NORTH BRUNSWICK – For the last five years, a living historian of 18th century Colonial New Jersey has portrayed an 18th century Palatine emigrant.
Georg Schaefer-Ebgert of North Brunswick has brought 18th century Colonial history to life throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.
“Every time I act as an 18th century Palatine emigrant, I find something new to talk about. I never lecture on the same topic and it depends on my audience. Changing my lecture is what makes this hobby so much fun,” he said in a prepared statement.
Schaefer-Ebgert attends Zion Lutheran Church for the 10:30 a.m. service, originally preached in High Germany 1748 in the village built by the Palatine emigrants 300 years ago.
The 65-year-old always like to read about Colonial history, according to the statement. His Schaefer-Ebgert family first homesteaded in Cokesbury in Hunterdon County in 1740 as Palatine farmer peasants. He typically studies Palatine history in the Alexander Library at Rutgers University.
“I really enjoy this hobby. It is a historic lifestyle, especially since Jersey has a Colonial history of over 450 years. You meet so many lovers of both genealogy and history that have opinions and fresh perspectives on this 300-year-old Jersey all the time,” he said in the statement.