Christian Gehman

  Noted events in his life were:

• Religion: Mennonite, Bef 1699. ⁵⁷⁹

• Arrested, 27 Jul 1710. ⁵⁸⁰ A list of Bern Mennonites that were imprisoned on July 27, 1710 was included in a letter to the Mennonite Church in Alsace. The prisoners consisted of twenty-three brethren and seven sisters, of the Anabaptist or Mennonite Faith. They were as follows: Peter Gerber, a servant in the word of God, lies in chains. From the dominion of Trachseiwald: Peter Blaser, Hans Wisler, Hans Schneider, Clauss Baumgartner, Ulli Bear, Peter Hertig, Peter Leuti, Ulli Brachbul, Hans Grasser, Joseph Probst, Daniel Rotenbuler, Hans Zahn.

From the dominion of Sumiswald: Ulli Trussel, Ulli Schurch.

From the dominion Signau: Martin Stramm, Christian Gouman, the younger, Hans Holtzer, Leupersweil bailwick of Schnottweil; district of Solothurn. Hans Kuoubuler from the dominion of Diessbach. Hans Frutiger from the dominion of Thun. Niclauss Haberli of Buchsi.

The sisters imprisoned are: Verena Aeschlimann, Catrina Bieri, Christina Trussel, Margret Scher, Margret Oberli, Anna Brentzighoffer, Anna Moseri

There is a letter in existence stating that these thirty prisoners were also to be sent down the Rhine to Holland, in a ship, the same as a former party were. The letter is as follows: Cunonheim in Alsace, July 26, 1710. Have received a letter from Switzerland and understand from it that twenty-three brethren and seven ssisters are imprisoned at Bern, and that they are willing to take them down the Rhine on a ship, therefore, we, the undersigned deacons and elders in Alsace beg of your deacons and elders in the Palatinate, namely, Tillman Kolb and Hans Jacob Schnebelli, very friendly to pay attention and see to it, when the ship arrives at Breisach. But we may not know when they will arrive. We are willing, however, to send people to Breisach who will let us know as soon as they arrive there. We ask of you kindly if it be your pleasure that you will write to the friends in Holland. We are afraid if they have a further passport from the king, we can hardly accomplish anything

In haste,
Martin Egli
Hanss Blumm
Christian Rupp

• letter, 1 Oct 1710. ⁵⁸¹ Of the condition of these prisoners, Runckel writes from Berne to the committee at Amsterdam under date of October 1, 1710 as follows:

The day before yesterday, September 29th, I, at last, found an opportunity to visit the prisoners and to console them in their sorrow as much as lay in my power, and to encourage them to submit to God's will and obey the authorities in calmness of Spirit. In this, two local citizens, Messrs. Knoll and Wagner, have given me much assistance. In the so-called Island prison, I found eleven men and six women, but without chains or fetters. Among the first named, three sick. The men are idle the women spin hemp and falx to while away the time. In the upper hospital are sixteen men and fourteen women, among whom are also some sick and weak. The men are all penned up together in one rom, but without any fetters or chains. These must earn their bread by carding or combing wool or by other trade with which they are familiar. The women, too, are in a separate compartment but not alone; and by reason therof not confined as strictly as the men. They must in conjunction with other owmen who are imprisoned for other causes, pass their time by spinning wool. As much as I could observe, they are permitted to read the Bible and some other books, and, as I am informed, there is no lack of food and drink, though of course, everything, as well as the sleeping places, are very poor.

Among all these prisoners there are very few who have any means, and even if they once had anything, it is to be feared that the costs of the prison and other things connected therewith, have already consumed that. Those who associate with these poor people declare too that there are generally speaking not as many wealthy among them as among those sent away a year ago. I spent more than three hours with them, and conversed with them. I heard from them that they are willing to leave their fatherland and go away, but I they are not able to forget it at once, and to take leave forever. Besides it is very much to be feared that they will raise difficulties when they learn that His Royal Majesty of Prussian wants to settle them in a county bereft of its inhabitants caused by a terrible pestilence. When I hinted this, they protested most
They would rather be sent to some other place, which scruples, I and the above named affectionate God-fearing citizens endeavored removed to the best of our ability; and will use every endeavor in the future to remove. A list of the prisoners incarcerated on September 29, 1710, contains the following names:

In the upper hospital, Men: Peter Hertig, Hans Gasser, Peter Luthel, Ulrich Trussel, Daniel Rothenbuhler, Peter Gerber, Hans Zahn, Hans Schonauer, Hans Frutiger, Heinrich Schilt, Uli Brechbuhl, Daniel Neukoment, Hans Wissler, Michael Russer, Hans Kreybuhl, Bauman the younger.

