The Patriarchs
Quinn, Dear, Weaver, Mengel, Eichler, Beck, Musser, Stewart, & Antes

Hans Michael Moser (12th great-grandfather) was born in 1538 in Sumiswald, in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland.

 

The name Moser is believed to have originated in Canton Bern, Switzerland.  It is of North German origin and is an occupational name for a vegetable grower or seller.  I guess that the surname for the individuals in this family changed over time based on individual preference or for social status.

 

The village name, Sumiswald, either comes from the Germanic settler “Suomolt” or the Latin term “summa vallis” which means “bank over the valley.”  The von Sumiswald family, who possibly took their name from a vanished castle in the area, is first mentioned in 1135.  The last member of the von Sumiswald family, donated the village, and churches of Sumiswald and Escholtzmatt to the commandry of the Teutonic Knights of the “Ballei” Swabia-Asae-Burgundy.  In 1525, the town bought its way out of serfdom, but stayed a part of the Teutonic Knights even after the Protestant Reformation took place in 1528. 

 

Life in Sumiswald was centered around the seasons and the agricultural cycle. The villagers worked hard to cultivate their fields, tending to crops such as wheat, barley, and rye. They also raised livestock, including cows, sheep, and pigs, which provided them with dairy products, meat, and wool.  Sumiswald was a close-knit community where everyone knew each other. The village was governed by local authorities, and decisions were made collectively, often in community meetings. Religion played a significant role in the lives of the villagers, with the majority being followers of the Protestant Reformation, which had gained prominence in Switzerland during that time.  Despite the simplicity of life in Sumiswald, the villagers faced challenges such as unpredictable weather, which could impact their harvests, and occasional conflicts with neighboring communities. However, they persevered through their strong sense of community and their reliance on one another.

 

The Protestant Reformation would lead to discrimination among the many religious factions of the time.  In Bern, Hans Hasilbacher was decapitated on 20 Oct 1571 at then Lauferbrunnen fountain in Bern because of his Anabaptist convictions.  Anabaptists were neither Protestant or Catholic, but a third separate faction of Christian believers.  Anabaptists believe that baptism is valid only when the person can freely confess their faith in Christ and request to be baptized.  They did not believe in infant baptism because infants cannot make a conscious decision to be baptized.  Hans was a resident of Sumiswald and his decapitation was the last of about thirty official executions of Anabaptists in the canton of Bern. 

 

Hans Michael Moser Family

 

It is not known for sure who Hans’ parents were, but the prevailing opinion on Ancestry.com is that his father was Johann Frederick Moser and his mother Margaretha Ruefenacht.  I have not been able to find any records that verify this.

 

I am assuming that Hans was a farmer and lived a very difficult life.  Swiss farmers faced natural disasters like floods, droughts, and crop failures, economic instability, and occasional conflicts.  The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) disrupted life in the region, affecting agriculture.  The end of the Thirty Years war, however, did not bring an end to conflicts in the area where Hans and his family lived.  In 16th Switzerland, most farmers did not own their own land.  They often worked as tenants or sharecroppers on land owned by local lords, monasteries, or wealthy individuals.  They paid rent or a portion of their harvest in exchange for the right to work the land.  Farming is very labor-intensive and families worked together to then their fields and animals.  Farmhouses were constructed from local materials such as timber and stone.  Houses often had thatched roofs and small windows.  Living quarters were simple with one or two rooms for the entire family.  Furniture was minimal and the people slept on straw-filled mattresses.  The diet of the Swiss farmer consisted of bread, cheese, and porridge.  Fruits and vegetables were seasonal, and meat was a luxury.  Sanitation was rudimentary.  Clean water sources were essential, but access was limited.  Diseases like cholera, typhoid, and small pox were prevalent and medical knowledge was minimal.  Herbal remedies were used for common ailments.

 

Life for the Moser family would have revolved around the agricultural calendar.  Spring was for planting, summer for tending crops, and autumn for harvesting.  Winter was a time for repairs, rest, and planning for the next year.  I am sure that religion played a significant role in the life of the Mosers.  Even though they were religious people and professed a belief in God, I would assume that they still would have practiced various rituals to protect their crops and livestock from bad luck.   Some of the common rituals included Blessing the Seeds where the farmer would gather his seeds and perform a simple blessing or prayer to ensure healthy germination and growth.  On 8 Jun, St. Medard’s Day, farmers sought protection from hailstorms.  Farmers would erect small altars or crosses in their fields where they left offerings of bread, salt, or flowers as a sign of gratitude and to seek divine favor.  Farmers would craft scarecrows to deter birds and other pests.  The scarecrows often had red ribbons or bells believed to ward off evil spirits.  During harvest, farmers set aside a portion of the first fruits as an offering to express gratitude and ensure future abundance.  They also paid attention to animal behavior.  For example, ants building tall hills were a sign of a harsh winter ahead.  Planting and harvest were often timed based on lunar cycles.  Certain phases were considered more auspicious than others.  Farmers would seek blessings for their livestock during religious ceremonies.  This included prayers for health, fertility, and protection from harm.  They would also hang amulets or small objects (like horseshoes or crosses) in the barns and stables.  These were believed to ward off evil spirits and ensure the well-being of the animals.  Sudden restlessness in the animals or refusal to eat might be seen as a sign of impending danger.  On 1 May, Beltane, fires were lit to purify the land and the livestock.  Animals were driven through the smoke for blessings. Farmers avoided giving their animals names associated with negative traits such a “black” or “lame”.

