The manuscripts that comprise the Shamokin Diary are held in the Moravian Archives in Bethlehem, Pa and are available on microfilm in Moravian Missions among American Indians Records; ca. 1735-1900. Microfilm. (40 rolls) The late Reverend Carl John Fliegel (1886-1961), research Assistant at the Archives of the Moravian Church from 1952 to his death and a native of Germany, read every word of about twenty-five thousand pages of these manuscripts, and prepared an elaborate card index, consisting of an estimated 30 000 cards with 135 000 entries. This index is an invaluable aid to the researcher, especially for those who cannot read the German script of the original text to which it refers and it has often served as the primary source of information on which scholarship is based. Thus, the categories that Fliegel devised for the indexing of the enormous amount of manuscript materials, have become the categories that determine the description of the missions to the Native Americans. A glaring example of omissions though is a category on women. They are absent from the index. Further, where Fliegel does include an entry for “visits,” he does not explain that these are pastoral visits that were conducted very frequently by the European Moravian women to the Native American women and thus constitute a crucial locus of cultural exchange. It was at these visits that the Moravian Brothers and Sisters conducted “spiritual interviews,” according to the guidelines established by Count Zinzendorf.
The data contained in Fliegel’s index and their relevance to DH have most recently been discussed in Juan Garcés, Anna S. Meyer, Arne Rümmler, Kay-Michael Würzner, “Fliegel Flügel verleihen Der Fliegel-Index und Digital Humanities (DH)-Methoden” Die Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert: Theologie-Geschichte-Wirkung, ed. Wolfgang Breul (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2024), 675-698.
1742 Zinzendorf’s Travel Journal
9/15/1742 The Lenape (Delaware) are treated as foolish children by the Five Nations
9/15/1742 The Lenape (Delaware) are said to have a “King” at Shamokin
9/15/1742 The Seneca are the Keepers of the path to the Iroquois
9/29/1742 The Lenape’s (Delaware) political organization mentioned
9/29/1742 The Cherokee War with the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) in 1736 mentioned
9/30/1742 The Catawba are mentioned, also known as “Kattabes, Gatapes, Cattobats”
1745
September
9/16/1745 Mack’s arrival
9/17/1745; idem
9/18/1745 Drinking & carousing
9/19/1745. The Cherokee are referenced
October
10/8/1745 The Lenape (Delaware) Shamokin residents are friendly to Mack
10/9/1745 The Lenape (Delaware) warriors are marching against the Catawba (Flatheads)
10/12/1745 The Lenape (Delaware) seem disinterested in the Moravians
10/13/1745 The Lenape (Delaware) individuals listen to Mack’s words
10/19/1745 Much drunkenness & violence in Shamokin
10/24/1745 Lenape (Delaware) Shamokin group having a feast
10/28/1745 Lenape (Delaware) have a town on the Susquehanna
10/31/1745 Shawnee individual expresses Five Nations’ displeasure at presence of missionaries
November
11/2/1745 Cherokee to be attacked
11/2/1745; All night dancing & howling
11/3/1745. Mack is relieved by Hagen
11/3/1745 Prospects evaluated by Mack
11/6/1745 Evaluated by Weiser
1746
5/5/1746; Blacksmith urgently needed at Shamokin
6/27/1746 Request represented to Gov. Thomas Mifflin
9/7/1746 Five Nations siding with the British
12/27/1746 Five Nations fighting against the French
1747
April
4/14/1747 Project of establishing a forge
4/18/1747 Mack & Nathanael arriving
4/18/1747 Lenape Chief Alomoebey, without authority
4/19/1747 Shawnee residing along Susquehanna, West Branch
4/21/1747 Blacksmith project discussed at conference
4/21/1747 Outdoor conference with chief and advisers
4/21/1747 Lenape excluded from conference
4/21/1747 Catawba frequently attacked
May
5/26/1747 Hagen’s activities
5/31/1747 Shamokin reached by Hagen & Powell
5/28/1747 Opening of blacksmith’s shop planned
June
6/9/1747 Starvation diet
