HISTORY OF WACHOVIA IN NORTH CAROLINA THE UNITAS FRATRUM OR MORAVIAN CHURCH IN NORTH CAROLINA DURING A CENTURY AND A HALF . . . 1752-1902 From the Original German and English Manuscripts and Records in the Wachovia Archives, Salem, North Carolina

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Church

Salem

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA IN

NORTH CAROLINA

THE UNITAS FRATRUM OR MORAVIAN CHURCH IN NORTH CAROLINA DURING A CENTURY AND A HALF 1752-1902 .

From

the Original in the

.

.

German and English Manuscripts and Records

Wachovia Archives, Salem , North Carolina

BY

JOHN HENRY CLEWELL

,

Ph.D.

NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY 1902

Copyright,

1902,

By DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY, Published March,

1902.

NorfoooU ^resss J. S.

Cushing & Co.

— Berwick & Smith

Norwood Mass. U.S.A.

TO MY WIFE #Uce Moll t

Cletoell

THIS VOLUME IS

AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

PREFACE This history

and records

is

based chiefly on the original manuscripts

of the

Wachovia Archives, deposited

in the

building of the Historical Society, Salem, North Carolina.

The manuscripts from 1752 German language, and from first

year,

1854 were written in the

1855 to the present time in

There

the English language. the

to

an unbroken

is

file

from

and the value of these documents as a part

of the general history of

history of the Moravian

North Carolina and the special

Church

Wachovia cannot be

in

overestimated.

The

chapters which follow do not attempt to give a

resume

future student of the history of to

fill

tion,

a number

Wachovia

of volumes; biography,

adventure, finances, industries, are

Archive records, and we trust that

this

will find

full

The

of the contents of these valuable papers.

matter

religion, educa-

all

treated in the

book may act as

an influence to stimulate further research into the story of

Wachovia, which

is

rich

so

in

which has thus far not been given literature of the State

The many

its

historical

lore,

but

proper place in the

and Church.

task of examining these records was beset with difficulties.

In

fact,

the writer could not have

accomplished the work of translation had

it

not been for

the interested, able, and tireless assistance of Mrs. Josevii

PREFACE

viii

phine Wurreschke, years given

who has during

much time and

the past four or five

deciphering the

to

effort

papers, yellow with age and often in broken fragments.

Mrs. Wurreschke’s labour was not only that of a scholar

and

expert, but she

was

by the motive

also influenced

which comes from the good which she

felt

she was doing

for the church.

Additional sources of information are the following

“Moravians

in

North Carolina.”

“Forsyth County.” “ History of the

Fries.

Reichel.

:

—

1857.

1898.

Moravian Church.”

Hamilton.

1900.

From Mr. James T. Leinback, Treasurer of the Wachovia Land Office, were received various documents and maps.

Articles

and tables have been furnished by Bishop

Rondthaler, Miss

Emma

Lehman, Miss Adelaide

Miss L. C. Shaffner, Mr. C. B. Pfohl.

Valuable

Fries, assist-

ance in connection with the preparation and publication of the

work has been given by Mr. H. E.

Bahnson, Mr.

W.

Fries,

W.

S. Pfohl,

Dr.

J.

Fries, Dr.

H. T.

F. Shaffner, Sr., Mr.

J.

Mr. Walter H. Page, and other friends, and

their interest

is

thankfully acknowledged.

This book has been written with the hope that church

and community may be benefited by a study and more recent

way be

history,

and that

it

may

of our early

in

an humble

instrumental in promoting the cause of Christ. J.

Winston-Salem,

N.C., 1902.

H. C.

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER

I

PAGE

Causes which led to the Founding of the Moravian Church in North Carolina

CHAPTER

II

Spangenberg’s Exploration and Surveying Tour

CHAPTER

4

III

Journey of the First Inhabitants of Wachovia from Pennsylvania to North Carolina

CHAPTER The

First

Year

in

I

13

IV

Wachovia

20

CHAPTER V Indian Troubles threaten Wachovia, and the Bethabara

Fort erected

32

CHAPTER

VI

Wachovia during the French and Indian

CHAPTER

War

VII

The Founding of Bethania and a Time of Sorrow

CHAPTER Between the Indian

War

44

.

VIII

and the American Revolution IX

53

72

TABLE OF CONTENTS

X

CHAPTER

IX PAGE

Salem founded

84

CHAPTER X Tryon, the Royal Governor, Visits to Wachovia .

makes Two Memorable

.

95

.

CHAPTER

XI

Wachovia during the Revolution

CHAPTER

121

XII

Friend and Foe

CHAPTER

.

125

•

133

.

161

.

176

.

186

.

191

XIII

With the Legislature

CHAPTER XIV “ In

the very Theatre of the

War ”

#

.

CHAPTER XV Provincial Affairs

CHAPTER XVI The Close of the Century

....

CHAPTER

XVII

Salem Church built

CHAPTER Salem Female Academy

XVIII

....

CHAPTER XIX Half a Century

#

TABLE OF CONTENTS

xi

CHAPTER XX PAGE

Mission

Work among the Cherokee

Indians

.

.

.

200

CHAPTER XXI Home

Mission

Work

204

CHAPTER

XXII

Winston founded

209

CHAPTER

XXIII

Transition Period

216

CHAPTER XXIV Salem Female Academy after Fifty Years

.

.

.220

CHAPTER XXV The Time of the

Civil

War

235

CHAPTER XXVI The Decade following the

Civil

War

.

.

.

.256

CHAPTER XXVII A New Era

259

CHAPTER XXVIII History of the

Water Supply and

Fire Protection

.

262

•

274

CHAPTER XXIX Growth of the Twin City

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Xll

CHAPTER XXX PAGE

Sunday-school Activity

278

CHAPTER XXXI Enlarged Church Work

283

.

CHAPTER XXXII Two

Centennials

290

CHAPTER The Moravian Church

in

XXXIII

Wachovia as

it is

To-day

.

296

.

.

301

.

.

308

PART TWO The Doctrinal

Position of the Moravian Church

Historical Sketch of the Moravian Church

.

Biographical Sketch of the Principals of the Salem

Female Academy Lists

and Statistics

317

336

MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS Salem Church

Frontispiece

Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg

Map

....

of Wachovia

The First Buildings

4 11

in

Wachovia

19

Hortus Medicus

Map

PAGE

Facing

of Bethabara and Plan of Fort

....

22

39

Frederick William de Marshall

.

.

.

Facing

86

Congregation House, Salem,

.

.

.

Facing

90

Facing

120

Cedar Avenue, Salem

Facing

158

Bethabara Church,

Facing

180

First Building of Salem Female Academy, 1805

Facing

196

Evolution of Winston and Salem Corporations.

Map

210

1771

Proposed Plan for Salem

94

Salem Graveyard

1788

First Forsyth County Court-house, Winston

.

Second Forsyth County Court-house, Winston In the Park,

Salem Academy and College

.

.

.

.212

Facing

214

Facing

218

Main Hall

221

The Dell

223

A

225

Favourite Retreat

The Spring

227

On the Hillside

229

A

Peaceful Spot

230 xiii

xiv

MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE

A Graduate A Corner in Salem

232

Square

234

George Frederick Bahnson Robert William de Schweinitz Emil Adolphus de Schweinitz

Edward Rondthaler

.

.

Salem Academy and College

.... .... .... .

.

.

.

