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From: Ann Rickard <>
Subject: STAUFFER History
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 14:40:44 -0500


The following is information from the "History of Montgomery County"
by Clifton S. Hunsicker with the co-operation of the Historical
Society of Montgomerty County, pub. 1923.

Here is what Hunsicker says (paraphrased): "It's believed that all the
STAUFFERs that came to PA very early had a common origin in the ancient
house of Hohenstauffen in Suabia. Mid-11th cent.
Frederick of Buren (1152-1190) left the valley of Buren and went
to the plains of Hohenstauffen, built a castle and founded the town of
Hohenstauffen. The Hohenstauffen dynastry claimed descent from the time
of Charlemange. This wasn't proven, but Frederick of Buren was of French
-Alsatian ancestry, a duke of Suabia, loyal to the King Henry of Germany
and to whom the King presented his daughter Agnes as a bride and the duchy
of Suabia as a dowry.
The dynasty of Hohenstauffen fell in 1254, it's members fled to
other lands. The line goes like this: Konrad III (1138-1152),
Frederick I (1152-1190), Henrich VI (1190-1197), Philip (1198-
1208), Frederick II (1215-1250), Konrad IV (1250-1254), age 11
when his father Frederick II died. He reigned 4 yrs. and his
murder ended the dynasty. Several hundred yrs. later, many
members suffered religious persecution due to their Protestant
beliefs and they came to America, no fewer than 18 by the name
of STAUFFER from the Palatinate of the Rhine. This branch of
the family begins with Hans, son of Daniel STAUFFER, from the
ancient house of Hohenstauffen, in Suabia, who was born at
Alzheim, near the Rhine, in Switzerland, about 1630, and there
died."

At the time of publication of Hunsicker's history a dairy kept by
Hans STAUFFER was in the possession of Wilfred Ludwig STAUFFER.
He was born July 28, 1857 in New Berlin, Union co., PA, the son of
Franklin and Harriett (LUDWIG) STAUFFER. Winfred attended Ursinus
College, and studied law under his uncle, Abner K. STAUFFER, of
Reading, PA. He married Magdalena STRASSBURGER on 9/7/1881.

The diary kept by Hans STAUFFER reads, "In the year 1709, I,
Hans Stauffer, left my own native land, the Schweitz, on the
5th day of November with my wife and children: Jacob, aged
thirteen; Daniel, twelve; Henry, nine; Elizabeth with her
husband Paulus, Fried; and one child named Mary - eight.
After a stormy voyage, Jan. 26, 1710 arrived in London."

Now, from LDS records (which may not be accurate) I have this:
Hans STAUFFER, b. Oct. 12, 1645 Steffisburg, Switzerland, wife
Kinget Heistand REIFF, b. 1658, Switzerland - they married
1685 in Alsheim, H, Germany.
Parents of Hans STAUFFER above, b. 1645, were:
Hans STAUFFER, b. April 18, 1613 in Rothenbach B, Switzerland &
Anna FUCHSER, b. 1617 in Rothenbach, B, Switzerland - they
married April 18, 1642
Parents of Hans STAUFFER directly above, b. 1613:
Christian STAUFFER, b. 1580 and wife
Adelhied OPPLIGER, b. Nov. 21, 1588.

Again from LDS records the children of Hans STAUFFER, b. 1645:
1.Daniel STAUFFER, b. 1697 Alsheim, H, Germany, d. Colebrook
Bucks Co., PA - he married Catherine, b. abt. 1705 Hereford,
Berks Co., PA. They had a child John STAUFFER, b. 1727 in
Perkiomen, PA, d. 1817 in Lower Milford Twp., Bucks Co., PA.
John married Barbara, b. 1730 Colebrookdale, Berks, PA

2. Jacob, b. 1696, mar. Barbara, b. abt. 1703. They had son
*Henry STAUFFER, b. Aug. 13, 1725 Berks Co., PA, d. Jun 19, 1803
In 1770 Henry married Maria BUCHWALTER, b. Apr 3, 1725 of
Colebrookdale, PA, d. Oct. 30 1808 in Colebrookdale. Her
parents were Jacob BUCHWALTER, b. 1694 in Switzerland and
Anna Maria BUCHWALTER, b. abt 1694, d. after May 27, 1761.
Parents of Jacob BUCHWALTER were Francis BUCHWALTER b. abt.
1665 Switzerland, d. before Jul 20, 1723 Phoenixville, PA
and Mary MELLINGER, b. abt. 1668, Switzerland, d. Europe.
Francis & Mary married before 1692. Henry and Maria had
a son Jacob, b. May 2, 1754, d. Mar 20, 1839. This Jacob
in 1785 married Susanna HUFF, b. Dec. 23, 1767 in Berks,
d. May 26, 1842 in Boyertown, PA. Jacob and Susanna had a
son John, b. Jul 4, 1792, d. Nov. 28, 1854 - he married
Dec. 1, 1816 Elizabeth KEELY, b. Oct. 1, 1798, d. Dec. 30,1857.
*Christian STAUFFER, b. Dec. 18, 1728, d. Jul. 14, 1797 in
New Hanover, Montgomery Co., PA - on Aug. 23, 1756 he married
Susanna BUCHWALTER, b. Dec. 18, 1728 (must be an error?) and
d. Jul. 14, 1798 in New Hanover, PA. They had son John STAUFFER
b. Dec 24, 1758, d. Mar. 5, 1845 - on Dec 18, 1782 he married
Elizabeth YERGER, b. abt. 1760. Other children were Esther,
b. May 22, 1757 mar. ________ BECHTEL; Maria, b. Jul 13, 1761
mar. _________ LANDIS; Ann, b. Jul 20, 1763, mar. ____ YERGER;
and Polly, b. abt. 1765.

The Hunsicker history has a little more descendant line data - I'll post
that later.
My thanks to all those who've written appreciative of these STAUFFER
postings -

Ann Rickard, SC

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