Individual Details
Thones Kunders
(1653 - 30 Dec 1729)
Thonis must have received his first name after his maternal grandfather, because there is no such call name in the Coenis family. He, the grandfather, may have been the Thonis HECKER who was living in the Heckerhof in 1652, before Coentgen COENIS and his sister Giertgen acquired the property.
Came to America on "Concord", l683 Source: "John Conard of Loudan Co., Va by Amy Bowen, also Athlyn Luzier. Thones Kunders & His Children by Judge Henry Cunard; Rupp's Imigration, p. 429 and Desc. of John Conard of Loudan Co., Va by F. L. Babcock.
They are among the thirteen families often referred to as the Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Founders, who arrived on the ship Concord on October 6, 1683. The thirteen heads of household were: Leonard Arrets, Johannes Bleickers, Tones Coenen-Heggers, Peter Kurlis, Johann Lenssen, Johan Lucken, Reiner Theissen-Doors, Abraham Tunes Klinken, Wilhelm Strepers, Abraham Isacks op den Graeff, Derick Isacks op den Graeff, and Herman Isacks op den Graeff. These tree op den Graeff brothers became in fact cousin to William Penn
They appear to have been a rather well-to-do people, of a much higher class than the immigrants that followed them. Pastorius and his learned friends had collected them in Germany, obtained from Penn the grant of land on which they settled, and it was natural that a rather better sort of people should attach themselves to leaders of such high character. ' The village was at first unnamed, and called the German Town, which after a while was spelled as it now is. It was the first German settlement on American soil, and was incorporated in 1691 with a good array of Germans and Dutchmen for officers:
" Francis Daniel Pastorius, bailiff; Jacob Telner, Dirck Op den Graeff, and Thones Kunders, burgesses; Abraham Op den Graeff, Jacob Isaacs Van Bebber, Johannes Kassel, Heivert Papen, Hermann Bom, and Dirck Van Kolk, committeemen."
These worthy burghers Whittier has described as associating in easy, friendly familiarity with Pastorius, discussing the strange mysteries of their religion, and leading lives of gentle simplicity among their gardens and farms:
" Or talking of old home scenes Op de Graaf
Teased the low back-log with his shodden staff,
Till the red embers broke into a laugh."
Citizenship under such pious rulers was not to be considered a trifle, and immigrants were obliged to pay one pound sterling for the privilege. That there might be no mistake in their knowledge of the laws, the people were to be called together on the 1pth of January in every year, and the laws and ordinances read aloud to them. The learned Pastorius contrived a seal for their little town, and, as most of them were weavers and had come from a country of vineyards, he made it consist of a clover-leaf on which were a vine, a stalk of flax, and a weaver's spool, with the words " Vinum, Linum, Textrinum."
( It was difficult, however, to get these good people to (carry on a government even under such an ingenious seal, and they finally lost their charter by failure to f elect officers under it. Like the Quakers, they were, in / theory, opposed to politics and all kinds of force, even the force of a sheriff in serving a writ or making an arrest. They were at first unwilling to proceed to force even against thieves and trespassers; and until, like the Quakers, they had had a full taste of the sweets of power, resignations and refusals of office were somewhat more numerous than they are now in German\town.
, the founder of Pennsylvania .
Among the early pioneers who came to America was Dennis Conard, as the name was anglicised, who came, in ,the ship "Concord," in 1683, from Crefeld on the Rhine, Germany, the colonists having been preceded by Francis Daniel Pastorius, who had been charged with the duty of finding home lands for them within the province lately granted by the English sovereign to William Penn. After a voyage of seventy-four days the "Concord," five hundred tons burthen, William Jeffries, master, landed at Philadelphia, October 6, 1683.
Francis Daniel Pastorius, in his "Beschreibung Pennsylvania" (published at Leipzic, 1700) under, the date Oct 24, 1685 gives the following account of the settlement: "With the wish and concurrence of our Governor, I lay out and planned a new town, which we call Germantown, or Germanopolis, is a very fine and fertile district, with plenty of springs of fresh water, being well supplied with oak-, walnut- and chestnut-trees and having beside excellent and abundant pasturage for the cattle. At the commencement there were but twelve families of forty-one individuals, consisting mostly of German mechanics and weavers. Our German society have in this place now established a lucrative trade in woolen and linen goods, together with a large assortment of other useful and necessary articles." He enumerates the lot-holders as Tunis Conderts, John Strepers, Dirck, Herman, and Abraham Opdegraef, Paul Wolff, Jacob and Peter Schumacher, Johannes Kassell, Rynier Tissen, Jan Lucken, Gerhard Heinrich, David Sherkges, Wigart Levering, Gerhard Levering, Isaac Sheffer, Andreas Souplis, William Claus, and Dirck Rittenhouse, Dirck Keyser Sr., and William Strepers.
