USA > Pennsylvania > Historic background and annals of the Swiss and German pioneer settlers of southeastern Pennsylvania, and of their remote ancestors, from the middle of the Dark Ages, down to the time of the Revolutionary War > Part 7
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Hoffman languished in jail several years. In 1534 Swenkfeldt and Martin Zell and Casper Medio visited him and found him sick in body and in spirit. He was badly treated and they asked that he be treated more kindly; but it seems that neither he nor his friends made application to get him out of jail. Their requests for kinder treat- ment of him were not heeded; and he died after being in jail six years about 1540, rather than give up or even change his religion one iota (Brons 405). I speak thus at large of Hoff- man, because his is a common name in our own county today.
1535-Three Hundred Anabaptists Im- prisoned in Holland.
Müller tells us (p. 159) that a group of fugitives, 300 in number besides women and children were barricaded or imprisoned in a convent near Wit- marsum, the home of Menno Simon, in Friesland, Holland, this year, after they had been overwhelmed. Subse- quently they were tortured and the women drowned, under the cruel edict of Charles V of Spain and Emperor of Germany, who ruled Holland as well.
1535-Charles V and the Münsterites -Enemy of Baptists.
Müller tells us (p. 159) that in many
Both these champions of non-resist- ing Christian religion had a hard places and particulars the "reform
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45
COMPLETE CONVERSION OF MENNO SIMON
movement" was nipped in the bud by the activity of Charles V against it. Charles took advantage of any cir- cumstance he could to condemn these people, and especially any shortcom- ing or fault in the movement he was ready to turn to its disadvantage. Therefore great hurt was brought about to the Anabaptists or Taufers by the rebellious followers of John Mat- thias and John Bockelsohn of Münster. These people, called Münsterites were rebellious, law-breaking and often of immoral conduct and practice; and they tried to make it appear that they were genuine Anabaptists and paraded in the garb of the same, much to the disgust of both the government and the religious forces. Menno Simon tried his influence with them, but it only resulted in them trying to be- smirch him too. And in his history of his life and works, he takes great pains to inform the reader that he never belonged to the Münsterites al- though he says he was accused of it. They were wild agitators and they cruelly persecuted all others who did not believe as they did. On their ban- ners they carred emblazoned all of the warnings and dire threats of the Rev- elations (Müller 159).
1535-A Nuremburg Translation the Bible.
of
This year says Müller (p. 68) a translation of the Bible was made at Nuremburg, at a great expense and sacrifice by the descendants of the Waldenses, which Waldensean doc- trine the Anabaptists or Taufers or Mennonites largely carried out and continued from early days. The trans- lation was into German.
1536-Menno Simon Completely Leaves Catholicism.
In 1536 Menno Simon severed his
connection with the Catholic church and changed his care-free life for poverty and distress and lived in the fear of the Lord and sought out people of like mind to associate with him. By devoting himself to his cause, he found peace, says Brons (D). 65). About a year later says the same author, a body of men who were Taufers called upon him near Wit- marsum; his home, and said they were disgusted with the different up- starts who uesd to lead them and that therfore, they had now come to him and they plea led with him and begged him that he should take to heart the leaderless condition of the Anabaptists or Taufers and the hard lot under which they suffered. They complained that the men who assumed to lead them were too mystical and fantastic and were impracticable idealists-they called them "Schwär- mers" or rovers-they said these leaders were constantly falling into fanaticism and reveries and withdrew themselves away from people and be- came monastic and did them no good. Menno's heart was touched by this, says Brons; but he said he doubted his ability to meet the educated oppo- sition against the Anabaptists and also that he was of so shy and modest a nature he feared he was not the man to lead them. He said he was too "blödigkeit" or bashful and did not have the "fähigkeiten" or capability to do the work. He told them, how- ever, to be patient and he would con- sider the matter in prayer and if it was God's will that he should lead them he could no more refuse to preach and teach than Paul who said. "Woe unto me if I do not preach the Gospel." And says Brons, he de- cided it was his duty to lead these
46
BERNE MENNONITES COMBINE TO HELP BRETHREN
people; and from that time on they stood as solid as a rock in the great movement of reform, which was now active all over Europe like the great wakes and tides of the ocean. Then numbers gathered around him. and they were rebaptized. He began now to teach fearlessly and he sent many encouraging doctrinal letters to many places to help others.
The three events that made Menno Simon the leader of the Holland Wiedertaufers or Anabaptists were, first, his meditations over the execu- tion of Sicke Snyder about 1528 be- cause he was re-baptized-then the shutting up of 300 or more of these Baptists in a prison-convent near him, and the destruction of them for their faith, and finally the request of the Anabaptists we have just men- tioned to him, to lead them.
