The Scott Family

surname:  Meyer

I am in the process of transcribing the family information from the Meyer book of 1896, by A. J. Fretz, into our online database.

 See bibliography for publication data.

Meyer lines as indicated by Fretz...

Christian Meyer (b. 1675). His line starts on page 17 of the book.

Hans Meyer, of Upper Salford.  His line starts on page 332 of the book.

We dedicate this book:

First--To the memory of our ancestors, who bequeathed to us the glorious privilege of religious liberty, and set us examples of blameless exemplary lives.

Second--To our parents, who taught us to prize this inheritance as a priceless boon direct from the hand of God.

Third--To our children, whom we adjure to cherish their inestimable privileges, and keep unsullied the family name.

Fourth--To our posterity; may they emulate the worthy example of the "good and true" who have preceded them, and "Honor God and keep His commandments."

The object of the following genealogy is to preserve the more remote history of the Meyer and Moyer families, and to place upon record the names and biographies of their descendants from father to son, down to the present time, for coming generations.

For many years the author of this work felt a desire to know more about his ancestry, and the particulars connected with his progenitors and their descendants, than the meager legends and traditions related to him by individual members of his own family.

Consequently, during the Winter of 1872, he visited among the connections in Bucks and Montgomery counties, Penna., and collected such facts and data accessible for his own personal gratification, and here the matter rested for a number of years. However, in 1888 a further interest was manifested in the matter by others, and it was finally decided to compile a genealogy of the Fretz family for publication in book form, which was duly brought out and furnished to subscribers in 1891. This led to his compiling and publishing other genealogies, and in course of time a number of the Moyer family became desirous of having a history of the Moyer family compiled and published, and solicited him to undertake the work, and on having discovered to his gratification that he was also a descendant of the family, he cheerfully consented to undertake the work, which was begun in the Spring of 1893.

Had the work been begun years ago, while there were yet living those of the third and fourth generations, much more satisfactory information could have been collected that would be of great interest and value to the work, but which with their demise is forever lost. Already the ancestral thread was lost to many who are unable to trace their lineage farther than to the grandfather, or were totally unaware of the fact that they were in any way connected with the Meyer family.

It is to be regretted that the records are not more complete in many of the branches. Owing to a lack of interest in the matter some, for reasons best known to themselves, failed to respond to inquiries for information concerning their respective families, thereby causing these defects.

The work has been prepared at a great sacrifice of time and labor. Had all promptly responded to communications the work would have been far easier and at less expense. The writer is far from satisfied with the result of his labor. He is aware that imperfections exist, but pleads in extenuation of the fact that the difficulties were insurmountable.

The author acknowledges himself indebted to many friends for kind services rendered during the compilation of this work, and while we express our sincere gratitude to all who in any way aided in the work, we acknowledge our indebtedness especially to those who have very materially aided in the work. They are as follows: David N. Moyer, of Naperville, Ill.; A. N. Moyer, of Kansas City, Kan.; Dr. S. Moyer, of Galt, Ont.; H. H. Moyer, of Buffalo, N. Y.; John D. Moyer, of Souderton, ?? Dr. C. D. Fretz, of Sellersville, Pa.; William?? Moyer, of Chalfont, Pa.; Eli Wismer, of Pl?? stead, Pa.; Hon. H. G. Moyer and Joseph G. Moy?? of Perkasie. Pa.; Dr. A. F. Meyers, of Bloom?? Glen, Pa.; J. F. Hendricks, Esq., of Doylestown, ?? A. H. Cassel, of Harleysville, Pa.; D. K. Cassel, Philadelphia, Pa.; Rev. Jacob S. Moyer, of Pleas Valley, Pa.; James Y. Heckler, of Hatfield, I?? and Tilman W. Moyer, of Campden, Ont.

That the work may meet the general approval the earnest wish of the.

AUTHOR

MILTON, N.J., July, 1895.

To honor our parents is a duty. To perpetnate the names and memories of our ancestors should be regarded as not mere vanity, but rather as highly commendable, and this more especially if they possessed virtues and principles worthy of emulation by their descendants. A reasonable degree of pride in family and ancestry preserves many a youth from bringing disgrace upon a family name, and induces him to profit by whatever of good example he may have fallen heir to.

