Notes from Ulrich Engle websites

The notes below are copied from
History of the Engle Family in America: 1754-1927: pp.11-14.
Compiled, Arranged, Indexed and Published
by Morris M. Engle, Historian, Hummelstown, PA (no date):
Website Engle Family Genealogy.
Website Morris Engle, Family Historian

See also: Recker, Charles, People of the Marsh, Newsletter of the Musser Family
1972-75. Grenada Hills, CA: author, 1972-5. NYPL APV (Moser) 87-2041.

See also: Engle, Eugene K. (1990). "Engle, Jesse M. (1838 -1900)."
Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
Website Anabaptist Encyclopedia

"In the mountains of the Alps, in August of 1752, Anna Engel pregnant with her
seventh child lived with her husband Ulrich. Some time before, the followers
of Menno Simon, had made a pilgrimage through that region, preaching the
gospel, as interpreted by that teacher. The doctrines made a deep impression
on the mind of Anna, and she in the sincerity of her soul, added works to her
faith, and the fruits of her devotion to the truth as she espoused it.  It was
about this time that large numbers of Swiss people were immigrating to
America. The country was full of glowing tales of golden opportunities in that
far off asylum of the poor and oppressed of all lands. Neighbor discussed with
neighbor the trials and hardship of the home-land, and the rigors of Church
and State, on the unlimited liberty of the Western world on the other. Nor did
the imagination fail to play its part in these discussions. One by one,
neighbor after neighbor added conviction to reflection, and announced a
decision to leave the Fatherland, and seek their fortune in the forests of the
land of the Setting Sun.  Whatever others may have had to sacrifice, in the
way of leaving behind friends, kindred, house and home, Anna and Ulrich Engel
had added to these things from which others were exempt.  Anna, who had
adopted the Mennonite faith, having renounced the faith of her childhood, was
under strict surveillance of the authorities of the Church, at the behest of
the government. This, and her delicate condition, were some of the things they
had to confront, from which others were free.  Ulrich Engel, though oppressed,
was not a poor man. He had a comfortable home, and was esteemed well-to-do. He
was not noted for any unusual piety, such as his wife, but we do know that he
encouraged her in her religious convictions in every way that he could. In his
house he had fixed a trap-door which opened into a secret cellar, in which he
concealed Anna, at such times when she was in peril of arrest. He succeeded in
preventing her arrest in this way, for some time.  Finally, in an unguarded
moment the officers surprised them, and she was led away to a place of
confinement where she enjoyed the liberty of the place, but was guarded in
such a way that she could not get away. The authorities recognized her
condition, and had compassion on her. Instead of placing stern officers of the
law over her, as was the usual custom, they employed the services of a nurse,
and appointed her as guard.  They knew Anna's term was about full, and
concluded to postpone her trial until after her convalescence.  While these
things were taking place in the family of Ulrich Engel, all was bustle among
his neighbors, getting ready for the long and perilous journey across the
great Atlantic Ocean. Men busied themselves making great strong chests, shod
with massive iron hinges and locks and packing them with favorite wares and
tools. The women were occupied with looking after household necessities, and
getting in readiness such things as would add to the comfort of their
households of their unknown new home.  In due time it was announced to Ulrich
Engel that a son was born to him, and that mother and child were doing well. 
Anna's nurse was exceedingly kind, and tender to her patient and charge. Who
can tell of the mental anxieties and sufferings, tears and prayers of that
devoted wife and mother, during the period of her confinement? Isolated from
the caresses of a kind and sympathetic husband with friends all around her
preparing to take leave forever, wondering what their fate and hers will be.
Then the well-being of husband and children at home--all these things were
calculated to disturb the rest and quiet so much needed by poor Anna.
At this time, God opened the way from an unexpected source. One day while
talking to her nurse about her troubles, the nurse told her that if she were
in Anna's place she would go with the party of immigrants just forming, to
America.  Anna asked, "How can I go? My baby is but two weeks old, and I am
kept under watch--how shall I go?"  "Tomorrow morning, when I am out
sprinkling the linen,"  replied the nurse, "pick up your child, and flee to
your husband, and then when the officers will ask for you, at the time they
have set for you, I will tell them that you fled with the immigrant party for
America. You will have plenty of time to get ready to join the rest if you
take my advice." It is needless to say that Anna thanked God with all her
heart, for this plan of deliverance, and more than, she acted on the
suggestion, and left the place of her captivity, early in the morning. " 
Adapted from Engle Family History.  by Lee Kreider.

