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| This ship is likely similar to the one that carried my ancestors. |
I spent some time at EMU's Historical Library yesterday to see if I could find the name of the ship that brought Christian Yoder and family (including his sixteen-year-old-son Christian, my direct ancestor) across the Atlantic. Turns out it was the "Francis and Elizabeth", which left Rotterdam some time in midsummer of 1742, stopped briefly in London and finally landed in the port of Philadelphia on September 21, 1742.
The three-volume work I found at EMU contained photocopies of signatures of a total of 149 men, not counting the ship's crew, who survived the perilous crossing on the F & E and who then officially signed away their past citizenship and pledged their loyalty to the Crown. There are no names listed of the women and children, but their total number was listed as 74 1/2 (The "1/2" apparently comes from adding an uneven number of children who under a certain age were counted as half a passenger, since they didn't take up as much space).
It was amazing to see a copy of the actual signature of one of my paternal ancestors. But I was at first puzzled as to why there was only one Christian Yoder on the signed list, though I did find a Christian Yotter. the younger Christian perhaps having chosen to use the more English-sounding spelling of the name "Joder" (pronounced Yoder, or Yetter in German), while the elder may have used the Swiss or German spelling, Yotter.
I also looked up Christian Nisly, one of my maternal ancestors who came to the new world in 1804 at age 17. Unfortunately, I was unable to find anyone listed by that name or by other variations of it, like Nusli, Neusley, or Nissli. Family stories passed on through the generations have it that his vessel nearly capsized in a storm and that the ship was attacked by pirates on the way, a common occurrence. And like virtually all cross-Atlantic voyages of that era, there would certainly have been a lot of sickness on board, some of which resulted in the tragic deaths of passengers who had to be buried at sea.
So many questions, so much trauma, so much courage, so many untold stories!
"Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours."
Hebrews 11:39-40 (the Message)
Here's a link to a later story on my ancestor Christian Yoder.
36 comments:
Fascinating to read. I'm currently seeking information about the F&E. My ancestor was on the 1743 voyage.
Fascinating to read. I'm currently seeking information about the F&E. My ancestor was on the 1743 voyage. Cathy
I was interested to see this post about your ancestor coming to Pennsylvania on the Francis and Elizabeth in 1742. My ancestor Johann Peter also came on that ship in 1742 from the Palatinate. I wondered if I could have permission to use the photo of the ship you've posted in a family history booklet I am writing.
I was interested to see on this blog that your ancestor came to Pennsylvania on The Francis and Elizabeth in 1742. My ancestor Johann Peter also came on that ship in 1742 from the Palatinate in Germany. I wondered if I could have permission to use your photo of a ship in a family history booklet I am currently writing? I also wondered if you have been able to trace the origin of your ancestor in Germany.
Hello,
My name is Dwayne Yoder and I live in Cambria County, PA. I found your blog while doing some cursory research on the Francis and Elizabeth and I believe we share ancestors. Our line traces back to Christian Yoder through Sweitzer Christian's son Bishop Christian C. Yoder.
My line is, starting with myself, includes: Dwayne Jr. (Me) -> Dwayne Sr. -> Arnold -> Frank Syrus -> John James -> Moses -> Jonathon -> Bishop Christian -> Sweitzer Christian -> Christian.
I just wanted to thank you for your posts related to the history the family, they have been helpful and insightful.
Hello,
My name is Dwayne Yoder and I live in Cambria County, PA. I wanted to write and thank you for your posts relating to Christian Yoder and his line. My family traces back to Christian Yoder through his grandson Bishop Christian C Yoder. My line traces as follows:
Dwayne Jr. (Me) -> Dwayne (My father) -> Arnold -> Frank Cyrus -> John James -> Moses -> Jonathon -> Bishop Christian C. -> Sweitzer Christian -> Christian
We did not know that Christian's son was aboard the Francis and Elizabeth. According to my father, Bishop Christian C. helped found the Glades Mennonite communities in Somerset County. Somewhere starting with Moses Yoder, my descendants moved away from those communities to Bedford and Cambria counties.
Thank you once again for your posts. Take care!
So sorry I missed reading this, Dwayne! So we're surely related.
Barbara, you're more than welcome to use the photo, though it's simply representative of ships of that era.
I too had an ancestor on this 1742 voyage, Ludwig Jacob Friedburg, his mother and three younger sisters.I am trying to compile a complete list of those who took this voyage, focusing on spellings, relationships and families. My comment on your Yoder ancestors would be this: There was no such thing as “spelling “ during this time. Y & J were pronounced the same as were T and D...thus Yoder, Jotter confusion. I think both your Christian Yoders are on all the published lists, Sr/ Jr not necessarily designated. I have found a Jacob Yoder on all the lists. Is he related in any way to the Christians?
