The Bethel Moravian Church in Swatara Township, Lebanon County

Submitted by Alan W. Kohr, rssawk@rohmhaas.com

The "Bethel" Moravian meeting house (located in what is now Swatara Twp). was built about 1743. It was a two story log structure, weather-boarded, and lined on the inside with poplar. It measured about thirty by forty feet. The first floor was divided into three rooms in which the minister lived and taught school. The second floor contained a large, single room that was used as the sanctuary. The building was fortified and served as a place of refuge for the local settlers and militia during the French and Indian War. The graveyard, or "God's Acre" as it was referred to by the Moravian's, was constructed to the rear of the meeting house.

About 1830 religious services ceased at the Bethel Moravian meeting house. The remaining members attended the Hebron Moravian Church, near Lebanon. A United Brethren congregation and a Dunkard congregation built a brick union meeting-house in 1860, about 500 feet from the site of the old log structure. The Moravians abandoned their old cemetery in 1833, however, the two newer congregations maintained the cemetery and buried their deceased members there in a separate section. The old log church that was built in 1743 was dismantled in about 1878. Some of the wood from the church was used in the construction of a house and barn on the adjoining property.

There are no longer signs of either of the churches. The graveyard lies quietly near the intersection of Cemetery Road and Mountain Road, about 2 miles northeast of Lickdale, at the base of Little Mountain. There is a line of ancient cedar trees that border a grassy pasture frequented by cows and chickens from a neighboring farm. In among the grass and trees are scattered the grave markers of the of the early congregations. The earliest section of the cemetery contains the Moravian graves. As was their custom, women and young girls were buried on one side and the men and boys were buried on the other, like apposing pages in a book. More than 140 members and friends of Bethel Moravian Church were buried here between 1752 and 1833.

The little cemetery chronicles the everyday life and death struggle of the early families that settled in this wilderness area. In the cemetery, many of the stones mark the graves of infants and young children, and women who died in childbirth. In some cases portions families were wiped out by the ravages of disease-- each family member dying in an orderly succession as the sickness passed from person to person. At least four of the stones mark the final resting place of men killed while plowing their fields, during an Indian attack in the summer of 1756. Several Indians who were killed during raids in the 1750's are said to be buried in an unmarked grave beneath a large old tree that once stood next to the graveyard. A number of the graves mark the resting place of soldiers of the Revolutionary War, who fraught to bring freedom to the new land.

The Moravians at Bethel used squared headstones laid flat on the ground to mark each grave site. The grass and soil have claimed many of these and only a few can still be seen. Of the old headstones yet visible, most were made of brown sandstone, and the inscriptions on these are totally illegible and lost to time. Some markers, made of a harder stone can still be read, but they too are fading.


