Peter Galli, Swiss Mennonite
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Galli, Galle,
Galley, Gally
The following is based on research by Harry Galley, Heinz Sprenger and Lyle von Riesen.
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The 30-year war in Germany ended in 1648 and was followed by years of plague and starvation. The lands of the Palatinate had been emptied of over 70% of the population. The ruler, Karl Ludwig, desperately needed to repopulate his kingdom. Adopting a tolerant policy to encourage new settlers, he sent invitations to the peoples of France, Switzerland and Austria. Soon the abandoned farms and villages began to fill with French Huguenots, Tyrolians, Swiss, and Mennonites, many of these groups attracted by the promise of religious tolerance. Peter Galli was born 9 May 1664 and originated from Eggiwil in the Emmental valley, Canton Bern in Switzerland. He was among the many Mennonites from this area who fled to the Palatinate in Germany to escape religious persecution at the hands of Catholic officials. It is not known if he came alone or with his family. Some records indicate that he may have been a child when he arrived but this has not been proven. Here is a story told about Peter: |
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Grieved anew through this conversation, and convinced that never again could he experience a mother's affection, Peter arose at an early hour while the others were still sound asleep and left home. Instead of the hearty welcome a son might have expected, he was banished from the home he loved so much by the stepmother. But where could he go? With no place he could call home, and sick at heart, he wandered aimlessly away. As he wandered on, fortunately he met migrants of his own faith; people who had sacrificed all in Catholic-controlled France and Switzerland, and were leaving to escape religious persecution. They were migrating to the little province of the Palatinate of the Rhine to establish a new home. With these refugees, Peter arrived in a new country, which for him as well as for all Mennonites proved to be a fortunate location. Here through industry and a kind Providence they were able to earn a livelihood, and in due time became quite substantial in a material way.
NOTE: There is one other known
Galli emigrant to the Palatine, Barbara Galli who was married to Daniel
Stauffer in Eggiwil. Daniel and Barbara were exiled in 1671 and were first in
Dirmstein, Germany and later at Gerolsheim. Barbara was an aunt to Peter
Galli's father but it is not known if they had contact in Germany.
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By at least 1685, Peter was settled in Erbesbüdesheim and his occupation was linen weaver. The name of his wife is unknown but two of his sons have been identified. -
Peter born approx. 1700 Galli to Galle The Swiss
spelling Galli soon became GALLE, probably because the Swiss pronunciation
"swallowed" the "i" at the end, making it sound like a
short "e" in local dialects.
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Peter Galli's Sons
Johann
Johann Galle settled in the Sembach area where he was a Mennonite preacher. He died in 1764 at Herfingerhof. New information suggests that Johann is probably the ancestor of our Käfertal/Mannheim Galles. (see Johann Peter Galle)
Peter II
Peter II was born approx. 1700 and died on the 3rd day of Easter 1762. He married about 1721 to Agnes Anna Kolb. In 1734 he purchased the Geistermühle near Uffhofen about 3 miles north of Erbesbüdesheim. These are his known children:

Click on the picture
for more on the Geistermühle
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Galle Emigrants
Galle to Galley
Peter Galle III, youngest son of Peter II, emigrated to Pennsylvania, arriving in Philadelphia on the ship "Crawford" in 1772. He married Sophia Stern in 1774 and had only one son, Philip, before his untimely death in 1781. Sometime after 1815, the spelling of Galle became GALLEY as it remains today in this branch of the family. These Galleys are no longer Mennonites.
Philip Galley born 1 Dec 1774 married Magdalena Newcomer in 1797. They had 11 children.
1. Peter born 10 Jan 1798
2. Catherine born 16 Dec 1799
3. John born 18 Apr 1801
4. Jacob born 4 Apr 1803
5. David born 9 May 1805
6. Elizabeth born 3 Oct 1807
7. Samuel born 23 Dec 1809
8. Jonathan born 26 Feb 1812
9. Barbara born 14 Feb 1814
10. Abraham born 28 Sep 1816
11. Henry born 12 Jun 1819
There
are many descendants of Philip Galley - see The Galley Web Page
Other Galle Emigrants
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Return to Käfertal Galle Page
Last update January 15, 2006