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Johann Gottfried Arends was born on December 11, 1740 in Hanover, Germany. He was a pioneer teacher, preacher and Revolutionary War Patriot.
In 1772 the newly organized Lutheran congregations of North Carolina determined to send to Europe for a pastor and schoolmaster, as none could be obtained in America. The Lutheran delegation applied to the Consistory Council of Hanover. As Hanover at that time was an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire under the British ruling house, the delegation first sought the approval of the English throne. George III granted the delegation its petition for a schoolmaster, as well as a minister, and when Arends left for North Carolina, he took with him both his diploma from the Teachers' Seminary in Hanover and a personal recommendation and certification to teach from King George.[1]
When Johann arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1773 at age 32, his name was anglicized to John Godfrey Arends. He settled in the southern part of Rowan County, North Carolina, teaching for two years, then entering the ministry. For a decade he served as itinerant minister in the vast area that today includes the counties of Rowan, Cabarrus, Davie, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln, Davidson, Guilford, and Stokes. Arends was the founder of the North Carolina Lutheran Synod and served as its first president. [2]
In 1776, Johann married Hannah Rutensell (also spelled Rudisill). He served his congregation at Organ Church in southern Rowan County during the American Revolution. [3]
Children of Johann Gottfried Arends and Hannah Rudisill are;
In 1785, Pastor Arends removed to Lincoln County, North Carolina and became the founder of the Lutheran Church in the territory west of the Catawba River and was that county's first resident minister.
Johann's legacy is the diary and ledger that he left behind recording in exquisite detail the life of his parishioners. He recorded the events of the common people as carefully as the more wealthy members of his church.
Johann died July 9, 1807 in Lincoln County, North Carolina.[4]
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Categories: Lutheran Ministers | Province of North Carolina | Province of North Carolina, Immigrants from Holy Roman Empire | North Carolina Colonists