Northkill Amish Settlement facts for kids

The Northkill Amish Settlement was a community started in 1740 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It was the very first Amish community that we know of in the Americas. This settlement helped the Amish get established and grow in the Americas. By the 1780s, it was the biggest Amish settlement, but it slowly became smaller as families moved to other places.

Starting the Northkill Settlement

The first Amish people began moving to the United States in the 1700s. They mostly came to escape religious persecution, which means they were treated badly for their beliefs. They also wanted to avoid being forced to join the military.

The area around Northkill Creek in eastern Province of Pennsylvania was opened for people to settle in 1736. That same year, Melchior Detweiler and Hans Seiber settled near Northkill. Soon after, many more Amish families moved there. Large groups arrived in 1742 and 1749.

By 1742, the group was big enough to ask the Pennsylvania government for special rights. These rights, called naturalization, would let them legally buy land. The community grew even stronger in 1749 when bishop Jacob Hertzler moved to Northkill. At its largest, the settlement had nearly 200 families.

The Hochstetler Attack

The Northkill settlement was located near the Blue Mountain. This mountain was the official border for European settlements, based on agreements with Native American tribes.

During the French and Indian War, local tribes, led by French scouts, attacked the Northkill settlement. This happened on September 19, 1757. The attackers targeted the home of Jacob Hochstetler and set it on fire.

The family had firearms for hunting, but Jacob Hochstetler refused to let them be used. This was because of the Amish Christian belief in nonresistance, which means not fighting back. As the fire grew worse, the family tried to escape through a cellar window.

Sadly, Jacob Jr. had been shot during the attack and was wounded. Jacob Sr.'s wife, Anna, got stuck in the window and was also hurt. Another daughter and Jacob Jr. were killed. Jacob Sr. and his sons, Joseph and Christian (who were about 12–15 years old), were captured.

Jacob Sr. escaped after about eight months. His sons were held for several years. They were finally released after a peace agreement was made between the Native Americans and the British. Both of Jacob Hochstetler's sons later joined Christian churches that also taught nonresistance. One of them even became a minister.

More than 200 European settlers were killed in Berks County during different attacks at this time. The number of Native Americans killed is not known.

Why the Settlement Shrank

Northkill remained the largest Amish settlement until the 1780s. Then, it started to get smaller. Families began moving to areas with better farmland. They mostly moved to Lancaster County and Somerset County in Pennsylvania.

They formed new communities there. The Lancaster Amish Settlement was started around 1760. The Somerset Amish Settlement began in 1772.

Northkill's Lasting Impact

Even though the Northkill settlement only existed for a short time, it was very important. It helped establish the Amish people in North America. Many well-known Amish families today, like the Yoders, Burkeys, Troyers, Hostetlers, and Hershbergers, can trace their family history back to the Northkill settlers.

Jacob Hochstetler's story is told in a book by Harvey Hostetler called The Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler. This book lists many Americans who are related to Jacob. It also shares details about the Amish's history of being persecuted in Europe. It talks about their journey to America, the attack on Jacob's family, and how Jacob and his sons were captured and later escaped.

The Hochstetler attack is also mentioned briefly in Paul Stutzman's book about his hike on the Appalachian Trail. The trail runs close to where the settlement was. Stutzman says he is a descendant of Jacob's daughter, Barbara Hochstetler Stutzman. She was already married and living nearby when the attack happened.

Stutzman notes that a historical marker tells the story of the Northkill Amish. This marker is located near old Route 22 and behind a place called Roadside America. It explains that Northkill was the first Amish Mennonite settlement in America and mentions the Hochstetler attack. The Northkill settlement ended after this attack.

Images for kids

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  Northkill Amish.