1536-Combined Action in All Switz- erland Against Anabaptists.
Müller, tells us (p. 34) that a meet- ing of the officers and political powers of the towns of Zurich, Bern, Basel, Schoffhausen, St. Gallen, Mühl- hausen and Biel, all places in Switz- erland, was held at Basil in 1536 and there they composed and worked out a common form of confession, includ- ing several articles against second baptism and against the Taufers or Mennonites, etc. The 24th articles of this was that there must be a common proceedings or movement against second baptism and the Wiedertauf- ers and declaring that all who sepa- rate from the Holy Church (Catholic) must be punished as a duty to God, by the high authorities of the Church and the State and must be prevented from polluting the people and poi- soning their minds with their doc- trines. Officers were then appointed
at this convention of the above chief cities of Switezrland, to see that the demand of the "Holy Church" was carried out.
1536-Bern Mennonites Flec to Mo- ravia and Russia.
Müller tells us (p. 93) that about this time many of the oppressed Weidentaufers of Bern in Switzerland moved to Moravia and Russia. There- fore the Mennonite Church in Russia is also very old. They found Moravia, he says, a new Jerusalem and a ha- ven of peace and rest from their tor- ture. There they remained in peace a long time. Then calamities arose among them there from State and Church, but they endured until 1622, when they received a fatal blow, which almost exterminated them, from Russia. But during nearly all this time Moravia was an asylum un- til suddenly in 1622 they received there also the "todesstosb" or death blow.
1536-The Berne Mennonites Go to Help the French Huguenots.
In 1536 Harry Frantz Nageli (no doubt a remote ancestor of the Neg- leys of our county and State) at the head of the Berne army of great mass of Taufers at Waadt conquered much of the opposition against the sect. November 29th, he in company with a fellow christian named Yost, of Diesbach were sent as messengers to France to speak and plead for the . Huguenots and their religion. He la- bored to have persecution against them cease. For these reasons Mül- ler speaks of Nageli as a leader of and at the head of the Bern Taufers or Mennonites at this time. Nageli had difficulty to make the French King understand as Naegli's lan- guage could not be understood in
47
BERNE EXECUTIONS AND TORTURES
France. But he did manage to ex- plain to the King the cause of the rise and organization of the Taufers or Anabaptist Mennonites and espec- ially laid stress upon the point that the priests and leaders of the Cath- olic church had become corrupt in early days and also that the subject of infant baptism also caused the se- cession, (Müller, p. 83).
1537- Berne Executions (Lancaster County and Pennsylvania Names)
.
About this time among others the following people were executed for their faith, in and abount Berne. In 1537 Bernard Wälti (now Welty)- John Sweitzer, Serf Hoffer, Ulrich Bichsel (now Bixler)-Barbara Will- her (now Weiler)-Catharine Fried- ley, Berna Steli (now Sthely or Staley). In 1538 Peter Stecker, Ul- rich Huber, Hans Willer or Weiler, Elizabeth Rupser or Rupp, Peter Best- miller, Stephen Ricksecker and Ru- dolph Staley. In 1539 Lawrence Ha- berly, John Shumacker, Peter Unter -in 1543 Christian Oberlin, John Un- ter and Waldi or Waldo Garber.
Nearly all of these we recognize to be familiar Lancaster county and east- ern Pennsylvania names of people living among us today; and our neigh- bors are no doubt relatives of these ancient martyrs for conscience sake. This shows again what a large num- ber of our southeastern Pennsylvania families came from ancestry who 400 years ago lived in the mountains of Switzerland, before their later gen- erations moved down the Rhine into the Palatinate, (Müller, p. 78).
1537 -- Berne Again Demands Solo- thurn Anabaptists to Be Crushed Out.
Council of Berne to the authorities of Zolothurn and declared that at Et- tigen and Lusbligen there are many Anabaptists or Mennonites; and that if the Zolothurn authorities do not kill them according to orders, Berne will take a hand in it. Zolothurn was a center where the people were shown favors and mercy. Those who came from Zolothurn to Berne were sent back to be disposed of. In the early Waldensean times before the days of the Reformation the Walden- seans had gained a foothold in Zolo- thurn and therefore we must remem- ber that even in 1737 this faith was 200 years old them. That is why they had such strength there. There were persons high in authority there who were Anabaptists or now Mennonites, whose ancestors going back several generations planted the faith there. This is why the State or Canton au- thorities at Berne were so anxious about it. Solothurn of Zolothurn is a good sized city nearly equidistant between Berne and Basil, being about 15 miles almost directly north of Berne.
