John Michael Lindenmuth, our ancestor, was a Palatine, and he speaks in his "Journal" of a "tyrannical collector of tithes and taxes," and says that his father came to the country to "improve his possessions."

The Palatinate, used in a geographical senes, existed in two territorial divisions, upper and lower, as early as the 11th Century. The Lower, the Palatine on the Rhine, was situated on both sides of that river, and was bounded by Wurtumerg, Baden, Alsace, Lorraine, Treves, Hesse. The upper Palatinate, on the east, was surrounded by Bohemia, Barvaria and Nuremburg.

The inhabitants of the Palatinate are the descendents of the group of German tribes called Rheinfranken, with an admixture of the Alemanni, the latter of whom had occupied the land until 496 A. D., when Clodwig, King of the Franks, defeated them in a battle fought somewhere on the Upper Rhine. During the Middle Ages the Palatinate had been been among the most powerful and influential of the German States. The country along the Rhine and the Neckar River was known as the "garden of Germany." The inhabitants of the Palatinate were and still are, among the best farmers in the world, in many districts having cultivated the soil for thirty generations. They are distinguished for indomitable industry, keen wit, independence, and a high degree of intellectuality. It was from this sturdy stock the John Michael Lindemuth came, and his whole life proves that he was worthy of his ancestral traditions.

Since the subject of our sketch was one of a great company who migrated to America with a purpose to "improve his passesions," we may well ask the question,
"What was the cause of the pilgrimage of so many thousands of Palatines to this country?"
The terible religious wars dealt a deadly blow at the prosperity and glory of the Palatinate, as well as at other parts of Germany.

In 1674-75, the war betwenn France and Holland completely devasted this "Garden of Germany" and in 1685, Louis XIV determined that "if the soil of th Palatinate was not to furnish supplies to the French, it should be so wasted that it would at least furnish no supplies to the Germans." The scenes which followed surpassed even the horrors of the Thrity Years' War, so minuetly described by Lord Macaulay in his History of England. Vol, 3, page 112. Of all classes, none suffered more than the peasants, or farmers, who had previously in the Palatinate enjoyed great prosperity. The ravages of contending armies reduced the country to cenury, and many of the inhabitants were. compelled to flee even for their lives.

Now, for the frst time, the religious condition of the Palatines enters as an important factor in preparing the way for the movement of German emigration to Pennsylvania. Hither to the Proveinces had enjoyed religious freedom, but now it was denided them, and the oppression begun by John Williams and continued by his successors for nearly a century aroused the Palatinates to seek in other lands the freedom they were denided in there own.

Another cause of the emigration of Palatinates was the corruption and extravagence of her rulers, whose chief efforts seemed to be directed to a base and slavish imitation of the French Court. Such conditions became intolerable. William Penn's travels in Germany and the pamphlets descriptive of his "Holy Experiment." scattered broadcast in South Germany impressed the Palatinates. Then, too, the efforts of Queen (page 2)

First, the period from 1683 to 1710, from the foundation of Germantown to the coming to of the SwissMennonites. Second, th period from 1710 to 1727, when imigration from Palatinate assumed large proportions, and when official statistics begane to be published. Second, the period from 1710 1727, when imigration from Palatinate assumed large proportions, and when official statistics began to be published. Third, the period from 1727 to the outbreak of the Revolution, which put an end to all imigration for a number of years.

Alarmed by the increasing numbers coming to this land, the English Provincial Council compelled foreigners to sign a declaration of allegiance and subjection to the King of Great Britain, and of fidelity to the Proprietary of Pennsylvania. The first oath was taken in the Court House at Philidelphia, September 21, 1727, by 109 Palatines.

In 1752, the father of John Michael Lindenmuth took this oath. Many of these pilgrims who had gone into New York State, as we know it, made their way to the head-waters of the Susquehanna, and thence floated down that river, passing the sites of the present cities of Binghamton, Pittston and Wilkes-Barre, till they arrived at the mouth of the Swatara Creek, up which they made their way to the district known as Tulpehoken.

