10 November 14 - November 17, 1753
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Nov. 14.
We went very early to see whether we could cross the river, but it had risen two feet, and was running rapidly. So we had to wait, and meanwhile worked on the approach which was very steep. Some Brethren went hunting, but came back empty-handed. The man who lives near the river came and invited the Brn. Gottlob and Nathanael to his house and they accepted. He insisted that Br. Gottlob should baptise his child, but Br. Nathanael asked that he be excused, as he spoke little English, and could not do it at any rate. The man was not satisfied, and said he did not care how it was baptised, just so it was done now. Br. Jacob Lösch crossed the river in the canoe, and went on eleven miles to Mr. Altem to order provisions.
Nov. 15.
Several Brethren went hunting, but secured nothing. The Brn. Gottlob and Nathanael crossed the river in the canoe with the Brn. Haberland and Hermanus Lösch, swimming their horses across with them. They plan to go today to Mr. Altem, who is well acquainted with our land, and have him go with them tomorrow to look over the property, and find a place where we can stay until we select the best place for our settlement. Br. Grube stayed with the other brethren by the river which was still too high. In the evening we were visited by a German lad, who lived on the Etkin, and had been to Smith’s River for 11 quarts of salt, for which he had paid 50 cents. Br. Grube held evening prayers.
Nov. 16.
Reconstruction of Hans Wagner’s cabin, the abandoned house found by the brothers. Image credit. About the photograph
We rose early to ford the river. The bank was so steep that we hung a tree behind the wagon, fastening it in such a way that we could quickly release it when the wagon reached the water. The current was very swift, and the lead horses were carried down a bit with it. The water just missed running into the wagon, but we came safely to the other bank, which however we could not climb, but had to take half the things out of the wagon, and tie ropes to the axle on which we could pull, helping our horses, which were quite stiff, and so we brought our ark again to dry land. Half a mile beyond we drove through a wide swamp, then up a long hill. We stopped at noon by a creek near a plantation. At four o’clock we reached Mr. Altem’s, ten miles from our last night’s camp, having had just about the worst road of our whole journey. We rejoiced that the Lord had helped us so far. Toward evening the Brethren Gottlob, Nathanael, Lösch, etc. rejoined us, having looked about a little; six miles from the edge of our land they found a little house, which a German built last year and then abandoned. We set up our tent by Mr. Altem’s house. Br. Gottlob, Br. Nathanael, and the others who were on the trip through our land today took supper with Mr. Altem. We retired early, being quite worn out.
Nov. 17.
This stone memorial was created in 1806 to mark the site of the Wachovia settlement. Image credit. About the photograph
We rose early having had a cold night; it looked much like snow. Some of the Brethren went ahead with axes and grubbing hoes to clear the road and cut down the steep banks of the creeks. One mile from Altem’s we crossed Down Forck Creek, and came to the new road leading across our land to the Etkin. On the right hand side of the creek is a plantation, and the people gave us two sacks of pumpkins and offered us a wagon-full more free of charge. Two miles from our land we crossed Buffler Creek. One mile from our land we stopped for the noon rest. The Brn. Gottlob and Nathanael had gone ahead to the next plantation, which adjoins our land, and the people presented them with a couple of bushels of turnips. At last, at half past twelve, we reached the boundary of our land, whereat we all rejoiced; and there we were met and tenderly welcomed by Br. Gottlob and Br. Nathanael. It touched us, and we thanked our Saviour that He had so graciously led us hither, and had helped us through all the hard places, for no matter how dangerous it looked, nor how little we saw how we could win through, everything always went better than seemed possible. We wished that the dear ones in Bethlehem, now gathered in the Sabbath Lovefeast, could know that we, in less than six weeks, had safely reached our land. We drove three miles further on the new road, then turned to the left and cut a way for two and a half miles to the little house that the Brethren found yesterday. We reached it in the evening and at once took possession of it, finding it large enough that we could all lie down around the walls. We at once made preparation for a little Lovefeast, and rejoiced heartily with one another. Br. Gottlob began the singing with the little verse; —
We hold arrival Lovefeast here,
In Carolina land,
A company of Brethren true,
A little Pilgrim-Band,
Called by the Lord to be of those
Who through the whole world go,
To bear Him witness everywhere,
And nought but Jesus know.
The texts for the day were strikingly appropriate; — “I know where thou dwellest,” — even in a desert place. “Be ye of the same mind one with another.” While we held our Lovefeast the wolves howled loudly, but all was well with us, and our hearts were full of thanksgiving to the Saviour Who had so graciously guided and led us. Then we laid ourselves down to rest, and Br. Gottlob hung his hammock above our heads.
Comments
- a German
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Hans Wagner.
- Down Forck
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Town Fork.
- Sabbath Lovefeast
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The Moravians of that day often set apart Saturday afternoon as a preparation for Sunday, — hence “Sabbath” and the Lovefeast. A. L. F.
- the little house that the Brethren found yesterday. We reached it in the evening and at once took possession of it, finding it large enough that we could all lie down around the walls
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On the site of this house, in Bethabara, or Old Town, a monument was erected in 1806 bearing the inscription: Wachovia settlement, begun the 17th November, 1753.
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This page copyright ©2008. Terms of use
From Travels in the American colonies, ed. under the auspices of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, by Newton D. Mereness.
Courtesy of Library of Congress.