Transcription and translation of a letter from Ulrich Engel to relatives in
Switzerland written in December 1755 describing the journey of his family to
the New World, and conditions in eastern Pennsylvania as they found them. 
Written by Ulli Engel from Pennsylvania. From Donegal, Pennsylvania, December
7, 1755:

"First, best wishes and greetings to my father, brother and sisters, and to my
other good friends. Next, he writes to his brother Hans Engel of Sonceboz. My
dear brother, I have received your letter of May 22, 1755, and in it I learned
that you are in good health. We did not receive what you had written to us
previously. You said that you have not received a report from us either. We
wrote a letter to you from Rotterdam, in which we told you about our trip down
the Rhine. We put the letter in the mail. Also, we wrote to you a year ago
from this country. In that letter we gave a report on our trip across the
ocean and told you about this country. We hope that you will still get that
letter, and we will not say much about our ocean journey in this letter. What
Herr Hopf told you about us is true. We arrived safely in this country, as we
had wished. However, we lost many of our possessions in another ship that ran
into trouble and sank. I (Ulrich Engel) and the others, are all as sound and
healthy as when we were in Switzerland.

One woman died and another became ill. We bought a piece of land, 150 acres in
size. It is fourteen miles from Lancaster, and two miles from Anderson's Ferry
on the Susquehanna River. It is fertile land. Wheat and oats grow very well on
it. He (Engel) has 50 acres, a sizable amount of land to water . At the
beginning we bought animals - four horses, five cows, seven [?heifers], six
sheep, seventeen hogs for my household, and two beef cattle, fattened more
than those pasturing in the woods. We also have five hogs. We have eight or
nine acres of wheat, as well as six acres of oats, four areas of millet, three
acres of field corn, and one acre of flax. We have seeded sixteen acres of
flax for the next harvest. 
In all parts of the countryside here, there are little mountains, and many
springs but they are in deep locations. There are also many streams, on which
little mills can be built. In fact, many have already been built. There is
both good and bad land, as in other places. All kinds of grain grow here. Rye,
oats, barley, field corn, buckwheat, millet, and flax. Grain grows without the
manure that one lets in the barns to rot and discolor. We sow three pecks per
acre. The acres are a little larger than in Switzerland.
The units are: four pecks make a bushel, a bushel eight [___] . I sow as much
as three and one-half of a Bern mäss. An acre yields (usually) from twelve to
twenty, or even thirty bushels. For hay and grass, conditions are better in
Switzerland, but where there is running water, there is nice clover. One
doesn't graft the trees here. From one kind of seed, all kinds of sweet and
sour apples grow. The trees grow quickly and become quite large . People have
big orchards here, of all kinds. There are not many pear trees, but one sees
many peaches and cherries. If it were not for the heavy damage from birds we
think we would also have wine. All kinds of wood grow here, as in Switzerland,
but no fir trees. The land as well as the wood is a quite different kind.
There are many kinds of wood that we didn't know about before. There are also
wild grapes, which grow from seed, and they are good. "frosen" wood "sagt" one
"laden." Laurel are plentiful. The country is quite free of troubles from the
authorities. Everyone has the same rights, the rich people as well as the
poor. There is a parliament, which is over the civil affairs, to which farmers
as well as the gentry are elected to one year terms by the majority of votes.
They serve for a fixed time, then are replaced. The ones who serve the country
well are confirmed again for one year. The unfit ones are removed and others
are elected to their places. People seek to receive votes both in the city and
country. Thus all of the most fitting officials are chosen for the civil court
and the criminal court. They have no more income than the day laborers so that
there are no lords who have income from the land. The land costs us a yearly
fee of two to three, or up to six shillings. The prices of grain are: wheat,
four shillings per bushel; rye, three shillings [per bushel]; oats, two
shillings [per bushel]. Meat is seven pence, beef is two pence per pound, pork
(dressed) is three pence per pound. Flax is one shilling per bushel, hemp is
four to five pence per bushel, and salt is eighteen pence per bushel, which
for us in Switzerland is four schillings. One cow costs £3 or £4. One work
horse (of average size) costs from £10 to £15. Sheep, if they are large and
have good wool, sell for £6 each. 
Concerning the handworkers and day laborers, as has already been reported to
you, those who want to work can easily find something. Our Swiss travelling
companions have already earned quite a bit, but some have quickly spent it. We
are scattered far from each other. One can be healthy here and we are well
nourished. Nevertheless, people here are very worried on account of the many
evils of humankind. It appears that God will inflict war on America too,
because the English and the French have already had many skirmishes. First
this and then that party is attacked on the ocean. Until now the English have
mostly had the upper hand. According to the reports in the newspapers, the
English have already captured one hundred ships from the French. This is a
large booty because there are so many cannon, and they cost up to £1,000 each.
Some ships carry sixty, eighty or one hundred cannon.

