Our Kauffman's and Rev Isaac Kauffman

Jacob Kauffman

The earliest Kauffman's date back to before 1500. My records show that a Kauffman was born in 1475 of unknown parents. He married and had a son Jacob born 1500 in Steffisburg. Steffisburg is located a bit north of Thun, at the northern shore of Lake Thun, which is east of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Jacob married someone identified only as born in 1505 and they had a son, Jacob, born in 1530. Jacob married Elizabeth Albright of Bern. They had a son, Jacob Nicholas born in 1555. It is recorded in a baptismal book in the parish of Steifisburg that Jacob Kouffman and Christini Riber had a daughter Anna baptized April 1, 1580. A few years later his wife died and he remarried May 11, 1584, to Anni Biircki of Trimstein. The church record states that Jacob Kaufmann was from Schopfen in the vicinity of Basel.

The descendants of Jacob Kaufmann are as follows:

1-Anna Kaufmann (Apr. 3, 1580- ) md. july 28, 1611, Peter Traer.

2-Hans Kaufmann (Feb. 19, 1581 ), he or another Hans is reported having an illegitimate son, Hans. by Barbli Matter, baptized Sept. 4, 1603.

3-Magdalena Kaufmann (Apr. 2. 1532- )

4-Caspar Kaufmann (Apr. 11, 1585- ) md. between July 13 and Oct. S, 1612, Barbara Kneubiihl. He was a miller and appears a number of times as sponsor to baptized children.

5-Margareth Kaufmann (May 29, 1586- )

6-Jacob Kaufmann (May 1, 1590- ) md. Jan. , 1609, Adalin Umruel who last appears as sponsor Aug. 1, 1627. Md. Mar. . 1632, Christina Walthart, who died Apr. 17, 1644, the same day her daughter Christina died.

7--Niklaus Kaufmann (Dec. 10, 1593- )

8-Michael Kaufman (May 30, 1596 -)

Niklaus Kaufmann md. Jan. 17, 1617, Elsi Blank.

71-Johannes Kaufmann (June 29, 1617- )

72—Barbara Kaufmann (Mar. 28, 1619- )

73-Michael Kaufmann (Oct. 1, 1620- )

74-Nicholas Kaufmann(Jul 18, 1624 - )

73-Michael Kaufmann md. Oct. 2, 1646, Anna Brendli. Jan. 24, 1664. They lived at Zullhalten which lies eastward of Steffisimrg and contiguous to Homberg and not far from Farni.

731-Michael Kaufmann (May ZS, 1643- )

732-Anna Kaufmann (June 30, 1650- d.y.`)

733-Anna Kaufmann (Scpt. 4, 1651- d.y.)

734-Isaac Kaufmann (Nov. 20, 1653- )

735-Jacob Kauffman (Mar , 1656 - )

A bit about Isaac, an important Mennonite Leader

First, Isaac is NOT our paternal grandfather, rather the brother of Jacob who is our paternal grandfather. Isaac md. Feb. IS, 1676, Elsbeth Megerdt, who died 1715. He became cnc of thc outstanding Mennenite teachcrs of his time and community, and was constantly on the move to avoid arrest. On Jan 5 1693. whcn his son Christian Kaufmann was baptized. Isaac Kaufmann was first mentioned hy thc pastor as an avowed Mennonite. On Oct 20. 1693, Anthony Blattcr, hired man of Isaac Kaufm:mn's wife, was arrcstcd for carrying a quantity of cheese one Sunday cvcning from the Alp to his employer in Schangmu. He pleaded guilty saying that thc Mennonites wife ordered him to do it. He was fined two pounds. She was ordered to bc brought in. On June 6, 1694. thc authorities instructed thc sheriff of Trachsclwald, thc bailiff of Schangnau and thc wifc of Isaac Kauffman, thc Mcnnonitc tcachcr, to co-opcratc in bringing in Isaac Kauffman, who was dwelling in some Alp pasture ncar Schangnau. On thc same day thc govenment issued orders for a Mennenitc hunt, giving thc police warrants to arrest Hans Riibcr who lived on an adjoining pasture to Isaac Kaufmann. It appears that when the sheriff of Tracbselwald and his two deputies attempted to arrest Isaac Kaufmann, Hans Raber and his accomplices resisted the arrest and threshed the officers unmercifully. June 11, it was ordered that Hans Raber and his accomplices be brought in by force of arms if necessary, but when they searched for them, it was fount that they had escaped. the authorities were now more determined than ever to capture Isaac Kauffman.

