The Schwenkfelder Heydricks

My mother is Eleanor Louise Heydrick McKeeman. She was born at home (4807 Garden Street, Bridesburg) in Philadelphia in 1922. Their home was built many decades prior to her birth and had been occupied by at least 3 generations of Heydricks. When Eleanor arrived in November of 1922 she joined her parents, William Jacob Heydrick and Helen Esther Eyles Heydrick, her two sisters Helen and Margaret and her father's spinster aunt, Lizzie Heydrick.

Her Heydrick ancestors emigrated to southeastern Pennsylvania--mainly Montgomery County--beginning in the 1730's, a full hundred years after my father's earliest emigrants made it to the Massachusetts Bay Colony around Salem. Both groups sailed for the New World to escape religious persecution in their homelands.

The Heydricks were one of a few dozen families who arrived in Philadelphia on September 12th, 1734 on board the St. Andrews. They were followers of the 16th century Protestant Reformation teachings of Caspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig (1489–1561), hence these followers were known as the Schwenkfelders.

Almost anyone who has lived in southeastern Pennsylvania knows what it means to be asked "Are you a Schwenkfelder?" The Schwenkfelder families were fecund and their descendants fill the hills and valleys, suburbs and farms of that part of Pennsylvania. The center for Schwenkfelder history is the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center in Pennsburg, PA. I haven't made that particular pilgrimage and might find all sorts of fabulous information about the Heydricks lodged there. It's on the list, but since the library will sit in Pennsburg stolid and ever faithful, preserving Schwenkfelder lore and genealogy, there is no hurry. If only there was a comparable center, a one-stop-shopping cache of information about my Scots-Irish ancestors on my father's side. They too traveled through southeastern Pennsylvania, but unlike the upstanding Schwenkfelders, the Scots-Irish melted back into the hills and hollows of the Appalachians and wouldn't have assented to be recorded in a family Library and Heritage Center if they'd been paid in whiskey and gold.

Back to the Schwenkfelders. . .

By all accounts these seekers of a "middle way"--meaning that they were between Lutherans and Calvinists on one side and the Anabaptists on the other (Do you understand these distinctions? Nor do I; it is ever thus. Do you know why the Sunni hate the Shiite or the Hutu the Tutsi? Who can really know the depth of man's desire to put the goats in their pen and the sheep in theirs.) were soundly and brutally persecuted by their Roman Catholic brethren. The persecution intensified in the 1720s and in 1726 they were given refuge in Saxony. But, alas, their protector, Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf died in 1733 and the Jesuits sought to have our small band returned to Harpersdorf from whence they came. I don't know what was so objectionable about returning to Harpersdorf, but whatever it was it was sufficiently so that on Tuesday, April 20, 1734 a group of families, including the Heydricks, sailed up the Elbe River for Altona, Denmark. On June 21st they embarked on the ship Saint Andrew reaching Plymouth, England on July 29th and on September 12th reaching Philadelphia.

What follows is the list of passengers on the St. Andrew upon their disembarkation at the port of Philadelphia that fine autumn day:

In this list, the numbering and spelling of “Stedman’s True List” are followed.

