Son of John Frederick & Dorthy (Bartran) Gaul

Spouse: Harriet (Rothwell) Gaul

OBIT: ADAM GAUL, SR. -- Obituary Ledger Philadelphia, March 15, 1895
Adam Gaul, Sr. who was buried yesterday from the home of his son-in-law, Fred A. Urian, Seventy-Sixth (76th) Street and Buist Avenue, was in his 87th year and belonged to a family widely known in Darby and Kingsessing. Mr. Gaul formed a near link to that unfortunate class of beings known, a century and a half ago, as "Redemptionists" the existence of which formed one of the foulest blots on the early history of the country, through foreign corruption, which allowed open violations of the loosest kind of emigration laws. In the early days of American history, when many Germans and English of limited means desired to emigrate, certain sea captains secured the practical monopoly of transporting them. The intending emigrant, if without funds, was provided with passage, food and perhaps bedding, and in lieu of payment agreed to allow the skipper to sell him for a period of years to some businessman on landing. So large were the profits resulting from this traffic that the skippers on each voyage crowded the poor unfortunates into every available space, regardless of their comfort or health so that deaths by the score often occurred in a single trip. The Grandfather of Adam Gaul was a German of some means, and about the middle of the last century, decided to emigrate to this country with his wife and son, John Frederick, then only eight years old, paid for his passage and embarked on a ship for Philadelphia. After sailing, he discovered that his trunks and money were missing, and it is believed that the captain or those associated with him stole the things, as was commonly done in order to swell their ill gotten gains. The elder Gaul, whose name is supposed to have been Christian, was thus compelled to draw on the ship's supplies for subsistence, and during the voyage his wife died from the hardships and brutality to which she and the other emigrants were subjected, and her body, like those of other unfortunates was thrown overboard without a burial service.

When the ship reached this city, the captain demanded payment for the food consumed by the father and son, but as they were penniless, they were sold to a man named Dushong, who did business in the "Neck," for a period of seven (7) years. After John Frederick Gaul, the lad, had completed his servitude, he removed to Kingsessing in which place and vicinity he dwelt for the remainder of his life. Last January, his son Adam Gaul celebrated his sixty-third (63rd) anniversary of his wedding, his wife who survives him being eighty-four (84) years old. For twelve (12) years during his early manhood, Mr. Gaul was a member of the Philadelphia Grays, a Militia organization well known many years ago, commanded by Captain George Cadwalader, and during his connection with it, was one of the fifers. Until a few years ago, Mr. Gaul carried on the farming business and a large dairy in Darby.

At his funeral yesterday were twelve (12) children, fifty-four (54) grandchildren and five (5) great-grandchildren, besides several hundred near relatives many of whom were more than three (3) score years old. Interment was at Mount Moriah Cemetery. (Headstone confirms dates.)

Census 1860, a farmer living in 1st precinct 24 Ward Philadelphia 12 Jul 1860 with wife and 11 children.

Son of John Frederick & Dorthy (Bartran) Gaul

Spouse: Harriet (Rothwell) Gaul

OBIT: ADAM GAUL, SR. -- Obituary Ledger Philadelphia, March 15, 1895
Adam Gaul, Sr. who was buried yesterday from the home of his son-in-law, Fred A. Urian, Seventy-Sixth (76th) Street and Buist Avenue, was in his 87th year and belonged to a family widely known in Darby and Kingsessing. Mr. Gaul formed a near link to that unfortunate class of beings known, a century and a half ago, as "Redemptionists" the existence of which formed one of the foulest blots on the early history of the country, through foreign corruption, which allowed open violations of the loosest kind of emigration laws. In the early days of American history, when many Germans and English of limited means desired to emigrate, certain sea captains secured the practical monopoly of transporting them. The intending emigrant, if without funds, was provided with passage, food and perhaps bedding, and in lieu of payment agreed to allow the skipper to sell him for a period of years to some businessman on landing. So large were the profits resulting from this traffic that the skippers on each voyage crowded the poor unfortunates into every available space, regardless of their comfort or health so that deaths by the score often occurred in a single trip. The Grandfather of Adam Gaul was a German of some means, and about the middle of the last century, decided to emigrate to this country with his wife and son, John Frederick, then only eight years old, paid for his passage and embarked on a ship for Philadelphia. After sailing, he discovered that his trunks and money were missing, and it is believed that the captain or those associated with him stole the things, as was commonly done in order to swell their ill gotten gains. The elder Gaul, whose name is supposed to have been Christian, was thus compelled to draw on the ship's supplies for subsistence, and during the voyage his wife died from the hardships and brutality to which she and the other emigrants were subjected, and her body, like those of other unfortunates was thrown overboard without a burial service.

When the ship reached this city, the captain demanded payment for the food consumed by the father and son, but as they were penniless, they were sold to a man named Dushong, who did business in the "Neck," for a period of seven (7) years. After John Frederick Gaul, the lad, had completed his servitude, he removed to Kingsessing in which place and vicinity he dwelt for the remainder of his life. Last January, his son Adam Gaul celebrated his sixty-third (63rd) anniversary of his wedding, his wife who survives him being eighty-four (84) years old. For twelve (12) years during his early manhood, Mr. Gaul was a member of the Philadelphia Grays, a Militia organization well known many years ago, commanded by Captain George Cadwalader, and during his connection with it, was one of the fifers. Until a few years ago, Mr. Gaul carried on the farming business and a large dairy in Darby.

At his funeral yesterday were twelve (12) children, fifty-four (54) grandchildren and five (5) great-grandchildren, besides several hundred near relatives many of whom were more than three (3) score years old. Interment was at Mount Moriah Cemetery. (Headstone confirms dates.)

Census 1860, a farmer living in 1st precinct 24 Ward Philadelphia 12 Jul 1860 with wife and 11 children.

Bio by: Robert Viguers