Interments at the Bethel Moravian Cemetery

No. Name Date of Birth
[or age]
Date of Death Date of Burial

Elisabeth Fischer5 Oct. 1748---20 Aug. 1752
1.Joh. Wilhelm Fischer21 Sep. 1709---1 Oct. 1752
2. David Fischer 2 yrs. 9 mo. 21 days18 Apr. 1754 20 Apr. 1754
3.Michael Sauser 31 Jul. 175418 Aug. 1754 19 Aug. 1754
4.Jacob Händsche* ---26 Jun. 1756 27 Jun. 1756
5. Franz Albert* 30 Jul. 1719 26 Jun. 1756 27 Jun. 1756
6.Joh. Geo Miess* 28 Sep. 173926 Jun. 1756 27 Jun. 1756
7. Friedr. Weisser* 21 May 174026 Jun. 1756 27 Jun. 1756
8.Anna Rosina Korr 27 Aug. 17608 Oct. 1763 10 Oct. 1763
9.Anna Barbara Korr -- Jul. 172820 Nov. 1763 21 Nov. 1763
10.Heinrich Christ 4 yrs. 4 mo.31 Dec. 1763 2 Jan. 1764
11.Georg Heinrich Redelmeyer 11 days31 Oct. 1764 1 Nov. 1764
12.Elisabeth Faber 2 yrs. 6 mo. 3 Jul. 1765 4 Jul 1765
13.Adam Faber 29 May 171725 Aug. 1767 26 Aug. 1767
14.Johannes Redelmeyer 22 Oct. 176525 Apr. 1768 26 Apr. 1768
15.Jacob Ströhly 1 yr. 4 mo. (small pox) 7 May 1768 8 May 1768
16.Elenora Räber 12 Jul. 174026 Jun. 1769 28 Jun. 1769
17.Johann Christian Kohr 12 Dec. 176924 May 1770 25 May 1770
18.Anna Margaretha Born 11 mos. 3 days28 Jul. 1770 29 Jul. 1770
19.Magdalena Kohr 13 May 17315 Dec. 1770 7 Dec. 1770
20.Johannes Thomas Redelmeyer 15 Mar. 177222 Mar. 1772 23 Mar. 1772
21.Christian Ohrendorff 80 yrs. several mo. 16 Apr. 1772 17 Apr. 1772
22.Margaretha [Kohr] Born 40 yrs. less sev. mos.5 Jul. 1772 6 Jul. 1772
23.Daniel Born 11 Apr. 177217 Sep. 1772 18 Sep. 1772
24.Johannes Redelmeyer 22 Nov. 177024 Dec. 1772 26 Dec. 1772
25.Anna Juliana Redelmeyer 3 yrs. 4 mo.2 Jan. 1773 3 Jan. 1773
26.Catharine Spittler 16 Aug. 177014 Mar. 1773 16 Mar. 1773
27.Elisabeth Faber 50 yrs. less about 12 days 1 Dec. 1773 2 Dec. 1773
28.Joh. Geo. Miess 70 yrs.20 Apr. 1774 22 Apr. 1774
29.Catharina Beck 17 yrs. 10 mos.27 Nov. 177429 Nov. 1774
30.Elisa Beck 12 yrs. 14 days21 Feb. 1775 ---
31.Maria Barbara Beck 15 Dec. 173113 Mar. 177515 Mar. 1775
32.Johann Wilhelm Dörge 20 yrs. 4 mo.22 Jun. 1755 23 Jun. 1755
33.Joh. Adam Spittler 1 yr. 4 mo. less sev. days 6 Oct. 1775 7 Oct. 1775
34. [infant (f)] Miess 21 Oct. 177521 Oct. 1775 22 Oct. 1775
35. Daniel Born 10 Oct. 17266 Nov. 1776 8 Nov. 1776
36.Juliana Miess59 yrs. 8 mo.17 May 177818 May 1778
37.Maria Volck54 yrs.1 Jul. 17782 Jul. 1778
38.Catharina Miess3 yrs. 10 mo.7 Jul 17788 Jul. 1778
39.Rosina Miess ---2 Oct. 17783 Oct. 1778
40.Adam Spittler16 Oct. 177822 Jan 177924 Jan. 1779
41.Bernhard (Heinrich) Faber 57 yrs. 4 mo. less a few days 5 Apr. 17796 Apr. 1779
42.Catharine Spittler35 yrs. 2 mo. 13 days30 Jun. 17791 Jul. 1779
43.Margaretha Faber 26 yrs. and about 6 mo. 27 Nov. 1781 ---
44.Christina Faber9 Mar. 178223 Mar. 178224 Mar. 1782
45.Rosina Till62 years21 Jan. 178323 Jan. 1783
46.Jacob Till69 years29 Jan. 178331 Jan. 1783
47.Anna Maria Faber12 days7 Jul. 17859 Jul. 1785
48.Johann Heinrich Heckadorn8 mo. less 5 days29 Apr. 178730 Apr. 1787
49.Maria Elisabeth Faber28 Nov. 177921 Jan. 178822 Jan. 1788
50.Sally Tinn8 weeks ---30 Jan. 1788
51.[infant (m)] Lewis------15 Nov. 1788
52.--- Miess------12 Jun. 1789
53.Maria Christina Miess31 Aug. 178711 Feb. 179012 Feb. 1790
54.Christina Faber61 yrs. 8 mo.25 May 179027 May 1790
55.Maria Magdalena Schör8 days24 Dec. 179025 Dec. 1790
56.Johann Jacob Faber16 Mar. 178520 Oct. 179221 Oct. 1792
