LTSP and Daniel Pastorius

Pastorius purchased 15,000 acres in 1683, founding Germantown and creating North America’s first protest against slavery by religious group. Today’s location of LTSP can be traced directly back to his actions.

Raised in a prosperous Lutheran family, he joined a community of Lutheran Pietists and Quakers in Frankfurt before immigrating to Pennsylvania where he would assemble legal, agricultural and horticultural information into manuscript commonplace books.

Early Life and Education

Melchior Pastorius and Magdalena Dietz of Sommerhausen welcomed him with open arms into their family life, which included his prosperous businessman father as well as an educated household that spoke Latin, Italian and French fluently – as well as attending some of Germany’s finest universities.

After arriving in America, he secured a 15,000-acre plot that later became Germantown and issued the first petition calling for the end of slavery by any religious group in North America.

He was an all-round handyman, working as a lawyer, mayor, teacher, rent collector and more. A prolific writer who recorded his thoughts in various manuscript commonplace books covering law, medicine, philosophy, history gardening and husbandry as well as being a skilled musician (flute player?). Additionally, Jaco Pastorius himself was distantly related.

Professional Career

Pastorius was an attorney, author and civil worker. His writings served to document early Pennsylvanian development and culture. Additionally, he supported antislavery movements while founding Germantown, an area in Philadelphia.

Pastorius wrote writings encouraging individuals from diverse religious and social backgrounds to migrate to America. Though originally Lutheran, Pastorius later embraced Pietism – an religious movement focused on spiritual rebirth and holiness.

Pastorius believed that American settlements offered all inhabitants the chance for a better life, regardless of age, background, or ability. While acknowledging some difficulties associated with a long ocean voyage or any challenges newcomers might face, Pastorius stressed their party had every chance of succeeding; even commending Lenape Native Americans as being friendly towards all.

Achievement and Honors

Pastorius became a key leader in Germantown, helping establish its first public school as well as providing land and funding for its first church. Additionally, Pastorius joined the Society of Friends commonly referred to as Quakers where he issued the first protest against slavery in America.

Pastorius set himself apart in an age when Americans imagined themselves to be ancient Greeks by compiling information about law, medicine, history, philosophy, gardening and husbandry into manuscript commonplace books.

His first work, A New Primmer or Methodical Directions to Attain the True Spelling, Reading and Writing of English was published in 1698 and soon after that, together with three other Germantown residents they created one of the earliest petitions against slaveholding among Quaker communities within colonial America.

Personal Life

Pastorius was an influential figure in Philadelphia’s cultural history as the founder of Germantown settlement. He married German immigrant Ennecke Klostermanns and fathered two sons – Johann and Heinrich. Pastorius championed liberal ideas and was close to Quakerism before helping create its penal system – all hallmarks of his legacy which can still be found today! Additionally, Jaco Pastorius from jazz bass guitarist fame is distantly related.

Pastorius wrote accounts of his voyage referring to Lenapes as “brothers,” in order to promote his community as welcoming of people of various backgrounds and creeds. This approach aligned well with Pastorius’ spiritual vernacular of that period which emphasized divine providence during times of difficulty; furthermore he was an early champion for religious liberty.

Net Worth

Pastorius amassed significant holdings of both real estate and intellectual property, which enabled him to live comfortably during his lifetime.

He was an integral figure in Germantown society. Representing Frankfort Company when purchasing land in Pennsylvania and being responsible for overseeing colony’s care responsibilities were two duties that fell upon his shoulders.

He filled his undated commonplace book with numerous entries that ranged from drafts of German dictionaries, compliments and jokes, religious poetry and notes on philosophy to numerous aspects of farming (apples, grapes, berries; making cider/wine; weather forecasting/prognostication/bee keeping etc). These unique sections give a fascinating glimpse of knowledge collection and dissemination practices during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.