Arrival in Pennsylvania

The land which subsequently came to be known as "Pennsylvania" was granted by King Charles II of England to William Penn in 1681, in liquidation of a debt of £16,000 which the British crown owed Admiral Sir William Penn, Penn's deceased father. He had fee-simple title to more than 40,000 square miles of territory. It was the largest tract ever granted in America to a single individual. Penn was made the proprietary of the province, invested with the privilege of creating a political government.

In 1682, Penn, who was a Quaker preacher, sailed to America where he founded the City of Philadelphia and helped establish Pennsylvania in accordance with Quaker principles.

Under his charter, Penn was also governor of the province, which he and his sons held as proprietors, with the exception of about two years under William III, until the revolution of 1776. Thus, in a strict sense, Pennsylvania was not the colony of any foreign power. But as a British subject, Penn owed allegiance to the Crown, and while the government of Pennsylvania was proprietary in form, it was English in substance, and non-British subjects were considered foreigners.

At the time Pennsylvania was founded, Germany was in a state of religious turmoil, disunion, and depression from the results of the Reformation and the Thirty Year's War. Her once-peaceful valleys, thriving fields, and vine-clad hills had become the hunting grounds of political and religious fanatics.

Penn and other Quaker missionaries toured the German states promising religious and political liberty in Pennsylvania. The response was immediate since a considerable number of small sects had sprung up and were being actively persecuted as heretics by the larger Protestant groups.

The first German immigration of which a specific record survives is that of a colony of Mennonites, often called "German Quakers," led by Francis Daniel Pastorius. They came in two sections. The America, Captain Joseph Wasey, master, landed at Philadelphia on 20 August 1683 with Pastorius, eight Germans, and an English maid. The main body followed shortly afterwards. They came with Captain Jeffries on the ship, "Concord", landing 6 October 1683. Shortly afterwards, on 24 October of the same year, Pastorius founded "Germantown" for them, where 42 people settled in 12 homes. Most of them were weavers, the rest were farmers and tradesman. These were the German "Pilgrim Fathers," who sought and found freedom of worship in Pennsylvania.

From then until 1702, such groups as the Tunkers, Labadists, New Born, New Mooners, Separatists, Zion's Brueder, Ronsdorfer, Inspired Quietists, Gichtellians, Depellians, Mountain Men, River Brethren, Brinser Brethren, The Society of Women in the Wilderness, and the Amish migrated to the tolerant province.

The later German migrations (after 1702) consisted of more orthodox church people, mostly Lutherans and the German Reformed, or Calvinists.

By 1727 there were perhaps as many as 15,000 Germans and their descendants in the province of Pennsylvania, settled mainly in the area comprising the present-day counties of Northampton, Bucks, Lancaster, Lehigh, Dauphin, Lebanon, and York. However, the names and dates of arrival of only a few hundred of the thousands of German immigrants coming through the Port of Philadelphia prior to 18 September 1727 are known.

From that date on, the colonial government required ships' captains to submit lists of their German and other Continental passengers due to a growing concern about the potential dangers of the sizable influx of non-English speaking immigrants whose political antecedents were uncertain. In addition, adult males over 16 were required to sign two oaths: an oath of allegiance and an oath of abjuration. These requirements were suspended in 1775.

In 1785, the Commonwealth reinstated the ship list requirement, but, of course, no more oaths of allegiance to the King of England or abjuration of foreign rulers and prelates were demanded. In 1808, even the ship listings were discontinued.

Unfortunately, not all of these early immigration records have survived. Of the 324 German-bearing ships arriving at Philadelphia between 1727 and 1775, captain’s lists of only 138 ships have survived. In many cases, the records of oath signers enable one to fill in the gaps where the captains' lists are missing. But since many male passengers did not sign the oaths, these records are not a wholly adequate substitute. In all, the lists contain the names of 29,887 of an estimated 65,000 passengers on these ships.

Moreover, such records were required only at the Port of Philadelphia, while thousands of other German immigrants came to America through the ports of Boston, New York, Baltimore, Charleston, and Savannah.

From the lists that are available, we are able to fix the date of entry of 26 adult male immigrants into Pennsylvania named "Jost" or some variation of that name.   There may have been others, of whom the records—if there were any—have not survived.

The original lists which have survived are preserved in the vaults of the Pennsylvania Archives at Harrisburg.

