Hans Michael Schwenk

From Strassburger and Allied Families, p 281:

"Hans Michael Schwenk was born in the Rhine Valley, and came to America on the ship 'Jamaica Galley', arriving Phila on 7 Feb 1739, Robert Harrison, Commander, sailing from Rotterdam (this fact is recorded in I.D. Rupp's, Thirty Thousand Names, page 131, names of foreigners who took the Oath of Allegiance, Penn. Archives, Second Series, Vol. XVII, pp 179, 183.)

"There were 320 passengers on board, but only the names of males over the age of 16 years, 89 in number, are given in the ship's passenger roster. The other 231 were women and children. On the official list of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we find the names of 'Hans Michael Swinck' and 'Adam Schwinck', but on the original list, as made up by the authorities at Rotterdam, before sailing, we find that 'Michael Swenk' was 50 years of age, and 'Adam Swenk' was 18 years of age. Accompanying Hans Michael were his wife, Mary Elizabeth and sons, Jacob, George and Nicholas. It is possible that Adam was a son who, being over 16 years of age, was registered, while the other three were under that age."

(My notes: Actually, there is some confusion about when Hans Michael arrived in America. One record is as above (Jamaica Galley in 1939), while another shows him (as age 45) aboard the "Lydia", James Allen, Master, which arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam on 29 Sep 1741, accompanied by Hans Jacob, age 16 (presumably his son.) According to Strassburger and Hinke's "Pennsylvania German Pioneers", many times ages were estimated by the person making up the passenger lists.

• There's another discrepancy regarding his age. Old Goshenhoppen Church records show that he died on 20 Feb 1773, at the age of 71 years, 11 months, 9 days. Accordingly, he would have been born on 11 Mar 1701 rather than 11 Mar 1696, as both Strassburger and Enos Schwenk show (the latter in "The Schwenk Family".] Richard William Loveless, in his book, "22 Pennsylvania Germany Families", lists Hans Michael as being born in 1702. That's closer to the church records, which I choose to believe over Strassburger and Enos Schwenk, both of whom had numerous errors in their respective books.

It's very possible that Hans Michael made both voyages. Coming the first time in 1739, deciding he was, indeed, going to settle in America, and returning to Germany to escort the rest of his family back to America in 1741.

I've also come across two additional records of a Michael Schwenk aboard ships from Rotterdam to Pennsylvania: Michael Shwenck was aboard the Ship Marlborough, Thomas Bell, Master, which arrived in Philadelphia on 23 Sep 1741; and, Hans Michael Swink was aboard the Halifax, Capt. Thomas Coatam, which arrived in Philadelphia on 22 Oct 1754. Unfortunately, only the Michael Schwenk aboard the Jamaica Galley signed his own signature, the other three making 'their mark' in lieu of a full signature, so signatures can't be compared to determine identity. Additionally, on the St. Andrew from Rotterdam to Philadelphia, arriving 2 Oct 1741, were passengers Nicholas Swenk (age 50) and Lorentz Swenk (age 18). So, all in all, the research into the roots of the Schwenks of Pennsylvania is not close to being finished.)

Strassburger's account continues:

"Very little is known about Hans Michael Schwenk. On 16 Apr 1747 he bought of David Heebener and his wife, Mary, a tract of 100 acres of land in Frederick Twp, then in Philadelphia Co., but now in Montgomery Co., PA. The Old Goshenhoppen Creek ran through the eastern end of this land. On 2 Jan 1752, Michael Schwenk and his wife, Mary, conveyed this farm to their son, George Schwenck. The deed to Michael Schwenk is not recorded, the recital of this transfer being found in a deed from George Schwenck and his wife, Fronica, to Henry Boyer of this same farm some 20 years later. (Deed Book #13, page 185, Norristown, PA.)

Following is the genealogy of Hans Michael Schwenk's land: John Penn, Thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, Proprietors and Governors of Pennsylvania patented 100 acres in Frederick Twp. to David Heebner in May 1736, who with his wife Mary indentured on 15 and 16 Apr 1747 to Michael Schwenk, who on 2 Jan 1752 with his wife Mary indentured the land to George Schwenck, who on 4 Apr 1761 with his wife Fronica indentured the land to Henry Boyer, who on 7 Jun 1776 with his wife Magdelena granted the land to Yost Hollibush, who on the 14th of Oct 1778 with his wife Mary Elizabeth granted the land to Paul Bowers who died 4 Feb 1782 and on 17 Apr 1782, in his will empowered his executors, George Swenk, Charles Bower and Elizabeth Bower to sell the land at public auction."