Facing

238

Facing

250

Facing

260

Facing

284

Facing

294

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA CHAPTER

I

CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE FOUNDING OF THE MORAVIAN CHURCH IN NORTH CAROLINA 1

When

came to America they were inThe one was to preach the fluenced by two motives. the Moravians

the inhabitants of Pennsylvania and other somewhat in the same manner that the Diaspora colonies, work was and is now carried on in Europe. The Diaspora work is spiritual work done within the State Church, but without causing a separation from the State Church. Tens of thousands of members of the Lutheran Church in Germany are ministered to in this way by Moravian pastors. A century and a half ago, when the Moravians came to America, the condition of affairs was pitiful. The various little sects were without pastoral oversight, and what was worse, were engaged in bitter struggles with each other. The first object of the Moravians was to preach the pure gospel of love to these neglected and contentious inhabitants, and if possible to introduce friendship and harmony into their midst. The second object was missionary work among the

gospel

to

Indians.

Neither of these objects was fully realized, but the 1

and

For a brief

historical sketch of the Unitas

also its doctrine, see Part II.

Fratrum or Moravian Church,

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

2

second,

viz.

mission work

among

the Indians, was actively

prosecuted both during and after the Indian War.

A

secondary result of the work in the northern portion

American colonies was the founding of a number of towns, such as Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Lititz, in Pennsylvania, as distinctive Moravian towns, and these grew and flourished, becoming centres in the further history of the Moravian Church in America. In the meantime certain causes were at work in the Moravian Church in Europe, which tended to bring about the purchase of the large tract of land in North Carolina, later known as “Wachovia.” The foreign mission work was growing in importance and called for an outlay of money far beyond the ability of the church to provide, of the

without the aid of friends.

were not successful, and

Some

too, as a result of persecution,

and notwithstanding and

of their undertakings

this occasioned great loss.

misfortune

liberal gifts

Then,

fell to their lot,

on the part of members

friends, the financial troubles about the middle of the

eighteenth century were very great.

A business enterprise which is

is

temporarily embarrassed

sometimes rescued by placing into the business more

So it was deemed advisable to make an effort upon new and enlarged work in the mission fields, and begin a settlement in some section, later to be selected, which by its size and magnitude would strengthen the church, and restore full confidence in the Moravians. This was at a time when noblemen had been given large grants of land in America. These noblemen desired worthy settlers for their possessions. It was hoped that mines would be discovered, the land cultivated, and towns and cities built. The Moravians were well known for their thrift and industry, and Lord Granville made them capital.

to

enter

FOUNDING OF MORAVIAN CHURCH a liberal offer in connection with his

3

North Carolina

This offer was carefully considered and

estates.

later

accepted.

The

general plan of the authorities was to secure a tract

of land sufficient in size to permit the building of a cen-

town

tral

in

which

to locate the administration

offices,

where trades and industries could be established, educational institutions founded, and which would be a centre for conducting missionary work.

original

Furthermore,

it

was the

plan of the church authorities, long before the

selection of

the

Wachovia

the land round

tract, to sell

about the central town to members of the church for

farming purposes.

Thus the new colony would

differ

from other Moravian settlements, because they would not only control the town, but also the surrounding neighbour-

hood for a distance

of five to ten miles.

Another cause which led to the founding of the Moravian Church in North Carolina was the desire for reliThis feature of the pilgrims to Carolina

gious liberty.

has not been emphasized in the same manner as case of the pilgrims to of the situation

in

ceding twenty- five

New

England.

A

in the

careful study

Europe shows that during the years Bohemia and Moravia had

prewit-

nessed persecutions in the church even unto the death. In

Germany

bitter

narrow-minded

and

officials,

hostile

decisions were

and a good and noble man

Count Zinzendorf was heartlessly banished from and

estates.

his

like

home

Leases and contracts were cancelled on

some

technicality

From

all

effect,

“ Let us seek an estate where

and

caused

heavy

financial

losses.

these things the Moravians turned and said in

without restraint, and where lives

made by

and our means

to

we

promote

will

we can worship God be able to use our

his glory.”

CHAPTER

II

spangenberg’s exploration and surveying tour

Receiving the grant of land from Lord Granville did not remove

the difficulties in

all

was known

of

Little

North Carolina by the average inhabitant

The very terms

of Europe.

connection with the

Moravian settlement.

founding of the proposed

of the

boundary description

impress us with the vague idea they had of their possessions in America.

who owned point in

After seven of the eight Proprietors

the American

soil

from the Virginia

Florida had relinquished to the

rights,

Edward, Earl

of

tained

his

This territory of

portion.

line to a

crown

their

Clarendon (Lord Granville),

re-

Lord Granville

extended from the Virginia line to a point about seventy miles south, and according to the terms of the deed, from

the Atlantic the west,

Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the Spangenberg papers describe it, “ to the

or, as

South sea.”

Thus, when the Moravian explorers began

their journey, they

had a

strip of land

seventy miles wide

and three thousand miles long from which

to select their

tract.

A conference was

held

November

29, 1751, in

Lindsay

House, London, the seat of the government of the Moravian

Church

was decided to accept Lord So much depended upon the choice of

at that time,

Granville’s offer.

and

it

the proper location that the very best

North Carolina of land.

to survey the

Among them was

men were

sent to

one hundred thousand acres

Bishop Spangenberg, a learned 4

Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg

SPANGENBERG’S EXPLORATION TOUR

5

man, and possessed of an unusual degree of practical knowledge.

He, with

his

companions, made the journey,

what are commonly known as “ The Spangenberg Papers.” These are in the possession of the Wachovia Land Office, and have been in part translated and he described

it

in

from the German and published

in the “ Colonial

Records of

North Carolina,” Vol. V, pp. 1 to 14. The first twelve papers describe the journey from place to place, apd from camp to

camp

in western Carolina,

at last

till

Wachovia

itself

discovered and surveyed.

Papers 13 to 23, inclusive, is contained the maps, but these have unfortunately been Possibly they were sent to Edenton, and not re-

lost.

or possibly they are in

turned,

some other portion

the

of

some archive house

in

Papers 24 to 35,

Unity.

inclusive, give information in regard to the people, the

climate, the rivers,

soil,

and

fruits.

There

is

also a care-

written paper describing the political status,

fully

taxes are collected, laws made, and officials elected.

how The

Spangenberg papers are valuable documents. The jourto the far western portion was difficult.

ney from Edenton It is

but

not possible to definitely locate their various camps,

it is

make

possible to follow

them with

Having

left

Edenton

colony, the surveying

in the northeastern section of the

party

made

westerly direction to the Catawba

began

sufficient certainty to

the general route clear.

in the general

its

way

River.

in

a south-

The survey

neighbourhood of Hickory or Mor-

Thence westward for some distance they journeyed. Next they proceeded northward and travelled over mountains and through untrodden wilderness. They then changed their course and with great difficulty made their way in a southeasterly direction till they came to Moravian Falls, near the present site of Wilkesboro. ganton.

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

6

Following the course of the

river,

of a very desirable tract of land

they were later informed

on

Muddy

Creek, several

miles from the river, and this they visited, surveyed, and later purchased.

The journey was fraught with ing and hazardous that story of adventure

On

and

it

so

much

that

was

thrill-

would well form the basis of a

travel.

men

the 25th of August, 1752, a party of five

left

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on their way to North Carolina.

The

following day one more joined them, and on August

The names were Bishop Spangenberg, Timothy Horsefield, Joseph Miller, Herman The journey Loesch, John Merk, and Henry Antes. 29 they

left

Philadelphia.

from Philadelphia

North Carolina occupied thirteen

to

days and was made in part by land and in part by water.