6/1/1747 Lumber prepared for the mission house
6/3/1747 Measurements of house given
6/7/1747 Warriors marching against the Catawba
6/13/1747 Frame finished
6/15/1747 Grubbing
6/17/1747 Plowing
6/16/1747 Shingles made
6/22/1747 Roof built
6/24/1747 New house occupied
6/30/1747 Mission house roof finished by Hagen
July
7/2/1747 Chimney built
7/8/1747 Chimney and door finished
7/11/1747 Forge finished
7/16/1747 Ceiling
/7/18/1747 Shikellimy’s help enlisted
7/24/1747 Smithy opened
7/29/1747 Nanticoke residing at the mouth of the Juniata River
August
8/2/1747 First pedelavium & communion service
8/2/1747; Erection of the smithy praised by Shikellimy
8/20/1747 Sewing for Indians without charge by missionaries’ wives
8/20/1747; Account book for work at the forge
8/20/1747 Workers’ conference
8/20/1747; Attitude of aloofness from traders
8/20/1747; Native Americans kept on the preferred list at the forge
8/20/1747 Daily morning & evening devotions among missionaries enjoyed
8/25/1747 Symptoms of prevailing sickness described
September
9/7/1747 Hagen buried in the turnip field
9/29/1747 Mack in charge
October
10/5/1747 Preparations for making charcoal
10/12/1747 Catawba attacked by war party;
10/13/1747 Catawba’s new attack
10/16/1747 Boards for a floor in the mission house
10/19/1747 Native Americans kept on the preferred list at the forge
10/22/1747 Turnips saved from Native Americans
10/23/1747 Floor laid
10/26/1747 Sewing of shirt expected of missionary’s wife
10/26/1747 Lenape nationality of mother found dead
10/28/1747 Use of charcoal
10/30/1747 Charcoal-kiln started
November
11/6/1747 Fire in the kiln started
11/[?]/1747 Coal-shed built
11/7/1747 Venison as payment for shirt making
11/7/1747 First married people’s quarter hour
11/8/1747 Less emphasis on Sunday than on Sabbath
11/9/1747 Guns fixed at the smithy
11/13/1747 Lenape visitors
11/14/1747 Sabbath lovefeast
11/19/1747 Charcoal manufactured
11/20/1747 Lenape individual accused of poisoning by magic
11/21/1747 Married people’s quarter hour
11/23/1747 Shroud made for a child
11/23/1747 Lenape individual treated with kindness
11/27/1747 Cobbler’s work
11/28/1747 Disturbance at night
December
12/5/1747 Sabbath observance
12/16/1747 Deep snow
12/17/1747 Snow drifts & severe cold
12/19/1747 Lenape customers at the blacksmith shop
12/20/1747 Lenape visitors
12/23/1747 Disturbance by intoxicated Native Americans
12/25/1747 Christmas observed with a lovefeast
12/25/1747 Description of lovefeast buns
12/26/1747 Married people’s quarter hour
12/30/1747 Laundry work for Native Americans
12/30/1747 Lenape are hungry visitors
12/31/1747; New Year’s Eve watchnight service
1748
January
1/4/1748 Powell in charge
1/4/1748 Workers conference
1/4/1748 No social relations with traders
1/9/1748. Sabbath observance leading to astonishing questions
1/9/1748 Tutelo Visitors wondering about Moravian Sabbath observances
1/18/1748 Lenape residing at Waphallobank
1/23/1748 Earthquake felt at Shamokin
1/28/1748 Catawba cruel, able to defend themselves
February
2/19/1748 Disturbance at night
2/23/1748 Drunkenness
March
3/5/1748 Minqua visitor
3/18/1748 Town flooded
3/10/1748 Land cleared for farming
3/22/1748 Mission house improved
3/24/1748 Lenape young woman instructed on the uselessness of liquor
3/25/1748 Fruit trees planted
3/27/1748 Minqua visitor receiving treatment by bloodletting
April
- Help thankfully acknowledged
4/4/1748 Entertainment by dancing warriors
4/5/1748 Catawba to be attacked
4/15/1748 Sabbath & Sunday observance enjoyed
4/15/1748 Payment at the forge with hides and pelts
4/15/1748. No charge accounts at the forge
4/15/1748 No objection to acceptance of venison for sewing by missionaries’ wives
4/15/1748 Agricultural enterprises to be kept at a minimum
4/15/1748 No seed available for making a garden
4/18/1748 Mack in charge
4/28/1748 Disturbance by drunken & noisy Indians
May
5/4/1748 Smith-shop temporarily closed
5/8/1748 Liquor stealing & drinking
5/12/1748 Grubbing for corn-planting
5/13/1748 Marcus Kiefer arriving at Shamokin as fence-builder
