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Hans Ulrich left Switzerland circa August 25, 1736, and traveled most likely the Rhine river to embark the sailing ship
which left Rotterdam circa November 24, 1736. From his own letter we know the trip took 23 weeks, partly due to problems in England and Holland, and 10 weeks of it at sea. Although there was a minister from Appenzell on board, Hans Ulrich held morning and evening services in the belly of the ship, since the minister traveled in the captain's cabin and was mostly sick.
He was an immigrant in America on (OS) February 1, 1737, a letter to Paravicini after arrival in SC
gives a brief account of the trip and of his activities prior to settling in Orangeburgh
REF: The South Carolina Historical Magazine article by H. George Anderson,
July 1966, Vol. 67, Nr.3 pgs. 129 -137

He separated himself from the group, on board were 212 souls of which only 3 infants and a daughter died, and supported himself by his profession (goldsmith) and farming (the crops are already nice and high).The people from Rheintal are sent to Friedensburg and Port Royal "as a volunteer garrison with good pay", April 16th, 1737 (OS) the Appenzell people and two families of Toggenburg left for Savannah. He has found a room and garden here (in Orangeburgh) for 1 pound a week and meets a lot of people from Basel and also many other Swiss. Since there are 80 German families and other Orangeburgers without a regular minister, it is suggested to him to stay and hold spiritual exercises with them every Sunday.
It seems he took this task upon himself until he died.

"The History of Orangeburg County South Carolina from its First Settlement to the Close of the Revolutionary War"
by A S Salley, Jr. First published in Orangeburg, S.C. by R. Lewis Berry in 1898 and since be reprinted.
The original bible, which Rev. John Ulrich Giessendanner kept and made him famous in S.C., is kept in the South Carolina Library on campus. It's called "The Giessendanner Bible".

Maybe originally there was a bible, but at present these notes are referred to as Book of Record, and his name is changing from Hans Ulrich Giezendanner to John Ulrich Gi(e)ssendanner, no doubt under the influence of the English speaking surroundings, although the German/Swiss language was used too for a considerable long period.

GIESSENDANNER - Lichtensteig, Toggenburgh, St. Gall, Switzerland
First Minister of the Gospel in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.
Book of Record (baptism, death, marriages) existent at the Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina.
*South Carolina Historical Magazine July 1966, Vol. 67 nr.3 pgs. 129-137

On 21 Oct 1737 surveyed Orangeburgh Town lot 148 and 550 acres.
1748 Jun 15 Surv. lot 148 and 550 acres. (Orig. to Hans Ulrick 21 Oct 1737).
REF: OGS-GS
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INDEX