Quelltext der Seite Conrad Weiser

'''Conrad Weiser''' (* [[2. November]] [[1696]] in [[Affstätt]]; † [[13. Juli]] [[1760]] im [[Conrad Weiser Homestead]] bei [[Womelsdorf (Pennsylvania)|Womelsdorf]], [[Province of Pennsylvania]]) aus Württemberg war in [[Pennsylvania]] als Siedler, [[Dolmetscher]] und Diplomat in den Angelegenheiten zwischen der Kolonisten und den [[Irokesen]] tätig, insbesondere im [[Siebenjähriger Krieg in Nordamerika|Franzosen- und Indianerkrieg]] (1754–1763) während des Siebenjährigen Krieges (1756–1763). Zudem war er Bauer, Soldat, Mönch, Gerber und Richter.
[[Datei:Conrad Weiser (signature).jpg|miniatur|class=notpageimage|]]

== Leben ==
Weiser wurde geboren am Dienststandort seines Vaters [[Johann Konrad Weiser]] Senior (1662–1746), der bei den Württembergischen Blauen Dragonern in der Nähe von [[Herrenberg]] diente, worauf der Vater den Militärdienst quittierte und samt seiner Familie an seinen Geburtsort [[Großaspach]] zurückkehrte. Nachdem das Land und Leute durch Franzoseneinfälle wie im [[Pfälzischer Erbfolgekrieg|Pfälzischen Erbfolgekrieg]] verheert worden war, und auch Krankheiten sowie strenge Winter zu beklagen waren, starb die Mutter Anna Magdalena geb. Übele am 1. Mai 1709 während ihrer 15. Schwangerschaft an der [[Gicht]]. Daraufhin verließ der protestantische Großaspacher am 24. Juni mit acht seiner Kinder die Heimat und nahm an der [[Massenauswanderung der Pfälzer (1709)]] teil. In Nordamerika angekommen sollten die Einwanderer zunächst vereinbarungsgemäß die Kosten ihrer Schiffspassage abarbeiten, was sich aber als nicht rentabel erwies. Im September 1712 stellte die Regierung die Zahlungen an die Ansiedler ein und überließ diese ihrem Schicksal. Vater Weiser brachte seine Familie in das [[Schoharie County]]. Auf Vorschlag eines Häuptlings der [[Mohawk]] blieb der sechzehnjährige Conrad bis Juli 1713 bei den Ureinwohnern, um deren Sprache und Gebräuche kennenzulernen.

Am 22. November 1720 heiratete der 24-Jährige die junge Deutsche Anna Eva Feck. Im Jahr 1723 zog das Paar den [[Susquehanna River]] hinab nach Süden und siedelte auf einer Farm in Tulpehocken beim heutigen [[Reading (Berks County, Pennsylvania)]]. Sie bekamen 14 Kinder, wovon sieben das Erwachsenenalter erreichten. Die Tochter Anna Maria heiratete [[Henry Melchior Mühlenberg]].

Im Laufe seines Lebens spielte Weiser eine wichtige Rolle in der Indianerpolitik der Kolonie Pennsylvania. Als Dolmetscher war er bei den Verhandlungen zu mehreren Verträgen beteiligt.
<!--
Conrad Weiser (senior) wrote for his children, „Buried beside Her Ancestors, she was a god-fearing woman and much loved by Her neighbors. Her motto was Jesus I live for thee, I die for thee, thine am I in life and death.“<ref>Paul A. W. Wallace, ''Conrad Weiser, 1696–1760, Friend of Colonist and Mohawk''. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1945. Reprinted Wennawoods, 2001, ISBN 1-889037-06-0</ref>

Conrad Weiser and his family were among thousands of refugees who left German lands that year, many of them from the Palatine area. They traveled down the Rhine River and then to England, which had offered some support for the Protestant refugees. Thousands of [[Palatine German]] refugees made their way to London seeking escape from the harsh conditions; there were so many that the English had to make a camp for them outside the London walls for the winter. The following year in 1710, the Crown (under Queen Anne) arranged for transport in ten ships of the nearly 3,000 Germans to the New York colony. The Crown supported migration of the immigrants to help settle the New York colony. The plan was that they would work off their passage in a form of indenture in camps devoted to producing ships' stores, such as tar and other materials. Later they would be allowed to trade their work for land. Most of the Germans were first located in what were called the East and West Camps on the [[Hudson River]], near Livingston Manor. It was not until 1723 that some 100 heads of families received land grants in the central [[Mohawk Valley]], under Governor Burnetsfield.

