This article is a first-person account of the tribulations of a Swiss family in getting down the Rhine River to board a ship for either England or America. It can be assumed that conditions of such a trip would be very close to what the Studebaker (Stuttenbecker) family experienced only a few months later. I have only provided part of the story which should give you some idea of what it was like.

The first day, October 5, 1734, we proceeded as far as Lauffenburg. There, Hans Jacob Kuhn of Reiden, and his wife, became dissatisfied, secretly left the party and returned home. At Rheinfelden, the passengers had to show their passports. The same evening, we arrived at Bales and there we overtook those who had started the day before us, also those who had traveled on foot to Basel, of whom there were about 28 persons, from Buchess. At Basel, all had to wait until passport through France was obtained at Strasbourg. This cost 44 guilders, but gentlemen at Basel paid it. We were delayed 2 days at Basel after this. Here the wife of Conrad Naff of Webersdorf, escaped and started for home but, having no passport, she was brought back to Basel. Several of the emigrants refused to wait for their passports and a tailor from Liebtensteg suggested that it was better to travel through France and offered himself as a guide, if his expenses were paid. As he spoke French, 31 persons went with him. Nothing more was heard of this company. From 40 to 50 others, from Buchess, Esch and Nettmenstetten, resolved to travel through Lorraine via Nemur to Rotterdam. They fortunately obtained alms at several places, and arrived at Rotterdam 8 days after the main party. After leaving Basel, frequent rains and severe cold made the journey uncomfortable. Many were very poorly clad.

Eighty Piedmontese refugees joined us at Basel, but sailed in a special vessel. On our two boats were 194 persons. Our first night encampment was under clear heavens, upon an island covered with trees and shrubbery, in the middle of the Rhine/ Some nights we could not go ashore, but remained in the boats, although we could not sit up, to say nothing of lying down. It was most pitiful with the children, who kept up heart-rending cries. On the boat, no cooking could be done, yet we had to remain in it day and night. When we could go ashore, we warmed and dried ourselves as best we could in the open air. The poor women sobbed for their warm rooms at home. Most of the passengers thought they would not have to pay for meals from Basel on; but they were disappointed. They consoled themselves with the promise that the commissary with the money would soon arrive, but he did not make his appearance. Many would have gladly returned to their homes. But, as the armies lay on both sides of the Rhine, they dared not venture. Lamentations arose. The men blamed their wives; the wives blamed their husbands. Mrs. Goetschy thus complained, and one day she snatched his cane from her husband's hand and struck him on the back. On one side of the Rhine, quite near us, we saw the camp of the Imperial troops and, on the other side, those of the French. This caused great fear among the passengers. We feared an attack from one or both at any hour and, in consequence, preserved perfect silence.

At Alt-Breysach, the boats were halted and all our chests were opened and examined. When Goetschy call on the commandant of the fort, the latter warned him to sail instantly, saying he could see, through his field glass, the French, on the opposite side of the Rhine, aiming three field pieces at the boat.

Goetschy, poor man, though a minister, had his tobacco pipe or the wine glass in his mouth most of the time. But Heinrich Scheuchzer of Zurich, read a prayer morning and evening. Several days after the organization, Goetschy preached a sermon on the boat, in which he made allusions to the Ebegaumer, which gave great offense.

At Cetch, the hussars of the Imperial army seized the boat, and manifested unfriendliness. In consequence, Mr. Wirtz of Zurich, as our commissary—which title he assumed without our knowledge or desire—went to Heidelberg to obtain a passport, which cost 30 guilders. On the way, the hussars took his tobacco pipe. We had to pay 2 ducats for both vessels. They rode after us 9 miles below Mayence. We should have not gotten rid of the hussars so leniently, if the leader had not been of the Reformed religion. They took the meat from Goetschy's plate and, as they ate it, swung their sabres about his head—whereby he quite lost his appetite. When the fare of the passage on the boats was called for, 40 or 50 had not the money to pay; and they left the boat and went on foot. At Mayence, a detention of 4 days occurred, owing to a failure to agree with the boat captains as to the price to be paid. Finally, it was agreed to pay to Rotterdam 3 guilders for adults and half-price for the children. Things now went some better. It was stated at Zurich, before sailing, that a paper mill would be erected in Carolina, and fine post paper only would be made; that the best material would be sent from Switzerland to make paper.

