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To George Diehl:
The mystery deepens. A new developmental thought for you: The "Johann Nicolaus Diehl" who arrived on the SQUIRREL in 1761 may not be our ancestor. Possibly Capt. Nicholas was born in Philadelphia. Regardless of what one concludes, it is now necessary to search the registers (German language) of St. Michael's and Zion.
To the Lutheran Archives:
Joyce and I enjoyed our visit. You helped us a lot, and we found what we were looking for. But, unfortunately, more research is required.
I note that Nicholas Diehl became a member, according to Jordan, Editor of COLONIAL FAMILIES OF PHILADELPHIA, of St. Michael's and Zion Church, the earliest Lutheran congregation in Philadelphia. He continued his membership at St. Michael's until 1806, when he joined with those members who wished to have the services in English, and they formed St. John's Evangelical.
I assume that St. Michael's was renamed Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John (Race St. west of 5th). The cemetery was removed in 1924 to Laurel Hill.
Do you have the registers of St. Michael's and Zion? If so, I am interested in the following: (1) Births: Nicholas Diehl, 1741 (Parents?). (2) Marriages: Nicholas Diehl (or, possibly, Nicolaus Thiel) to Anna Maria Meyerlin, Feb.21, 1763. (3) Members (new): Nicholas Diehl: Search required from Oct. 21, 1761 to Feb. 21, 1763.
Reply to my inquiry:
Greetings from the Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia. Thank you for your email concerning which records we have available here at the Center from St. Michael's and Zion, Philadelphia.
We have some of the records of interest to you as stated in your September 16th email. Baptismal records begin in 1745 as do Marriage records. We have records also from 1761 to 1763 that should include new member information.
To George Diehl:
The date of 1745 (beginning of recorded baptisms) -- since Nicholas was born in 1741 -- confirms, I think, that Editor Jordan did not know where he was conceived: Philadelphia or Germany. The only way, in my opinion, to support the claim that the "Nicolaus" on the SQUIRREL is our ancestor requires that someone search the "New Members" register from Oct. 21, 1761 (the date of his arrival in Philadelphia) to Feb. 21, 1763 (the date of his purported marriage to Anna Maria). If Nicholas' name is found there, then he did indeed arrive via the SQUIRREL from Germany; otherwise, one might infer, after discoverng a Nicholas Diehl between 1745 and 1761, that he was born in Philadelphia.
Corollary: If Nicholas was not from Germany, then his parents were probably buried in the cemetery of St. Michael's; and, accordingly, their remains are now resting at Laurel Hill; i.e., if St. Michael's and Zion was renamed Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John. That church's cemetery was removed to Laurel Hill in 1924.
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