Strasburg Menn.Cem.
Hans was perhaps the only child of the Jacob Hess family who survived the Switzerland persecutions. The Hess family were part of Zurich Canton Anabaptist exodus to east side of the Rhine River (1640-60). Rhine River, Palatinate, Germany.
Rev. Jakob Kuntz (Hans Jacob) Hess
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE "AUSBUND"
In the year 1637 an aged man, John Jacob Hess was arrested. This was the first time that the Governor sent officers to catch a person. He promised his peace with an escort. Immediately after he was at the castle the Governor asked him how cautious he was since the meeting in the choir room, and if he wanted to attend the State Church. If you do not want to do this I will allow them to arrest you. In three days five policemen were sent with weapons. He was kept at Grueningen five days and from there he was taken to day court house in Zurich and kept 19 days in prison, but with the help of God he was release again.Thirty-four weeks later they went three policemen from Zurich who came to them at night, caught him, and took him to Othenbach jail where tow other brethren were held. He spent eight weeks there, and then through an escape they were all free again. In the year 1639 he was taken to Othenbach and imprisoned 83 weeks.
This time they stripped him and placed him in irons for 16 weeks, after that he was free again. They in 1639 they also caught his wife and let her to the court house where she was kept for several days after which she was taken to Othenbach where she was given limited food and drink and kept for 63 weeks. With insufficient food and brutal treatment she finally passed away in bonds.
FROM PENNSYLVANIA MENNONITE HERITAGE (Apr. 1990)
The minister of the Baretswil Anabaptist congregation, a blacksmith, aged forty. Because of his faith, he lost his smith, which stood on the site of the present elementary school of Baretswil.
Jacob and Anna Hess's confiscated property brought 4,000 guilders at the Jager Council (Anabaptist Head Hunters). No guilders were restored to any Hess family who remained. (Martyrs Mirror [p. 1115] lists his name as Hans Jacob.)
From Metlen, Switzerland, Wald Parish, Zurick Canton. She was arrested and died in prison.
Married Verena Wolf, 20 June 1630
Born near the Wald Parish frequently cited as Hess family home in 16th and 17th centuries.
Heinrich was listed as a weibel of Rutenschwyl, now Ruetschwil, in the parish of Baretswil, when his first two children were baptized in 1894 and 1597 at Baretswil. In 1599 and 1601 he lived in Baretswil. The Hess family had lived at Ruetschwil before 1725.
May have been a twin of Christian - record is not clear.
Born near the Wald Parish frequently cited as Hess family home in 16th and 17th centuries.
Heinrich was listed as a weibel of Rutenschwyl, now Ruetschwil, in the parish of Baretswil, when his first two children were baptized in 1894 and 1597 at Baretswil. In 1599 and 1601 he lived in Baretswil. The Hess family had lived at Ruetschwil before 1725.