Journal of the Commission - 1753

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Tues:y 20 Febr. 1753

Present:
David Bischoff	Go. Pezold Assessor
Johan Bechtel
Jasper Payne

Br. Wagner was call’d & ask’d how it went with the Fires & he was told that there was a Fire in the Shoemakers Room last Saturday which & that the wood being laid so close to the Oven. was the Cause of it, that this as well as several other times We have had Warnings of this kind & therefore he was desir’d not to let the B:rn Put the Wood so near the Ovens.

He said that he had often told the B.rn about the Wood laying so upon & against the side of the Ovens but that they have told him they would take care that no fire should come, & that the wood was often so very Wet that it would not burn with out it. but that notwithstanding he would insist upon their not putting wood against the Ovens.

He was also told that if any B.r would not mind him When he had Warned him once or Twice that then he Should come to us & Complain.

Then it was mentioned that it would be good to make a House or Shed to put the Wood in from the Rain While it was so hard to get dry Wood.

B.r Mathew Hšhl brought B.r Dan.el Müller’s Declaration & read it & said that the Breth:rn that was by when it was read to him & heard him say that it was true, but did not care to sign it, that such Breth:n should write their names underneath after this was added to this effect Viz.t We underwritten Witness that this Reverse was laid before Dan. Müller in our Presence but was Scrupillous to sign it & s:d it was Right (almost two whole lines crossed out, then:) assur’d us we need not fear, while it is his whole Mind to remain a Member of the Congregation & serve them Where he Could

Afterwards B.r Bishoff & Bechtell signed their Names to the above.

Mond:y 26 Feb:y 1753

Agreed that we should inquire into Abra: Mullers Demands of the Congregation
1st. He demanded 100 Apple Trees which he Bro:t here & had given the Congregation which altho it seems to us unreasonable We shall give him for Pease sake & as He desir’d to have them of Hartman so we must pay Him 1/. each Tree. £5.-.-(Inserted: Br. Hartman afterwards allow’d them for 10d Each)

Then He was sent for & ask’d if this Acct. was right & he said yes & if he had any thing further to demand & he said No.
He was also ask’d to Tax a Cow he had from Gnaden- Thall. He said he had 2 but one was given to Him & the other being a poor little one was worth no more, He though, as ...... £2.-.-
Then He Said he had Tools at XtiansBrunn which he mentioned Himself & We got B.r Geo Schmit to Value them & are as follows Viz:t 1 Drawing Knife (4/.) A Bore 5/4 (5/.) £-.9.-
1 Stone Picker (4/.) An Ax Steeld (2/.) £-.6.-
1 Saddle of our Sadlers £1.17.-

He afterwards said he had other things to get in Bethlehem & B.r Payne was ordered to see the Acc:t Settled Right & When all things was ready to call B.r Bishoff to be a Witness to the Rec:t When it should be given.

Br. Payne was order’d to get the Date of the Reverse or free Discharge Which he gave before to the Congregation. that he had nothing further to ask. & I have serch’d for the same & find it Dated 3 Aprill 1752 N.S.

Met. March 21 1753

David Bishoff. J Bechtell. Jas.r Payne Br. Bishoff bro:t as Mem. of the late Mary Eliz:th Ehnverin Waring Apparel &c. & that her Will was that all her things should be given to the Single Sis:rs it was Witness’d by Rosin Schulinsin

Mary Cath: Binderin & A: M: Krausin List of Sis:r Mary Eliz:th Ehnverin’s things as B.r Okely took them.

Tuesd:y 10 Aprill 1753

Met	D: Bishoff	A: Lawatsch
	J: Bechtell	J. Payne

It was made out that B.r Herter should be Master of the Carpenters & B.r Shultz Master of the Masons (in the absence of Schober) & that this should be publish’d to the Carpenters & Masons before in the Breth:rs Commition, When a Love- Feast should be provided on this Ocasion.

That the Masters & their helpers should come together in the presence of the Commition & told that nothing should be undertaken without the Masters orders. & afterwards to call the Masters & Apprentices to let them know that they must be obedient to their order.

Tuesday 17 Aprill 1753

Met	D: Bishoff	A: Lawatsch
	J: Bechtell	J. Payne

Br. Geo. Smith was sent for & ask’d how he lik’d his Apprentice & he Answer’d very Well if he could have him Constantly. Then Stephen Blume was sent for & ask’d if he had a desire to learn the Black Smith’s Buisiness? Answer’d Yes. He was told that he should serve in our Smiths Shop as an Apprentice for 3 Years & that if Geo Schmit went any where else then he should serve any other that came there as Master of the Shop & be Obedient, & Faithfull to Him, for we should now take upon us to ask his Master often after him if he was deligent & Obedient or Not, He Answer’d he Would.

It was observ’d that this was the first Apprentice that came before us on this Ocasion & we hope it will have a good effect.

Tuesday 24 Aprill

Presnet	D: Bishoff	A: Lawatsch
	J: Bechtell	J. Payne

B.r Otto & Graffs Son was sent for butt they was not at Home so it was defer’d ’till our next Meeting

Agreed that we meet rather in the Evening by reason that the Breth.n Was generally or often out at Work in the Day Time.