5/16/1748 Lenape individual recognizing the causes of Indians’ misery
5/17/1748 Nanticoke migrating toward the upper Susquehanna
5/18/1748 Nanticoke gathering at the smith-shop
5/20/1748 Nanticoke individual craving for white people’s bread
5/21/1748 Nanticoke leaving
5/31/1748 Rattlesnake, dangerous to Mack
June
6/1/1748 Cabbages planted
6/4/1748; Lenape living on Shamokin Island
6/5/1748; Everybody drunk
6/8/1748 Corn ruined by hail
6/13/1748 Closing of the blacksmith’s shop regretted
6/13/1748 Lenape visitors complaining about the long absence of the smith
6/16/1748 Blacksmith’s shop opened
6/18/1748. Disturbance by traders
6/26/1748 Native Americans not permitted to work at the forge on Sabbath or Sunday
6/26/1748 Traders strictly kept out of the house
6/26/1748 House to be kept clean & free from vermin
6/26/1748 Workers conference
6/26/1748 Renewed emphasis on linguistic studies
November
11/30/1748; Zeisberger in charge
11/30/1748; Communion service for smallest group
December
12/7/1748 Rail splitting
1749
January
1/5/1749 Susquehanna River separating the Shamokin mission from Logan’s residence
1/6/1749 Diary kept by Rauch
1/7/1749 Noise by drunken Indians
1/11/1749 Sleepless night for missionaries
1/18/1749 Lenape nationality of Lapachpiton
1/25/1749 Disgusting scenes
1/25/49 Catawba visitors in frightening attire
1/29/1749 Brawl silenced by missionary’s singing
February
2/11/1749 Lenape neighbors looked at with pity
2/16/1749 Services till 2 a.m.
2/19/1749 Mohawk Nationality of Sociziówonhe;
2/24/1749 Drunken brawls & fighting
2/25/1749 Everybody sleeping
March
3/5/1749 Lenape individual dying from overdose of whiskey
3/7/1749 Disgusting scenes
3/9/1749 Lenape individual buried with difficulty
3/11/1749 Everybody sick & weak
3/12/1749 After-effects of drinking spree
3/14/1749 Repair work on fences
3/19/1749 Tutelo nationality of Shikellimy’s widow
3/20/1749 Nanticoke visitor giving his opinion on Shamokin Indians
3/20/1749 Population held in low regard
3/26/1749; Easter dawn services beginning after midnight
3/27/1749 Mohawk visitors at Shamokin
3/30/1749 Canoe bought
3/31/1749 Dinner menu at Shamokin
April
4/3/1749 Zeisberger keeping the diary
4/4/1749 Big drinking affair
4/10/1749 Cayuga nationality of Tianoge
4/10/1749 Travelling plans of members of Great Council discussed
4/11/1749; Poor economic situation
4/11/1749 Tuscarora warriors returning to Wahochquáge
4/12/1749 Delaware Nationality of superstitious visitor
4/19/1749 Delaware Tribesmen settling on the Susquehanna West Branch
4/19/1749 Mohawk Nationals settling at Ostonwakin
4/19/1749 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee visit considered by Zeisberger
4/22/1749 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee wampum message from Weiser
4/26/1749 Charge of Lenape black magic raised
May
5/9/1749 Steps to avoid involvement in drinking affair
5/14/1749; Idem
5/14/1749 Lenape drinking
5/14/1749 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee delegates seen on their way to Philadelphia
5/20/1749 Nanticoke migrating toward Wyoming
5/23/1749; Lesson in plowing by Zeisberger
5/27/1749 Big drinking affair
5/31/1749 Lenape man killed as alleged sorcerer
5/31/1749 Mohawk nationals killing a Lenape for alleged sorcery
5/31/1749; Lenape burial ground used for burial of an alleged sorcerer
June
6/9/1749 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee councillors arriving at Shamokin
6/10/1749 Onondago Warriors described with pleasure
6/12/1749 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee councillors found to be polite & modest
6/15/1749 Lenape not participating in treaty at Lancaster
July
7/2/1749 Blacksmith’s Sabbath & Sunday rest criticized
7/13/1749 Nanticoke regretting omission of visits by Moravians
7/14/1749 Cayuga visitors praised as friendly and modest
7/20/1749 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee leaders arriving at Shamokin
7/22/1749 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee visitors at Shamokin
7/22/1749 Onondago visitor at Shamokin.