Special Note: On 1 Jun 1749, Christopher Saur, publisher of the Germantown Newspaper, The Pennsylvaniche Brietesche, inserted this notice in the issue of that date:

"The printer has a letter for Michael Schwenk, in Schipback." (Henry S. Dotterer, The Perkiomen Region, VOl. III, P. 35.)

From The Schwenk Family, by Enos S. Schwenk:

"(Hans) Michael Schwenk and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, were members of the Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church, situated in Upper Salford Twp. Michael Schwenck died February 20, 1773, aged seventy one years, eleven months and nine days. His wife died July 4, 1775, aged seventy years, nine months, less five days. They were both probably buried in the church yard adjoining the church. There is no will on record nor were any letters of administration issued at the time of his death." (Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church Records, Perkiomen Region, Vol. iii, p. 36)

Loveless, in "22 Pennsylvania German Families", also lists additional children for Hans Michael:

Johannes, b. ?, d. ?, in 1750 m. Anna Catherine Hubner, dau of David and Mary Hubner

Frederick, b. ?, d. 1757, m. ________ in Tohickon Ch.

Maria, b. ?, d. ?, m. Peter Beissel.

The following from The Norristown Daily Herald, 2 Sep 1926 is anecdotal and probably largely untrue:

"Hans Michael Schwenk, a young German, landed in Philadelphia 20 Sep 1741, and plunged into the wilderness soon after to establish a home. He reached the Perkiomen, and was so charmed with the country thereabouts that he decided to settle there. The Indians, however, had different ideas, and they got after Hans, who sprinted along this Branch Creek trying to duck the arrows, and...an arrow took off part of his right ear; he got away without further damage, however. His desire for land was as great as ever, so when his ear got well, he sought his pursuers in friendly spirit and for a few trinkets, purchased from them all the land for miles on both sides of the creek. He thrived and became the ancestor of all the numerous Schwenks that still live in the region and many others who have moved away. His body lies in a little cemetery back in the hills. Next week his descendents are going to have a family reunion up on Spring Mount, within a few miles of where he lost part of his ear."

From Strassburger and Allied Families, p 281: 'Hans Michael Schwenk was born in the Rhine Valley, and came to America on the ship "Jamaica Galley", arriving Phila on 7 Feb 1739, Robert Harrison, Commander, sailing from Rotterdam" (this fact is recorded in I.D. Rupp's, Thirty Thousand Names, page 131, names of foreigners who took the Oath of Allegiance, Penn. Archives, Second Series, Vol. XVII, pp 179, 183.)

There were 320 passengers on board, but only the names of males over the age of 16 years, 89 in number, are given in the ship's passenger roster. The other 231 were women and children. On the official list of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we find the names of "Hans Michael Swinck" and "Adam Schwinck", but on the original list, as made up by the authorities at Rotterdam, before sailing, we find that "Michael Swenk" was 50 years of age, and "Adam Swenk" was 18 years of age. Accompanying Hans Michael were his wife, Mary Elizabeth and sons, Jacob, George and Nicholas. It is possible that Adam was a son who, being over 16 years of age, was registered, while the other three were under that age. '

{Notes by Thera Schwenk Hammond: Actually, there is some confusion about when Hans Michael arrived in America. One record is as above (Jamaica Galley in 1739), while another shows him (as age 45) aboard the "Lydia", James Allen, Master, which arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam on 29 Sep 1741, accompanied by Hans Jacob, age 16 (presumably his son.) According to Strassburger and Hinke's "Pennsylvania German Pioneers", many times ages were estimated by the person making up the passenger lists.

There's another discrepancy regarding his age. Old Goshenhoppen Church records show that he died on 20 Feb 1773, at the age of 71 years, 11 months, 9 days. Accordingly, he would have been born on 11 Mar 1701 rather than 11 Mar 1696, as both Strassburger and Enos Schwenk show (the latter in "The Schwenk Family".] Richard William Loveless, in his book, "22 Pennsylvania German Families", lists Hans Michael as being born in 1702. That's closer to the church records, which I choose to believe over Strassburger and Enos Schwenk, both of whom had numerous errors in their respective books.

It's very possible that Hans Michael made both voyages. Coming the first time in 1739, deciding he was, indeed, going to settle in America, and returning to Germany to escort the rest of his family back to America in 1741 on the "Lydia".

There two additional records of a Michael Schwenk aboard ships from Rotterdam to Pennsylvania: Michael Shwenck was aboard the Ship Marlborough, Thomas Bell, Master, which arrived in Philadelphia on 23 Sep 1741; and, Hans Michael Swink was aboard the Halifax, Capt. Thomas Coatam, which arrived in Philadelphia on 22 Oct 1754. Unfortunately, only the Michael Schwenk aboard the Jamaica Galley signed his own signature, the other three making 'their mark' in lieu of a full signature, so signatures can't be compared to determine identity. Additionally, on the St. Andrew from Rotterdam to Philadelphia, arriving 2 Oct 1741, were passengers Nicholas Swenk (age 50) and Lorentz Swenk (age 18). So, all in all, the research into the roots of the Schwenks of Pennsylvania is not close to being finished.

