Christian Stauffer was born 30 December 1579 in Bern Switzerland and died 10 January 1671 in Worms, Germany. Christien Stauffer married Adelheit Opliger, daughter of Peter Opliger and Adelheit Blonier on 18 June 1610 at Signau and the marriage was reported at Röthenbach. He married secondly Madlena 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.1 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 1618.1 He was also mentioned there on 19 Apr 1649.2

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 accord. 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.1 Christian also had grandchildren named Schenk and 1 Christian also had grandchildren named Schenk and Neukommet who were also exiled and living in the Pfalz at that time.

Children:

1. Madlena Stauffer, bapt. 6 Oct 1611, Signau (born at Luchsmatt Farm, Eggiwil). Madlena married Hans Neukommet of Eggiwil. Sponsors at her baptism were Melchior Hirschi, Margret Aegerter and Adeli Schnyder. Her baptism was reported at Röthenbach. Three of their children went to Germany with their Grandfather Christian Stauffer

2. Hans Stauffer, bapt. 18 Apr 1613, Signau (born at Luchsmatt Farm, Eggiwil). d. c1703. He married Madlena Neuenschwander, daughter of Ulrich Neuenschwander and Barbli Ritter. Hans’ baptism was reported at Röthenbach. Hans was not an Anabaptist his two sons Hans and Ulrich were and traveled with their grandfather, as refugees to Germany in late 1671.

3. Christian Stauffer, bapt. 19 Mar 1615, Signau (born at Luchsmatt Farm, Eggiwil) and reported at Röthenbach. Christian Stauffer married Margret Anthoni (b 1621) daughter of Hans Anthoni and Anna Stauffer of Neuenschwand, Eggiwil in about 1645. He was an Anabaptist and joined his wife, father and two brother Uli and Daniel in Germany by 6 April 1672 as a refugee.

4. Anna Stouffer, bapt. 13 Apr 1617, Signau (born at Luchsmatt Farm, Eggiwil) and reported at Röthenbach. The sponsors at her baptism were Uli Galli, Barbli Rott and Anni Schöni. She married Uli Aeschbacher in about 1640. She was listed as an Anabaptist refugee, age 55 at Ibersheim on 1 January 1672 with three of her six children with her. On 6 Apr 1672 she was at Ibersheim with two of her children, leaving behind her husband and four children in Switzerland. Her son Christian Aeschbacher left Ibersheim, Germany with his cousin Ulrich Stauffer for Holland before 6 Apr 1672.

5. Elsbeth Stauffer, b. c1620, Glashutte Farm, Eggiwil.

6. Peter Stauffer, b. 28 Apr 1622, Signau and reported at Röthenbach (born at Glashutte Farm, Eggiwil). He was carried to baptism by his uncle Uli Stouffer in 1622. The sponsors at his baptism were Hans Stouffer, Daniel Stouffer and Verena Moser (probable wife of Peter Stouffer). He was of Glashütte when he married Christina Stauffer, probably the daughter of Christian Stauffer and Barbli Leeman of Zimmerzei on 22 Jun 1655 at Eggiwil. He lived at Glashütte in 1655, 1657, 1666, 1669. He lived at Zimmersei in 1659, 1662. He lived at Knubel in 1671. He lived at Glashütte in 1678. He was not an Anabaptist.

7. [?] Margreth Stauffer, b. c1624, Glashutte Farm, Eggiwil. She was a sponsor for Adelheit daughter of Christian Stauffer and Margret Anthoni on 23 Jul 1654 at Eggiwil.

8. Barbli Stauffer, b. c1627, Glashutte Farm, Eggiwil. She was a sponsor with Peter Stauffer at the baptisms of Peter and Adelheit, twins of Hans Neukommet and Madlena Stauffer at Eggiwil on 26 Mar 1650. She and Peter Opliger were sponsors at the baptism of Adelheit daughter of Hans Neukommet and Madlena Stauffer on 2 Sep 1653 at Eggiwil and for their daughter Barbli on 14 Jan 1654 at Eggiwil. She was sponsor for brother Daniel’s daughter Barbli in 1657. She was a sponsor for her brother Ulrich at Glashütte in 1661. She was a witness at the baptism of Uli son of Jacob Neuenschwander and Anna Risser of Glashütte on 26 Jul 1661. She was a sponsor for her brother Christian's child's baptism on 2 Feb 1662.

9. Ulrich Stauffer, b. 1629, Glashutte Farm, Eggiwil. He married Barbli Stauffer, probable daughter of Christian Stauffer and Barbli Leeman of Zimmerzei on 11 Mar 1653 at Eggiwil. He lived at Glashütte in 1654, 1656, 1659, 1661. He lived at Zimmerzei in 1664 and 1668. He was an Anabaptist and was exiled with his wife in late 1671. He was living at Ibersheim, Hesse, Germany on 1 January 1672 and at Dirmstein, Bayern on 6 Apr 1672. He was mentioned in a document as living at Glashütte in May 1674 (KP Signau 1672-1677, page 118). He apparently did not remain an Anabaptist and returned from Germany to Eggiwil, probably to take over the farm at Glashutte.

10. Daniel Stauffer, b. 1632, Glashutte Farm, Eggiwil. He married Barbli Galli, daughter of Ulrich and Barbara (Neukommet) Galli on 8 May 1652 at Eggiwil. He lived at Glasshutte in 1653, 1656, 1660, 1663, 1666, 1668. He and his wife were exiled in late 1672 and were living at Ibersheim, Hesse, Germany on 1 Jan 1672 and at Dirmstein, Bayern, Germany on 6 Apr 1672. He lived at Gerolsheim, Bayern in Mennonite census in 1682 and 1685. In 1686 at Gerolshiem he was called an Anabaptist when he was required to pay the wax tax.

It appears that almost all of the Stauffer Mennonites living in the Pfalz area of Germany were descendants of Christian's two sons Christian (b. 1615) and Daniel (b. 1632) and one grandson Hans (b. 1644) son of Hans (b. 1613).

Sources
"Chorgerichtsmanual" of Eggiwil, 1648-1718. (Court Records) Sent to me by Alfred Stauffer of Steffisburg, Switzerland.

KP (Kontraktenprotokolle) Signau, 1614-1620, page 221.

Kontraktenprotokolle Amt Signau, 1649-1661, page 20. (Contract Protocols)

Research by Richard W. Davis