For more than twenty centuries the Germans, notwithstanding their faults, have been noted for hospitality, for keeping their word, for respectful treatment of woman and for love of liberty and independence. Even C‘sar's invading armies never kept them in subjection except for very short periods of time. They originated the word "home," and, until their country became crowded with population, were essentially tillers of the soil. They not only cleared and cultivated the better portions of Germany and long ago colonized Britain, but they redeemed the immense marshes of Prussia, they made beautiful the slopes and valleys of Switzerland, and, many centuries ago, they even sent delegations into Italy, asking of the Romans permission to occupy waste lands near the shores of the Adriatic, saying: "We will pay taxes, we will not meddle with the affairs of your government; we only desire to till the soil, to build homes, and rear families."

When, in the sixteenth century, the Roman Catholic authorities from Rome endeavored to rule all Europe, not only in spiritual but also in temporal affairs, the great Reformation in Germany rolled back upon them like a whirlwind. Germany, though divided into various governments, was again to a certain extent free. But as all the world seemed to consider no Christian government secure without a State church, the Reformed church in turn endeavored to exercise the supposed right of formulating a creed for the people to the exclusion of all other beliefs. In England, Puritans and Quakers objected and refused to conform to the State church. So in Germany there were frequent outbursts against the new religious oppression.

Menno Simon and others contended that the Christian church should not wield the sword. He preached in favor of separation of Church and State. He and his scattered congregations formulated a simple orthodox creed, advocated plainness of speech, of manners, and of dress; they commended frugality, insisted upon honesty, and were given to hospitality and love of the brethren.

As non-conformists to State churches they were persecuted. In Switzerland, Holland and England they found refuge and safety, but not permanent room. By invitation of William Penn they quietly came across the sea, where the colony of Pennsylvania welcomed them and promptly passed a special act giving citizenship to numbers of them by name. Our limits will not admit of an extended history of the German pilgrim fathers, but, were it in our power to collect and collate in one volume all the facts preserved in print and by tradition, the story would be quite as interesting as that of the New England pilgrims. The latter depended upon character, principles, Providence and gunpowder, while the German pilgrims, like their Quaker brethren, felt secure with character, principles and Providence.

These people, like the coral insect, worked upon the foundation of society. They made homes and reared families. They claimed no warriors, no statesmen, and not many great scholars. But they bought the very best of lands and built the largest barns and most comfortable houses, surrounded by the finest meadows, cattle, fields of grain and orchards in the country, as the counties of Lancaster, Montgomery and Bucks plainly prove. The historian and poet have had little to record concerning such a quiet, plain people. In dress and housekeeping we find marks of the sojourn in Holland; in dialect, Westphalia, Holland and England have made their impress; while in manner of worship it would seem that the simplicity of the Waldenses had been learned after breaking away from ritualistic forms. Brave men, patient women and heroic deeds there were, although unknown to fame. In the records of the now numerous Brubacher family we find a case of filial piety seldom equaled in any age or country. Far inland, perhaps in the Palatinate which had been ravaged by fire and sword under the barbarously cruel edict of Louis XIV of France, were two boys and their invalid mother. The boys constructed a rude cart, put themselves in harness and conveyed their mother and a remnant of household goods nearly a hundred miles to the sea. After a long voyage, having landed at Philadelphia, they prepared another cart and in the same manner conveyed their precious load over Pennsylvania hills to Lancaster county. Even Goethe's romance of "Hermann and Dorothea" contains nothing equal to this.

Genealogies of several of these families have been published. Suppose we take the Wismer, the Moyer, Fretz, or Brubacher family, and from one couple find in the sixth or seventh generation 4000 persons living. That shows a family tree branching down the years in only one direction. The number of families is supposed to increase in a geometrical ratio. In reckoning backward the same is true of ancestors. Suppose there had been no inter-marriages and one of the sixth generation mentioned were to go backward for six generations to find all his kin, what would be the showing? He had two parents, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, sixteen of the next and thirty-two of the sixth generation. These thirty-two, being but sixteen couples, we will suppose were the ancestors of 4000 to each pair. The total would be 64,000. Then, theoretically, we might reckon among our cousins 64,000 instead of the few thousands named in this volume.

We may well consider ourselves fortunate in the fact that we are not burdened with our genealogical records for many centuries or for 2000 years back. Were we to reckon from a prominent German family of the days of C‘sar Augustus, we should probably find that all the people of Germany and England could claim descent from that one pair, and next tracing backward, every Englishman and German of to-day could probably claim as his ancestor almost every German who lived in the forests of Germany 2000 years ago.

