Person Page 704

Peter Opplinger married Adelheid Blonier.

Adelheid Blonier married Peter Opplinger.

Hans Neukommet married Madlena Stauffer, daughter of Christian Stauffer and Adelheid Opplinger.

Hans Neukommet was born about 1644 in Canton Bern, Switzerland. He married Elsbeth Bürki.

Elsbeth Bürki married Hans Neukommet, son of Hans Neukommet and Madlena Stauffer.

Christian Neukommet was born on 27 January 1670/71.

Christian Neukommet was born about 1700 in Rohrhof, Palatinate.

Madlena Neuenschwander married Hans (Johannes) Stauffer, son of Christian Stauffer and Adelheid Opplinger, in Eggiwil, Canton Bern, Switzerland.

Anna Stauffer was born in 1643 in Canton Bern, Switzerland. She married Michael Schenk, son of Michael Schenk and Anna Stauffer, on 21 September 1660 in Canton Bern, Switzerland.

Hans (Johannes) Stauffer was born in 1644 in Eggiwil, Canton Bern, Switzerland. He married Kungold (Kinget) Heistand, daughter of Hans Heistand and Regul Aeschmann, in 1685. Hans (Johannes) Stauffer died in Skippack Twp., Montgomery Co., PA, probably.

Note: (from GENEALOGIES OF PENNSYLVANIA FAMILIES; p.44) . . . They were Mennonites, and, because of the persecution of that faith, fled (Switzerland, 1668) to Alsheim in the neighborhood of Strassburg, Germany, where he engaged in viniculture, renting an old estate and castle. (p. 46; lease with the Lord Fieldmarshal General, Van Kaunter, for the citadel of the castle and the castle goods 1697 for three years 1700.) He inherited from his father 350 guldens and from his sister, Anneli, 23 guldens. (from Carol Scott Info) Hans was a prosperous farmer until the War of the Spanish Succession brought ruin and desolation to that part of Europe. Through the influence of his step son-in-law, Gerhart Clemens, Hans Stauffer migrated to America. He and his family and his daughter's family, left their home on November 5, 1709, and after a three days' journey embarked at Weissenau on the Rhine. After ten weeks' intermittent travel they reached London on January 26, 1710. From London, after a stormy and perilous voyage of sixty-seven days on the ship, "Maria Hope", they reached Philadelphia in the spring of 1710. They settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Valley Forge. Hans and Kinget Hiestand Stauffer are buried in a Mennonite graveyard near that place. No tombstone, or record of their deaths has been discovered. ANABAPTISTS (from Guide to Genealogical records by Suess; Everton Pub.) The peaceful group of Anabaptists appeared with Ulrich Zwingli's own circle in most German-speaking areas of Switzerland in the decade of the 1520s. They referred to themselves at first as "brethren." They were also known as "Taufgesinnte" (baptismal minded), "Taufer" (baptists), "Wiedertaufer" and Mennonites. The Anabaptists wanted to restore Christianity to its earlier, more primitive, purer form. They felt that the early Christian was a heartfelt believer, a minority in a pagan state, rejected and persecuted. If this was the case with the early Christian Church it must also be the case for Christians at all times. For the Anabaptist the implication was that the state, even though its rulers might be Christian, must by necessity be un-Christian. They opposed any union of church and state. The Anabaptist felt he must be distinguished from the rest of the population by a strict morality, including abstinence from alcohol, and also further by a visible token of his inward regeneration. Since Lutherans, Zwinglians, and Catholics accepted infant baptism, the Anabaptists appeared as rebaptizers, and therefore that name was applied to them. The Anabaptist were immediately persecuted, first by the Catholic Church, and then by the Protestants. Some Anabaptists were executed, some returned