Immigrant: Verena Benz

Verena Benz

Verena Benz, born in 1713, arrived in Philadelphia in 1735 with her new husband Hans Martin Schellenberg. They quickly relocated to Lancaster County and remained in the township of Manheim the remainder of their days. Martin died in 1760, leaving Verena and eight children somewhat well-off. Of Verena’s eventual fate, all we know is that her estate passed to her only son in 1784, making her seventy-one.

The Roman name Verena was not uncommon in that period. At least four woman shared that name on the voyage of the Mercury, as well as three children. The name is less common today, but most often seen in America in the form of “Vera”.

The Old Country

1713: Verena Benz baptized 13 Apr 1713 

• Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies: Volume I. List of emigrants Zurich to Carolina and Pennsylvania, 1734-1744 List # 88. List of persons from parish Wallissellen, who since the year 1734 left for Carolina. Copy of original list # 87, Wädeschweil [p.93] Married people. Left October 5, 1734. Baptized.

According to unconfirmed research by others, Verena “Freny” Benz was the daughter of Heinrich and Anna Gertrude Hintermeister Benz from Rieden, Dietlikon Parish, Canton Zurich, Switzerland. Her parentage is confirmed by others, but is out of scope for this project. However, if the documentation is correct, then her Benz line had been in Zurich from at least 1555, with Jakobi Benz. Verena is said to have had a sister (Anna Benz m. Ulrich Hintermeister) and a brother Heinrich Benz (m. Margaretha Altofer).

Verena married Hans “Martin” Schellenberg (son of Jacob and Susanna Weber Schellenberg) in Wallisellen on 19 Jan 1734. Martin is said to have been born 29 Oct 1706 in Wallisellen, Canton Zurich, Switzerland, and christened a month later on 29 Nov. 

• A History of the Goshenhoppen Reformed Charge, by the Rev. William John Hinke, D.D., published in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1920 by the Pennsylvania-German Society at http://archive.org/details/historyofgoshenh2829hink

The voyage up the Rhine to Rotterdam, then to England, and finally to Philadelphia is described in significant detail in the above History of the Goshenhoppen Reformed Charge. We do know that the cost was six doubloons per adult. We also know that Jacob, Martin’s father, whose home was noted as Flunteren Switzerland (also part of Zurich today), brought with him not only his family, but at least one servant.

The voyage is also covered in detail by Ludwig Weber on 7 Oct 1735, in The Nachrichten von Zurich ( a newspaper). In that, we learn only eight passengers died on the way over.

Pennsylvania

1735: Census and Passenger list: The young couple (Verena was twenty-two and Martin not much older) sailed to Philadelphia, out of Rotterdam, alongside Martin’s parents on the ship Mercury, arriving 29 May. Martin's occupation is listed as a miller. They were members of the Zurich-organized colonial mission led by Minister Goetshy, of the Reformed Church in Switzerland. Goetshy, whose shady past was unknown to his colonists, did not survive the three-month voyage, however, and the colonists were forced to make their own plans. Whether they remained for a while in Goshenhoppen, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, or moved on immediately, is unclear.

1749: We see Martin taking out a land warrant on 22 Apr 1749 in Manheim, Lancaster County. The land is subsequently surveyed 19 Apr 1750.

1755 - 3 May First Reformed Congregation at Lancaster. Both Martin and Verena are noted as sponsors at a baptism. It is unconfirmed, but believed to be the baptism of their only son, Hans Martin Jr. We know that Martin Jr. was the only son thanks to verbiage in a land warrant where Martin Sr. calls out how the land will be distributed upon his death, wherein he stated: “to my only son”. In this same church, Martin and Verena’s daughters (Veronica, Ursula, Magdalena, and Regina) were later married.

1760: When Martin died on 27 Mar 1760, he was living on 92 acres of land located in Manheim Twp. (Lancaster) PA. Martin died intestate with Verena as administrator of the estate until it passed on to their son Martin on 25 Aug 1784.

1784: It may be assumed, based on the above, that Verena died this year.

Whether Verena was a close relation to other Bentz/Pentz immigrants is so far inconclusive. If they are, they certainly didn't reside in Manheim or in the surrounding neighborhood. As Verena did not pass on Benz surname, her children pass out of our line. Autosomal DNA might prove a connection, but it would be quite a subtle signature after two centuries. However, if her brother Heinrich moved to America, and/or his male line tested for y-DNA, things might turn more interesting.