At Neuwik (Newwied?), 4 couples were married by a Reformed Clergyman.

The Count here wished the entire company to remain in his district, and offered to furnish homes and needful supplies. At Collenburg, we remained 4 days, on account of strong winds. Geotschy preached here for us. The people here collected money for emigrants, amounting to about one Dutch guilder for each person. Geotschy and his family were also cared for, and they invited us ashore daily. We were frequently called upon to sing psalms for the citizens, for which we were liberally rewarded—in money, meats, kabis, potatoes and beer. Our quarters were in a barn, for which we had to pay one steuber every morning. We cooked mostly on the bank of the Rhine. A child of Plattmacher Heinrich Schreiber from Riespack, died here.

From here, Goetschy sent 3 passengers to Rotterdam—Abraham Bunniger, carpenter from Bachenbulach, tailor Jacob Issler and Abraham Weidmann Smith from Luffingen—under the pretense that 2 English ships were there, anxiously awaiting for us, and that in England provisions had been made to care for us during the winter. This was not so. He and his son-in-law sold here, both boats which we brought from Zurich, for 45 Holland guilders, of which we received nothing. We had to pay 3 1/2 steuben per adult and half that for children, to Rotterdam, in spite of the bargain that the Mayence ship's people should take us there for what all had paid. Now all were transferred to one ship, much too small for convenience, and the next morning before daylight, we reached Rotterdam.

When we landed the 3 men sent ahead informed us there were no English ships awaiting for us. Geotschy could give us no relief. On the contrary, he said he could do no more for us, and that each one must now look out for himself. The ship master discharged our baggage in a heap and hurried away.

I a few days, Wirtz returned from the Hague, and said several oxen would be sent us from there; that the States-General would take care of us; and that a large sum of money had been collected for us in England. Goetschy also returned and informed us that a position as a Minister, of great importance, had been promised him by the States-General; and that he and his family had been helped, and that he should see that we, too, received some assistance. Meantime, great poverty and misery among us became steadily greater. No one dared beg because, in Holland, beggars are put in a house of correction. Many became sick from want and hunger. The wife of Hans Meyer, of Ober-steinmir, died and also her 2 year old child. A tailor from Buchess, Sebastian Neracher, by name, who was married and living in Rotterdam, visited us and took us, especially those from Buchess, kindly in hand. These friends were instrumental in procuring us much assistance.

At this stage, some of our party went over to England. After this, we received much kindness from the people, who sent us food and drink, and furnished us with night lodgings. Mr. Schaperhaudt presented our case to Rev. Mr. Wilhel, who advised three of us to go the Hague and apply to Mr. VonFelss at the English Embassy. Three went, but applied first to Goetschy, who disapproved of their calling upon VonFelss, where upon they returned to Rotterdam without accomplishing their errand.

Several days afterwards, Goetschy came and informed us that a certain gentleman wished us to go to Pennsylvania. Most of our party were willing, and allowed themselves to be booked, and those who could write, wrote their own names. Then they went to the shipping agent (schiffpatron) and engaged to pay 6 doubloons passage money for a grown person and 3 doubloons for a child; and for those who died on the voyage, the living should pay the same sum. I have heard since I am home in Switzerland, that they started from Rotterdam for that country (Pennsylvania) on the 24th of February 1735. The agreement for passage does not mean that they will pay the money; but when they arrive in Pennsylvania, they are to be sold to earn this required sum.

 

This article was borrowed from the the book entitled "THE STUDEBAKER FAMILY IN AMERICA—1736-1986" Volume 2, Chapter 4, pages 67-68 which was published by the Studebaker Family National Association, Tipp City, Ohio, USA, 1986.