PALATINE EMIGRATION

Introduction
In order to understand who the Palatines were, why they came to America, and what helped them to persevere in the face of much adversity, it helps to understand their origins and the factors that shaped their lives. The following information provides some insight into the forces that brought them to the Hudson, Mohawk and Schoharie Valley areas.

The most widely accepted origin of the word Palatine, and its relation to the geographic area of the middle Rhine Valley in Germany, comes from the Romans. This reference comes from Palatine Hill in Rome, when the title was generically applied to describe local officials. Local officials in Germany who oversaw areas of land assigned to them were referred to as the 'counts palatine'. As the Holy Roman Empire expanded into northern Europe, the word 'palatine' eventually became descriptive of the geographic area - referring to it as the 'Palatine' region. This region was an Electorate state of the Holy Roman Empire, encompassing the area now occupied by Alsace, Lorraine, Wiirtemburg, Baden, Mainz and Treves, and ran from Cologne to Mannheim. Consider the historical context of the late 17" century and early 18" century in Germany. Politically, the area was governed by a succession of royal leaders whose governance in this area depended upon birthright and political affiliation, as well as military strength. As a result, the Palatine people were left to the whims of sometimes-capricious leaders who did not think in terms of the development of the area, but rather in terms of reaping the fruits of peasant labor (figuratively and literally). Additionally, the Rhine River as a means of transportation made possession of this area highly desirable. The religious climate was also fractious, and people in this area were often forced to change their religious affiliations based on the beliefs of the current royal leader. In general, the Palatines were devout in their spiritual ideology and oftentimes ignored the edict to switch to the religion espoused by the current ruler and, as a result, were often persecuted. The Palatine people were of the Protestant faith, but differed in their specific religious ideology. Many were Lutherans, some Calvinist or Zwingli, and some Reformed. All rejected the idolatrous aspects of Roman Catholicism and espoused the freedoms reflected in Protestant tenets.

Agriculturally, the Rhine Valley was a fertile area and desired for its ability to grow a variety of crops, but the area was especially favored for its vineyards. Numerous factions, both from within Germany and the bordering areas, wanted the crops that came from this region. As with any agrarian society, the Rhine Valley was affected by weather changes, pests, and other factors that influence crop growth or failure. Since the area was largely focused on grape production, natural disasters often significantly impacted on the inhabitants’ ability to keep life and limb together. One other aspect that cannot be dismissed is the temperament of the people. There were conflicting views of the Germans and their attributes that seemed to elicit both respect and annoyance, depending upon the context of the situation and the speaker. They were described as tenacious, educated, industrious, frugal, devout in their religious beliefs, independent and able to withstand tremendous adversity. Those who criticized spoke of them as stubborn, pig-headed, belligerent, inflexible and generally not very compliant with authority. It is easy to see how these people both annoyed their detractors and survived untold hardships.

The History Leading to Emigration
As part of the expansion efforts of the German empire of the Saxon and Salian dynasties (919-1125 AD), this area was a new conquest. It was eventually put under the control of the Salian dynasty and, around 1235, was controlled by the Wittlesbach family who controlled Bavaria, led by Frederich II. From that point, various dukes and bishops shared ownership, and eventually the area came into the hands of the descendants of the
Count of Lower Lotharingia who headquartered at Aachen. This territory was called the Renish or Lower Palatinate (in German, ‘Pfalz’) and was located on both sides of the Rhine River between the Main and Neckar rivers. Its capital was Heidelberg and it encompassed approximately 3,500 square miles. This area of Germany passed into various hands, beginning in the late 1400’s with its rule by Friedrich the Victorious (1449-1476). Friedrich united the area, previously divided into four regions, and the Palatinate became a recognized force in the empire of the day.

Prior to 1560, the area was entirely Roman Catholic, but with the transfer of rulership to Elector Friedrich III, it became became Calvinist. Because of Protestant beliefs, the area became desirable to the French Hugenots living close to the German border. They had been persecuted by the French Catholic Church for over 100 years and they saw this area as a haven for religious freedom. Since emigration from France was outlawed, many of the escapees risked life and limb in order to pursue their religious beliefs. Those who stayed behind were forced to convert to Catholicism, and those caught trying to escape were chained to oars in ships’ galleys for the rest of their lives. The Protestant acceptance of religious choice made the Palatinate a desirable location for many French Hugenots. What they found, however, was that although they gained religious freedom, many of them lost civil rights and were at the employ (and, at times, the whim) of the Prince of the Electorate. They were heavily taxed, could not become landowners, and could be pressed into military service by the Electorate. They had to pay a significant price for their new-found freedom. 