The name of the progenitor was written by himself as both Kunders and Kunrad, and, is mentioned in Penn's charter of Germantown, signed and granted August 12, 1689, as Dennis Conrad, for then he was one of the first burgesses of Germantown, as well as one of the founders. It may be said, however, that Dennis Conrad was also known as Thones Kunders, in the Westphalian, and became Dennis Kunrade, or Conrad, in the Saxon. He settled in the German colony in Germantown, which has since been included within the corporate limits of the city of Philadelphia, and from him all the Conards of Whitpain township are descended.
The family were Friends, and it is to the honor of the German Friends of Germantown that as early as 1688 they addressed the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting at Burlington, protesting against the buying, selling and holding of men, women and children in slavery, declaring it in their opinion an act irreconcilable with the precepts of Christian religion. As early as 1683 the first meetings of the Friends were held at Dennis Conrad's house, and a part of the wall of that ancient house may now be seen an the northwest end of the two houses rebuilt and occupied by Mr. Lisher as an inn. On the site where Dr. George Bensall's house now stands there was an ancient house, pulled down by Dr. Bensall, in which William Penn preached. It was low, and built of frame work filled in with brick. He also preached at Schumacher's ancient house in Melch's Meadows, which was built 1686 and taken clown about twenty-five years ago.
On the 7th of May, 1691, Thomas Lloyd, as Deputy Governor, granted naturalization to Dirck, Herman, and Abraham Opdegraef, Johannes Cassels, Jacob Schumacher, Dirck Keyser, Arnold Cassel, Peter Dirck Keyser, Peter Schumacher, Sr., Peter Schumacher, Jr., William and Claus Rittinghuysen, Johannes Kusters, Heinrich Unchholt, Isaac and Mathias Jacobs, Wigert Levering, Isaac Sheffer, Paul Wolff, William Streepers, Johannes Bleickers, Reiner Herman, Andreas Souplis, David Scherkes, Hans Peter Umstat, Reinert Tissen, Jan Lucken, Peter Klever, Heinrich Frey, Hans Andreas, Kramer Jurgen, Isaac Schumacher, Peter Kurlis, Gerhard Levering, and Jan Williams. About three-fourths of this number settled withinn the limits of the present county, where their descendants are still numerous.
Burgess of Germantown in 1691;
Elected one of the Fens-besichtger "Fence-viewers" in 1692 (Viewers made sure a town's inhabitants kept their livestock from running at large);
Town Recorder in 1696;
Justice Dec. 16, 1702;
Juryman in 1694/5,1702,1704.
Overseer of Friends' Meeting before Dec. 1702;
chosen Overseer of Germantown Meeting Mar. 1716 & Dec. 1720;
appointed to attend Quarterly Meeting Nov. 1717. He was among those naturalized by an Act of Assembly, 1708-1709.
COLONIAL & REVOLUTIONARY LINEAGES OF AMERICA
THE CONRAD LINE - Pg 296
I. Thomas (Thones) Kunders, as the name was originally spelled, was born about 1653-58, and died in the Fall of 1729 at Germantown, PA. His early life was spent at Crefeld, Germany, where he worked as a blue dryer. A group of one-half dozen neighbors at Crefeld purchased 1800 acres of land in PA from William Penn. One of these, Lenart Arets, whose wife was a sister of Kunder's wife, sold to him 500 acres of this land. A party of 13 families, consisting of 33 persons, left Crefeld. They sailed 24 Jul 1683 on the ship "Concord," and, upon their arrival in PA, located at Germanton. The Kunder's home was on what is now Germanton Avenue. He was a Friend and in 1688 was one of the Friends of Germantown who voiced the first opposition to slavery. When the town was incorporated in 1692, he was chosen one of the burgesses.
He married Elin Steypers, supposed to have been a sister of William Steypers. The first three children were born in Crefeld; the others in Germantown. They assumed the name Conrad. Among their seven children was a son:
1. Madts, of whom further.
(HC Conrad: "Thomas Kunders & His Children" pg 5-7, 11, 16, 19, 22)
II. Madts Condersor Conrad, as the name became at this time, son of Thomas & Elin (Steypers) Kunders, was born at Crefeld, Germany 25 Jan 1679, and died at Germantown, PA in 1726. His will dated 29 Oct 1725, was proved 09 Apr 1726. He came to America with his parents at an early age.
He married Barbara Tyson (TysonII) Among the children named in his will was a daughter:
1. Margaret, of who further.
(Ibid, pg 14)
III. Margaret Conrad, daughter of Madts & Barbara (Tyson) Conrad, born in 1709 married Jacob Shoemaker (First Shoemaker Line III)
(Ibid, pg 14 BH Shoemaker: "Genealogy of the Shoemaker Family of Cheltenham, PA")
WILL
CUNARDS, DENNIS. Germantown, Co. of Philadelphia.
June 19, 1722/3. December 30, 1729. E.121.
Son-in-Law: Griffith Jones. Children: Cunrad, Mathias, John, Henry, Ann Streepers, Agnes Powell, Elizabeth Jones. Friend: Anthony Loofe. Exec: Cunrad Cunrads, Griffith Jones.
