|
Conrad Weiser was born November 2, 1696 to Johann
Conrad and Anna Magdalena Weiser, in Württemberg,
Germany. Shortly after his Mother’s death in
1709 a young Conrad immigrated to the British
Colonies with his family, arriving in the New York
Colony by 1710. At the age of 16 his father
agreed for him to live with the Mohawks where he
quickly learned Native American languages, customs,
and traditions. In 1723 he married the German
born Anna Eve Feck soon after which they moved south
along the Susquehanna River, purchased a large tract
of land and settled in the Tulpehocken Valley, today
Berks and Lebanon Counties. There he
established and worked a farm. It wouldn’t be
long until his history with the people of the
Iroquois Nations would lead him on to a greater
purpose.
Weiser’s knowledge of
Native American languages and traditions made him a
much trusted and instrumental figure in negotiations
between Pennsylvania and the six Iroquois Nations,
assisting with treaties and land purchases.
Relations between them strained because
Pennsylvania policies clearly favored the Iroquois,
in 1737 Weiser attempted to bring peace between the
Iroquois Nations and the Southern tribes like the
Lenni Lenape and the Delaware. The Iroquois agreed
not to send any war parties, but they refused to
send emissaries to talk with the southern tribes.
His fervor for peace however was well recognized by
the Iroquois which led them to name him
“Tarachiawagon” meaning “Holder of the Heavens.”
Working closely with his good friend, Chief
Shekilammy of the Oneidas, they maintained peace
among the various Native American Tribes and the
Colonists. Their efforts secured this peace up
until the French and Indian war broke out it 1755.
Not long after this, in response to an alliance
between the French, Lenni Lenape, and other Native
American Tribes, Pennsylvania established a
provincial militia in which Weiser would receive a
commission as Lieutenant Colonel in 1756. In
1758, Weiser would help to ease relations between
the Iroquois and other tribes to seal the deal on
the Treaty of Easton, in which the tribes of the
Ohio River Valley would agree to abandon the
French.
Weiser had a great many other accomplishments to his
credit as well including Magistrate for Lancaster
County, helped found and lay out Reading, PA, Helped
establish Berks County, and he also served as
President Judge of Berks County up until his death
on July 13, 1760. He was also a Lay Minister
for the Lutheran Church and founder of Trinity
Church in Reading, PA. He was a tannery owner
and store owner as well, but his greatest
accomplishment was the long time peace he helped
maintain keeping stability throughout the entire
region for many years.
Today, the 4,000+ acre Conrad Weiser Homestead, in
Womelsdorf, is known as Conrad Weiser State Park.
A Statue of Chief Shekilammy stands in the park, in
memory of the Oneida Chief and his works with
Tarachiawagon.
Bibliography:
If you wish to read more about Conrad Weiser, click
on the links for my sources below.
Links
below will open a new browser window.
Berks Web - Conrad Weiser Biography
Historical Society of Berks County -1959 Report on
Conrad Weiser by Susan Wolf
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Conrad Weiser
Article
|
