LAIS'CASTEB. COUNTS. 193 



joined by the Martins, Schneders, Millers, Zimmermans, 

 Ruths, and many others, principally Mennonites. 



During the year 1727, rising of one thousand Pala- 

 tines arrived in Pennsylvania; among these were the 

 Dieffenderfers, Ekmans, Meyers, Bowmans, Eberlees, 

 Zugs, Shultzes, Funks, Frans, and others, v/hose 

 descendants constitute a portion of the inhabitants of 

 Lancaster county.* Two brothers, Alexander and John 

 Dieffenderfer, sailed from Rotterdam,! arrived at Phila- 

 delphia in the month of September ; Alexander settled in 

 Oley, now Berks county, and John at Saeue Schwamm, 

 now New Holland, hi the woods. His grand-son, 

 David, son of Michael Dieffenderfer, now in his ninety- 

 second year,:j: informed us that his grand-father's house- 



*They were of those who first subscribed a "writing, de- 

 claring their allegiance to the King of Great Britain, and 

 ndelity to the proprietary of the province." The paper wad 

 drawn up in these words : "We, subscribers, natives and late 

 inhabitants of the Palatinate upon the Rhine, and places adja- 

 cent, having transported ourselves and families into this 

 province of Pennsylvania, a colony subject to the Crown of 

 Oreat Britain, in hopes and expectation of finding a retreat 

 and peaceable settlement therein, do solemnly promise and 

 engage, that we will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his 

 present Majesty, King George the Second, and his suc- 

 cessors. Kings of Great Britain, and will be faithful to the 

 Proprietor of this province ; and that we will demean our- 

 selves peaceably to all his said majesty's subjects, and strictly 

 observe and conform to the laws of England and of this 

 province, to the utmost of our power and best of our under- 

 standing." 



fThey sailed in the Ship Wilham and Sarah, William Hill, 

 master. There were ninety Palatine families, making in all 

 about 400 persons, in this ship. — Col. Rec. III. 390. 



|See a brief sketch of his public life, at the close of this 

 ■chapter. 



17 