“Stedman’s True List” Name	Also Known As (A.K.A.)	Emigrant No.	Family No.
1. Christopher Winer	Christopher / Christoph Wiegner	E 16	F 76
2. Melchior Hiebner	Melchior Hübner	E 17	F 17
3. Georg Hiebner	George Hübner / Heebner	E 18	F 17, 17-1a, 17-1b
4. Christopher Krieble, sick	Christoph Kribel	E 19	F 19
5. Georg Krieble	George Kriebel	E 20	F 19, 19-1
6 David Hiebner, sick	David Hübner / Heebner	E 21	F 21
7. Balsher Jackle	Balthasar Jäckel / Yeakel	E 22	F 22
8. Georg Jackle	George Jäckel / Yeakel	E 23	F 22, 22-1
9. Christopher Shubart	Christoff Schubert	E 24	F 24
10. Melchior Krieble, Sen	Melchior Kribel, Sr.	E 25	F 25
11. Caspar Krieble	Caspar Kribel	E 26	F 25, 25-1
12. Jurge Anderas	George Anders	E 27	F 27
13. Balsher Hoveman	Balthasar / Balzer Hoffman	E 28	F 106, 106-2
14. Melchior Krieble, Jun	Melchior Kribel, Jr.	E 29	F 25, 25-2
15. Abraham Jackle	Abraham Jäckel / Yeakle	E 30	F 38, 38-2
16. George Hoveman	George Hoffman	E 31	F 106, 106-1
17. Balthasar Hoveman	Balthasar Hoffman	E 32	F 106, 106-1
18. Georg Reynald, sick	George Reinwalt	E 33	F 33
19. Georg Reynald, Jun	George Reinwalt	E 34	F 33, 33-1
20. Hans Weigner	Hans Wiegner, Jr.	E 35	F 35
21. Georg Weigner, Sen	George Wiegner	E 36	F 36
22. Melchior Wiegner		E 37	F 36, 36-1
23. David Jackle, sick	David Jäckel	E 38	F 38
24. Balthaser Jackle	Baltzer Jäckel / Balthasar Yeakel	E 39	F 38, 38-3
25. Caspar Jackle	Caspar Jäckel	E 40	F 38, 38-6
26. Jeremias Jackle	Jeremias Jäckel	E 41	F 38, 38-4
27. Christopher Jackle	Christopher Jäckel / Yeakel	E 42	F 38, 38-1
28. Gregorius Meyster	Gregorius Meisther, Jr. / Meschter	E 43	F 43
29. Christopher Reynald	Christoph Reinwald	E 44	F 44
30. Hans Jackle	Hans Heinrich Jäckel	E 45	F 38, 38-5
31. Georg Mentzel	George Mentzel	E 46	F 46
32. Melchior Mentzel		E 47	F 47
33. Melchior Neiman	Melchior Neuman	E 48	F 48
34. Tobias Hatranf	Tobias Herterranft / Hartranft	E 49	F 49
35. Georg Weys	George Weiss	E 50	F 50
36. Caspar Heydrick		E 51	F 51
37. Balthser Heydrick	Balthasar Heydrick	E 52	F 52a, 52b
38. Christopher Neiman	Christopher Neuman	E 53	F 48, 48-1a, 48-1b
39. Matias Jackle	Matthüs Jäkel / Matthias Yeakle	E 54	F 54
40. Georg Sholtze	George Scholtze	E 55	F 149, 149-1
41. Christopher Weigner	Christopher Wiegner	E 56	F 154, 154-1
42. Christopher Jackle	Christopher Jäckel / Yeakle	E 57	F 160, 160-1
43. Georg Anders	George Anders	E 58	F 161
44. David Seibt	David Seipt	E 59	F 59
45. Christopher Seibt		E 60	F 59, 59-1
46. Georg Heydrick	George Heydrick	E 61	F 61
47. Gregorius Sholtze	Gregorius Scholtze	E 62	F 62
48. David Meyster	David Meschter	E 63	F 169, 169-1
49. Georg Dresher	George Drescher	E 64	F 64
50. Christopher Dresher		E 65	F 64-1
51. Melchior Meyster	Melcher Meishter / Melchior Meschter	E 66	F 66
52. Balthser Anders	Balthasar / Baltzer Anders	E 67	F 161, 161-1
53. George Sholtze	George Scholtze	E 68	F 68
54. Melchior Sholtze	Melchior Scholtze	E 69	F 69a, 69b
55. Christopher Sholtze	Rev. Christopher Scholtze / Schultz	E 70	F 70
56. Caspar John		E 71	F 71
57. Fredrick Scheps		E 72	(no further data)
58. Andreas Warmer, sick		E 73	F 73
64. Johannes Hiebner	Hans Hübner / John Heebner	E 74	F 74
65. David Shubart	David Schubert / Shoebart	E 75	F 75a, 75b

