LANTZ GENEALOGY the grey limestone in the Shenandoah Valley that was so much like Germany they called a halt and made their settle- ment. A traveller through this part of Virginia during the French and Indian wars, writes: "The low ground upon the banks of the Shenandoah River are very rich and fertile. They are chiefly settled by the Germans who gain a suffi- cient livelihood by raising stock for the troops and sending butter down the valley to the lower parts of the country. I could not but reflect with pleasure upon the situation of these people, and I think if there is such a thing as happi- ness in life that these people enjoy it, far from the bustle of the world they live in the most delightful climate and the richest soil imaginable surrounded by lofty mountains, trans- parent streams and falling waters, rich valleys and majestic woods, the whole dispersed with infinite varieties of flowers constitutes the landscape surrounding them. "They are subject to few diseases, are generally robust and live in perfect liberty. They know no wants and are acquainted with but few vices, they possess what many princes would give half of their dominion for, that is to say, health, contentment and tranquility of mind." See Howes' Colonial History. From 1710 to 1766 there came to this country some six- teen persons by the name of Lantz; Johannes Lantz came to America in 1710, landing in New York, June 14, and was sent to Livingston Manor a large estate owned by Robert Livingston, which he purchased from the Indians, in all about 160,000 acres. Lantz was sent there under indenture to Queen Ann. The conditions were terrible, they were in small huts during the winter and in the spring they were turned out into the woods to grow hemp and manufacture tar. He left there and went to Schohair, sixty miles northwest and from there to New York, as has been related. October 22, 1738, Palatines imported in Blander Thistle, George Huston, Commander, from Rotterdam last from Cowes off the Isle of Wight, Jacob Lantz, aged twenty-eight years, Michael Lantz, age twenty-two years, Hans Peter Lantz three years old, Hans Nicolaus Lantz eight years of age, Youghan Paul Lantz, and Johannes Lantz, last two under sixteen years of age. August 27, 1739, Palatines imported in the Snow Betsy, Richard Buden Capton, from Rotterdam last from Deil near Dover, Jacob Lantz. October 20, 1747, Foreigners imported from Rotterdam last from Leith, Scotland, Niclous Lantz, and Hans George 7
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