Tuesday 1st May

Br. Werner (William) being sent for, was told to be careful not to cut any Trees on another Man’s Land, without Leave, & by no Means on a Sabbath or Sunday.

Br. Otto was sent for & being ask’d if he lik’d to keep Michael Graff for his Apprentice? Answer’d in the Affirmative.

The Boy being likewise call’d in declared himself satisfied to be with Br. Otto, & was exhorted to be diligent in his Buisness & in all Things obedient to his Master.

Andreas Giering was sent for & told, that as he had now liv’d with us for a Time, we desired to know his Mind & Intention in coming hither? To which he replied: That his View in coming to the Congregation had been, that he might get truly acquainted with our Sav:r. That no one had perswaded him to it in any Shape, & his Desire was to abide with us. He was told, the Brethren wo:d take Time to consider of his Staying here or not, & he himself sho:d do the like. Being ask’d if he was in Debt, he reply’d, only 8 Shillings at ye Tavern, which it had been promised him should be discharged, but he believ’d had been forgot. That he formerly was indebted to Ernest Schlosser 60 German Guilders for which he had his Note of Hand, that Jacob Ehrenhart had paid him £12 Pensylvania Currency, in discharge of that Debt but Schlosser had not yet given up his Note. He was therefore advised to write to him for that End.

B.r John Okely was introduced as Secretary to the Com:rs in the Room of B.r Payne.

It having been resolv’d to continue Br. Antes a Member of this Commission, notwithstanding his not residing at Bethlehem, & the same notified to him, he declined it.

Being moved whether the Last Visit of the Waioming- Indians sho:d not be notified to the Governour, it was thought needless, for that B.r Horsfield, so well as Okely & Rogers, had heretofore acquainted him with their former Visit & the Intercourse the Brethren had with them, but the first Opportunity which presented, it could be mention’d to him by Way of Discourse.

Agreed That Francis Bloom’s Matters sho:d be examined into & made an End of.

That Br. Horsfield, if possible, sho:d attend at Philadelphia during the Assembly’s next Sitting, as the Brethren’s Petition abt the Tax is to be then preferr’d.

That Br. Okely do Visit Mr. Watson & Chapman in Bucks County on the same Acc:t

By a Letter from Br. Joseph Spangenberg, which Br. Heal read, it was earnestly recommended to the Commissioners, to see that the Children now in the Congregation’s Care, might be secured by Indenture or otherwise, so as to prevent their Friends and Relations forcing them away at Pleasure, & thereby rendering all the Care & Pains bestow’d on them, for their Souls Sake, of none Effect, which to him was a very Melancholy Situation.

It was observ’d that Hartman had been spoke to ab.t his Children, but he did not incline to bind his Children, unless it were to some particular Trade.

Catherina Knauss being call’d in, was ask’d the Reason of her coming to live at Bethlehem, to which she chearfully answer’d: It was her own voluntary Act, in order to be a Partaker with us of the Blessings our Sav.r bestows on his Congregation, that she was quite satisfied with her Situation & only desired she might have the Privilege of continuing in Bethlehem. On being ask’d, she declared herself free from Debt & all Engagements with any Person. It was told her, the Brethren wo:d further consider ab.t her Continuance here.

Tuesday May 8.th 1753

Br. Fra.s Bloom being sent for came in, & was told the Reason of his appearing before us, viz.t, The Brethren’s having understood & perceived his dissatisfaction with the Settlement made between him & the Congregation, at his first Coming, & that he had fresh Demands to make of them now, they had therefore commission’d us to examine into the Matter, hear his Reasons & make a final Adjustment thereof, that so they might come to some Certainty & each One know what he had to trust to. And after having fully discours’d the Matter over with him, from his first coming to the Congregation to the present Time, He was desired to let us know positively what his Demands where? To which, not seeming then inclined to give a direct Answer,
Agreed, That Time be given him to consider of it ’till our next Meeting.

Tuesday May 15.th

Present The same Members as Above, & Matthew Shropp, Assessor.

Brother Francis Bloom was called in, & upon being ask’d what he had concluded upon? gave in the unterwritten Acc.t of his Demands Viz:t

Which he solemnly declared to be all he pretended to claim of ye Congregation in any Shape, desired his old Acc:t in the Books might be closed, & a new One open’d for the above Articles. That being agreed to, It was further proposed that he should give the Brethren a General Release of all Claims (except as above) to prevent all future Questions in the Affair; to which he heartily consented.
Agreed that Br. Okely do prepare the same ag.t our next Meeting.

Monday, July 30th

It was related that Br. Okely had prepared a General Release for Br. Bloome to sign, which having been tender’d to him for that Purpose he refuses to execute, alledging he co.d not understand the Contents being in the English Tongue.
Agreed therefore that Br. Bishop do bring him One in the German Language.

We were acquainted that Gotlieb Long, our Master Sadler, had resolved to leave Bethlehem, & settle in New York or elsewhere, Agreed that he sho.d be sent for & ask’d the Reason of his Going from us & to give an Acc:t of the Working Tools &c. belonging to the Oeconomy, he had in his Possession.

