To Stay or To Leave

When Johann Weiser returned from England in 1723 he found that the Schoharie Palatines were a much divided community and many felt that Schoharie was not the Promised Land of which they had dreamt.  Among those disenchanted with their lives in Schoharie was Johann’s son, Conrad.  Several families left and began new settlements along the Mohawk River in areas known as German Flats and Stone Arabia.  In 1729 Conrad Weiser and his family joined at least 33 other Schoharie Palatine families who had resettled in Tulpehocken, Pennsylvania.  Johann Weiser, who spearheaded the move to Schoharie and spent much of his life defending the Palatines’ right to be there, died in 1746 in Tulpehocken, Pennsylvania.

Not all the Palatines left Schoharie.  Those who remained either purchased or leased their land from the Seven Partners.  My ancestors, the Schaeffers, chose to stay.  As a tenth generation descendant, I am ever grateful for the decision they made.  Their tenacity inspires me, and I am encouraged as I witness the eleventh and twelfth generations begin to show interest in their Palatine heritage as well. 

This will be the final post for this blog, and please forgive the delay in making it.  I had been struggling with how to wrap this up, because the Palatines’ story doesn’t end here.  It doesn’t end at all.  At the Palatine House Museum in Schoharie we are often visited by other descendants of the original Palatines.  We share our knowledge of those forefathers and make lasting friendships.  The Palatine roots create ties that bind.

References:  

“Becoming German” by Phillip Otterness