September 10 they arrived

at

Edenton, where they were

hospitably entertained by the Hon. Francis Corbin, the

They remained

agent of Lord Granville.

week

and better would

or more,

made

they had

the time

to insist

one

of

Horsefield’s

six.

on the necessity of

Captain

it

Sennet,

have been for them

Their systems were

which prostrated

with malarial poisons, their party

less.

his

if

filled

but two of

all

condition caused Miller

remaining at the home of

he could regain

until

strength to join the party.

Edenton a

in

sufficient

Spangenberg was so

ill

with

continuous fever that he fainted while on his horse, and often on account of weakness had to be assisted to

When

and dismount.

he was really able

me

will give

have

to pass

exercise

the necessary health and strength.

patience,

With

but

this spirit

the

Lord

till

“The Lord

go forward, he replied,

through much weakness, you

much

through.”

to

mount

urged by his brethren to remain

will

will

I will

have

help

to

me

Spangenberg, Antes, Loesch,

SPANGENBERG’S EXPLORATION TOUR and Merk continued field

7

westward journey, while Horse-

their

These two did not again

and Miller remained.

join

the others, but later returned to Pennsylvania.

When

the party arrived at the Catawba River the four already named,

of

sisted

con-

with

together

men who were and who could act in

it

Mr.

Churton, the surveyer, and two

acquainted

with

the double

the forest,

life in

carrying the surveyor’s chain and supplying

capacity of

began surveying and Morganton. acres, to

As we have

game.

the party with

general neighbourhood of Hickory

in the

The

first

(green

meadow) because

second

tract,

name “Gruenau,” pasture land. The

to give the

of the fine

two miles

one thousand

tract consisted of

which it was proposed

in extent,

already stated, they

distant,

was two hundred acres

called “ Merkfield,” in honour of one

and was

Later one thousand acres were selected. ” This valley on the Catawba was called “ Schoenthal

of

the party.

Fifty miles from their

(beautiful valley).

first

camp

six

thousand acres were surveyed, and because of the beautiful

mountains (rich in

“

corner),

in

name

“

Reichmont

its

“ Forkland,”

shape), “

New

Wachau Wachovia.” They passed over the first

”

succession they surveyed

Loesch Creek,” “ Montfort,” “ Oli

because of

kettle,

Thus

mountains).

and named

“

land was given the

this

“ Freydeck ”

Hope,”

and

” (the

(secluded last

of

all

” or “

seventy miles of the wilder-

make their way over Indian trails and along paths made by buffalo to and from the streams. At times they were

ness with no great inconvenience, though obliged to

followed by the eye.

When

Indians and watched

with

suspicious

they came to the most western sorrows

point of

They were

their journey,

their

in a wilderness

unfrequented by even a wandering hunter

real

began.

;

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

8

The mountain peaks spread

or Indian. like

the waves of the ocean.

A

December.

It

hunter who was

missed his way, and they were

They found

Carolina.

it

mountain, with precipices

At

last,

sides

all

acting as

their

lost in the wilds of

necessary to

scale

of

guide

western a steep

The baggage them from being

about them.

all

was removed from the horses hurled backward.

out on

was the beginning

to prevent

The poor

beasts trembled with fear.

having braved a multitude of

and

difficulties

Here the party

dangers, the top was gained.

rested and

partook of a morsel from their scant stock of provisions.

Their faithful horses had nothing except the dry leaves.

The

descent was not quite so precipitous, but night

came

on and there was neither water nor pasture land, and the condition

man and

of

were not able

beast was

pitiful.

to erect a tent because of a

The second day they found pasturage and

two

killed

stags, so that all

At

night they

wind storm. for their horses,

were somewhat refreshed

but as they were in the midst of the beaver dams they

had

to cut their

exertions greatly

way through

the obstructions, and the

weakened them.

Continuing their wanderings, they came on the third

day

to a

rocky stream, which they could not cross.

both sides precipices arose, impossible to scale. for the horses could not be found.

One

of

the

On Food

hunters

was sent forward to examine the character of the land. He returned and stated that from the top of the ravine he could see a large valley with pasturage for the horses,

and a camping ground for the party. With renewed hope they pressed forward, cutting away the undergrowth as

they advanced.

At

last

and the valley reached, but at

an end.

the mountain

was crossed

their troubles were not yet

Before the tents could be erected a terrible

SPANGENBERG’S EXPLORATION TOUR blizzard swept

A

them.

down and then

mountains, no food for

human

it

hundred miles from

was

exclaimed in despair, “ will perish

The

hope forsook

that

lost in

civilization,

the

and little for the and the ground cov-

the horses,

beings, the weather at zero,

ered with a deep snow,

9

—

we do not wonder that they What shall we do Our horses ?

and we with them

” !

night passed, and Bishop Spangenberg writes that

he could not remember ever that in the

December

Carolina.

A

have

to

felt so cold

a wind as

blizzard in the mountains of

bright sunshine greeted

and though the nights were

North

them the next day,

terribly cold all

were merci-

fully spared.

Later they travelled by the aid of the compass directly to

the southeast,

at last

in

climbed boldly over

all obstacles,

reached the Yadkin Valley, after having been

and lost

weeks, and during which

the mountains nearly two

time they had suffered great

and

hardships

dangers.

Antes was enduring intense pain from an accident, when they providentially came to the

he received tender

home

December 27 they reached the

Muddy

Creek.

of Mr.

Owens, where

care. site of

Wachovia, on

Fourteen sections were surveyed, a total

of seventy-three thousand acres, ten miles wide

miles long.

amount

More land was

to nearly

describes

it

later added,

and eleven

increasing the

one hundred thousand acres. The record

as being

one-half good, one-fourth medium,

and one-fourth bad. Well watered, springs perennial, good timber, and good fishing and hunting. Bishop Spangenberg examined the called to

mind the home

He remembered estates

the

fine

meadows, which

of the Zinzendorfs in Austria.

rich

and well-watered ancestral

had been given the name

“

Wachau,” from “wach,”

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

10

a stream, and “ aue,” a meadow. give a fitting old

title;

name

to our

Hence, he

said, let us

new

possessions and renew the

25,

1753,

and on January

Spangenberg named

the tract which has through a century and a half retained the

title

“

WACHOVIA ”

In addition to the information which served as a basis for the foregoing account of the search for and the dis-

covery of Wachovia, Spangenberg comments on the condition of affairs in

North Carolina one hundred and

He speaks

years ago.

which arose between the old and the new counties

way

fifty

of politics, describing the troubles

He draws

of legislative representation.

in the

a comparison

between the government of North Carolina and that of South Carolina and Pennsylvania, and suggests possible remedies for existing ants throws

light

evils.

What he

says of the inhabit-

on the persecutions which Wachovia later. His thirty-third paper says

endured twenty years

“Some

of

:

the people are native,

They cannot be compared with tions

farther north.

poor to buy land in

and these are

those

who

live

lazy.

in

sec-

Others are from foreign parts, too

New York „

and Pennsylvania, hence

they have come here, where land

is cheap. These are There are men here who have run away on account of debt, or have deserted their families and are fleeing from justice. Whole bands of horse thieves are exercising their art. For these reasons North Caro-

harmless people.

lina

has received a bad name.

On

the other hand,

many

coming from the northern colonies to western Carolina, and they will raise the standard.” The three nations most largely represented in western North Carolina at that time were the English, German, and Irish. fine

families are

The Spangenberg papers

tell

us of the condition of the

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

12

the negroes.

Indians,

also

counties,

and they

of

suggest that “it

tell

is

They

of the taxes,

give a

list

the

of

and tax gathering, and

well to keep tax receipts.”