I wonder if you could help me find a copy of the handwritten lists for the F&E? You said you went to EMU. Could you tell me which department you accessed to find this info.? I too would love to see his signature. Thank you for your post on the F & E! Kit
On one of the passenger lists, there are two names, one after the other. The first is listed as "Christian (H) Newcomer" and the second, right below him, as "Christian (H) Newcomer, Jr." I believe these refer to Christian Yoder, Sr. and his son, Christian Yoder, Jr. I wonder if the list you saw at EMU only contains the name of the older Yoder.
I found this while typing up a genealogy for a friend. I thought it would be interesting to flesh out the names and dates! I would love to learn more about the ship itself but so far, have been unable to do so.
Thank you for shedding a bit more light on this voyage!
This is for Kit Alexander, who asked for a copy of the ship's passengers. It's not the handwritten version but it's the closest I have at the moment.
http://www.kichline.com/genealogy/kichship.htm
Thank you so much. I have the ships list, but would love to see what my ancestor‘s written name looked like. His father was a school master so I am sure he knew how to write. Kit
I decided a few years ago to find out every fact possible about my ancester Ludwig Jaco b Friedburg and his family. And they were on the F & E, 1742 voyage. I‘ve made a spread sheet of everyone on the voyage and have researched everyone. Many were single and I could find nothing out about them. Barbara, I believe said she is a descendent of Johan Peter and I found nothing out about him. I would love to have any info. about anyone on this voyage and will add it to my sheet, hopefully to share at some future date when I can figure out the best way to do that. Thanks. Kit
My ancestor Michael Plastcher came over on this same ship. Where can I see the actual list of signatures? Family Lore has it that both parents died of ships sickness during the voyage, and he, at age 14 was indentured to the ship's captain to pay the debt of the voyage.
Your story and information has been a real blessing!
No google account, sorry.
Ruby..Delighted to get your messagew! Do you have an email ? I‘ve done a spread sheet of all known people on F&E 42 and may have a bit of info. you don’t. Would love to learn more about Michael. Thanks..Kit了
The signatures for the F&E 42 can be found at: archive.org, search: Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Vol 1, pg. 336. Many of the passengers are not included on this list. Kit Alexander
Thank you for your blog. My 5th GreatGrandfather arrived in Phila. on Sept. 21, 1742 on the Francis and Elizabeth. As a matter of fact, his wife died on the voyage and was buried at sea. His second wife was Magdalena Yoder, believed to be the daughter of your Christian Yoder. Somehow that makes us half-cousins somewhere down the genealogical chain. I am in the process of trying to compile a book on all my immigrant ancestors, coincidently called "My Immigrant Ancestors". I am trying to devote a Chapter on as many of my ancestors who came to the colonies during that period of time. I would like to use some of your information and depiction of the ship if I could,identifying you as the author. It has been a real learning experience for myself. I'm also doing information on the ship "Charming Nancy" which brought another 5th GreatGrandfather, Jacob Hochstetler, to America in 1738. I will thank you in advance, yours, Tom Kanagie. tkanagie@gmail if you wish to converse.
Hello Tom..I too am working on a fiction based on fact book about my Fridberg family which came to Philadelphia aboard the F & E in 1742,, Howdy shipmate! The only woman I have who died , beside the Pplatscher s, is Mary Holden wife of Johannes Gnage. Is that your relative? I also have Jacob Christian Yoder B. Abt. 1695 who also died.I’ve done a data base which includes everyone on the S&E and all the pertinent info. I could find for each man and his family. Would love to receive any info. You have and willing to share what I have. That goes for everyone who reads this blog . Thanks..Kit Alexander
Perhaps the 1/2 was my grandfather Benjamin Weddle. He was born on board.
Hello to all you with ancestors who traveled on the Ship Francis and Elizabeth, landing in Philadelphia in 1742. I commented back in 2021 I was working on a book of historical fiction about my Fridberg family's journey to the New Land on that very ship. Well, it's been accepted for publication by The Mastof Press of Morgantown, PA, due to be on the shelves no later than July. I've done a great deal more research since 2021 and used it as the infrastructure for a story about the members of this family and their friends and all they went through to reach Philadelphia. The title, They Shall Run and Not Be Weary, is the third line of Isaiah 40:31. I think some of you might be surprised to find some people you know.
Right now I am working on a Facebook page for the ship itself and hope to have a website before too much longer. Harvey, could I use the picture at the top of this page on these sites? Once the book comes out, I hope to morph these sites into one on the book.
I hope to involve many of those who have a connection to the SF&E September 1742 such as all of you. Hoping we can use this site to share information and try out any theories on who did what and what it was like. Perhaps the sites will grow into an online community where we can share more about our families and ancestors.
Having finished this project, I find it difficult to understand how they overcame so many barriers. But I bet we are all glad they did! Kit Alexander
Thanks for your good work, Kit, and I'll be eager to read your book! The picture I used is a generic one of typical ships of that era, and I don't even know where I got it. Keep us posted. My email is harvyoder@gmail.com
Thanks for this blog and everyone’s efforts in research of the 1742 F&E passengers and their descendants, of which I am one. I hope Ruby is still checking this blog because I am directly descended from Michael Plastcher and can share what I have discovered about him and his family. I have a photostatic copy of the actual list of passengers made in Philadelphia that I found in the Philadelphia Historical Society Library many years ago before cell phones…or I would have taken a picture of it!
