Daily Republican., 1879-05-13
Girls Once Bought In On e. ter.

J In a recent number Of Col. Forney's 8
"Progress is sketch of the life of Mr..
Abraham Peters, who is now living and
enjoying competency at the advanced
age of IS years, near Millersville, Ian
caster county, which contains an Incl
dent which took place in Chester about
seventy years ago. In those times the
poor Germans who wanted to come to
this country but had no money to pay
their passage, contracted with the cap
tain of the vessel, SO that he was allow
ed to sell them into servitude for their
passage money, and these people were
called Redernptieners. At the time
above referred to, Abraham Peters
father was in the habit ofhauling grain
from Lancaster county to Wilmington,
Del, and on one occasion, as he was
going there, his sister, Mrs. Bausman,
requested him to buy a small German
girl from vessel for her.
The vessels stopped at Chester. So
after he had disposed Of his grain he
mounted one Of his horses and rode to
Chester. He went on board an emil
grant vessel, and as he spoke German
he was soon surrounded by a crowd,
each one requesting to be bought, as
they preferred to get into families where
German was spoken. He called the
captain and made known his errand.
The captain told him he had two small
orphan girls on board, their mother
having died on the voyage. He asked
forty dollars tor the two, but as Mr..
Peters only wanted one, and could take
but one on horseback with him, the
captain said he would charge twenty
five GLARS for one, and If he sent a
purchaser for the other he would give
her for fifteen dollars.
He describes the scene when these
two orphan girls were parted as most
affecting but he assured the remaining
one that he would try and find her a
good home. Before parting the girls
were going to divide their dead moth.
er's effects, but Mr.. Peters would not
allow this, as he assured them that
Katy, the girl he was taking with him
would find plenty, and therefore insist
ed on the other keeping all except the
clothes that Katy was wearing. Again
assuring the Captain that he would try
and find another purchaser, he started
for Wilmington, and was soon on his
way home. He had proceeded but
short distance from Wilmington wher
he met a fine old Quaker gentleman
and his wife driving to town. The
lady admiling her, stopped and wanted
to buy her. But Mr.. Peters told hel
that he had bought the girl for his
sister, and therefore could not sell her
but told her of the little sister tina
was left behind ON the vessel, and re
quested them to go to Chester and buy
her. He gave the gentleman few
lines ts the Captain, ana reminded
him of the fifteen dollars he had agreed
to take.
The Quaker promised to 60 and buy
the sister. They gave each other thei
addresses, and promised to write ant
Keep the girls Ill CoAuuniootion VIII
each other. Katy was installed in he
new home, and under the kind mother
|ly treatment of Mrs. Bausnan grew W
to be a fine woman. Her sister als'
found good home with Quaker fam
lily. Correspond .nce was kept up be
tween the families, and yearly visit
were made alternately with the girls
and very friendly relations sprung VI
between the families. which were KEEP
up long after the girls were free. Whel
Katy had served out her time and ar
rived at the proper age, she was mar
ried to a worthy baker in Philadelphia
These incidents illustrate how some 0
our early settlers came to this country
too poor to pay their passage, but the,
were honest, industrious, and of goo'
habits, and their offspring are scatter
ed through the eastern counties o
this State, composing some OF ou
most prosperous and respectable fami
lies.