Two histories report that an aspiring preacher by the name of John Samuel Schwerdfeger (German for sword polisher), whose name connects with both the Bells and the Vogelers, arrived in Baltimore in the spring of 1753.
The History of Frederick County Maryland by T.J.C. Williams and Folger McKinsey (1910 reprinted in 2005 Clearfield Pub.) Vol. I at 8 notes:
"Among the curiosities of the Colonial times was the purchase of a pastor by a Lutheran congregation at York, Pa. This pastor subsequently came to the Lutheran church in Frederick, having been sent by the Pennsylvania Synod. He was the Reverend Samuel Schwerdfeger. Schwerdfeger was raised an orphan in Neustadt, in Bavaria and was a graduate of the University of Erlangen. He studied law and theology. Being very poor he was desirous to go to the New World and fell into the hands of "emigrant runners" who shipped him as a redemptioner to Baltimore. He arrived there in the spring of 1753 and was offered for sale for a term of years to pay his passage. He was advertised as 'a studious theologian.' The Lutheran congregation at York, being at the time in a contest against their old pastor, the Rev. Mr. Schaum, hearing of this bargain, concluded to buy Mr. Schwerdfeger as their pastor, which they did."
The second, well researched and documented account of the Rev. Samuel Schwerdtfeger's [note the variation inthe orthography of the spelling] remarkable and idiosyncratic career appears in Pastors and People: German Lutheran and Reformed Churches in the Pennsylvania Field, 1710-1793 by Charles H. Glatfelter, Vol. I, Pastors and Congregations (The Pennsylvania German Society, 1980 Breinigsville, PA), pp. 130-131:
"John Samuel Swerdtfeger, Lutheran. Born June 4, 1734 at (8801) Burgberheim, Bavaria. Son of a pharmacist. Matriculated as a student of theology at Erlangen, April 17, 1751. Left after a short time, possibly for financial reasons and possibly because he was advised to change his career plans. May have been counseled to become a scrivener.
Went to England, where to obtain passage to America he apparently became an indentured servant. Arrived in Baltimore in 1753. There is evidence that some members of the York congregation, dissatisfied with with Helrich Schaum, bought Schwerdtfeger's release from the terms of his indenture and brought him -- a nineteen year old -- to York as their pastor. Whether or not this account is true, he served in the York area (1753-1758). Preached to part of the York congregation (1753-1754) and at Canadochly and Kreutz Creek (1755-1758). Served on the Earltown parish, including Bergstrasse (1758-1763), Earl township (1758-1763), and Muddy Creek (1759-1763).
About 1759 married Anna Dorothea Schwab (born 1735), whose baptism is recorded in the Earltown register. They had nine children, one of whom married Guenther Wiegandt. In 1760 wrote to the reconvened ministerium, complaining that he had not been invited to attend. Was pastor of the Frederick parish, including Beard's and Loudon congregations, from 1763 to 1768. [Note that the Bells and Vogelers were part of the Beard's and Fredericks congregations, and they received communion from Rev. Schwerdtfeger in connection with their naturalizations during the time that he preached there.]During these years returned to Philadelphia to be naturalized there during the September-October 1765 session of the Supreme Court, (NFP, p. 99). Resigned somewhat abruptly in 1768 and went back to Europe. Upon his return to America in 1769, found it all but impossible to obtain a parish. Tried to reinstate himself in Frederick, whose members clearly did not want him back. Several other vacant congregations were likewise uninterested in him.
The ministerium in 1770 recommended a charge on the Berks-Lehigh county border. He lived in Lynn township, Lehigh county, for several years, but was soon without a position. In 1773, according to Muhlenberg's journal, the ministerium took up 'the necessary provision for Pastor Shwerttfeger, who has no position, has a wife and five children, and lacks the wherewithal for a living.' (MJ 2:547)
In the following year, Schwerdtfeger found his 'wherewithal' in New York. Served Albany (1774-1784) and Hosek, or Feilstown, (1777-1788). During the revolution he espoused the British cause, although moderately enough so that he was allowed by his congregation to continue preaching. In 1786 he was one of the founding members of the New York Synod.
