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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
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