LANCASTHR COUITTT. 6f 



SECOND PART; 



FROM THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS MADE WITHIX 



THE PRESENT LIMITS OF THE COUNTY TO ITS^ 



ORGANIZATION IN THE YEAR 172,9. 



CHAPTER I. 



Preliminary remark*— Unsettled state of aflairs in Europe — Consequent 

 emigration of Swiss, Germans, French and others, into America — Into 

 Pennsylvania — Swiss Mennonites settle in Pequea Valley — Purchase ten 

 thousand acres of land — Make improvements — Others purchase lands— 

 The Mennonites call a meeting to send a person to Europe for the residue 

 of their families — Kendig goes and returns with a number of families- 

 Settlements augmented — Governor Gookin's journey to Conestogo. 



The unsettled state of affairs in Europe subjected 

 many of the Germans, French, Swiss and others, to sore 

 persecutions because they could not change their reli- 

 gious opinions so as to coincide invariably with those of 

 tlie ruling Prince. The religious complexion of th« 

 caimtry was frequently determined or influenced by the 

 cliaracter of the mlers — as they changed, it was changed, 

 either by force, or by inducements to "Ao/fi? it with 

 the, populciceP To these changes it was impossible for 

 the Germans, the Swiss, the French, to conform. 



