Hans Samuel Köng (abt. 1655)

Descendants

Biography

Samuel and Hans Köng were the eldest sons of Abraham Köng who appeared at Steffisburg in a 1679 court record, which indicated that Samuel and Hans were of age. Both Samuel and Hans became Anabaptists in the 1690s (as indicated by the baptisms of the youngest child of each brother). Both ended up in St. Marie-aux-Mines by 1997.^[1]

Each brother had a son named Hans baptized at Steffisburg:

Hans, son of Samuel and wife Anna Gnagi, was baptized July 15, 1684; witnesses were Christen Güngerich, Jost Joder of Ortbühl, and Anna Spillman.

Hans, son of Hans and wife Christian Kauffman (daughter of Hans of Homburg), was baptized June 13, 1686. Witnesses Niclaus Schwÿzer, Jacob Joder, and Margreth Blank.^[2]

The departure of Hans Köng and family was mentioned in this record from the Steffisburg local court, dated 26 May 1695:

"To be recorded In the official accounts for Thun in 1696, the following 1695 revenues: Deductions paid on 4 April 1695 by Anabaptists as a tax on property being taken out of the land [Bern], a twentieth penny [5%]: Hans Rupp, Ulrich Catrey and Barbara Schwarz, Christen Farni’s wife and children, Hans Rupp and Catryn Joder, Mathys Ulli, Christen Zimmerman and Babi Bachmann, Michel Schwaar, Andreas Kropf and Anna Haldimann, Christen Joder; Hans Küng, his wife and children; Peter Farni from Langenegg. On 6 May 1695, these persons left: Christen and Anni Zimmerman of Reutschibrunnen, Christen Roth and his four Anabaptist children. On 26 May 1695 we received 50 crowns from Verena Spring, Nicklaus Zimmerman's wife, Christian Müller of Horben [at Unterlangenegg Gemeinde, just east of Fahrni] and Anna Tschabold, Christen and Michel Maurer [and many others who had need to pay the tax].^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Joseph Peter Staker, "Amish Mennonites in Tazewell County, Illinois, part 1 (2015 revision), p. 136.
2. ↑ Joseph Peter Staker, "Amish Mennonites in Tazewell County, Illinois, part 1 (2015 revision), p. 136.
3. ↑ Record from Steffisburg Chorgericht, provided by Robert Carpenter and translated by Larry Zimmerman; translation sent to John Schmeeckle in e-mail 20 Apr. 2015.