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Pennsylvania offered freedom and peace for the Schenkfelders. Founded by the Quaker William Penn, it was a place where groups who were persecuted and driven away elsewhere were welcomed. But though the journey to freedom was one of hope, it was also one of pain and fear; much that the travelers had known was left behind forever. Ocean travel could be a frightening experience.

The Schwenckfelders settled into their new life amidst other folk with similar tales of persecution and flight; many of them were from Germany (the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch—the “Dutch” is actually from Deutsch, the German word for “German”). They were hardworking, industrious farmers. They decorated their homes, furniture, wagons, written documents with colorful, symbolic designs—the folk art we still immediately associate with the “Pennsylvania Dutch” traditions.

Schwenckfelders emphasized learning and were careful to preserve and transmit their rich intellectual tradition, making new copies of their loved books by hand into the 19th century.

One Schwenckfelder who left us an account, in diary form, of the crossing to Pennsylvania was Christopher Wiegner, who was born in Ober-Harpersdorf, Silesia, on February 24, 1712. He died at 33 years in 1745 in Towamencin township in Pennsylvania. The Jesuit persecution of Schwenckfelders arose when Wiegner was a young boy; Schwenckfelders were forbidden to sell their goods or land, or to emigrate; they were denied Christian burial. At 14, Christopher secretly fled with his family to Saxony to escape the persecution. When more trouble arose there they fled to America.

The following account is taken from The Spiritual Diary of Christopher Wiegner, translated and edited by Peter C. Erb and published by the The Society of the Descendants of the Schwenckfeldian Exiles, Pennsburg, PA. This excerpt is a shortened selection, beginning from page 87, of Wiegner’s more complete account.

June 28 On the 28th we left Rotterdam [Holland] in the evening.

July 10 … we arrived at Helfort Schleis. The captain came to us.

July 11 On the 11th we went to sea. In the afternoon nearly all of us were sick.

July 12 … Christopher Kriebel’s child died at night.

July 13 On the 13th it began to be better.

July 17 … we arrived at Plymouth [England]. In the afternoon we went to the town to refresh our bodies.

July 18–19 On the 18th and on the 19th a woman gave us some money.

July 29 On the 29th we left the harbor …

Aug 3 On the 3rd Hubner’s child died.

Aug 4 On the 4th side wind. Becalmed in the evening. At night a strong contrary wind arose. Because of this we were very ill until the 5th and 6th. On the 5th we had already gone 700 English miles.

Aug 8–9 … This night Gregorious Schultz’s child died.

Aug 11 On the 11th a contrary wind broke off the centre mast.

Aug 14 … a French populated ship from the West Indies came. [There was great concern among the members on board that it was a pirate ship since it flew no flag and turned around, after passing, and swung toward us as if to take fire…

Aug 17 … heavy rain and loud thunder.

Aug 18 … a contrary west wind with rain and thunder. Schubert’s child died.

Aug 19–20 … a contrary wind so strong it threw waves over the ship up to the sail cloth. Many were very ill. I was affected as well.

Aug 22 … Mrs. David Schubert died. In the evening we were met by an English ship from the West Indies which caused much fear since it did not raise a flag.

Aug 25 On the 25th still contrary winds. The waves struck 10 ells over the ship. Because I was not properly lodged, my head became fevered and my thoughts were not able to remain firm, struggle so hard as I might. It finally caused me much sorrow. I remembered how a Christian must conquer all in Christ. I called to him from the heart for strength. In the evening the dear Saviour took away the struggle and gave me such peace that I thought of nothing nor knew nothing except my: Lamb and Saviour. It was a heavy concern with me to know if it was not my calling to dedicate my life completely to chastity, poverty and voluntary discipleship and service.

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