Wit: Peter Shoemaker, Dirk Jansen, David Hey.
Extracted from GEDCOM provided by Rick Swayne
A ged file of this data base is available upon request. The publication, CONQUEST, 2nd edition, 2008, a summary of the two Dillon lines described in this data base, is on file with the Library of Congress, SAR and DAR libraries, the LDS Family History Li
[Phil's Copy.FTW]
!Came to America on "Concord", l683 Source: "John Conard of Loudan Co., Va by
Amy Bowen, also Athlyn Luzier. Thones Kunders & His Children by Judge Henry
Cunard; Rupp's Imigration, p. 429 and Desc. of John Conard of Loudan Co., Va by
F. L. Babcock.
Thones Kunders was one of 13 aboard the ship Concord that left LondonJuly 24,1683 and arrived in Philadelphia on October 6, 1683. There were13 families that founded Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniawith oneof them being Jan Lucken. Thones Kunders Quaker house in Phildelphia isa historical landmark still standing today. His name was rendered DennisConrad or Cunnard in English from Germany or Prussia.
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #0260, Date of Import: Dec 27, 1996]
See 'Old Churches and meeting houses in and around Philadelphi' by Faris LH Gen Ref 974.8 F 2280 St. Joseph Co. Public Lib. (IN)
'When William Penn invited the persecuted Friens of the Palatinate to join his Province of Pennsylvania, they decided to make the venture for the sake of religious freedom. They bought, in 1683, through the Frankfort Company, 5700 acres of land, located some six miles north of Philadelphia. On October 6, 1683, thirteen families arrived on James Claypole's ship "Concord". James Pastorius was the leader. A few weeks later they laid out Germantown. Before the close of the year the first meeting was held in the rude stone house of Dennis Conrad, who was then known as Thomas Kinders. Five years later this meeting was made memorable in the story of the Friends in America, because from it was sent the protest against slavery, of which their leader Pastorius was the writer...
Came to America on "Concord", l683 Source: "John Conard of Loudan Co., Va by Amy Bowen, also Athlyn Luzier. Thones Kunders & His Children by Judge Henry Cunard; Rupp's Imigration, p. 429 and Desc. of John Conard of Loudan Co., Va by F. L. Babcock.
They are among the thirteen families often referred to as the Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Founders, who arrived on the ship Concord on October 6, 1683. The thirteen heads of household were: Leonard Arrets, Johannes Bleickers, Tones Coenen-Heggers, Peter Kurlis, Johann Lenssen, Johan Lucken, Reiner Theissen-Doors, Abraham Tunes Klinken, Wilhelm Strepers, Abraham Isacks op den Graeff, Derick Isacks op den Graeff, and Herman Isacks op den Graeff. These tree op den Graeff brothers became in fact cousin to William Penn
They appear to have been a rather well-to-do people, of a much higher class than the immigrants that followed them. Pastorius and his learned friends had collected them in Germany, obtained from Penn the grant of land on which they settled, and it was natural that a rather better sort of people should attach themselves to leaders of such high character. ' The village was at first unnamed, and called the German Town, which after a while was spelled as it now is. It was the first German settlement on American soil, and was incorporated in 1691 with a good array of Germans and Dutchmen for officers:
" Francis Daniel Pastorius, bailiff; Jacob Telner, Dirck Op den Graeff, and Thones Kunders, burgesses; Abraham Op den Graeff, Jacob Isaacs Van Bebber, Johannes Kassel, Heivert Papen, Hermann Bom, and Dirck Van Kolk, committeemen."
These worthy burghers Whittier has described as associating in easy, friendly familiarity with Pastorius, discussing the strange mysteries of their religion, and leading lives of gentle simplicity among their gardens and farms:
" Or talking of old home scenes Op de Graaf
Teased the low back-log with his shodden staff,
Till the red embers broke into a laugh."
Citizenship under such pious rulers was not to be considered a trifle, and immigrants were obliged to pay one pound sterling for the privilege. That there might be no mistake in their knowledge of the laws, the people were to be called together on the 1pth of January in every year, and the laws and ordinances read aloud to them. The learned Pastorius contrived a seal for their little town, and, as most of them were weavers and had come from a country of vineyards, he made it consist of a clover-leaf on which were a vine, a stalk of flax, and a weaver's spool, with the words " Vinum, Linum, Textrinum."
( It was difficult, however, to get these good people to (carry on a government even under such an ingenious seal, and they finally lost their charter by failure to f elect officers under it. Like the Quakers, they were, in / theory, opposed to politics and all kinds of force, even the force of a sheriff in serving a writ or making an arrest. They were at first unwilling to proceed to force even against thieves and trespassers; and until, like the Quakers, they had had a full taste of the sweets of power, resignations and refusals of office were somewhat more numerous than they are now in German\town.
, the founder of Pennsylvania .