The name of John Michael Lindenmuth is chiefly known to us as The Colenel in the Revolutionary War. The nobel monument at Ringtown, in the Catawissa Valley, perpetuates his memory and clelbrates his heroic services to his adopted Country. Hitherto we have been compelled to depend entirely upon the records of the State of Pennsylvania in connection with the Revolutionary War for most of the life and labors of John Michael Lindenmuth. It is well attested that he was a comissioned High Officer, a Major, a Lieutenant Colonel, a Colonel, and that he faithfully served his Country in all these capacities.

But little has been known of the man himself, of his ancestry, of his progeny. Many inferences have benn made as to his character, intellectual qualifications and religion. Those who have written up this Revolutionary Hero have been compelled to satisfy themselves with the preadventures, "it appears," "it would seem." Now however, we have the indisputable facts concerning John Michael Lindenmuth ancestry, native country, migration, French and Indian War service, Revolutionary War activities, and his decendants.

These facts are contained in his Memorandum or Journal," which is herewith published. This "Journal" leaves us without doubt as to his personal charecter, religion, occupation and war occupation and war activities. A few additonal facts concerning John Michael Lindenmuth maybe illuminating.

      When the Revolution was started, it was estimated that out of a population of 300,000 white people in the Province of Pennsylvania, 110,000 or more than one third, were either German or of German descent. The response of the Germans, or Palatines, if you please, to the call of battle for their liberities was almost unanimous. (page 3)

Montgomery, in his "Berks Country in the Revolution," makes the statement that out of 9033 enlistments in that County during the war, the proportion of those, either of German birth or descent, was fully nine tenths of the whole number. No greater encomium could be expressed on John Michael Lindenmuth than this, that his name is returned as Major of the 4th Battalion for the years 1775-1776; and futhermore that he was one of the delegates from his Battalion in attendance at the public meeting held in Lancaster, July 4, 1776 (the very day the declaration of independence was signed) for the purpose of electng two Bridgadier Generals to command the forces of Pennsylvania.

In 1777 the Malitia was organized under general act passed the previous year. The Berks County contingent consisted of 6 Battalions of 8 companies each. We find that John Michael Lindenmuth was commissioned, June 14,1777, by Timothy Matlack, Secretary of the executive Council, as Colonel of the 3rd Battalion, and again in 1778. Here is where John Michael Lindenmuth becomes truly an historical character. The Battalion of Colonel Lindenmuth was mustered into active service on September 27, 1777, with 286 men and participated with [line missing from text] December 18, when it is presumed that John Michael Lindenmuth and his men returned to Berks County.

Following the Wyoming Massacre, on July 3, 1778, a call was made on Berks County to supply 300 men, half to be sent to Easton and half to Sunbury. Montgomery says: "Thesse men, particularly the number sent to Sunt to Sunbury, were taken from Col. Lindenmuth's Battalion." By the following action of the Supreme Excutive Council, on December 31, 1778, it would appear that Col. Lindenmuth and his Battalion were in active service outside of Berks County that year: "Ordered, that the Secretary write to the Lieutenant of Berks County to call upon Col. Lindenmuth, or his Lieutenant Col. stationed last summer at Fort Jenkins in Northumberland County, for rifles taken from one webb, charged with disaffection." From an article wriiten by Dr. Hiester H. Mulenberg, of Reading, Pa., written in 1846,

I gleam the following note: The commision of Gabriel Hiester and Michael Lindenmuth as Justices of the Peace by Thomas Wharton junior, President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, given at Lancaster, April 24, 1778, with the seal of the State of Pennsylvania, and on the reverse a figure of Liberty trampling on a lion, with te inscription, "Both can't survive."

