The First Leg of the Journey

Most of the Palatine emigrants began their journey by boat down the Rhine River, some leaving as early as late February when it was sufficiently clear of ice to permit travel.  By mid-March the earliest emigrants had arrived in Rotterdam, with no idea of how to continue their journey.  They camped pathetically on top of dikes, perched precariously above flood waters caused by melting snow and spring rains.  By this time, they were starving.

Rotterdam officials, as well as some private groups, couldn’t bear to witness this level of suffering so they raised funds to help support the Palatines.  To ease the burden on their city, they even paid for the passage of the first 800 emigrants to move on to London.  But as those 800 left, thousands more took their place.

Meanwhile, back in Germany, the principalities were becoming worried about this mass exodus.  In June many of them issued decrees that prohibited any more of their citizens from leaving.  Yet, still they went.

My mind continually goes back to Gerhardt and Maria Schaeffer.   Records indicate that they had two young adult children with them.  They left Germany in early May, but how were they travelling and what did they take with them?   As with all of the Palatines, they would have had to choose among their few possessions.  This probably meant the clothes on their backs and perhaps a few extras; sturdy walking shoes, if they had them; and a few loaves of bread.  In the case of Gerhardt and Maria, however, they also chose to bring their Bible.  That doesn’t seem like an odd choice, until you realize that the Bible was 9” wide x 14” long x 4” high, and weighed several pounds. 

“What to pack?” takes on new meaning when you also have to ask “How are we going to carry it?”  Carrying that enormous Bible was undoubtedly a hardship, but one they endured.  Sitting on the table next to me as I write this, is that very same Bible.  And I have come to revere it.

 

Reference:  “Becoming German” by Phillip Otterness