There was a large uproar and killing here in this country. The savages had
always been friendly towards the old inhabitants. However Hans König, the
cloth dyer from Sonzibo left his wife and young children at a certain place.
He, along with his son and daughter and the servant from Tramelan went near to
the border of the savages, to a place called Shamokin, one hundred miles from
Conestoga. They spent this summer living next to some families there. Then the
savages complained that they have often come too close to them. They warned
them that they should stay away or expect misfortune, but they did not heed
the warning. Then the savages came and attacked them. They mercilessly
murdered six families, and burned the houses. In all, thirteen persons were
killed and the others were taken away. The dyer was killed, and the son,
daughter, and servant and also a daughter taken away. There were still other
killings along the border. Consequently, there is much alarm throughout the
country. We are expecting war over this. God watch over us. It appears warlike
here in this country. 

It is all so unlike what we know. Everything is so different from Switzerland,
for there are another kind of trees. There are large domestic animals and
birds. The weather is quite different also. The clouds come down over the
land, the rain and snow come quickly, in storms. However, they pass quickly,
so there are only short periods of time that we can not see the sun.

The thunder is like that over there. The climate is warmer but changeable. We
are building a new house this year. Isaak Neuenschwander lives near us and
helps with the work. He also wants to buy a place, and plenty of them are
available. We would be happy if you lived here with us. However, it takes a
lot of money for the journey. After one arrives here one still needs much that
one is used to having, so that many become impatient. Even so, we are glad
that we are here. Right now, it is not advisable to make the journey on
account of the war. One could run into misfortune. Christian Brächbühl wants
to come back to you again, when one can again travel safely.

Brother, you must not let it disturb you that the not you this time I did not
use the paper. I meant to. I want to use it another time. Willingly Ulli
Engel, Christen Brächbühl, Isaac Neuwsschwander. 

The Pennsylvania coins: 1 penny is worth as much as 1 Zurich schilling, twelve
pence equal 1 shilling, and 20 shillings equal £1. My land cost £325, with an
additional payment of £20 yearly The weights are like those in Basel. A piece
of land is sold here for £,50, £,80, or £,100 in cash. The yearly payment is £
20 or £ 30, as much as to get an agreement, and in the meantime there is no
interest from the money.

Now a report about the introduction of this letter. Out of love, we have been
compelled to write to you. We wish for you the grace and mercy of God, the
love of the Son, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. A peaceful greeting to
all those who obey God and read the letter, but especially to our beloved
father, brother, sister, in-laws, as well as all the friends and well meaning
persons who should read it. May the God of all grace sustain you and us all,
and protect us. Amen
Now the closing wish : Herewith we remain and want you, all of the brothers
and sisters in Switzerland, to remember us in prayer even though we are far
from each other. So we hope to industriously serve in different circumstances,
and rejoice to this end. We want to come to God and may God help us through
Jesus Christ. Amen."

HISTORY OF THE ENGLE FAMILY IN AMERICA by Morris M. Engle:

Many years ago, there lived in the mountain fastnesses of the Alps, in
Switzerland, a sturdy peasant, with a loving wife and six happy children. We
seem to see the father surrounded by his laughing children, returning from his
labor in the fields, at the close of day. The mother has been busy preparing
the frugal evening meal, lightly hum-ming a song of Faith, Hope and Love, the
while. She has just seated herself by the open window, in her favorite chair,
and is watching the sunset glories of the Alpine summer skies, awaiting the
home coming of husband and children. A well worn volume is lying open on her
lap, her finger still resting on the verse, "Ye must be born again."
Father and children having arrived, they are seated around the family board,
to partake of the simple meal. The family group as we picture them are Ulrich
Engel, and his devoted wife, Anna. The children are, Hans, Ulrich, Christina
Maria, and Barbara. It is the month of August, 1752. Nature is pregnant with
the fruits of the earth, and a bounteous harvest has been gathered in the
commodious barn. Everything would seem to betoken peace, plenty, and
prosperity with a rich promise of an abundance of golden Autumn fruits. Nor
was Nature content with lavishing her gifts upon these happy people in this
way, but God in His own way, had given them the evidence of the speedy
ripening of the fruit of love. 

