Christian

From Richard Davis's history of the Stauffer family, Part 1, pp. 26-28:

Christian Stauffer, b. c1581. d. after 1671, Dirmstein, Bayern, Germany. He married Adelheit Opliger, daughter of Peter Opliger and Adelheit Blonier on 18 Jun 1610 at Signau and the marriage was reported at Röthenbach. He married secondly Asenath Friedrich. Adelheid his first wife died in May 1656 and then in July 1656, Christian lived together with Asenath Friedrich either at Glashütte or at Hinten in Eggiwil. Christian and Asenath were not married at the state church, which would probably indicate an Anabaptist marriage. He was called son of Claus Stouffer when he and Christian Stouffer, son of Wolfgang were sponsors at the baptism of Christian son of Daniel Buerki and Margret Rugsegger at Signau (reported at Röthenbach) in 1609. On 6 Nov 1611, Christian was called son of Claus of Luchsmatt farm when he baptized his daughter Madlena at Röthenbach. On 28 Apr 1622 he was called an “Offenthler toüffer” (publicly known Anabaptist) when his brother Uli Stouffer brought Christian’s son Peter to baptism. He was first mentioned at Glashütte in a document dated in May 1618. He was also mentioned there on 19 Apr 1649.

Eggiwil is situated in the Emmenthal Valley in Bern. The Emmenthal Valley was a hotbed of Anabaptist activity and their numbers were growing, which greatly alarmed the authorities in Bern. By 1671, Eggiwil had a large group of Anabaptists, numbering about 40 adults, which when you add in their children probably totaled over 100 people. On May, 3 1671, the magistrate of Signau received orders from Bern to seize the Anabaptists of Eggiwil and bring them to the prison in Bern, where they would then be led out of Switzerland. The village community of Eggiwil refused to permit this, probably because so many of them had relatives who were Anabaptists and also because many themselves had leanings toward the Anabaptist faith. Shortly thereafter twelve of the wealthiest residents of Eggiwil were sent to the city of Bern as hostages until the Anabaptists agreed to be delivered to the Bern prison or to leave the land. They agreed to the latter. On October 16, 1671, the Reformed pastor of Eggiwil was able to report that the Anabaptist had left of their own accord4. They were not allowed to take much and probably had some of their possessions and lands confiscated as an emigration tax, as well as having their citizenship taken away. They would become refugees without a country.

According to Valentine Hütwohl, a Mennonite Minister in the Pfalz, on December 14, 1671, 450 Anabaptists from Bern had recently arrived in the Pfalz. "These are scattered among the fellow believers throughout the region over a twelve-mile territory. Among these you will find those who need canes, being 70, 80 and 90 years old. On the whole they need clothing sorely; they didn't take more along than what they had on their backs. With little bedding, we don't know how to keep them warm. Some amongst us have seven, eight or nine living with them. When you speak of their property, they sigh, wishing that they had their houses and farm land here as before. There are men who left their wives and children, and women, older as well as younger, who have left husbands and children; others who brought along some, leaving the rest with the husbands, also expectant mothers; also children who left father, mother, brothers and sisters behind".

Included in the Hütwohl letter was a list of the Swiss refugees. On 1 Jan 1672 Christian Stauffer was listed as a Swiss Anabaptist refugee, age over 90 years old living at Ibersheim, Germany with his second wife, age 70 years. It states that he was the father, grandfather and great grandfather of 94, of whom 16 were dead and 78 living. On 6 Apr 1672 he was living at Dirmstein, Bayern, Germany, age 90, with his wife Asenath Frederick, age 70. Also living in his household were Daniel Stauffer, Ulli Stauffer, Christian Stauffer, age 65 (sic 56) and their wives, Babbi Galli, age 43, Babbi Stauffer, age 41 and Margriet Antony, age 50 years. It stated that "they live together and have altogether 21 children, of whom many were left in Switzerland. They said they have debts to repay, and cows and tools to buy and would manage with 100 Reich Dollars". They were given 250 florins. Christian also had grandchildren named Schenk and Neukommet who were also exiled and living in the Pfalz at that time.