Weiser senior managed to get his family to the [[Schoharie Valley]] earlier than that. At age 16, Conrad's father agreed to a chief's proposal for the youth to live with the [[Mohawk nation|Mohawks]] in the upper Schoharie Valley. During his stay in the winter and spring of 1712–1713, Weiser learned much about the [[Mohawk language]] and the customs of the [[Iroquois]], while enduring hardships of cold, hunger, and homesickness. Conrad Weiser returned to his own people towards the end of July 1713.

On November 22, 1720, at the age of 24, Weiser married the young German girl Anna Eve Feck (Faeg). In 1723 the couple followed the [[Susquehanna River]] south out of New York and settled their young family on a farm in Tulpehocken near present-day [[Reading, Pennsylvania]]. The couple had fourteen children, but only seven reached adulthood.

== Service ==
[[Datei:ConradWeiserSketch.jpg|200px|rechts]]
Weiser's colonial service began in 1731. The [[Iroquois]] sent [[Shikellamy]], an [[Onondaga (tribe)|Oneida]] chief, as an emissary to other tribes and the British. Shikellamy lived on the [[Susquehanna River]] at [[Shamokin (village)|Shamokin village]], near present-day [[Sunbury, Pennsylvania]]. An oral tradition holds that Weiser met Shikellamy while hunting. In any case, the two became friends. When Shikellamy traveled to [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] for a council with the province of [[Pennsylvania]], he brought Weiser with him. The Iroquois trusted him and considered him an adopted son of the [[mohawk nation|Mohawks]]. Weiser impressed the Pennsylvania governor and council, which thereafter relied heavily on his services. Weiser also interpreted in a follow-up council in Philadelphia in August, 1732.

During the treaty in Philadelphia of 1736, Shikellamy, Weiser and the Pennsylvanians negotiated a deed whereby the Iroquois sold the land drained by the [[Delaware River]] and south of the [[Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Blue Mountain]]. Since the Iroquois had not until then laid claim to this land, Pennsylvania's agreement to purchase from them represented a significant change in the colony's policy toward the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. [[William Penn]] had never taken sides in disputes between tribes. By this formal purchase, the Pennsylvanians were favoring the Iroquois over the claims of the Lenape/Delawares for the same land. Along with the [[Walking Purchase]] of the following year, Penn's treaty exacerbated Pennsylvania-[[Lenape]] relations. The Lenapes became disenchanted with the English colonials as a result; during the [[French and Indian Wars]], they sided with the French and caused many colonial deaths. Penn's purchase persuaded the [[Iroquois]] to continue to side with the British over the French.

During the winter of 1737, Weiser attempted to broker a peace between southern tribes and the [[Iroquois]]. He had to survive high snow, freezing temperatures and starvation rations just to make the six-week journey to the [[Iroquois]] capital of ''[[Onondaga (tribe)|Onondago]]''. Weiser persuaded the Iroquois not to send any war parties in the spring, but he failed to convince them to send emissaries to parlay with the southern tribes. Impressed with his fortitude, the [[Iroquois]] named Weiser ''Tarachiawagon'' (Holder of the Heavens). Spill-over violence from a war between the Iroquois and southern tribes such as the [[Catawba (tribe)|Catawba]] would have drawn first Virginia, and then Pennsylvania, into conflict with the Iroquois. Therefore this peace-brokering had a profound effect on [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]/colonial relations.

In 1742, Weiser interpreted at a treaty meeting between the [[Iroquois]] and English colonials at Philadelphia, when they were paid for the land purchased in 1736. During this council, the Iroquois [[Onondaga (tribe)|Onondaga]] chief [[Canasatego]] castigated the [[Lenape]]/Delawares for engaging in land sales. He ordered them to remove their settlements to either Wyoming or [[Shamokin (village)|Shamokin village]]. This accelerated the [[Lenape]] migration to the Ohio Valley, which had begun as early as the 1720s. There, they were positioned to trade with the French. At the same time, they launched raids as far east as the [[Susquehanna River]] during the [[French and Indian Wars]].

In 1744, Weiser acted as the interpreter for the [[Treaty of Lancaster]], between representatives of the [[Iroquois]] and the colonies of [[Pennsylvania]], [[Maryland]] and [[Virginia]]. During the final day of the treaty, on July 4, Canasatego, the [[Onondaga (tribe)|Onondaga]] chief, spoke of the Iroquois concepts of political unity:

<blockquote>„Our wise forefathers established Union and Amity between the Five Nations. This has made us formidable; this has given us great Weight and Authority with our neighboring Nations. We are a powerful Confederacy; and by your observing the same methods, our wise forefathers have taken, you will acquire such Strength and power. Therefore whatever befalls you, never fall out with one another.“</blockquote>

[[Benjamin Franklin]] printed this speech, which influenced American concepts of political unity.