These lists were published in 1934 in Ralph Beaver Strassburger's three-volume work, Pennsylvania German Pioneers - Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia, 1727–1808," by the Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Volume I presents the records pertaining to ships which arrived at Philadelphia between 1727 and 1775. This includes the captains' lists and lists of the signers of each of the two oaths. Names of passengers and oath-signers are printed, but the spelling is as identical with the original as scholars of old German script could decipher.

Volume II contains reproductions of the signatures of persons who took the oaths during the period 1727 to 1775. Examination of these reproductions reveals how difficult it was to decipher the names of immigrants, most of whom wrote in a hand we would consider an illiterate scrawl. Many, of course, had others write their names for them and interpose this "signature" with their mark. The captains' lists are not reproduced since these were written in English script. The spelling of names on captains' lists should not be considered definitive since the ships' clerks in most cases wrote the names phonetically.

Volume III is a printed record of the captains' lists for the period 1785 to 1808 and the index to names contained in Volumes I and III.

An earlier attempt to publish the immigration records for the period of 1727–1775 is Israel Daniel Rupp's, A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania From 1727–1776. The improved second edition was published by I. G. Kohler at Philadelphia in 1876.

M.V. Koger, in 1935, published an index to Rupp's work entitled, Index to The Names of 30,000 Immigrants—German, Swiss, Dutch, and French—Into Pennsylvania, 1727–1776. Supplementing The I. Daniel Rupp Ship Load Volume.

A comparison of Strassburger's and Rupp's works illustrates the difficulties of deciphering the signatures on the original lists. There are substantial differences in "translation" of the lists, compounded by Rupp's practice of "correcting" the spelling of the names as they were originally written. All in all, Strassburger's volume is far more accurate.

The earliest attempt to print these lists was made by the State of Pennsylvania in 1852 in its Pennsylvania Colonial Records. This printing is of some value as a third source of signature decipherment.

Herewith are presented the immigration records pertaining to the 26 adult males named Jost (or variations of the name) known to have immigrated to Pennsylvania during the period of 1727–1808.

Jacob Jost, accompanied by another person who was probably his wife, arrived at Philadelphia 18 September 1727 aboard the William & Sarah, William Hill, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. The group included 109 men and their families, numbering in all about 400. They were led by the German Reformed Church minister, George Michael Weiss. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 7, 9 and Rupp, p 49.) Jacob Jost is said to have settled at Whitpain Township, Montgomery County. (See The Pennsylvania German Society, "Proceedings and Addresses -- The Yost Family -- By J. Irwin Yost." The Society, Norristown, Pennsylvania 1906, v 7, pp 337 - 341.)

Jacob Jost (also written Joost) arrived at Philadelphia 23 August 1728 aboard the Mortonhouse, John Coultas, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Deal from which it had sailed 15 June. This group included 80 men, 69 women and 56 children -- a total of 205. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 18, 20 and Rupp, p 56.)

Hans Casper Joost (also written Gasper Joust), age 21, arrived at Philadelphia 17 August 1733 (date qualified) aboard the Samuel, Hugh Percy, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Deal. The group included 89 men and 86 women aged over 16 and 54 males and 62 females aged under 16 -- a total of 291. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 106, 110 and 112 and Rupp, p 86.)

This may be the same Casper Yost who purchased a lot on Queen Street in Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pa., from James Hamilton’s Esquire on 14 January 1740. Casper Yost and his wife Elizabeth sold the lot for £3 to Katherin Dehuff on 6 November 1752. (See Lancaster County Deed Book Q, pp 15-16.)

Peter Jost (who signed his name with a mark), age 18, arrived at Philadelphia 30 August 1737 (date qualified) aboard the Samuel, Hugh Percy, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. The group of 318 passengers included 89 men aged over 16. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 168, 170 and 172 and Rupp, p 105 -- the surname is spelled Tost.)

Conrad Jost (also written as Johann Connrad Jost and as Johann Conrad Jost) arrived at Philadelphia 26 September 1737 (date qualified) aboard the St. Andrew Galley, John Stedman, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. The group of 450 passengers included 142 men. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 178, 180 and 182 and Rupp, p 108.) This may be the Conrad Jost who settled at Limerick Township, Montgomery County and died there in 1760.