57.Jacob Michael Korr ------ 1792
58.JohannPhilipp Beck2 Feb. 172722 Feb. 179225 Feb. 1792
59.Joh. Friedrich Faber26 Apr. 179228 Oct. 179230 Oct. 1792
60.Jacob Faber3 Dec. 174911 Feb. 179313 Feb. 1793
61.Jacob Spittler25 Aug. 17225 Apr. 17946 Apr. 1794
62.Philipp Beck10 Jan. 179710 Jan. 179711 Jan. 1797
63.Catharina Windbüchler---1 Feb. 17972 Feb. 1797
64.--- Angst20 Jun. 179720 Jun. 179721 Jun. 1797
65.Johannes Faber4 Mar. 177527 Nov. 179729 Nov. 1797
66.Catharina Spittler12 Jun. 17887 Dec. 19798 Dec. 1797
67.Elisabeth Wenkelblech 9 mo. 2 wks. 8 days10 Dec. 197912 Dec. 1797
68.Salome Losern---30 Dec. 17971 Jan. 1798
69.Johann Jacob Dörges10 Feb. 179710 Mar.179911 Mar.1799
70.Peter Windbiegler2 yrs. less 14 days1 May 18002 May 1800
71.Johann Friedrich Strohm28 May 17987 Aug. 18009 Aug. 1800
72. Christian Gottfried Heckedorn24 Mar. 177825 Aug. 180026 Aug. 1800
73. [infant (m)] Kohr18 Apr. 180118 Apr. 180119 Apr. 1801
74.Caspar Kohr7 Oct. 172428 May 180130 May 1801
75.Rosina Bringna Brunner13 Mar. 17987 Apr. 18029 Apr. 1802
76.Maria Catharina Heckedorn21 Dec. 175014 Apr. 1802 16 Apr. 1802
77.Magdalena Beck11 Mar. 179817 May 180218 May 1802
78.Jacob Spittler 6 Dec. 176928 May. 180230 May 1802
79.Margaretha Spittler--- Dec. 1750 8 Feb. 180310 Feb. 1803
80.Bernhard Miess22 Jan. 177410 Feb. 180313 Feb. 1803
81.Catharina Spittler19 Oct. 180218 Jul. 180319 Jul. 1803
82.Johannes Miess4 May 180317 Aug. 180318 Aug. 1803
83.Catharina Angst 39 yrs. 1 mo. 26 days10 Jan. 180412 Jan. 1804
84.Verona Xander1 Nov. 1720 6 Jul. 18048 Jul. 1804
85.Peter Pfeifer 42 yrs. and about 2 mo.17 Aug. 180418 Aug. 1804
86.Jacob Faber11 Jun. 1776 3 Oct. 18045 Oct. 1804
87.Johann Heinrich Brunner22 Apr. 1801 15 Oct. 180417 Oct. 1804
88.Catharina Meyer20 Mar. 1761 15 Nov. 180417 Nov. 1804
89.Johann Gerhard Miess17 Oct. 1746 26 Jan. 180529 Jan. 1805
90.Maria Barbara Miess19 Aug. 1751 26 Sep. 1805 28 Aug. 1805
91.Johann Daniel Brunner22 Jan.1754 18 Dec. 180520 Dec. 1805
92.Heinrich Fischer8 Jan. 1806 16 Jan. 180617 Jan. 1806
93. David Fischer8 Jan. 1806 25 Jan. 180626 Jan. 1806
94.Christopher Kapp5 Oct. 1738 13 May 180614 May 1806
95.Johann Erhard Heckedorn9 Sep. 1746 24 Aug. 180626 Aug. 1806
96.Jacob Michael about 60 yrs. 9 Sep. 180611 Sep. 1806
97.Salome Krumben19 Sep. 1806 25 Sep. 180626 Sep. 1806
98.[infant (m)] Kohr8 Jan 1807 8 Jan. 1807 10 Jan. 1807
99.Wilhelm Fischer16 Feb. 1807 27 Feb. 180728. Feb.1807
100.Johann Heinrich Heckedorn20 May 1788 29 Aug. 180730 Aug. 1807
101.Johannes Buchmeyer29 Oct. 1807 17 Nov. 180718 Nov. 1807
102.Catharina Miess9 Dec. 180728 Jun. 180829 Jun. 1808
103.Adam Fischer18 Nov. 180830 Nov. 18082 Dec. 1808
104.Heinrich Dubs15 Dec. 180820 Jan. 180921 Jan. 1809
105.Elisabeth Brunner6 Dec 175716 Oct 181219 Oct. 1812
106.Michael Fischer29 Aug. 17683 Apr. 18146 Apr. 1814
107.Heinrich Miess24 Jan. 175217 Jun. 181619 Jan. 1816
108.Catharina Buchmeyer17 Jan. 177824 Apr. 181626 Apr. 1816
109. Abraham Sebolt 8 May 1783 21 Sept 1819 22 Sep. 1819
110.Christian Fischer--- 9 Nov. 1820 10 Nov. 1820
111.Johannes Miess35 yrs. 4 mo. 3 days 3 Jan. 1821 5 Jan. 1821
112. Elisabeth Miess 30 Jun. 1747 2 Mar.18214 Mar. 1821
113. Frederick Buchmeyer 7 Nov. 1779 29 Mar. 18211 Apr. 1821
114.John Spittler6 Jun. 1771 21 Apr. 182123 Apr. 1821