Elector Friedrich V changed the political climate of the Palatinate with his acceptance of the Bohemian crown in 1618. This act precipitated the Thirty Years War, which resulted in a stronger Prussia and a significantly weakened Palatine region. Around 1648, the section of upper Palatine was eventually claimed by Bavaria and left the Palatinate at the mercy of other aggessive forces. France under Louis XIV frequently made conquests in the region, taking advantage of this weakened state. As a result of France’s aggression, Britain joined with Holland, Germany and other powers in 1688 and led efforts to stop this wholesale aggression. This resulted in what is referred to as the War of the Palatinate which ended in 1697. Emigration from the Palatinate as a result of this warfare led to the
establishment of Germans in Pennsylvania (now known as the Pennsylvania Dutch).

In addition to the political climate in 1690, the Elector Palatinate was John William, whose devotion to Catholicism was considered almost fanatic. Under his rule, he is reputed to have persecuted all German Palatines who refused to convert to Catholicism. Calvinists, Lutherans and French Hugenots who refused to convert to Catholicism suffered greatly. Finally, in the winter of 1708, record low temperatures froze the Rhine River and closed the waterway for five weeks. Grapevines died, cattle froze, and any wines from previous harvests were ruined. As the previous two years had also seen crop failures, there was no immediate recovery in sight. For 30 years leading up to this point, the inhabitants had endured wars, religious persecution, and now potential starvation. For may Palatines, this was the final blow.

Emigration
In 1709, Britain passed a naturalization act that allowed any foreigner who took an oath professing to be a Protestant and pledging allegiance to the British government to be immediately naturalized and to have all privileges held by English-born citizens for the cost of a shilling. The British crown that was previously under the Catholic King James II shifted allegiance with the coronation of Queen Anne of England. Under Queen Anne (herself a relation of the ruler of the Palatinate and a noted Protestant sympathizer) these offers brought opportunities for a new life. At Queen Anne's direction, land speculators who had obtained land patents in the colonies, sent agents to the Palatines with offers of forty acres of land, paid transportation to the colonies, and maintenance. In addition to the goal of supporting these Protestants, resettling emigrants to New York, north of New York City, would also provide a human buffer against the French in Canada.

Although the task seemed formidable, Protestants from the Palatines left Germany. The Elector Palatinate made vigorous protests at these departures, and published an edict of death to all emigrants. It is unclear whether these threats were fulfilled, but, because of this edict, many departed under cover of darkness. One phase of Palatine emigration began in the spring of 1709 and an estimated 14,000 were camped in Britain in Blackheath, Greenwich Heath, and other sites near London. Conditions were appalling and the British found that they were ill-prepared for the numbers that had crossed their border. Some of these emigrants resettled in Ireland, but without the free land they had been guaranteed. Approximately 3,000 Roman Catholics who emigrated were sent back to Germany, and upwards of 1,000 went to Jamaica, the West Indies and South Carolina. Out of the initial group, about 3,000 went to New York. Some departed for New York from Britain, while others sailed from Rotterdam. Conditions on the ships were poor; food and water were spoiled, vermin ran rampant on the ships and illness spread quickly. Many of the emigrants, especially the elderly and children, died either on board ship or shortly after landing. Upon arriving in New York in 1710, they were housed in Nutten Island (now Governor's Island) and their numbers added approximately a third more to the existing population of New York City.

Economically, there was a need to harvest tar and pitch from the pine forests of New York to support England's massive fleet. A businessman by the name of Robert Hunter petitioned the London Board of Trade to organize a labor force to supply tar and pitch for Britain's naval fleets. This petition led to the establishment of the "Naval Stores" project along the Hundson River, and Hunter was appointed to lead this project while the Palatines supplied the labor. In June 1710, Hunter was appointed Governor of the Province of New York and its dependencies. Purchasing 12,300 acres of land from Robert Livingston, Hunter resettled the Palatines to Livingston Manor and sections of New York along the Hudson River. This was the land which was to be given to the Palatines under their emigration contracts. The Palatines settled in "camps" or "dorfs" with "East Camp" and "West Camp" becoming large, established residences for the new colonists. 

