Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - XXVI. Epilogue - B. The Swedish Settlements on the Delaware
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
The Settlements on the Delaware 397
pie proper and strong of body, so have they fine chil-
dren, and almost every house full ; rare to find one of
them without three or four boys and as many girls;
some six, seven, and eight sons. And I must do them
the justice to say, I see few young men more sober and
industrious."
At the Close of the Seventeenth Century. After the
capitulation to the Dutch, Sweden seems to have en-
tirely forgotten her people in the New World for a
period of forty years. When her attention was again
called to the shores of the Delaware, it was to a mission
and not to a colony. When Rev. Lock died and Rev.
Fabritius, on account of age and infirmity, was unable
to serve the congregations, divine services were still
held in the churches, readers were appointed, hymns
were sung, and sermons were read. The attendance,
however, was small, composed mostly of older people.
Appeals were made both to Sweden and to Holland for
pastors, but no response came.
Arrival of Andrew Printz. A young man named
Andrew Printz, a nephew of the early governor, John
Printz, made a visit to the settlements of his country-
men on the Delaware. He was heartily received by
them. Visits from Sweden were then very rare. He
made himself well acquainted with the conditions
among the settlers, and on his return to Sweden he
communicated this information to the postmaster John
Thelin at Gothenburg. Thelin was deeply moved by
this recital and appealed to King Charles XI in behalf
of his people on the Delaware. Encouraged by the
king, Thelin wrote a long letter asking the people over
there to furnish full particulars and to tell their needs
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
