Research Notes:
We are researching Andrew Kauffman, whose son, Christian was named in Andrew's 1741 will and estate and deed records in Pennsylvania. Some researchers have suggested that Andrew Kauffman, father of Christian, was a son of this Andreas Kauffman of Schiltach, Germany. Andrew Kauffman and Isaac Kauffman owned adjacent lots in Pennsylvania and may have been brothers or cousins. Potential notes for both Andrew and Isaac are gathered here.
1668 Andreas Kauffmann, son of Hannss Kauffmann and Catharina, was baptized on November 13, 1668 in Schiltach, Wolfach, Baden, Deutschland. [1]
1691 Peter, son of Hans Köng and Christina Kauffman (both Anabaptist), was baptized on October 9 at Steffisburg. Christina was, perhaps, a daughter of Hans Kauffman. Christina Kauffman was a sponsor. [2]
1697 Barbara, daughter of Jacob Kauffman and Anna Megardt?, was baptized on January 24 at Steffisburg. [3]
A biosketch reports [4]:
Andreas Kaufmann, the second child of Hans and Katrina, was born 13 November 1668 in Schiltach, Germany. At the age of 4 his mother died, and at the age of 6 his father died. Andreas was moved back to Steffisburg, Switzerland to live with his appointed guardian—Christian Eichelberger, a brother of his grandmother. At the age of 20 (on 20 May 1689), Andreas completed his apprenticeship as a trouserknitter. Shortly thereafter. Andreas must have left town for an extended period of time without telling anyone where he was going. On 20 November 1696, the court in Steffisburg notes that Andreas Kaufmann. the breechers knitter, has departed from these parts about seven years and that his guardian Christian Eichelberger holds 30 crowns and some land to turn over to Andreas when he returns. Records in some bibles of early Kaufmann emigrants indicate that Andreas married in 1692, but no other information about his wife exists. These records also note that Andreas and his wife were members of the Mennonite faith, and had a family of 4 children: Jacob. Michael, Andrew, and Elizabeth. It is not known when Andreas Kaufmann died, but he is likely buried somewhere in Switzerland—no reports exist that he ever returned to collect his 30 crowns and land in Steffisburg.
A Kauffman genealogy reports [5]:
Andreas Kaufmann (Nov. 13, 1668- ). It is presumed he is the man who came to Lancaster Co., Pa., 1717 or possibly his son. February 1, 1687, Christian Eichelberger administered the estate of the children and grandchildren of the deceased Hans Kauffman and Anna Eichelberger. Hans had died in the Niederland and had a son Andreas who had now come to Steffisburg. It was proved that the father had been a citizen in Schiltach where he resided. May 20, 1689, Andreas Kaufmann completed his apprenticeship as a trouserknitter under Jacob Im Hoof and his guardian Christian Eichelberger reckoned the cost and found he owed 10 crowns. Eichelberger continued to administer on the estate at Steffisburg. Nov. 20, 1696, the court notes that Andreas Kaufmann, the breeches knitter, has departed from these parts about seven years and that his guardian Christian Eichelberger holds 30 crowns of his estate and that the vineyards in the Gumb are yet to be sold. On Apr. 22, 1698, the vineyard in the Gumb about a quarter of an acre in size was sold to Peter Schmid for 45 crowns and was to be divided into shares of about 8 crowns each; viz., Christian and Michel Eichelberger, the children of the deceased Niclaus Henni of Steffisburg; to Uli Eichelberger for himself and his sister, it being understood that should Andreas Kauffman show up soon, this homestead should be turned over to him.
[1] right, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[2] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Steffisburg, Kirchenbuch 4, Taufrodel (1657-1701), Totenrodel (1700-1701), 447, right, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[3] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Steffisburg, Kirchenbuch 4, Taufrodel (1657-1701), Totenrodel (1700-1701), 501, right, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[4] Stephen Harold Smith, Barshingers in America (Baltimore: Gateway Press, Inc, 2001), 554, [GoogleBooks].
[5] Charles Fahs Kauffman, A genealogy and history of the Kauffman-Coffman families of North America, 1584 to 1937 (1940), xiii, [HathiTrust].