I first wondered why so many German-Swiss came to Pennsylvania. If you will review the early history, you will find that as early as 1671William Penn was in Germany preaching the religion he loved, and winning honest men to this cause. Again in 1677 he traveled over Europe and preached its principles of peace to a war-weary people ... he preached his way into the hearts of the Germans along the Rhine. This is why Pennsylvania became the most important German settlement in the New World.
These Germans that came to Pennsylvania were not an ignorant people. They were the most learned settlers that came to America. In 1743, thirty-nine years before the Bible was printed in English, in America, the Germans of Pennsylvania were reading the German Bible from the press of the learned Dr. Sauer. " According to one source, John Hess arrived in the United States in 3 Jun1710 from the German Palatinate (lower). After his arrival he settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. ---- From 'Private Farm Cemeteries of Lancaster County':
Hans Hess graveyard, Baumgardner Road, Pequea twp
Hans John Hess who came to America in the year of 1717, had surveyed to him 100 acres of land, on May 27, 1718, in Lampeter township, between the Conestoga River and Mill Creek. later he moved to Conestoga twp, now Pequa, October the 27th, 1778 tract of land in Pequa Map showing land owned by Hans John Hess, located in the community of area Baumgardner Station. In the year 1726 Hans Hess requested 75 acres of land for his first son Jacob Hess, adjoining Hans Ulrich and his own tract.
Hans John Hess was taxed in Conestoga township, Chester Co., which later became Lancaster County, in the year of 1719 to 1725. He was naturalized in 1729. (All petitioners said to have been here before 1717 or 1718).
The first house built by Hans John Hess was made of Towcloth similar to heavy canvas, brought along from Switzerland. His second house was made of hickory and bark, the house believed located southeast of the cemetery off the hill of the cemetery close by a stream once believed a spring. This cemetery is located on a farm now owned by Mrs. Mary Sweigart. Hans John Hess left the first will filed under the letter H. in the Lancaster courthouse, Lancaster, PA. in the year 1733. He was the father of 11children. Not all of the family are buried in this field cemetery. The following names of the family and some neighbors are buried here:
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Recorded Stones
1.A.B. 1769 2.M.B. 1769 3.Eva Boehm 1776-1777 4.Martin Beem 1771-1778 5.Tobias Behm ?-1734 6.Christianna Boreman Dec. 6 1688- Mar. 21 1777, 81-3-15 7.George Cass May 2, 1793-Oct 24 1816, 23-7-22 8.Jacob Charles Jan 20 1807- July 29, 1864, 57-2-9 9.w. Anna Eliza Mar 1 1830- Oct-13, 1854, 24-7-12 10.s. Joseph Charles Sept 9, 1854 11.More Fegan Nov 10 1777 12.Benjamin HESS 1794-1796, 2-2 13.Benjamin Hess Feb 4, 1806- Feb 17, 1815 14.Catherine Hess Feb 1, 1806- Mar 31, 1822, Ihres Alters ist 16 jahr 2monoth 15.s. of Hans:Christian Hess 1714- Mar 8, 1794? 16.Christian Hess June 26, 1756 - July 5, 1818, Wills M-1-155 17.Elizabeth Hess 1802 4 mos. 18.Elizabeth Hezin Nov 4, 1801 5-6 weeks 19.H.H. 1727-1744 17yrs 20.H. Hess 1739-1771 21.Hans Hes July 1, 1683 -1733 22.w. Madlena Hesin 1688-1767, 79 yrs. Wills B-1-522 23.s. of Samuel:Heinrich Hess Oct 25, 1768- Feb 21, 1827, 58-3-26 24.M. Hesen 1767-1771 4yrs 25.M. Hess 1735-1760 25 yrs 26.Mary Hezin Dec 23, 31-3 wks 27.s. of Hans:Samuel Hess, Apr 1731-Aug 25 1788 28.w. Esther Hezin 1734-1802 29.Samuel Hess Nov 24, 1804, 4 yrs 30.d of Hans:Veronica Hess Aug 22,1729 -Oct 17, 1814, 81-1-25 WillsK-1-652 31.Veronica(Hartman) Hess Sept 20, 1775- May 7,1851 75-7-17 32.J.M.* 1794 (Marks) 33.Jacob Marks* 1750- Oct 6, 1828 78 yrs 34.Nicholas Marks* Feb 27, 1787-Oct 12, 1821,34-7-16 35.Esther Neuman Feb 20, 1786- Feb 16, 1826 w. of Daniel 36.Jacob Stoner Change: 21 Sep 2006 Time: 01:00:00.
