The Frankfurt Land Company, a German land company composed of Lutheran Pietists who hoped to locate in Pennsylvania, whose agent, Francis Daniel Pastorius, arrived in Philadelphia 20 August 1683, and who was helpful to the Krefeld party which arrived at Philadelphia on 6 October of that year. On 25 October the 13 family heads of the Krefeld group met in the dugout home of Pastorius and drew lots for their respective parcels of land. Practically none of the Frankfurt Land Company ever settled in Pennsylvania. The Company is remembered principally because of the good services of Pastorius, their agent, in behalf of the Krefelders, some of whom became the charter members of the first permanent Mennonite settlement and congregation in America.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 375. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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