An early example of collective emigration from the canton of Neuchâtel came shortly after it became part of the Prussian empire in 1707. Between 1780 and 1712, a large part of Eastern Prussia and Lithuania was devastated by plague, and Friedrich I appealed to his new citizens to help recolonise the land left largely unoccupied. In spite of opposition from local authorities, approximately 200 families set out in February-March 1712 on the long and perilous journey to a region around Königsberg and Gumbinnen, on the borders of what is now Poland, Lithuania and Russia.
The conditions encountered on the way, however, were so bad that by April half the contingent was forced to turn back, returning home in a pitiable state. The remainder duly overcame the difficulties to reach their destination, but their problems did not end there. The French-speaking settlers belonged to the Swiss Reformed church, and found it difficult to integrate with the local German-speaking Lutherans. The climate was harsh, and at times they must have bitterly regretted leaving their native land.
Gradually the settlers became accustomed to their new homeland, and French parishes sprung up among the Lutheran ones. An administration was set in place to help new arrivals, and over the next two decades many of their relations and former neighbours joined them in Prussia.
As time went by, the Swiss families intermarried with local ones, and the French language was gradually abandoned. Several of their names were germanised by authorities who simply wrote them down phonetically, so "Huguenin" became "Igney" and "Perrenoud" became "Pernau", for instance.
Descendants of more than 50 Neuchâtel families still lived in this area prior to World War II, and today are spread throughout Germany.
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