Notes |
- Michael, his wife, sons and brother Christopher, joined a stream of distressed humanity that poured out of the Rhineland in the spring of 1709. Michael had procured a passport signed by the court - Baronial Leiningen, Schulthesis Christop Sterk, Johan Andreas Strebel (brother-in-law) and Johnny Kolb - on May 4, 1709. The passport basically stated that he was born in the Village of Assenheim, near Hochdorf, and that he should be given safe passage to seek his fortune in Pennsylvania in the Americas. It was April 1709 that the first parties of refugees had begun to move on the Great River. What with local restrictions and fees and tolls to be paid, the trip took 4 to 6 tedious weeks. By early June the emmigrants where flocking into the Dutch City of Rotterdam. A few Dutch ship owners where commissioned by the Duke of Marlborough, whom Queen Anne had made responsible for transporting the displaced Germans to England. "Good Queen Anne" and her commissioners thought that surely all these convinced Protestants would strengthen the anti-Roman feeling in Britain. The sailing ships from Rotterdam landed at Deptford near London. Michael and his family where sent to Blackheath upon arrival in England, June 2, 1709. Each family was presented with a 9 pound loaf of bread as "white as fallen snow" - a curiosity to the Germans who where used only to dark bread. On August 8, 1709, Michael and his family left in wagons to go to Chester to embark there for Ireland. The trip was about 120 miles. From Chester, they sailed in schooners to Dublin. There was a total of 120 families that where chosen to go to Ireland. The trip to Ireland took about 24 hours. Sir
Thomas Southwell chose experienced husbandmen and some weavers to go onto his Estates in the South of Ireland. All of the Palentine men where issued muskets, although Irish tennants throughout the country had been disarmed. Later the Palentines where to be enrolled in a Militia unit of their own - The German Fusiliers, or "True Blues" (this was the origin of the telling phrase "true blue"). The first village built by the Germans was at Courtmatrix, which they planned in a square around a commons.
Michael was listed as a freeholder at Courtmatrix in 1715 and 1720.
Michael served as Vestryman for the Church of Ireland in Rathkeale for some of the time between 1741 and 1770.
Occupation: vine-dresser / husbandman. of Assenheim, Pfalz, Am Rhein, & Court Matrix, Cty. Limerick, Ireland. listed as Lutheran in the Board of Trade lists, London, England, 1709
As the Rathkeale Church of Ireland Registers began in 1742, and as no other records have been found between 1710 and 1742, it has been impossible to verify if Michael had other issue. Also it has been impossible to find offspring of his first two sons. It is possible that they had families as there are many Switzers unaccounted for. There is a Christopher Switzer buried in Kilcooly Church of Ireland cemetery who was born in 1716. He could be a son of Michael. If so, The "Tipperary Switzers" are descended from Michael. [3]
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