Fourth Great Grandparents Johan Jacob Mundwyler and Anna Gerber left Switzerland in 1805 to escape the Napolenic Wars. This is the story of their journey and arrival in America.
The American ship "Liberty" set sail from Amsterdam on August 18, 1805 bound for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Sidney H. Burrough as Captain.
Many of the 162 passengers on board (see passenger list) came from the same general area of Switzerland including Mr. and Mrs. Johan Christof Gerber of Zunzgen and 7 of their 10 children, including 22 year old Anna.
Johann and Elisabeth Gerber, both in their early fifties, sold their home in Zunzgen the previous year to begin their journey to America. Much of Europe at that time was embroiled in the Napoleanic Wars and, according to daughter Salome (see her story in Leaving Switzerland), this was their reason for leaving.
During the 72 day ocean voyage it can be assumed that young Anna met another passenger, 26 year old Johann Jacob Mundwyler, a wagon wheel maker from Tenniken (formerly Danicken).
At the time it was common for young American immigrants to pay their fare through indentured servitude wherein they would be "sold" to an employer upon arrival, the employer then paying for their passage. In exchange, they would work for a period of time for subsistence, but no wages.
When the ships have landed at Philadelphia after their long voyage, no one is permitted to leave them except those who pay for their passage or can give good security; the others, who cannot pay, must remain on board the ships till they are purchased and are released from the ships by their purchasers. The sick always fare the worst, for the healthy are naturally preferred and purchased first; and so the sick and wretched must often remain on board in front of the city for two or three weeks, and frequently die, whereas many a one, if he could pay his debt and were permitted to leave the ship immediately, might recover and remain alive.
The sale of human beings in the market on board
the ship is carried on thus: Every day Englishmen, Dutchmen, and High
German people come from the city of Philadelphia and other places, in
part from a great distance, say twenty, thirty, or forty hours away, and
go on board the newly-arrived ship that has brought and offers for sale
passengers from Europe, and select among the healthy persons such as
they deem suitable for their business, and bargain with them how long
they will serve for their passage money, which most of them are still in
debt for, When they have come to an agreement, it happens that adult
persons bind themselves in writing to serve three, four, five, or six
years for the amount due by them, according to their age and strength.
But very young people, from ten to fifteen years, must serve till they
are twenty-one years old.
Many parents must sell and trade away their children like so many head of cattle, for if their children take the debt upon themselves, the parents can leave the ship free and unrestrained; but as the parents often do not know where and to what people their children are going, it often happens that such parents and children, after leaving the ship, do not see each other again for many years, perhaps no more in all their lives.
Excerpt from Eyewitness to History: Passage To America
When the ships have landed at Philadelphia after their long voyage, no one is permitted to leave them except those who pay for their passage or can give good security; the others, who cannot pay, must remain on board the ships till they are purchased and are released from the ships by their purchasers. The sick always fare the worst, for the healthy are naturally preferred and purchased first; and so the sick and wretched must often remain on board in front of the city for two or three weeks, and frequently die, whereas many a one, if he could pay his debt and were permitted to leave the ship immediately, might recover and remain alive.
The port of Philadelphia, 1756
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Many parents must sell and trade away their children like so many head of cattle, for if their children take the debt upon themselves, the parents can leave the ship free and unrestrained; but as the parents often do not know where and to what people their children are going, it often happens that such parents and children, after leaving the ship, do not see each other again for many years, perhaps no more in all their lives.
The "Liberty" arrived in Philadelphia on October 15, 1805. Shortly thereafter, this notice appeared in two Philadelphia newspapers:
SWISS AND GERMAN PASSENGERS
The Time of the following passengers, mostly farmers and few mechanics, viz 17 men, 11 women, 12 boys and 11 girls now to be seen at the Spread Eagle Tavern, Cailowhill street near the water, to be disposed of by their agents Winchelblech and Bauds, at the Red Lion Tavern, Market Street between 6th and 7th streets, south, from 9 in the morning till 6 o'clock in the evening. The payment to be made at the countinghouse of
L Huron, #10 South wharf.
L Huron, #10 South wharf.
Given the conditions described, it is no wonder that passengers might
try to escape. Clearly, some members of the Gerber family were able to
pay their passage while others had to remain on board awaiting sale.
But Johann Jacob Mundwyler and half of the Gerber family, including Anna, "jumped ship".
Anna Gerber and Johann Jacob Mundwyler were married on January 25, 1806.
This notice appeared in the Lancsaster Journal later that year:
October 17, 1806
Ten Dollars Reward
Will be given for each of the following persons if taken up and secured. They made their escape from aboard the ship Liberty, of Philadelphia, in November, 1805, without paying their freight.
Elizabeth Gerber, born in Zunssen in the Canton of Basel Switzerland, 53 years old, small stature, dark brown eyes and hair, she is the wife of Christoph Gerber, a carpenter by trade.
Christoph Gerber, a son of the above, aged 24 years, likewise a carpenter.
Jacob Gerber, second son of the above, aged 20 years, likewise a carpenter.
Anna Gerber, daughter of the above named, 22 years old.
Jacob Mundweiler of Danicken, Canton of Basel, 26 years old, brown eyes and hair, some pock marks, sharp face. He is a turner and schoolmaster, and writes a handsome German hand.
Jacob Hursy of Gelderkinder, Canton of Basel, 26 years old, broad nose and mouth, he is a very merry fellow, and by trade a carpenter.
Information is to be given to G. W. Steinhauer, no. 169, at the corner of Wine-street, Philadelphia.
Anna and Johann Jacob's first child, Elizabeth, was born in June, 1807 followed by three more children over the next three years.
The 1810 tax records for Franklin Township, PA list Johann Jacob Mundwyler as "taxable", so we could imagine that he and Anna had been captured and sold into indentured servitude to repay their debt. Jacob's occupation was listed as "weaver".
Johann Jacob and Anna eventually made their way to Ohio and had a total of 11 children.
Anna died on July 31, 1849 in Ohio. Her grave is located in Green Springs Cemetery.
Johann died on December 3, 1869 in Marion County, IL.
...and, in case you were wondering, the Gerber Baby Food company was founded by a descendant of Johann and Elisabeth Gerber (see Gerber Ancestry).