1538-New Tortures in Berne and Basel.
Right after the religious discussion or debate in Berne which was held in 1538 the feeling against the Anabap- tists or Taufers reached its high water mark. The debate was won by these baptists. The authorities now knew that all former means to sup- press them had failed. And the move- ment went on. So henceforth a for- cible extermination was decided on and there were many executions of which there are no public records. If they were in prison every means was used to make them give up and when these failed they were killed. The or-
In 1537 says Müller (p. 73) mes- sengers were again sent from the ! der was if they do not yield to ordi-
48
HALDEMANS APPEAR-DEBATE AT SIGNAU
nary questioning, "You must inter- | Weiser-Henry Weninger of Schloff- rogate them with a rope." But this was not to include women. It was al- so ordered that the property of the Baptists who have no children must be taken by the State at the death of the owner. In August 17, 1538 the Catholic Bishop of Basel sent out an order that no Anabaptists were to be allowed in his bishopric at all. They must leave or be killed, (Müler, p. S2).
158S-The Name "Haldeman" Ap- pears.
This year in Eggvil, Switzerland, we find the name "Haldeman" so fa- miliar to us and so prominent in Lan- caster county and Eastern Pennsyl- pania, used the first time. This is about 375 years ago. Müller tells us (p. 75) that Thüring Haldeman was ordered this year to "walk the plank" or be killed. That is, he was to go on board a vessel and leave or suffer death.
153S-Houstten (or Hochtetten) and Signau Demand Another Reli- gious Debate.
In February and March of 1538 says Müller (p. 79) a discussion on religion was demanded by the above towns. The attempt was made to prove the Old Testament equal to the New. This was an argument against the Taufers, who largely avoided the Old. At this debate Rappenstein and Pfeis- ter Myer, the converted Baptists or Taufers, who in Soffingen had done good work, were present and entered the debate. The minutes of this de- cussion are still extant in two copies in the State Archives in Berne. Strange Baptists were present also and some of them spoke a great deal. Michael Utt (the tailor)-Matthias
hausen. There were Hans Hatz, George Trasser of Bavaria. Of these, Weiser, Trasser and Hatz spoke most. From the Berne neighborhood, there were John Vogt, and. Hans Luthi who spoke. There were also present from Eggvil, Bernard Vergerter, Ulrich Wenenschwander, Bernard Jenruy, Christian Salzman-Waldi Gerber of Rotherbach-Ulrich and Klaws Rupp of Stauffen-Hans Schellenberg, John Krahenbuhl (Graybill), Friedli Die- boldswiler, all of Signau -- Peter Schwendimann and Felix Shumaker of Big Hochstetten-Casper Kalb or Kulp and Andrew Shindler or Shindle of Thun-Casper Zugg, Frantz Ober- ly and John Haslibach-Jos. Meis -. cher, Uli Flickinger, Christian Brick- er, Jacob Sutter, and Jacob Caspar of . Aarburg -- Uli Hunsicker, Hans Gus- per, Michael Zink, Hans Snyder and Beit Herman, and others were pres- ent. Amongst these we find many names today familiar in Eastern Pennsylvania. All of which shows us where our ancestors lived and moved nearly 400 years ago and where they were even before Columbus sailed on his voyage of discovery.
The four presidents who managed this debate (Müller, p. 80) had the minutes compiled and reported to the Council of Berne and it was ordered that four copies be made and the same be put in the library. The Men- nonites wanted a copy of the minutes too but it was refused on the ground that it was a report and not a discus- sion for the public. This explains how those ancient books got into the lib- rary where they are today. They would not allow extra copies to be made for the Baptists.
49
THE EMMENTHAL FILLS UP WITH MENNONITES
1538 -- Mennonites Drifting Into the Emmenthal.
In 1538 a conference between Berne and the Bishop of Basel at Münster was held. The inhabitants of Müns- ter were subjects of the Bishop of Basel and since 1486 they were also connected or had certain city rights in Münster. Wattenbach and Ferrell in Münster introduced the Reforma- tion here and in the valley of the Em- menthal. This is important history, especially to citizens of Lancaster county, because it was to the valley of the Emmenthal, northeast of Berne a short distance, that the persecuted Mennonites gathered, from whom and from whose descendants, came from that place, the first ten or twelve pio- neers who reached Amsterdam in March, 1710-London about May, re- maining to the end of June and finally reached the Pequea, now in Lancaster county, in October, 1710.
