Conrad Weiser dies 13 July 1760
Conrad Weiser is buried near Womelsdorf in Berks County Pennsylvania, on the Conrad Weiser homestead. George Washington was very aware of Conrad Weiser's activities while GW was in Fort Cumberland MD and in Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. Many years later "On the 13th day of November, 1793, General George Washington, accompanied by General Joseph Hiester and other distinguished men, stood at the grave of Conrad Weiser, and said : " This departed man rendered many services to his country, in a difficult period, and posterity will not forget him.''"
When Washington was in Fort Loudoun Winchester VA and in Fort Cumberland MD, he knew of Conrad Weiser and of his influence on the Indians.
The other Winchester connection to this great man occurs in 1753, when Winchester VA held an Indian Peace conference. Those Indians left Winchester to then go to another Peace conference in Carlisle PA headed by Contrad Weiser.
His tombstone epitaph reads as translated from German to English:
This is the resting-place of the once honored and respected Conrad Weiser, who was born November 2d, A.D.1696, in Afstaedt, County of Herrenberg, Wuertemberg and died July 13th, A.D. 1760, aged 63 years, 8 months and13 days
In German (Hoch Deutsche?)
Dies ist die Ruhe Staette des weyl. Ehren geachteten M.Conrad Weiser; dei-selbige ist gebohren 1696 den 2. November in Alstat im Amt Herrenberg im Wittenberger Lande, und gestorben 1760 den 13. Julius, ist alt worden 63 Jahr, 8 Monat und 13 Tag
It is alleged that Henry Muhlenberg wrote this epitaph.
Henry Muhlenberg married Conrad Weiser's daughter. Of that couple's children is Peter Muhlenberg.
According to a biography written by his great-nephew in the mid-19th century,[6] on January 21, 1776, in the Lutheran church in Woodstock, Virginia, Muhlenberg took his sermon text from the third chapter Ecclesiastes, which starts with "To every thing there is a season..."; after reading the eighth verse, "a time of war, and a time of peace," he declared, "And this is the time of war," removing his clerical robe to reveal his Colonel's uniform. Outside the church door the drums began to roll as men turned to kiss their wives and then walked down the aisle to enlist, and within half an hour, 162 men were enrolled.[7] The next day he led out 300 men from the county to form the nucleus of the 8th Virginia Regiment. Though it is accepted that Muhlenberg helped form and lead the 8th, historians doubt the account of the sermon, as there are no reports prior to Muhlenberg's great-nephew's biography - wikipedia.
We have not vetted that last claim of wikipedia but will follow up on that.
Account of the sermon
Both [nephew] Muhlenberg’s account of the sermon seventy five years after the fact and Thacher’s account two years after the event agree that Muhlenberg wore a uniform in the pulpit on the day in question, although only Henry Muhlenberg noted the uniform was initially covered by Muhlenberg’s church robe.
Source
The life of (John) Conrad Weiser, the German pioneer, patriot, and patron of two races
by Weiser, C. Z. (Clement Zwingli), 1830-1898 Publication date 1899
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Compiled by Jim Moyer end of July 2024, updated 8/11/2024
Table of Contents
Sources
Conrad Weiser Wikipedia
Source of Washington quote:
The life of (John) Conrad Weiser, the German pioneer, patriot, and patron of two races
by Weiser, C. Z. (Clement Zwingli), 1830-1898 Publication date 1899
Walton, Joseph S. Conrad Weiser & the Indian Policy of Colonial Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: George W. Jacobs & Co., 1900
Conrad Weiser's journal of a tour to the Ohio, August 11, October 2, 1748 ..
by Weiser, Conrad, 1696-1760 Publication date 1904
(EDITORS NOTE: The foregoing article was prepared by the author, a student in Reading High School, for delivery on the “Showcase” radio series of 1957-58 over WEEU.)This article originally appeared in the Spring 1959 issue of the Historical Review of Berks County.
Conrad Weiser in Founders Online
To George Washington from John Stanwix Camp
near Carlisle [Pa.] 22d June 1757
I have intelligence from Col: Wesser that the French Indians are Clearing a Road within ten Miles of Shamokin near Fort Augusta & are morally sure by Indian intelligence that of that Fortress being Attack’d by which we may learn the French are busy every where,
3. Conrad Weiser (1696–1760), German native and prominent Indian agent in Pennsylvania, at this time was colonel in the Berks County Regiment, from which the garrison at Fort Augusta was drawn.
From George Washington to Andrew Montour
[Fort Cumberland, Md., 19 September 1755]
To Captain Montour.Sir,
The number of the Virginia Forces is considerably augmented, and I have again taken them under my Command.
I am therefore very desirous of seeing you here; and the more so, because I have it in my power to do something for you in a Settled way, which I hope will be agreeable to you. You have, much contrary to my inclinations, been tossed about from place to place, and disappointed in your just Expectations: which Inconveniences I will Remedy, as much as lies in my power.
I desire you will bring some Indians along with you; which will put it more in my power to Serve you—They shall be better used than they have been, and have all the kindness from us they can desire.
If you think it proper to bring Mrs Montour along with you,1 she shall Receive the best Usage, and be provided for. I am &c.
G:W.
Fort Cumberland—September 19th 1755
LB, DLC:GW.
1. Andrew Montour was married several times. His first wife, a granddaughter of the Delaware sachem Allumapees, had died earlier, and he seems to have been married twice more, first to an Indian woman called by the English name Sarah and later to an Indian called Catherine. It is uncertain whether the wife mentioned here is Sarah or Catherine. Montour’s wife sometimes traveled with him.
Conrad Weiser noted the presence of Montour’s wife at the making of the Treaty of Aughwick in 1754, and in Nov. 1755 Montour’s wife and children were left for a time with the English.
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Peter Muhlenberg
According to a biography written by his great-nephew in the mid-19th century,[6] on January 21, 1776, in the Lutheran church in Woodstock, Virginia, Muhlenberg took his sermon text from the third chapter Ecclesiastes, which starts with "To every thing there is a season..."; after reading the eighth verse, "a time of war, and a time of peace," he declared, "And this is the time of war," removing his clerical robe to reveal his Colonel's uniform. Outside the church door the drums began to roll as men turned to kiss their wives and then walked down the aisle to enlist, and within half an hour, 162 men were enrolled.[7] The next day he led out 300 men from the county to form the nucleus of the 8th Virginia Regiment. Though it is accepted that Muhlenberg helped form and lead the 8th, historians doubt the account of the sermon, as there are no reports prior to Muhlenberg's great-nephew's biography
Account of the sermon
Both Muhlenberg’s account of the sermon seventy five years after the fact and Thacher’s account two years after the event agree that Muhlenberg wore a uniform in the pulpit on the day in question, although only Henry Muhlenberg noted the uniform was initially covered by Muhlenberg’s church robe.
Both Major General Peter Muhlenberg and General Anthony Wayne were indispensable figures not only during Washington’s tenure at Valley Forge, but for the entirety of the Revolutionary War. Muhlenberg, born on October 1st of 1746, came from the small town of Trappe, Pennsylvania. His family was aptly suited to raise a future leader; his maternal grandfather, Conrad Weiser, was one of the chief diplomats between the Native American populations in the Southeastern region of Pennsylvania and the colony’s government, while his father, Henry Muhlenberg, was a German Lutheran Missionary sent to Pennsylvania and established himself as the founder of the Lutheran Church in America
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