Frederick Bicking
Encyclopedia
Frederick Bicking was born in Winterburg
, a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach
in Rhineland-Palatinate
, in western Germany
and came probably first to Philadelphia and then to East Brandywine Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
, before the Revolution. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1741 with his parents Johann Reichard and Anna Elizabeth (Roos) Bicking (Böcking/Böecking), a brother and two of his three sisters.
In Pennsylvania he owned and operated a paper mill, establishing the Bicking paper dynasty that would last well into the 19th century. He also owned a fishery on the Schuylkill River
. Bicking also operated the Sheetz, or "Dove Mill", which was thought to be the oldest or second oldest paper mill (to the Rittinghouse mill) in the colonies. He utilized indentured servants and his advertisements for runaways can be found in newspapers of the time period.
The Continental Congress
allocated funds to purchase Bicking's paper for currency production. The bank notes to pay the troops at Valley Forge
were printed on his paper. He is mentioned in several of the minutes of the Continental Congress and in the George Washington
Papers where Capt. James Lovell
explains to General Washington that he thought the minutes of the Continental Congress were buried at Bicking's property to avoid destruction of the documents by the British. He also submitted a petition that papermakers should be exempt from military service. Bicking was named as a Patriot of the Revolution. Many of the second and third generation members of the family are buried in the Bicking family cemetery which has remained preserved for nearly two centuries and is presently located on private property in Narberth, Pennsylvania
.
Frederick Bicking married Mary Catherine Unverzagt of Otwiller, Germany on May 26, 1752 at St. Michael's & Zion Lutheran Church in Germantown, Pennsylvania
. Mary Catherine Unverzagt, daughter of Johannes Unverzagt, was also a German Palatine.
Of Frederick Bicking's five sons, three were paper makers in Pennsylvania.
Frederick's son, John Bicking, had a paper mill near present day Fisherville and was a soldier in the Philadelphia militia.
Winterburg
Winterburg is a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany....
, a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach
Bad Kreuznach
Bad Kreuznach is the capital of the district of Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is located on the Nahe river, a tributary of the Rhine...
in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, in western Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and came probably first to Philadelphia and then to East Brandywine Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
, before the Revolution. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1741 with his parents Johann Reichard and Anna Elizabeth (Roos) Bicking (Böcking/Böecking), a brother and two of his three sisters.
In Pennsylvania he owned and operated a paper mill, establishing the Bicking paper dynasty that would last well into the 19th century. He also owned a fishery on the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
. Bicking also operated the Sheetz, or "Dove Mill", which was thought to be the oldest or second oldest paper mill (to the Rittinghouse mill) in the colonies. He utilized indentured servants and his advertisements for runaways can be found in newspapers of the time period.
The Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
allocated funds to purchase Bicking's paper for currency production. The bank notes to pay the troops at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
were printed on his paper. He is mentioned in several of the minutes of the Continental Congress and in the George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
Papers where Capt. James Lovell
James Lovell
James Lovell may refer to:* James Lovell , Continental Congress delegate from Massachusetts* James Lovell , last surviving decorated 'Tommy' of the First World War...
explains to General Washington that he thought the minutes of the Continental Congress were buried at Bicking's property to avoid destruction of the documents by the British. He also submitted a petition that papermakers should be exempt from military service. Bicking was named as a Patriot of the Revolution. Many of the second and third generation members of the family are buried in the Bicking family cemetery which has remained preserved for nearly two centuries and is presently located on private property in Narberth, Pennsylvania
Narberth, Pennsylvania
Narberth is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,282 at the 2010 census.-History:Narberth is located on a parcel of land originally deeded to Edward Rees , who arrived from Wales in 1682. A portion of this original tract became the farm of Edward R...
.
Frederick Bicking married Mary Catherine Unverzagt of Otwiller, Germany on May 26, 1752 at St. Michael's & Zion Lutheran Church in Germantown, Pennsylvania
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
. Mary Catherine Unverzagt, daughter of Johannes Unverzagt, was also a German Palatine.
Of Frederick Bicking's five sons, three were paper makers in Pennsylvania.
Frederick's son, John Bicking, had a paper mill near present day Fisherville and was a soldier in the Philadelphia militia.