The women are: Gertrud Rugsegger, Barbara Rugsegger, Margrit Gerber, Elsi Brast (Graf), Barbara Steiner, Luzia Wymann, Barbara Steiner, Luzia Wymann, Barbara Rohrer, Margret Schurch, Elisabeth Aebersold, Gertrud Parli, Vreni Aeschlimann, Stini Trussel, Anna Salzmann, Anna Moser.

On the Island, Men: Hans Schneider, Ulli Bear, Joseph Brobst, Claus Baumgartner, Christian Gaumann, the elder, Christian Gaumann the younger, Martin Strahm, Peter Blaser, Benedict Lehmann, Ulrich Schurch, and Hans Fluckiger.

Women: Anna Brezikoffer, Anna Habegger, Vreni Rubin, E. Helmann, Anna Bear and Margret Oberli.

• Amnesty Issued, 11 Feb 1711. ⁵⁸² The Bern government issued the following amnesty on February 11, 1711: “All efforts up to this time to cleanse the laid of Anabaptists have proved fruitless, and the sect has increased. They refuse to swear the civil oath of allegiance, and to bear arms. It appears that the reason for their not leaving the country thus far is that they have been unable to find any country where they would be free to enjoy religious liberty. Therefore through Ambassador Bondeli and through Secretary Runckel we have entered into an agreement with His Majesty in Prussia and with the States-General of the Netherlands respectively to receive these so-called Anabaptist persons into their lands. They will travel to Holland, but if they wish they can locate in Prussia. Free emigration does not apply to those who have already been judicially banished with the confiscation of their goods. Those now in prison will be released on bail. The emigration period with exemption from emigration tax expires the end of June. Those emigrating shall pay for the trip. Reformed spouses and children may emigrate and take along their property, yet with loss of citizenship. All property taken out of the country must be declared. That which is not declared promptly to the Anabaptist Commission will be confiscated. Meanwhile Anabaptist meetings are forbidden under heavy fines, and the severest penalties will be meted out to those who return to the country after emigration.” The pressure of Prussia and the Dutch States-General accomplished these concessions. Bern issued a series of mandates in quick succession to expedite the emigration of the Mennonites: February 20, 1711; April 17; April 19; May 11; June 2; June 22; and June 24. The task of leading the emigration was assigned to George Ritter, who was to have led them out the previous year.

Ritter had all kinds of difficulties to overcome. The Ammann-Reist division of 1693 was still so bitterly fresh in the memories of the two groups that they did not want to get into the same ship. One brother, Hans Gerber, refused to emigrate and was sentenced to galley slavery. Others did not want to take the vow never to return to Bern. (Some did return and were sentenced to life imprisonment.)

• letter, 6 Mar 1711. ⁵⁸² In a letter written on March 6, 1711 to Mr. H. Toren in Rotterdam as follows:

“After much vexation, at last thirty-six of our brethren in the faith in Berne have already been set free from the prison under bail, and we hope to hear before long that the fifteen still in prison will be liberated too. Further, that the proclamation of amnesty will soon be promulgated, in such manner that all will receive permission to sell their estates by the end of June and to leave the country with the proceeds thereof, together with the concession that, whatever they, themselves cannot accomplish in that time, they can have attended to by their authorized agents, to which end, it is hoped, there will be granted them aterm of one year. We now deem it necessary to consult with the er they want. He agrees to furnish them there at once with comfortable houses, cattle and supplies, hired help, utensils and implements, and whatever else may be necessary for their calling, without great expense, so that they may be installed in their new places without delay. He even agrees to grant them great privileges in preference to the natives. But he wants also the rich as well as the poor.”

Runckel reported that by February 14th, 1711 at least 18 Mennonites secured release from prison by giving bail, and departed out of the Canton Bern under this amnesty. They went to Holland. Thirty others were promised freedom.

