194 HISTORY OF 



}iold goods were brought from Philadelphia, by one 

 JMartin, and unloaded under an Oak tree. In the course 

 of a few days after their arrival, a hut or cabin was 

 erected by the aid of the neighbors, who were kind ; and 

 the goods snugly housed, and the family comfortably 

 situated. INIichael, David's father, Vv'"as then a child. 



The neighbors were attentive in relieving their wants, 

 and supplying them with necessaries. Mr. Bear 

 bestowed them a cow; JNIr. Martin and Hans Graaf, 

 some flour and meat. Shortly afterwards, other German 

 families settled here ; among these were Ranck, Bachert, 

 Beck, JNIayer, Brimmer, Koch, Hinkel, Schneider, Seger, 

 Stehly, Brubacher, INIeixel, Diller, and others. 



The caprice of Keith, induced him to receive the 

 application of the Swiss and Germans, with perfect 

 indifference. They applied as early as 1721; but the 

 consideration of their petition was procrastinated, days, 

 months and years, till 1724, and then only was leave 

 granted to bring in a bill to naturalize them, on the hu- 

 miliating condition, provided each Swiss or German 

 should individually obtain from a justice of the peace, 

 a certificate of the value of his property, and the 

 nature of his religious faith — not enough yet — a 

 representation is made (1727) to Governor Gordon 

 Keith's successor; "that a large number of Germans, 

 peculiar in their dress, religion, and notions of political 

 Governments, had settled on Pcquca, and were deter- 

 mined not to obey the lawful aiuhority of Government; 

 that they had resolved to speak their oivn language^ (a 

 grave charge indeed !) and to acknowledge no sovereign, 

 but the Great Creator of the Universe." 



There was, perhaps, never a people who feel less 

 disposed to disobey the lawful authority of Government 

 than the JSIennonites, against whom these charffes were 