In concluding this chapter

we add

the following facts

:

—

August 17 of the same year, 1753, the survey was approved by Lord Granville and nineteen deeds were made to James Hutton, of London, the agent of the Moravian Church. The first payment was .£500 ($2500). The exact amount of land was 98,985 acres. In addition

payment a yearly rental of three shillings (seventy-five cents) formed a ground rent. This ground rent amounted to nearly $750. to this first

We money

have already called attention to the stringency of

Hence payment of

matters in the Moravian Church at large.

to secure funds for the purchase of the land,

the rent, transportation of colonists, and their support

during the in

first

five years,

which friends

December

18,

in

a land

company was formed,

Holland were particularly interested.

1753, Bishop

Van Laer were appointed

Spangenberg and Cornelius company. They

directors of this

experienced some difficulty in securing

was required, but with success.

in the

end

all

the

their efforts

money

that

were crowned

CHAPTER

III

JOURNEY OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF WACHOVIA FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO NORTH CAROLINA In the archives of the Bethlehem congregation

paper written early in the

English, containing an

in quaint

of the journey of the

autumn

colony which

little

it

was

for

The

many

original

years

lost,

archives of the Salem congregation.

how

difficult

was

town

travel

in

document

but

is

a

account

left that

of 1753 to begin the settlement

Wachovia, North Carolina.

German, and

is

now

of

is

in

in the

The paper shows

those early days

;

it

gives

information in regard to Virginia, through which they

passed;

it

makes

men who began

clear

the perfect consecration of the

the settlement of Wachovia.

As

the

reader follows the party over the six weeks of their trip of five hundred miles, and then recalls

and pleasant is

is

this

same journey

how comfortable

in our day, the contrast

indeed striking. All the negotiations between Lord Granville and the

Wachovia had

church authorities had been completed.

been purchased and plans made in 1753 to begin the settlement. The further details were carefully arranged,

and

it

was decided

in the

beginning to send a small colony

of carefully chosen single to

men.

The new

settlement was

have a minister to care for the spiritual needs, a physi-

cian for their bodily health, a business

guard the temporal

who

affairs,

and

to these

man

of ability to

were added men

represented several trades, and two farmers. 13

They

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

14

were

to live as

ated

as

overcome

The via,

one household, and thus would be s6

best to endure

situ-

dangers,

and

difficulties.

following

is

the

and founded the

list

of those

village of

Rev. Bernhard

1.

hardships, brave

Adam

who

located in

Bethabara

:

—

Wacho-

Grube, a German by

age 37 years, the first minister. 2. Jacob Loesch (Lash), born in

New

birth,

York, age 31

years, the warden.

Dr.

3.

Hans Martin Kalberlahn, born

in

Norway, age

31 years, the physician.

Hans

4.

Peterson, born in Danish

Holstein, age

28

years, a tailor.

Christopher Merkly, born in Germany, age 39 years,

5.

a baker.

Herman Loesch

6.

(Lash), born in Pennsylvania, age

27 years, a farmer. Erich Ingebretsen, born in Norway, age 31 years, 7. a carpenter.

Henrich Feldhausen, born

8.

in Holstein,

age 38 years,

a carpenter.

Johannes Lisher, a farmer.

9.

Jacob Lung, born in Germany, age 40 years, a

10.

gardener. Pfeil, born in Germany, age 42 shoemaker and tanner. Jacob Beroth, born in Germany, age 28 years, a

Friedrich Jacob

11.

years, a 12.

farmer.

With these twelve came the derfer, Nathaniel Seidel,

brethren, Gottlob Koenigs-

and Joseph Haberland.

After a

brief visit these three returned to Bethlehem.

The their

little

colony

goods stored

left

in

Bethlehem, October 8th, 1753, with a large wagon. The route was

JOURNEY TO NORTH CAROLINA almost in a direct line to Wachovia.

The

15

night before

Susquehanna they sojourned at the house of Mr. Loesch, the father of Jacob and Herman. Here they were hospitably entertained, the mother filling their boxes with provisions, and the father placing a part of the arriving at the

load in his

own wagon

till. the

river

The

had been forded.

width of the Susquehanna was a surprise to them.

Con-

tinuing southward, they crossed the border line between

Pennsylvania and Maryland, and arrived at Frederick Frederick was then a village of sixty

October

18th.

houses.

Entering the famous Shenandoah Valley, they

continued southward by the present town of Staunton,

then called Augusta Court-house.

They

cession the Potomac, the James, and the

and probably passed near the present site Lexington and Roanoke. In due time the so well

known

Carolina,

Roanoke

rivers,

of the cities of Pilot

Mountain,

to all the inhabitants of northwestern

came

and followed

crossed in suc-

North

The Mayo River was reached they arrived at the junction of the Mayo where are situated the present Mayodan

in sight.

till

and Dan rivers, village and mills.

A

short journey and they reached the

general section of the present town of Walnut Cove, and

soon thereafter they crossed the borders of Wachovia.

Great journey.

difficulties

confronted them at every stage of their

Their heavily loaded wagon was too

much

for

the poorly built bridges, and in one instance the bridge

gave way just as the horses and the fore part of the wagon

were safely steep

over.

hills, at

With a great

effort

they climbed the

times being compelled to carry the load to

empty wagon was all the three pair of Nor were their troubles ended when the top was reached, for the steep descent was very danHaving cut down a tree and fastened it to the gerous.

the top, as the

horses could draw.

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

i6

rear of the wagon,

even then with

and having locked the wheels,

difficulty that the

it

descent was made.

was

Dur-

ing the early part of the journey the heat was at times quite oppressive,

the

snow

lay

and before North Carolina was reached

upon the ground.

Heavy

rains caused high

waters which detained them days, and even trouble did not exist, the steep banks

down

had often

when to

this

be dug

before they could enter and leave the stream, while

was not uncommon to be obliged to clear a road of trees and undergrowth before they could proceed. The search for food was no small item, and the accidents to the it

wagon, as well as the sickness of the horses, often caused

We

the deepest anxiety. incidents, to

will

devote space to but two

convey the impression of what was almost a

daily occurrence.

The

party arrived in the neighbourhood of the

was

cold, wet,

and

Hill after hill had been climbed,

and

River about the end of October.

had been snowing.

Roanoke

the night was coming on apace.

It

Before them was a long

and very steep ascent up the mountain side. A man approached and was asked whether it was possible to cross the

He

hill

before night.

added that

He

answered

at the top of the hill

in the affirmative.

was a house

at

which

As the hill was too steep to draw the wagon and the load, the

they could spend the night. allow the horses to

horses were taken from the wagon and the goods placed upon their backs. Then a part of the company journeyed on and a part remained with the wagon. Before the ascent was half made they were surrounded by storm and darkness, and when the top was reached they found that they had been deceived by the traveller. No house was on the top of the hill nor on the other side of the mountain, and as they pressed forward in the rain and darkness, they at

JOURNEY TO NORTH CAROLINA

17

discovered that the distance between them and their companions was too great for them to rejoin those who had remained with the wagon. It was a dismal experience, last

and with great thankfulness they met again on the morrow by the aid of daylight and sunshine.

The second

instance took place two weeks

had crossed the border Carolina.

River that in the

line

later.

They

between Virginia and North

They determined if possible to reach the Dan The journey was begun at three o’clock day.

morning, but storms and bad weather detained them. the right road, and by nightfall found that

They missed they were

still

about seven miles from their destination.

They were obliged

to stop

till

At mid-

the storm abated.

night the rain ceased, the horses were attached to the

wagon, and with lighted torches journey was continued to is

Dan

to guide the driver, the

What a picture men as in the midthey made their way

River.

presented by these sturdy Christian

night hour, with flaring torches,

through the mountain wilds, happy and cheerful, reminding themselves that the day was festival

day

of the church.