From such a bewildering speculation it is a pleasure to return to our family history. A large proportion of the Moyer family are found in Canada. The question has been asked, "Why did they migrate from the Keystone State into British territory?" The writer of this introduction is past middle life, was raised in Canada, was a studious listener when the old people talked of old times, and does not remember ever hearing a word as to there having been any other reason than to occupy good and cheap lands where the first settlers could live near each other and secure land enough for themselves, their children and grandchildren.

Canada West was largely colonized from the United States. Some were "United Empire Loyalists," but our people made it a principle to submit to the powers that be. They had no quarrel with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the Government of the United States. In the "Niagara District" they found what has since been called the Garden of Canada, they having been largely instrumental in making it such. Others went farther west and north into Waterloo county, selecting the best of land, and a less conspicuous colony settled in Markham township, not far from Toronto.

During the troubles that led to the Revolutionary War some of our people thought it wicked to encourage rebellion against their countryman, King George of Hanover, then on the English throne. Naturally they were called tories. A few of these did remove to Canada, where they were also regarded as disloyal because they would not enter the British service.  Exemption from military duty was later bought by payment annually of $1 per head. They were more prompt in paying their "fine," as it was termed, than their neighbors were in attendance upon the drunken frolic on "training day."

This dry record of names will, to those personally concerned, no doubt prove intensely interesting. We shall learn of the location of many of our relatives of whom we had long ago lost all trace. We shall be surprised to find some not far from us, and still more surprised to read the extensive list of children and grandchildren of those whom we last met as blooming boys and girls twenty to forty years ago. In some cases we may find surprises as did the traveler in the desert, who in the distance saw a lion. A nearer approach convinced him that it was a domestic animal, still nearer it proved to be a man, and when they met, lo! it was his brother.

To David N. Moyer, of Naperville, Ill., great credit is due for perseverance in causing this volume to be compiled and published. To Rev. A. J. Fretz, the editor, every subscriber owes a debt of gratitude, for we are certain that he does not receive adequate pecuniary compensation for his arduous task. Errors and omissions there certainly will be some, but they are not the fault of the editor. As we find in the short sketches the virtues of individuals and no record of their forgotten faults, so may we deal kindly with each other and "Follow peace with all men."

ABRAHAM N. MOYER. 

 KANSAS CITY, Kan., January, 1895.

In 1868 David N. Moyer secured the following interesting account from his uncle, Jacob Albright, who was one of the party:

"During the Summer of 1799 Amos Albright, Abraham Meyer and Jacob Meyer travelled on foot from Hilltown, Pa., to the Niagara district, in Upper Canada, on a prospecting tour. They were so well pleased with the country that, before returning, they purchased 1100 acres of land. For a portion of it lying along the Indian trail (now the Hamilton and Queenston road) the price was $2.50 per acre, and for the balance, lying nearer the lake, $1.50 per acre. A deposit of $40 secured them the purchase, and they then walked back to their Pennsylvania homes.

"The same Autumn they removed to the new land of promise with all their portable belongings. The party consisted of the following: Rev. Jacob Meyer, Dilman Meyer, Valentine Kratz, John Hunsberger (deaf), Abraham Hunsberger and Amos Albright, and their families. Each family had with them a four-horse team and a cow. With one exception the cows were all shod. Jacob Albright, then a lad of 10 years, was one of the cow drivers. Their journeys, for a great part of the way, were through an unbroken wilderness, and when night overtook them they would build their campfires.

"At Black Rock they crossed the Niagara on a small ferry boat. Amos Albright's load was the first one to make the transfer. The wagon body, with its load, was placed crosswise on the float, which 'wiggled and wobbled' and required the utmost exertion of Mr. Albright and George Althouse (one of the drivers), to prevent its capsizing. However, they were all eventually landed in safety on the other shore, and in due time reached their wilderness home.

"Not long after their arrival a child of Valentine Kratz died and was buried at the present site of the old Mennonite burying ground. This was the first death among the colonists. The Winter following proved a severe one, and the new settlers endured great hardships and suffering from lack of proper food and shelter.

"During the following year (1800) a second party of Pennsylvanians betook themselves to the Canada settlement. Among them were the following persons and their families: Samuel Meyer, David Meyer, Abraham Huntsberger, Christian Huntsberger, Jacob Hausser and Daniel Hock. Their train, too, consisted of four-horse teams. Samuel Meyer had two of these. At night they built fires around their camp to keep off the wild beasts and also did their washing and baking to be ready for travel in the early morning.