In 1790 accepted a call from a congregation made up of loyalists who had established the town of Williamsburgh in what became Dundas county, Ontario. Later that year he dedicated what has been called the first Protestant church in Canada. Two years later, became pastor of a second congregation, at Matilda.
During the 1780's and 1790's he tried to improve his still poor financial situation by claiming land grants from the British government on the strength of his stand as a loyalist during the revolution.Died in 1803 at Williamsburgh and was buried there. Sources: Information received from the Landeskirliches Archiv, Nuernberg; Arhibald F. Bennet, A Guide to Genealogical Research (Salt Lake City, 1951), PP 116-126; Beale M. Schmucher, "The Lutheran Church in York, Pa."; Lutheran Quarterly (18 (1888): 493-494; MJ; DH; James Croil, Dundas: or a Sketch of Canadian History (Belleville, Ontario, 1972), pp. 250-252, 313, reprint of an 1861 edition: Ontario Historical Society Publications 26:317-318 and 31:33.
The Schwerdfeger Connection to Vogeler and Bell
Schwerdfeger became the minister in charge of the Monocacy Church, while Johann Freiderich Vogeler may have been part of that congregation and also had responsibilities for smaller congregations known as Jacob's and Beard's churches very close to the farmlands purchased by Anthony and Peter Bell.
We know from surviving documents that Anthony Bell, Peter Bell and Johann Friederich Vogeler all received Lutheran communion from Schwerdfeger in connection with and as a prerequisite to becoming naturalized citizens of Maryland. Even though Queen Anne initially conferred the Maryland proprietorship on Lord Baltimore as a haven for English Catholics, by the mid 1700's, King George III required all new immigrants to Maryland who wished to own land and have rights of citizenship to take communion in a Protestant faith (Jews excepted) and swear or affirm allegiance to the King after living in the colony for at least seven years. Since King George came from German speaking Prussia, German Protestants were thought likely to be good subjects.
The Maryland Provincial Court records, which I personally examined on October 19, 2006, contain the following entry:
Provincial Court Judgements, 53 Judgements DD9 1765. George Keeler, Peter Bell and Jacob Wacker of Frederick County German Protestants come into Court here between the hours of nine twelve of the Clock in the Forenoon of the thirteenth Day of September One in the pursuance of an Act of Parliament made and [???] in the Thirteenth Year of his late Majesty King George the Second Instituted "An Act for the Naturalizing such foreign Protestant and such others therein mentioned as are Settlers or shall Settle in any of his Majesty's Colonies in America" pray to have the Several Oaths appointed by the said Act Administered to them they having produced the following Certificate of their having received the Sacrament //to wit// These is to certify all Mon where these presents shall concern that George Keeler, Peter Bell and Jacob Wacker Natives of Germany but now residents in Frederick County in the Province of Maryland did in the 20th day of August in the Year of our Lord."
A similar proceeding followed the communion of Anthonius Bell and Johann Freiderich Vogeler among others:
253. September 12, 1764 September 4, 1764 DD- 6,281
Bell, Anthonius of Frederick County, German
Cammerer, Ludwig German, Communion only
Giesert, Frederick of Frederick County, German
Huber, Adam of Frederick County, German
Kohler, George of Frederick County, German
Mong, Nicklas of Frederick County, German
Ritter, Jacob of Frederick County, German
Stephan, Andreas of Frederick County, German
Vogler, John Frederick of Frederick County, German
Lutheran, Frederick County Schwordfeger
wit Conrad Hogmire, Ludetig Funk, Dewald Scheffer
We probably have the Reverend Scherdtfeger to thank for the absence of any record of marriage for either Peter Bell to Elizabeth Vogeler or Anthony Bell to Maria Schneeberger. Most likely they were both married by Schwerdtfeger in one of the rough hewn log churches built near their farms or at the Monocacy church in Frederick. Schwerdtfeger was a notoriously poor recordkeeper, except when it came to the births and baptisms of his own children. As we will see in the next segment, the vital records for the families of Peter and Anthony become more frequent and regular as they begin to prosper and take a prominent position in the devloping western Maryland community.
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