194 HISTORY OB' 



hold goods were brought from Philadelphia, by one 

 Martin, 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. Michael, David's father, was then a child. 



The neighbors were attentive in relieving their wants, 

 and supplying them with necessaries. Mr. Bear 

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

 some flour and meat. Shortly afterwards, other German 

 families settled here ; among these were Ranck, Bachert, 

 Beck, Af-y^s^ Brimmer, Koch, Hinkel, Schneider, Seger, 

 Stehly, Brubacher, Meixel, 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- 

 n'^iliating 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 Pequea, and were deter- 

 mined not to obey the lawful authority of Government; 

 that they had resolved to speak their oicn language, (a 

 grave charge indeed !) and to acknowledge no soA^ereign, 

 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 Mennonites, against whom these charges were 



