1667 Ully Wenger, son of Benedict Wenger and Anna Blasser of Ober Ey, was baptized on August 4 at Röthenbach with sponsors Jakob Eggiman, Niklaus Gerber, and Cathrina Dunner. [1] [2]
1692 Ulrich (Uli) Wänger, of Röthenbach, and Christina Engel were married on December 9 [9th 10bris], at Eggiwil, Bern canton, Switzerland. [4] [5] [6]
1693-1705 Several children of Ulrich and Christina Wenger were baptized with records at Eggiwil and Röthenbach, Bern, Switzerland. Perhaps the family lived at Eggiwil and their citizenship was registered at Röthenbach. [7]
1693 Ulrich Wenger, son of Ulrich Wenger and Christina Engel of Schallenberg, was baptized at Rothenbach on September 24, with sponsors Ptr(?) Landregt(?) Wunderli von Bern, Uli Kirner von Bonswil (Bowil? is north of Rothenbach), and Cathrina Dubach von Drachselwald (Trachselwald(?) is a municipality near Sumiswald in Emmental, Bern). [8] [9]
1694 Hans Wenger, son of Ulrich Wenger and Christina Engel, was baptized at Eggiwil (recorded at Röthenbach) on November 25, with sponsors Ulrich Burger, Ulrich Roht, and Barbara Wenger. [10] [11] [12]
1696 Peter Wenger, son of Ulli Wenger and Christina Engel, was baptized on August 7 at Eggiwil (recorded at Röthenbach), Bern, Switzerland with sponsors Ulli Bichsel, Peter Tschantz, and Barbara Hirschi. [13] [14]
1698 Christen Wenger, son of Ulli Wenger von Röthenbach and Christina Engel, was baptized on May 8, at Röthenbach with sponsors Christen Wenger, Niklaus Stauffer, and Barbara Wäber. Test. Johan: Jacob Freudenrich Past. ibid. [15] [16] [17] A record in Eggiwil reports the same names and dates with notes by the parents names: "Knubel; sonst von Köfenbach". A note below reads: "Soll zu Röthenbach ??" [18] [19]
1703 Niclaus Wänger, son of Uli Wänger and Christina Engel, was baptized on October 21 with sponsors Niclaus Wänger, Hans Gerber, and Anna Erb? gebohrn Holiman. [20] [21] [22]
1709 Ulrich Wenger may have been the Anabaptist named Ulrich Wenger who with his wife harbored the taufer preacher Jacob Bachman in 1709 for which they were punished. [23]
1759 Ulrich Wenger (housefather) of Schallenberg died on January 24 at age 90 and a few years. The date of Christine Engel Wenger's death in Switzerland is not known. [24] [25] [26]
Ulli Wangar auf den Schallenberg, ein hausvadter, alt etlich[e?] und 90 jahr. [27]
Research Notes:
The residence of Ulrich and Christina is listed as Knubel in 1698. Knubel is about equidistant from Eggiwill and Rothenbach, which might explain why some baptisms of their children were listed at both churches. Perhaps their citizenship was at one area but the other church was closer and the baptism took place at the closer church but was also registered at the other.
Several of the baptisms of children from other families during this period identified the families as being Anapabtist. None of the records found so far indicate that Ulrich was an Anabaptist.
1734 The burial at age 4 of Christine Wenger an infant daughter of Uli Wenger was recorded at Rothenbach. A parish index entry records Wänger, Christina, 1734, page 10, item 8. [28] The register on page 10, item 8 reports "D 11 Aug ist der Uli Wenger in der Ober? sein kind? Stini gestorb alt 4 jahrs". [29] Perhaps this was a daughter of son Ulrich.
1739 Ullrich Wenger married Anna Schenk (both von hier, from here) at Röthenbach. [30] [31] [32]
1717 Ulrich Wenger died in 1759 in Switzerland. Stories about his immigration to America in 1717 may not be correct.
A biosketch reported [33]:
In the early days in the settlement of the State of Pennsylvania, three brothers by the name of Wenger, left their home in the Old World and sailed for America, but one brother died on the long voyage, only Henry and Christian reaching these shores. Henry Wenger settled near Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and Christian came into Lancaster county, where he bought 289 acres of land, in West Earl township, from William Penn, for the sum of £44, 16s, this transaction taking place in 1741, and the land is still in the possession of the family. Christian Wenger and his wife. Eve, had these children: Michael, John, and Henry. Michael succeeded his father in the old home, which was deeded to him in 1764, and he became the father of the noted Mennonite minister. Rev. Joseph Wenger, and the latter was the father of the no less noted Rev. Michael Wenger.
See also [34]
1760 John Wanger, yeoman, and wife Anna, sold land to their son John. The land was on a branch of Muddy Creek. Deed dated May 9, 1760. [35]
Several researchers have named Christine Engel (born 29 Apr 1666), daughter of Hans Mathes Engel and Barbara Zbinden of Guggisberg, Bern, Switzerland as the spouse of Ulrich Wenger. We seek evidence for this potential relationship. Guggisberg is about 40 km from Rothenbach (a long distance in that era, Google reports more than an 8 hour walk). Robert has found no baptism record in the Guggisberg parish records matching this report.
