Died in American Revolution∼On September 14, 1753, the ship "Edinburg", captained by James Russell, arrived in Philadelphia harbor. Starting out from Portsmouth, England, it had sailed to Rotterdam where it picked up a passenger named Johann Kraffgoss and his young family. Johann, born March 6, 1730 in Lower Saxony, had joined the tens of thousands of German, Swiss and French refugees who were enticed to William Penn's new colony of Pennsylvania with the promise of religious and economic freedom. The brutal and bloody 100 Years War had taken a great toll on Europe, particularly the Protestant Germans. These oppressed survivors of the Reformation made their way across Europe to places like England and the Netherlands where they weren't persecuted for their religious beliefs and awaited an opportunity to leave their war-torn homeland for better prospects.
The migration of Germans to America began slowly about 1682, supported by England, desirous of increasing the population of their new American colony. Unfortunately, many of the Germans could not speak English and the English recorders, who did not speak German and were not completely literate in some cases, recorded the passengers names as they thought they sounded. Surnames morphed into improperly spelled, new versions that sounded English. Johann Kraffgoss became John Kraft Ghost.
Note:
JG Goess the father is buried in an unknown battlefield somewhere in PA.
His first two sons were killed in battle during the Revolutionary War, later Johan was killed and the grieving widow begged George Washington to relieve the drummer boy, Abraham, so that the family could continue. General George Washington moved to compassion and consented.
The migration of Germans to America began slowly about 1682, supported by England, desirous of increasing the population of their new American colony. Unfortunately, many of the Germans could not speak English and the English recorders, who did not speak German and were not completely literate in some cases, recorded the passengers names as they thought they sounded. Surnames morphed into improperly spelled, new versions that sounded English. Johann Kraffgoss became John Kraft Ghost.
Note:
JG Goess the father is buried in an unknown battlefield somewhere in PA.
His first two sons were killed in battle during the Revolutionary War, later Johan was killed and the grieving widow begged George Washington to relieve the drummer boy, Abraham, so that the family could continue. General George Washington moved to compassion and consented.
Died in American Revolution∼On September 14, 1753, the ship "Edinburg", captained by James Russell, arrived in Philadelphia harbor. Starting out from Portsmouth, England, it had sailed to Rotterdam where it picked up a passenger named Johann Kraffgoss and his young family. Johann, born March 6, 1730 in Lower Saxony, had joined the tens of thousands of German, Swiss and French refugees who were enticed to William Penn's new colony of Pennsylvania with the promise of religious and economic freedom. The brutal and bloody 100 Years War had taken a great toll on Europe, particularly the Protestant Germans. These oppressed survivors of the Reformation made their way across Europe to places like England and the Netherlands where they weren't persecuted for their religious beliefs and awaited an opportunity to leave their war-torn homeland for better prospects.
The migration of Germans to America began slowly about 1682, supported by England, desirous of increasing the population of their new American colony. Unfortunately, many of the Germans could not speak English and the English recorders, who did not speak German and were not completely literate in some cases, recorded the passengers names as they thought they sounded. Surnames morphed into improperly spelled, new versions that sounded English. Johann Kraffgoss became John Kraft Ghost.
Note:
JG Goess the father is buried in an unknown battlefield somewhere in PA.
His first two sons were killed in battle during the Revolutionary War, later Johan was killed and the grieving widow begged George Washington to relieve the drummer boy, Abraham, so that the family could continue. General George Washington moved to compassion and consented.
The migration of Germans to America began slowly about 1682, supported by England, desirous of increasing the population of their new American colony. Unfortunately, many of the Germans could not speak English and the English recorders, who did not speak German and were not completely literate in some cases, recorded the passengers names as they thought they sounded. Surnames morphed into improperly spelled, new versions that sounded English. Johann Kraffgoss became John Kraft Ghost.
Note:
JG Goess the father is buried in an unknown battlefield somewhere in PA.
His first two sons were killed in battle during the Revolutionary War, later Johan was killed and the grieving widow begged George Washington to relieve the drummer boy, Abraham, so that the family could continue. General George Washington moved to compassion and consented.
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