I am particularly interested in the story of family deaths on the crossing since I had not heard that before.
Thanks and let me know how I can help you.
Greg Plaster
Tom, I am interested in what you have found on Johannes Gnaegi and Mary Holden Gnaegi. I discovered that there was a missing link in my family tree and found a journal entree from the ship I fortunately lost the link when my computer rebooted. I know they had two sons Christian Holden Gnaegi and John or Johannes Gnaegi who were on the ship with them before Mary died and was buried at sea. Then remarried Magdalena Yoder when they arrived in the U.S. would love to know where I can find proof of this information. It’s the one piece of the puzzle I have been missing to connect my ancestral tree. I would appreciate any help or information you could provide. Sincerely, Christopher Chubb
I am descended from Johannes Gnägi, another passenger on the F&E, who later married your aunt, Magdalena (Yoder) Gnägi. Researching land records in Pennsylvania, I note that my ancestor built a substantial stone house within a few years of arriving and acquired more land from the Penns about a decade later. These raise several questions:
- Did some passengers purchase warrants while still in Europe? If not, did they actually transport cash on that perilous trip?
- During the first few years, immmigrants probably lived in the homes of friends or paid to live with neighbors. How did the majority of Amish / Mennonite immigrants manage those first few years?
Where did he settle?
His first property is in Upper Bern Twp, Berks County (PA). A stone house is there (Mill Road, Hamburg, PA) and an iron fireplace plate found with the date "1751". He soon sold that land and moved to land with fewer hills in the same valley, now Bethel Twp, Lebanon County. The first property had about 100 acres. The second had 209. And he bought a third property of 100 acres in the same township as the second. All three were acquired directly from the Penns.
But in 1742 he arrived as a 22-year-old widower with a newborn and a 2-year-old. In Europe, he and his parents lived in several towns, moving as many Amish were forced to. So acquiring wealth would not have been likely.
My Facebook Group Page (with Harvey Yoder's blessing) is up and running. I invite all of you to stop in and say 'hello' and share any information you would like. Hoping we can get some conversations going about our various families and share any other info we may have. I have made a data base of all of the male passengers and their information. I will continue to add information as it becomes available. I would be happy to email anyone a copy who would like to have one. The address for the Group Site is: Descendants of The Ship Francis and Elizabeth, Sept. 21, 1742. Kit Alexander, descendant of Jacob Fridberg Email: Kla47a@gmail.com
Imagine how awful the persecution must have been for these poor souls not afforded the liberties afforded us by the founding fathers of the United States to board rat and disease infested ships and leave beautiful Europe for a new world where they knew no people or the language.
Quite a sobering reality to ponder.
Thanks for all your comments and for the creation of a FB page for all of us desdcendants!
Hello Friends...They Shall Run and Not Be Weary has just been published! Check it out on the Masthof.com Facebook page.Some of you may recognize your ancestors. I hope I have done them justice. We would all be nowhere if that ship had not made it to Philadelphia. Full of gratitude! Kit
this is so fascinating to me Christian H Yoder is my 6th great grandfather. I can only imagine what that journey must have been like Hello all my new cousins.
Thanks for all the information
Hello friends - My name is Terry Zerwick. I believe that my 6g grandfather, Johann Melchior Shöner, and his family were passengers on the Francis and Elizabeth that arrived in Philadelphia in September 1742. They and the other passengers were brave souls indeed.
Does anyone have a manifest they can share with me or can anyone tell me about how many passengers were aboard the F & E. Thank you Kit Alexander for letting us know that your book has been published--I ordered if from Amazon and look forward to reading it.
Harvy, may I have permission to use the picture of the ship in the Harvspot in a book I am writing about my ancestors? Thank you to all my fellow time travelers.
https:www.facebook.com/groups/219661903998398 Hi Terry. this is the address for the Facebook group page I created for the F&S, Sept. 1742, I will post the answers to your questions there. If this address doesn't work for you, please let me know. Kit Alexander, FTT
sorry the address isn't clickable. My computer skills are from someplace in the 1700s! You can get there by using the title Descendants of The Ship Francis and Elizabeth, Sept. 21, 1742 (capitals count!) Kit
Hello all from K. Koehler in NC USA. I have been given information from my uncle W.Koehler in PA that our relatives Johann Peter Kohler and Gabriel Kohler sailed on this ship. SO very interested in any references we may be given to areas our family originated from in Germamny.
Hello K Koehler..Yes, Gabriel and Peter were on the F & E and Gabriel is a primary character in my book. They Shall Run and Not Be Weary.But I don't know his relationship to Peter. You can connect with me on my group page, Descendants of The Ship Francis and Elizabeth, Sept. 21, 1742, or https://www.facebook.com/groups/219661903998398 or at tsrandnbw@gmail.com. Kit Alexander
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