EARLY HISTORY
1475-
May 23: Date of the earliest document referring to Conrad Weiser’s ancestor’s in Kleinaspach, Wurttemberg. Claus, Schultheiss,
and brother Georg are witnesses to the right of use of a beech forest.
1492-
Columbus sails to the Western Hemisphere.
1560-
Georg Weiser (great grandson of the aforementioned Georg) moves to Grossaspach (he is Conrad’s 5th great grandfather).
1607-
Jamestown established–1st permanent English colony in the New World.
1620-
Plymouth colony established by Puritan Separatists.
1626-
New Netherland established on Manhattan Island by Peter Minuet.
1638-
May: New Sweden established by Peter Minuet on the Delaware River. First Europeans to settle in what is today Pennsylvania.
1648-
October 24: Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years War
1655-
September 15: New Sweden surrenders to Dutch, becomes part of New Netherland.
1662-
Conrad’s father, John Conrad Weiser, the Elder, is born
1664-
September 8: New Netherland surrenders to British. New Amsterdam is renamed New York.
1681-
March 4: England’s Charles II by Royal Proclamation grants Pennsylvania to William Penn.
1682-1684-
William Penn’s first visit to Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is founded.
1683-
October 6: First German immigrants land in Philadelphia and establish Germantown.
1685-
October 18: Edict of Nantes revoked.
WEISER BEGINNINGS
1686-
Conrad’s father marries Anna Magdalena Uebele.
1688-1689-
France devastates Wurttemberg during the War of Palatine Succession, 1688-1697. Conrad’s father is a corporal in the
Wurttemberg Blue Dragoon Regiment during this conflict.
1693-
July 18: Grossaspach is burned by French forces.
1696-
November 2: Conrad Weiser is born in the town of Astaet, County of Herrenberg, Duchy of Wurttemberg. Weiser’s regiment is
stationed here.
1699-
Weiser moves his family back to their ancestral village of Grossaspach, County of Backnang, Wurttemberg. He is employed as a
baker
1699-1701-
William Penn’s second visit to Pennsylvania. James Logan is brought by Penn to Pennsylvania to look after the Penn family
interest. Logan serves as a Provincial Secretary.
1707-
Invading French army marches through Grossaspach, plundering countryside.
1708-1709-
Coldest winter known in 100 years devastates widespread parts of Europe.
1709-
May 1: Conrad’s mother is buried, having died with her 16th child at age 43.
June 24: Weiser’s leave Grossaspach for Rotterdam.
July 28: Weiser’s sail from Rotterdam to London.
December 24: The Weiser’s are among about 3,000 German’s that embark upon eleven ships (Conrad says 10) for North
America.
TRAVELING TO THE NEW WORLD
1710-
April 10: The “Wonder Fleet” sets sail for North America.
June 13: The Weiser’s ship, Lyon, docks in New York Harbor at Governor’s (Nutten) Island.
Fall: The Weiser’s are with the Germans placed in Livingston Manor, East Camp, about 100 miles above New York along the
Hudson as indentured servants to the Crown.
1711-
April: Conrad’s father marries Anna Miller, three children are born to them.
1712-
Fall: Released from their bondage, Weiser moves his family to Schectady and then on to Schoharie Valley, about 40 miles west of
Albany, the following March. About 150 families make the move to Schoharie.
1712-
November: Young Conrad by mutual agreement goes to live with nearby Mohawks as an adopted son of Chief Quaynant. He
returns to his father’s new home in Schoharie near the end of July 1713.
1718-
July 30: William Penn dies. Wife Hannah Callowhill Penn becomes Proprietor.
1720-
November 22: Conrad marries Anna Eve Feck.
1722-
September 7: Son Philip is born (died 1761, March 27)
1723-
April-May: First Germans leave the Schoharie Valley and migrate to the Tulpehocken Valley, “Land of the Turtle.”
1725-
January 14: Daughter Anna Magdalena is born.
1726-
Hanna Penn dies. Sons Richard, Thomas and John become Proprietors.
1727-
Zion’s “Reed’s ” Lutheran Church founded. Conrad would become a layreader and teach catechism to the congregation children.
1727-
June 24: Daughter Maria is born. (died 1802, August 23)
1728-
December 24: Son Frederick is born (died 1773, November 15)
THE MOVE TO THE TULPEHOCKEN VALLEY
1729-
February: Conrad moves his family to the Tulpehocken Valley. Lancaster County is incorporated. Conrad settled on land
incorporated within Heidelberg Township, Lancaster County in 1734.
1730-
February 27: Son Peter is born (died 1785)
1731-
February 15: Sons Christopher and Jacob are born, “the first lived 15 weeks and the second 13 weeks…”
1732-
Ephrata Cloister founded by Conrad Beissel along the Cocalico Creek.
1732-
June 19: Daughter Elizabeth is born (died 1736).
1732-
August 18: Conrad arrives in Philadelphia with a large delegation of Iroquois. This treaty (conference) “cleared the road” for
important negotiations later. Future negotiations would attempt to resolve four areas that threatened peaceful relations between
Pennsylvania Indian and European inhabitants.
