Matthias Iselin

Born [date unknown] in Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Descendants

Died 12 Jun 1512 in Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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Biography

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Matthias was born in Basel, Switzerland, on 6 Mar 1455. He was the son of Johannes Iselin. Matthias was a merchant, guild representative, and councilman of Basel.

Timeline

• 1455 Mar 6, born in Basel to Johannes Iselin ^[1]
• 1483 Accountant for the Saffron Guild--spice traders; Member of the Great Council of Basel. ^[2]
• 1491 Member of the Small Council. Purchased a house on Heerhorn (AKA Marktplatz 11). ^[3]
• 1499 Matthias purchased the house at Andreasplatz 16 which his son Hans Lucas later acquired.^[4]
• 1501 One of the Council of Three of Basel. He was a leader when Basel became part of the Swiss Federation on Emperor Heinrich's Day, 13 Jul 1501. Matthias rode to Obwalden each year to renew the contract. ^[5]
• 1504 Matthias attended the Federal Marksmen's Fest in Zurich. ^[6]
• 1509 Matthias acquired the house on Eisenburg (AKA Martinsgasse 16). ^[7]

Matthias and Clara zum Luft, his wife, paid 400 gold florins to St. Elsbet church to have three weekly masses said for them--a pre-Reformation custom of the church. After the Reformation, they and their heirs directed that at least a portion of the funds be used annually on the poor in Basel. Clara later directed by letter that the hospital should use both the interest and the principal. From a 160 florin donation to the hospital, 10 florins were to be distributed among the poor on St. Nicholas day each year. ^[8]

According to a document held by the Saffron Guild (certificate no. 39), on 30 Jul 1519, Clara zum Luft, widow of Matthias, directed a portion of her legacy from the Saffron Guild to be distributed to the poor of Basel. This confirms that Matthias passed away before 1519.

The coat of arms of Matthias Iselin and his wife are in the Historical Museum in Basel. ^[9] Isaak Iselin, a famous descendant, preserved the basic pattern of the coat of arms: three white roses in an inverted triangle on a red background. ^[10]The roses honor the founder of the Basel branch of the family, Heinrich Iselin, who originated in Rosenfeld, Württemburg, of which the white rose on a red background is the symbol.

Children of Matthias and Clara

These are the known children of Matthias and Clara Iselin. ^[11]

• Jacob
• Cordula
• Helena, d. 1533, m. "Frantz Bär von Freyburg, S. S. theol. D. und Canonicus zu Basel", brother of Ludwig Bär.
• Valeria, d. 1510, m. Balthasar Hildebrand, "Oberst-Zunfmeister" in Basel.
• Johann Lucas, b. 18 Oct 1486, d. 16 Nov 1560.
• Maria, d. 1532, m. Marcus Heiland of Vahingen (Württemberg), pastor of Bubendorf. Their son Samuel Heiland became the Professor of Ethics at Tübingen University.

Sources

1. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinreich Iselin, p. 6.
2. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinrich Iselin, p.6.
3. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinrich Iselin, p.6.
4. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinrich Iselin, p. 7.
5. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinrich Iselin, p.6.
6. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinrich Iselin, p.6.
7. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinrich Iselin, p. 7.
8. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinrich Iselin, p.6.
9. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinrich Iselin, p. 7.
10. ↑ Isaak Iselin memorial plaque
11. ↑ Weiss-Frey, Heinrich Iselin, p. 7.

See also:

• Iselin Family Descendency Chart. Webpage
• Vogel-Soya family website, Basel section traces Iselin family in Basel with links to other published genealogical sources. Webpage for Basel families
• Weiss-Frey, Friedrich. Heinrich Iselin von Rosenfeld und sein Geschlecht, Emil Birkhäuser, Basel, 1909. "5. Matthias (IV)", p. 6. Internet Archive image