Thones Kunders

Kunders was born in Mönchengladbach[1], Holy Roman Empire, and was a citizen of Krefeld.

At Kunders's house in Germantown were held the first German religious services in America, attended by both Mennonites and Quakers, including Pennsylvania proprietor William Penn.

The protest, written by Francis Daniel Pastorius and signed also by Garrett Henrich, Abraham Up den Graef, and Derick Up de graeff, opposed the importation, sale, and ownership of slaves.

[2][3] When Germantown was granted a charter by Penn in 1689, Kunders was appointed one of the first burgesses.

Today, a historical marker stands at the site of his Germantown house.

The plan of Germantown in 1689. Location of Thones Kunders' house is marked with red dot. Lot owners shown for 1689 and 1714.
Thones Kunders's house at 5109 Germantown Avenue, where the 1688 Petition Against Slavery was written. From Jenkins (1915).
The table on which the 1688 Petition Against Slavery was written and signed.