422 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



In the very infancy of the Pennsylvania colony, a number of Welsh, of Sterling 

 worth and excellent character, arrived in the province in 1682. They had early pur- 

 chased of the Proprietary, in England, forty thousand acres of land, and settled west 

 of the Schuylkill. A few years later their number was so much augmented, that they 

 had settled, before 1692, six townships in the lower counties. 



The Welsh custom agreed in many respects with that of the Swiss and Palatines. 

 At first they would send persons across the Atlantic, to take up land for them, and 

 make some preparations for the reception of their families. Among the Welsh, who 

 acted as pioneer, was the well known Rowland Ellis, who sent over Thomas Owen and 

 family to make a settlement, and as soon as Owen had made some improvements, on 

 which he spent a few years, Ellis, and one hundred other Welsh passengers, arrived in 

 1686. 



In 1698, other Welsh families arrived;. among them were William Jones, Thomas 

 Evans, Robert Evans, Owen Evans, Cadwallader Evans, Hugh Griffith, Edward Foulke, 

 John Humphrey, Robert Jones, and others, who purchased ten thousand acres of land 

 of Robert Turner, in Gwinedd township, Chester county. 



Another settlement was commenced, about the year 1722 or 1723, by the Welsh, ex- 

 tending to the present site of Cliurchtown. Among the principal settlers were : Torbert, 

 Douglas, E. Davis, A. Billing, Z. Davis, Spenger, Henderson, Evans, Ford, Lardner, 

 Morgan, Robinet, Edwards and Jenkins. 



While the Welsh were making improvements, a few miles south of Allegany, a region 

 on the Tulpehocken, some Swiss and Germans settled in Weber Thai, south of Cones- 

 toga creek, so called from the Webers, or Weavers, who took up between two and three 

 thousand acres of land, in 1723 or 1724. George Weber and Hans' Guth, brothers-in- 

 law, Jacob Weber and Henry Weber, all Swiss, were the first settlers contiguous to the 

 Welsh. Guth located north-east from the Webers. The valley, or thai, was timberless 

 when the first settlers commenced. Guth or Good settled in Brecknock township, 

 where a numerous connection of them reside. 



The Webers and Guths had, previous to taking up land here, lived some twelve or 

 fifteen years near Lancaster. They were a young family, seeking a place of permanent 

 abode, where they have since become both wealtiiy and numerous.l George, the oldest 

 of the three brothers, had three sons and two daughters; Hans, Henry, Samuel, Maria 

 and INIagdalena. The present generation of Weavers still possess the lands of their 

 ancestors. Some of them have moved West, others to Canada. The Webers were soon 

 joined by Martin, Schneder, Miller, Zimmerman, Ruth, and many others, principally 

 Mennonites. 



During the year 1727, more than a thousand Palatines arrived in Pennsylvania; among 

 among these were the names of Diffenderfer, Ekman, ]\Icyer, Bowman, Eberlee, Zug, 

 Shultze, Funk, Frantz, and others. Two brothers, Alexander and John Diffenderfer, sail- 

 from Rotterdam,'- ai-rived at Philadelphia in the month of September; Alexander settled 

 in Oley, now Berks county, and John at Siiue Schwamm, now New Holland, in the woods. 



SWISS AND GERMAN SETTLERS IN LANCASTER COUNTY, 1710—1725. 



1710. Johann Rudolph Bundeli, Martin Kendig, Jacob ]\Iiiller, Hans Griiff, Hannes 



1. The following, ■which we copied at the liouse of Samuel Weaver, in 1S42. may give the reader some 

 idea of the numercul strength of the family. Christian Weaver's father was a native of Switzerland. 

 Christian Weaver was born in Earl townsliip, Lancaster county, Pa., Dec. 25, 1731 — married Sept. 30, 

 1749, to 31iss Magdalen Ruth — lived 55 years in a state of matrimony, and 16 years as a widower. He 

 •was a member of the Mennonite church. Died of a lingering disease, Feb. 13, 1S20, aged 8S years, 1 

 month, 1 week and 2 days. Had eight sons and five daughters. Of the seven sons and live daughters 

 ■were born, before C. W's. deatli, and living at the time, 99 grand-children, 88 grand children's children, 

 and 55 great grand children's children. His lineal descendants were 309. Henry Martin preached his 

 funeral discourse. Text, .Tohn, 14: 12, 13. (Rupp.) 



2 They sailed in the Ship William and Sarah, William Hill, master. There were ninety Palatine 

 families, malving in all about 400 persons, in this ship.— CW. liec. III. 390. 