Among the early pioneers who came to America was Dennis Conard, as the name was anglicised, who came, in ,the ship "Concord," in 1683, from Crefeld on the Rhine, Germany, the colonists having been preceded by Francis Daniel Pastorius, who had been charged with the duty of finding home lands for them within the province lately granted by the English sovereign to William Penn. After a voyage of seventy-four days the "Concord," five hundred tons burthen, William Jeffries, master, landed at Philadelphia, October 6, 1683.
Francis Daniel Pastorius, in his "Beschreibung Pennsylvania" (published at Leipzic, 1700) under, the date Oct 24, 1685 gives the following account of the settlement: "With the wish and concurrence of our Governor, I lay out and planned a new town, which we call Germantown, or Germanopolis, is a very fine and fertile district, with plenty of springs of fresh water, being well supplied with oak-, walnut- and chestnut-trees and having beside excellent and abundant pasturage for the cattle. At the commencement there were but twelve families of forty-one individuals, consisting mostly of German mechanics and weavers. Our German society have in this place now established a lucrative trade in woolen and linen goods, together with a large assortment of other useful and necessary articles." He enumerates the lot-holders as Tunis Conderts, John Strepers, Dirck, Herman, and Abraham Opdegraef, Paul Wolff, Jacob and Peter Schumacher, Johannes Kassell, Rynier Tissen, Jan Lucken, Gerhard Heinrich, David Sherkges, Wigart Levering, Gerhard Levering, Isaac Sheffer, Andreas Souplis, William Claus, and Dirck Rittenhouse, Dirck Keyser Sr., and William Strepers.
The name of the progenitor was written by himself as both Kunders and Kunrad, and, is mentioned in Penn's charter of Germantown, signed and granted August 12, 1689, as Dennis Conrad, for then he was one of the first burgesses of Germantown, as well as one of the founders. It may be said, however, that Dennis Conrad was also known as Thones Kunders, in the Westphalian, and became Dennis Kunrade, or Conrad, in the Saxon. He settled in the German colony in Germantown, which has since been included within the corporate limits of the city of Philadelphia, and from him all the Conards of Whitpain township are descended.
The family were Friends, and it is to the honor of the German Friends of Germantown that as early as 1688 they addressed the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting at Burlington, protesting against the buying, selling and holding of men, women and children in slavery, declaring it in their opinion an act irreconcilable with the precepts of Christian religion. As early as 1683 the first meetings of the Friends were held at Dennis Conrad's house, and a part of the wall of that ancient house may now be seen an the northwest end of the two houses rebuilt and occupied by Mr. Lisher as an inn. On the site where Dr. George Bensall's house now stands there was an ancient house, pulled down by Dr. Bensall, in which William Penn preached. It was low, and built of frame work filled in with brick. He also preached at Schumacher's ancient house in Melch's Meadows, which was built 1686 and taken clown about twenty-five years ago.
On the 7th of May, 1691, Thomas Lloyd, as Deputy Governor, granted naturalization to Dirck, Herman, and Abraham Opdegraef, Johannes Cassels, Jacob Schumacher, Dirck Keyser, Arnold Cassel, Peter Dirck Keyser, Peter Schumacher, Sr., Peter Schumacher, Jr., William and Claus Rittinghuysen, Johannes Kusters, Heinrich Unchholt, Isaac and Mathias Jacobs, Wigert Levering, Isaac Sheffer, Paul Wolff, William Streepers, Johannes Bleickers, Reiner Herman, Andreas Souplis, David Scherkes, Hans Peter Umstat, Reinert Tissen, Jan Lucken, Peter Klever, Heinrich Frey, Hans Andreas, Kramer Jurgen, Isaac Schumacher, Peter Kurlis, Gerhard Levering, and Jan Williams. About three-fourths of this number settled withinn the limits of the present county, where their descendants are still numerous.
Burgess of Germantown in 1691;
Elected one of the Fens-besichtger "Fence-viewers" in 1692 (Viewers made sure a town's inhabitants kept their livestock from running at large);
Town Recorder in 1696;
Justice Dec. 16, 1702;
Juryman in 1694/5,1702,1704.
Overseer of Friends' Meeting before Dec. 1702;
chosen Overseer of Germantown Meeting Mar. 1716 & Dec. 1720;
appointed to attend Quarterly Meeting Nov. 1717. He was among those naturalized by an Act of Assembly, 1708-1709.
COLONIAL & REVOLUTIONARY LINEAGES OF AMERICA
THE CONRAD LINE - Pg 296
I. Thomas (Thones) Kunders, as the name was originally spelled, was born about 1653-58, and died in the Fall of 1729 at Germantown, PA. His early life was spent at Crefeld, Germany, where he worked as a blue dryer. A group of one-half dozen neighbors at Crefeld purchased 1800 acres of land in PA from William Penn. One of these, Lenart Arets, whose wife was a sister of Kunder's wife, sold to him 500 acres of this land. A party of 13 families, consisting of 33 persons, left Crefeld. They sailed 24 Jul 1683 on the ship "Concord," and, upon their arrival in PA, located at Germanton. The Kunder's home was on what is now Germanton Avenue. He was a Friend and in 1688 was one of the Friends of Germantown who voiced the first opposition to slavery. When the town was incorporated in 1692, he was chosen one of the burgesses.