"One evening some of the women chased a snake into the foot of a hollow tree. Then determined that it should not escape they built a fire at the foot of the tree, hoping to surely destroy the reptile. Daniel Hoch had a team of four magnificent stallions. They were decked with splendid new harness, ornamented with belts, and their owner felt justly proud of them. He took daily delight in tormenting David Meyer about his poor, bony nags, and was forever predicting disaster for them. On the night above mentioned the tree, which the women had fired to burn out a snake, fell and killed three of Hoch's fine stallions. This was a serious misfortune to the entire party, but an especially severe loss to Hock, who would have been glad now to pay a high price for as poor a team as David Meyer's. He succeeded shortly after in obtaining oxen to haul part of his goods, and there was no more scoffing at David Meyer's horses.

"One dark night a furious storm passed over the emigrant camp, a perfect deluge of rain poured down upon them, and horses and cattle were terrified by the electric explosions. Most of the travelers were asleep in their wagons. Sam Housser slept on a fodder sack with only the dome of heaven overhead. The thunder and lightning did not awaken him, but the deluge soon did, and he was glad to seek for a fodder sack and thankful for the grateful shelter of an oak tree, where he spent the remainder of the night."

The following items were contributed in 1868 by Henry High, who was born January 1, 1780, in Pennsylvania, and was one of the colony that came over in 1800. He says:

"There were eleven teams in our party and about sixty persons all told, four horses to a wagon being the rule. Samuel Meyer had two four-horse teams; some had three teams; Daniel Hoch had two four-horse and one two-horse team. Sam Housser drove the front team all the way. Sometimes we advanced only a few miles in a day. Often a wagon would upset, sometimes in a pool of mud; once or twice a dog was buried in the debris, and the howling that followed for a short time was woeful music. Usually, if we came to a nice stream of water in the afternoon, we would camp for the night. We passed through one Indian village. The largest town we saw was Kentockaway, quite a settlement and beautiful land. (Deaf) Abraham Huntsberger broke his wagon and had to stay back until he got it fixed. Mud, mud, mud over the Allegheny mountains! the roads were awful. During the seventh week we reached our journey's end."

At this time (1800) there was one house (Shipman's tavern) at the present sight of St. Catharines, which was surrounded by a vast pine forest, a public house at Joe Smith's (now the farm of W. D. Smith), one at the "Twenty" (now the Snure residence, on the flat at Jordan), and one house at Beamsville. Between was an unbroken wilderness.

Well, Awram, mer denkt oft viel meh' a's mer sagt--
Uns helft a'h Nix wann mer viel driwer glagt.
Mer esst anyhow 'bout so viel, un' schloft about so lang,
Un' mer find's endlich aus, die Welt hot a'h sein gang.

Es gebt e' dehl Leut die arm sin', un' e' dehl sin a'h reich,
Awer wann sie 'mol dod sin', sin' sie all zimlich nachscht
     gleich.
Wann mer schafft for sei Geld we'sz mer emol wie mer's grickt,
Awer wann ehm sei Dade g'schafft hot, hot's ehm gegluckt.

Wer eckschpeckt Eppes zu hawe wann er alt is' un's emol
     braucht
Gebt besser acht, schpart hie un' do, sunscht am end is' er
     gedauscht.
Es macht Nix aus ep er's juscht for sich selwer verschpend,
O'r, gutmenig, for An're--bettel arm is' er doch am End.

Un' hot er's verfehlt, un' fangt dann o' alle Weg zu schpare,
Wie meh' 'as er schpart un' harder sich blogt sich zu ernahre,
So arger werd er verdruckt, un' verschpott, un' verschollte,
Bis ihm die Hoor gro werre un' die Finger net duhn was sie
     wollte.

Losz 'n'mol browire arwet zu grige ("O, Enigepper kann sel'do"
Hort er grad die Leut brumme), dann fangt's emol mit
     ernscht o'--
Die Schuh kann er abrenne un' die Gleder verriesze,
Un' er mag juscht so wo'l hie hocke un'--die Zah z'amme
     beisze!

Hot er der Buckel voll Schulte die alle Dag wachse
Wie die Property-holders in Schtadt, ihre Taxe,
Kannscht denke is' er emol in e' purty bad Fix.
Un' wann er sich driwer dod druwelt helft's 'm a'h Nix.

