This church memoir records the life and death of Friedrich Führer, a longtime Moravian resident of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who was born in 1768 and died at age 80. A farmer and former ferry operator on the Lehigh River, he married Anna Barbara Knauss in 1794 and together they raised five children and a large extended family. Despite suffering a serious leg injury later in life and declining health after a severe illness, he remained active and faithful. The account emphasizes his peaceful readiness for death and his passing under the blessing of the Moravian congregation.
This Moravian memoir commemorates Johanetta Maria Ettwein, born Kimbel, who was born in 1725 in Westphalia and became a devoted member and leader within the Moravian Church. After joining the congregation in the 1740s, she married Johannes Ettwein and accompanied him on missionary and church work throughout Europe and colonial America, including Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Remembered for her faithful service, hospitality, and quiet devotion to the Savior, she faced her final illness with peace and resignation to God’s will before dying in 1789 at the age of 63, leaving behind children and grandchildren.
This Moravian memoir recounts the life of Anna Caritas, a Shawnee woman also called Nanny, who came to Bethlehem in the 1740s after hearing reports about the Moravians. Drawn by the kindness of the community and their teachings about the Savior, she chose to remain there, worked faithfully among the sisters, and was baptized in 1748. She later married Joseph, a Black Moravian brother, and served diligently in Moravian settlements while becoming known for her quiet, patient, and devoted spirit. During her final illness in 1755, she longed for Communion and expressed gratitude that the Savior had brought her to Bethlehem before peacefully dying in faith, becoming remembered as the first Shawnee believer in the Moravian community to “go to the Eternal Hills.”
This Moravian memoir recounts the life of Johann Christoph Friedrich Cammerhoff, a Moravian minister and missionary born in Germany in 1721. Originally educated for Lutheran theology, he was drawn to the Moravian Church while at university and formally joined the congregation in 1743. After serving in church leadership and marrying in 1746, he traveled to Pennsylvania where he devoted himself to missionary work among both European settlers and Native American communities, including the Six Nations. Following a sudden and severe illness, he died in Bethlehem in 1751 at only 29 years old and was buried on the Hutberg beside fellow Moravian believers and his young son.
This Moravian memoir commemorates John Brownfield, an English-born deacon who was born in Greenwich in 1714 and became connected with the Moravians in the 1730s through General Oglethorpe’s circle and the Moravian community in Georgia. He formally joined the Moravian congregation in Bethlehem in 1745, married Catharina Kearny in 1747, and later became a Moravian deacon. Remembered for his deep devotion to Jesus and faithful service to the congregation, he died in 1752 from a severe fever at the age of 37 and was buried in Bethlehem with a large gathering of Moravians and local neighbors in attendance.
This memoir recounts the life of Johannes Bechtel, a German-born craftsman and religious leader who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1726 and later became devoted to the Moravian Church after encountering Count Zinzendorf and the Brethren in the 1740s. Originally associated with the Reformed Church, he eventually joined the Moravian congregation in Bethlehem, where he served faithfully for many years through leadership, manual work, and devoted participation in worship. Remembered for his humility, love of the Savior, and peaceful faith, he spent his later years in quiet fellowship with the Moravian community before dying in his 87th year.
This Moravian memoir recounts the life of Andrew the Moor, originally named Ofodobendo Wooma, who was born in Africa and sold into slavery before arriving in New York in 1741. After meeting Moravian Brethren while enslaved in New York, he learned about Christianity, taught himself to read, and developed a deep faith in the Savior. He moved to Bethlehem in 1746, was baptized into the Moravian Church, married, raised a family, and lived a faithful and devoted life within the congregation. In his final illness he longed to be united with Christ, and he died peacefully surrounded by the Moravian community.
This brief Moravian memoir records the life of Eleonora Andreas, born Iselstein, who was born in 1733 in Esopus, New York. In 1758 she married Abraham Andreas within the Moravian community, and together they had two sons, though both died before her. Widowed in 1802, she lived to the age of 71 and was survived by a young grandson through her son Heinrich.
The memoir is written by Nathaniel Seidel himself up to his arrival in Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. It is continued by another brother or sister who had access to his travel diaries. Seidel recounts his childhood in Germany and the awakening he experienced at the age of 14. He rededicated himself to God at the age of 17, making a pact with his Savior. In 1739, he arrived in Herrnhut and went on to Herrnhag. In 1742, he answered a call to Bethlehem where he became the Elder of the Single Brethren. The rest of his biography recounts his many journeys among the Indians, the different settlements in North America, Europe, South America, and the West Indies. Throughout his life, he kept extensive travel diaries. He was ordained to multiple positions within the Brethren and became Bishop in 1758. The narrative accounts for his last years, his increased weakness, and his death in 1782.
This account of Michael's life was written by another brother or sister. It recounts his upbringing in the Minisink Nation and his youth as a great warrior. The author included details about his "pleasing" facial markings. He was awakened to the Savior in 1742 and baptized. He spent several years in Gnadenhütten and then came to Bethlehem in 1755. The author describes his last illness and his death. He was remembered as a pious and holy member of the Brethren.
This account of David Nitschmann's life was written by another brother or sister. It recounts his childhood in Moravia and how he was raised within the secrecy of the Brethren. In 1704, he moved to Kunewald where he became a farmer. Kunewald experienced a great awakening under his leadership and several of the Brethren were taken prisoners. David himself was declared a heretic and thrown into prison. He escaped from jail and went to Berthelsdorf and then Herrnhut. He received a call to St. Thomas and to St. Croix where his wife died. He then received a call to Pennsylvania along with his daughter Anna. He was one of the builders of Bethlehem. He was a proficient writer and leader of the Widowers' Choir. The author describes in the account his last few days of illness, his death, and his funeral.