He married Elin Steypers, supposed to have been a sister of William Steypers. The first three children were born in Crefeld; the others in Germantown. They assumed the name Conrad. Among their seven children was a son:
1. Madts, of whom further.
(HC Conrad: "Thomas Kunders & His Children" pg 5-7, 11, 16, 19, 22)
II. Madts Condersor Conrad, as the name became at this time, son of Thomas & Elin (Steypers) Kunders, was born at Crefeld, Germany 25 Jan 1679, and died at Germantown, PA in 1726. His will dated 29 Oct 1725, was proved 09 Apr 1726. He came to America with his parents at an early age.
He married Barbara Tyson (TysonII) Among the children named in his will was a daughter:
1. Margaret, of who further.
(Ibid, pg 14)
III. Margaret Conrad, daughter of Madts & Barbara (Tyson) Conrad, born in 1709 married Jacob Shoemaker (First Shoemaker Line III)
(Ibid, pg 14 BH Shoemaker: "Genealogy of the Shoemaker Family of Cheltenham, PA")
WILL
CUNARDS, DENNIS. Germantown, Co. of Philadelphia.
June 19, 1722/3. December 30, 1729. E.121.
Son-in-Law: Griffith Jones. Children: Cunrad, Mathias, John, Henry, Ann Streepers, Agnes Powell, Elizabeth Jones. Friend: Anthony Loofe. Exec: Cunrad Cunrads, Griffith Jones.
Wit: Peter Shoemaker, Dirk Jansen, David Hey.
Extracted from GEDCOM provided by Rick Swayne
A ged file of this data base is available upon request. The publication, CONQUEST, 2nd edition, 2008, a summary of the two Dillon lines described in this data base, is on file with the Library of Congress, SAR and DAR libraries, the LDS Family History Li
[Phil's Copy.FTW]
!Came to America on "Concord", l683 Source: "John Conard of Loudan Co., Va by
Amy Bowen, also Athlyn Luzier. Thones Kunders & His Children by Judge Henry
Cunard; Rupp's Imigration, p. 429 and Desc. of John Conard of Loudan Co., Va by
F. L. Babcock.
Thones Kunders was one of 13 aboard the ship Concord that left LondonJuly 24,1683 and arrived in Philadelphia on October 6, 1683. There were13 families that founded Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniawith oneof them being Jan Lucken. Thones Kunders Quaker house in Phildelphia isa historical landmark still standing today. His name was rendered DennisConrad or Cunnard in English from Germany or Prussia.
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #0260, Date of Import: Dec 27, 1996]
See 'Old Churches and meeting houses in and around Philadelphi' by Faris LH Gen Ref 974.8 F 2280 St. Joseph Co. Public Lib. (IN)
'When William Penn invited the persecuted Friens of the Palatinate to join his Province of Pennsylvania, they decided to make the venture for the sake of religious freedom. They bought, in 1683, through the Frankfort Company, 5700 acres of land, located some six miles north of Philadelphia. On October 6, 1683, thirteen families arrived on James Claypole's ship "Concord". James Pastorius was the leader. A few weeks later they laid out Germantown. Before the close of the year the first meeting was held in the rude stone house of Dennis Conrad, who was then known as Thomas Kinders. Five years later this meeting was made memorable in the story of the Friends in America, because from it was sent the protest against slavery, of which their leader Pastorius was the writer...
Events
| Birth | 1653 | Crefield, Germany |  | ||
| Baptism | 9 Jul 1673 | Mennonite Church in Goch, Germany | |||
| Marriage | 31 May 1677 | Reformed Church, Krefelt, Rhineland, Prussia - Elin Magadalen Tyson |  | | |
| Event | 24 Jul 1683 | | |||
| Event | 1688 | Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Event | 1691 | Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Event | 1705 | Pennsylvania | | ||
| Death | 30 Dec 1729 | Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania | | | |
| Alt name | Thonis Hecken Kunders | ||||
| Burial | Haddenfield Friends Burying Ground, Nj | | |||
| Occupation | Weaver (Blue Dyer) |
Families
| Spouse | Elin Magadalen Tyson (1650 - 1729) |
| Child | Cunraed Cunraeds (1678 - 1747) |
| Child | Mathias Conard (1680 - 1725) |
| Child | John Conard (1681 - 1765) |
| Child | Ann Entgen Cunraeds (1684 - 1752) |
| Child | Agnes Kunders (1686 - 1729) |
| Child | Henry Cunreds (1688 - 1758) |
| Child | Elizabeth Cunard (1691 - 1757) |
| Father | Coentgen Lenssen Coenis (1627 - 1691) |
| Mother | Anna Entgen Thones (1632 - 1691) |
| Sibling | Tring Lessen Kunders (1655 - ) |
| Sibling | Lenss Lenssen Kunders (1657 - ) |
| Sibling | Margaret Streypers (1664 - 1745) |
Notes
Marriage
Tonis Kuners of Gladbach and Lentgen Matteisen of Kaldenkirchen." The bride was the daughter of Theis Doormans or Doors and Agnes. [Matteisen means daughter of Matteis or Theis, which is a form of the name Matthew.]Event
Sailed 7/24/1683 on the Concord with 13 families of Crefeld, Germany to America. One of the settlers of Germantown, Pa."The third ship to arrive in the Delaware in October, the Concord, is reported by its best known passenger, James Claypoole, to have carried a crew of forty, mounted twenty-six guns, was 132 feet long and 32 feet broad. Claypoole also said it was "about 500 tunns" burthen and could transport 140 passengers in comfort. When ready to sail from Gravesend it had been victualled for 120 passengers, a number of whom - "the friends from Crevilt" - had been late in arriving at London. When they did finally come on board, they found "many convenient cabins made and private rooms for familys and 14 Excellent Oxen killed and 30 Tunn beer & abundance of bread and water already stowed away.