There's also confusion about where in Germany Hans Michael lived...see notes for Johann Daniel Schwenk. Recent evidence has come to light indicating that Hans Michael's brother Peter was residing in the village of Berschweiler near Baumholder shortly before leaving for America. Living near him was an M. Elizabeth Schwenk, probably the wife of Hans Michael.}

Strassburger's account continues: Very little is known about Hans Michael Schwenk. On 16 Apr 1747 he bought of David Heebener and his wife, Mary, a tract of 100 acres of land in Frederick Twp, then in Philadelphia Co., but now in Montgomery Co., PA. The Old Goshenhoppen Creek ran through the eastern end of this land. On 2 Jan 1752, Michael Schwenk and his wife, Mary, conveyed this farm to their son, George Schwenck. The deed to Michael Schwenk is not recorded, the recital of this transfer being found in a deed from George Schwenck and his wife, Fronica, to Henry Boyer of this same farm some 20 years later. (Deed Book #13, page 185, Norristown, PA.)

Following is the genealogy of Hans Michael Schwenk's land: John Penn, Thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, Proprietors and Governors of Pennsylvania patented 100 acres in Frederick Twp. to David Heebner in May 1736, who with his wife Mary indentured on 15 and 16 Apr 1747 to Michael Schwenk, who on 2 Jan 1752 with his wife Mary indentured the land to George Schwenck, who on 4 Apr 1761 with his wife Fronica indentured the land to Henry Boyer, who on 7 Jun 1776 with his wife Magdelena granted the land to Yost Hollibush, who on the 14th of Oct 1778 with his wife Mary Elizabeth granted the land to Paul Bowers who died 4 Feb 1782 and on 17 Apr 1782, in his will empowered his executors, George Swenk, Charles Bower and Elizabeth Bower to sell the land at public auction.

Special Note: On 1 Jun 1749, Christopher Saur, publisher of the Germantown Newspaper, The Pennsylvaniche Brietesche, inserted this notice in the issue of that date: "The printer has a letter for Michael Schwenk, in Schipback." (Henry S. Dotterer, The Perkiomen Region, Vol. III, P. 35.)

From Floyd's History of Northumberland County: Hans Michael Schwenk was born in Germany in 1696, and a letter from Germany now in the possession of a member of the family shows that they belonged to the nobility in that country and were considered as military people. One of the family was in the Royal Guards. He emigrated to America with his family in 1741, coming in the ship "Lydia," James Allen, master, which arrived at Philadelphia Sept. 20th, and the list shows that Hans Michael Schwenk was accompanied by his wife Maria and sons Nicholas, Jacob and George. The names of females and children under sixteen years of age were not recorded. On May 8, 1757, there is record of Michael Schwenk and his wife Maria Elizabeth standing as sponsors for their grandson Daniel, born Nov. 6, 1756, son of Nicholas and his wife Anna Barbara. At the time of his death Hans Michael Schwenk had eleven grandchildren.

From The Schwenk Family, by Enos S. Schwenk: (Hans) Michael Schwenk and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, were members of the Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church, situated in Upper Salford Twp. Michael Schwenck died February 20, 1773, aged seventy one years, eleven months and nine days. His wife died July 4, 1775, aged seventy years, nine months, less five days. They were both probably buried in the church yard adjoining the church. There is no will on record nor were any letters of administration issued at the time of his death. (Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church Records, Perkiomen Region, Vol. iii, p. 36)

(Goshenhoppen is believed to have come from Shakhoppa, the name of an Indian chief.)

From The Norristown Daily Herald, 2 Sep 1926 (anecdotal and probably largely untrue): "Hans Michael Schwenk, a young German, landed in Philadelphia 20 Sep 1741, and plunged into the wilderness soon after to establish a home. He reached the Perkiomen, and was so charmed with the country thereabouts that he decided to settle there. The Indians, however, had different ideas, and they got after Hans, who sprinted along this Branch Creek trying to duck the arrows, and...an arrow took off part of his right ear; he got away without further damage, however. His desire for land was as great as ever, so when his ear got well, he sought his pursuers in friendly spirit and for a few trinkets, purchased from them all the land for miles on both sides of the creek. He thrived and became the ancestor of all the numerous Schwenks that still live in the region and many others who have moved away. His body lies in a little cemetery back in the hills. Next week his descendents are going to have a family reunion up on Spring Mount, within a few miles of where he lost part of his ear.