Peter Jost (also written Joost), age 55, and Johannes Jost (also written Joanis Joost), age 17, arrived at Philadelphia 9 September 1738 (date qualified) aboard the Glasgow, Walter Sterling, commander. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. The group of 349 passengers included 120 men aged over 16. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 204, 206 and 208 and Rupp, p 116.) Johannes Jost is said to have settled in Frederick Township, Montgomery County and died there 28 January 1811. (See Clifton Swenk Hunsicker, "Montgomery county, Pennsylvania - A History." Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc.: New York, N. Y. 1923. V2, pp 275-277.

Leobold Jost (also written Leopald), age 36, arrived at Philadelphia 20 September 1738 (date qualified) aboard the Friendship, Henry Beech, commander. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Dover. The group of 282 passengers included 87 men aged over 16. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 225, 228 and 230 and Rupp, p. 123.) He may have settled in ______ Township, Berks County.

Nicholas Joost arrived at Philadelphia 25 October 1738 (date qualified) aboard the Davy, William Patton, commander. The ship was from Amsterdam, via Cowes. The group included 94 males and 47 females --a total of 141. (See Strassburger, v 1, p 234. Not in Rupp, p 125, since he lists only signers of the oath of allegiance. Nicholas Joost’s name appears only on the captain’s list. This may indicate he was too sick to sign the oaths of allegiance and of abjuration or that he was under the age of 16.)

Frantz Jost (also written France Jhost), age 22, arrived at Philadelphia 25 November 1740 (date qualified) aboard the Loyal Judith, Captain Lovell Paynter, commander. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Deal. The group of 265 passengers included 95 men aged over 16. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 283, 284 and 286 and Rupp, p 142.)

Philip Jost (also written Phillup Just) arrived at Philadelphia 26 September 1741 (date qualified) aboard the St. Mark, Captain William Wilson, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. The captain’s list contains 101 names. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 297, 298 and 300 and Rupp, p 147 -- the surname is spelled Yeist.) This may be the Philip Jost who settled at New Hanover Township (later Pottsgrove Township), Montgomery County.

Michel Jost arrived at Philadelphia 24 August 1749 (date qualified) aboard the Elliot, Captain James Adams, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes, with 240 passengers aboard. (See Strassburger, v 1, p 390 and Rupp, p 190.) He may have settled in Bucks County. On 10 February 1752, Henry Keller and wife of Bedminster Township conveyed to Michael Jost of Bucks County, yeoman, 150 acres in the upper part of Bedminster Township. (Bucks County Deed Book 24, p 306). He died before 2 February 1787 as a quit claim deed was filed on the farm by his son Isaac to Conrad at that date. (Bucks County Deed Book 24, p 30 - 8).

Conrath Jost arrived at Philadelphia 15 September 1749 (date qualified) aboard the Phoenix, John Mason, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. The 550 passengers were from Zweibrucken, Nassau, Wirtemberg and the Palatinate. (See Strassburger v 1, p 405 and Rupp, p 203.) This may be the Conrad Jost who settled at Lancaster, Lancaster County, PA.

Johan Nickle Jost arrived at Philadelphia 13 August 1750 (date qualified) aboard the Bennet Gally, John Wadham, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Portsmouth, with 260 passengers aboard. (See Strassburger, v 1, p 429 and Rupp, p 226 -- the surname is spelled Post.)

Martin Jost and Nicklaus Jost arrived at Philadelphia 28 August 1750 (date qualified) aboard the Phoenix, John Mason, captain. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes, with 339 passsengers aboard. (See Strassburger, v1, p 441 and Rupp, pp 237, 238.)

Johan Conrad Jost arrived at Philadelphia 16 September 1751 (date qualified) aboard the Edinburgh, James Russell, master. The group of 345 passengers included 10 "Catholicks." (See Strassburger, v 1, p 461 and Rupp, p 255.)

John Gerg Jost (also written Johan Gerg Jost) arrived at Philadelphia 14 September 1753 (date qualified) aboard the Edinburg, Captain James Russel. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Portsmouth, with 352 passengers aboard. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 521, 524 and Rupp, p 302.)

Simon Jost (also written Simeon and Simmon) arrived at Philadelphia 24 September 1753 (date qualified) aboard the Neptune, John Mason, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes, with 147 men aboard. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 530, 541 and 543 and Rupp, p 308 -- the surname is spelled Irst (?).)

Caspar Jost (also written Casper Joost) arrived at Philadelphia 1 October 1754 (date qualified) aboard the Phoenix, John Spurrier, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. The 554 passengers were from Franconia, the Palatinate and Zweibrucken and included 17 Roman Catholics and 25 Mennonites. (See Strassburger, v 1, pp 527, 530 and 534 and Rupp, p 334.)