Claypoole and his family went on board at Gravesend 24 Sm (July) 1683, but the last sight of England was not until about three weeks later. After a "verry comfortable passage" of 49 days, land was once more sighted, and on 1 8m (October), some of the passengers, including Claypoole, went ashore for the first time, possibly at Lewes. Philadelphia, however, was not reached until a week later. Some of the German passengers gave their date of arrival as 6 October, Claypoole his arrival as "8th or 10th" October." ...
Of the 13 heads of families from Crefeld who came on the Concord, bringing 33 persons in there group, only three registered their arrival. These were LENART ARENTS (Aratts), a weaver, his wife, AGNISTAN (Agnes), and LEONARD TEISON (Tyson), sald to have been the "brother" of Lenart Arents. The heads of the other Crefeld families were JOHANNES BLIJKERS (Bleickers), ABRAHAM OP DEN GRAEFF, a weaver, His brothers DERICK and HERMAN OP DEN GRAEFF, both weavers, PIETER KEURLIS, an innkeeper, THONES KUNDERS. JAN LENSEN, another weaver, JAN LUYKENS (Luckens), JAN SIEMES, REYNIER TEISSEN, ABRAHAM TUNES, and WILLEM STREYPERS (Strepers).
The Concord of London
William Jeffreis, Master, for Pennsylvania and Virginia" (Passengers and Ships Prior to 1684, p. 96, 1970)
WILLIAM PENN, in the spring of 1683, conveyed to a half dozen residents of Crefeld, Germany, about eighteen thousand acres of land in
Pennsylvania, situated in the neighborhood of Germantown. Shortly afterwards the enterprise was started which resulted in the formation of the
Frankfort Company in 1686. Altogether the Frankfort Company secured twenty-five thousand acres of land from William Penn. The evident
purpose in view in the grant of these large tracts of land was colonization from German.
On July 24, 1683, the first little band of German emigrants set sail in the good ship "Concord," for Pennsylvania. There were thirteen men
with their families, comprising thirty-three persons, nearly all of whom were relatives, all hailing from Crefeld, a city of the lower Rhine in
Germany, a few miles from the borders of Holland. Crefeld was chiefly noted for its manufacture of silk, linen and other woven goods, and
these manufacturies were first established by persons fleeing from religious intolerance. Among the number on the ship "Concord" was Thones
Kunders, a man, at that time, presumably of twenty-five or thirty years of age, and his wife Elin, supposed to have been a sister of William
Streypers, the latter being also one of the emigrants.
At that time Thones Kunders had three children and they were brought with him on the ship. Daniel Francis Pastorius, the most
conspicuous of German emigrants of those days, by reason of his great learning and familiarity with many languages together with his high
social position at home, had previously consulted with these Crefeld people and arranged the details of their enterprise. He had sailed for
America some six weeks previous and landed at Philadelphia, August 20, 1683. His manuscript says, "I talked with Tunes Kunders and his
wife, Dirck, Hermann and Abraham Op deu Graeff, and many others, who six weeks later followed me."
These emigrants were largely Mennomites and Friends in religion. Both of these sects believed in inward piety and a godly humble life,
considered all strife and warfare as unchristian, abstained from taking oaths, opposed a paid ministry, favored silent prayer and exercised a
strict discipline over their members. The voyage was pleasant and uneventful, and on the 6th day of October, 1683, the pioneers landed at
Philadelphia, having been seventy-four days in making the passage. On the 12th of the same month a warrant was issued to Pastorius for six
thousand acres of land "on behalf of the German and Dutch purchasers." On the 24th Thomas Fairman measured off fourteen divisions of land,
and a few days afterwards, meeting together in the cave of Pastorius, they drew lots for the choice of location, as shown by the following
agreement made twenty-six years afterwards.