On May 6, 1780, Col. Lindenmuth (of the 4th Battalion, Berks County Militia) addressed a letter to the Council in reference to the murder of some of the inhabitants beyond the Blue Mountains, and t the moving of certain families to the Little schuylkill, and asked for arms around the stores at Reading for self-defense

In the case of the "Neyman Massacre," which occured in what is now called Pottsville, opposite the site of the Hospital it is said: "That Col. Lindenmuth marched with a party to their relief." But John Michael Lindenmuth's service to the State consisted in more than military activity, for, in October, 1779, he was appointed a Commissioner to purchase flour for the French Fleet, a task which requred no small amount of executive ability, and in 1780, he was elected one of the Justices of the Peace for Bern Township, an office which carried far more responsibility than now.

The "Family Journal" of John Michael Lindenmuth is fortunately (Page 4)

              FAMILY JOURNAL OF

           JOHN MICHAEL LINDENMUTH

         In THE year of our Lord 1737,            
            on the 25th of April,

I, John Michael Lindenmuth, was born into this 
wretched world. My father was John Michael 
Lindenmuth, whom next to God, I thank for my 
being. My Grandfather was George Lindenmuth, who 
was born in Boedigheim in the Odenwald, under
the dominion of Kurt Von Collenburg, under the 
Governor of Mains. My Mother was Maria 
Margaretha Wolf. Her Father, or my Grandfather, 
was John Wolf. He was born in the county Hohen 
Lohe, in the City of Oehringen (State of Baden).

My Grandmother on my Father's side was Anna 
Katharine Baumaennin. My Grandmother on my 
Mother's side (her father's side) was Anna Maria 
Oblinger. November 6th, 1747, my father sold his 
estate in Boedigheim, so called, "To the Green 
Tree," for the sum of 4,000 gulden, because he 
decided to go to America to improve his 
condition. We sent our furniture to Eberbach on 
the Nechar River, where we had to hold it for 
eighteen weeks because England had declared war 
on France, which made it dangerous to cross the 
sea without suffering andloss. When my father 
decided in 1748 to buy another property, which 
was an oxen farm in the Hussenhardt, for the sum 
of 3,000 gulden. It was six hours or three 
German miles from Heidelburg, two hours from 
Mossbach, two hours from Humpson, four hours  
from Singheim and one hour from Nechar Muehlbach, 
under the dominion of Gemmingen, under whose 
protection we lived in peace seven years.

 On Palm Sunday 1751 I was confirmed in the 
Evangelical Luthern Doctrine, and for the first 
time partook of the Lord's Supper at the banquet 
table of my Lord, by Reverend Hossoffer Boinge, 
pastor of the Evangelical Luthern Church at 
Hussenhardt. May God stablish, ground and keep us 
in this doctrine to eternal life. Amen.
 
November 20th, 1751, my father decided the second 
time to go to America and sold his estate for 
2,700 gulden. May 5th, 1752, with God's 
assistance we started on our journey for America, 
from Muehlbach (Triel) with a ship in the River 
Nechar to Heidelburg, where we went on board of a 
ship. The name of the owner was Daniel 
Seydennabel. After a few days we came to 
Rotterdam (Holland) with fourteen ships, where 
we had to wait several weeks. Finally my father 
made a contract with Carl Steattman to take us to 
Philadelphia for seven and one half bistel per 
ship load. We left Rotterdam for Philadelphia on 
a big ship (the name of the ship was "Brothers.") 
The name of the Captain was James Mohr. For eight 
days we floated around on the sea which was like 
mad dog, and another six days we lay at anchor 
before we could put to sea. At last we reached 
the sea, and after thirteen weeks of troublesome 
and dangerous sailing from a rough sea, we came 
to Philadelphia on St. Matthew's Day, September 
21st. 1752, in good health and spirits.

We lived two weeks in Jacob Beyer's house. From 
there we moved to Windsor Township in Berks 
County, where we lived in Abraham Berlin's house 
one winter near the Schuylkill, three miles from 
the Blue Mountain, one mile from Benjamin Keper's 
Mill and sixteen miles from the town of Reading.
            
