Mennonite Handbook of Information/Chapter 8
CHAPTER VIII
GERMANTOWN THE FIRST PERMANENT MENNONITE COLONY
The first colony of Mennonites in America to stand the test of permanency was established at Germantown, Pennsylvania, late in the year 1683. Of the first arrivals there were thirteen men and their families, making a total of thirty-three persons. These all boarded ship at Rotterdam, the principal seaport of the Netherlands. After a ten weeks voyage, taking final passage from London, England, they arrived at Philadelphia October 6, 1683. One of their number died during passage, two children were born while the vessel was at sea.
Their first habitations at Germantown were in the form of either rude log dwellings with cellars, or dugouts and caves without dwellings. The first minister and bishop who served the Mennonite Church in America was Wilhelm Rittenhuysen, and the first period of worship known to have been held was conducted at the home of Dennis Kunders, where all of the original thirteen families are said to have assembled. Jans Neus is mentioned as the first deacon to serve the Church in America. The first baptismal service known to have been held here was on Sunday May 9, 1708, and the first recorded communion meeting was held May 23, 1708.
Within the first year after the establishment of the colony, the first death occurred, the mother of the three Opdengraff brothers. The first Mennonite meeting house in America was built at Germantown of logs in the year 1708. The same building was also used as a schoolhouse. It was here that the first Mennonite school teacher taught the children to read and write and to conduct themselves after the order of Christian etiquette.
The deed for the ground on which the meeting house was erected bears date of Sept. 6, 1714, and was given by Henry Seller. The names of other ministers who served the Church during the early days were Jacob Funk, Andrew Zeigler, and John Minnich. Andrew Zeigler in later years became bishop, and it is probable that it was in his time that the second recorded communion service was conducted at Germantown, at which time it is known that there were forty-seven members belonging to the congregation. The following list, taken from the Family Almanac of 1875, printed at Elkhart, Ind,, by John F. Funk and Brother, are names of those who were present at this communion.
- Jacob Funk and Ann his wife
- Jacob Rittenhouse
- Jacob Knorr and Hannah his wife
- Catharine Funk
- Andrew Kolb
- Henry Meyer
- Abram Kolb and Ann his wife
- John Funk and Catharine his wife
- Joseph Schreiber and Mary his wife
- Andreas Merewine and Ann his wife
- Christian Benncr
- Samuel Funk
- Isaac Kulp Jr.
- Jacob Kulp
- Sarah Rittenhouse
- Susanna Nice (Granny)
- Barbara Kolp
- Teeny Engle
- Barbara Kolp Jr.
- Keteurah Benner
- Elizabeth Funk
- Barbara Funk (Widow)
- Catharine Funk
- Ann Funk
The following names are members of this congregation that are recorded as having been absent from this communion.
- Margaret Smith
- Susanna Knorr
- Jacob Kolb
- Anna Bennr
- Hester Funk
- David Getter
- John Minnich
- John Rife
- Margaret Rittenhouse
- John Keyser
- Elizabeth Keyser
- Dillman Kolb
- Hannes Schneider
- Isaac Benner
- Abram Benner.