Names of Women [Maiden Name in Brackets, if known] and Children

“Stedman’s True List” Name	Also Known As (A.K.A.)	Emigrant No.	Family No.
1. Susannah Winer	[Susanna Heydrick] Susanna Wiegner	E 76	F 76
2. Rosina Winer	Rosina Wiegner	E 77	F 76
3. Maria Hiebner	[Maria Wiegner] Maria Hübner	E 78	F 17
4. Maria Krieble	[Maria Heydrick] Maria Kribel	E 79	F 19
5. Susannah Krieble	Susanna Kriebel	E 80	F 19
6. Anna Krieble	Anna Kriebel	E 81	F 19, 64-1
7. Christopher Krieble	Christopher Kriebel	E 82	F 19, 19-2
8. Maria Krieble	Maria Kriebel	E 83	F 19, 192-1
9. Rosina Krieble	Rosina Kriebel	E 84	F 19
10. Maria Hiebner	[Maria Kriebel] Maria Hübner / Heebner	E 85	F 21
11. Rosina Krieble	Rosina Kriebel	E 86	F 17-1a
12. Christopher Hiebner	Christopher Hübner / Heebner	E 87	F 21, 21-1
13. Regina Jackle	[Regina John] Regina Jäckel / Yeakel	E 88	F 22
14. Anna Jackle	Anna Yeakel	E 89	F 22
15. Susanna Jackle	Susanna Yeakel	E 90	F 22, 19-1
16. Maria Jackle	Maria Yeakel	E 91	F 22
17. Rosina Jackle	Rosina Yeakel	E 92	F 22, 70
18. Barbara Shubart	[Barbara Höllin] Barbara Schubert	E 93	F 24
19. David Shubart	David Schubert	E 94	F 24
20. Anna Maria Shubart	Anna Maria Schubert	E 95	F 24
21. Susannah Shubart	Susanna Schubert	E 96	F 24, 49-4
22. Maria Krieble	Maria Kribel	E 97	F 25
23. Susannah Krieble	[Susanna Wiegner] Susanna Kribel	E 98	F 36, 25-1
24. Georg Krieble	George Kriebel	E 99	F 25-1, 25-3
25. Maria Anders	[Maria Reinwald] Maria Anders	E 100	F 33, 27
26. Urcilla Hoveman	[Ursula Beyer / Beier] Ursula Hoffman	E 101	F 106, 106-2
27. Anna Hoveman	Anna Hoffman	E 102	F 106-2, 149-1
28. Rosina Hoveman	Rosina / Rosanna Hoffman	E 103	F 106-2, 59-1, 38-1
29. Christopher Hoveman	Christopher Hoffman	E 104	F 106-2, 106-3
30. Anna Krieble	[Anna Drescher] Anna Kribel	E 105	F 25-2
31. Urcilla Hoveman	[Ursula Anders] Ursula Hoffman	E 106	F 106
32. Maria Jackle	[Maria Wiegner] Maria Jäckel / Yeakle	E 107	F 38-2
33. Susannah Jackle	Susanna Yeakel / Jäckel	E 108	F 38-2, 154-2
34. Rosina Jackle	Rosina Yeakel / Jäckel	E 109	F 38-2, 59-2
35. Barbara Hoveman	[Barbara Seipt] Barbara Hoffman	E 110	F 106, 106-1
36. Susannah Hoveman	Susanna Hoffman	E 111	F 106-1, 11-1
37. Barbara Reynald	Susanna / Barbara Reinwalt	E 112	F 33
38. Susanna Reynald	[Susanna Wiegner] Susanna Reinwalt	E 113	F 33-1
39. Christopher Reynald	Christopher Reinwalt	E 114	F 33-1, 33-2
40. Anna Weigner	[Anna Reinwald] Anna Wiegner	E 115	F 35
41. Melchior Weigner	Melchior Wiegner	E 116	F 35
42. Maria Weigner	[Maria Heebner] Maria Wiegner	E 117	F 36
43.Rosina Weigner	[Rosina Meschter] Rosina Wiegner	E 118	F 169, 36-1
44. Susanna Jackle	Susanna Yeakel / Jäckel	E 119	F 38, 154-3
45. Maria Meyster	[Maria Krauss] Maria Meisther / Meschter	E 120	F 43
46. Christopher Meyster	Christopher Meschter	E 121	F 43, 43-1
47. Anna Meyster	Anna Meschter	E 122	Single
48. Maria Meyster	Maria Meisther / Meschter	E 123	Single
49. Susannah Reynald	[Susanna Seibt] Susanna Reinwald	E 124	F 44
50. Barbara Reynald	Barbara Reinwald	E 125	Single
51. Susannah Jackle	[Susanna Heydrick] Susanna Jäckel	E 126	F 38-5
