Tracking Colonial Era German Immigrant Ancestors

1738 Palatine Arrivals Aboard Ship Robert and Alice

Jul 18, 2009

Colonial Era German immigrants are not easy-to-trace ancestors. Genealogists welcome such records as this 1738 passenger list.

Because relatively few records exist for German families who came to America prior to the Revolutionary War, those that do are valued by family researchers.

159 Passengers from Germany in 1738

The ship Robert and Alice sailed from Rotterdam in 1738 under Walter Goodman, master, with at least 159 passengers aboard. Only the men are named on this passenger list. There were also more than 50 women aboard. These German immigrants disembarked in Philadelphia.

A-C: Reynhart Alsbach, Mathews Alsback, Andries Bader, Johannis Bener, Luturg Boes, Anthon Bieller, Jacob Bransteder, Johannis Broan, Peiter Buffell, Paulus Buliut, Christian Castle, Michell Clemens, Daniell Clingesmith, Jan Jacob Copenhever, Jan Nichol Craft.

D-H: Adam Daniell, Adam Dick, Casper Dorst, Jan Peiter Escogen, Johannis Escogen, Johanis Ferch, Jacob Frans, Hans Adam Geizler, Jurich Godfreid, Jacob Gorle, Jan Adam Granast, Christian Groab, Abram Hedrick, Christopher Hedrick, Gerit Hedrick, Jan Jurich Hedrick, Pieter Hedrick, Philip Hertzog, Peiter Heyl, Abraham Heyt, Conrad Heyt, Pieter Heyt, Andries Holl, Jan Abram Holl, Jan Nichol Holl, Johannis Honsinger.

J-N: Melchior Jant, Stephen Jorenboxger, Jacob Kensell, Joseph Kensell, Jan Peter Kerch, Byle Keyper, Peiter Keyper, Daniell Klingesmith, Jan Jacob Klunt, Jurich Michell Kolp, Michell Kolp, Peiter Kolp, Jan Paul Kuns, Hans Martin, Andries Meyer, Michell Miller, Nicholas Miller, Paul Mosser, David Nagle, Jan Nichol Nagle, Lundert Nochper (Leonhart Nachtbar?).

P-R: Jacob Peck, Philip Pehl, Lowrans Peirson, Godfried Petzell, Jacob Pricher, Johannis Pricker, Jacob Raymon, Michell Raymon, Hendrick Redinhower, Peiter Redinhower, Baltser Renhowser, Jurick M. Roch,Jan Jurick Roth, Peter Rubie.

S-W: Casper Scheilk, Theobeld Schelfer Sr., Theobeld Schelfer Jr., Al,lexr (Alexander) Schoefert, Valentine Schults, Hendrick Shingell, Jan Jacob Shoemaker, Johannis Shoemaker, Michell Shoemaker, Johannis Sleipher, Frederick Nicholas Sneuder, Nicholas Sneuder, Hans Snyder, Christian Stadler, Hans Martin Stersinger, Hendrick Thomas, Jacob Toffer, Phylip Toffer, Jacob Tomme, Hans Michell Torenberger, Oygell Torenberger, Hans Trautman, Theobel Vink, Christopher Wederigh, Phylip Weys, Casper Weysperger, sick.

Variant Name Spellings

People familiar with the German language will realize that this list contains variant spellings of both given names and surnames. This may indicate that German was not the first language of the ship’s captain and crew, or that the first printed version of the passenger list contained typographical errors.

The list of passengers on the 1738 Robert and Alice sailing to Philadelphia was furnished to this writer in 1988 by Thomas A. Nabers of Muscle Shoals, AL. Nabers descends from Leonhart Nachtbar. He notes that his surname has also been spelled as Naber, Nieber, Nachbar and Nachbaur.

The copyright of the article Tracking Colonial Era German Immigrant Ancestors in Genealogy is owned by Rosemary E. Bachelor. Permission to republish Tracking Colonial Era German Immigrant Ancestors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.