Wann er gut ab is' hot er Freund, mag er geh wo er will,
Wann er Freund braucht sin' sie ausg risse wie Maus, so schtill.
Wann sei Disch voll schteht dun sie die Bauch voll fresse,
Wann er selwer hungert--hen sie 'n ganz vergesse!

The first reunion of the Fretz family was held in the grove adjoining the old Fretz homestead, near Bedminsterville, Pa., September 15, 1888. The descendants of the pioneers, John and Christian Fretz, came in large numbers. Nearly all the eastern counties of Pennsylvania were represented, as well as the States of Ohio, Kansas, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. More than 500 of their descendants registered their names, and many were there who did not register. The number present was estimated at from 800 to 1000. The oldest descendant present was Mrs. Susanna Funk, of Line Lexington, being 86 years old. She is the daughter of Martin Fretz, deceased, of Hilltown township. Philip K. Fretz, of Bedminster; Henry Fretz, of Plumstead; Mrs. Elizabeth Fretz Farren, of Doylestown, and John Henry Garges, of Washington, D. C., were among the oldest. The ministers of the Gospel were Rev. Allen M. Fretz, of Bedminster; Rev. A. J. Fretz, of Milton, N. J., and Rev. Enos Loux, of Dublin. The medical profession was represented by Dr. Harvey Kratz, of New Britain; Dr. A. F. Myers, of Blooming Glen; Dr. O. H. Fretz, of Quakertown; Dr. A. N. Fretz, of Fleetwood, Berks county; Dr. C. D. Fretz, of Sellersville, and Dr. John H. Fretz, of Hagersville. The only representative of the legal profession was J. Freeman Hendricks, Esq., of Doylestown. County Superintendent W. H. Slotter, of Doylestown, represented the educational interests. The mass was made up of the sturdy yeoman, who for a century and a half has given character to the family by their integrity and moral worth.

The committee of arrangements had made ample preparations. A table 180 feet long was constructed, upon which the ladies were engaged during the forenoon in transferring the contents of many well filled baskets and boxes. When the dinner hour arrived and a general invitation to all was extended by the chairman, the audience as generously responded, and not until the table had been filled and cleared three times were all the hungry satisfied. A speakers' stand had been erected, in front of which were placed benches and chairs for the audience, and on one side was placed an organ, presided over by Miss Ida Moyer. The musical part of the program was conducted by Dr. A. F. Myers. The exercises of the forenoon were opened by singing the coronation hymn from printed slips. This was followed by a fervent prayer by Rev. A. J. Fretz. The address of welcome was then delivered by Rev. Allen M. Fretz. J. Freeman Hendricks, Esq., of Doylestown, addressed the audience very felicitously for some time, when the exercises of the forenoon were closed by singing the patriotic hymn, "America." The time between the exercises was taken up in social converse and in registering the names of the descendants present. Dr. John H. Fretz, who had been appointed as register, was kept busily engaged during the interval.

The afternoon exercises were opened by singing the hymn, "Come, thou Fount of every Blessing." Rev. A. J. Fretz then delivered the historical address, which was listened to with profound interest. He graphically depicted the surroundings when the two brothers, John and Christian Fretz, driven forth from their fatherland by cruel persecution, sought refuge in this far-off land, this wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts and the equally dangerous red man. The genealogy of the different branches of the family were briefly given, and other data. Dr. A. N. Fretz, of Fleetwood, then gave a short talk, after which County Superintendent Slotter delivered the memorial address. After some announcements and the singing of a hymn, "There's a Land that is Fairer than Day," the exercises were closed with the benediction and the doxology, "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow."

Dear friends, in appearing before you this morning to bid you welcome on this occasion, I feel that mine is a pleasant duty indeed. It is a pleasant duty--first, because I trust that all who have now assembled before me, as well as all who may be here later in the day, have come with an assurance of the fact that they are welcome. Further, it is a pleasant duty for me to stand between the fathers of almost two centuries ago whose dust now lie mingled with the earth in yonder graveyard, and their numerous descendants, of which I have the honor of being one, to bid you welcome to the first general reunion of the Fretz family. Less than two centuries ago these teeming valleys and verdant hills were mostly forests, and were with this grove in which we have assembled to-day the home of the red man, while the beasts of the forests vied with him in finding a sustenance. The remains of our ancestors lie side by side in soil not their own by birth, and we visit their graves at times to call our memories back to their daring lives, while the ashes of the Aborigines have entered into the soil from which we reap our beautiful harvests and obtain our sustenance. In the early years of the eighteenth century came emigrants from England, Scotland and Germany, and took possession of the land in this vicinity. It was then that, among the many others, two brothers, John and Christian Fretz, left their homes and friends in the fatherland and for weal or woe crossed the wide perilous Atlantic, and came to this new world, the refuge for the oppressed and persecuted of every civilized country.

