Krauss

Anna (Heydrick) Krauss was among the second migration of Schwenkfelders to arrive in Pennsylvania. Already a widow, she arrived with her five children in 1733 to start a new life free from persecution. She was my 8th-great-grandmother. The following are her descendants, the ancestors of my paternal grandmother.

Profiles of Krauss Family Members & Spouses

The Krausses and the second migration of schwenkfelders

Melchior and Anna (Heydrick) Krauss and their five children were among the small group of Schwenkfelders known as the “second migration.” Melchior, at age 40, would have been one of the first Schwenkfelder settlers in southeastern Pennsylvania, however he died suddenly just a month before their trans-Atlantic ship set sail.

One of their fellow travelers, David Schultz (1717-1797) recounted their journey and of Melchior’s death in his journal. These entries talk of the generosity the group met from a Herr Heinrich Van Schmissen – notable since the Schwenkfelders were persecuted for their faith, so encountering someone willing to aid them on their travels was a greatly fortunate event.

It is interesting to read the gifts of food and drink the company received along their way: much bread, butter, and alcohol! After all, this was the early 18th century, when clean water did not exactly flow from faucets. We also gain an account of the group’s travels: from Berthelsdorf at the far East of Germany, up the Elbe River to Altona, Denmark (very near Hamburg), around the coast via boat to Amsterdam, and finally from there to Rotterdam, from which they departed to America.

Schultz also writes that on May 14 several of their group became ill on the journey, including Melchior. This day’s entry makes it sound as though Melchior died: “Melchior is no more.” However, the entry on May 28 specifically states that Melchior died that day at 7pm. Assuming that these writings were translated from German, this may explain the vagueness of the May 14th writing.

The following are scans from the Schwenkfelder Genealogy, detailing the journey and with excerpts from David Schultz’s records:

Below is a map showing the group’s travels based on Schultz’s journal entry: from Berthelsdorf, up the Elbe river (note that my red line does not follow the river) to Altona/Hamburg, via sea to Amsterdam and Haarlem, and to Rotterdam. The star shows an approximation of the town of Haarlem, just west of Amsterdam, where Melchior died and was buried.