An American Family History

German emigration to America was marked by considerable deprivation, sickness and death. The situation in 1738 was even worse than usual and earned the reputation as the Year of the Destroying Angels, a reference to Psalm 78, verse 49. 

At that time unofficial family or village groups set out for Holland to find British ships to take them to America. Passengers signed a contract to pay their fares within a designated time. In 1738 there were greater numbers of emigrants than ever. When the Palatines reached Dutch territory in April, 1738, they were not permitted to enter the city of Rotterdam. They went to a holding area where no preparations had been made. On May 13th Kralingen officals petitioned to have the Palatines sent back or speedily embarked. The emigrants, many of them sickly by that time, were at the mercy of the shippers, even as to the final destination. Many died on the voyage and those arriving were sick and starving.

Captain Walter Goodman of the Robert & Alice sent a letter to Germany on October 19th

On the 4th of July last I sailed out of Dover in England and arrived here on this river on the 9th of September with crew and passengers in good health but on the way I had many sick people, yet, since not more than 18 died, we lost by far the least of all the ships arrived to-date.We were the third ship to arrive. I sailed in company with four of the skippers who together had 425 deaths...