                     II.

Finally, my father again decided to buy 
property. In 1753 he bought a place of one 
hundred and forty acres from Henrich Adam, which 
was two miles from Benjamin Kepner's Mill, three 
miles from Kauffman's Hill, one mile from the 
Blue Mountains and one mile from the Schuylkill, 
for the sum of one hundred and forty pounds of 
Pennsylvania money. We moved on this property in 
the spring, the beginning of April, and supported 
ourselves there with trouble and hard work for 
three years, until in the providence of God the 
Indian War troubled us.

 They took Martin Specht and two children from 
the field. In the fall they also took away two 
horses. We had to leave our home for a time. 
Since there was little to do at the frontier, it 
was decided to recruit out of our province as 
many thousand men as were willing to fight 
against the Indians and the French. I enlisted 
with my father's consent for three years in 
Captain Morgan's Company, the second battalion 
under Colonel Bort. My father did not know what 
to do on account of the Indians fighting, so he 
also enlisted fourteen days after I did, under 
the same conditions. My mother, my grandmother 
and my brothers were with us the first in Fort 
Lebanon, over the Blue Mountains.
 
May 10th, 1756, we were ordered by General
Forbes to Reading and from there to Pittsburgh. 
May 20th, we marched to Sinking Springs, the 
21st, to Herkel Road in Tulpenhockin, the 22nd, 
to Swatara, 23rd, to Harris Ferry, (Harrisburg) 
on the Susquehanna water where we met our 
Battalion which had been in Fort Augusta 
Shamokin.

May 26th, we marched to Carol Hill (Carlisle) 
where we met the Kingly Regiment, Royal America 
and the Mountain or Highland Scotch, and joined 
them under General Forbes. We stayed four weeks 
at Carol Hill and were drilled every day. 
Meanwhile they had drafted a Corps of fifty men 
from the Pennsylvania Settlement whom Captain 
Hambrecht had to command. 

June 22nd, the whole Army marched to 
Shippensburg.

June 23rd and 24th, to Fort Louden where the 
Soldiers from Maryland and Virginia with sixty 
Indians from the Cherokee Tribe joined us. 
June 25th, we marched to Fort Littleton. June 
26th, rest day. June 27th, we marched to Sidling 
Hill. July 1st, we marched to Fort Groosen on the 
Juniata Water, where Captain Morgan and three 
other Captains with two hundred men were ordered 
to build a stockade Fort, which was done. They 
started it on the first of July and at the end of 
the month it was completed. August 1st, we 
continued our march to Raystown where a Garrison 
of fifty men were left behind. On the same day we 
reached the chief army at Raystown. August 2, 3, 
4, and 5th, rest days.
 
August 6th we marched to Johnny Cabin, twelve  
miles. August 7th, we marched to Allegheny 
Mountain where we stayed four weeks with six 
hundred men to dig a road on the mountain, which 
was done. Here on September 4th, we met the 
heavy guns. September 6th, we marched to Stone 
bride. September 7th, to Laurel Hill on the 
Klair Hill. September 8th, to Loyalhanna where we 
built another fort. Until this time we had not 
been attacked by the Enemy. Finally on October 
8th, fourteen men with six Indians were sent out 
to the French Fort on the Ohio (Duquesne) in 
order to spy. October 16th, they luckily 
returned unharmed with two calves and three 
horses. And then the trouble began. A few days 
later twenty-five Indians and the French attacked 
our Oxen guard. Killed one Highlander, captured 
George Meyer and three or four horses, and 
turned back home again to Ohio.
 