The result of the conference at Münster was that both Berne and Basel should contrive to wipe out "this damned sect." Berne said to the Bishop of Basel, "What shall we do to wipe them out? The Sheriffs and Officers lead such bad lives they can not punish anyone." The answer was get other sheriffs. But said Basil, "It is your own question to deal with; we do not want to interfere," (Müller, p. 235).
1538-Herrs, Graafs, Mylins, Landises and Others Become Mennonites.
Ezra E. Eby of Berlin, Ont., in his book on the Eby family says: The Ebys belong to the Celts, an ancient Asiatic race. During the early ages lived in Northern part of Italy and were brought from heathendom through the Vandois (Waldenes).
From the 8th to the 11th Century these Vandois became numerous. The Church of Rome tried to exterminate them. In 1453 the whole Valley of Luzerne was laid under an interdict. In 1487, Innocent the XIII began an order of extermination against them; a large number fled and went to the Northern part of Switzerland. They finally settled in Bern, Luzeren, Zur- ich and Schweyz. Among the Vandois (Waldenes) who settled in these coun- tries were the "Ebees." These Swiss Waldenes when Menno Simon founded the Mennonite Church in 1538 joined hm. Among those who joined were the names of Herr, Graaf, Mylin, Shank, Witmer, Landis, Eby and oth- ers. Some of these are of Teutonic origin which proves the Waldenes had accessions from that source, after ar- rival in Switzerland.
1538-Offreus Greisinger Destroyed.
Greisinger is a common Eastern Pennsylvania name, numerous in Lancaster county. Thus I give this item on his sufferings and death. The Martyrs' Mirror, page 432, tells us that, in 1538, a Greisinger resident of Tyrol in Austria of the same stock as the Swiss and Germans, after being sought in mountain and valley was caught, after a large reward was of- fered for him. He was a preacher among the Taufers and kept many of them encouraged to hold on. They tried to make him recant but he de- clared he would "endure all pain unto death."
Then they drew him up by a rope about his neck, but quickly let him down and threatened hm saying he would be torn limb from limb. He said, "I am in your hands." Eight days later they drew him up again and let him down but he would not
50
WEIDMAN AND SHUMAKER SUFFER-HAEUSER MENNONITES
recant. Eight days later they threat- ened him again but did nothing. Then he was sentenced to death and placed in the fire and burned to ashes, on Halloween, 1538.
1538-Michael Weidman's Sufferings and Death.
The same book tells us, page 433, that, "About this time also Brother Michael Weidman or Beck was appre- hended at Ricten, in Allegau, togeth- er with some other persons, which others persons, however were sent home, while this brother was put in prison for the faith. Many things were resorted to with him, and he was admonished to renounce, but he had a good assurance of his faith in Christ, and said: "When I was living with the world in all unrighteousness, in sins and wickedness, no one admonished me to renounce, but I was considered a good Christian before the world." After being imprisoned almost half a year, he was beheaded and burned. Here we find another old German or Swiss martyr of nearly four centuries ago, whose surname is common here in Lancaster county today.
153S-Caspar Schumacher's Sufferings.
In the same book the sufferings of another remote ancestor of a large Lancaster county and Eastern Penn- sylvania family of today are given,, page 433, as follows: "In the year . 1538, the brethren Martin of Vilgraten, and Caspar Schumacher, were both apprehended for the divine truth, at Michelsberg. in Priesterthal, and af- ter steadfastness, sentenced to death, and executed with the sword, thus manfully persevering in the faith un- to the end. They were of good cheer in their bonds and tribulation and held fast to the love of God, from | every one of the male members pris-
which they could not be separated through tribulation, fear, persecution, hunger, nakedness, or danger.
1538-Our Mennonite Ancestors Suf- fered Also Under English Decrees.
In the Martyrs' Mirror, page 434, it is stated: "After manifold tyranny, persecution and putting to death," writes P. J. Twisck, "in various coun- tries and kingdoms, against the Chris- tian flock, also in England, a decree was proclaimed December, to the or- dianance of Christ. By virtue of the same, they, right in the face of cold winter, were banished from the coun- try, and had to flee whithersover they could. Thus it came, that some of them fled for refuge to Holland, and having come to Delft, they were there spied out by their enemies, and fell into the hands of the tyrants; and. after manifold trials, and steadfast- ness in their faith, they were sen- tenced to death for the truth, at said place, and, on the 7th of January, A. D. 1539, put to death. Sixteen men were beheaded with the sword, and fifteen women drowned.