As

November

the traveller

13,

now

a great passes

over this same ground he can easily imagine this midnight scene as he looks upon the rugged

hillsides, in

the neigh-

bourhood of Mayodan and Avalon, two places where Moravian churches have recently been erected.

The paper

to

which reference was made

earlier in the

chapter speaks of the inhabitants of Virginia, in the sec-

They met travellers, they conversed with farmers and merchants, they came in contact with many nationalities, they saw some who were which they passed.

tion through

worthless and ‘‘lived like beasts,” but others showed deep piety in their

Whatever

words and

else the

actions.

paper sets

forth, the

one picture which

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

i8

stands in the clearest light

is

the great piety of this com-

pany, and their perfect devotion to Jesus Christ and his service.

Night and morning they rejoiced

in the spiritual

food afforded by the songs, the prayers, the Scripture, and the words of admonition spoken by the ministers

Wherever they

companied them.

men

tarried,

who

day or night,

acall

recognized that they were a company of Christians.

them

Believers confided to invited

them

to preach,

Not only did

they departed. these devoted

their faith in Jesus

men

to

Christ,

and wished them Godspeed when their zeal

and piety cause

seek the souls of those

who came

contact with them, but this spirit of devotion knit

together in the bonds of love and affection.

in

them

Neither hard-

ships nor perils, toils nor sufferings, could separate them.

company travelling from Pennsylvania to North Carolina we have a picture of the power of ChrisIn this

little

tian fellowship

which

is

delightful to contemplate.

After a delay of several days at the of the high water, the crossing

was

Dan

finally

River because

made, and the

members of the party had gone over in a canoe and had made a tour of inspection. Returning, they met the party with last section of

the journey was begun.

Several

The previous night had been very cold. A November sky threatened snow. The progress was slow. They paused for a noonday lunch, after which, continuing their journey, the travel-worn company crossed the border line of Wachovia a little after noon, Novemthe wagon.

dull, leaden,

ber

17, 1753.

CHAPTER THE FIRST YEAR

When

IN

IV WACHOVIA

company of fifteen persons crossed the borders of Wachovia at noon, November 17, 1753, they were still six miles from the cabin which was to shelter them. Half this distance they had to cut a new road, but willing hands and happy hearts made the labour light, and It was an humere long they reached the deserted hut. the

little

ble abode, without floor, and with a roof that did not pro-

them from the weather. Yet it offered comforts and pleasures compared with the experiences of the preceding weeks. Their joy knew no bounds, and so happy were they that they were more like little children in the exuber-

tect

ance of their

than like the travel-worn pioneers on

spirits,

Turning

their earnest errand. 17,

they found that

it

“I know where thou

As

to the text for

was indeed

dwellest.”

November

suited to their case,

(Rev. 2:13.)

the early Christians were accustomed to celebrate

special occasions with

“agapae”

all

or “love-feasts,” in like

made

their first meal a loveLord and Master, and making it an emblem of the strong bond of brotherly love which held them together. This happy duty performed, they felt that they had arrived at a place which they

manner these weary

travellers

feast, thus consecrating

it

to their

call home, and how blessed was the beginning of new home with Jesus speaking to them in the text of day, “ I know where thou dwellest,” and they respond-

could this

the

ing by making their

first

meal a solemn but happy 20

love-

THE FIRST YEAR 2.

Herba Mentha. Herba Mentha.

1.

3.

Semen

4.

Nasturtium.

5.

Semen

6.

Nasturtium.

7. 8.

9 a. 9 b. 9 c. 10.

11.

12. 13. 14.

15. 16.

Anisi.

Carui. Carui.

50.

52.

53. 54.

WACHOVIA

Chamomilla Rub. Red Chamomile. Lilium Album. White Lily. Lilium Album. White Lily. Rosa Rub. et Alb. Red and White

Semen Carvi. Flores Lavenduli. Lavender. Semen Anethi. Dill. Centaurea Minor.

58.

Centaury. Sage. Salvia. Sage. Artemisia. Mugwort. Artemisia. Mugwort. Salvia.

Sorrel.

59. 60. 61.

Sorrel.

Chamomilla. Chamomile. Semen Coriander. Coriander Seed. Plantago Minor. Small Plantain. Marrubium. Hoarhound. Santonicum. Lavendula. Lavender. Hormium Clary.

20.

Millifolium.

63.

Nigellum. Fennel. Scurvy Grass and Lavender.

21.

(Empty.)

64.

White Poppy.

22.

“ Mundrosen.”

65.

23.

Petroselinum. Parsley. Calcatrippa. Larkspur. (Empty.) Abrotan. Small Cypress. Abrotan. A Small Cypress. Abrotan. A Small Cypress.

66.

Hyssop. Larkspur.

24. 25.

26. 27. 28.

29.

30.

31. 32. 33. 34.

35. 47. 36. 37. 38. 39.

Sorrel.

Yarrow.

A

62.

Flor. Belidor

Chamomile and Hyssop.

69.

Sage. Fennel.

70.

71.

Sweet Basil. Marjorana. 72. Sweet Marjoram. 73. Basilicon. Sweet Basil. Marjorana. 74. Sweet Marjoram. 75. Abrotan. Small Cypress. 76. Abrotan. Small Cypress. 77. Abrotan. Small Cypress. 78. (Empty.) 79. Larkspur.

(Empty.) Flor. Papaver Alb. (Empty.) (Empty.)

80. 81.

White Poppy.

82. 83.

84.

44.

Columbine. Papaver 85. Rubra. Red Poppy. 86. Semen Papaver Rubra. Seed Red 87. Poppy. 88. Semen Papaver Rubra. Seed Red 89. Poppy. 90. Angelica Hortensis. Angelica. 91. Millefolium. Yarrow. 92.

45.

Safflore.

40.

41.

42.

43.

Aquilegia.

Wild

Saffron.

46 a. Carduus Marias. Mary Thistle. 46 b. Fumaria. Fumitory. Levisticum. Lovage.

Min.

67.

68.

Basilicon.

Calcatrippa.

21

Levisticum. Lovage. Angelica Hortensis. Angelica. Rumex Acetosa. Sorrel. Fumaria. Fumitory.

Rose. 55 a. Semen Citri. Seed of Citron. 55 b. Vicus Hispanio. Rosa Rubra. Red Rose. 56. Lilium Album. White Lily. 57.

19.

18.

Fennel Seed.

Caraway Seed. Caraway Seed. Artemisia. Mugwort. Viol ex. Knot Grass.

Semen Semen

48.

49. 51.

Foeniculi.

Rumex Acet. Rumex Acet. Rumex Acet.

1 7.

Curly Mint. Curly Mint. Anise Seed.

IN

93. 94. 95. 96.

Cardui Benedict. Scurvy Grass. Salsify.

Balm. Herb. Absynth. Wormwood. Herb. Ruth. Garden Rue. Parthenium. Wandering Poppy.

Chamomile. Scabiosa. Sage. Sage.

Chamomile. Chamomile. Althea. Marsh Mallow. Althea. Marsh Mallow. Althea.

Marsh Mallow.

Comfrey. Marsh Mallow. Sweet Clover. Black Comfrey. Poppy. Columbine. Melons. Cucumeris. Comfrey.

(Black Bryony.)

THE FIRST YEAR What

feast.

mattered

was cramped and small found

its

way through

IN

What

roof

mattered

and wall

that the howling of the wolves

and the cry

greeted them as they entered their

came with them,

that the cold

it

What

!

23

ground

that the space on the

it !

WACHOVIA

mattered

it

of the panthers

new abode

!

