John Jacob Hess (German: Hans Jacob Hess) (17 May 1584 – 1639) was a Swiss-German Anabaptist minister and martyr.
Reverend John Jacob Hess[1] | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 May 1584 [2] |
| Died | 1639 (age 55) [3] Othenbach Prison, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Other names | Hans Jacob Hess, Jakob Kuntz Hess |
| Occupation | Minister |
| Known for | Anabaptist martyr[4] |
Early life
editJohn Jacob Hess was born in Wald, Zurich, Switzerland on 17 May 1584 to Hans Heinrich Hess, a bailiff,[5] (1534–1587)[6] and Adelheid Kuntz (1546–1585).[7] He had eight older full siblings: Margaretha, Christian, Matheus, Hans, Elsy, Margaretha, Heinrich, and Dorothea; five older half-siblings from his father's first two marriages: Adelheid, Barbara, Veronica, Catharina and Anna; and one younger half-brother, Hans, from his father's fourth marriage.
Marriage and children
editHe married Anna Egli (1584–1639) on 27 April 1606. They had 7 children: Anna (b: September 1607), Christian (b. 15 February 1609), Heinrich (b. 28 January 1615), Hans Egli (b. 24 May 1617), Samuel (b. 28 August 1621), Veronica (b. 10 February 1623) and Dorothea (b. 7 October 1627).[8]
Imprisonment and death
editIn 1637, he was arrested for being Anabaptist, and locked in Othenbach Prison for 19 days. Later that year, he was again arrested, this time spending eight weeks in Othenbach Prison. In 1638, he was arrested for the third and final time, and thrown in Othenbach Prison for 83 weeks. While imprisoned, he was stripped and put in iron bonds for 16 weeks. He, along with his wife, who was imprisoned for 63 weeks, contracted tuberculosis (then known as consumption), and died. His property was seized and sold for 4,000 guilders (approximately $800,000 in modern US dollars). None of the money was restored to his descendants.[4]
References
edit- ^ Eshleman, Henry Frank (1917). Historic Background and Annals of the Swiss and German Pioneer Settlers of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and of Their Remote Ancestors, from the Middle of the Dark Ages, Down to the Time of the Revolutionary War. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. p. 88 – via Internet Archive.
john jacob hess 1639.
- ^ Davis, Richard W. "Hans Jacob Hess (b. 17 May 1584, d. 1639)". Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ Hess, John H. (1896). Genealogy of the Hess Family.
- ^ a b "Martyrs Mirror". www.homecomers.org. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ Henson, Carole. "Hans Heinrich Hess". Genealogy.com. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Heinrich Hess". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Adelheid Kuntz". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ Henson, Carole. "Hans Jacob Hess". Genealogy.com. Retrieved 31 March 2014.