After the Treaty of Lancaster, both the [[Virginia]] and [[Pennsylvania]] colonial officials acted as if the Iroquois had sold them settlement rights to the Ohio Valley, but the [[Iroquois]] did not believe they had done so. In 1748, Pennsylvania sent Conrad Weiser to [[Logstown]], a council and trade village on the [[Ohio River]]. Here he held council with chiefs representing 10 tribes, including [[Delawares]], [[Shawnees]], and the [[Iroquois]]. He arrived at a treaty of friendship between Pennsylvania and these tribes. Threatened by this development and the continued activity of British traders in the Ohio Valley, the French redoubled their diplomatic efforts. In addition, they began to build a string of forts to protect their interests, culminating in [[Fort Duquesne]] in 1754 at present-day [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]].

In 1750, Weiser traveled again to [[Onondaga]], where he found the political dynamics in the Six Nations had shifted. Canasatego, always pro-British, had died. Several [[Iroquois]] tribes were leaning toward the French, although the [[mohawk nation|Mohawks]] remained pro-British.

Early in the summer of 1754, on the eve of the eruption in the colonies of tensions from the [[Seven Years' War]], called the [[French and Indian War]] in North America, Weiser was a member of a Pennsylvania delegation to Albany. The English government had called the meeting, hoping to win assurances of [[Iroquois]] support in the looming war with the French. Present were representatives of the [[Iroquois]] and seven colonies. Because of divisions within both the British and [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] ranks, the council did not result in the treaty of support which the crown desired. Instead, each colony made the best deal it could with individual [[Iroquois]] leaders.

Conrad Weiser was able to negotiate one of the more successful agreements. Some lower-level chiefs deeded to the colony most of the land remaining in present-day Pennsylvania, including the southwestern part still claimed by Virginia.

[[Datei:CW signature.jpg|miniatur|300px|Signature of Conrad Weiser.]]

In 1756, the government appointed Weiser and [[Ben Franklin]] to lead construction of a series of forts between the Delaware River and the Susquehanna River. In the fall of 1758, Weiser attended a council at [[Easton, Pennsylvania]]. Representation included colonial leaders from Pennsylvania, the Iroquois and other Native American tribes. Weiser helped smooth over the tense meeting. With the [[Treaty of Easton]], the tribes in the Ohio Valley agreed to abandon support for the French. This collapse of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] support was a factor in the French decision to demolish [[Fort Duquesne]] and withdraw from the Forks of the Ohio.

Throughout his decades-long career, Weiser built on his knowledge of Native American languages and culture. He was a key player in treaty negotiations, land purchases, and the formulation of Pennsylvania's policies towards Native Americans. Because of his early experiences with the [[Iroquois]], Weiser was inclined to be sympathetic to their interpretation of events, as opposed to the Lenape or the Shawnees. This may have exacerbated [[Pennsylvania]]n-[[Lenape]]/[[Shawnee]] relations, with bloody consequences in the [[French and Indian Wars]].

Nevertheless, for many years, Weiser helped to keep the powerful Iroquois allied with the British as opposed to the French. This important service contributed to the continued survival of the British colonies and the eventual victory of the British over the French in the French and Indian Wars.

== Other careers ==
Between 1734 and 1741, Weiser became a follower of [[Conrad Beissel]], a German Seventh Day Baptist preacher. For six years, he lived at the monastic settlement, [[Ephrata Cloister]], in the [[Ephrata Township, Pennsylvania|Ephrata Township]], [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]. His wife lived there only a few months before returning to their farm. Weiser visited her frequently enough to father four more children. In addition, he took leaves of absence from the monastery for diplomatic duties, such as those in 1736 and 1737.

Like many other colonists, Weiser combined farming with other trades: land owner and speculator, tanner, and merchant. He created the plan for the town of Reading in 1748, was a key figure in the creation of [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks County]] in 1752, and served as its chief judge until 1760. Conrad was also teacher and a lay minister of the [[Lutheran Church]]; he was one of the founders of [[Trinity Church]] in Reading.

