Northkill Amish Settlement
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The Northkill Amish Settlement was established in 1740 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. As the first identifiable Amish community in the new world,[1] it was the foundation of Amish settlement in the Americas.
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[edit] Settlement
The first Amish began migrating to the United States in the 18th century, largely to avoid religious persecution and compulsory military service. The Northkill area, in eastern Province of Pennsylvania, was opened for settlement in 1736 and that year Melchoir Detweiler and Hans Seiber settled near Northkill.[2] Shortly thereafter many Amish began to move to Northkill with large groups settling in 1742 and 1749.
In 1742 the group was large enought to petitioned the Pennsylvania General Assembly for naturalization rights, allowing them to purchase land.[3] The group was strengthened in 1749 when bishop Jacob Hertzler[4] settled in Northkill and the settlement grew to nearly 200 families at its height.[5]
[edit] Indian attack
The Northkill settlement was on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the legal boundary of European settlement according to agreements with Native Americans. During the French and Indian War, local tribes siding with the French were likely provoked into attacking the Northkill settlement on September 19, 1757.[6] The wife, daughter and son of Amish settler Jacob Hochstetler and one soldier were killed, and Hochstetler and two other sons were taken captive. Hochstetler escaped the following spring and the sons were freed four years later.
[edit] Decline
Northkill remained the largest Amish settlement into the 1780s and then declined as families moved on to areas of better farmland.[7]
[edit] Legacy
Although it existed for only a brief period, the Northkill settlement was fundamental in establishing the Amish in North America. The Northkill settlers included the progenitors of many widespread Amish families, such as the Yoders, Burkeys, Troyers,[8] Hostetlers,[9] and Hershbergers.[10]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Nolt, p. 74.
- ^ Nolt, p. 74.
- ^ Smith, p. 371.
- ^ Hertzler was the first recorded Amish bishop (or elder) in North America. Nolt, p. 79-80.
- ^ Nolt, p. 75.
- ^ Nolt, p. 84.
- ^ Nolt, p. 86.
- ^ Gingerich, Melvin (1958). "Troyer (Treyer, Treier, Dreier)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 2006-12-05, from http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/t768me.html.
- ^ Hostetler, John A. (1956). "Hostetler (Hostetter, Hochstetler, and many other variations)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 2006-12-05, from http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/h681me.html.
- ^ Hershberger, Guy F. (1956). "Hershberger (Hersberg, Hersberger, Herschberger, Hirschberger, Harshberger, Harshbarger)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 2006-12-05, from http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/h47710me.html.
[edit] References
- Nolt, Steven M. (2003). A History of the Amish. Intercourse, Pennsylvania: Good Books, 74-86. ISBN 1-56148-393-1.
- Smith, C. Henry (1981). Smith's Story of the Mennonites. Newton, Kansas: Faith and Life Press, 371-372. ISBN 0-87303-069-9.