We whose names are to these presents subscribed, do hereby certify unto all whom it may concern, that soon after our arrival in this
province of Pennsylvania, in October, 1683, to our certain knowledge, Herman Op den Graeff, Dirk Op den Graeff, and Abraham Op den
Graeff, as well as ourselves, in the cave of Francis Daniel Pastorius at Philadelphia, did cast lots for the respective lots which they and we then
began to settle in Germantown, and the said Graeffs (three brothers) have sold their several lots, each by himself, no less than if a division in
writing had been made by them.
Witness our hands this 29th Nov. A.D. 1709. Lenart Arets, Jan Lensen, Thones Kunders, Willem Streypers, Abraham Tunes, Jan
Lucken, Reiner Tysen.
On these lots they proceeded at once to build their houses, rude and primitive though the structures were, described by some of the
writers of that day as caves, being built probably against the sides of the hills with high coverings to serve as roofs. Charles S. Keyser, Esq., in
his paper read at the Keyser re-union in 1888, says, "that day our ancestor arrived, what is now an avenue of the city of Philadelphia, paved
and lighted for a distance of nine miles, was not then even the Germantown road, but only an Indian pathway, lined with laurel bushes; caves
here and there, cellars with some shelter over them, houses as they were called, fifty altogether; one with two stories, and one mill to supply
the town with flour. In these houses were high-backed chairs, round tables, pewter dishes and spinning wheels. One man's cellar, it might be,
with its shelter of branches was one of their meeting houses.
"Various languages were spoken here, some French much German and much Dutch, and continued to be spoken for nearly a century
after. Farther from man and nearer to God, seems to have been upon their lips and in their lives, coming to this wilderness.
"With these peculiar people were the simple workers, toiling in the gardens, weaving in their caves and houses, working from daylight to
darkness; these had also their peculiarities, the women went about in their short skirts and petticoats; we yet remember some of us, the old
grandmothers or great-grandmothers, with kerchiefs snowy white, folded across their breasts, who survived down to the beginning of our
passing generation. White linen was worn here and woven here, pure and spotless as the snow, making the town notable; all of the these men
and women worshipped together, striving to do the will of the Saviour as it is written in the scriptures, without magistrates and without laws,
and without ceremonies, without poverty, and without crime; with an earnest endeavor to conform their lives as far as it was possible to them
to the image of the Saviour on this earth."
The winter following must have been one of hardship and privation to these "strangers in a strange land," as they doubtless had only
enough of the necessaries of life to keep soul and body together. Pastorius writing afterwards, said, "it could not be described nor would it be
believed by coming generations, in what want and need, and with Christian Contentment and persistent industry this Germantownship started."
Here it was that our ancestor Thones Kunders, in the plainest possible way, with scanty means, but possessing thrift and industry, settled
down with his wife and three boys to work out for himself a livelihood in America. On June 18, 1683, before starting for America, he
purchased from Lenart Arets, a weaver in the town of Crefeld, whose wife was a sister of Kunder's wife, for a consideration of 10 pounds, a
warrant for five hundred acres of land to be located in Pennsylvania, which Arets had purchased from William Penn. Most of these Crefeld
emigrants were weavers; they made "very fine German Linen, such as no Person of Quality need be ashamed to wear," and by strict economy
and frugality succeeded in making a living, and laying by in the course of years a fair competency for that day.
Part of the walls of the house built by Kunders are still standing, (1891), and form part of the house known as No. 4537 Germantown
Avenue, occupied for several years past as a barber shop by Christopher Kinzel. At one time it was known as Lesher's tavern. Kunders also
owned "Side Lot No. 2," situated near the railroad bridge at Wayne Junction on the west side of Germantown Avenue.
In 1683, very soon after the arrival of this little band, the first Friends meeting in Germantown was held in the house of Thones Kunders,
and likely was continued there until the first meeting-house of Thones Kunders, and likely was continued there until the first meeting-house was
built in 1686, and it is reasonable to presume that the dignified Penn "sat in silence" under old Kunder's roof. That Kunders was a devout
Friend, is evident from the provision in his will, where he gave to his son-in-law, Griffith Jones, "The bed and furniture standing in the New
Room to be for the use of friends."
Event
In 1688, the little band of Friends at Germantown, Thones Kunders being one of them, raised their voices in opposition to the institutionof slavery, it being the first recorded protest against slavery in America.
Event
In 1691, on a charter of incorporation being granted to the village,Thones Kunders was chosen one of the burgesses, and the records show him to have served as a juryman on several occasions.
Thones Kunders, with sixty-three others, was naturalized,
3d, mo.7th, 1691, and his three oldest sons, Cunraed, Madtis and John, were naturalized February 20th, 1713, to hold and enjoy lands.
Event
The Friends at Germantown built their meeting-house of stone in 1705. It stood in their present graveyard on the street. Thones Kunderscontributed 10 pounds 11s. toward it, presumbly part in work and part in money.
While living at Crefeld, Thones Kunders carried on the trade of a blue dyer, and continued the same after settling in Germantown. In his
will he speaks of his "out-houses, stills, and Dying Kettle, Worms and Wormtubbs thereunto belonging." At one time he was recorder of the
court.
