First page was in the Easton Express in 1986
In Pennsylvania, there is an unusual custom of deeding land to an organization or person for the token payment of “one red rose.”
The idea comes to us from England’s medieval days when kings granted land to their friends. In English law the tenant of the property did not own the land outright; he only had the right to use it.
In addition to the amount paid for the use of the land, the tenant paid a token called “quitrent,” which meant the tenant was quit and free of some objectionable service. For example, he paid a sheaf of wheat, barley corn or a red rose. This token was to remind the tenant that he was indebted to his lord.
In America, William Penn used this same quitrent system in founding his new province and accepted token payments such as Indian corn, beaver skins or a red rose.
In the royal charter Charles II granting William Penn the province, the king, retaining allegiance and sovereignty, stipulated that two beaver skins, with a fifth of gold and silver ore that may be found, were to be delivered to the castle at Windsor.
Another transaction occurred when the Duke of York transferred the 12-mile circle around New Castle (later Delaware) and the Bay Territory. Penn was to pay a yearly rent of five shillings for the New Castle Circle; for the Bay area, he was to pay half the year’s profits, plus “one red rose.”
In 1779 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania annulled the royal charter and abolished the quitrent system. The Penns were allowed to retain their manors and quitrents as private proprietors.
Since medieval days, the rose has played an important part in rites and tributes. Through the philanthropy of William Penn, the rose has interwoven its way through the counties of Lehigh and Northampton. Yet, I’ve only been able to locate one place – the Lehigh County Historical Society, at the summer home of George Taylor, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, in Catasauqua – that holds a Red Rose ceremony in the month of June.
In researching the Berks County area, I was able to locate two red rose ceremonies in Lancaster County and one held in Lebanon County.
The German, Caspar Wistar (1696-1752), was the first American immigrant to implement the Red Rose quitrent, setting the precedent for others to follow.
In 1726, he became a member of the Philadelphia Friends Society, eventually marrying the Quaker, Catherine Jansen. He was a noted glassmaker, successful merchant, and leader in his Philadelphia community, and prospered greatly in land transactions.
He not only granted land to Quakers, but through his generosity granted land to Protestant sects who couldn’t afford to purchase land.
One such transaction was 100 acres to the Dutch Reformed congregation (now Tulpehocken UCC) in Richland, Lebanon County, in 1745. The deed specified “…one red rose to signify the beauty of Christian agreements and the permanence of true brotherhood.” Casper soon told the church to cease the red rose payment.
The Tulpehocken UCC, 961 Tulpehocken Rd., Richland, held their 270th Rose Ceremony on Sunday, June 14, when a Wistar’s descendant accepts the rose.
Twenty years after the death of Wistar, another German glassmaker and ironmaster, Henry William Stiegel (1729-1785), followed in his footsteps. In 1772, he granted Zion Lutheran Church, the land to build a church for five shillings and the annual rental of one red rose.
Stiegel became quite prosperous through building forge Elizabeth Furnace, Lancaster County, and a second one in Charming Forks, Berks County. Still later, he purchased a large tract of land in Lancaster County, where he laid out the town of Manheim, where he built the American Flint Glassworks. (Incidently, I was privileged to see some of Stiegel’s beautiful glassware, from a collector, who spoke at the Kutztown Historical Society several years ago.)
The people of Manheim called him “Baron” due to his ostentatious living. Alas, this man of great wealth, ended up losing his business and found himself in debtor’s prison. Later, he worked as a clerk, teacher and preacher. It is not known where he is buried.
Some believe, before he died, Stiegel received at least two red rose payments. But, it wasn’t until 1892, that a Dr. Sieling, came up with the idea of a rose payment to a descendent of Stiegel, which continues to this day, except in 1918 and 1919 during World War 1 and for renovations in 1923.
This year’s Festival of the Red Rose was held at Zion Lutheran Church, 2 S. Hazel St., Manheim, on June 8 with Mr. Jack Brubaker, author of Lancaster Newspapers, speaking. A 10th generation of Stiegel, accepted the rose payment.
Still another German immigrant, George Steitz (?- 1767), like Stiegel, founded the town once called Steitztown, now Lebanon, in the 1750s. Although the town’s name was changed, there is a street – Steitz – in his honor. It is not known where he is buried.
Not much is known about Steitz, except for the fact, he too, honored the red rose quitrent system, by deeding a lot to three deacons of the Dutch Presbyterian Church on June 10, 1760 for one red rose. Today, the church is known as the Tabor Church, due to the name of the mountain where Jesus’ transfiguration is to have taken place.
An interesting side to this deed is from Gregory Keller, Choir Director and Church Historian, that in 1761, George Steitz sold all of his property to his grandson, George Reynolds, who went bankrupt in 1763. This left the church in jeopardy and technically it was now owned by the sheriff of Lancaster County. The land was then sold to the newly formed Stoever Company. In 1765, the church repurchased their land from the Stoever Company for 5 pounds and a rental red rose.
This year’s Red Rose Sunday was held at Tabor Church, 124 S. 10th St., Lebanon, on Sunday, June 7. The recipient of the rose was Steven Waldsachs, descendant of George Steitz.
The public is invited to attend these colorful red rose ceremonies, where the “one red rose” tradition continues to live on.
Carole Christman Koch grew up in Berks County and has been published in numerous publications. She has a passion for writing and has many stories from growing up on a farm to raising children to humorous stories about her and her husband to everyday stories to season stories and more.