In course of time Christian became possessor of land in Tinicum township, about three miles from here, while John made his purchase and future home on a tract in Bedminster township, of which the soil on which we meet to-day is a part, and which has since been continuously in the possession of his male descendants to this day. In these homes the Lord prospered them till now their descendants are no longer confined to the townships of Bedminster and Tinicum, but have increased and multiplied and spread abroad until now they may be found in almost every State and Territory through the length and breadth of this fair land, and in various parts of Canada as well.

This is an age of reunions. Alumni of schools and colleges have reunions, the veterans of the late war have reunions, families have reunions, and it is well that the descendants of these two brothers should have such a gathering also. During the brief time allotted for preparation there were sent out to all Fretz descendants, whose names and addresses could be ascertained, invitations to meet with us at this reunion, to renew the memories of our ancestors and become better acquainted with each other as offispring of a common ancestry. I do, therefore, in memory of our fathers, bid you welcome to this assembly. In behalf of the present proprietor of this grove I bid you welcome. In the name of the committee of arrangements I bid you welcome. I bid you welcome to the exercises that will be conducted here to-day, and to the common table that will be spread for dinner. Let us make this a day of profit as well as of pleasure. While our memories are refreshed with the daring and self-denial of our ancestors, let us take an example from their devotedness to the cause for which they forsook their native land--religious liberty, and cultivate true filial love and devotedness to one another. Above all, let us lift our hearts in thankfulness to God, the giver of every good and perfect gift, for his blessings upon our ancestors, upon our immediate fathers and mothers, and upon us to the present moment. Let us unitedly pray that he may continue to be with us and bless us as he has been with our fathers and blessed them. Let us seek so as to live in his fear and to glory in his great name, that in the great and final family reunion we may all be privileged to participate. That we, having heeded the loving invitation, may be reunited with our friends gone before, and with them forever share the joys of a reunion inseparable.

The second reunion of the descendants of John and Christian Fretz was held in the grove near the old homestead, in Bedminster township, on Saturday, September 2, 1893. The early morning gave but faint prospects for a pleasant day, owing to the stormy aspects of the weather. Nevertheless, by 11 o'clock several hundred persons were gathered about the speakers' stand, when Rev. Allen M. Fretz, of Souderton, chairman of the reunion committee, called the meeting to order. The day's exercises were ushered in by the singing of the magnificent hymn, "Come, Thou Almighty King;" Dr. A. Myers, of Blooming Glen, musical director. Next followed the invocation by Rev. Thomas S. Fretz, of Lewisburg, Pa. Reed Fretz, of Bedminster, then, in a few words, welcomed the assembled to the home of their aucestors, which had fostered them in their hour of need. This was very felicitously responded to by Prof. Alva B. Fretz, of Cedar Grove, N. J. Rev. Allen M. Fretz then proceeded to deliver the memorial address. Worthy did he enumerate the brave deeds of his forefathers, who lie resting in the old graveyard at Deep Run, hoping they might be emulated by their descendants and their memories forever held sacred. The singing of the coronation hymn closed the first part of the program, after which all were invited to partake of the bounteous repast prepared by the ladies' committee. Ample justice was done to this pleasing feature of the program. The table, about 200 feet long, spread with various varieties to satisfy the most fastidious, was a novelty to see. The committee on registration, consisting of Messrs. J. Franklin Fretz, Oscar Fretz and Joseph Myers, were busily engaged with the register, in which descendants present inscribed their names. In the meantime the cloudy morning was transformed into a beautiful afternoon, and crowds of people hastened to the grove until the number was swelled to about 2000. Promptly at 2 o'clock all gathered once more around the platform, when the entire assemblage broke forth with the patriotic strains of "My Country 'tis of Thee," which were echoed and reechoed among the rings of the forest. After the singing J. F. Hendricks, Esq., of Doylestown, addressed the assemblage. He spoke of the integrity, and honesty of which the family had always been noted since the first ancestor. Mr. Hendricks' speech was followed by a beautiful solo, rendered by Miss Florence E. Newbaker, of Philadelphia, entitled "My Father's Home." A short essay was then read by J. Kirk Leatherman, M. E., of Lullytown, Pa. Another pretty solo was sung by Miss Mary H. Fretz, of Milton, N. J., entitled "Dream of the Old Home," after which County Superintendent William H. Slotter addressed the audience in a few words. This was followed by another hymn, "Nearer my God to Thee." The family historian, Rev. A. J. Fretz, of Milton, N. J., was then introduced, who held the audience enraptured for some time. The meeting then adjourned after singing, "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow."

