Waldschmidt, John (1724-1786)

John Waldschmidt was born at Dillenburg, in the county of Nassau, Germany, on August 6, 1724. In 1751-1752, Mr. Schlatter visited that country, with the purpose of securing ministers for America, and John Waldschmidt was one of the six men who volunteered to accompany him to the New World. He was examined and ordained, at the Hague. Soon after the ordination, the group sailed to New York, arriving July 27, 1752. Mr. Schlatter installed Rev. Waldschmidt in his Lancaster County churches of Cocalico (now Bethany at Ephrata); White Oaks (today known as Jerusalem Church at Unionville in Penn Township); Sebastian Reyer's church (Weiseichenland, today known as Zion's Church near Brickerville in Elizabeth township), Muddy Creek in East Cocalico, and Seltenreich in Earl Township near New Holland. In 1754 Rev. Waldschmidt gave up Muddy Creek, likely due to an independent preacher who opposed Rev. Waldschmit. In the wake of this loss, a new church was built in West Cocalico township, at Michael Amweg's, which is known as Swamp Church. His last recorded communion service there was October 5, 1755. In 1756, when Rev. Waldschmidt was asked to preach at Tulpehocken, and supply to Reading. At the end of the year (1756) he gave up Seltenreich. He served his two new congregations of Tulpehocken and Reading for two years. In 1757 he began to serve Cacusi (now Hain's Church in Berk's county). On April 6, 1760, he celebrated his first communion at Donegal; on May 15, 1760 for the Gruben Church near Lebanon (now extinct); and at Quitopahilla (now Hill Church near Annville) on May 18, 1760. The year 1762 was important for Rev. Waldschmidt because he gave up all of his original congregations, which included Reyer's, White Oaks, and Cocalico. He was then pastor of Cacusi and Reading. In the year 1765 he began to serve two new congregations, first Eppler's Church in Berne township, Berks county, where he celebrated the first communion on March 17, 1765. In September 1765 he took the old Berne Church for about two years, and finally he became once more the pastor of the Swamp Church in West Cocalico township. He now had four congregations. In January, 1767, he began to preach in a new congregation, at Allegheny in Brecknock township, Berks county. These five congregations were more than he could well take care of, and he dropped Berne in 1766, and Cacusi in 1771. He continued with the remaining three congregations, Eppler, Allegheny and Swamp, until the end of his life. The last communion he served, according to his records took place in Allegheny Church on October 23, 1785. The last baptism was performed by him on September 12, 1786. He died two days later. He died at Swamp, Lancaster county, September 14, 1786. He married Maria Elisabeth, daughter of Christian Grub, on May 14, 1754. They had seven children: John Christian, Susanna Elisabeth, Anna Christina, Catherine Margaret, John, Anna Maria, and William Jacob.