Religion

came with them, and on these two foundation stones they began a work on that dark and cheerless November day, which was destined to outlive many generations, a work which is still felt after the lapse love

and a

of a century

half.

The next day was Sunday. It was They took great interest in examining

a real day of rest. their surroundings.

Looking northward, they saw a forest-covered lowland, which

in imagination, they could picture cleared

covered with luxuriant grass.

tivated, or

and

Through

cul-

this

flowed a clear, strong stream which was destined to turn

This lowland was bordered

the wheel of the busy mill.

by low

while in the

hills,

could be seen the

distance

Turning

mountains, robed in their mantle of blue.

and south, they saw a

east

West

land.

was

ulet of

rolling country, suited for

their cabin home,'

a great bluff or

hill,

at the base of

the clearest water.

same

hillside,

flowers in profuse

beautiful

hill,

which flowed a

it,

riv-

Could the newcomers have

with

the most luxuriant ferns and rare wild

abundance. its

And on

the top of this

covering of giant pines, chestnuts,

and oaks, they would have beheld the graveyard, they termed

would

it,

“ God’s Acre,” in which one

find a peaceful

home when

life’s

settlers as

they arose and greeted the

new home

in

North Carolina.

or, as

and another

duties were done.

These were the surroundings which appeared their

farm

and overshadowing

the veil of the future, they would have beheld, on

lifted

this

of

to the

first

to the twelve

Sabbath day

in

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

24

A

somewhat

detailed account of

colony during the

first

description of the

life

the

life

of this

little

year in Wachovia will serve as a in

Wachovia

for a generation

and

more, and will also bring before the mind of the reader the experiences in the several congregations which were

founded after Bethabara.

It is true that

struggles so difficult as during this

first

never were the

same

year, at the

time they were so brave and hopeful, that the picture really a pleasant

one to study.

Refreshed by the day of

rest,

Mon-

the brethren arose

day morning, ready for the task of making a home

We

is

in the

manWith the implements brought with them, they commenced clearing a tract of land to sow with winter wheat, and within three weeks wilderness.

are impressed with the businesslike

ner in which they began the work.

from the date of

their arrival, six acres

had been cleared

During the first year not less than fifty acres of land had been prepared for farming purposes. and planted.

They recognized would be

that, in this sparsely settled section,

difficult to

outset they

began

to raise cattle

and

to plant a variety of

grain for their future use and comfort.

mer, they gathered wheat, corn,

flax,

In the

first

sum-

millet, barley, oats,

buckwheat, turnips, cotton, and tobacco,

garden vegetables.

it

secure provisions, hence at the very

in’

addition to the

Fruit trees were planted, and various

kinds of medicinal herbs.

A

most interesting map of a “medical garden” (see page 22) is in the Wachovia Land Office. This map shows the garden divided into squares and sections, and each square named. It is of great interest to the medical profession as indicating what

medicines were produced in western Carolina, a hundred

and

fifty

years ago.

Diversity of industries

is

said to be the real test of the

THE FIRST YEAR

clearing land and building houses,

commenced with

indicate that they

25

In 1754, with the great strain of

prosperity of a place.

trade

WACHOVIA

IN

we

find the record of

their neighbours,

had

and the notes

—

in operation the following:

Carpenter shop.

Shoe shop.

Tailor establishment.

Tannery.

Pottery.

Cooper shop.

Blacksmith shop.

Under the head shoes.

A

of prices,

we note

the value of a pair of

stranger passing through

He

purchase a pair of shoes.

Wachovia desired

to

evidently had no money.

To overcome this difficulty and secure them, he was ing to cut down and trim one hundred forest trees

will-

as a

compensation.

The company of twelve men were very busy during the They had roads to cut, journeys to make, farmfirst year. ing work to attend

to,

greatest undertaking

was the building

and houses

to erect.

But

of the mill,

their

though

The magnitude of will undertaking be understood, when we recall the the fact that all the needed articles had to be made by the members of the little company. The site for the mill was The dam was selected a mile or more down the stream. The foundation stones built, and the race constructed. this

was not

were

entirely finished in 1754.

large, as

is

indicated

before the door; this

Wachovia

is

by the one used

now

in

as a

step

the possession of the

Timber they had in abundance, but old persons who remember the mill express surprise at the great size of the beams and timbers used in its construction. Then the wheel had to be built forging metal bearings for the wheel was no small task suitable millstones had to be found, quarried, shaped, and Historical Society.

;

;

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

26

They were

dressed.

discovered on

Muddy

Creek, in the

general neighbourhood of Friedberg.

Before the second year of their stay in Wachovia had passed, the mill was

completed and was busily grinding. blessing to this entire section, and the

was

It

maps

a

great

of those days

show roads leading from the mill to all points, north, south, east, and west, and the records indicate that not only from a commercial standpoint was the mill important, but in the Indian War, and in the days of the American Revolution citizens and refugees were fed, and the

soldiers of both

from time

was

time.

to

armies

Hence, at

made demands upon this early day, the

it

mill

of importance to the entire western section of the

colony.

The and It

live-stock industry

shows sixty-nine head of

cattle

pigs.

was apparent

arrival that larger

vided.

to the

company the

first

night of their

accommodations would have

The Hans Wagner

their arrival, a picture of

hut,

which

is

to be pro-

which they found upon given in this volume, was

not large enough to allow sleeping room, and a second story

was improvised by stretching hammocks from wall to wall. Strangers often came, and it was not an uncommon thing to give the

law of hospitality the precedence, and

a number of the

company

to sleep

this sent

beneath the

a thing which was not pleasant in January in

stars,

North

Carolina.

As soon

as

it

became known

for medical treatment. for their

own

house,” that It

As

was an able physipersons came cabin was too small

that there

cian and a skilled surgeon in Wachovia,

the original

many

comfort, they resolved to build a “ stranger’s

is,

a modest hotel, the

first

one

in

was indeed an humble strangers’ house, not

Wachovia.

much

larger

THE FIRST YEAR than the finished, fifty

WACHOVIA

IN

February 9 this second building was and four days later a man arrived from his home first

hut.

miles away, with his invalid wife.

new

use the

first to

27

These were the

house.

As soon as the little house for strangers was completed, work on the dormitory was begun, and though crudely constructed,

and

afforded sufficient room, being thirteen feet wide

it

With the

long.

feet

fifty

addition of

some small

shelters for the grain, etc., the above-mentioned buildings

were

all

that were completed within twelve

months

after

though the work on the mill was being actively

their arrival,

pushed, and the foundations for a large dwelling house had

been

laid.

The many

duties left

little

time for social enjoyments,

by means of which they did enjoy the home life. The table fare was simple but varied, and when the work was unusually hard the kind and supply of the food was adapted to Not only when the days were the needs of the body. marked by inclement weather do we find them in the house, yet the narrative pictures a carefully arranged plan

but on other occasions they gathered together to plan the

work, to read letters or hear church news from other parts of the world,

and

to hold sessions of

what they called

their

“ society.”

They were not fond

They

of hunting.

did not like

it

as

it was not profitable as a was necessary to kill a bear or

a sport, and they concluded that

When

business pursuit. scatter a

pack of wolves or hunt down a panther

to protect their

into the duty

The

life

means a

it

animals, they entered energetically

and did

of the

quiet

were busy

own

and

in order

their

first

work

settlers in

well.

Wachovia was by no

retired one.

The Moravian brethren

Their

journeys were to inspect

travellers.

first

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

28

their possessions.

They journeyed

Black Walnut

to the

Bottom, where later Bethania was located.

down

to

Muddy

Creek, where lived

Adam

They went

Spach, later the

well-known member of the Friedberg congregation.

