Son Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg has an even more exciting history. When 16-year-old Peter was sent
to Halle and became unhappy in his studies, and was apprenticed to a cruel druggist in Lübeck. After
three miserable years, he ran away and signed up with a British “Hessian” military regiment going to
America. He made his way home as such after 4 months with some military training under his belt.
to Halle and became unhappy in his studies, and was apprenticed to a cruel druggist in Lübeck. After
three miserable years, he ran away and signed up with a British “Hessian” military regiment going to
America. He made his way home as such after 4 months with some military training under his belt.
| The Patriot |
He was licensed as a Lutheran minister in 1769 and assisted his father with congregations in New
Jersey, and he married Anna Barbara "Hannah" Meyer, daughter of a potter, the following year.
Next he preached at Woodstock, in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, a settlement of Pennsylvania
Lutherans. Since Anglicanism was the established state church in Virginia, he had to travel to London
to receive ordination as an Anglican clergyman. He was an admirer of Patrick Henry and became a
friend of George Washington.
Jersey, and he married Anna Barbara "Hannah" Meyer, daughter of a potter, the following year.
Next he preached at Woodstock, in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, a settlement of Pennsylvania
Lutherans. Since Anglicanism was the established state church in Virginia, he had to travel to London
to receive ordination as an Anglican clergyman. He was an admirer of Patrick Henry and became a
friend of George Washington.
Promising young Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg was raised near Hanover, and
was educated at Göttingen University where he studied Greek, Hebrew, and
mathematics and was a proficient organist. He left Göttingen for Halle in 1738
where he taught at the Orphan-House and to other students. In 1741,
Muhlenberg was presented with a call from Halle's August Hermann Francke to
go to Pennsylvania. He came to America in 1742, going through Georgia where
he met and with the Halle-trained pastors to the Salzburgers before he moved
permanently near Philadelphia, from which he helped frontier churches.
was educated at Göttingen University where he studied Greek, Hebrew, and
mathematics and was a proficient organist. He left Göttingen for Halle in 1738
where he taught at the Orphan-House and to other students. In 1741,
Muhlenberg was presented with a call from Halle's August Hermann Francke to
go to Pennsylvania. He came to America in 1742, going through Georgia where
he met and with the Halle-trained pastors to the Salzburgers before he moved
permanently near Philadelphia, from which he helped frontier churches.
Expert frontiersman Conrad Weiser was William Penn's chief negotiator with
the Indians from the 1730’s through the 1750’s. He had come to America at
age of 14 with the Palatinate Germans in New York. His father sent him to
live with the Mohawks at age 16 to learn their language, and he was adopted
into their family. For 15 years, Weiser learned the Indian language, habits and
customs. After the New York troubles, the Weisers and other Palatines
relocated to eastern Pennsylvania where Weiser would spend the rest of his
life. Weiser regularly corresponded with Halle's August Hermann Francke.
the Indians from the 1730’s through the 1750’s. He had come to America at
age of 14 with the Palatinate Germans in New York. His father sent him to
live with the Mohawks at age 16 to learn their language, and he was adopted
into their family. For 15 years, Weiser learned the Indian language, habits and
customs. After the New York troubles, the Weisers and other Palatines
relocated to eastern Pennsylvania where Weiser would spend the rest of his
life. Weiser regularly corresponded with Halle's August Hermann Francke.
It must have been a strong combination of genes. The three Muhlenberg sons were all successful.
The Muhlenbergs sent their three sons to Halle for their education in 1763. Henry August
Muhlenberg became a noted botanist often described as “the American Linnaeus.” He was a founder
and president of Franklin College in Lancaster, Pennylvania (established as a German college), and a
member of the Göttingen and Berlin philosophical and scientific societies. He was visited by
Alexander von Humboldt in 1807. Frederick Muhlenberg was also a minister, and became a member
of the Continental Congress in 1779, where he was the presiding officer of the Pennsylvania
Constitutional Convention. A collaborator of Alexander Hamilton, he served four terms in the U.S.