 

It was during the Hans’ lifetime that the “Little Ice Age” took place in Europe and affected agriculture in Switzerland also.  This was the period of regional cooling which caused erratic weather including increased storminess, unseasonal snowstorms, and droughts.  Crop practices had to be altered to adapt to the shortened and less reliable growing season.  There were many years of scarcity, famine, poor livestock survival, and increased disease, unemployment, and social unrest.

 

In 1588, Hans, Age 20, married Barbara Gertrude Engle, age 18, daughter of Veit and Elisabet Seigel Engle, in St. Gallen.  The wedding probably took place in the community church in St. Gallen, I assume the wedding took place there because that is where Barbara lived.  At the time of the wedding the parish church in St. Gallen was the Collegiate Church of St. Gall and Otmar, a Roman Catholic church once a part of the Abbey of St. Gall.  The first abbey church was built around 719 and underwent a number of modifications.  The current church was started in 1847 and is pictured below as it appears today.

 

It would be a simple ceremony emphasizing the religious commitment between the couple.  The bride would probably be wearing a simple dress and the groom would be dressed in his best clothes, which might just be his everyday attire.  After the church service, villagers gathered for a communal meal, and the union of the couple was celebrated with food, drink, and music.  This would include tradition folk dances accompanied by fiddles and other instruments.  The couple would not receive elaborate gifts, but practical things such as household goods, tools, or livestock.

After the wedding, the couple resided in Sumiswald and welcomed their first child on 27 Apr 1561, a son, who they named after his father, Hans Moser Mosimann.  He married Verena Heiniger in the Canton of Bern in 1588 when he was aged 27 and his wife was aged 18.  They had seven children:  Anna Dorothea, Barbara, Ulrich, Andreas, Ursula, Catharina, Jacob.  Hans died at the age of 57 in his hometown.  I would assume that he was a farmer, but nothing to verify that he was. 

 

Hans was three years old when the family welcomed a brother named Ulrich on 3 Sep 1564.  The information I have on Ulrich says he was born in Rothenbach.  I don’t know why he would have been born in Rothenbach, which is only 18 miles from Sumiswald.  I guess maybe Barbara could have been visiting family when Ulrich was born.  Ulrich was married to Elsbeth Rudolph Wisler on 27 Jun 1596 in the Canton of Bern when Ulrich was 31 and Elsbeth was 32.  During their marriage they had nine children:  Ulrich, Hans, Peter, Elsbeth, Andreas, Jakob, Daniel, Magdalena, and Verena.  Ulrich died in his hometown of Rothenbach on 21 Apr 1617 at the age of 52.

 

A third son was born to the couple in 1575 in Sumiswald.  He married Anna Schnett.

 

Some Ancestry trees have Hans and Barbara having a fourth son, Michael.  I have not been able to find any records that would verify this and needs further research.

 

Barbara Engle Moser died in 1580 in St. Gallen at the age of 40.  At the time of her death, Peter was only five years old and Ulrich was 11 years old.  It must have been devastating to Hans and his young children to have lost their mother at such a young age.  I don’t have any information on where Barbara was buried, but would assume that her funeral took place in the St, Marys church in Sumiswald and that she was laid to rest in the churchyard.  It is also a possibility she was buried at the church where her and Hans got married in St. Gallen.  Customarily, mourners walked in a funeral procession, carrying candles and singing hymns.  The community came together to support the grieving family.  After the funeral, a meal was shared at the deceased person’s home.  This allowed friends and family to express condolences and to offer practical help.  Widows and widowers often remarried relatively quickly due to practical considerations.  Marriage provided economic stability and support.  With young children still in the home, I would think Hans would have remarried to help with the raising of the children.  I have not found any information that indicates that he did remarry.  It may be that he had help from his family and Barbara’s family to take care of the home and the children.

 

Hans Moser Mosimann died in St. Gallen on 8 May 1617 having lived a long life of 79 years.  He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara and his son, Ulrich.