I. Sufferings of Emigrants while at Sea.
REPORT OF ANDREAS GEYER, JR.,
ON THE CONDITION OF GERMAN REDEMPTIONERS ON BOARD OF THE AMERICAN SHIP GENERAL WAYNE, CAPTAIN JOHN CONKLIN, ADDRESSED, ON APRIL 27. 1805, TO HON. H. MUHLENBERG, PRESIDENT OF THE GERMAN SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA.[1]
Sir: Having just returned from the errand sent upon by you and the other officers of the German Society, relative to the German Redemptioners lately arrived at Perth Amboy, I have thought proper without loss of time to communicate to you in writing, for your and their information, how far I proceeded with the business entrusted me, respecting the said German redemptioners.
I left the city on Friday last, and in the evening arrived at New Brunswick, when I waited on Mr. Robert Eastburn, and presented him the letter you addressed him. Mr. Eastburn appears to be a gentleman of humanity and of feeling. After he read the letter, he observed a willingness to accompany me to Amboy; he did so the next morning, as also did Mr. Kladey. Both of them behaved with the greatest politeness towards me, and with great liberality towards the German Redemptioners at Amboy. Immediately on our arrival at Amboy we went to the river with an intention of going on board the ship General Wayne, or with an expectation of seeing some of the redemptioners on shore. How ever, we saw none of them at the time, and the ship was weighing anchor, and soon after set sail for New York. By enquiry we found the passengers were deposited in the Jail of Amboy, however not closely confined, having permission granted them by the agent to walk about the place or town. From what I could learn, the captain began to be uneasy, as some of the inhabitants had spoken to him with respect to the malconduct exercised by him towards those unhappy beings, and resolved to leave Amboy and go to New York.
I went to visit those unfortunate people, and in truth they may be called unfortunate. And I must confess I have seen a number of vessels at Philadelphia with redemptioners, but never did I see such a set of miserable beings in my life. Death, to make use of the expression, appeared to be staring them in
- ↑ Copied by the author from the Records of the German Society in Philadelphia. The English of the original has not been changed.