to the Protestant Church, others tried to exist in obscure places, but many left their homes for other countries. The three areas where they appeared very early and existed for a long time are the old states of Bern, Zurich, and Basel. Some Protestant parish registers recorded children of Anabaptist parents who were christened in their church. The Anabaptists in the canton of Bern have existed there through the centuries until the present time despite extreme difficulties in the past. The majority of Mennonites in America of Swiss background can trace their beginnings to Bernese territory. Most of the Bernese Mennonites who stayed in Switzerland fled to the Jura Mountains during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. This was the area of the Bishopric of Basel which was partly under the German empire and partly under Swiss Jurisdiction. Others settled in the southern part of the Jura which was the Principality of Neuchatel, a possession of Prussia. After the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, the Bishopric of Basel was given to Canton Bern, and the Neuchatel became a canton in the Swiss Confederacy. Typical Bernese Anabaptist names included the following: Althaus, Amstutz, Augsburger, Brubacher, Bertschi, Bichsel, Baumgartner, Bösiger, Bieri, Burkhalter, Bucher, Brechbuhl, Badertscher, Duller, Eicher, Aeschlimann, Fluckiger, Aebersold, Frey, Geumann, Gerber, Gut, Grader, Geiger, Gungerich, Gunten, Gehrig, Haldemann, Habegger, Hochstettler, Hilti, Hirschi, Joder, Imhof, Krahenbuhl, Kannel, Kaufmann, Ledermann, Lehmann, Luginbuhl, Leichti, Moser, Mosimann, Neuenschwander, Nussbaum, Neuhauser, Oberli, Reusser, Rich, Rohrer, Reist, Rothlisberger, Reichenbach, Rupp, Roth, Ramseier, Schenk, Schrag, Schnegg, Steiner, Stutzmann, Stucki, Sommer, Tschanz, Suter, Stauffer, Schmucker, Dreier, Thut, Wurgler, Walti, Wenger, Wuthrich, and Zurcher. Special family records of Anabaptists kept by Protestant ministers during the latter 18th and 19th century in several parishes, especially in Trub and Langnau, are kept in the civil registrar's office. Already in 1526 there were Anabaptists in the canton of Aargau. They existed with great difficultly in this area until the early part of the 18th century. Some surnames include: Datwyler, Burger, Muller, Bachmann, Stahlin, Kunzli, Meier, Suter, Schuhmacher and Widmer. The beginnings of the Anabaptist movement in 1525 in the old republic of Zurich have been carefully recorded. A circle of well-educated persons broke with Zwingli's reform program, feeling it was not complete and failed to follow scriptural patterns. Extreme persecution started quickly and these people were either executed or fled. Wherever they went they started congregations. While the congregation in the city of Zurich soon became extinct, concentrations of Anabaptists were started in the southeastern part of the canton of Zurich in Gruningen, around Horgen, Wadenswil, and Knonau. Family names of Anabaptists in the canton of Zurich area were: Muller, Landis, Hess, Brubacher, Weber, Bachmann, Gut, Schneider, Hegli, Huber, Strickler, Graf, Frick, Schnebeli, Peter, Eberli, Kagi, Pfister, Hofmann, Tanner, Bar, Frey, Nageli, Studer, Wyss, Meyer, Ringg, Egli, Oberholzer, Bosshard, and many others. Hans (Johannes) Stauffer immigrated in 1710 to Near Schuylkill River, Valley Forge, Chester Co., PA.

Michael Schenk was born in 1639 in Switzerland. He married Anna Stauffer, daughter of Hans (Johannes) Stauffer and Madlena Neuenschwander, on 21 September 1660 in Canton Bern, Switzerland.

Christian Schenk was born in Switzerland. He married Barbara Brackbill. He died in 1724 in Lancaster Co., PA.

Michael Schenk was born on 4 January 1669/70 in Canton Bern, Switzerland. He married Anna Baer about 1693.

