Person:Hendreek Rhodt (1)

Hendreek Rhodt- Born abt 1686, in Rodez, France or Rhodt, Germany. Died abt 1747 in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Married Catrina Cable (abt 1688 - abt 1788)

Came to America on the ship, WILLIAM, which landed in Phildelphia on 31 Oct, 1737. The PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN PIONEERS give three lists of the 180 passengers on board. #1 men of the Palentens on board the ship, William Jo (John( Carter, Commander, from Amsterdam. Qualified October 31, 1737. #2 "Phildelphia, October 31, 1737. A true list. Signed, Theo. Peterlo, Mete (Mate) N. B. The Master is confined to bed by an indisposition. Palentens imported in the Ship, WILLIAM, John Carter, Master, from Amsterdam, but last from Dover, as by clearance thence. #3 "The Palentens, whose names are underwritten, imported in the ship WILLIAM, John Carter, Master, from Amsterdam, but last from Dover, did this day take and subscribe the oaths to the Government."

In 1732 at Ephrata, Penn, a semi-monastic society of Seventh Day German Baptists made their home here. In addition to its quaint, ascetic way of life, the group was known for its music, calligraphy and fine printing. "The first division of the Brethern Church in America resulted in the fouding of the widely-known and little understood society of semi-mystical Germans who flourished for a century at Ephrata, then faded away. Thru this Epharat Society of the Brethern, or Tunkers, and the wide spread confusion as to the identity of this movement nearly all of the customs and peculiarities of the Ephrata Society have been placed to the credit of the Brethern." This was taken from "Two Centuries of the Church of the Brethern". In his "A History of the Brethern, Baumbaugh wrote, "The head and front of the Ephrata Scoiety was Conrad Biessel. The founding dates from 1732. With him it began, and with his death it began to decline.