Nicholas Yost arrived at Philadelphia 19 November 1771 (date qualified) aboard the Tyger, George Johnson, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Cowes. (See Strassburger, v 1, p 736 and Rupp, p 397.)

John Aug. Just arrived at Philadelphia 23 August 1773 (date qualified) aboard the Sally, John Osmon, commander. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Portsmouth, with 193 passengers aboard. (See Strassburger, v 1, p 749 and Rupp, p 407.)

Jacob Jost arrived at Philadelphia 9 October 1775 (date qualified) aboard the King of Prussia, William Potts, master. The ship was from Rotterdam, via Falmouth. (See Strassburger, v 1, p 763 and Rupp, p 419.)

Johannes Jost arrived at Philadelphia 10 August 1791 aboard the Diana, Ozias Goodwin, master. The ship was from Rotterdam with 140 passengers aboard. (See Strassurger, v 3, p 44.)

Louisa Jost, age 6, with an unnamed child, age 2, arrived at Philadelphia 30 July 1796 aboard the Brig Mary, Benjamin Earl, captain. The ship was from Hamburg with 110 passengers aboard. Perhaps Louisa Jost’s parents perished during the voyage. (See Strassburger, v 3 p 85.)

Frederic Joost, age 18, a rope-maker from Ludwigsburg in Wirtemberg, Germany, arrived at Philadelphia 19 September 1804 aboard the Margaret, E. C. Gardner, master. Frederic Joost is further described as being 5 feet tall with yellow hair. The ship was from Amsterdam. (See Strassburger, v 3, p 156.)

George Jost, age 24, a baker, arrived at Philadelphia 3 December 1807 aboard the William P. Johnson, Moses Wells, master. George Jost is further described as a native of Offenbach, a subject of Prince Primas, of middle-size with black hair and eyes. The ship was from Holland. (See Strassburger, v 3, p 201.)

Rupp, p 88, lists three Jost children under the age of 16 (Michael, Johannes and Johann Peter) arrived at Philadelphia 27 August 1733 (date qualified) aboard the Elizabeth, Edward Lee, master. Strassburger, v 1, p 767, deciphers these names as Micol Foust, age 13; Johanes Foust, age 11; and Johan Peter Foust, age 9.

Rupp shows no adult Josts in his list but on p 87 does show Johann Philip Faust, Johan Philip Faust, Johan Peter Paust and Johan Philip Paust. The complete captain’s list of this vessel is presented in Strassburger, v 1, pp 765-767. Here the names are deciphered as Philip Foust, weaver, age 30; Johan Peter Foust, farmer, age 40; and Philip Foust, farmer, age 20. Passengers who signed the oath of allegiance are presented in Strassburger, v 1, p 114. Here these names are deciphered as Johann Fillibs Faust, Johan Petter Faust and Johann Lebs Faust. The photographic reproduction of this list is in Strassburger, v 2, p 104. Passengers who signed the oath of abjuration are presented in Strassburger, v 1, p 115. Here the names are deciphered as Johan Fillibs Faust, Johan Petter Faust and Johan Lebs Faust. The photographic reproduction of this list is in Strassburger, v 2, p 106. Pennsylvania Colonial Records, v 3, p 516, contains this same ship’s list. The names in this printing are deciphered as Johan Philip Foust, Johan Peter Foust and Johan Philip Foust.

Rupp does not list adult females but Strassburger’s list includes Anna Catrina Foust, age 21 and Anna Eliza Foust, age 40. Rupp’s list of children also includes Johan Jacob Paust, Johan Adam Paust and Joh. Henrich Paust. Strassburger deciphers these names as John Jacob Foust, age 4; John Adam Foust, age 2; and John Hendrick Foust, age 0-1/2. Strassburger’s list also includes Ann Eliz. Foust, age 5; Matelina Foust, dead, age 3; and Johan Hendrick Foust, age 2. These latter names are not included in Rupp’s list under any form.

Rupp, p 151, lists Johan Jost arrived at Philadelphia 20 November 1741 (date qualified) aboard the Europa, Captain Lumsdaine, master. This immigrant’s full name was Johann Jost Thowe -- written as Hans Jost Tobe in the captain’s list. See Strassburger, v 1, pp 317, 318 and 319. Signatures are reproduced in Strassburger, v 2, pp 326 and 327.