7/22/1749 Seneca visitor at Shamokin
7/24/1749 Mission premises at the disposal of Haudenosaunee guests
7/25/1749; Drinking & noise all night
7/26/1749; Brotherly treatment by intoxicated visitors
7/26/1749 Seneca visitors provided with presents from Bethlehem
7/26/1749 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee plan of visit by Bethlehem leaders
1750
January
1/8/1750. Work taken over by Zeisberger
1/8/1750 Lenape
1/23/1750 Lenape called a bad people
1/30/1750 Cayuga Nationality of Hahotschaunquas
February
2/3/1750 Lenape Visitors accused of causing damage
2/3/1750 Tutelo Visitors accused of causing damage
2/18/1750
2/3/1750 Cayuga
2/8/1750 Cayuga nationality of Swatãne (Shikellimy)
2/24/1750 Disagreement on charges for work at the smithy
2/24/1750 Reputation of honest dealing defended against false charge
2/18/1750 Bloody fight among traders
2/25/1750 Everybody drinking
March
3/5/1750 Drinking & wife-beating
1752
6/3/1752 Grube called into service.
1753
April
4/14/1753 Grube in charge
4/16/1753 Chimney for the new mission house
4/17/1753 Disturbance by drinking Native Americans
4/19/1753 Undisturbed Passion services
4/26/1753 Chickens stolen by intoxicated Indians
4/30/1753 Canoe making
May
5/8/1753 New house in more advantageous location
5/8/1753 Farming activities kept on the level of Native American economy
5/8/1753 No cordiality with traders
5/8/1753 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee pleased with missionaries’ attitude toward traders
5/[?]/1753 Forge run on a basis of self-sufficiency
5/21/1753 Conoy (al. “Canai, Ganai, Ganey”) migrating from Maryland to the Susquehanna
5/21/1753 Nanticoke linguistically related to the Conoy (“Ganey”)
5/29/1753 New mission house occupied
June
6/5/1753 Mohawk warrior accidentally killing member of Montour’s family
6/10/1753 Excesses during Grube’s absence
6/10/1753 Seneca warriors noted for robbery and violence. House and forge offered for sale
July
7/19/1753; Smallpox among the children
Disposal of livestock & supplies (No. 6)
1754
January
1/11/1754 Kliest put in charge
1/21/1754 Floor laid in the mission house
1/25/1754 Frey & Roesler arriving
April
4/22/1754 Catawba attacked
4/27/1754 Coal & ore discovered in Susquehanna Valley
May
5/19/1754 Footbridges built
June
6/20/1754 Boards bought at the sawmill
6/25/1754 Danger by high water
6/27/1754 Damage to mission house floor repaired
December
12/21/1754 Evaluation of Lenape attitude toward the gospel
1755
March
3/30/1755 Lovefeast requiring sugar & tea
3/30/1755 Number of cattle kept on the mission place
April
4/1/1755 Roesler in charge
4/3/1755 Lenape visitors entertained at Shamokin
4/14/1755 Drinking by men & women
4/29/1755 Mohawk nationality of visiting family
May
5/7/1755 Mohawk nationality mentioned of Jonathan
5/19/1755 Deer & racoon skins sent to Bethlehem
5/31/1755 Crops ruined by frost
June
6/6/1755 Picture of Shamokin economy
6/6/1755 Mail service for mission organized
6/6/1755 Land claimed by Weiser as his property
6/6/1755 Mahican Nationality of friendly family
6/8/1755; Economy called ridiculous
6/8/1755 Spiritual situation praised
6/18/1755 Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee delegates expected
6/18/1755 Land soon to be settled by Weiser’s people
July
7/5/1755 Pedelavium communion
7/13/1755 Mohawk nationality of overnight guests
7/17/1755 Lenape well-behaved visitors
7/26/1755 Advice to flee disregarded
August
8/17/1755 Conoy having a burial at Shamokin
8/24/1755 Size of economy
September
9/9/1755. Bridge repair
9/27/1755 Pedilavium and communion
9/27/1755 Marcus Kieffer taking over the work at the forge
October
10/1/1755; Condensed history of the last years
10/11/1755 French Indians seen near Shamokin
10/16/1755 Massacre of white neighbors (Penn’s Creek)
10/23/1755 Allegheny Nations sending wampum with fierce threats
10/26/1755 French Indians seen close to Shamokin
10/26/1755 Close to bloody action by hostile Nations
10/30/1755 Conoy nationality of Schafmann