| Notes |
- Notes for GEORGE ZAVITZ (ZAVIETZ): [Combined Families.FTW] From the Sherk Genealogy:
George S. Zavitz, the first to come to America, is reported to have "lived within sight of the spires of the famous cathedral in Strasbourg, France." As a Protestant he and his family were part of a flood of immigrants to the William Penn Colony where rights to religious freedom had been included in the founding constitution as early as 1681. There is no specific documentation that the Zavitz's were Mennonites on arrival although they were part of that community once in America and after 1797 in Canada. Strasbourg seemed to be a "safe haven" for many years to Anabaptists like the Mennonites. There is no record of the death sentence against these individuals in Strasbourg.
Nevertheless, Protestants in that city felt the pull from the new world. The Rhine was just two miles away with its access to Dutch religious freedom, ships to America and there was news of British support for settlement. Undoubtedly the Zavitz's had heard much about the migration of tens of thousands of Palatine Protestants down the Rhine to Holland and Britain and then on to settlement areas in the Pennsylvania and New York colonies. Promoters were advertising the "good life" in these colonies and Anabaptists, much attracted to the prospect of escaping the harshness of European society, the lack of productive farm land and the security to raise a family. They must also have been aware of the long waits in refugee camps before ships would be available to take them, the thousands who embarked who never made it to the new world, many as forty percent of those attempting the crossing died of disease at sea and the settlement mismanagement that plagued many who did survive the Atlantic crossing.
There is no record of GEORGE ZAVITZ, and his wife BARBARA on the immigrant ship list nor of his arrival in Philadelphia. Since these records were started in 1727 we may assume he arrived before that time. The first record of him in the new world is his purchase of three hundred acres in 1732 from a Caspar Wistar, near Center Valley about 50 miles north of the ciry in a new district in a fertile valley along the Saucon Creek, Upper Bucks County, about 6 miles south of what was later to be the site of Bethlehem. As a miller he looked for mill sites. He and the small group of Mennonite settlers he was with were also influenced by the opening of the Durham Iron Works about 15 miles away. The local Indian tribes, Saucon, Lenni-Lenapes and Shawnees were friendly at this time, and did not resist the arrival of these "whites" in their hunting grounds.
About 1731, George built a grist mill in Center Valley, PA. He was naturalized on March 29,1735. George and Barbara died on the homestead, he in 1759, she about 1766. George's will was probated on June 13,1759. He is buried in a Mennonite Cemetery less than a mile south of his homestead. As the immigrant progenitor he had lived about half of his life in Europe, and half in PA where he experienced religious toleration. All of their eight children lived to adulthood and married. Most were still in Bucks Co. close to their parents. All probably spoke German exclusively.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes for George Zavitz: Taken from Book 1972, proceedings Lehigh County Historical Society, p.46:
George was the first of the Zavitz family in America. He appears to have arrived in Pennsylvania shortly before 1727. His name does not appear on any ships' lists in the port of Philadelphia, and these lists started in September, 1727. George sought naturalization in 1735 when he was already established in Bucks County at Center Valley. He needed the naturalization in order to have land registered in his name. He had made a deal for the land in 1730, but the patent was not issued in his name until 1737, when apparently, he had fully paid for it. Most of his children were born before he came to America. We know that the youngest, son Joseph, was born in 1735 in Pennsylvania, but we have no certain dates for any of the others.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The George Zewitz Mill, by L.Gray
The stone mill at Centre Valley, Pa. Highway 309 east 10 miles of Allentown, was built by George Zeivitz, owned by Harry Geissinger, Modhill Chevilier, as a restaurant. Was torn down about 1965. It may have been built by George Zevitz as early as 1731 (Aug.6) when he first acquired the land (1730) or soon after. Records of Pa. show John Chapman surveyed in name of George Zewitz, 150 acres of land on both sides of Saucon Creek at present Centre Valley. Also J. Chapman received an order for the survey from Jacob Taylor, July 3, 1731, by order of Casper Wister, Apr 23, 1730. This was part of 300 acre tract, a warrant from the Penns to Casper Wister. Transfer in 1737 of full 300 acres to Zewitz, an additional 50 acres was added in 1738. From Germany it was advertised to sell 200 acres with a good deed. It had 90 acres cleared, 20 acres sewn with wheat, 1 good house, barn and grist mill. Did not sell but in 1752 a sale of 150 acres to John Yoder. George Zewitz died in 1759 leaving his wife, Barbara, 6 sons and 2 daughters. George Jr. got the mill, sold land 105 acres but left mill 44 1/2 acres including mill. In 1768 sold and went to North Carolina.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Pa/BucksWill?read=7
Extract from the will of George Zewitz written May 24, 1759 probated June 13, 1759
I do value my plantation with all the building theron erected and the appurtances theunto belonging at the rate of seven hundred pounds, My son Joseph shall remain in possession of my place as long as his agreement, concerning the rent metions. My loving wife, Barbara shall possess the house wherin I dwell durin her life, also three beds and two cows. Also meadow near the small house, and orchard near the mill, both to go back to the place on her death. Also the chest in the room which I occupy, also all my pewter, my table, bedstead, my irson, and earthen pots. To my daughter Esther, f6 as wages in place of the cow I promised her. My children Henry, John, George, Jacob, Mary, Abraham, Joseph, and Esther shall divide residue of my personal estate equally. My children shall divide all whatsoever equally between them real and personal estate, deducting whatever any of them has already received. My place shall be charged with f150 interest from which my wife Barbara shall receive annually. My children, or such child as can pay others their share, shall have my plantation, and maintain it; otherwise it is to be sold.
Execrs. Joseph Zewitz and Henry Weber, who are to have 5 shillings per day.
Signed with mark....X... George Zewitz
Witnesses Hans Musselman and Valentine Young
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/u/t/Thomas-L-Butters/FILE/0003page.html
|
1695 - 1759 (64 years)
[1, 2]