Skip to main content
Massachusetts State Seal
Commonwealth Museum   Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin
Commonwealth Museum Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin

German Immigration in Colonial Massachusetts

Should preference be given to immigrants with special skills or should all be welcome? This issue arose in eighteenth century Massachusetts.

“

“Rogues and Sellers of Souls” who rely on “falsehood and smoke.”

- Description of merchants recruiting German immigrants, 1752

”
Not as easy as it looks…an early European print shop. Museum Plantin-Moretus Not as easy as it looks…an early European print shop.
- Museum Plantin-Moretus

Recruiting Skilled Workers

In mid-century the Province of Massachusetts Bay recruited Germans to work as printers and glass makers. A lottery was established to finance the project and skilled workers were exempted from military service. It was hoped that Germans would prove “honest and reasonable” and would provide “Books for Churches and Schools and to promote a Christian life.” They would be especially benefit Harvard College, “that ancient and renowned University of Cambridge.”


“Germantown” identified on an eighteenth century map. - David Rumsay Collection “Germantown” identified on an eighteenth century map.
- David Rumsay Collection

Germantown

Although the population has changed since colonial times, the Germantown neighborhood of Quincy retains the name of an eighteenth century settlement.

Concerns about Crime

Although some Germans were welcome, Massachusetts Archives documents show that authorities worried about others who came uninvited and the merchants who brought them. “They take all sorts of Beggars they find on the Road”… “Should everyone be inspected, I dare say, a great many…would be… marked with a hot Iron for having committed infamous crimes.”

Restricting Immigration, 1750

The Massachusetts legislature crafted legislation to reduce the number of immigrants on each ship. “Through want of necessary room and Accommodations” …”“they may often contract Mortal and Contagious Distempers” and infect others on arrival. The law required ship board accommodations “at least six feet in length and one foot and six inches in breadth” for each passenger over the age of 14. For those under the age of 14 “the same length and breadth for every two.”

“They take all sorts of Beggars they find on the road.” Thomas Rowlandson’s satire portrays a motley eighteenth century crowd. - Minneapolis Institute of Art
“They take all sorts of Beggars they find on the road.” Thomas Rowlandson’s satire portrays a motley eighteenth century crowd.
- Minneapolis Institute of Art

“An Act to prevent the Importation of Germans and other Foreign Passengers in too great a number in one Vessel,” 1750.

Concern about disease is highlighted in the legislation. Dimensions are specified for ship’s cabins. Ironically Rotterdam merchants advertised the dimensions of cabins as if they were desirable. Massachusetts Archives
“An Act to prevent the Importation of Germans and other Foreign Passengers in too great a number in one Vessel,” 1750. Concern about disease is highlighted in the legislation. Dimensions are specified for ship’s cabins. Ironically Rotterdam merchants advertised the dimensions of cabins as if they were desirable. Massachusetts Archives


“An Act to prevent the Importation of Germans and other Foreign Passengers in too great a number in one Vessel,” 1750. Concern about disease is highlighted in the legislation. Dimensions are specified for ship’s cabins. Ironically Rotterdam merchants advertised the dimensions of cabins as if they were desirable. Massachusetts Archives