[50] GEORGE WEISS[E 50], b 1687; d Mar. 10, 1740; s Caspar Weiss of Langneundorf; m 1715, ANNA MESCHTER [E 140], b 1681, d Sept. 22, 1734 (O.S.).. They came to Pa., in 1734. They had one son who died when about one year of age. From records [E. E. 8. J.] we gather the following data concerning the family of Caspar Weiss:
Caspar Weiss of Ober Harpersdorf, born 1643, buried in Harpersdorf, Sept. 13, 1712, aet. 69; “mit einer Collect; ein Haupt Schwengfelder.”
Children (3):
In ‘‘die Register der Verstorbenen in 1734,” we read ‘‘den 22 dieses (i. e. Sept. Old Calendar), ist gestorben Anna Weissen, gebohrnen Meschterin, ihres althers 53 Jahr ist begraben den 23 in Phila.”’ [£. H. S. J.) Translation: (In the register of those who died in 1734, we read, on Sept. 22, Anna Weiss died, her maiden name was Meschter; her age was 53 years and she was buried in Phila., on the 23rd.) REV. GEORGE WEISS
Although having but six years in which to labor before his death after his arrival in Pa., the life of George Weiss was a busy one, as in addition to his work in connection with the writing and transcribing of hymns he was chosen the leader or teacher of the Schwenkfelders, and because of his pastoral duties was obliged to ride from district to district in order to minister to his parishioners. He also wrote out Scriptural passages for instruction of the youth. These, too, are preserved in the S. H. L.
George Weiss had the natural bent for the writing of poetry although he never received any training in the poetic art, a fact which he lamented frequently during his efforts as a compiler of hymns or while acting in the role of hymn writer. At the age of thirteen he copied a Michael Hiller Postill. He assisted his father in transcribing and compiling the so called ‘“Weiss Hymn-Book of the Schwenkfelders,” acting first as a writer of hymns, second as a reviser, and third as a transcriber and compiler. As a matter of fact he was a promoter of the work begun by Caspar Weiss, his father, in regard to the compiling of hymns. Altogether he is credited with a total of one thousand five hundred and fifty-nine hymns. [Schwenkfelder Hymnology—Seipt. |
That he was a highly educated man is shown by an examination of his writings as well as by the fact that he acted as teacher, as told by Rev. Christopher Schultz—that when in Saxony he went to George Weiss twice a week for instruction in languages. Rev. Balzer Hoffman, his lifelong bosom friend, in 1753 wrote out an account of the life and activities of George Weiss, from which we obtain most of the facts concerning his career. He was said to have been a very stern man, and preached simplicity of dress and life so fervently and so earnestly as to cause a great deal of dissension among the Schwenkfelders. Because of this many of those who came over with the Schwenkfelder immigrants refused to continue their connection with the Schwenkfelder faith.
Born in Harpersdorf, Silesia, in 1687, he was selected to write the confession of faith of the Schwenkfelders or to write a reply to the written questions of the Roman missionaries, when in 1720 they appeared in Silesia to convert the followers of Schwenekfeld to the Roman Catholic faith. An account of this is found in “Erlauterung,” pp. 85, 341. Being worsted in their arguments the missionaries resorted to force to compel the Schwenkfelders to attend their services. George Weiss with his wife and other friends accompanied the group who fled by night in the month of April, 1726, leaving their property in the hands of their persecutors, and came to Herrnhut, Saxony on the 5th of May. While living in Herrnhut, George Weiss followed the occupations of weaving and teaching, and it was at this time that Christopher Schultz came to him for instruction in languages and thus began the warmest friendship and attachment which existed between teacher and pupil during the remaining years of Weiss’ lifetime. On the eve of their departure for America the Schwenkfelders selected George Weiss as a kind of teacher or leader in spiritual matters for the adults as well as catechist for the young, there as well as on shipboard, which position he filled before embarking and also during the voyage.
Soon after their arrival in America, on Dec. 9, 1735, George Weiss was formally appointed the first Schwenkfelder minister of the Gospel and catechist in this country, and he officiated in that capacity in an acceptable manner up to the time of his death. He located on a farm on the Skippack creek in
Lower Salford Twp., Montg. Co., Pa., dying on Mar. 11, 1740, in the fifty-third year of hisage. He was married in 1715 to Anna Meschter, of Langneundorf who died in Philadelphia, Sept. 22, 1734, shortly after the arrival in Pa., and is buried in the Pilgrim Cemetery, Phila. All his children died before the migration. He also had a brother and sister who died young in Silesia, so that in this new world George Weiss himself was the only remaining member of his family, and having the spiritual welfare of his disorganized and scattered flock at heart he labored for them in season and out of season, but becoming considerably disappointed and seeing no better results and ‘‘finding so much lukewarmness and worldly-mindedness,”’ during a spell of sickness which he had in 1739 he was on the point of relinquishing his ministerial duties altogether. But being restored to health he started with increased courage and eontinued his labors for a year longer. On Mar. 3, 1740, he was in Goshenhoppen where he met his catechumens in the evening, and instructed them for the last time and on the following day, though being in feeble health, he preached for the last time to his congregated friends just six days before his death. A synopsis of his remarks on this occasion is preserved by his biographer, Balzer Hoffman.
George Weiss was an example of unaffected piety, simplicity, and fidelity, well versed in spiritual knowledge, earnest and impressive in his ministrations. He was the worthy son of the venerable Caspar Weiss, who when quite ill and weak in body was called before Neander and compelled to stand in the latter’s study for six hours to give an account of his faith. [Frlduterung, p 54-59, 938.]
At his death George Weiss left incomplete several series of studies in the line of revealed theology, some sixteen catechetical questions dealing with creation, prayer, faith, the ten commandments, baptism, Lord’s Supper, marriage, etc. His poetic productions were collected in a volume about 1730 entitled ‘‘Meditations, ete.’’ and the letters written to various members of the Schwenkfelder community on Scripture passages as a means of religious culture, begun in 1733 and continued for a little more than a year, comprise material that would fill an octavo book of about four hundred pages. Throughout his life he was a close and unwearying student of the Bible.
A plain marble headstone marks his grave with the inscription: ‘‘Zum andenken an George Weiss, war geboren in Schlesien, und erster Lehrer der Schwenkfelder Gemeinde in Pennsylvania. Starb 11ten Marz, 1740. Alt 53 Jahr.”’ (Translation: In memory of George Weiss who was born in Silesia, and the first teacher of the Schwenkfelder congregation in America. Died Mar. 11, 1740; aged 53 years.)
860 GENEALOGIC: . RECORD Of THE SCHWENKFELDER FAMILIES
[51] CASPAR HEYDRICK [E _. drick, gardener, of Harpersdorf, Sile: ti, 8 about 1680; d Apr. 12, 1761, eldest son of Christopher Heydorf, EVA BEYER [E 206], b ‘t, brother of George Heydrick {E 61]; m June 23, 1733, in Berthelsof Langneundorf. Caspar Heydrick id Dec. 9, 1742, “mittelste Tochter’’ of Melchior Beyer, gardener, sohne” [cf. Regent, p 48]. eft Nieder Harpersdorf with his brother, George, and a “Pflege-
Caspar Heydrick and wife came tc . Co., Pa., as he bought 106 acres of lan ‘Pa. in 1734 and probably settled in Lower Salford Twp., Montg. burial of Caspar Heydrick and wife, S: d of Caspar Wistar on Mar. 26, 1735 (cf. Plate F I.]. Place of uford Schw. Cem. No dssue.