This is indeed an auspicious day to be assembled here on almost consecrated ground for two reasons--first, because this was the home of an ancestor who came from the old world to the new, settling here 156 years ago, and founded a family now numbered by the thousands, scattered over this broad land from the Atlautic to the Pacific, with numerous representatives in Canada and some in other countries. Here finished his work and ended his earthly pilgrimage, one whose memory we shall ever revere and cherish for his bravery, fidelity and patriotism. Second, because here are assembled such a numerous company of descendants of our worthy ancestors, John and Christian Fretz, to recount some events in the lives of these devoted fathers of more than a century and a half ago, and to extend greetings to one another in the common bonds of kinship to render praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God. who directed the steps of the ancestors hither. We are here also, if possible, to learn more concerning the early ancestors, to gather together the remaining fragments of their history, incidents of their lives of interest, and that will be highly prized by generations yet unborn. Family histories and genealogies are works of great value and much interest to the descendants, and they become more and more so as time passes on. Their sayings, acts, privations, early struggles, the final successes, traditions and history of the ancestors, so often recounted by the grandfathers and grandmothers, cannot fail to be of interest, and these things should be put in a form for permanent preservation. There will come a time, generations hence, when these things will be of incalculable value. It is remarkably strange that there are so many who do not care for these things and take so little interest in them, to such an extent that they do not know who their grandparents were.

According to a tradition of the family the ancestors, John and Christian Fretz, with a third brother who died on the voyage, came from near the city of Manheim, Province of Baden, Germany, formerly known as the Palatinate, or Rhemish Prussia, and therefore undoubtedly were of German nationality. Although during the persecution of the Mennonites in Switzerland by the Calvinists, many of them fled across the line into the Palatinate, where they remained for a time, and afterwards emigrated to America, Many of these Swiss Mennonites from the Palatinate were among the early settlers of Bucks and Montgomery counties, among them, if the tradition of the family can be relied on, were the Meyer ancestors. It is said that the Fretz ancestors emigrated to America during the "last persecution" and came in company with the Meyer ancestors, who settled in Montgomery county.

The Meyer ancestors of Montgomery county were Christian and Hans Meyer. Hans Meyer, as we have recenlty learned, was the father-in-law of our pioneer ancestor, John Fretz. They emigrated to America in the early part of the eighteenth century, and thus we find them settled here in the infancy of the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania years before the French and Indian war, and long before the United States became a free and independent nation. Some of the stirring scenes in the colonies took place during their lifetime, and as the earthly pilgrimage of the aged ancestors began to draw to a close the colonists became restless under the British yoke, and barely had the pioneers gone to their rest before the war for independence burst forth, which brought the freedom which their children now enjoy.

The Fretz brothers married their wives on American soil, and here all their children were born. At the time of the publication of the Fretz history it was not known who either of the Fretz ancestors married. We were fortunate, however, in our investigations into the Meyer family quite recently, to discover the fact that John Fretz married for his first wife Barbara, daughter of Hans Meyer, of Upper Salford, Montgomery Co., and thus is happily discovered a missing link, which enables those who are descendants by this marriage, to go one generation back of the Fretz ancestry. The fact is now established that our first ancestor on American soil was Hans Meyer, of Upper Salford. This, no doubt, is a surprising revelation to many of you here to-day, who have never so much as dreamed that you were Meyer descendants. But it is a happy revelation to us, as it brings us into closer and dearer relation to the many descendants of Hans Meyer, who are scattered all through Bucks and Montgomery counties and elsewhere. This discovery gives us a possible clue to where John Fretz at first settled before purchasing the homestead at Bedminster, and which was no doubt somewhere in Montgomery county, and where all the children by the first wife, except Elizabeth Kulp, were probably born. He probably settled for a time in that county, then in 1737 or 1738 purchased the homestead in Bedminster, on which we are to-day assembled, of Bartholomew Longstreth, consisting of 230 acres, and for which he paid œ106. This tract, when purchased, had a house which was probably of logs, a barn and other outbuildings, but was surrounded on all sides by a wilderness of vacant and unimproved land. Here the pioneer sojourned until the close of his earthly pilgrimage, improving his home and following his vocation of weaving, which may have been his principal occupation in his later years.

