Gottlieb Mittelberger Quotes


One seldom hears or sees a quarrel among them. Even strangers trust each other more than acquaintances in Europe. People are far more sincere and generous than in Germany


Context

Mittleberger wrote a treatise warning his countrymen of the problems in Pennsylvania where many German youth were coming as indentured servants and apprentices.


Citations

Gottlieb Mittelberger, *, German School Master and Visitor to Colonial Pennsylvania, Journey to Pennsylvania, 1750

Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations

Related Quotes

No Photo Available
  • Born:
  • Nationality: German
  • Profession:

Gottlieb Mittelberger (1714 – 1758) was a German author, schoolmaster, organist, and Lutheran pastor. He was best known for his work Journey to Pennsylvania (1756). Mittelberger's travelogue provides a firsthand historic account of the misery and exploitation of German immigrants during the US colonial period. In his work, he tries to convince his fellow Germans not to immigrate to the American colonies, as the forfeiture of freedom, cost of money, lack of health, and loss of life are too exorbitant to risk and sacrifice. Although never an indentured servant, Mittelberger's written testament is one of several surviving historic works describing the hardships of the redemption system.