They

so many trips to the well-watered and productive Yadkin River Valley that a road was cut through to the

made river.

The

diary gives a condensed

of the visits of

list

Lash, the business manager, and Kalberlahn, the physician.

The former went hither and thither to buy and to sell. The latter was called to go twenty, fifty, even one hundred miles through the forests to minister to the sick and those

who were suffering from accidents. Several trips were made to Fayetteville and Wilmington to consider the arrangements for their

later

commercial

interests,

and

to

Then,

too,

we

interview the authorities on legal points. find accounts of the arrivals

Bethlehem.

It is a

from and the departures

tender and beautiful picture to see

to

how

with tears and prayers they bade farewell to the brethren, Koenigsderfer, Seidel, and Haberland, as they began the

This

return journey to Pennsylvania. to the note of joy with

Fries and Lisher, on the as minister,

record that

down

and

we

it is

is in

strong contrast

which they welcomed the brethren, 1

5th of April.

to his interesting

The former arrived and

clearly written

are indebted for the facts which have

to us in connection with 1754 and 1755.

ber the famous Peter Boehler visited them.

come

In Septem-

In a love-feast

held soon after his arrival, the bishop announced that the

name which Spangenberg had

selected last year

had been

indorsed by the authorities, and our land would in future

be

officially

known

as ‘‘Wachovia.”

In addition to the visitors from Bethlehem and the

made by

the brethren themselves,

many

strangers

matters of business or for professional advice.

visits

came on In 1754,

THE FIRST YEAR

IN

WACHOVIA

29

within three months they had 103 guests, and in 1755 not less

All this shows

than 426 persons visited Bethabara.

that while the Moravians carried out their idea of retaining

Wachovia

for themselves, they also

came

into close contact

with the outside world.

Their relations to others were pleasant and satisfac-

They paid their taxes promptly and without proThey refused to take an oath, and declined to

tory. test.

perform military duty, but best terms with

all

socially

they were on the

their neighbours near

and

far.

The

many

presents sent to them showed the kindly feelings

which

existed.

The

first

year in Wachovia was not entirely free from

sufferings.

alarming

It is illness,

On New

true that there

was no death and no

but two accidents

Day

threatened

serious

home, was discovered to be in flames. In the struggle to save the building from destrucWhile he was suftion, Kalberlahn was severely burned. fering from his wound, some members of the company

results.

Year’s

the roof of their

little

their only shelter at this time,

were cutting timber.

As one

giant of the forest

came

crashing to the ground, Peterson was struck by a limb, and

when

companions rushed to his aid, it appeared to them was fatally hurt. With heavy hearts they bore him home. An examination was not possible that day, his

that he

but the following day, Dr. Kalberlahn discovered that the skull

had not been broken; and though the wound was

both serious and painful, he recovered, as did also the victim of the

To

fire

on

New

Year’s Day.

the student of the weather bureau,

it is

interesting to

note that the same general conditions prevailed then as

now.

It is

sometimes claimed that climatic conditions

have changed in a century and a

half.

Such

is

not the

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

30

case, as the sketch of

each month’s weather given in the

diary will show.

The

love for music appeared at the very outset.

Sing-

ing formed a large part of their worship, and liturgical services with

hymns

specially

The

not infrequent.

first

composed for the occasion were

mention of instrumental music

found under date of February

23, 1754,

when

it is

is

said that

was accompanied by the playing of a would compare favourably with the excellent trumpet, which instruments used in the Bethlehem congregation. A year the evening singing

later the

On

music

is

mentioned as having been very good.

this occasion the singing

was accompanied with

flutes

and trumpets.

We

close this account of the

their religious

life.

We

first

have already spoken of their deep Their worship formed a

piety and perfect consecration.

regular part of the

year by referring to

programme

of each day.

They

fre-

quently had the meal in common, as a religious obser-

With joy they mentioned the fact that in late summer a love-feast was provided with buns from the flour made of the first fruits of their wheat fields. Saturday afternoon was observed as a preparation time for the approaching Sunday. Only on a few occasions, when special conditions made it necessary, did they labour on Saturday afternoon. Sunday was observed in about the same manner as we observe it at the present day, though vance.

modified to suit their circumstances. celebrated

all

the

occasions

of

that

At Easter they festival,

greeting

each other on the resurrection morning with the happy

“Ave!”

A touching and beautiful first

Christmas,

when they

sketch might be written of the related the ever sweet

and

ten-

der story of the Christ Child, as they gathered in the

THE FIRST YEAR Christmas

“We

had a

had our in

vigils.

peace in

“All

little

first

this

screamed

IN

WACHOVIA

These are the words

of

31

the journal,

love-feast; then near the Christ Child

we

Christmas Eve in North Carolina, and rested

this

hope and

faith

” ;

and a

later writer says,

while the wolves and panthers howled and in the forests near by.”

CHAPTER V INDIAN TROUBLES THREATEN WACHOVIA, AND THE

BETHABARA FORT ERECTED

The war between France and period of which

we

are

now

England, including the

writing, dates

its

origin to the

The time

time of Washington’s campaign in 1754.

the treaty between England and France in 1763 sidered the conclusion of the war.

was not

tilities

as rapid as in our

and telephone, hence not

till

the

The

is

of

con-

progress of hos-

day of steam, telegraph,

summer

of 1755 did dis-

quieting influences reach the Indians of North Carolina.

Alarming rumours then began following four years the

to

fill

situation

air, and during the became increasingly

the

worse, though actual war did not break out

till

1759.

The

delay of open hostilities was due to the fact that the centre

was

far north of the Carolinas, in the

the Great Lakes, in

New

neighbourhood of

York, and in Pennsylvania.

The

Moravians in Pennsylvania experienced the horrors of the struggle several years before bloodshed began in North Carolina.

Another reason

for

the delay was

that the

Cherokees, Creeks, and Catawbas were friendly to the whites. ren.

In time they were won over by their red breth-

First secretly

and then openly, they espoused the

cause of the hostile Indians against the white men, and

from 1759 we may consider Wachovia as in the midst of Toward the end of 1761 the troops

a bloody Indian war.

conducted a campaign of destruction against the Indians of western Carolina,

and

at the 32

same time a

similar cam-

INDIAN TROUBLES; FORT ERECTED

33

paign was carried on in the western portion of Virginia. This really brought the war to a close in these sections,

though

was two years

it

peace negotia-

later before the

The

tions were concluded between England and France.

present chapter will deal with the period of four years of unrest which gradually led up to open warfare.

As and

a sudden storm will rise without previous warning

in an

hour cover everything with dark and threatening

and

clouds, so, in 1755, the prosperous

thrifty little settle-

Wachovia within a day found its peace had deOn July 22, a Dunkard with his family arrived from New River. He had travelled seventy miles in a

ment

in

parted.

circuitous route,

and reported the beginning of Indian

rages in his section, relating

One

bloodshed.

of

many

more

his

attacked, his family murdered,

the torture.

The

sons were

A

known

little later

distant friends had been and he himself carried to

night before the

est neighbour’s family to

had been

Dunkard

slain.

fled, his

near-

Twenty-eight per-

have been captured or

in the

out-

instances of cruelty and

killed.

man came to Bethabara to The man’s name was Benner.

evening a

seek for his strayed horses.

About four

After a time he departed.

o’clock in the morn-

ing they were awakened by cries of distress. gation they found that

it

Upon

investi-

was the same man Benner who

had been searching for his horses the evening before. He told them that he had returned to his home only to find it robbed and his family gone. They could do nothing to comfort him in his great distress. A little later the brethren engaged in their morning devotions, using the trumpet with the singing.