1539-Häuser Mennonites in Stainer- brunn, Austria.
A part of the Häuser Baptist who went under Brother Häuser to Hun- gary were named accordingly Häuser Baptists or Mennonites. £ They were understood to make great and strong profession. Some of them later went to Prussia. A little party who came from Stainerbrunn, Austria, lived un- molested there until 1539. But when they had grown to be a numerous con- gregation, then the Catholic Priests in- formed the King and they had officers with armed men and on horseback sent against them. December 6, 1539 some of the officers appeared before the houses of the brethren and took
......
51
MENNONITES AS GALLET SLAVES
oners. The Catholic mob robbed what- ever they could. The main purpose of the expedition was to get the treas- ures of these people. The overseer of the congregation of Austerliz was taken prisoner; and he with all the others were taken to the Castle of Falkenstein. This happened near Stainerbrunn in Austria as we have said. They took 150 priosners and among them were some who had not been as yet baptized or taken up into the congregation, (Brons, p. 431).
1539-Taufers or Mennonites Buried Paupers in Potter's Fields.
It was decided in 1539 in Berne that the Baptists ex-communicated from the Catholic church should not be buried on holy ground. The theory of the church was that whoever in his life time was not in the church, could not be buried in holy ground. According to an order of 1539, they were not allow to be buried in any of the cemeteries, and this decree was in force until 1695, (Müller, p. 362).
1540 -- Our Mennonite Ancestors Galley Slaves.
as
In the early times the maritime nations had to have slaves in their galleys to propel them before steam engines were invented; and scores of strong men were captured constantly and chained to the oars of these war vessels. They used to take all con- victs and people whose lives were of no account and make them propel the galleys. Some of the Swiss cantons agreed with the Republic of Venice and with Italy and France by treaties to supply them with slaves for the galleys. So they took these Menno- nites and sent them. This saved Switzerland the trouble and expense of their prisoners and the sea coun- tries were glad to get them. Venice had great wars with Turkey and need- ed them. Her ambassadors requested Swiss galley slaves and this made the
Swiss officers very active to do this for them, particularly because it would rid the country of these Bap- tists. The Swiss got their idea from France. In this way France treated the Huguenots. Berne furnished many Mennonites for the galleys; it was de- cided that only these big mountain Baptists were fit to go to the galleys. As early as 1540 there were 90 of these Mennonites bound to King Ferdinand of Austria and taken to Trieste to be sent to Venice. They escaped from the Tower of Trieste but 20 were re- arrested and sent on. This began as early as 1540. And as late as 1613 Hans Landis, and Galli Fuchs and Stephen Zehnder or Zehner were sent to the galleys by Zurich but they escaped. Zurich tried to spread the galley punishment to Basel and other places; but it was condemned as too severe and went out of use, (Müller, p. 215).
1540-Taufers or Mennonites in the Principality of Basel.
The Taufers or Baptists now called Mennonites, had for some time been settling around the Emmenthal, which is in Switzerland, northeast of Berne. They became numerous there and spread throughout the Valley. They were very successful farmers and were the leaders in that region in agriculture and stock raising. But in the Canton of Zolothurn they found refuge first and then moved to the Jura in the Emmenthal. Some came to the section north of Biel and settled in the valley of the Monto. Some went to the great Münsterberg, the entrance to the Jura and then went west. About 100 years later they went to Neuberg. Many of them came from Bucheggberg. Among the first of the emigrants that came from Bucheggberg we find the family of Gerber and Neusbaum and Tanner. This happened between 1540 and 1570. But the first Baptists in Jura on the Emmenthal were not from the neigh-
52
MORAVIAN MENNONITES-TAEUFERS USE GUNS
borhood of Berne but came from the north regions, in the neighborhood of Staasb, from where they were chased. There were about 4000 of them as early as 1535, (Müller, p. 235).
Of these on the 4th of June, the Berne authorities wrote to the Catho- lic Bishop that it must be known to him what trouble these people are making and that they must be pun- ished. That he should punish them- these Taufers. It was also stated that the treaty with the Münsterites would be renewed as they were ene- mies of the true Taufers. The Bishop promised that he would punish and exterminate them. Then the agree- ment was made that the Münsterites should help to get rid of the Taufers. The Berne Reformed authorities and the Catholic authorities were willing to work together now to put the Täufers or Mennonites out of the way, (Müller, p. 236).
The authorities of Thun, Switzer- land, some distance from Berne, sent word that they are chasing these Täufers day and night and that they had the Sheriff of Signau to help them, (Müller, p. 82).
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