This document clearly shows the circumstances of some 18th century German emigrants:
17 May 1754
Most Noble Landgrave, gracious Lord and Master!
Your Highness whose kindness is never praised enough gives us the opportunity to appear before his holy person in deepest veneration, and to explain our sad condition, relying on his grace and kindness which has already been immortalized through fame.
The suffering we have already been through during the last 20-30 years here in our homeland, through bad weather, damaged crops, cattle dying and many other such mishaps which we have had frequently in our homes, and in absence of our food and economy, thereby against our will getting into unaffordable debt (especially since the high taxes demanded by his Lordship have increased significantly within the last 3-4 years, often 3 even 4 times as much, which is impossible to pay) so it follows that we have been forced--since there is help neither from Christians nor Heathens, to come up with enough money--in that earlier, although full of hope for better time, found ourselves burdened to great measure with sorrow and cares. Unfortunately! We had to make the decision to leave our beloved German fatherland, selling and leaving behind what little property we have left, our houses and farms and the few goods, and go to foreign lands, even away from Europe across the terrible ocean, facing sea-sickness, with our wives and children so that we can, with our kin, obtain our subsistence there by the grace of God and earn our daily bread.
In that our gracious Lord contrary to our expectations and former custom, has taken from us the fifth penny instead of the 10th according to the document dated the 5th of April and the communication dated the 24th of this month. Therefore, we plead with your excellency to have fatherly mercy on us, who have always served you most obediently in all that was asked of us, and would have liked to continue in this service until the end of our lives. Namely, the following subjects: [see below]
It is asked that we be allowed to move away with our wives and children to Pennsylvania by paying a moving-away money, and the 5th penny of all the goods to be taken out of the county we are asking for mercy and that we should not have to pay the 5th penny. Please forgive us at least half of this cost so that we, and our wives and children, can remember the beloved father of their European German Fatherland and especially for protection from wind and weather and for a little travel money, since the day of our departure in May is coming up and almost here. We [sign] in deepest love and burning gratitude and most devotedly.
Humble servants
[Signed}
Conrad Aumüller
Jacob Boländer
Johann George Giltzinger
Lorentz Arnold
Conrad Häuser
Reinhard Friedrich Fischer
Johannes Bock
Martin Ickus
Conrad Lohra
[Translation by Baerbel Johnson]