Congress, and was the first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Muhlenbergs sent their three sons to Halle for their education in 1763. Henry August
Muhlenberg became a noted botanist often described as “the American Linnaeus.” He was a founder
and president of Franklin College in Lancaster, Pennylvania (established as a German college), and a
member of the Göttingen and Berlin philosophical and scientific societies. He was visited by
Alexander von Humboldt in 1807. Frederick Muhlenberg was also a minister, and became a member
of the Continental Congress in 1779, where he was the presiding officer of the Pennsylvania
Constitutional Convention. A collaborator of Alexander Hamilton, he served four terms in the U.S.
Congress, and was the first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
One January Sunday in 1776, while giving a sermon taken from
Ecclesiastes 3:1, he suddenly ended it with these words: "There is a
time for all things—a time to preach and a time to pray; but there is also
a time to fight, and that time has now come." He took off his clerical
robes, revealing his full Colonel's uniform underneath and proceeded to
the door. Ordering drums to beat for recruits, he stood proudly while
300 men of his congregation responded at once.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, he suddenly ended it with these words: "There is a
time for all things—a time to preach and a time to pray; but there is also
a time to fight, and that time has now come." He took off his clerical
robes, revealing his full Colonel's uniform underneath and proceeded to
the door. Ordering drums to beat for recruits, he stood proudly while
300 men of his congregation responded at once.
He played key roles at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and in the Southern Campaign that
culminated at Yorktown. After the War, Muhlenberg did not feel he could return to being a parson
after having been a soldier, and in 1784 he surveyed military bounty lands assigned to Virginia
veterans. He returned to his native Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and in 1784 his German
neighbors elected him as Montgomery County's representative to Pennsylvania's Supreme Executive
Council, the state's governing body under its first constitution. After a three-year term, he served as
Vice-President of the Commonwealth, and then served three terms in the U.S. Congress. He was
elected Senator in 1801 but never served, having resigned to accept an appointment from President
Jefferson as Supervisor of the Revenue for Pennsylvania and collector of customs Philadelphia.
culminated at Yorktown. After the War, Muhlenberg did not feel he could return to being a parson
after having been a soldier, and in 1784 he surveyed military bounty lands assigned to Virginia
veterans. He returned to his native Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and in 1784 his German
neighbors elected him as Montgomery County's representative to Pennsylvania's Supreme Executive
Council, the state's governing body under its first constitution. After a three-year term, he served as
Vice-President of the Commonwealth, and then served three terms in the U.S. Congress. He was
elected Senator in 1801 but never served, having resigned to accept an appointment from President
Jefferson as Supervisor of the Revenue for Pennsylvania and collector of customs Philadelphia.
This group became the 8th Virginia Regiment or the "German
Regiment." A faithful, efficient officer trusted by both General
Washington and General Steuben, Peter Muhlenburg successfully
engaged in a number of battles and rose to the rank of Major General in
Washington’s Continental Army.
Regiment." A faithful, efficient officer trusted by both General
Washington and General Steuben, Peter Muhlenburg successfully
engaged in a number of battles and rose to the rank of Major General in
Washington’s Continental Army.
He had to continually travel under harsh conditions, and for a long time ministered to German
Lutheran and Reformed congregations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
and in New York. He is thought of as the founder of the Lutheran Church in America. In his travels,
he met Conrad Weiser’s daughter and married her in 1745.
Lutheran and Reformed congregations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
and in New York. He is thought of as the founder of the Lutheran Church in America. In his travels,
he met Conrad Weiser’s daughter and married her in 1745.
In 1731, Weiser, with his knowledge of frontier skills, was the Provincial Indian Interpreter and
Agent at a meeting between the provincial council and Shekilammy, the Chief of the Six Nations
Federation. Weiser devoted his remaining years to interpreting the thoughts and words of the Indians
to white men. Weiser strived more than any other man of his time to see friendship maintained
between the two. Later, after marrying a German-born woman, the couple joined the celibate order
at Ephrata after being moved by their preaching in 1735, but although they left within two years, he
remained interested in religion all his life.
Agent at a meeting between the provincial council and Shekilammy, the Chief of the Six Nations
Federation. Weiser devoted his remaining years to interpreting the thoughts and words of the Indians
to white men. Weiser strived more than any other man of his time to see friendship maintained
between the two. Later, after marrying a German-born woman, the couple joined the celibate order
at Ephrata after being moved by their preaching in 1735, but although they left within two years, he
remained interested in religion all his life.
| The Halle Connection |
(end of Hessians and Patriots)