August 23: Thomas Penn arrives in Pennsylvania to assume personal control of the Pennsylvania Proprietorship. He formally
opens the conference.
1734-
January 28: Daughter Margaret is born (died 1777).
1735-
April 23: Son Samuel is born (died 1794).
May: Conrad and German reformed minister, Peter Miller, join Ephrata and are baptized by Conrad Beissel in Mill Creek.
Conrad is known as Brother Enoch. Tulpehocken confusion splits “Reed’s” congregation.
1736-
July 18: Son Benjamin is born (dies in October while Conrad is in Philadelphia).
September-October: Conference in Philadelphia, “Susquehanna Lands” are purchased.
October 6: Conrad is granted his initial two hundred acres by John, Thomas and Richard Penn.
1737-
Februaray 27: Conrad journeys to Onondaga with “Stoffel” Stump, Owisgera, Tawagaret and Shikellamy
August 27: “Walking Purchase” is conducted.
Conrad and Stump make a return visit to Onondaga prior to September 27.,
1738-
Summer Conrad and William Parsons journey to the Wyoming Valley presumably to “clean up after the Walking Purchase”.
1740-
The Weisers go to Ephrata to live. Anna Eve leaves after a brief stay. Philip and Magdalena remain there with their father. Weiser
is elevated to priesthood.
August 1: Attends conference in Philadelphia with Shikellamy and Sassoonan.
August 11: Son Jabez is born, lives just 17 days.
1741-
Conrad accepts appointment by Governor George Thomas as Lancaster County Magistrate while living in Ephrata. Is a
candidate for Provincial Assembly.
December: Count Zinzendorf, Moravian leader, arrives in Philadelphia.
1742-
January 1: Conrad attends religious conference with the Ephrata delegation held at Germantown for the purpose of unifying all
German Christians.
February 27: Daughter Hanna is born, dies August 11.
March 16 : Daughter Magdelana dies at Ephrata. Cloister death registers give year as 1741.
July: Conference in Philadelphia; Iroquois confirm “Walking Purchase” by taking the “Delaware by the hair.”
September: Travels through the Wyoming Valley with Zinzendorf.
1743-
July: Conrad journeys to Onondaga with John Bartram and Lewis Evans.
September 3: Date of Conrad’s letter resigning from Ephrata.
1744-
April- Conrad becomes a naturalized British citizen.
June-July: Treaty of Lancaster. Conrad signs for the Mohawks who do not send any representatives. Is referred to as
Tarachiawagon, “Holder of the Heavens” for the first time.
August 12: Son Benjamine is born, It is not known what became of him after 1787.
August 18: Conrad arrives in Philadelphia with Shickellamy and about 30 Delawares to help “clear the air that was rendered foul
and corrupted” by the murder of John Armstrong. In October, Weiser was again in Philadelphia to translate during the trial of
Mushemeelin, the Native accused of the crime.
September: Takes eight young men “up to the trail” to Shamokin to build a “locke” (log) house for Shikellamy.
November 15: Attempt is made to burn down Weiser’s house.
1745-
April 22: Daughter Maria marries Henry Muhlenberg in the Christ Lutheran Church parsonage.
May-June: Journeys to Onondaga, Oswego and Albany.
1746-
May; Conrad’s father dies at his home in Heidelberg Township. He was about 86 years old.
October 1: John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg is born.
1747-
Conrad is a candidate for the Provincial Assembly a second time.
1748-
Reading is founded by Richard and Thomas Penn.
July: Attends conference in Lancaster with Ohio Country Natives.
August-October: Conrad journeys to Logstown, 18 miles below the Forks of the Ohio. His is accompanied by William Franklin
and George Croghan. This journey is Weiser’s first major decision is Indian Policy for which he is singly responsible.
December 6: Shikellamy dies at Shamokin.
1749-
August: Attends conference in Philadelphia; a purchase of all the waters of Juniata is proposed.
1750-
Builds a home in Reading.
May-June: Gives up attempting to remove settlers in Path Valley, “Burnt Cabins”.
August-September: Journeys to Onondaga accompanied by Johann Daniel Claus.
1751-
Conrad is a founder of Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading. First services are held in Conrad’s store/home.
June-August: Travels to conference in Albany. Son Sammy goes along to live among the Mohawks.
James Logan dies.
1752-
March 12: Berks County is erected. Conrad becomes President Judge.
1753-
July-August: Conrad travels to Albany and later meets with Sir William Johnson. Johnson rebuffs Weiser.
September: Conference is Carlisle with Ohio Country Natives. Weiser is accompanied by Sammy, B. Franklin, Isaac Norris and
Richard Peters.
1754-
June-July: Attends conference in Albany with Benjamin Franklin. Weiser tries to prevent Connecticut purchase of Wyoming
Valley.
July: George Washington leads Virginian excursion into southwest Pennsylvania and builds Fort Necessity. French force
Washington to surrender on July 4th and retreat. French build Fort Duquesne at the Forks.
1755-
July 7: General Edward Braddock is defeated at the Battle of Monongahela
October 16: Penns Creek massacre. Weiser organizes local defense soon afrter.
