Came to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1743 with the “First Sea Congregation” from Herrnhaag, Germany via Holland. He became Bethlehem’s first dyer (listed as a chemist) and no doubt the forest furnished his dyes.

From January 1744 to March 1747 they lived at Nazareth, Pa. in the Whitefield House.

Following closely after the first purchases of land by the Church in the present Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1741, two colonies were organized in Europe, which are known as the “First” and “Second Sea Congregations,” followed by four at later dates... There were four vessels, the Catherine, Little Strength, Irene, and Hope, owned by the Church and afloat at different dates, and their crews, with but few exceptions, were members of or connected with the Church. For the transportation of the colony organized in Germany for peopling the settlements on the Nazareth tract, and known as the “Second Sea Congregation,” the Little Strength was purchased in England, and Capt. Nicolas Garrison appointed her Master. Late in August of 1743, she was dispatched to Rotterdam where the colonists were taken on board, and on Septemeber 17 sailed for New York, where she arrived after a passage of eighty-seven days. Matthias and Margaret C. Weiss were colonists aboard this ship.

Naturalization: 13 Mar 1762, Pennsylvania Naturalizations