizabeth Rice (1760-1820)

  This is the death notification in the church register for Elizabeth Rice, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1820. The entry includes details about her genealogy.
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  Rachel Post (d. 1747)

  This is the death notification in the church register for Rachel Post, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1747. The entry contains a biography.
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  Agnes Post (Postin) (d. 1751)

  This is the death notification in the church register of Agnes Post (Postin), which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1751. The entry includes a very short biography.
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  John (Johann) Matthew (Matthacus) Otto (1714-1786)

  This is the death notification in the church register for John (Johann) Matthew (Matthacus) Otto, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1786. The entry contains a biography.
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  Rosina Neubert (Neubertin) (1715-1785)

  This is the death notification in the church register for Rosina Neubert (Neubertin), which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1785. The entry also contains a biography.
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  Juliana Nitschmann (1712-1751)

  This is the death notification for Juliana Nitschmann, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1751. The entry contains a biography.
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  William Horsfield (1770-1845)

  This is the death notification in the church register for William Horsfield, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1845. The entry also includes a short biography.
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  Timothy Horsfield (1708-1773)

  This is the death notification in the church register for Timothy Horsfield, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1773. The entry also contains a biography.
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  Conrad Harding (d. 1746)

  This is the death notification for Conrad Harding, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1746. It includes a very short biography.
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  Christian Gottfried (1731-1756)

  This is the death notification in the church register for Christian Gottfried, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, n 1756. It also contains a biography.
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  Dorothy Gattermeyer (1726-1755)

  This is the notification in the church register of the death of Dorothy Gattermeyer, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1755. It includes a biography.
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  Heinrich (d. 1752)

  This is the death notification in the church register for Heinrich, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1752.
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  Frederick Führer (1768-1849)

  This is the notification in the church register of the death of Frederick Führer, which occurred in Bethlehem in 1849. It includes a short biography.
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  Johannetta Maria Ettwein (1725-1789)

  This is the notification in the church register of the death of Johannette Maria Ettwein, which occurred in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1789. The entry includes a short biography.
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  Anna Charitas (d. 1755)

  This is the notification of the death of Anna Charitas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1755. The notice is accompanied by a biography.