Kungold (Kinget) Heistand was born on 3 January 1657/58 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland. She married Michael Reiff in 1679 in Ibersheim (probably), (now Rhein-Pfalz), Germany. She married Hans (Johannes) Stauffer, son of Hans (Johannes) Stauffer and Madlena Neuenschwander, in 1685.

Note: Many of Kungold Heistand's siblings and relatives are listed by Jane Evans Best in "Heistand Family: An Update" on pages 58-62 of the April 1993 issue of Mennonite Family History. Kungold (Kinget) Heistand was christened on 10 January 1657/58 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland.

Elizabeth Stauffer was born about 1688. She married Paulus Friedt on 5 June 1707 in Alsheim, Palatinate.

Daniel Stauffer was born about 1697 in Alsheim, Palatinate. He married Catherine Merckle. He died about 1763 in Colebrookdale Twp., Bucks Co., PA.

Note: Daniel Stauffer settled with his father and two brothers in Colebrookdale Twp. in Berks Co, PA, where he bought property of Gerhart Clemens, agent for David Powell, on Jan 8, 1720. He also bought a tract in partnership with Gerhart Clemens Jan 14, 1725, which he afterward sold to Clemens. Daniel sold his homestead Sept 1, 1762 to his son, Abraham. It has been in the Stauffer name continuously ever since. (Mennonite Hist Soc) (DAVIS) Daniel was age 12 when he left Alsheim in 1709. He married Catherina Merckle. He bought land at Colebrookdale 8 Jan 1720, from Gerhart Clemens, his brother-in-law. He sold the same land to his son Abraham 1 Sep 1762. In 1725 he gave money to his brother-in-law, Gerhart Clemens. He signed the Colebrook petition at Falkner's swamp in 1728, asking for assistance from the Governor to fend off the Indians. Also signing the petition were, Jost Heid, Christian Neuschwanger, Peter Boehm, Gerhart Clemens, and others. He received land on the west branch of Perkiomen Creek in 1730 from his brother, Jacob. He was living at Perkiomen in 1733. He was taxed at Colebrookdale 1752 to 1762. He lived at Hereford in 1763, where he died sometime later. He was a shoemaker by trade. One of his daughters was married to Abraham Bowman of Hereford. Mennonite.

Jacob Stauffer was born in 1696 in Alsheim, Palatinate. He married Barbara in 1724 in Valley Forge, Chester Co., PA. He died on 1 March 1780 in Bally, Washington Twp., Berks Co., PA.

He was buried in March 1780 in Bally Mennonite Cemetery, Washington Twp., Berks Co., PA.

Note: (DAVIS) Jacob was 13 when he left Alsheim with his parents. He first lived at Perkiomen and Skippach, Montgomery county. He married Barbara. He bought land at Colebrookdale, Berks county, in 1724 and sold it to his brother Daniel in 1730. In 1768, Jacob, then of Hereford, and his wife Barbara sold to their son, John, weaver of Hereford, land on Perkiomen Creek in Hereford that Jacob had patented in 1728. He moved to Bally, Washington township, Berks county, where he died in 1780. His wife died in 1785. He was a Mennonite. (Shirk genealogy, by D. NcN. Stauffer) On December 31, 1712, Hans' oldest son, Jacob Stauffer, bought from Samuel Powell of Philadelphia, 500 acres of land on the west branch of Perkiomen Creek in what is now Montgomery county, PA. (Perkiomen Creek flows through Berks and Montgomery counties) (Stauffer/Bauer book by Henry Bower, 1897) After Jacob was married, the area where he settled was one vast wilderness, and a remnant of an Indian tribe resided there. He was one of the first settlers and original purchaser of a plantation in that neighborhood, which adjoined the one on which the Roman Catholic chapel was afterward erected. At that time he took his grain on horseback to a gristmill somewhere below Norristown, a distance of twenty miles. Mr. Stauffer was a Mennonite, and many of his descendants are still to this day adherents of that faith. He is buried in the Mennonite graveyard adjoining his plantation. Jacob Stauffer immigrated in 1710 to Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA.