Magdalene briefly describes her childhood growing up in slavery. She was persuaded by her master to move to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She was reluctant at first but eventually found contentment. She received the Lord as her Savior and was baptized in 1748. The brief account was completed by another brother or sister and describes her marriage, her brief illness, and her death at the age of 89.
This Moravian memoir recounts the life of Rebecca, an African American young woman born in North Carolina in 1809 to parents who belonged to the Brethren’s Church. After moving with the Moravian Kummer family to Pennsylvania as a child, she was educated in the Christian faith, learned to read religious books, and became known for her gentle devotion, prayerfulness, and love of hymns about the Savior’s redeeming love. Remembered as faithful, kind, and deeply spiritual, she faced her final illness in 1830 with calm trust in Christ and died peacefully at the age of 21.
his Moravian memoir recounts the life of Josua (John), an African man from the Ybo Kingdom who was captured in war, sold into slavery, and eventually brought to New York and later Bethlehem by the Horsfield family. After encountering the Moravian Brethren, he embraced Christianity, was baptized in 1750, and became a devoted member of the Moravian congregation in Nazareth and Christiansbrunn. Remembered for his gratitude, humility, faithful work, and deep love for the Savior and the Gemeine, he died peacefully of smallpox in 1761 while expressing joy at going home to Christ.
This short biography was written by another brother or sister. The narrative recounts Thomas' birth in Germany and his arrival in America at the age of 6. He grew up in Pennsylvania, first in Philadelphia and then in Lancaster. He was very impressed and touched by a meeting with Spangenberg. He married and moved to Bethlehem in 1772 where he was well respected and loved. The account describes his very painful illness and his resignation in the Lord. There is another version of the memoir written in German in the pages preceding this account in English.
This Moravian memoir recounts the life of Susanna Zeisberger, born in Lancaster in 1744, who became a devoted member of the Moravian Church after being spiritually awakened through Moravian preaching. After marrying missionary David Zeisberger in 1781 and becoming a Deaconess, she accompanied him into Native American mission territories where they endured extreme hardships, captivity, hunger, and danger. Following her husband’s death in 1808, she spent her remaining years in the Moravian Widow’s Choir House in Bethlehem in quiet devotion to the Savior until her peaceful death at age 80.
This biography was written by another brother or sister. It recounts Marie's birth in Austria and how she was first raised as a Catholic and then a Lutheran. She then moved to Augsburg where she became acquainted with the Brethren. She felt a call to the Gemeine and moved to Herrnhag in 1740. She arrived in Bethlehem in 1742 where she married and worked in the nursery. The author describes Marie's very long and painful illness as well as her unwavering faith until her death.
This short biography was written by another brother or sister. It recounts Thorne's upbringing in the Church of England. Thorne was dissatisfied and left school to follow Wesley. He was then invited by the Brethren in London who sent him to North Ireland for a few years. In 1755, he left for America and died in Bethlehem. The narrative lists all of his children.
In this biography written by another brother or sister (but which includes some of his own words), the author recounts his childhood in Pennsylvania, his strict education, and his particular talent for music. During the Revolutionary War in Bethlehem, he fell into a "licentious state" that resolved after the war. He became a tradesman and a teacher of music. He spent a few years in Hope, New Jersey, and came back to Bethlehem in 1808 to be an organist and a teacher. The author recounts his last years in Bethlehem as well as his final illness.
This Moravian memoir recounts the life of Rudolph Strehle, born in Württemberg in 1712, who experienced a long spiritual struggle during his years as a soldier before finding peace through the Moravian Brethren and devotion to Christ’s suffering and grace. After formally joining the Moravian congregation in Germany in 1745, he immigrated to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he worked faithfully as a mason and served the community in various roles, especially as a trusted night watchman during the Indian War years. Remembered for his deep faith, scriptural knowledge, humility, and joyful devotion to the Savior, he died peacefully in 1785 in his 74th year.
The account was written by one of Johanna's brother or sister but contains many of her own words from her personal papers. She was raised in Bethlehem first in the Girls' Choir and then in the Single Sisters' Choir. She was a teacher. She was very close to God and always acted with humility and submission. She relied on God for everything. The biography describes her devotion and her unlimited trust in God. The account also describes her illness and her death at the age of 24.
This biography of Anna Rosina Schlegel was written by one of her fellow brother or sister. It recounts her childhood in Bethlehem while her parents were missionaries in the West Indies. She herself went to the West Indies with her husband and then returned to America where her husband died. She always felt that she was led by God and that she was called to follow his plan. She became a teacher in Bethlehem and then entered the Widows' House where she spent her last years.
This memoir by Andrew Schout describes his childhood in Copenhagen and his upbringing as a pious Lutheran. He became a merchant and then a sailor and traveled throughout the world. He had a conversion experience on one of his journeys. He met the Brethren in Amsterdam. The memoir ends in 1746 and another brother or sister completed it by recounting his multiple trips on the Irene with Garrison and the last years of his life in Bethlehem.
This short biography of Mary Elizabeth Ross was written by another brother or sister. It succinctly recounts her upbringing in Bethlehem and it describes her illness and her death at the age of 15.
Rose's memoir was written by a brother in Bethlehem. Rose was raised as a Lutheran in Germany. He had an inclination to come to America since childhood. He arrived in Baltimore in 1758 and worked as a farmer in Maryland. He then became a soldier during the war. He was injured and deserted. He requested permission to stay in Bethlehem, it was first denied and then granted. He experienced an awakening on Good Friday 1765. After a short stay in Salem, North Carolina, he returned to Bethlehem with his wife where he spent his last years.