Life in New York
Initially, life seemed to hold promise, and the Palatines worked hard to fulfill their part of the emigration contract that guaranteed each family 40 acres of land. Under the contract, passage was to be paid by Britain and Queen Anne. The contract stated that seven years after they had forty acres a head given to them, they were to repay the Queen by Hemp, Mast Trees, Tar and Pitch, or anything else, so that it may be no damage to any man or his family. In reality, they quickly learned that they were having to work under different expectations, with no timeframe within which to complete their service. They believed the changed circumstances made them no better than indentured servants and, claiming that they had been deceived, complained bitterly to Hunter. A number of them secretly decided that they would resettle to Schoharie to claim rights that were previously promised to them by Indian leaders. After futile efforts by Governor Hunter to dissuade them, they were eventually disarmed and suppressed. A New York official to the London Board of Trade reported that Robert Livingston had taken advantage of Governor Hunter by selling him land that did not contain the proper pine trees needed to extract the tar and pitch. He also reported the Palatines’ complaints and their decision to relocate to Schoharie. (The Palatines’ interest in Schoharie began while they were still in Britain, when a few Palatine representatives in the colonies were introduced to Indian leaders who, supposedly, sympathized with the Palatines and granted Queen Anne a tract of land to be used exclusively by the Palatines) With the failure of the Naval Stores project, Governor Hunter was expected to pay the full amount of the costs and subsequently went bankrupt. No longer able to employ the Palatines, he told them they would have to fend for themselves. Close to starvation, 130 families decided to move to
Schoharie and sent officials ahead to ensure that Indian sympathies still existed and that the Indians would still be willing to sell them the land previously promised to them. In October 1712, fifty families arrived in the area and managed to survive the winter with the aid of friendly Indians. The second group of families came in March 1713, by way of Schenectady. They lived off the land, lived in loosely constructed huts, and walked 40 miles in deep snow to get to their destination. The first few winters were hard but, with assistance from friendly Indians and a fierce determination to survive, the Palatine families gradually established a thriving community. However, unbeknown to the Palatines, others had laid claim to the land in this area, and they were faced with challenges to their land rights. The first of these challenges came from Nicholas Bayard in 1714 . He claimed that the Indians sold him the land prior to their “arrangement” with the Palatines. Having survived may hardships, and still smarting from the deceit suffered under Hunter, they ran Bayard out of the area. Bayard sold his Schoharie Title to the "Seven Partners", a group of British investors who purchased land in the new colonies with the intention of reaping the benefits of its vast natural resources. In 1715, the Seven Partners issued an edict to the Palatines to purchase, lease or leave the land that was occupied by them. Agents of the Seven Partners attempting to enforce this edict were subjected to severe mistreatments. One agent is reported to have been dunked in pig mire, dragged through the settlement, and eventually left on the old Albany road suffering two broken ribs and a bruised ego. Governor Hunter summoned the Palatine leaders in 1717, demanding that they pay for the land and indicating that representatives from England would be coming to enforce the law. Until they complied, they were told not to plow the land. True to form, the Palatines ignored Hunter and sent a petition to the London Board of Trade with their complaints and a reminder of the original contractual agreement. Three Palatine representatives were sent to London but, along the way, they fell into the hands of pirates and arrived in London penniless and broken. They were subsequently thrown into prison for their debts. Two of the leaders left London but died shortly afterward, while one remained to argue their cause. However, without money or power, he failed in his attempt to gain Crown support for the Palatines’ cause.

In 1720, Hunter was replaced by William Bumet, who relocated the majority of the Palatines to new lands. The Palatines who stayed were forced to lease the land they had farmed from the Seven Partners. A small group of fifteen families relocated to Pennsylvania, ninety families moved to the German Flatts (Bumetsfield Patent) along the Mohawk River, and others purchased land in the Harrison Patent and the Van Slyke Patent. Another group of 27 families moved in October, 1723 to what is known as the Stone Arabia Patent, a land grant made by royal decree to the Palatines. 

Summary
Life for the Palatines was full of challenges, and the task of taming the wilderness was a formidable one. Forest land had to be cleared, ground had to be tilled, and crops suited to the environment had to be cultivated. Although some Indians assisted the Palatines by providing guidance and assistance, there were many different tribes in the area, and not all of them were friendly. The French, along with Indian factions, were a constant safety threat, and fortifications had to be built and maintained against these dangers. Britain, although previously sympathetic to the Palatine cause, eventually used them as if they were “human shields” to safeguard borders against the French and Indians. In addition to human aggressors, there was a need for constant vigilance in relation to wild animals that took their toll on livestock and, sometimes, humans. Weather conditions were harsh and they could no longer depend upon the crops they had once grown, or the trades they had previously employed. In addition to the physical hardships, the Palatines also had to learn a new language in order to maintain their independence and argue their rights in the face of opposition. The Palatines, however, proved equal to these challenges. They built their churches, established schools for their children, developed the land, and encouraged further emigration of their friends and families from Germany so that their communities could grow. Their self-sufficiency, bravery, devotion to their Protestant religious beliefs, unflinching persistence and will to survive exemplifies the true spirit of the early Palatine settlers in America. 

Source:
Melissa Witthoft, Putnam Valley, NY (1999)