October 31: Appointed a Colonel by Governor Robert Morris
November 25: Several hundred individuals from frontier areas descend upon Philadelphia demanding Government action to
stop on going frontier raiding. A bill becomes law two days later establishing and funding Provincial Militia.
1756-
May 5: Conrad is appointed a Colonel of the 1st Battalion of the Pennsylvanai Regiment.
July: Conrad attends a conference in Easton. Meets Teedyuscung, “One who makes the earth tremble”. Self proclaimed King of
the Delawares and representative of ten other Native Nations.
August 2: Fort Granville is destoryed.
September 8: Colonel John Armstrong destroys Kittanning in retaliation.
September: Conrad is unsuccessful candidate for the Provincial Assembly for the third time.
November 8: Attends conference with the Governor and Teedyuscung in Easton after Teedyschung refuses invitation to come
to Philadelphia.
1757-
Sir William Johnson appoints George Croghan as his deputy agent to transact Indian affairs in Pennsylvania.
May: Weiser, on instructions from Philadelphia, comes to Croghan’s assistance at Lancaster.
July 14: Conrad attends conference in Easton as “Interpreter for the Province.
1758-
January: Conrad resigns his military commission.
September-October: The Treaty of Easton. Weiser plays large role behind scenes.
November 25: General John Forbes drives French from the Forks. Fort Duquesne is abandoned and blown up by retreating
French. Fort Pitt is built nearby.
1760-
July 13: Conrad dies at his Heidelberg home while on his way to Fort Pitt. He is buried aside of his father according to
Muhlenberg.
EXTENDED FAMILY CONTINUES
1763-
August 5-6: Colonel Henry Bouquet defeats allied Indian Force at Bushy Run.
1776-
July 4: Declaration of Independence.
1781-
June 11: Anna Eve dies in Womelsdorf at her son Peter’s home, aged 76 years according to Muhlenberg. Her date of birth is not
known.
1787-
October 7: Muhlenberg dies and is buried at Trappe.
1789-
April 1: The U.S. House of Representatives holds first full meeting in New York City. Conrad’s grandson, Frederick Augustus
Muhlenberg, of Pennsylvania is elected first House Speaker. Serves as Speaker of Third Congress in a four term congressional
career.
1790-
Conrad’s grandson, Conrad (Frederick’s oldest son), moves from the Weiser Homestead to Klingerstown. He is the last direct
descendent to farm there.
1793-
George Washington visits Conrad’s grave and remarks, “Posterity will not forget his services.”
1834-
John and Catherine Scheetz build their home next to the Weiser House.
1876-
First biography about Conrad, written by descendant Reverend C. Z. Weiser is published.
1891-
Pennsylvania German Society is founded in Lancaster.
1899-
C.Z., Weiser’s biography reprinted as a school book.
1900-
Joseph Walton’s Conrad Weiser and Pennsylvania’s Indian Policy is published.
1904-
August 4: “Cyclone” rips roof off Weiser House.
1907-
July 12: Weiser house is heavily damages by fire.
October 30: Bronze plaque unveiled on west wall of Stichter Hardware Store Building in Reading during County Institute for
Teachers
1909-
September 25: POSA monument unveiled in Womelsdorf in front of public school building
1914-
Historical Society of Berks County erects stone marker along Berks and Dauphin Turnpike–Present day US Route 422.
WEISER MEMORIAL PARK
1923-
June 4: Conrad Weiser Memorial Park Association is chartered.
September 20: Park Association enters into an agreement to purchase Weiser home and grave site with 20 acres of land from L.
Roy Valentine of Womelsdorf. Valentine is a wealthy cigar manufacturer and a lineal descendant through the Muhlenber-
Schultze-Fidler line.
1926-
April 1: Park Association takes possession of Weiser house, springhouse and grave site.
1926-1928-
Buildings are fixed up and the grounds are improved. The Berks County Commissioners pay to “restore” the Weiser house.
POSA monument is relocated to the park.
1928-
September 1: Conrad Weiser Memorial Park is officially opened.
1929-
May 8: The Commonwealth acquires Park from the Association. Administered by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission.
1930-
June 14: Shikellamy Statue is unveiled at Weiser Park by the Improved Order of Red Men.
1935-
April 24: Administration of Weiser Park transferred to the Department of Forests and Waters, Bureau of State Parks.
1942-
July 4: Conrad Weiser Day held at Park.
1943-
May: Liberty Ship “Conrad Weiser” launched at Baltimore and christened by Kathryn Muhlenberg. Conrad Weiser Day is
cancelled due to war time rationing.
1945-
Dr. Arthur Graeff’s book, Conrad Weiser Pennsylvania Peacemaker, is published by the Pennsylvania German Folklore
Society. Dr. Paul A. Wallace’s book, Conrad Weiser Friend of Colonish and Mohawk, is published by the University of
Pennsylvania Press.
1953-
July 20: Administration of Weiser Park is transferred to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
1962-
The Weiser house is designated a registered National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior.
1970’s-
Conrad Weiser Memorial Park becomes known as Conrad Weiser Homestead.
1996-
November 1-2: Conrad Weiser Tri-Centennial Celebration in Reading and at Conrad Weiser High School, Robesonia.