52. Balthaser Jackle	Balthasar Jäckel / Yeakle	E 127	F 38-5, 38-16
53. Urcilla Mentzle	[Ursula Reinwald] Ursula Mentzel	E 128	F 46
54. Barbara Mentzle		E 129	(Should this be Warmer?)
55. Anna Mentzel	[Anna Groh] Anna Mentzel	E 130	F 47
56. Barbara Mentzle [Warmer?]		E 131	F 38-3
57. Maria Neyman	Maria Neuman	E 132	F 48
58. Anna Warmer		E 133	Single
59. Barbara Hatranf	[Barbara Jäckel] Barbara Herterranft / Hartranft	E 134	F 49
60. Maria Hatranf	Maria Hartranft	E 135	F 49, 69b
61. Georg Hatranf	George Hartranft	E 136	F 49, 49-2
62. Abraham Hatranf	Abraham Hartranft	E 137	F 49, 49-4
63. Melchior Hatranf	Melchior Hartranft	E 138	F 49, 49-3
64. Rosina Hatranf	Rosina Hartranft	E 139	F 49
65. Anna Weys	[Anna Meschter] Anna Weiss	E 140	F 50
66. Eva Heydrick	Eve Heydrick	E 141	F 61
67. Rosina Heydrick	[Rosina Heebner] Rosina Heydrick	E 142	F 52a
68. Christopher Heydrick		E 143	F 52a
69. Susanna Neiman	[Susanna Muehmer] Susanna Neuman	E 144	F 48, 48-1a
70. David Neiman	David Neuman	E 145	F 48-1a, 48-2
71. Rosina Jackle	[Rosina Schubert] Rosina Jäkel / Yeakle	E 146	F 54
72. Maria Jackle	Maria Jäckel	E 147	F 54
73. Regina Jackle	Regina Jäckel	E 148	F 54
74. Susannah Sholtze	[Susanna Dietrich] Susanna Scholtze	E 149	F 149
75. Anna Sholtze	Anna Schultz / Scholtze	E 150	F 149, 154-1
76. Susannah Sholtze	Susanna Schultz / Scholtze	E 151	F 149, 17-1b
77. Maria Sholtze	Maria Schultz / Scholtze	E 152	F 149, 160-1
78. Barbara Sholtze	Barbara Schultz / Scholtze	E 153	F 149, 199-1
79. Susannah Weigner	[Susanna Seibt] Susanna Wiegner	E 154	F 154
80. Susannah Weigner	Susanna Wiegner	E 155	F 154, 73
81. Maria Weigner	Maria Wiegner	E 156	F 154
82. Abraham Weigner	Abraham Wiegner	E 157	F 154, 154-2
83. Georg Weigner	George Wiegner	E 158	F 154, 154-3
84. Rosina Weigner	Rosina Wiegner	E 159	F 154
85. Regina Jackle	[Regina Hübner] Regina Jäckel	E 160	F 160
86. Anna Anders	[Anna Reinwald?] Anna Anders	E 161	F 161
87. Urcilla Anders	Ursula Anders	E 162	F 169-1
88. Judith Seibt	[Judith Reinwald] Judith Seibt / Seipt	E 163	F 59
89. Caspar Seibt	Caspar Seipt	E 164	F 59, 59-2
90. Abraham Heydrick		E 165	F 165
91. Rosina Sholtze	[Rosina Jäckel] Rosina Scholtze	E 166	F 38, 62
92. Susannah Sholtze	Susanna Schultz	E 167	F 62, 202-1
93. Rosina Sholtze	Rosina Scholtze	E 168	F 62
94. Eva Meyster	[Eva Yeakel] Eva Meschter	E 169	F 169
95. Anna Meyster	Anna Maria Meschter	E 170	F 169, 69a
96. Maria Dresher	[Maria Byer / Beer] Maria Drescher	E 171	F 64
97. Rosina Dresher	Anna Rosina Dresher	E 172	F 64, 106-3
98. Maria Dresher	Maria Dresher	E 173	F 64, 19-2
99. Regina Meyster	[Regina Anders] Regina Meishter / Meschter	E 174	F 66
100. Anna Anders	[Anna Hoffrichter] Anna Anders	E 175	F 161-1
101. Georg Anders	George Anders	E 176	F 161-1, 161-2
102. Maria Hiebner	[Maria Scholtz] Maria Hübner / Heebner	E 177	F 74
103. Anna Hiebner	Anna Hübner	E 178	F 74, 74-3
104. Hans Hiebner	Hans George Hübner	E 179	F 74, 74-1
105. Melchior Hiebner	Melchior Hübner	E 180	F 74, 74-2
106. Susanna Shubart	Susanna Schubert / Shoebart	E 181	F 75a
107. David Shubart	David Schubert / Shoebart	E 182	F 75a