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The Shamokin Diary

The "diary" of the Shamokin settlement was written by ten different missionaries, including the well known David Zeisberger and Martin Mack. It contains sections in German and English. Such regular mission reports and "diaries" of the communities were read to all members on Congregation Days in order to show the workings of the Savior in the conversion of the non-Christians and also of course to hear about the activities of the Europeans in this distant land. In addition to details pertaining to the condition of the soul of both converts and missionaries, these reports contained a wealth of information about the landscapes, people, and practices of the Indian nations where the Moravians were active.

Shamokin itself was not a mission settlement built by the Moravians, but rather represented an interesting and unique moment of enterprise and entrepreneurship in in the Moravian mission to the Native Americans. The town of Shamokin pre-existed the advent of the Moravians as a trading post and also as the seat of Chief Shikellamy. Therefore the diary of the mission in Shamokin differs from other mission diaries in that it details life in a place of commerce rather than an intentional communal life.

View a single page excerpt from the Shamokin Diary.

View a double page excerpt from the Shamokin Diary.

View the transcription of the diary from September 29, 1747, through October 2, 1747.
View the transcription of the diary from October 2, 1747, through October 4, 1747.

View the translation of the diary from September 29, 1747 through October 4, 1747.

View excerpts from Count Zinzendorf's first travels through the countryside surrounding Shamokin.

Much thanks to Katherine Faull, Professor of German and Humanities and Head of the Foreign Language Department at Bucknell University for supplying these accounts.