Return to London

In 1718 the Schoharie Palatines frustration over not having title to the land they had settled for the past five years had reached an epoch and a division was developing within their community.  Some felt that it would be easier to pay the Seven Partners and live without fear of losing their farms, yet there were still those who refused to give in to Governor Hunter.  That group decided to send a delegation to London and appeal to the crown.

The three men chosen for this task were Johann Weiser, Wilhelm Scheff, and Gerhardt Walrath.  Choosing to stay out of the reach of Governor Hunter they avoided New York City and travelled to Philadelphia, where they set sail for London.  Once underway the ship was raided by pirates who robbed everyone on board.  The Palatine contingent managed to hide a small amount of their money from the pirates, but not enough to sustain them for long.

Once they arrived in London things got worse.  Their earlier benefactor, Queen Anne, had died and her husband had taken over the throne.  Unfortunately, King George showed no interest in hearing their case.  Gerhardt Walrath, realizing the situation was hopeless, decided to return to Schoharie but died on the voyage home.  Having run out of funds, Weiser and Scheff were thrown in debtors’ prison where they had to wait until the families in Schoharie could send more money.

Finally in 1720, two years after they arrived in London, Weiser and Scheff were able to petition the British Board of Trade to hear their case regarding the land in Schoharie which they felt rightfully belonged to the Palatines.  By this time Governor Hunter had arrived in London as well.

Reference:  

“Becoming German” by Phillip Otterness

Stalemate

By 1717 the Palatines were enjoying the fruits of their labors, which only continued to irritate Governor Hunter since they still had not paid the Seven Partners for the land.  He sent a message to Schoharie that the Palatines were to send three men from each village to Albany to meet with him.  When those men arrived Governor Hunter posed three questions to them, which were later recounted as follows.

Why had the settled in Schoharie when they had been told they could not?

“…the utmost necessity and poverty forc’d them to remove thither to earn their bread for the maintenance of their Wifes and Children.”  The Governor had left them to fend for themselves, and from the beginning their goal was to find land on which they could support their families. 

Why hadn’t they reached an agreement with the Seven Partners?

“If they serv’d any body, it must be the King and not a privat person.”  The Palatines continued to claim loyalty to the Crown, while refusing to pay back the debt they owed it.  They also felt that they had invested much labor into improving the land, and the Seven Partners were demanding too much money. 

Why did the Palatines concern themselves so much with the Indians?

“…they were oblig’d to keep fair with the friendly Indians amongst Whom, they dwelt, which was the only way to be protected and live in peace.”   Since the Governor offered them no protection, keeping the Indians as their allies was the safest course.

Governor Hunter agreed to have the Schoharie farms assessed of the improvements the Palatines claimed to have made.  Until the assessments were made and the land purchased at an appropriate price from the Seven Partners, however, the Palatines were forbidden from planting any more crops.  The assessors never arrived and the Palatines continued to farm the land.

Neither side gained an advantage.  The Governor was unable to control the Palatines, and they still did not own any land. 

 

References:  

“Becoming German” by Phillip Otterness
“Documentary History of the State of New York”