Death
He continued to live at Germantown the remainder of his life, in all a period of forty-six years, his death occurring in the fall of 1729, the exactdate not being known, and his remains I presume were laid at rest in the graveyard adjoining the old Friends Meeting at Germantown. As no
mention is made of his wife in his will it is to be supposed that she died before him. Seven children were born to Thones and Elin Kunders.
Their names were Cunraed, Madtis, John, Ann, Agnes, Henry and Elizabeth. The first three were born at Crefeld, the others at Germantown.
Proud, in his history of Pennsylvania says, "Among the first Germantown settlers was Dennis Conrad. The first religious meeting of the
Quakers, in that place, was held at his house in 1683. He was an hospitable, well-disposed man, of an inoffensive life and good character. He
died in the year 1729.
WILL OF THONES KUNDERS
In the name of God. Amen.
I, Dennis Cunrads of Gerntown in the County of Philadelphia in the Province of Pensilvania being not of perfect health of body but of
sound and Perfect mind and memory Praise be therefore given to almighty God. Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in
manner and form following (that is to say) first and Principally I Commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God hopeing through the merits
of Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon of all my sins, and to Inherit everlasting Life, and my body I Commit to the Earth to be Decently
Berryed at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named-
And as touching the Disposition of all such Temporal Estate as it hath pleased God to Bestow upon me I Give and Dispose thereof as
followeth.
Imprimis:-It is my will that all my Debts and funeral Charges be paid and Discharged.
Item. I Give and bequeath unto (my Son in Law) Griffith Jones The Dwelling house wheren I, (and the s-d Griffith Jones) now Dwell, and the
Lot thereunto belonging Containing fifty acres of Land together with the Barns Stables Orchards Outhouses Stills (and Dying Kettle) Worms
and Worm Tubbs thereunto belonging To have and to hold the sd Land with the Premises and appurtenances thereunto belonging to him the
sd Griffith Jones his heirs and assigns To the only proper use and behoof of him the sd Griffith Jones and his heirs and assigns forever, He the
sd Griffith Jones finding and allowing Anthony Loofe (now living with me) suffecient meat and drink, washing and lodging and apparrell So
long as the sd Anthony Loofe Shall Live. And It is my will that my said Son In Law Griffith Jones Pay for the sd Land and Premises the sum
one hundred and fifty Pounds of Lawfull money of Pensilvania. After the Death of the sd Anthony Loofe the said one hundred and fifty Pounds
to equally divided amongst my children. That is to say Cunrad Cunrads Mathida Cunrads, John Cunrads, Henry Cunrads, Ann Streepers
Agnes Powell and Elisabeth Jones, Each to have an Equal Share and share alike of the sd One hundred and fifty Pounds To them and their
heirs forever.
Item. I Give and bequeath unto my sd Children, Cunrad, Mathias, John, Henery, Ann, Agnes and Elisabeth All the Rest and Remainder of my
Estate, both Personal and Reall to be Equally Divided amongst them Each of my sd Children to have and to hold an Equal Share of the
Remaind of my sd Estate to them (inseverally) and to their heirs and assigns forever. Lastly, I do hereby nominate, Constitute and appoint my
sd Son Cunrad Cunrads and my sd Son in Law Griffith Jones to be Joynt Executo s of this my Last Will and Testament hereby Revoking
Disannulling and makeing void all former wills and Testaments by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Twenty Two.
Beit Known That before the Delivery and Sealing hereof I Give and Bequeath to (my above named Son-in Law) Griffith Jones The bed
and furniture Standing in the New Room to be for the use of friends.
Witness my hand and Seall the day and year above written.
DENNIS KUNDERS. [Seal. \\
Sealed Signed Published and Declared in the Presence of us
PETER SHOEMAKER
DIRK JANSEN
DAVID HEY
(Copied directy from the Thones Kunders book spelling is as is.)
More About Thonis Hecken Kunders:
Naturalization: Bet. 1708 - 1709, by Act of Assembly
Child of Thonis Kunders and Helene Theissen is:
2. i. John6 Kunders, b. June 03, 1681, Krefeld, Germany; d. Abt. March 1765, Pennsylvania.
Endnotes
1. Dillon.FTW.
2. Dillon(from Mizer).FTW.
3. .
4. Brøderbund WFT Vol. 6, Ed. 1, Tree #1395, Date of Import: Dec 29, 1996Cunard Family History.
5. Donna Sears Chernick at Rootsweb World Project, e-mail: donnachernick@earthlink.net.
6. .
7. Brøderbund WFT Vol. 6, Ed. 1, Tree #1395, Date of Import: Dec 29, 1996The Ancestry of the Thirteen Krefeld Emigrants of .
8. Dillon.FTW.
9. Dillon(from Mizer).FTW.
10. .
11. Brøderbund WFT Vol. 6, Ed. 1, Tree #1395, Date of Import: Dec 29, 1996History of Jasper County, GA.
12. Dillon.FTW.
13. Dillon(from Mizer).FTW.