• Departure, 13 Jul 1711. ^583,584 The date for the departure by ship was set for July 13, 1711. The value of the emigrating Mennonites' property was set at 600,000 pounds. (They had with them 14,000 guilders of their own, plus 18,135, which Runckel had received to give them.) The Anabaptist Commission sent 28,500 guilders to the Dutch Mennonites in payment of the property of the emigrating Mennonites. On the specified date, July 13, boats were loaded with Mennonites at both Bern and Neuchatel; the boats met at Wangen and continued on their journey to Basel, which they reached three days later. (One Mennonite escaped at Wangen, his vow notwithstanding.) At Basel the party took on two Mennonites who had been given a life sentence for returning to Bern, and who had been released for emigration through the efforts of Runckel. The party, although less than the 50 anticipated, sailed down the Rhine in four boats. Ritter lead the migrants and was assisted by the Mennonites Daniel Richen and Christian Gaumann. In Mannheim most of the Reist party escaped, many of them to settle in the Palatinate, some to return to Bern, where they were imprisoned for life upon being apprehended.

Finally, on August 3, 1711 what was left of the original emigrants from Bern, mostly of the Amish Mennonite group, arrived at Amsterdanm For 14 days they were cared for. So eager was the public to visit their quarters that police had to be assigned to the place. Gifts from the public amounted to 1,045 guilders. Of these Bernese Mennonites, mostly Amish, 126 settled in Groningen, 116 in Deventer, 87 in Kampen, and 26 in Harlingen. The effort to colonize Prussia was for the most part a failure. The Swiss preferred to migrate to America. However, a small settlement was made in Neuchatel, also in Valagin, Swiss border regions under Prussian rule.

In Groningen, Sappemeer, and Kampen the immigrants built independent congregations, which flourished for a time before becoming merged with the local Mennonites. Most of those who settled in Deventer
moved to Kampen. In Harlingen, where the settlers were mostly of the Reist party, it was decided to return southward and locate in the Palatinate. But the Swiss families who remained in Holland ultimately attained favorable recognition.

At Basel it was plain that the travelers could be transported in four ships. Therefore, the fifth vessel was left behind to be used perhaps, later for similar purposes. After it had lain there for a year, the people of Basel had it dismembered and removed though it was the property of the friends of the Mennonites and was worth at least one hundred florins.

The command over the flotillas was confided to George Ritter and his two superintendents, Gruner and Haller. He was also to be advised in important matters by two prominent Mennonite brethren, Daniel Richen and Christian Gauman, the elder, who had been appointed for this purpose. Besides this there were on the ships a few brethren entrusted with the supervision and care of the emigrants - Hans Burki, Jacob Richen, Emanuel Lartscher, Micahel Lusser, Mans Meier and peter Zehnder. Each vessel had its experienced helmsman or pilot, and the necessary crew from the brethren, of whom twenty reported as experienced oarsmen.

In the Emmenthaler ship most of the prisoners had been placed. The overseers were Hans Burki, Christen Gaumann the elder and Jacob Richener.

Martin Strahm of Hohsteten, left the ship at Breisach; so did Hans Burki of Langnau, Peter Hartig of Lauperswyl; Peter Gerber and wife and Verena Aeschlimann of Langnau; Joseph Propst of Lauperswyl; Daniel Rothebubler of Lauperswyl escaped at Mannheim; so did Hans Schwarzentrub of Trub; Ulrich Beer of Trub escaped at Breisach; so did Hans Gasser, teacher and his wife, Katrina Stauffer, and a young son of Lauperswyl. Hans Zann escaped at Mannheim; so did Hans Fluckinger of Lutzelfluch and Niclaus Baumgartner of Trub, and Niklaus Haberli of Luchsee, and Ulrich Trussel and his daughter Katherina of Sumiswald. Christian Gaumann the elder and his wife, Anna Brenzikoffer of Hoctstetten, Christian Gaumann the younger and his wife, Katharina Streit, with two sons, ages five and eleven years of age, respectively, and two daughters of six and three years of age respectively, of Hochstetten, arrived at Amsterdam

• settled, After 1711. ⁵⁸⁵ Mueller a Mennonite historian found our congregation in Hasselbach one hour from Bischofsheim to the South is Kaspar Rasy. The heads of the families belonging to this church were as follows: Hans Hecht, Hans and Peter Witmer, Melchoir Bauman, Melchoir Huersch, Henry VolWeiters Widow, Hans and Jacob Schenk, Oswald Hofsteter, Samuel Lierstein, and Samuel Dierstein's widow, Hans Ringstbacher's, Christian Gaumann, David Kauffman, Peter Rasch's widow, Abrahm Zersert minister, Valantine Wagner, deacon.

Christian married Katharina Streit about 1699 in Grosshöchstetten, Switzerland ⁵⁷⁶.^,577 (Katharina Streit was born about 1678 and was buried in Peri La Hutt, Palatinate.)