In the meantime several skirmishes took place 
between us and the French and Indians. November 
1st, Brigadier General Boget decided to send 
several hundred men with their officers and one 

 (Page 6)
Engineer to search the place 
under Major Grant, but Major Grant was an over 
curious man; with the Engineer and others he 
ventured too near the Fortress, so that the 
Enemy found out our strength, and sent an 
ambuscade on the Monogahela and surrounded us. 
The fighting became hot from the front and the 
rear. Major Grant was captured by the French; 
the Engineer and one hundred and fifty men lost 
their lives. Sixteen wounded men with bloody 
heads came back to Loyalhanna on the 8th. 
Adjutant Meten commanded those which were left 
and were not scattered. Two days before an 
attachment of two hundred men under Captain 
Morgan's command were sent to Endtregen to 
support them. They met them 
fifteen miles this side of Pittsburgh in a 
pitiful condition.
On the 16th of November 
about eleven hundred French and Indians came to 
attack us, but they were dicsovered about one 
mile from the Fort. Two thousand men were sent 
against them at 7.00 o'clock in the evening to 
surround them in a valley behind a mountain. Our 
men left the camp, but in the darkness attacked 
one another, killing eleven and wounding a number 
of our men. They came back in several 
hours in a pitiful condition. The enemy 
disappeared without doing any harm. The next 
morning, on the 17th, we buried our dead with 
sorrowful hearts. Finally, by and by, it was 
decided to send the whole army against the 
enemy, which was done. We began to march November 
22nd, with seven thousand men altogether, the 
drivers not included. The weather was very rough 
and cold. The march went very slowly until 
finally on November 28th, we came to General 
Gogets Camp by the name of Brust Work. November 
29th, in the morning there was a deep snow, the 
whole Army was ordered to march, but halted 
because one of our officers discovered a corps of 
Indians, which ran away as fast as they could. 
Fifty men of the Cavalry were sent under Captain 
Hambrecht's command. Before the Infantry was 
ready a shaking was heard like an earthquake. We 
then made a mad march while the cavalry was 
riding very fast. Eight miles out, this side of 
the Fort, we met a boy about sixteen years of 
age, who had escaped and said that they were busy 
burning everything. This stirred Captain 
Hambrecht so much that he gave orders to go after 
them quickly. They rode with such swiftness that 
they found seven barrels of powder, one barrel 
the bottom was only one inch from the fire, and 
eight barrels of hog meat, which was put away, 
because we were afraid it was poisoned. All the 
buildings were in flames. The Cavalry and 
Infantry arrived that evening at six o'clock and 
took charge of the place, and had to camp at 
night in the open field in very rough and cold 
weather. It was too cold to remain on the open 
field and we were ordered into the woods to camp, 
which was done. The whole army was for several 
days out of provisions because the roads were so 
bad that the teams could not move.
 
The next day when the inspection was made the 
booty was very scant, everything was burned. The 
cannons were taken away. We had the place in our 
possession, but they left nothing behind for us 
except a ruined place. For six or seven days we 
had hardly anything to eat. Since we left 
Loyalhanna we had to lay under the bare heavens. 
General Forbes who was a sickly man did not wait 
any longer, but gave orders to build barracks. 
The most of the sick men were sent to Raystown 
because the most of the wagons were sent back 
there. December 8th, 1753, Captain Morgan got 
orders to take forty men and march ahead on the 
9th, to build for the General a trench and put 
up histent on account of the cold weather, 
where-ever it was necessary. General Forbes 
started the tripwith the Royal Americans. On 
December 19th, we came to Carol Hill (Carlisle). 
On the 20th, General Forbes came there. We all 
were quartered in Carol Hill, but General Forbes 
went to Philadelphia where he died that same 
winter. Our command were permitted to go home. 
We came to Reading, December 31st; we were given 
leave January 3rd, 1757. I arrived at home on 
the 4th, and found my father and mother, my 
grandfather and brothers in good health. We 
heartily and joy-fully thanked the dear Lord for 
His gracious protection and keeping.