[1] Kirchenbüch 3, Bern, Röthenbach im Emmental, Evangelisch-Reformierte: Taufrodel (1647-1670)-Eherodel (1665-1682)-Chorgerichtsmanual (1651-1680), K3-146, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[2] Samuel S. Wenger, The Wenger Book, A Foundation Book of American Wengers (1997 reprint), 62, 66 C-3, and 159.
[3] Oberes Emmental - Thun (Winterthur : Topogr. Anstalt v. Wurster, Randegger & Co.: 1875), [OldMapsOnline Catalog], [Map].
[4] Kirchenbüch 17, Bern, Eggiwil, Eherodel Nr. 1, 1648-1800, 37, right, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[5] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Eggiwil (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Heiraten 1648-1800, FHL film 2005402, image 12, item 9, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[6] Samuel S. Wenger, The Wenger Book, A Foundation Book of American Wengers (1997 reprint), 66, Family C3.
[7] Swiss baptism record description, [URL].
[8] Kirchenbüch 5, Bern, Röthenbach im Emmental, Evangelisch-Reformierte: Taufrodel (1684-1728), Eherodel (1683-1743), Chorgerichtsmanual (1685-1744), right, item 26, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog], [FHLCatalog].
[9] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rothenbach (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Taufen 1684-1728, FHL film_2005941 (Viewable only at FamilySearch libraries), image 18, [FHLCatalog], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[10] Kirchenbüch 5, Bern, Röthenbach im Emmental, Evangelisch-Reformierte: Taufrodel (1684-1728), Eherodel (1683-1743), Chorgerichtsmanual (1685-1744), 104, left, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog], [FHLCatalog].
[11] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rothenbach (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Taufen 1684-1728, FHL film_2005941 (Viewable only at FamilySearch libraries), image 20, [FHLCatalog], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[12] Samuel S. Wenger, The Wenger Book, A Foundation Book of American Wengers (1997 reprint), 66, D2.
[13] Kirchenbüch 5, Bern, Röthenbach im Emmental, Evangelisch-Reformierte: Taufrodel (1684-1728), Eherodel (1683-1743), Chorgerichtsmanual (1685-1744), 111, bottom right, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog], [FHLCatalog].
[14] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rothenbach (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Taufen 1684-1728, FHL film_2005941 (Viewable only at FamilySearch libraries), image 23, [FHLCatalog], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[15] Kirchenbüch 5, Bern, Röthenbach im Emmental, Evangelisch-Reformierte: Taufrodel (1684-1728), Eherodel (1683-1743), Chorgerichtsmanual (1685-1744), 116, left, item 12.a, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog], [FHLCatalog].
[16] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Eggiwil (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Taufen 1648-1775, FHL film 2005396, image 201, page 7, Soll Zu Röthenbach aus eingeschrieben, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[17] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rothenbach (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Taufen 1684-1728, FHL film_2005941 (Viewable only at FamilySearch libraries), image 26, item a, between 12-13, [FHLCatalog], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[18] Kirchenbüch 2, Bern, Eggiwil, Taufrodel Nr. 2, 1697-1750, 6, bottom right, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[19] Samuel S. Wenger, The Wenger Book, A Foundation Book of American Wengers (1997 reprint), 62, 66 D-4, and 159, citing John E Fetzer, Ecclesiastical Parish of Röthenbach, Switzerland.
[20] Kirchenbüch 5, Bern, Röthenbach im Emmental, Evangelisch-Reformierte: Taufrodel (1684-1728), Eherodel (1683-1743), Chorgerichtsmanual (1685-1744), 136, left, item 23, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog], [FHLCatalog].
[21] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rothenbach (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Taufen 1684-1728, FHL film_2005941 (Viewable only at FamilySearch libraries), image 36, [FHLCatalog], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[22] Samuel S. Wenger, The Wenger Book, A Foundation Book of American Wengers (1997 reprint), 67, D5.
[23] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Wenger, A33, [Website].
[24] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rothenbach (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Toten (Deaths) 1728-1777, Book 19 (downloadable pdf), 51, left, item 3, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[25] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Wenger A33, [Website].
[26] Find A Grave Virtual Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[27] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rothenbach (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Toten (Deaths) 1728-1777, Book 19 (downloadable pdf), [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[28] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rothenbach (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Toten (Deaths) 1728-1777, Book 19 (downloadable pdf), Wanger index, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[29] Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rothenbach (Bern), Kirchenbuch, Toten (Deaths) 1728-1777, Book 19 (downloadable pdf), page 10, item 8, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[30] Kirchenbüch 5, Bern, Röthenbach im Emmental, Evangelisch-Reformierte: Taufrodel (1684-1728), Eherodel (1683-1743), Chorgerichtsmanual (1685-1744), bottom right, item 4, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog], [FHLCatalog].
[31] Kirchenbüch 5, Bern, Röthenbach im Emmental, Evangelisch-Reformierte: Taufrodel (1684-1728), Eherodel (1683-1743), Chorgerichtsmanual (1685-1744), bottom rightindex, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog], [FHLCatalog].
[32] Samuel S. Wenger, The Wenger Book, A Foundation Book of American Wengers (1997 reprint), 66, E3.
[33] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 1352, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[34] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Wenger A33, [Website].
[35] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed G-168, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].