News From Terre Haute, Indiana

History

September 9, 2012

GENEALOGY: Here to pump you up about arrival of Austrians

TERRE HAUTE — This week is a continuation of examining when different nationality groups first immigrated to North America.

Austrian: No, it didn’t begin with Arnold Schwarznegger! The Austrian immigration saga started in 1731, when 20,000 followers of Martin Luther were expelled from the province of Salzburg, which is now in Austria. Of those expelled, 300 came to the colony of Georgia in North America. It was a long journey.

In 1732, the trustees of the colony of Georgia invited the Salzburgers to settle in their colony, and promised them land. The immigrants first went to Ausburg, Germany, then to Rotterdam in Holland, and finally to Dover, England, being helped at each step by Lutheran pastors and churches.  

On Jan. 8, 1734, a group of 50 families boarded the ship Purysburg and set out for North America. After a trip across the Atlantic Ocean lasting two months, they landed at Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1734. They were given land on the Ebenezer Creek and founded the town of Ebenezer there. Here were many challenges for the group, such as poor land and illness, but more immigrants arrived to shore up their numbers.

In 1736, the Salzburgers petitioned General Oglethorpe of Georgia to let them move their settlement several miles up the creek to the Savannah River. He allowed this, and they named their new town New Ebenezer.

The settlers flourished in this fresh location and pursued the industries of cattle-raising, agriculture, the lumber trade, and culturing silk. Their town had grown to a population of 12,000 by 1741. The Salzburgers built the first saw mill and the first rice and grist mill in the state and the first orphanage and the first church (which is still standing). In addition, they supplied the first governor of Georgia, John Adam Treutlen.

Settlers from Salzburg continued to immigrate to the town until 1752. However, the demise of the town took place during the Revolutionary War, when the British burned it. The town of New Ebenezer never recovered after the war, and the settlers gradually disbursed.

The Georgia Salzburger Society has a website located at www.georgiasalzburgers.com/salzburgers.htm and invites descendants of these settlers to join their society. In addition, read the four-volume work titled, Georgia Salzburgers and Allied Families (2003), edited by Pearl Rahn Gnann.

In general, it can be difficult to identify an Austrian immigrant to the United States before 1918. This is partly because there was not an actual state called Austria until that year. Austria was first part of the Hapsburg Empire, which was made up of several nationalities and ethnic groups (including Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Czech, Slovak, Romanian, Polish, and Hungarian). Later, it was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Immigrants may have referred to themselves as German, Austrian, or Czech.

Announcement: The Wabash Valley Genealogy Society will present “What to Do With Your Records After Your Demise” from 6:15 to

8 p.m. Monday in the Vigo County Public Library. The speaker will be Marlene Poster, who has been the Lake County genealogist for six years and serves on the executive board of the Indiana Genealogical Society. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
History
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day' Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse Jersey Shore Open for Business First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military Today in History May 24 Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
NDN Video
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage Trout's cycle a boost for Angels Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery Shakira's Shocking Talent Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill DWTS Crowns a Winner Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News