By Durward B. Allaman

Our emigrant ancestor was Jacob Matzinger (Motsinger) was born in Marthalen, Switzerland in 1698. His wife, Magdelina, was born in 1707. They came with their son Felix, born 1727, on the ship "Mercury," landing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1735. The passenger list is headed: "Van de Switzers soo op scholp genent de Mercurius, Van d"heer Capitain William Wilson, in Philadelphia arriveert." Translated it reads "List of Switsers who arrived in Philadelphia on the ship called "Mercury," captain William Wilson.

Listed were Jacob Matzinger age 37, Felix Matzinger 8, Magdelena, age 28. "At court house of Philadelphia, May 29, 1735, 54 Palatines and Switzers, who with their families, making 174 persons in all, were imported here in the ship "Mercury" of London, William Wilson, Master from Rotterdam, but 1st from Crowles, as by clearance from thence were this day qualified as usual". This passage was taken from the minutes of the Provincial Council, printed in Colonial Records, Vol. 3, page 593. From Vol. 2 page 138, German Pioneers, comes this account: "The Palatines whose names are under written imported in the ship Mercury of London, Master, from Rotterdam last from Cowes, did this day take oaths to the Goverment," signed personally by Jacob Matzinger.

The emigrants, Jacob and Magdelana Matzinger settled in Mancugy, corrupted from "Machsitunschi," translated from Indian, "The feeding place of bears." In 1752 it was then located in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, but formerly in Bucks county Pennsylvania.

The Lehigh County Historical Society says that no Motsinger records existed except that in 1745 Mancugy, and that Jonas (Jacob) Matzinger gave generously to the building of two churches. He was a member of the Lutheran Congregation at Mancugy. The name was poorly translated and should have been Jacob Matzinger.

This area became Heidelberg Twp. and on page 724 of Vol-2 "History of Lehigh County Pa.," it states: between the year of 1735 to 1740, there came to Heidelberg Twp, Palatines, and Wertembergers who strengthened the colony. Among them were on Reformed side Heinrich Ohl, Jacob Rudy, Michael Fritzinger. On the Lutheran side were Ulrich Sens inger, Jorg Rex, Peter Henidwerk, Johan Krauss and others of both faiths.

The Indian massacres, which arose from 1755-1758 devastated all the settlements across the Lehigh at Gnadenhutten, now Lehighton, and in Lyin, both on the right and left of the Heidelberg settlement, passed by the congregation almost without a trace.

The records of Egypts Reformed Church, have been fully indexed, were searched, including burial records. No Matzinger or Motsinger was found on these records. The records of old Rowan county, North Carolina and Davidson were searched also, but Jacob and Magdelan Matzinger were not found.

When the history of the area was written in 1881, Mr. Hunsicker, then in his 90's stated his father told him the original church records at Macungy and its church burned. The Lutheran records started over 1768. It is too late to ever determine whether there were other children born to Jacob and wife or who Felix's first wife and mother of three sons and one daughter was. It seems time has erased all records of the emigrants but their descendents number in the many thousands and are located all over the U.S. The family can also be traced through religious changed in the generations. The family as recorded came to this country as Lutherans. The Rev. War caused decay in the Lutheran church in the south. King George second of England was wlector of Palatine and also head of the Lutheran Church. He caused funds to be cut from Lutheran Universities. The last three ministers in the south eventually died, taking the impoverished remains of the Lutheran church with them.

The Baptists came to Virginia as early as 1765. A group from the Episcopal Church left for North Carolina and established a new religion known as the "Primitive Baptist Church." The group settled in Rowan County, N.C. and the Motsingers joined this new church. Many are buried in Davidson county, once part of Rowan county Baptist cemeteries.

The English Wright family, linked to the Motsingers through marriage, carried to Kentucky land the new religion where the old Rev. Soldier, Amos Wright, began preach ing the gospel in the late 1700's in Wayne, county, Ky and the surronding counties. Amos Wright was part of the 200 wagon train that reached the Northwest Territory (now Washington county, Indiana). He founded the Church of Christ, in reality Baptist minded church. He had five sons and son-in-law in the ministry, as well as nephews and grandsons. As Motsingers married into the Wright family, they joined the Church of Christ.

A historical fact of the Germans is that they are farmers and engineers. When they came to America, they searched out land that was heavily wooded. They knew the soil would be black loam produced from decaying leaves and fallen trees. They made the Palatine bloom as they did with finest horses and homes.

Our ancestors accumulated the best of land in pioneer times across the Northwest territory. This they later divided among their children, as was a German custom for centuries.

Ministers in the family are numerous too. They carried their faith wherever the family moved.

I would suggest members of the family read records of the Baptist Church, and the book, "Lutheran Church of North and South Carolina and the Settlements of Germans." It can be located in almost every library collection. From such records it can be determined that Jacob and Magdalena Matzinger died before 1762 of natural causes. Their names to not appear on tax list after this date in Pennsylvania.

Their son, Felix, is on the 1762 tax list, Heidelberg Twp, Northampton Co, Pa., owning 34 acres and was listed as Felix Mantisinger. In 1762 paid 6 pounds tax to John Huntzinger, being the tax collector.

In 1765 Felix Matzinger moved to North Carolina where a deed record shows a purchase of 360 acres in Saint Luke's Parish (Sept-16-1765). The land on both sides of Abbett's Creek, was purchased from Joshua and Dorothy Teague for 19 pounds, five shillings. Two other parcels of land were purchased by Felix according to deed records. Felix Motsinger, knowing only the German language and customs, accumulated 1100 acres of well improved land and became wealthy without owning slaves.

As was the custom, the Germans kept to themselves and married only those of their nationality. During the Am. Rev, they began associating with other patriots in back country of North Carolina and following generations married outside the German Nationality.

The German emigrants were industrious, always saving for future generations. They were glad to have their sons and daughters marry the Scotch and Scotch-Irish since they had reputation for being "tight fisted with the buck." The old German father knew the land and money would increase for his grandchildren. The Scotch father knew the large physically German son-in-law was a good provider and promised large families. The love of family exists in present generations of Motsingers.

My sainted Paternal grandmother taught us traditions and customs of the Germans. She and her husband loved their country and their God. Many Motsingers served in Am. Rev War, War of 1812, Korean War, WW2, Vietnam. WW 1 and WW2. As one aged member of the family told me, "This is a God country. One should not mind dying for such a country." Also remarked, one does not give away anything good in the family. This was after I remarked there had been many close marriages.

The Motsinger family is tied in marriage with almost all the first German families that came to America early. All furnished soldiers and patriots to the American Revolution. The family is also linked in marriage to the old "Tidewater Virgininas", The Wrights. Also to the old English Gilstraps who first settled in North Carolina as early as 1752.

Most of the early emigrants paid their passage, but a few were bond servants who later became large land owners and influential citizens of their states. Many of their sons and grandsons became prominent farmers, businessmen, ministers, and politicians and industrialists.

The old grandfathers stuck to their stern, hard working ways of the old country. Their customs were recorded by the eldest son; the gathering of family from miles away for wedding or a funeral; the petticoat and broom stick marriages and the serving of "white Lightning" to the guests, and the chivarees of friends, and neighbors and relatives. To their devotion to God and country, we should be proud that we descend from such heritage.

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