Some time before, the followers of Menno Simon, had made a pilgrimage through
that region, preaching the gospel, as interpreted by that teacher. Their
doctrines made a deep impression on the minds of Anna, and she in the
sincerity of her soul, added works to her faith, and the fruits of her
devotion to the truth as she espoused it, has been tasted by thousands of
grateful souls during the years which were to come. 

It is to be sadly and deeply deplored, that the laws which govern character
are so little understood, and when understood, are often basely ignored. Man
in his fallen nature, seeks only the pleasures of the moment, but not so with
Anna as we shall see. 

It was about this time that large numbers of Swiss people were immigrating to
America. The Country was full of glowing tales of golden opportunities in that
far off Asylum of the poor and oppressed of all lands. Neighbor discussed with
neighbor the trials and hardships of the homeland, and the rigors of Church
and State, on the one hand, and the unlimited liberty of the Western world on
the other. Nor did the imagination fail to play its part in these discussions.
One by one, neighbor after neighbor added conviction to reflection, and
announced a decision to leave the Fatherland, and seek their for-tune in .the
forests of the land of the Setting Sun. Whatever others may have had to
sacrifice, in the way of leaving behind friends, kindred, house and home,
Ulrich Engel had, and added to these things were some things from which some
others were exempt. Anna, who had adopted the Mennonite faith, having
renounced the faith of her childhood, was under strict surveillance of the
authorities of the Church, at the behest of the government. This, and her
delicate condition, were some of the things that Ulrich Engel had to confront,
from which others were free. But God has a way of escape from the Oppressor,
for all of His Children, and in due time He opened the way for Anna, and
through her, for all of her family. 

Ulrich Engel, though oppressed, was not a poor man, as poor men were reckoned
in his place and time. He had a comfortable home, and was esteemed well-to-do.
We can not learn that he was noted for any unusual piety, such as his wife was
noted for, but we do know that he encouraged her in her religious convictions
in every way that he could. In his house he had fixed a trap-door which opened
into a secret cellar, in which he concealed Anna, at such times when she was
in peril of arrest. He succeeded in preventing her arrest in this way, for
some time, but finally, in and unguarded moment the officers surprised them,
and she was led away to a place, of confinement where she enjoyed the liberty
of the place, but was guarded: in such a wag that she could not get away. The
authorities recognized her condition, and had compassion on her. Instead of
placing stern officers of the law over her, as was the usual custom, they
employed the services of a nurse, and appointed her as guard. They knew that
Anna’s term was about full, and concluded to postpone her trial until after
her convalescence.

While these things were taking place in the family of Ulrich Engel all was
bustle among his neighbors: getting ready for the long and perilous journey
across the great Atlantic Ocean. Men busied themselves making great strong
chests, shod with massive iron hinges and locks and packing them with favorite
wares and tools. The women were occupied with looking after household and
getting in readiness such things as would add to th their households in their
unknown new home. In due time it was announced to Ulrich Engel that a son was
born to him, and that mother and child were doing well. Anna‘s nurse was
exceedingly kind, and tender to her patient and charge. Who can tell of the
mental anxieties and sufferings, tears and prayers of that devoted wife and
mother, during the period of her confinement? Isolated from the caresses of a
kind and sympathetic husband with friends all around her preparing to take
leave wondering what their fate and hers will be. Then the well-being of
husband and children, at home – all these things were calculated to disturb
the rest and quiet so much needed by poor Anna.

At this time, God opened the way from an unexpected source. One day while
talking to her nurse a bout her troubles, the nurse told her that if she were
in Anna’s place she would go with the party of immigrants just forming, to
America.  

Anna asked, "How can I go? My baby is but two weeks old, and I'm kept under
watch – how shall I go?"

"Tomorrow morning, when I am out sprinkling the linen," replied the nurse,
"pick up your child, and flee to your husband, and then when the officers will
ask for you, at the time they have set for you, I will tell them that you fled
with the immigrant party for America.  You will have plenty of time to get
ready to join the rest if you take my advice.’" It is needless to say that
Anna thanked God with all her heart, for this plan of deliverance, and more
than that, she acted on the suggestion, and left the place of her captivity,
early in the morning."