In this letter, Lewis Weiss talks about several issues that the government has with the Indians and he tells Frederick Marshall that he is not sure on what to do next.
This is a petition to Governor of Pennsylvania John Penn (1729-1795) from the inhabitants of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They request assistance in dealing with the Indians in this time of war. They mention that the Moravian Congregation of Bethlehem has been supplying intelligence and supplies to the Indians.
William Logan sends to David Zeisberger (1721-1808), who is in New York, a copy of the message (prepared by Governor of Pennsylvania John Penn) for safekeeping and just in case the Indians need to hear it again.
This document is a transcription of a speech prepared by Governor of Pennsylvania John Penn (1729-1795) for the Indians leaving for New York. The message was delivered by William Logan. Penn describes the sorrow and aggravation that each party feels when they kill each other. He promises justice for the Indians killed, offers protection, and proposes for both sides to "bury the hatchet".
In this petition, missionary John Jacob Schmick asks Governor of Pennsylvania John Penn (1729-1795) for assistance in furnishing supplies to the Indian converts who are under the Brethren's protection.
To His Honour the Governor of Pennsa. &c. in Council with the Provincial Commisioners
The petiton of John Jacob Schmick Missionary among the Indians
Sheweth That as the tender care of this Government for the Indian Families now at the Province Island by the unruly Behaviour of a City Mob has been in some measure disappointed, so that the same Indian Families are in immediate want of fire wood and Provisions which is owing to the remoteness of that placed from the Town and as the Season is daily growing severer it is apprehended it will often be difficult to provide for them in time and that your petitioner intends to go this day to the said Island to consider with the Brethren there in what manner the said Indian Families could be supported during this Winter at the least expense to the public. And Your Petitioner humbly prayeth that Your Honour will give him & his Brethrn leave to lay before Your Honour & to the Board of Commisioners a scheme for that purpose be. And Your petitioners shall ever pray &c.
J.J.S.
Phil. Nov. 14, 1763.
Missionary John Jacob Schmick is asking John Penn (1729-1795), Governor of Pennsylvania, to show hospitality in Philadelphia to the newly arriving Indian converts.
In this letter, Frederick Marshall asks Lewis Weiss for help in finding a place to settle Indian converts as they do not wish to remain living with their tribes nor do they want to settle with White Christians.
In this letter, Peter Boehler asks Governor Hamilton (1710-1783) for help to protect the Christian Indians from their own tribes but also from the White Christians. Boehler vouches for the good behavior of the Indians living at Nain and Wecquetank. He also asks the governor for protection for the Brethren in the province.
The Brethren residing at the forks of the Delaware ask William Denny (who was Governor of Pennsylvania from 1756 to 1759) for authorization and assistance in setting up a watch to protect their settlements and plantations from being attacked by Indians.
This is the oldest known clavichord made in America, as well as the oldest extant instrument made by David Tannenberg and the only one bearing his signature. Tannenberg built this clavichord while he was apprenticing with John Clemm. Tannenberg would later establish himself as an organ builder however this is a stringed keyboard instrument. A clavichord is a simple box that can sit on a table or rest in a stand with legs, as this one does. The sound is produced by striking the strings with a metal tangent attached directly to one end of the key.
Construction materials include cherry wood, walnut, and pine. From the collection of the Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
The bentside spinet was a favorite domestic keyboard instrument in the 1700s since it takes up less room than the harpsichord, is less complicated to maintain, and produces a powerful tone. David Tannenberg, renowned Moravian organ builder of Lititz, Pennsylvania, established his reputation building clavichords and pipe organs. This instrument shows that he was also capable of producing plucked-string instruments.
Construction materials include mahogany and coniferous wood. From the collection of the Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
Trombones were used in military bands and by composers throughout the 18th century in Europe, but it was the Moravians who brought the idea to the American colonies. Records from Bethlehem in 1754 mention the first use of trombone choirs, and the Bethlehem Moravians owned the only set of trombones in the colonies until 1765. Trombones did not accompany singing inside the church. Rather, they were used outside, to announce a worship service from the church belfry, or an outdoor balcony.
Made of brass, 31 1⁄2” long,with 5” bell. Slide trombone, F, mouthpiece included. From the collection of the Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
From London, John Ettwein asks Reverend Rogers, who is in North America (either New York or Philadelphia), if he would be the Godfather for his newborn son.
This is a letter from John Brownfield from Savannah, Georgia, to Brother Hagen of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It is dated January 1, 1743. Brother Brownfield humbly asks Brother Hagen for help as he would like to come back to the Bethlehem congregation.