115.Anna Maria Miess1 Apr. 1780 18 May 182120 May 1821
116. Magdalena Miess3 Sep. 1787 13 Jul. 182115 Jul. 1821
117. Heinrich Miess27 Dec. 1815 8 Aug. 18219 Aug. 1821
118. Johannas Philipp Beck15 May 1768 15 Nov. 182117 Nov. 1821
119.Peter Brunner18 Mar. 1749 26 Jan. 182228 Jan. 1822
120. Joseph Kiefer8 Jun. 1819 20 Jul. 182222 Jul. 1822
121.Catharina Kiefer 14 yrs. and 24 days 19 Aug. 182221 Aug. 1822
122.Magdelena Jung18 Dec. 1820 1 Oct. 18222 Oct. 1822
123.August Jung22 Nov. 1819 5 Oct. 18227 Oct. 1822
124.Daniel Kiefer15 Mar. 1778 3 Feb. 18235 Feb. 1823
125.Anna Catharina Kapp19 Mar. 1745 26 Feb. 182427 Feb. 1824
126.Frederika Buchmeyer23 Sep. 1823 7 Jul. 18248 Jul. 1824
127.Magdelena Miess18 May 1782 8 Aug. 182410 Aug. 1824
128.Christian Schetk48 yrs. 11 mo. and seven days 16 Nov. 182418 Nov. 1824
129.Catharina Winkelblech17 Jan. 1822 10 Feb. 182512 Feb. 1825
130.Catharina Winkleblech24 Apr. 1797 25 Jul. 182526 Jul. 1825
131.Catharina Buchmeyer11 Jan 1825 27 Nov. 182629 Nov. 1826
132. Elisabeth Winkelblech14 Jan. 1827 10 Jun. 182711 Jun. 1827
133.Caspar Miess18 Oct. 1782 24 Sep. 182726 Sep. 1827
134.Jacob Bader27 Nov. 1825 9 Feb. 18289 Feb. 1828
135.Anna Maria Kohr20 Dec. 1745 23 Sep. 182824 Sep. 1828
136.Heinrich Spittler21 Jan. 1776 31 May 18291 Jun. 1829
137.Michael Beck3 Apr. 1805 18 Nov. 182920 Nov. 1829
138.Johannes Beck3 Jan. 1800 11 Dec. 182913 Dec. 1829
139.---- Börhor4 Mar. 1830 10 Mar. 183011 Mar. 1830
140.Johannes Miess14 May 1812 11 Nov. 183015 Nov. 1830
141.Eleonora Hughs 36 yrs. 11 mo. 16 days 23 Dec. 183024 Dec. 1830
142.Sarah Bader8 Jan. 1828 2 Oct. 18314 Oct. 1831
143.Philip Faber28 Jan. 1747 7 Oct. 18319 Oct. 1831
144. Sophia Winkelblech 70 yrs. 1 mo. 4 days 9 Oct. 183111 Oct. 1831
145.Johannes Kiefer 5 yrs. 8 mo. 10 days 11 Jan. 183313 Jan. 1833

* Killed by Indians while plowing their fields in June of 1756.


                                                                         W
                                                                      S  +  N
                                                                         E

 
                                  Men                                                      Women


          143


          114  113  111  107  106   95   94   91   89         112  115  116  125  135


          133   86   80   78   74   61   46   41   35          42   45   54   76   84   88   90


         Boys         6    7   32   65   72   79  110          29   43                      108     Girls


          Men         1    4    5   13   21   28   60           9   19   22   26   27   31   36     Women


  Little Boys         2    3   20   23   24   33   40           8   12   18   25   30   34   38   75   81  126 


117   ??  139   87   82   73   69   62   59   56   48          44   47   49   52   53   55   66   68  131  

  
  Little Boys                                  Friends and Acquaintances


120  123        71   10   11   14   15   17   57   64           16   39   77   51   63   67   69  122  121     Girls


Men       137  136  128  124  119  118   96   85   58           37   79   83  127  130  144             70     Women


                                                                97  101   ??   ??  


Note: Not all of the gravesites for the people in the death records are accounted for.