Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelders 25

page 25



Lower Harpersdorf, Dukedom Liegnitz, Silesia, March
26, 1718. He was the youngest son of Melchior
Schultz (who was born in 1680); had two brothers,
George and Melchior. In the spring of 1726, owing
to religious persecutions then prevailing, this family
and other friends left their homes and possessions and
fled the country by night, came to Berthelsdorf, in
Saxony, May 1. Here young Christopher was employed
as a shepherd boy, and also learned the weaver's
trade, besides being occupied with spinning and other
work. He evinced a great desire for books and learning,
the means to obtain which not being at hand he
was granted whatever time he could gain by extra
exertions; this inducement was irresistible, and no
doubt marks the beginning of a new era in the lad's
career. He now performed his allotted work in two-thirds
of the ordinary time, thus gaining two days per
week, during which he would hasten to his kind friend
and teacher, Rev. George Weiss, to study languages.
In these studies he advanced with astonishing alacrity;
before he was ten years of age he had acquired a
pretty general knowledge of the Latin, and also knew
the rudiments of the Greek and Hebrew languages.
After enjoying comparative liberty and quiet under
the kind protection of Count Zinzendorf for nearly
eight years, the important question again arose whether
the family and their religious friends should leave the
country or their faith, and by the aid of Him in whom
they believed and whom they served, it was again decided
in the right way; but both parents went to rest

Melchior Schultz, was born June 26, 1680, and died February 15, 1734, in the fifty-fourth year of his age at Berthelsdorf, Saxony, about two months before the then contemplated emigration. The last-named Melchior Schultz was the father of George, Melchior, and Christopher Schultz.


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