Heinrich Stauffer was born in 1700 in Alsheim, Palatinate. He married Elizabeth. He died after 1762 in Pennsylvania.

Note: (DAVIS) Henry was age 9 when he left Alsheim in 1709. He bought land 18 Mar 1720 with Gerhart Clemens, his brother-in-law in Perkiomen, Montgomery County. He paid Gerhart Clemens money on 3 Jan 1725 and Gerhart was called his brother. He received 150 acres adjoining his brother Jacob's land in Berks county on Perkiomen Creek in 1733. He received a warrant for 100 acres of land in Cocalico township, Lancaster county Feb 1734. In March he received another warrant for 50 acres in Cocalico. A survey was made for this 50 acres 20 Sep 1742 and referred to the warrant and stated that Henry was then of Lancaster county. The warrant was later declared void because Henry refused to take the oath of allegiance, a good sign that he was still a Mennonite. He conveyed the Cocalico land to his son Abraham, of Cumru township, Berks county in 1762. He warranted 225 acres on 28 May 1734 near Oley, Berks county, and patented it that same year. He warranted 100 acres in Hempfield township in Lancaster county 15 Sep 1742 and patented it 27 Oct 1744. Henry's son Abraham later sold this land in 1756. He warranted 50 acres, 17 Jul 1751 in Upper Hanover, Philadelphia County (now Montgomery County), which was patented by his son Jacob. He bought land in Springfield township, Bucks county on 17 Dec 1759 from William Bryan, 51 acres and 129 acres. He could sign his name. On 12 Jun 1762 Henry Stover of Bedminster township, Bucks county, Yeoman and his wife Elizabeth sold their land in Springfield to Andreas Zegatoes. The deed was recorded 13 Jan 1794. On 12 Jun 1765, William Allen sold 213 acres to Henry Stauffer of Bedminster, however this may have been the Henry who lived at Bedminster and was married to Barbara. The land was next to Christian Stauffer's land. Heinrich Stauffer immigrated in 1710 to Near Schuylkill River, Valley Forge, Chester Co., PA.

Hans Heistand was born in March 1629/30 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland. He married Regul Aeschmann on 4 October 1651 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland. He married Anna Strickler on 6 August 1672 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland.

Hans Heistand was also known as "Junghans" Heistand. He was christened on 21 March 1630 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland.

Regul Aeschmann was born in December 1633 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland. She married Hans Heistand, son of Jung Hans Heistand and Verena Appli, on 4 October 1651 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland. Regul Aeschmann died about 1671 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland.

Regul Aeschmann was christened on 17 December 1633 in Richterswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland.

Jung Hans Heistand was born about 1605. He married Verena Appli.

Verena Appli married Jung Hans Heistand. She died in 1679.

Michael Reiff was born on 6 June 1652 in Wadenswil, Canton Zürich, Switzerland. He married Kungold (Kinget) Heistand, daughter of Hans Heistand and Regul Aeschmann, in 1679 in Ibersheim (probably), (now Rhein-Pfalz), Germany. Michael Reiff died in 1684.

Paulus Friedt was born in 1680 in Alsheim, Palatinate. He married Elizabeth Stauffer, daughter of Hans (Johannes) Stauffer and Kungold (Kinget) Heistand, on 5 June 1707 in Alsheim, Palatinate. Paulus Friedt died in 1743 in Pennsylvania.

Maria Friedt was born about 1708 in Alsheim, Palatinate. She married Jacob Greter.

Barbara was born in 1703. She married Jacob Stauffer, son of Hans (Johannes) Stauffer and Kungold (Kinget) Heistand, in 1724 in Valley Forge, Chester Co., PA. Barbara died on 20 January 1785 in Berks Co., PA.

Catherine Merckle married Daniel Stauffer, son of Hans (Johannes) Stauffer and Kungold (Kinget) Heistand.