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There are several major sources of information about Hans, but much of what we know comes from what he wrote in his account books. Several Stauffer genealogy books were published around the turn of the 20th century, but none give any sources for their early Pennsylvania information. They are the "early researchers" refered to below. The latest reliable information is from research published by Richard W. Davis, available on his web site (subscription/fee required) at this link.
When did Hans Stauffer come to America?
The early researchers say he arrived in 1710, but there doesn't seem to be any proof of that - actually, there doesn't seem to be any proof that he ever arrived here. We know his three sons, Jacob, Daniel, and Henry lived in Pennsylvania by 1720: they can be found in the historical records. And we know his son-in-law, Gerhardt Clemmens and Gerhardt's wife Anna Rieff (Han's step-daughter) had arrived here sometime in 1709.
Is there really no proof Hans arrived in 1710?
There doesn't seem to be, but most likely he did. The early researchers say he did. His account books trace his travels from the Palatinate, up the Rhine River, to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and finally to London, where the family arrived on January 26, 1710 (New Style). But the account books (at least those parts that survive) don't contain any details about the remainder of the trip. He has never been located in any surviving colonial records. Perhaps the early researchers had sources we don't know about. Perhaps there were other pages in the account books that have been lost or misplaced. We may never know for sure.
Who are the family members who traveled with Hans?
There were 8 people in the party. His three sons were mentioned earlier. The others were: his wife, Kinget (sometimes called Kungold) Hiestand; their daughter Elizabeth; Elizabeth's husband Paulus Friedt; and Maria who was Elizabeth and Paulus' daughter. From the account books we have the following: "In the year 1709, I, Hans Stauffer, removed on the 5th of November my wife and children: Jacob 13 years; Daniel 12 years; Henry 9 years; Elizabeth with her husband, Paulus Friedt, and one child, Maria by name, with myself, eight."
Are the any clues or speculation about when they arrived?
Yes, but it all seems to be pure speculation. One likely possibility is that they arrived on the ship the Maria Hope, which sailed from England on June 29, 1710 and arrived in Philadelphia on September 23. The account books tell us the Stauffer party arrived in England on January 26th of that year, so it is possible they were on the Maria Hope. There were known to be a number of Swiss and German Mennonites on board that ship (Hans and his family were Mennonite). But there is no known passenger list. Two journals of the voyage are known to have been kept: by the Rev. Chalkey (a Quaker); and by another passenger, Pastor Samuel Guldin. Also, several Mennonites sent a letter immediately before the sailing thanking the Dutch Mennonites for their financial assistance. The Stauffers are not mentioned in any of these writings.
Are there any alternative theories of how they crossed from England?
Several generalogy books mention the ship the Virtuous Grace, and there may have been a Hans Stauffer on that ship. But it arrived in 1737! Another theory is that the party first went to Carolina, to the colony that became New Bern, NC, and later went to PA. This settlement was founded by Christopher de Graffenreid. There were 2 sailings in 1710 for that settlement: one in Jan; another sailed with the Maria Hope in June and July for a while. No passanger lists exist for either sailing, but this theory seems far-fetched for numerous reasons, including the difficulty of overland travel in the colonies in those days - a trip from North Carolina to Pennsylvania is unlikely.
The early researchers say they arrived in the Spring of 1710. As far as we can tell today that was probably speculation because of their Jan 1710 arrival in London. But it is possible they left for Pennsylvania, on a ship that remains nameless and unknown to history, shortly after their arrival in London. Hans apparently had money to finance the trip - those who sailed on the Maria Hope seemed to be dependent upon charity to pay their fares. Perhaps he was able to pay for passage on an earlier ship we don't know about.
Where did the family settle after they arrived in Pennsylvania?
There seems to be nothing in the historical record about the Stauffers until 1720, so we really don't know for sure. The early researchers say they settled in what is now Phoenixville, near Valley Forge, along the bank of Franz Creek. Franz Creek (later called French Creek) was named for the first settler in the area, Franz Buckwalter. A history of the Buckwalter family says that Franz was born in Switzerland, was Mennonite, arrived here in 1710, and after he died his children married into the Stauffer family and moved to Colebrookdale. Daniel bought land in Colebrookdale in 1720. Jacob bought land there in 1724. Henry bought land in nearby Perikomen in 1720. So the two stories seem to compliment each other.
When did Hans die and where is he buried?
Again, we don't really know. The early researchers said he was buried in a Mennonite cementary in Phoenixville but that no tombstone "now" exists. They didn't give us a date for his death. The International Genealogy Index says he died in 1740, but it also lists his father as Daniel and his mother as Barbara Galli. While there was a Daniel Stauffer who was married to Barbara Galli it now seems very unlikely Daniel was his father.
So who were his mother and father?
The early researchers said his father was named Daniel. While they didn't give us a source, we suspect it comes from Hans' account books and it seems to have been based upon a mis-translation. Hans did write about "mein feter Daniel Stauffer", and this was probably translated as "my father", which would be "mein Vater" in modern German. But an accurate translation of the ancient German "mein feter" is "my cousin". In today's German this would be "mein Vetter".
Richard Davis says Hans' father was also named Hans, who was married to Madlena Neuenschwander. There is a lot of evidence that this is true. There is more about this in the next several topics of this FAQ.
I've seen it said that Hans was born in 1655. And also in 1644. Which is correct?
Blame the early researchers for the 1655 date. Of course they provide no source. It does not seem to be based upon anything in the account books - they say nothing about Hans' birthdate.
The 1644 date has been provided by Richard W. Davis. It assumes our Hans Stauffer is the same Hans Stauffer who was among the Swiss refugees exiled to the Palatinate in 1671. Several letters regarding these refugees still exists In the Amsterdam Municipal Archives. The earliest letter was written on December 14, 1671 by Valentine Hutwohl, a Mennonite Minister in the Palatinate. In this letter he tells of the 450 refugees from Bern who had recently arrived in the Palatinate. The letter contains a list of the refugees, and this list includes a Hans Stauffer, 27, unmarried. It says he is a grandson of another refugee on the list: the 90 year old Mennonite Minister Christian Stauffer. Many others on this list are also related to Christian, and therefore Hans. There were many other Stauffers among the 450 refugees.
Is there any other evidence pointing to 1644 as his birth year?
Swiss church books still exist from this era. Eggiwil was part of the Signau parish until 1618, but most Eggiwil Stauffers before this date were baptised in the Rothenbach parish, which was several miles closer to the Stauffer farms then was the Signau church. Unfortunately the first Eggiwil parish register, the one that would have recorded Hans' birth if he had been born in 1644, is missing. The earliest surviving register begins in 1648. The records from 1655 seem to be complete and do not show the birth of a Hans Stauffer.
So the surviving records can't confirm his birth in 1644, but they do seem to rule out his birth in 1655. The only known evidence of when Hans was born is the Valentine Hutwohl letter.
Do we know for sure that the Hans from 1671 is the same Hans who wrote the account books?
"Our" Hans wrote in his account book that his brother Ulrich lived in Holland in the 1690s, and a Ulrich Stauffer, another grandson of Christian, was one of two 1671 refugees who were sent to Holland to represent the group. Also, the 1671 Hans had a cousin Daniel, and we earlier referenced a Cousin Daniel in the account books. These, of course, are both common Stauffer names and do not prove they are the same person.
But there is more. The account books say that in 1687 Hans received 40 crowns and 5 dollars from Conrad Aeschbacher. A Conrad Aeschbacher married Barbara Stauffer on 2 October, 1657 in Eggiwil. Barbara seems to be a sister of Hans and Ulrich.
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