Swiss, Jewish and Gypsy

Between 1720 and 1780, at least 40,000 immigrants made their way to Pennsylvania from the Southern Germany, Switzerland, northern France. A rag tag band of impoverished folks leaving oppression and poverty, they made their way to the new world. However, this group was not monochromatic. Amongst this group of immigrants were the so called "Black Dutch". Historians suspect they were Romani(Gypsies) from Germany, Switzerland, and France. Its hard to say because they disappeared in the American melting pot. 

Today, many people are discovering a surprise in their ancestry DNA report. They carry both Jewish and Romani(Gypsy) heritage. They are likely dependents of the "Black Dutch" that largely came from Switzerland. They were called Black Dutch because they were dark complected and had dark eyes, and did not look like your classic Northern European. They are likely from the group of people who were both Gypsy and Jewish. 

In addition to this early migration, there was a later migration. In the 1850's, the Swiss enacted a series of anti-vagrancy acts that made nomadic living difficult. Many families immigrated to America at that time. And these families often married into the "Swiss Families" that had arrived before them. 

It is possible this group of immigrants are related to the modern Jenische people, a nomadic group that move between southern Germany, Switzerland, and France. The Jenische people are thought to have been present in Switzerland since the 12th century. 

The origin of the "Black Dutch" is obscure, but, their descendants are getting a surprise in their ancestry DNA report. They carry both Jewish and Romani heritage. This topic will be explored in great length at a later time. 

At the time so many people were coming to Pennsylvania, Gypsies were not permitted to come. However, Swiss and German Gypsies did come to America. We know this for several reasons. In the first instance, we know a little bit about the so called "Black Dutch" who historians believe were Gypsies. In addition to this. many of their descendants are now finding Roma and Jeiwsh in their DNA results. In addition to this, many of the surnames on the ship manifold lists of immigrants to Pennsylvania, are also found as victims of the Nazi Gypsy extermination campaign. Cross referencing Daniel Rupp's list of 30,000 immigrants to Pennsylvania with the "Memorial Book the Gypsies at Auschwitz-Birkenau", results in a list of likely Swiss/German Gypsy immigrants. If you find your ancestor on the list of surnames below, it may explain why you found Roma or Gypsy on your DNA report. The immigrants are listed with the name of the ship the travelled on and the date they arrived.