Being called in & spoke with to the Purport above; He declared that he had nothing ag.t the Brethren, but a great Deal ag.t himself because he co.d not come to rights in ye present Oeconomy of Bethlehem; that he had hitherto always been in Expectation an Orts-Congregation wo.d have been establish’d before now, wherein every One co.d have maintain’d himself, but finding nothing was like to come of it, was the only Reason that induced him to leave Bethlehem, thinking he co.d support himself with more Satisfaction in New York or some such Place, & for that End desired he might have a Recommendation from the Brethren, be permitted to continue in Connextion with them & enjoy their Love & Fellowship, which was promised him. As to his Tools &c. that he had already deliver’d them out of his Hands, & only requested a few trifling Things for himself wch was readily granted him. Upon his being desired (as is usual in such Cases to sign a short Declaration to the above Effect, & that he had Nothing to demand of the Breth:n, he most heartily agreed to it.

Tuesday, Aug.t 21st 1753.

A Letter was read from Christian Seidel, Elder of the Single Men, recommending to our Consideration the present Situation of Hen: Fritz, a Shoemaker, that in Case it was found he co.d not submit himself to his Master, he might be sent from us in Peace. Agreed that he be sent for accordingly.

Being called in & asked if he had a Mind to leave the Congrega= =tion, he answer’d in the Affirmative, ag.t which, it was told him, we had nothing to object, only we sho:d be glad to hear his Reasons for so doing? To wch he made little Reply, what he said ws to this Effect: that having had some Difference with his Master, he chose rather to get work for himself in N. York; that he had nothing ag.t the Breth:n in any Shape; that his Purpose was to continue in Love & Fellowship with them & hope he sho.d have a Recommendation thither. As to the Recommendation, it was told him, the best for him wo.d be to recommend himself by his own Walk & Behavior. Upon his requesting that he might be permitted to take with him his New Cloaths, the Breth.r had lately given him, it was granted & Money given him to bear his Expences to N. York. Being ask’d, he readily sign’d the customary Acquitance of all the demands &c. ag.t the Breth.n.

We communicated the Satisfaction each One has felt, since our last Meeting, at our B.r Long’s having recollected himself, beg’d Pardon of the Congregation for his late hasty Resolution & being again publickly received into the Bosom of the Church.

Thursday Aug.t 23rd

Present Ð The Same Members as at our last Meeting.

A Complaint having been lodg’d ag.t ... Richter, our Shephard, for having contrary to the express Orders of the Brethren, planted Tobacco, &c. on Mr. Peters’s Land, next our Fence—Agreed therefore that he be sent for

When came, he was told, that he co.d not but be sensible he had acted in open Disobedience to the Orders of the Breth:r in what he had done, & in Case any evil Consequence arose from it he himself sho.d be answerable, However in the mean Time it was insisted he sho.d instantly clear the Ground & lay it open, as a publick Testimony of our Disapprobation. He had little to offer in his own Behalf, confess’d he had done Wrong & promised to comply with our Directions.

Having been informed that some Trees had been cut on out Neighbour Solomon Jennings’s Land & bro:t to our Saw Mill by ........ Günter, one of our Journeymen Wheelwrights, It was Agree’d he sho.d be sent for & [smudge] examined ab.t

Being called in & acquainted with the Reason of his Appearance here before us, he own’d his having cut the Trees as above, but said he had first obtain’d Leave of Solomon for so doing, that he purposed to use the Boards in making himself a Chest, & the rest of the Wood he intended to lay by for odd Uses, alledging the Difficulty of procuring any such Thing from the Oeconomy. In answer to which the Nature & Situation of our present Oeconomy was largely explain’d to him, & evidently shewn that Proceedings of that Kind, in acting for One’s Self in such an Independent Manner, could not possibly be suffer’d as it tended to Confusion & Disorder that whatsoever He or any Individual stood in Real Need of sho.d be provided in due Season, & that if he co.d not comply with such necessary Regulations he was welcome to leave Bethlehem .

Br. Eberhart was directed to see what need he had of a Chest & get him One made accordingly.

As to the Boards &c. He was told we wo.d consider farther what sho.d be done with them, & so dismiss’d.

Monday, Nov. 26th. 1753

Present. The same Members as at our last Meeting.

Being Acquainted that Peter Pole (an Infant under the Age of 21 Years, committed to the Charge of the Brethren by Fre.d Jacob Müller of the County of York, his Br. in Law & Guardian, to learn the Trade of a Shoemaker) had some Thoughts of leaving Bethlehem, It was

Agreed he sho.d be sent for & talk’d with ab.t it.

Being ask’d, he persisted in his Resolution, but declared at the same Time he could alledge no Cause of Complaint, which induced him so to do, further, than his not being happy here, which made him think it best for his to go & work elsewhere in the World. To which it was replied,

That we co.d no Ways consent to his going away, 1st For that he was an Apprentice & had not yet served out his Time, & 2nd because he was a Miner, & under the Care of his Guardian. He was therefore forbid to depart till we had sent Word to his B.r in Law, & knew his Mind, & so dismiss’d.