Thursday, October 6, 2011

Today in History - October 6, 1683 - First Mennonites Arrive in America

Today in History - October 6, 1683 - First Mennonites Arrive in America

   There were actually a couple of significant things that happened today in history. For example, in 1926, Babe Ruth set a World Series record, and Liz Taylor married her 7th husband in 1991. The Yom Kippur Wars began in 1973 and Jane Eyre is publish in 1847. I am focusing on the First Mennonites arrival to America today.
   Encouraged by William Penn's offer of 5,000 acres of land in the colony of Pennsylvania and the freedom to practice their religion, the first Mennonites arrive in America aboard the Concord. They were among the first Germans to settle in the American colonies.
The Mennonites, members of a Protestant sect founded by Menno Simons in the 16th century, were widely persecuted in Europe. Seeking religious freedom, Mennonite Francis Daniel Pastorious led a group from Krefeld, Germany, to Pennsylvania in 1683 and founded Germantown, the pioneer German settlement in America and now part of the city of Philadelphia. 
You can read more of this article at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-mennonites-arrive-in-america

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