In 1756, during the [[French and Indian War]], the [[Lenape]] began to raid central Pennsylvania. When the colony organized a militia, its leaders appointed Weiser as a Lt. Colonel. Working with [[Benjamin Franklin]], he planned and established a series of forts between the [[Delaware River|Delaware]] and [[Susquehanna River|Susquehanna]] Rivers. When General [[John Forbes (general)|Forbes]] evicted the French from [[Fort Duquesne]] in 1758, the threat subsided and Britain later gained all territory east of the [[Mississippi River]] at the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]] following their [[Great Britain in the Seven Years War|success in the Seven Years War]].

== Death and Legacy ==
Weiser died on his farm on July 13, 1760. Upon his death, one Iroquois Indian noted to a group of colonists, „We are at a great loss and sit in darkness...as since his death we cannot so well understand one another.“{{Fact|date=March 2009}} Indeed, shortly after Conrad Weiser's death, relations between the colonists and the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] began a rapid decline.

Weiser's will bequeathed about 4,000 acres (16&nbsp;km²) and part of his farm to Berks County. It serves as an interpretive center for 18th century farming, political and colonial history, and hosts regular re-enactments of events during the French and Indian War. The property is administered as a state park.

Weiser and Anna's descendants continued to play roles in civic life. Their daughter Maria married [[Henry Muhlenberg]]. Two of their sons had important roles in gaining independence for the United States. [[Peter Muhlenberg]] served as a Major General in the Continental Army and [[Frederick Muhlenberg]] was the first [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker]] of the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Weiser and Anna's great-grandson [[Peter M. Weiser]] (born 1781) was a member of the Corps of Discovery on the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] in 1804–1806.

== Legacy and honors ==
Weiser's major contribution to history was his service as an emissary between the British colonies and the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], especially the [[Iroquois]]. This service had direct and powerful influence over the histories of the French and British empires, the Native American peoples and the United States.

* The [[Conrad Weiser Homestead]] in [[Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania|Womelsdorf]] has been preserved as a state historic site and is administered by the [[Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission]]. Weiser and his family were buried at the homestead. The property is on Pennsylvania Route 422 in Berks County. The site contains original and historic buildings on a {{convert|26|acre|km2|2}} site with grounds designed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1928. Due to state budget cutbacks, the PHMC announced that it would close public access to the buildings. [http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=167892]

* Camp Conrad Weiser [http://www.smymca.org/index.html] is a {{convert|500|acre|km2|sing=on}} [[YMCA]] overnight camp in Berks County. Founded in 1948, it serves boys and girls aged six to sixteen.

* [[Conrad Weiser Area School District]] in western Berks County serves the townships of [[South Heidelberg Township, Pennsylvania|South Heidelberg Township]], [[Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania|Heidelberg Township]], [[North Heidelberg Township, Pennsylvania|North Heidelberg Township]], and [[Marion Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania|Marion Township]], and the boroughs of [[Wernersville, Pennsylvania|Wernersville]], [[Robesonia, Pennsylvania|Robesonia]], and [[Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania|Womelsdorf]].
-->

== Erinnerung ==
[[Datei:Conrad Weiser Homestead, Womelsdrof, PA.jpg|mini|Conrad Weiser Homestead]]
Der Staat ehrte ihn durch Ausweisung seiner letzten Heimstätte als „Conrad Weiser Homestead state historic site“. Auch der insgesamt 72&nbsp;km² große, aus mehreren Teilen bestehende [[Weiser State Forest]] wurde nach ihm benannt. Im Mai 2010 wurde beschlossen<ref>[http://www.bkz-online.de/node/66632 Backnanger Kreiszeitung vom 19. Mai 2010: Späte Ehre für Conrad Weiser]</ref>, die bislang namenlose Grund- und Hauptschule Großaspach als „Conrad-Weiser-Schule“ zu taufen, da dieser „Konfliktbewältigungsfähigkeit bewiesen habe, worauf ja heute vor allem auch in der Schule geachtet werde“. In Großaspach gibt es bereits eine Konrad-Weiser-Straße<ref>[http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=Gro%C3%9Faspach++Konrad-Weiser-Stra%C3%9Fe&sll=48.885263,9.420776&sspn=0.171576,0.388985&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Konrad-Weiser-Stra%C3%9Fe,+Gro%C3%9Faspach+71546+Aspach,+Rems-Murr-Kreis,+Baden-W%C3%BCrttemberg&ll=48.96634,9.4011&spn=0.002677,0.006078&t=h&z=18&iwloc=A maps.google.de]</ref>, die nach dem Vater benannt worden ist. Am 23. Juli 2010 wurde im Rahmen eines Schulfestes die Grund- und Hauptschule mit Werkrealschule nach ihm benannt.