This was not usually done, but

it

was

thought the trumpet might attract the attention of any friend

who happened

to

be in the

forest, or to

warn the

foe that the inmates of the house were not sleeping.

When

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

34

they had concluded their devotional exercises, one of the party went into the yard and fired a gun to warn enemies or attract friends.

Blowing the trumpet and

gun was continued, and Hastening tressed

to the spot,

man

was a babe

firing the

after a time they heard a call.

they found the wife of the

dis-

The smallest child mother. The joy at this

with her four children. in the

arms

of the

unexpected meeting was touching and pathetic. the needs of the

woman had been

After

attended to and she had

somewhat recovered, she related her experiences. had come on, and she was awaiting her husband’s

Night return.

Suddenly the dogs rushed barking into the woods, but returned howling with fear. eral stones fled

As

she went to the door sev-

She closed the door and

whizzed by her head.

from the house, her children with

her.

As

she en-

more toward the house, and by the light within the room saw three men spring in. Continuing her flight, she wandered all night hither and thither, and was providentially guided to Bethabara, where the blowing of the trumpet and the reports of the gun reassured her, and she called for help which was right willingly given.

tered the shelter of the forest, she turned once

This incident illustrates the condition of things in the

The most alarming intelligence continued reach them. Haltem and Owens came from the section

entire section. to

north of Wachovia, and said that

all

the families in that

neighbourhood were leaving their homes.

A man

arrived

from the Yadkin Valley, and reported that the neighbours up and down the river were gathering together for mutual protection against either wandering bands of savages, or an organized attack. Even from Haw River came an appeal for help.

With the same thoroughness

that characterized all their

JL^C&OUO INDIAN TROUBLES; FORT ERECTED

35

men of Wachovia made their plans. They among themselves as follows If the Indians

actions, the

reasoned

who

:

are causing

all

the trouble are only in scattered bands,

watchfulness and ready a watch was

rifles will

established,

and

be

their

that they remained close to each other. to

Therefore

sufficient.

work was If

so arranged

an alarm had

They were not

be given, they could readily assemble.

and pushed

panic-stricken, but continued to run the mill

forward the work on the large building which they were erecting.

They

further argued that

if

a large body of

Indians was moving against the western part of North Carolina, the only

hope would be instant

flight.

But they

determined in the conference which was held that things should be done wisely.

all

Accordingly the following

plan in regard to their property was approved by

all.

This plan was to be carried out in the event of the

approach of a large body of Indians. 1.

All the iron was to be hid in the creek, as iron was a

precious metal in those days. 2.

All the wooden materials were to be buried in the

ground. 3.

The house was

to

be

fortified so that resistance

could

be made in case of a sudden attack by a large company of savages. 4.

A stock of

cially flour.

the mill was

provisions

The left

was stored

in the house, espe-

miller could not remain at the mill,

still

open for the use of customers who might

wish to grind their grain.

These plans and precautions having

all

been made, they

continued with their usual work, and during the following

weeks the excitement subsided and many of the refugees left

Bethabara

to return to their

away from the

section

own homes.

altogether,

Some moved

and the

Bethabara

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

36

warden purchased their time, as it was his policy as the present.

and grain from time

cattle

to

to provide for the future as well

This policy of providing for the future

was a great blessing

to

many

in the later experiences of

the war.

In January, 1756, rumours again This time the reports began to fill them with alarm. in Pennsylvania. congregations related to the Moravian Again and again the stories were told, sometimes in one Six months passed.

form and sometimes

in another, but

always the one fact of

Finally they heard the true

a massacre was incorporated.

statement, and though the calamity was not as widespread as they

had

at first

and might well possible fate.

fill

been led

to fear, still

it

was

them with forebodings as

Hamilton

history of the

in his

Church describes the massacre

terrible,

to

in the colony of Pennsyl-

vania to which the rumours and later reports referred. says “

:

—

On November

Gnadenhuetten

their

Moravian

He

24 the worst fears were realized at the on the Mahoni. As the evening

station

shadows lengthened, and the occupants of the Mission

House were gathered

for their evening meal, the dreaded

and the reports of firearms reechoed among the hills. When the startled men and women darted from the lower story to the room above, and barricaded the entrance, fire was applied to the house. Those who fled from the flames by leaping from the winwar-whoops suddenly rang

dows were pierced by

Out

out,

bullets or slashed

by tomahawks.

of fifteen only four persons escaped to tell the

of their companions’ martyrdom.

The

only ashes and charred fragments to

manner

raiders soon left tell

where once

church and school and dwellings had stood.”

The

inhabitants of Bethlehem and other Moravian towns

INDIAN TROUBLES; FORT ERECTED escaped, though

time of which

these places were threatened at the

all

we

37

write,

rounded by a stockade

and Bethlehem had been surand two swivel guns had been

fort,

mounted. Reference

men whom

made

several times

is

organized and erected a fortification. ties sent fled,

troops

leaving the

who attacked

women and

body of

to a certain

the diary calls “ outlaws.”

This company had

The

colonial authori-

The men

their stronghold.

children.

One

of the outlaws

requested the Moravians to adopt his two boys.

what influence brought these people together

is

Just

not

made

by the Bethabara journal, nor can we assume with Owens was one of certainty that they were desperadoes. clear

them, and

in earlier

and nothing

is

days he frequently visited Bethabara,

said against

days even good

men were

colonial authorities

if

him

in the diary.

In those

often styled outlaws

by the

perchance they did not belong to the

king’s party.

The

spring of 1756 approached, and the rumours of Ind-

ian atrocities continued to reach them.

Fearing that be-

cause of some neglect disaster might overwhelm the colony,

it

was decided

to appoint additional

watchmen

little

as a

precaution against a possible surprise.

In

May

there were several experiences which indicated

and white some point in the neighbourhood for the purpose of buying oil. He had with him a small keg in which to carry it. Suddenly he was confronted by eleven Indians accompanied by a white woman. The Indians began to revile and abuse him, and ordered him to dismount. Lash refused, knowing that to do so was to surrender to them his horse. Then they pointed to the keg and demanded “fire-water.” He told the increasing tension between the people.

Lash was making a

trip to

Indians

HISTORY OF WACHOVIA

38

them that he had none, and tapped the head of the little keg to show them that it was empty. Then they became still more excited, and feeling that at any moment they might resort to personal violence, and recalling the many murders in more distant sections, he made an attempt to

He

divert their minds.

told

them

that he lived twelve

miles away, and that he had a good meal awaiting

they would

visit

white

woman

was a

fool,

and

him.

This pleased the savages

them

if

but the turned in surprise to Lash, told him that he

and assured him that

steal all that

this

;

band would

The savages agreed

he owned.

visit

to

him

come,

and the record says that Lash rode away with “ great speed.” As soon as Lash arrived at Bethabara, a conference was held and a messenger was sent to the house of Hughes and Banner.

The

latter

gathered

men

quickly,

and when the

Indians arrived they found that the number of the white

men exceeded their own numbers, and therefore they behaved well. Some distance farther on they continued their depredations, were captured, and taken to Salisbury.

Two weeks later Indians suddenly appeared at Bethabara. No special notice was taken of them. The people acted as though they took

they should come.

The

it

as a matter of course that

diary says that they pursued their

usual duties, but that they were careful to so dispose themselves that the Indians

Lash went

to

could recognize their strength.

them, showed them the

mill,

furnished them

with a good meal, and presented them with pipes and tobacco.

While eating the signs, and in this way

This greatly pleased them.

meal they talked with each other

in

informed Lash that eight more Indians were on their way

That night they slept in the woods. The next morning they returned, were given a good breakfast, and then proceeded on their journey.

to Bethabara.

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