1725
The Christman Family Breaks Up
This was the turning point year for the Christman family. Hans Nicholas married Maria Elizabeth Feller and moved with her family to the new Burnetsfield Patent issued on April 30.
Johannes, Anna Gertraud, and the 14-year-old Frederick went with 50 or more families to Pennsylvania:
“...Others followed... took lands without the permission of the authorities... and against the will of the Indians for the land had not yet been bought from Them, there was no one among the People to control them, everyone did as he liked and Their strong Self-will has stood in their way to this hour.” - Conrad Weiser
Photo courtesy of Glen Barnes Art
Jacob Christman was on his own. He was 19 years old. His friends were not in Pennsylvania. His friends either went to the Mohawk or were still living in Schoharie. Conrad Weiser was still in Schoharie, but according to his journal in 1736, he had already been deep in Indian country by 1724. Both Jacob Christman and Nicholas Pickert, Conrad's future brother-in-law, may have went along being 18 years old at the time.
In Beer’s, History of Montgomery and Fulton County, on page 130, it talks about the early traders of Minden, which seems to match the pattern for Jacob Christman:
“The first German settlers came to this town between 1720 and 1725, and probably no local tradesman was found among them for the next twenty or more years...”
NOTE TO READER: As the story continues it will show that Jacob rented from the Indians at Canajoharie. He was a hunter, and he probably married a Indian girl, although that is not 100% certain. There is, however, much more evidence to support that fact than there is otherwise. He was also a Indian Language Interpreter. To read my complete study of Jacob click this link:
Photo courtesy of Glen Barnes Art
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