Translated from the Moravian Church Records of Schoeneck, Northampton County, PA
I was born on Sept. 24, 1729, in Auerback, Baden-Durlach. My Grand parents were French Protestant (Huguenots), who fled from Daupine, Francee, with their children, leaving all their possessions behind. It was quick flight or sure death for them. They became members of the Reformed Church at Auerbach, where I was baptized, and in my 15th year after careful instruction in Holy Writ and the doctrine of the Reformed Church was baptized and admitted to Holy Communion. In my 10th year of age I had the misfortune of losing my father, Francis Clavell, by death, who in the full bless assurance of Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, passed from time to eternity.
After a lapse of 1 year my mother (Louise Franche) married again John G. Fallens (Feller) who was born in Switzerland but owing to the French wars, was brought ruin and desolation, the emigrated to North America, arriving in Phila., in the fall of 1737.
On our arrival my dear mother handed me over to my future master, and she begged him earnestly to see to it that I attend church regularly, as well as attend to my private devotions, and admonished me to contine in the fear of the Lord.
In the home of my new master, in the vicinity of Oley, PA., during the five years of my service, I fared well, but thee was little opportunity to attend religious services, because there was no church near. On one occasion I passed a house where there was a large gathering, so that many had to stand on the outside. I thought it was a public sale, and tied my horse and went in. I inferred it was a Roman Catholic Seminary, but was informed they were the "Herrnhutter," Moravians, who a short time ago came to this country and preached a new doctrine. Upon further investigation I found the new doctrine the same which my sainted father held fast and in which he instructed me. The teaching of these truths engraved themselves upon my never dying soul, and through Grace and Mercy sprang up in due time and bore fruit. Amen!
In Sept. 1744, I married my dear wife, Salome Kuchely ( a daughter of my mother's third husband) and we moved to Oley Hills. The next year we sold our possessions there and moved to with our first born child, Magdalene to near Nazareth, now Aluta commonly knows as Gold Farm, in Northampton county. We suffered pioneer hardships, and frequenly the Indian menace us. Our greater sorrow was that we had no minister or place of worship. In 1755, the Brethern of the Synod held at Betchel on the "Swatavia" sent us a preacher. On one occasion while my family was gathered around the table, I listened to the conversation of my children, and watching them closely, a terrible fear came upon me, lest I fell short of my duty and perchance one or another of them might go astray. I could not refrain from tears. In the distress of my heart I left the table and went out into the woods, where I expected to work, but my feeling overcame me when I fell on my knees and earnestly besought the Lord that He might take them into hands and guard them from all evil, since I lacked the needed wisdom to train them up in His fear. Then and there I experienced such a blessed assurance that he had heard my prayers that I since felt that they were safe in His hands.
These and many similar experiences which the dear Saviour made plain to my poor heart beside the testimony of the blessed Gospel by the Brethern who preached statedly in my house, brought me into a closer fellowship with Him. Since the year 1760, when they ceased to hold services in my house, we attended services at Nazareth, until Oct., 1762, when the first chapel in Schoeneck was dedicated. On the first day I was admitted into the Society and on the first anniversary day of the congregation in Nov.admitted into full communicant membership. On the sixth day of Aug, 1763, I was permitted to partake of the Holy Communion for which I had anticipated.
But I had another experience. Oh!the blessed assurance I received I cannot describe. Heart and eyes overflowed with thankfull, penitential tears. Here I experienced fully what free grace really is. On this grace my dear Saviour I will steadfastly lean until mine end.
Thus ends his own recital, but his obituary, preserved in the archives of Schoenech Morvaian Church, and from old documents, the following is culled:
Traditon stated, upon his arrival in Phil. he was bound over to a Dr. Heister, a planter.
His wife, Salome, was born in Neureuth, in Baden-Durlach, Jan. 15, 1728. She came to America in 1737, and also served a time as "Redemptioner" in Oley.
After the death of her husband she took apartments in the Sisters' House at Nazareth, and rested (being constantly waited upon her daughter) there until her peacefull end, May 18, 1812
Last Will and Testament, recorded at Easton, PA., is indeed that of Christian. It bears the date of Oct. 20, 1792. In his younger years he was steward of the Schoeneck congregation, and enjoyed the fullest confidence and respect of the entire community in which he lived. His married life of more than 52 years was full of happiness. Mingled with cares and anxieties. He possessed a vigorous constitution and good health until old age, but in the autumn of 1797, he began to fail visibly be affected by dropsy. He lingered until Jan. 24, 1798, a 4 P.M., when his spirit went home to dwell with God. He was buried in the Schoeneck graveyard. He was the oldest of 2 children of Francois and Louisa Frache (1695-1767) Clavell.
The other son was George Craft Clavell (1726-1793) who married Anna Maria Knechel.
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