Military: Rev War: Schwenkfelders during the Revolutionary War: Montgomery Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Thera. tsh@harborside.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ____________________________________________________ The following is from "Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families: Seekers of Religious Liberty who Fled from Silesia to Saxony and Thence to Pennsylvania in the Years 1731 to 1737". Edited by Samuel Kriebel Brecht, A.M. Printed for The Board of Publication of the Schwenkfelder Church, Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Rand McNally & Company. 1923. ENROLLMENT OF SCHWENKFELDERS DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR At the time of the struggle for American Independence the population of the colonies was comparatively small. In order to secure enough soldiers for the patriotic cause, it was necessary to enroll all able-bodied men of the remote districts. The following are lists of Schwenkfelders who were enrolled in Capt. Daniel Springer's Company of Militia which was part of the Fifth Battalion. It is not known just how many of them saw actual service in the army, but probably a very small proportion of them served, as their religious views led them to be opposed to bearing arms or engaging in military careers. Capt. Daniel Springer's Co. of Miliia Abraham Anders Abraham Dresher Abraham Kriebel Christopher Meschter Baltis Rhinewalt Christopher Rhinewalt Melchior Rhinewalt David Seipt John Yeakle Baltis Yeakle The second list is "Non-Associators." In this list are included the older men and probably those who for various causes could secure exemption from military duty. We notice that some names are on both lists; perhaps they were the ones who secured exemption. "Non-Associators" George Anders Abraham Dresher Abraham Kriebel George Meschter Baltis Rhinewalt Baltis Yeakle John Yeakle [Hist. of Towamencin Twp. - Mathews - p 12.] In view of authorities examined and of other material at hand, it seems safe to draw these inferences: No one connected with the religious movement of the Schwenkfelders took up arms during the Revolution. No one refused to pay the fines imposed for the non-performance of military service. Less hardship befell them than some other non-combatants. No Schwenkfelders were suspected of treason or toryism, nor were they treated as suspects. Melchior Wagner and Christopher Schultz attended the Provincial Convention for the Province of Pennsylvania in January, 1775, at which time a series of strong resolutions was adopted; one of them contained the words: "Resolved unanimously that it is the most earnest wish and desire of this convention to see harmony restored between Great Britain and the Colonies * * * * but if the British Administration should attempt to force a submission to the late arbitrary acts of British Parliament in such a situation we hold it our indispensable duty to resist such force and at every hazard to defend the rights and liberties of America". Messrs. Schultz and Wagner undoubtedly represented the mind of the Schwenkfelders on the issues at stake in voting for this and other resolutions. Christopher Schultz penned a letter to friends in Germany, June 27, 1779, in which he used these words: "To the glory of God we must say that his protecting hand has been over us in such a fatherly way that notwithstanding frequent fearful prospects, urgent want, severe threats, and even extortions by those in authority, it is customary for our people to say as they meet in conversation, no one has any reason for complaint, he ought rather to thank God who has always had ways and means of escape for us even if at times punishment befell us. The war party has thus far not succeeded in forcing any of our people to enter the military lines although all males between 18 and 53 were enrolled in the militia classes, but exorbitant sums must be paid to escape such service." (Translation.) The same thoughts were repeated in a letter written in 1783, signed by quite a number of leading church members. In 1871 it was by resolution in Conference agreed that members of the Church were not permitted to take part in military bands (brass bands) or to go with or to follow the same.