Written in Kurrent in the German language, this document is an autobiographical memoir or spiritual life narrative dating from approximately 1752. The narrative is written in the first person and recounts the author’s early life and family history. The writer states that they were born in Rhode Island to John Marriner and Elizabeth Marriner, with the father described as an English sea captain born in England and the mother born in New England. The memoir explains that the father traveled to America and the West Indies in search of opportunity but later died of fever. The author recalls being separated from their mother for many years during childhood and later references connections to Quaker communities, Long Island, New York, and Brunswick. The document reflects themes of migration, family hardship, and religious and personal experience in colonial America.
Written in English, this document is an autobiographical religious memoir or spiritual life narrative recounting the early life and family history of the author and the author’s father, Jacob, who was born in 1700 and baptized in the Reformed Church. The narrative describes family hardships, the loss of parents during childhood, religious instruction, and the development of Christian faith. Like many Moravian spiritual memoirs, the text emphasizes themes of suffering, conversion, prayer, and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Written in Kurrent in the German language, this document is an autobiographical memoir or spiritual life narrative of Catharina Brownfield, née Kerney, a widowed Moravian woman born on February 24, 1716, in Nyon. Written in the first person, the memoir recounts her early life, family background, religious upbringing, and personal hardships. The narrative reflects on periods of illness, emotional suffering, and spiritual struggle, while also describing her developing faith and religious experiences. Like many Moravian spiritual memoirs, the document emphasizes themes of personal reflection, suffering, prayer, and the search for salvation.
Reinke, Samuel (1818)
Portrait of a young man from the side, black jacket, white scarve, in oval
Samuel Reinke (1791‐1875), born in Lititz, Brüderpfleger and ‐Vorsteher in Lititz (1816‐1819), married with Susanna Theodora Eyerle (1819), ordained a deacon (1819) and served in Lancaster, Philadelphia, Newport, Lititz. In 1826 Susanna Re‐inke died in Lititz and Samuel remarried with Charlotte Sophia Hüffel (1827). They served in Graceham, Lancaster, Nazareth, Bethlehem, New York, and in Lititz. He was a member of the PHC (1839‐1847) and was ordained a bishop (1858). Samuel Reinke suffered from a weak health. He died in Bethlehem.
Portrait of Johanna Ingerheidt Schmick (1721-1795)
Schmick was a missionary to the Delaware and Mahican Indians first in Gnadenhütten, Pennsylvania in 1751 and later in Gnadenhütten, Ohio in 1773. Gnadenhütten translates to "village of grace." In 1782, U.S. militiamen from Pennsylvania attacked the Ohio settlement and massacred 96 men, women, and children who were pacifist Moravian Indians (primarily Lenape and Mohican).
Born Johanna Ingerheidt in Larvik, Norway, she arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 on
the Moravian transport the Irene. She married John Jacob Schmick in 1752 in Bethlehem.
Restoration funded by Mr. and Mrs. Walter L. Peters
Portrait of Catherine Huber (1703-1798)
Huber moved to Nazareth during the General Economy period. She cared for the community’s sick and oversaw the nursery, which was located in this building. Children between the ages of 18 months and four years lived together in the nursery under the care of a few Single Sisters. The nursery allowed parents to contribute to the General Economy without the interruption of child rearing. Children in the nursery learned hymns by heart and practiced remaining attentive throughout religious services. At bedtime, the children sang an evening hymn.