This cittern has 12 strings (6 double courses) a carved head, peg box grated into its neck, and “Juliana D Bader” inscribed in the back of the peg box. Juliana Bader was a single sister in Nazareth and received the cittern from her father, Philip Christian Bader who came to Pennsylvania from Germany in 1751. The cittern is a wire-strung, plucked instrument in the lute/guitar family, popular in Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Made in Germany of curly maple. From the collection of the Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
This forerunner of a tuba is made of two pieces of wood, hollowed out, bent, glued together, and covered in leather. The brass rods which connect the coils indicate a “marching” version rather than a “concert” version, which has no connecting rods. Pitched at C, this serpent played a bass note. Serpents have been played in Europe dating back to the 16th century.
Construction materials include pearwood, leather, brass, and ivory. From the collection of the Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
This instrument was made by David Tannenberg in Lititz, Pennsylvania for the chapel of the Single Brothers' House, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. David Tannenberg has been called the most important organ builder in 18th century America. He lived and worked in the Moravian communities of Bethlehem, Nazareth and Lititz, and he built organs for Moravian, Lutheran and Reformed congregations. Nine Tannenberg organs still survive.
On July 25, 1782, General George Washington paid an unexpected visit to Bethlehem. The Moravian records note that he was taken to the chapel of the Single Brothers' House, provided with refreshment, and entertained with music played on the this very organ.
Around 1920, this Tanneberg organ was brought to the Whitfield House in Nazareth, PA, where remains on display to this date. The organ is still playable and largely in its original condition. It was restored in 1997 by R.J. Brunner &
Co.
Construction materials include white pine, maple, walnut, white cedar, cedar, ebony, fruitwood, ivory, leather, and metal. From the collection of the Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
Clarinet made by Heinrich Gottlieb Gütter, c. 1820-47, in Bethlehem, Pa. This clarinet made of boxwood has ebony bands and brass trim. It is stamped "Gutter Bethlehem," with an eagle trefoil. It is pitched in C, which is stamped on each joint. From the collection of the Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
A rare example of an early piano design, this instrument has few alterations and is in excellent condition. Made of North American hardwoods, ebony, brass, leather. Scholars believe it is one of two surviving instruments made by Johann Gottlob Klemm (1690-1762)(Anglicized as John Clemm), the first
professional keyboard instrument maker in British colonial America. According to the wood analysis, this instrument was made in America. It is both one of the earliest forms of piano, and one of the earliest piano-type instruments in America.
During a smallpox epidemic in 1746, this instrument was brought to the Whitfield House in Nazareth, Pennsylvania to aid in comforting the patients from the girls' school who were being attended to there. The principal, John Christopher Pyrlaeus, thought that music would raise the spirits of those students affected by the smallpox epidemic. It reportedly has been in the building—now the Moravian Historical Society—since that time. It is not known whether the instrument was made in Germany and brought to America by the Moravians, or whether it was made in the American colonies. Fewer than ten of these instruments can be found today in the United States.
Unknown maker and date. From the collection of the Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
E flat bass trombone marked "G.W. Voight, Jr. Markneukirchen Sachsen". Made of brass with nickel silver mounts, 54 1⁄4” long, 10” bell. The handle attached to the slide of this trombone, allowed the player to extend the slide farther than an arm could reach to create low notes. Dates made is unknown. From the collection of the Moravian Historical Society, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
This is the earliest known extant American violin. It was made by the versatile, American-born, John Antes (1740-1811) in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It shows characteristics of Saxon violins of which he was familiar. With no master instrument maker to train him, Antes copied what he saw and improved his trade through ingenuity and necessity. In addition to being America’s first luthier, Antes was also a composer and a Moravian missionary.
Raised in Moravian schools, Antes showed early promise as a musician, and also as an instrument maker. The only known Antes instruments which survive, however, are this violin made in 1759, and a viola made in 1764 (now in the collection of the Lititz Moravian Archives). A cello which he made in 1764 is thought to be in the Moravian Church collection in Gnadenhutten, Ohio. Antes was contracted to make a set of instruments for Lititz, Pennsylvania. The only known Antes instruments which survive, however, are this violin made in 1759, and a viola made in 1764 (now in the collection of the Lititz Moravian Archives). A cello which he made in 1764 is thought to be in the Moravian Church collection in Gnadenhutten, Ohio.
This piece, made of maple, walnut, and ebony
was restored by C.F Martin & Co., 1954, and by the Smithsonian Institute, 1967.
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.
This church register entry records the 1841 death of Joseph Oerter of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and includes a brief biography of his life. Born in 1764 to Christian Friedrich and Anna Oerter, he trained first as a saddler and later became a bookbinder. In 1793 he married Maria Justine Hasse, and together they had four children, three of whom survived him, including a son who was a missionary in the West Indies. Widowed in 1818, Oerter suffered from painful rheumatic illness for many years but was remembered for his patience and faith. After developing a fever in his final days, he died peacefully at age 76, surrounded by the blessings of the Moravian congregation.
