Shep's Place Family Tree

We know that Johann David von Nida was born on the Atlantic Ocean in 1748 while his parents were en route to America from Germany. According to the laws of the Colony of Pennsylvania, which, because of its welcome to those suffering from religious persecution, was the goal of nearly every German leaving the Fatherland for the New World; it was necessary for every immigrant to register on his entry.

In 1748 there was no record of any "Nida" or "von Nida" entering. The ship's clerk frequently registered for the immigrants, and frequently these English clerks spelled the names of the Germans as those names sounded to them. Also their penmanship left much to be desired.

A record of the registration of these Germans has been published in a volume called "Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants" by Rupp. At page 184 it is noted that "Johan Michel Didah" arrived September 7, 1748 on the ship "Hampshire", Thomas Cheesman, Captain, from Rotterdam, last from Falmouth. Following this name is a notation that the signature is rather illegible and that the above is the best deciphering of the signature.

It is believed that this is Johann Michael von Nida, and that therefore, Johann David von Nida is his son and the grandson of Hans Georg von Nida.