The last will and testament of John Fretz was dated January 29, 1772, was probated March 3 of the same year, which shows that he died between the two dates given, probably in February 1772. Several of his children were also weavers, which they no doubt combined with other occupations. John lived for some years atter marriage in Tinicum township, and was also a weaver. At the time of his father's death, in 1772, he was a resident of Haycock township, on the Tohickon, where he run a mill. Afterwards he moved to Doylestown, and in 1800, when 70 years old, he emigrated with his family to Canada. His son Moses went out to Canada the year previous, and his daughter Barbara (wife of Jacob Silvius) remained in Bucks county.

John Fretz was one of the leading spirits in founding the first Mennonite church in Canada, of which he was the first deacon. He died in 1826, aged 96 years. His descendants are very numerous, most of them residing in Canada, but many are in the Western and other portions of the United States. Among them are prominent ministers of the Methodist Episcopal, Mennonite, Baptist, and other churches.

Jacob Fretz at first lived near Erwinna, in Tinicum township, on what is known as the Ervine farm, he having sold it to a man of that name who was also a weaver. The family suffering from malaria he afterwards purchased a farm in Bedminster township, along the Tohickon, where his son Joseph, known as "Big Joe," lived and died. Christian Fretz was a farmer. He inherited the old homestead in Bedminster, on which he lived and died, and to which he added by purchase from his son John the tract known as the "poor fields," consisting of about 25 acres. He was a wealthy man and reared a large family. His descendants are very numerous, numbering about 2000 living, with over 500 deceased.

Abraham Fretz was also a weaver and lived on a farm at Fretz Valley, in Bedminster township, now owned by Philip K. Fretz, a grandson, and Reed Fretz, a great-grandson.

Elizabeth Fretz married Jacob Kolb, a farmer. They lived and died in Hilltown township, where many of their descendants still live.

To the ancestors, John and Christian Fretz, we owe a debt of gratitude for their unflinching faith in God, fidelity to His cause and for their bravery. It was no small matter for the ancestors to leave their homes in the far-off fatherland, to brave the perils of the ocean, and to endure the hardships and inconveniences incident to their settlement in the new world, in the vast wilderness of America, where they erected their log cabins, surrounded on all sides by wild beasts and treacherous savages. But pressed on account of their religion, persecuted in the land of their nativity on account thereof, with sincere devotion to God and conscience, they dared to brave the perils of land and sea to find a home where they would at least be untrammeled in the worship of God, a privilege so dear to the hearts of all God's people.

What thoughts must have crowded upon their minds as they looked for the last time upon familiar scenes around them, as they stood at the graves of beloved dead ones for the last time, joined in prayer and song, and listened to the word of God in the old parrish church for the last time in the land of their nativity, spoke their last farewell to loved ones at home, clasped the hand of father and embraced mother for the last time with eyes dimmed with tears and the tongue of utterance choked with emotion, and turned their backs upon the old home and fatherland, and faced towards the new. How their hearts must have sank within them, when, tossed upon the bosom of the old ocean, they consigned the body of a brother to a deep and watery grave.

The ancestors and their immediate descendants were plain and unpretentious folks of the Mennonite faith, chiefly occupied as weavers, farmers and millers, in which occupation they were successful. For several generations the family produced no professional men. But later generations have not been confined to the workshop and farm. They have graced every walk in life, and represented every profession. In the school room, in journalism, in medicine, at the bar, on the platform, in legislative halls, and in the pulpit, they have won renown. They have stood in the ranks of the soldier in the nation's hour of peril, wielded the sword, and died upon bloody fields of battle in defense of country and home.

In conclusion let me say that we, as our ancestors did, are also making history--history that will have more or less influence upon our children and descendants after us. That we may have nothing to regret let us make a clean history, and leave only an influence for good upon those we leave behind us to tread the winepress of life after we are gone. Then in the great day when all history will be a finished work, and the final gatherings of the nations be, with our ancestors and our descendants, we may gather in one final reunion, and that our Heavenly Father may welcome us, own us, and crown us citizens of his eternal Kingdom.

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headstone of Anna Meyer wife of Aaron Zelner
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