(Page7)

I stayed several weeks with them, and then 
received orders from Captain Morgan to come to 
Reading. I arrived there on the 19th, on the 
20th, I was ordered to recruit as strong as we 
could which we did, until March 15th, we had 
twenty-three men for our Battalion. Then we 
received orders from the General to march to 
Pittsburgh. We started our march on March 20th, 
and came to Hergel Roth on the 21st. 
On the 22nd. to Swatara where we stayed two days 
on account of high water. The 25th, we marched 
to Harris Ferry, (Harrisburg) where we stayed 
three days on account of high water. The 29th, 
we marched to Tobias Henrichs. On the 30th, we 
lay quiet. On the 31st, we came to Carol Hill 
(Carlisle) and stayed one day. On April 2nd, 
1757, we marched to Shippensburg where we stayed 
twelve days on account of heavy rain. On April 
14th, we marched twelve miles. On the 15th, we 
came to Fort Louden and stayed there one day. 
The 16th, to Fort Littleton. The 17th, to Fort 
Grossen. The 18th, to Raystown. 19th, rest day. 
The 20th, we marched to the Allegheny Mountain 
where an Express came to us with the information 
that the Indians had killed a Welch and some of 
his people three miles from Loyalhanna. We 
camped on the Allegheny Mountain that night. On 
April 21st, we came to Fort Stony Crik. The 22nd, 
rest day. The 23rd, we came to Fort Ligonier or 
Loyalhanna, with forty-five men, where most of 
our company was sick and had to go to the 
hospital for treatment, much to our sorrow. On 
the 27th, there came one corps of Virginians of 
one hundred and sixty men and four wagons. The 
Indians attacked them three miles from Ligonier, 
or Loylhanna. The number of the enemy was only 
sixty, but they made them flee. The drivers left 
the wagons withall that was in them, unhitching 
one of their horses and rode away. The next day 
a command of one hundred and fifteen men were 
sent out and found all the roads clear. Some 
things were burnt. Everything was brought to the 
Garrison. We had no dead to bury, we lay quiet 
one day. The Indians were continually around us. 
We had some skirmishes with them. On May 6th, 
1757, two wagons were made ready to take the 
sick to Raystown. On the 7th, sixteen sick men 
were loaded into two wagons. One Sergent with six 
men who were well, were sent along for 
protection. They came to Laurel Hill where the 
Indians waylaid them and killed thirteen men. 
The others fled back to the Fort. The Indians 
scalped all of the dead and took all of the 
horses with them. May 9th, we buried all of our 
thirteen dead in one grave. When we came back to 
the Fort we had to march out every day for 
provisions. Our men were more or less sickly in 
the Fort, so that not the half of them was able 
to do duty. On May 14th, 1758 an Ensign of the 
Mountain or Highland Scotch was sent with 
fourteen men, seven loaded pack horses and six 
fat oxen to Pittsburgh. On the 15th, they saw 
Indians along the way, but did not attack them. 
They camped for the night in the three Redentens 
until the morning of the 16th, when they marched 
away very carefully. About three miles from there 
they were attacked by the Indians and were put to 
flight. They captured two of our men and the 
others fled back to the three Redentens. Three 
of our men lost themselves in the woods and 
returned to the Command the next day, the 17th, 
but were right away placed under arrest in 
Pittsburgh. Several hours later the command also 
came with provisions. Then one of the deserters, 
Biesel Hamen, was given five hundred strokes on 
his back. Several days afterward the other five 
hundred strokes. The other two men were sent 
back to Loyalhanna, one was John Clawser. The 
other one was a Mountain or Highland Scotch. The 
next day each was given five hundred strokes on 
the back. After five days they were given the 
other five hundred strokes because they were 
deserters. May 30th, Captain Morgan with 
forty-two men and fifty pack horses was sent 
to Pittsburgh. We began to march. We camped on 
the Nine Mile Run. May 31st we marched to four 
miles on this side of Pittsburgh. That night a 
command came and took us into the Fort, because 
of the Indians. About one hundred and fifty in 
number camped not far from us. We stayed in the 
Fort four days. On the 5th of June 1758, we 
started again for Lovalhanna at 
 (Page 8)