Jan 13, 1695, the judicial council charged four persons for absenting themselves from Christmas Eve services. One of these was the wife of Isaac Kauffmann. They promised to attend the Easter services. May 9, 1699, Isaac Kaufmann, the Mennonite teacher, of Homberg, District of Thun, was sent by the magistrate to Berne because it had been impossible to convert him from the Mennonite doctrines by imprisonment in Thun. The authorities resolved to banish him out of Switzerland so he would cause no further trouble, and it was arranged that the high constable communicate with the bookseller Tshiffeli to sound his correspondent in Holland the possibility of sending Kaufmann there and keeping him from returning to Berne. May 17, 1699, the high Sheriff proposed that the arch-Mennonite Isaac kauffman should be sent to Amsterdam, Holland under guard. The authorities accepted the proposition, and 50 thalers were appropriated for the expenses. The high sheriff and the bookseller, Samuel Tschiffeli, were to make the necessary arrangements to transport him away. On the same date a letter was written to the East India Co. explaining that Isaac Kaufmann was a Mennonite whose beliefs were contrary to the welfare of the state since he refuse to give oath or to carry ars, and it would be better for Berne to rid itself of such people and send them to some island in the East Indies to prevent any possible return. The manager of the East India Co. was requested to start the plan with Isaac kafman who was one of the foremost leaders of the Mennonites. On the same day a commission was issued to Tschiffeli to take Isaac Kaufmann and deliver him to the East India Com. The authorities of Holland were beseeched to co-operate with Major Tschiffeli of the Tscharnerischen Regiment and thus facilitate the sending of Kaufmannn to the Eas Indies. The matter foiled since the authorities and the East India Co were tolerant. Isaac Kaufmann is credited with having persuaded the Dutch to the contrary and to have rendered the Mennonites a great service by mipping the plan of forced exile across the seas.

Feb 7, 1700, a letter was sent by the Amish faction of Mennonites to the Reist faction, requesting forgiveness for the words and actions causing bitterness between them. The letter was signed by Isaac Kaufmann and others.

Oct 15, 1700, the burgess of Thun was notified by the Mennonite Judicial Chamber of Berne to search the region in his district for the Mennonite teacher Isaac Kaufmann. An officer named Getscherin and deputies came from Berne and charged 16 pounds expenses. The burgess gave them five additional men from his district. It appears that Kaufmann secretly returned to his home and had been betrayed, however, he was not captured.

July 12, 1701, his wife Elsbeth Megerdt was brought before the court while pregnant and asked about its father. She said that her husband had been at Steffisburg for six weeks but did not stay overnight. However, last year during the time of the harvest fair at Burgdorf, they were constantly together for eight days. She promised not to absent herself from communion services.

Apr 17, 1709, the authorities pushed the apprehension of all who in any way believed, sympathized, or assisted the Mennonites; consequently these people tried to save themselves. it is his year that the Chamberlain of the Prince of Montbeliard entered in a pact with Isaac Kaufmann and Michael Mosimann, Mennonite, who came from Grindelwald, Canton of Berne. They were to take care of the principality of Clemont and were supplied with 40 cows, 8 oxen, 1 breed bull, 45 goals etc. it was a considerable estate, consequently these two had others of their faith join them. It was not long until many more persecuted Mennonites from the lower parts of Berne moved into the Montbeliard Domain. But these newcomers aroused the hostility of fanatical Catholic officials of the French king who had lately acquired sovereignty of the Clamont Region. The officials ordered the Mennonites to withdraw and followed up with court prceedings. The pact and aid of the principality were unable to protect them so that by 1711 they were obliged to abandon thee project. It is presumed this was the Mennonite teacher Isaac Kaufmann who may have sought safety near Grindelwald where the Amish branch had its stronghold. The next we hear of Isaac, he has come to Manor, Lancaster County, PA as a Mennonite Leader of one of the first groups in that area.

Continued with - Kauffman's in America