In Affstätt existiert eine Conrad-Weiser-Straße.

== Literatur ==
* Joseph S. Walton: ''Conrad Weiser & the Indian Policy of Colonial Pennsylvania''. Philadelphia: George W. Jacobs & Co., 1900. Reprinted New York: Arno Press, 1971, ISBN 0-405-02895-4.
* J. Conrad Weiser: ''Early Western Journals, 1748–1765''. 1904. Reprinted Wendawoods, 1998, ISBN 1-889037-12-5.
* {{BBKL||autor=[[Daniel Heinz]]|artikel=Weiser, Johann Conrad,|band=13|spalten=636-638}}
* Weiser, C. Z. ''The Life of (John) Conrad Weiser, the German Pioneer, Patriot, and Patron of Two Races''. Reading: D. Miller, 1899. Reprinted Whitefish: Kessinger Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1-4179-6774-9.
* [[Franziska Dunkel]]: ''Conrad Weiser.'' In: Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg (Hrsg.): ''American Dreams. Ein neues Leben in den USA.'' Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart 2024, ISBN 978-3-933726-69-8, S. 28f.

== Film ==
* [[ARTE]]: ''Auswandern! Deutsche Schicksale aus drei Jahrhunderten.'' [[Deutschland|D]]/[[Frankreich|F]] – [[Dokumentarfilm]] 2025 (165 Min.)

== Weblinks ==
{{Commonscat}}
* {{DNB-Portal|119378620}}
* [http://www.lexikus.de/bibliothek/Beruehmte-deutsche-Vorkaempfer-fuer-Fortschritt-Freiheit-und-Friede-in-Nord-Amerika-von-1626-bis/Weiser-Johann-Konrad-%28unbekannt-1746%29-Weiser-Konrad-%281696-1760%29-Pioniere-in-New-York-und Weiser, Konrad (1696-1760)], bei Lexikus Verlag
* [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ Philip E. Pendelton, „Conrad Weiser Homestead: Finding a Light Into the Forest“], ''Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine'', Volume XXII, Number 3 – Summer 1996, e-text, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Website
* {{Webarchiv | url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/weiserhome/page8.asp?secid=31 | wayback=20050317090340 | text=The Homestead Park}}
* [http://www.ephratacloister.org/ The Ephrata Cloister site]
* {{Webarchiv | url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/weiser/page1.asp?secid=31 | wayback=20080328125738 | text=„Conrad Weiser“}}, Pennsylvania State Archives
* [http://faculty.simpson.edu/nick.proctor/www/1756/DOC-Lancaster.htm „Last Day of the Lancaster Treaty Council“], Simpson College, IA
* [http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/drl/ Joseph S. Walton, ''Conrad Weiser and the Indian Policy of Colonial Pennsylvania''], 1900, University of Pittsburgh, Historic Pittsburgh Website. (Weiser's importance in colonial relations with the Iroquois, p. 13. The effect of the 1736 treaties, pp. 27–29. His pro-Iroquois inclination, p. 56.)
* [http://archive.elca.org/communication/timeline/1696.html John Conrad Weiser Jr.] Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
* [http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=167892 Reading Eagle article on closing of Daniel Boone and Conrad Weiser Homesteads] Reading Eagle article on closing of Daniel Boone and Conrad Weiser Homesteads
* [http://www.weiserfamily.org/ The Weiser Family Association]

== Einzelnachweise ==
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{{Normdaten|TYP=p|GND=119378620|LCCN=n/82/1029|VIAF=27156941}}

{{SORTIERUNG:Weiser, Conrad}}
[[Kategorie:Person (Dreizehn Kolonien)]]
[[Kategorie:Person der Franzosen- und Indianerkriege]]
[[Kategorie:Deutscher Emigrant in den Vereinigten Staaten]]
[[Kategorie:Deutscher]]
[[Kategorie:Geboren 1696]]
[[Kategorie:Gestorben 1760]]
[[Kategorie:Mann]]

{{Personendaten
|NAME=Weiser, Conrad
|ALTERNATIVNAMEN=
|KURZBESCHREIBUNG=amerikanischer Siedler, Dolmetscher und Diplomat im Franzosen- und Indianerkrieg
|GEBURTSDATUM=2. November 1696
|GEBURTSORT=[[Affstätt]]
|STERBEDATUM=13. Juli 1760
|STERBEORT=[[Conrad Weiser Homestead]] bei [[Womelsdorf (Pennsylvania)]]
}}