Tag Drei      Georg Christoph and Maria Catharina
                                    Become Farmers
                               Our Sixth Great-Grandfather

In the 1700's, shiploads of Germans arrived in Philadelphia and by 1790, almost half of SE Pennsylvania was Deutsch. No matter what work these folks did in Germany almost all had become farmers, as our 6th Great-Grandfather Georg Christoph did. Georg C. went from being a vintner to a 55 year old farmer and after only four years of clearing and plowing, passed away and was buried in Stouchsburg, PA. Conrad Weiser, an interpreter who had lived with Mohawks and also spoke German and French lived nearby and harvested grapes. Perhaps Georg C. was also able to grow them.  It is assumed Georg built his home on land he found by following the well worn Tulpehocken-Shamokin Trail along the Schuylkill River. Later his oldest son John George was issued a warrent for land ownership August 16, 1751.

I admire Georg C's spirit. Georg Christoph, born in Steinham or Marbach was 5 when his parents and siblings died in 1693, one younger sister survived. Marbach burned to the ground at that time of war. We don't know who cared gor him. He married Maria Catherina Scheelkopt and lived in Steinheim until age 55. Imagine at his late age leaving Germany for a foreign frontier to start over for the sake of your children so they would not have a life of deprivation, conscription and religious persecution. His family has had opportunity and freedom and we thank him. We are proud to be his ancestors.

The Landis Valley Farm in Lancaster, PA is a living museum showing how Germans continued to use skills from the homeland to succeed in the Middle Colony of Pennsylvania. Imagine having to make everything from red clay or hemp. You cleared it, pulled out the rocks, planted it and harvested, over and over and over...(until you ended up in Stouchsburg).

Valley Forge National Park

Valley Forge (named after the metal forges found there) is the site of the severe 1777-1778 winter camp of the Continental Army and George Washington. Here Friedrich von Steuben, another Prussian like George Christoph, was hired by the Continental Congress to drill and organize the untrained Continentals into a viable fighting force. This is considered the beginning of the professionalization of our army and ultimate success against the British.  After leaving Valley Forge the Continentals beat General Cornwallis at Monmouth, NJ. This proved what von Steuben had accomplished in only six months.

I was unable to find a Horoldt, Harold or Herrold on the Revolution Muster at Valley Forge however Georg Christoph's grandson John (Georg Stophel Herrold's son) trained with the Continentals at Elder's Ford, PA. 

"All the fresh eggs we can eat"

Landis Farm Guesthouse

Built in the 1760's, this stone house is the original farmhouse on the Landis farm. After staying one night in this simple two BR, one BA, very creaky floored old house next to a corn field, we had a better understanding of how a more prosperous farming family might have lived.

After a 45 minute delay........We finally made it to Philadelphia!  Bill picked us up at the airport and we proceeded to our first destination.  The Bond House in the historic district. The Bond House was built in 1769 (20 years after Georg Christoph Horold immigrated with his family).

We sat in the parlor with our glasses of wine and Bill's pictures sharing stories.

After awhile, we walked across the street for dinner at the City Tavern, established in 1775. The staff all dress in period clothing and the recipes are historic as well.  Delicious!!!

Following dinner we walk the neighborhood admiring the buildings and continuing our story sharing. We were in awe of the Revolutionary War Museum. Words of the Constitution are posted on the building. ".....all men are created equal....."

We ended up at a park with a monument commemorating immigration.  (Georg Christoph Horoldt immigrated with his family in 1743)

The rest of the evening found us again hanging out in the parlor sharing stories of growing up in the Herrold family.

Antidotes:
- Aunt Donna was significant support person to Bill and Lorrie.
- Grandma & Grandpa Herrold were significant in all of our lives in different ways.
- Bill and Teri liked grandma Herrold's succetash (corn & lima beans), Lorrie did not.
- Grandpa Katzenbach (our great grandfather) was a huge man!
- Grandpa Herrold (our grandpa) looked very much like his brother.
- Grandpa delivered mail, work the farm of course before going to veterinary school (OSU). He then worked for the government and moved to various places across the country. (from his work history).
- We all remember the Herrold gatherings down grandma and grandpa's basement.
- We are blessed and proud to be a Herrold.

Tag Ein-                    Philadelphia 1750

1700's Mass Transit

                        Roads paved with river and field stones

Walking on remnants of Philadelphia's cobbled streets lined with brick Georgian buildings we get a glimpse of what our brave German ancestors might have seen after their long arduous voyage from Steinheim.  Disembarking from the ship Rosannah, Georg Christoph Horoldt, wife and five children including son Georg Stophel, set foot here in 1743 to raise the family away from Prussian conscription. Philadelphia's Old Town surrounds us with the 1700's-architecture, cannons, the Liberty Bell, old ships.

                         Thomas Bond House,  pre-Revolution

We are staying in the three story Thomas Bond House built in 1769 and restored as a B&B.  Bond was a physican who with Benjamin Franklin established a hospital here.  The home is a block from the waterfront and across the street from City Tavern built in 1773. This Tavern has a rich history and was a meeting place for George Washington and the Continental Congress. It continues to feature food and beer favored in the 1700's served by waiters dressed in period attire. Apparently George Washington liked a good porter...

                           City Tavern patron and a good ale

Thomas Jefferson's Sweet Potato Biscuits

• YIELD: About 2 dozen biscuits

INGREDIENTS

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• One and one-half teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• One-half teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 cups cooked, mashed and cooled sweet potatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• One-half cup coarsely chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger and allspice. Add the shortening and cut in with 2 knives until crumbly. Add the sweet potatoes and mix well with a wooden spoon. Add the cream and pecans and stir just until moistened.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out the dough to one and one-half inches thick. Cut out with a 2-inch floured biscuit cutter. Place the biscuits 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm or let cool on a wire rack until room temperature.